Military Wife: Week 1

          So it's taken me a good week to collect myself and try to get on a routine with the girls again. But let's face it, I will never be able to get use to Austyn being gone... So until Christmas, it's back and forth from WY and UT. It sure is nice to have family (somewhat) close by. Just a 5 hour drive away!
          So during these next 12+ weeks, I will be sharing not only some super delicious and satisfying recipes, but also some helpful tips to keep a woman as well as her children strong during those "military hardships" (Deployment, Boot Camp, Drill Weekends, etc.). I grew up a "Navy Brat" so I have a view from a few different perspectives. Since I was born I had to deal with my dad being gone. Sometimes twice a year for 3 months. Now I have the privilege of getting to be the wife of a man gone for a total of 5 months for basic and AIT. I am not trying to put myself on any pedestal here, but it definitely takes a strong and special woman to put up with the military life. It takes patience, courage, a heart of love and patriotism. My heart goes out to those many mothers in our country who have to deal with their husbands being gone anywhere from 2 weeks to a year.

         

 (From a Family) Tip #1: Take Some Family Pictures Before He Leaves

          

          This was just taken by my mom in the backyard, The picture doesn't have to necessarily be "portrait worthy," just a simple photo with everyone will be something you and your children can look at daily to keep your spirits high. If you can, it's also a great thing to send to your husband while he's away. Depending on the circumstances, he may not be able to see or talk to you while he is gone, but hopefully letters and pictures can be sent to keep you in close touch as a family. For your children, you may want to take individual pictures with them and their dad. They can keep that by their bed. :)

(From a Child) Tip #2: Plan a Fun Family Outing

          We did this with my dad when I was young. One time, we went to Chuck E. Cheese's when I was about 8. Coincidentally, we took Maci and Molli there this summer about a month before Austyn left. This doesn't have to be anything expensive. A simple backyard camp out or a picnic at the park will do itself justice. This is a great time to have some fun and make memories as a family, and to MAYBE take some time to explain to your children that daddy will be gone for a while... I stress the MAYBE because every family probably goes about it at a different time. The important thing is to spend plenty of time as a family before life separates you for a while. 

          Enough tips for a moment... I have a delicious Banana-Chocolate Chip Muffin recipe that is photographed, but I currently do not have my camera with me, so you will just have to imagine the moist, flavorful muffins on your own. Sorry! They really are the best though. They were inspired by my mother-in-law who has a VERY similar recipe. My husband raves about them, and did for 3 years (*Hint Hint) until I finally made him some. These are great treats for a Sunday morning before church, school lunches, or to snack on through out the day! I am guilty of eating an entire batch by myself! They are that good!

Banana Muffins

Ingredients:

4 Bananas

2 Eggs

1/4 C Sour Cream

1/2 C Vegetable Oil

1 1/2 C Sugar

2 C Flour

3/4 tsp Baking Soda

1/2 tsp Salt

1/4 tsp Baking Powder

1/4 tsp Cinnamon

1 tsp Vanilla

1 C Chocolate Chips

          

          Directions:

• Mash bananas into a mixing bowl. Add the Oil and Sugar. Mix well
• Add remaining ingredients EXCEPT the chocolate chips. Save those for last. I have a belief that chocolate chips only belong in cookies---my husband is SLOWLY changing my view on that---but you can leave those out if you want.
• Spray two 12 ct muffin pans with cooking spray (or you can line them with cupcake liners for easier clean up).
• Distribute into the pans with a good ol' ice cream scooper to ensure the muffins all turn out the same size.
• Bake in a 350 degree oven for about 15 minutes (or until golden on the top).

Bon Appetit! :)

          

Countdown

          We are only days away from saying goodbye to our handsome husband and father. It is truly agonizing. I am torn about whether I want time to speed up to Christmas, or for it to slow down and STOP altogether! I am just praying we won't have to go through this again in the years to come before his contract is up.
          Regardless, I am so very proud of Austyn and his hard work and dedication to not only our family, but our country...
          This past weekend, we made a quick trip to Laramie for Austyn's 'Drill weekend.' The girls and I went to tidy up our apartment --- excuse me, I did the tidying up --- and the girls played, ate, slept, rolled over, used the big girl potty, and thoroughly exhausted me. Truthfully it made me quite happy because I was always busy and distracted from the fact that Austyn was gone. Needless to say though, I was quite happy when he came home Sunday afternoon. :)
          Upon his request (and my bravery) I finally decided to attempt a pot roast lunch on Sunday. I'm not sure why, but I have always been nervous about making a pot roast. I think everyone has had the roast that was either not cooked long enough, way overcooked, or just drained of any flavor. I was always worried that would be my case. I found a recipe online that said, "Perfect Pot Roast." Obviously any roast recipe that says "Perfect" ought to be, right???
          With a few alterations and minor modifications, I believe I did indeed whip up the Best Sunday Pot Roast --- EVER!!! I must say, I am mighty proud of myself.

