5 Months Down... Days To Go!

          Yes, it has been a whoppin' 5 months since Austyn has been home (excluding Christmas) and I can't tell you enough just how happy/excited/relieved I am to FINALLY have him home. I think I finally hit that point where - well, it's not that I'm used to him being gone, but my routine here at home with the girls is pretty, well, routine... and it excludes Austyn... So to have him back in our lives at home will be a blessing.

          For the past 8 weeks in AIT, Austyn has been able to call us and, if we're lucky, Skype with us at night. All depending on his schedule and how his drill sergeants are feeling. :/ I can't remember the last time I was able to have more than a 30 minute conversation with him. Probably back in December when he was home. That has definitely been one of the hardest things to deal with; not being able to tell him about my day, or the adorable things Maci and Molli have been doing, their milestones. Oh happy day, we're almost DONE!!! :)

          And just a shout out to my handsome babe - CONGRATULATIONS BABY!!! I am so so so proud of you!
          He has accomplished so much and gone through heck to finally be done with this training. It seems like yesterday he left for basic. I was instantly thrown into a single parent lifestyle, which, sure, I had a few months to prepare, but really, nothing can prepare you for it. That day is certainly not one I ever want to relive. Seeing him off again after Christmas was hard too, but different. It was torture because I knew exactly what it was like to have him gone now. Yet almost easier in that I also knew I had just done this for 12 weeks, I can handle 8 more. At least that's what I tried to convince myself.

          I have had amazing support from family, friends, members of our ward... It has been a very humbling experience to tell you the truth. I thank my Father in Heaven every day for making me stronger through these past 5 months. I am really hoping we can breathe for a bit after Austyn comes home --- but that would just be too easy, right? ;) I think if we can make it 5 months apart, we can make it through nearly anything together.
          I have kept myself busy all along, thank goodness. With my obsession of cooking and interior design, to learning just how crazy I am about cleaning and organizing! I seriously have rearranged different spaces in our home a good 5-10 times! I am obsessed! But I don't mind. :) Along with that, I am equally into decorating my home. Austyn will tell you, my style hasn't necessarily changed, but it gets little updates and additions here and there. I am seriously debating on going into interior design or culinary school someday --- way, way down the road. I have some time to decide.
           Above all, cooking and baking are my sweet escape from life. I don't know what it is; maybe the smell of garlic, butter, and peppers perfectly sauteing in a pan. Or the warmth of fresh baked, right out of the oven, homemade bread. Or the perfect peace I feel when mixing cocoa powder, peanut butter, vanilla, and oats into a mixture of melted butter, sugar, and milk. Best - No Bake - Cookies - EVER! (My humble opinion, of course.) Thankfully I have managed to somehow avoid packing on the pounds while consuming all these calories.
          Here are some great breakfast muffins... or any time of the day muffins. An inspiring recipe from one of my favorite food bloggers, The Pioneer Woman. They're pretty simple in flavor, just coat them in a coating of cinnamon sugar and they're to die for! I am a wee bit of a cinnamon nut, so anything that consists of a cinnamon sugar topping, in my book, is to die for.

Morning Muffins

Ingredients:

3 C flour

3 tsp baking powder

1 tsp salt

1/2 tsp nutmeg

1 C sugar

2/3 C butter flavored shortening (if that's too strong a flavor for ya, just use regular shortening)

2 eggs

1 C milk

Directions:

• Mix the dry ingredients together in a bowl.
• In a separate bowl, mix together sugar and shortening. Add eggs.
• Alternate adding milk and flour mixture while the mixer is on.
• Fill a lightly greased muffin tin and bake in a 350 degree oven for about 20 minutes or until golden.

Cinnamon Sugar Coating:

• Melt 2 sticks of butter in a bowl, and mix 1 1/2 cups of sugar and 3 teaspoons of cinnamon in a separate bowl.
• Dip warm muffins in butter really well, then roll in cinnamon sugar mixture.

Bon Appetit! :)

Christmas With a Soldier

          The greatest gift I received for Christmas was finally having my husband home. After 3 long months of being gone, Austyn was pretty relieved to be back. No drill sergeants yelling at him, early 4am wake up calls, or having to be around a bunch of guys 24/7 - now he gets to be around our crazy little family for a couple weeks! :)
          I love you Austyn, more than you will ever know!
          This experience has strengthened our family so much. We have made it through the hardest part. Now we just have to get through AIT. 8 weeks should seem like nothing after nearly 13, but it's still not easy saying goodbye again.

          But I'm getting ahead of myself here. Christmas. This was probably my favorite Christmas. I think it's safe to say that it was Austyn's too... and Maci's... and definitely Molli's. ;)
          We were able to pick up Austyn from the airport a few days before the 25th, and got to spend the weekend at home before we headed to Utah.

          One thing's for certain - time went by way faster than we anticipated. Maci and Molli were in heaven having daddy home. It always melts my heart to see Austyn with our daughters. They sure do soften their daddy's heart. 

Austyn's "Call of Duty" face. This silly man - he
sure has missed having leisurely time. And yes,
that is my leg. SCANDALOUS!

          This was Maci's 3rd Christmas and Molli's 1st! It was so much fun to see their reactions on Christmas morning.          

      

Why do we bother with presents when all she
really wants is the wrapping paper..?

This silly man of mine - can you tell he was
pretty excited to get TMNT? :)

As you may know, I am just a wee bit obsessed
with cooking - so I was pretty excited
to get a new mixing bowl for my Kitchen Aid!

           Can I also note that it was wonderful to have Austyn in the car with me during the 5 hour drive to and from Vernal? I had almost forgotten what it was like to have an adult conversation on that long road trip! :)
       

Our Christmas jammies. I got the girls' pj's from
Carter's, and Austyn bought our sweatshirts and
sweats while at Basic. I wear them all the time!
I'm a pretty proud Army wife. :)

       

Too busy with her tea party to feed herself.
So daddy helped her out. :)

          These two weeks we got to spend together were heavenly. We miss you so much, babe! How grateful we will be when this trial in life is past. And how grateful I am that we have become stronger through it. I sure never thought I could ever do something like this, but by relying on my Heavenly Father and Savior, Jesus Christ, I have felt comfort and peace through even the hardest days. I love our sweet little family. I have been so blessed with these sweet little girls and the greatest husband in the entire world!

         

She just adores him!

          

          After a lifetime, it seems, Austyn and I finally made it on a date! I feel like the luckiest girl in the world to be married to this stud. Believe what you will, but this man truly is my soul mate. I thank God every single day for him. There is no one else I would rather spend eternity with. I love you, baby!!! 

          So I made some pancakes last night that had a rather unusual ingredient; sour cream. I KNOW! Crazy! But they were actually really good! I neglected to take a picture, but trust me, if you follow the recipe, they'll turn out just fine. This is a recipe from The Pioneer Woman - love her recipes! I have never been disappointed!

Sour Cream Pancakes

Ingredients:

1 C sour cream

7 TBS flour

1 TBS sugar

1 tsp baking soda

1/2 tsp salt

2 eggs

1/2 tsp vanilla extract

Directions:

• Place sour cream, flour, sugar, baking soda, and salt into a bowl. 
• Stir together until just combined.
• Whisk eggs and vanilla together in separate bowl, then pour into flour mixture.
• Stir together gently.
• Melt a little butter in a skillet over medium low heat. 
• Pour in batter and cook for about a minute or so on each side. (If your a pancake lover, I'm sure you'll be able to tell when they're done).
• Cover in butter and syrup.

Bon Appetit! :)

Military Wife: Week 12

          On the 12th week of being a military wife, this is what I've learned;

• Rely on God
• Always Have a Prayer in Your Heart
• Read a Good Book
• Find a Hobby
• Don't be Afraid to Learn Something New
• Have a Great Support System
• Take Some Time For You
• STAY BUSY
• Stick to a Routine
• Write Your Man Some Letters
• It's OK to Cry
• It Goes by Faster Than You Think

          I can't believe it has already been 3 months since Austyn was home. There were moments where it seemed like this time would never come, but it also seems to have gone by in the blink of an eye! I am beyond grateful that this trial has turned out to be more of a blessing to our family. It sounds crazy, but being apart from Austyn has only brought our hearts closer together. It just goes along with that saying, "you don't know what you've got until it's gone." I never thought I really took Austyn for granted, nor him for I, but we seem to have grown a deeper love and appreciation for each other over these past few months.