The Best Sunday Pot Roast EVER ;)

          Ingredients: 

1 3-5lb Chuck Roast

2 Onions (halved)

1 Small Bag of Carrots

10 Red Potatoes 

3 TBS Olive Oil

2 1/2 Cups Beef Broth

A big sprig of Thyme and Rosemary 

Plenty of Salt and Pepper (to season the roast)

          Directions:

• Make sure your roast is completely thawed. Season it with a heaping tablespoon or so of salt AND pepper each on all sides. 
• Put 1 TBS of olive oil into a pot on medium heat. Place in the halved onions and cook until lightly browned on both sides. Remove onions to a plate, then throw in the carrots (you can cut them in half or leave them as is.) Cook carrots until slightly browned. Remove to the same plate as the onions. 
• Thoroughly rinse and scrub the red potatoes, and cut in half. Place into same pot and cook for about 3-4 minutes. Place with onions and carrots. 
• Pour in another TBS or so of olive oil into the hot the pot, and place in the roast, cooking until lightly browned on all sides. Remove to a plate.
• Pour in 1 cup of Beef Broth and let that heat up for about a minute. Replace the meat, and fill pot with remaining broth (don't cover the meat completely, about half way. So you may not even need all the broth depending on how big your roast is.)
• Place the veggies on top of roast and top it off with the Thyme and Rosemary.
• Cover with lid and place into a 275 degree oven.
• Allow to cook for 4 1/2 hours
• When it's finished cooking, you may remove the thyme and rosemary, and do your best to pull apart or even shred the beef. Then, allow it to sit in the pot with the broth and veggies for a good half hour.

Bon Appetit! :)

Deja Vu

          A summer of working has nearly come to an end. Much has happened the past few months, including the birth of our second daughter, Molli! She is the sweetest little snuggle bug! It is so fun having two little girls around. We moved to a bigger apartment, Austyn joined the Wyoming National Guard, completed his first year of college (YAY!!!) and have temporarily moved back to Vernal for work this summer.
          Austyn will be leaving for his basic training (aka Boot Camp) here in just days! He will be gone for an unfortunate 12 weeks, then immediately starting up his AIT (I'm sorry, but I can't quite remember what that all stands for). It's basically his more "job specific" advanced training.
          Don't get me wrong, I am absolutely honored and proud to have a husband serving in the United States Military, but I did marry this man with the assumption that he would NEVER up and join the Armed Forces reserves --- you'd think a "Navy brat" would be totally drawn to a man in a uniform... Not so much.
          The hardest thing I experienced growing up was those early mornings of driving my dad down to the docks for him to board that submarine.. He was gone for 3 whole months about twice a year for many years. My mom always handled it pretty well, but my brother and I would be balling our eyes out in the back seat watching him leave.
          Now I did kind of day dream once in a while of what it would be like to fall in love with a military man, that is until I met Austyn. There was no way I could ever push him to pursue a career that route. I am way too selfish. But he has our family's best interest at heart. There are many more advantages to the National Guard if you're looking for more of a "family friendly" branch of the military. School will come first for the next 4 years, then the 1-2 years after that, we'll be somewhat on the edge of our seats to see what happens.
          Thankfully, though, Petroleum Engineering is first and foremost in the front of our minds for a long term career. The girls and I will just have to make it through this winter, then we'll be able to start up our "college routine" again next fall.. :)
          Oh the places we go in life; always unexpected. :)

          P.S. I will have more recipes up soon - I promise! Still getting into the swing of things with a 2 year old and a 2 month old. They are seriously the funnest, sweetest, busiest girls in the world! Miss Maci is in her "too busy" "too picky" stage, so the "Chef Mama" in me has been trying so hard to find recipes that she'll actually eat! We may have to resort to the Oh So Famous macaroni and cheese. But I'm sure there's a delicious homemade recipe for that somewhere... :)