          After he came into my life, there was no way I was ever going to let him join the military. I grew up watching my dad leave time and time again, and I could not bear the thought of having to do the same thing with my husband. Yet, here we are, and I have come to the realization that this is our life. This part is only temporary, which is a relief. But I am so thankful that God has blessed us in so many ways during this time in our lives. 

          My last piece of tips and advice are probably the most important of all. In all difficulties and hardships that we face, it is so important to count our blessings. Sure, these last 12 weeks were beyond difficult, and at times seemed impossible to get through, but I can honestly say that I saw more blessings than adversity - not so sure if I can say the same for Austyn. ;)

(From Me) Tip #24: Have A Constant Prayer In Your Heart

          For your children, for your husband, for yourself... I have such a strong testimony of the power of prayer. Having that constant communication with my Father in Heaven is something I can often take for granted. But through prayer, I have been able to pour out my heart and soul, relate my days and my desires. Richard G. Scott of the quorum of the 12 apostles of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints said, "prayer is the source of comfort, relief, and protection, willingly granted by our loving, compassionate Heavenly Father." God wants to hear from us. I know my prayers are always heard and answered. With Austyn being gone, I have been able to teach Maci the importance of prayer through praying for him every day. She has gotten to the point where she actually enjoys saying "prayers for daddy." It has taught her that even though daddy is away, we can ask God to watch over and protect him.

(From Me) Tip #25: Rely On God - Always

          I could not have made it through these difficult months without the comfort and guidance from my Heavenly Father. He has been with me every step of the way and has blessed our family with a renewed sense of the great importance of eternal families. Tender mercies have been given to me every single day. It sounds a bit crazy, but I cannot express enough just how thankful I am for this trial that our little family has gone through. Instead of being bitter and resentful, it became much easier to just count the blessings along the way. Truthfully, things can always be worse, and as I mentioned, this is a temporary situation. 

          I am so proud of Austyn and what he has and continues to accomplish through Basic and AIT. I am thankful I get to call him mine and spend forever with him. He is my soul mate in every way. 

*Sorry to get all mushy :)

          

          So here is a dinner roll recipe that is absolutely perfect to compliment any meal you have planned! Feel free to double this recipe, this one makes approximately 12 dinner rolls. Our little family doesn't really require more than that - that's almost too much for us, even! But they really are SO YUMMY! So Austyn and I never have a problem getting 12 down within a couple days. ;)

Perfect Dinner Rolls

Ingredients:

1 C milk

1/4 C + 1 T sugar, divided

3 Tbs butter (the real deal)!

1 tsp salt

2 1/2 tsp yeast

4-5 C flour, divided

2 beaten eggs

1/3 C warm water

Directions:

• Combine milk, 1/4 cup of sugar, butter, and salt in a saucepan over medium heat until butter is melted.
• Remove from heat and allow to cool COMPLETELY!
• Meanwhile, mix yeast and 1 tablespoon sugar into warm water and let stand about 10 minutes or until yeast has bubbled.
• In large mixing bowl, combine 1 cup flour and the milk mixture. Beat on low for a few seconds, then add yeast mixture and beat on high for a few minutes. Add eggs.
• Mix in as much of the remaining flour as needed to create a nice soft dough.
• Cover bowl with a clean towel and allow to rise in a warm place for about an hour.
• Punch dough down and pinch off 12 equal pieces. Roll into balls and place in a 9x13 pan that has been sprayed with cooking spray.
• Cover with clean towel and allow to rise for another 30 minutes.
• Bake in a 375 degree oven for 15-18 minutes or until golden on top.
• Remove from oven and rub a stick of cold butter over the tops of the rolls.

Bon Appetit! :)

Military Wife: Week 11

          Austyn has officially graduated from Basic Training, and I cannot begin to express just how proud I am of him. Honestly, I don't know how on earth we made it through those 10 weeks. No more than 3 phone calls, a dozen letters, and an exchange of a few text messages. I never want to have to do that again. One thing is for sure, we have made it past the hardest part. Going into AIT, Austyn will have day to day contact with us. So far, it has been like heaven getting to hear his voice everyday.

          Maci, Molli and I, along with my mom and in-laws, flew out to Missouri for Austyn's graduation, and it was seriously the coolest thing! If you have never been to a "Basic Training Graduation" you must put it on your bucket list. It's a really big deal to these new soldiers. They have gone through heck these past couple months and have finally made it to "the end of the tunnel." If you ever have a friend or family member accomplish such a feat, please do everything within your power to attend!

          In total, we only got about 12 hours to spend with Austyn. That may seem like a lot of time, but when you haven't seen someone in 10 weeks, 12 hours goes by faster than you think.
          This week's tips are just ideas to keep you busy, again. I think that is the biggest piece of advice I can give you is to stay busy. Keep your mind occupied with things to do rather than dwell on the absence of your husband. Which, OK, let's be honest, I think about Austyn everyday, but it does help to have things to do.

Austyn and his buddy, Xu

Look at the way Maci looks at him; it is the
cutest thing ever! She absolutely loves her daddy!

(From a Wife) Tip #21: Catch Up On Some Good Reading

          I thought about this shortly after Austyn left back in September. Reading is always a great outlet. But honestly, I never found the time to immerse myself into a good book. The only books I have been frequently turning to are the Old Testament in the Bible (first time trying to read through it and it has taken me over a year) and The Book of Mormon. But if I couldn't get into any novels, I'd have to say those are pretty good substitutes. :) I have been very diligent with ensuring that the girls and I have family scripture study every night before bed. Especially having Austyn gone, I found it very important to continue with that routine.

(From a Family) Tip #22: Immerse Yourself Into  Projects

         Projects can be something as simple (or daunting) as raking the leaves in the yard. Something everyone can be involved in! Organizing your spice cupboard, deep cleaning the house, and decorating a bare wall are some other ideas to get your brain going. I have done all but the spice cupboard - which I probably ought to do today. :)

(From a Mother) Tip #23: Plan Out Meals

          Have you ever thought about the fact that there are enough recipes in the world that you could cook something new every single day for the rest of your life? Well, I suppose you would have to be really diligent and dedicated to do such a thing, but I am one who encourages trying new things in the kitchen. New recipes can become family favorites for generations! I believe planning out meals will help keep your family on a healthier diet, keep you busy, and organized. 

          I do not mean having something planned out every single day of the week while your husband is gone, I am a full believer in the random Little Caesar's pizza nights! But if you go through meals and recipes that your family already likes as well as some new ones each week, it might make time fly by a little faster!

 *Now is the time to overcome your fear in the kitchen and learn to enjoy cooking! :)

          I came across this recipe a few months ago, and never thought of making it until last week -pretty good if I do say so myself! I did kind of tweak it a bit to adhere to my taste, which I totally encourage you to do if you want to add something, take out something, it is totally up to you!

Sorry it's not the most photogenic!
It tastes better than it looks. :)

Chicken Spaghetti

Ingredients:

1 lb spaghetti

4 chicken breasts (2 C chicken broth)

2 bell peppers

1 onion

2 cans cream of chicken and mushroom soup

salt and pepper (to taste)

a dash of cayenne 

2 1/2 C shredded sharp cheddar cheese

Directions:

• Boil the chicken breasts in a pot until fully cooked. Remove chicken from water and let sit until cooled.
• Reserve 2 cups of the water the chicken was boiling in as your chicken broth for later.
• Break up spaghetti and pour into the same pot. Cook until al dente.
• Cut up bell peppers and onion. Cut up (or shred) chicken and place in a large mixing bowl with peppers and onion.
• Add cream of chicken and mushroom, salt and pepper, cayenne, and mix well.
• Mix in 2 cups cheese, and 1 cup chicken broth (you don't want the mixture to be too dry because it will be baking in the oven. Add more broth until it is a nice creamy consistency).
• Pour into a 9x13 pan, and top with remaining cheese.
• Cover and bake in a 350 degree oven for 45 minutes.

Bon Appetit! :)

Military Wife: Week 10

          WEEK 10!!! This is the week of graduation for my handsome soldier, Austyn! I cannot begin to express just how proud I am of him. What he has gone through, and learned these past couple of months amazes me. Letters have been comforting, and the few phone calls we were able to get were much needed, but I think it's safe to say Austyn is just as excited (if not more) than me to move into AIT with day to day phone calls as well as Skype. We're halfway through this obstacle of life, and I couldn't be happier.
          Throughout these 10 weeks, I have really done some searching for some ways to keep me busy and distracted from Austyn being gone. Of course, nothing could quite help me forget, but I did find that I LOVE TO COOK! I also learned that I have a bit of an obsession with cleaning and organizing, and doing little crafts and projects to make my home a little for festive during the holiday season. So this week's tips stem from that.

(From a Wife) Tip #19: Find A Hobby

          Hobbies will keep you distracted. I recommend finding one that only requires one person. If you pick up a hobby that can consist of 2 or more people, that may arouse those feelings of loneliness and missing your hubby. But that's just me. As I have previously mentioned, I love to cook and bake (and eat). So maybe another hobby I should pick up is running. ;)

(From a Wife) Tip #20: Classic Crafts

          This is totally optional. I think it just depends on your personality, but I have found that I really enjoy crafts and making my home more warm and inviting. Right now, making your own wreathe is rather trendy. This is the second one I have made, and they're actually pretty easy and fun once you get the hang of it. If you're feeling crafty, Pinterest is a great place to turn to for ideas. :)

          Bread is such a classic in my home. From the time I was young, my mom has made homemade bread at least once or twice a month. So I have carried on that tradition (plus it makes your home smell AMAZING). This is a simple recipe and is so easy to pair with any meal.

White Bread

(makes 2 loaves)

Ingredients:

4 C flour

1/2 C sugar

1 T salt

2 T yeast

2 1/2 C warm water

1/4 C oil

3+ C flour

Directions:

• Start with the 4 cups of flour, sugar, salt and yeast. Add the warm water and oil.
• Mix well before adding rest of flour. Add remaining flour a little at a time and knead in a mixing bowl for about 5 minutes.
• Let raise in bowl until doubled - approx. an hour.
• Punch down and half the dough, placing them in 2 greased bread pans.
• Let rise another 30-45 minutes (until doubled again).
• Bake at 350 degrees for 30 minutes.

*Great with butter and jam,

spaghetti, and roast!

Bon Appetit! :)

Military Wife: Week 9

          These past 9 weeks have certainly not been easy, but we have somehow made it through. I feel so blessed to have gotten to this point; some days it seems like it has taken forever, others, I swear all I did was blink. This week, we celebrated Thanksgiving, and the girls and I were able to travel to Utah to spend the holiday with grandparents... Have I mentioned how convenient it is to have my parents and in laws live just down the street from each other? Maci and Molli had so much fun. I think being around family (for me) made Austyn's absence that more real.
          I have been getting caught up in these YouTube videos about surprise homecomings from soldiers. So come Thanksgiving day, in the back of my mind I secretly had my hopes up that Austyn would walk through the door... To my disappointment, I never even got a phone call from him. Boy, can I just say Basic Training is ROUGH!
          I think as a mother, it is important to take a little time for yourself every once and a while. Drop the kids off at their grandparents house, and go to the grocery store, get your hair done, or buy a new outfit. Being a single parent right now can sometimes cause you to lose your sanity. Don't feel selfish about having some "you" time. We all need that once in a while.

(From a Mother) Tip #17: Take Some Time For YOU

          While I was visiting family this week, I had a few opportunities to get out and have some "me" time. Sure, maybe all I did was run and grab some green beans for Thanksgiving dinner, but it can be a bit --- refreshing --- to go to the grocery store on your own. OK, so maybe I wasn't even able to go on my own, but my amazing cousin Katie came and helped me with the girls, so that was a nice change. But seriously, give yourself a spa day, a mini shopping spree, go for a run! As a mom, we need a little alone time once in a while. Especially when we don't have a husband to turn to right now. :(

(From a Wife) Tip #18: It's OK To Cry

          So maybe by week 9, tears are pretty rare. But if you are having an especially rough day, and missing your man like crazy, there is no shame in a little melt down. The times I have broken down and really let reality hit me were usually within the first month, but I almost found it therapeutic. Crying does not mean you are weak, in this case, it means you care. It is not easy having the love of your life be gone like this. It is even more difficult when your communication with him is sparse. Now if you're having a full on melt down every day, that is a bit worrisome. Remember to have a good support system of family and friends surrounding you to make this challenge a little more bearable.

          I am obsessed with sweets! I was watching a cooking show the other day and they had a delicious looking carrot cake. So, naturally, I look up the recipe and got baking! You know what, it was HEAVENLY! Paired with the cream cheese icing - OH MY! I love how carrot cake never tastes like carrots. Have you every noticed that? It's only called "carrot cake" because there just happen to be carrots in it. This recipe is so rich and flavorful. Be sure to have a few people over to share it with - just because it has carrots, doesn't mean it's necessarily healthy. ;)

Carrot Cake

Ingredients:

2 C sugar

1 C vegetable oil

4 eggs

2 C flour

1 tsp baking powder

1 tsp baking soda

1 tsp cinnamon

1/2 tsp salt

2 C grated carrots

Butter For Greasing

Directions:

• Mix together sugar, oil, and eggs in a large mixing bowl. 
• In another bowl, sift together flour, powder, soda, cinnamon, and salt. 
• Add flour mixture to the sugar mixture and combine. 
• Add carrots and mix well. 
• Pour into a well greased bundt pan or 9x13 and bake at 350 degrees for 35-40 minutes (50 minutes if using the bundt pan).

Icing:

1 stick butter (softened)

1 8oz package cream cheese (softened)

1 pound powdered sugar

2 tsp vanilla extract

• In large bowl, cream butter and cream cheese, add powdered sugar and vanilla. Mix well!

*Spread icing over cake when it has cooled completely.

Bon Appetit! :)

Military Wife: Week 8

          Austyn's graduation is quickly approaching! I am beyond excited to see him again.  I am amazed at how fast these past 8 weeks have gone. Each day seems to blur right into the next. I think back to the middle of October and how badly I just wanted to be in the middle of November... and here we are!
          I think when you're apart from the ones you love, you tend to miss the little things they would do each day. I do miss Austyn's actual presence, but it's the little things I go without now that I seem to miss the most. From him leaving his glass on the counter, or even his periodic snoring at night!
--- You know you miss your husband when you miss his snoring.
          Thankfully, we are nearing days rather than weeks now until we see each other. :)
          So as I have mentioned before, I write Austyn pretty frequently, like, everyday. I do my best to tell him about all that's going on throughout the weeks, but sometimes I forget little details. Austyn has missed some big milestones here with Maci and Molli, so I came up with a tip that will kind of benefit your soldier when he comes home.

(From a Mother) Tip #15: Document Your Time Apart

          Because you have kids who are constantly learning and growing each day, your husband is missing out on a lot of milestones. Letters won't always do them justice, so what I like to do is take pictures, videos, and even keep a journal of what the girls and I are doing every week. This is something we would do when Austyn is here anyway, but this will enable him to kind of catch up on our lives, and get a sense of what has been going on when he comes home.

(From a Family) Tip #16: Be Involved

          Whether it's church, sports, community events, getting involved will help time go by a little faster. This is kind of a bitter sweet tip as it may also make you more aware of your husband's/father's absence. But time really does go by SO much faster when you have things going on!

          If you want a flavorful, quick and easy pasta, here it is! Pepper Pasta is a recipe that was shared by a dear friend of ours a few years back. Give it a try! It is sure to be a hit!

Pepper Pasta

Ingredients:

1 Box of Linguine 

3 Bell Peppers

2 Serrano Peppers

3 Cloves of Garlic

A Stick of Butter

1 C Grated Parmesan

Olive Oil

Directions:

• Boil Linguine in some salted water. 
• Meanwhile, cut up the bell peppers, and very finely dice the Serrano peppers (remember not to touch your face after handling those babies)!
• Dice the garlic or use a garlic press
• In a pan, melt butter over medium heat. Add Serrano peppers and garlic. Saute for about 5 minutes (careful not to burn the garlic)! Add bell peppers.
• Once pasta has finished cooking, strain, and place in a serving bowl. Combine the sauteed peppers and garlic and mix well. Gradually add in the grated parmesan, and drizzle with a little olive oil.

*Note: My husband LOVES when I put in some

italian sausage. Just heat up some sausage links

on the grill, or in the microwave, slice it up,

and mix it in with the pasta before serving!

Bon Appetit! :)