Chicken Enchilada Soup

This is some serious comfort food! I have made many soups with the mexican theme, and this is a winner!

3 carrots chopped
2 ribs celery chopped
1 onion chopped
2 T oil
8 C chicken broth
1 can Rotel tomatoes
1 pkg taco seasoning
10 small corn tortillas ripped a bit
2 T corn starch into 1 C water
1 C half and half
1 lb velveeta cheese
3 C chopped chicken
1 can black beans (drained and washed)
1 can corn (drained)

Saute veggies in oil till clear. Add the tomatoes, seasoning, and tortillas. Bring all ingred. to a boil and boil gently for 20 min. Use a wand blender if you have one and if not use your regular blender to puree all ingred.

Add the corn starch water and bring to a boil. Then add half and half and cheese. Don't boil the soup again or it will curdle. Add your mix ins.

Top with tortilla strips, fresh salsa, tomatoes, sour cream, avocado, and chopped cilantro.

Time to catch up!

Our Apple has been in a box for the last two months while we are renting month to month waiting for our short sell house to go through. Uggghh! Can I just say that short sales are lame! I asked Chris to please get it out of the box, and let me just say.... it is so nice to be back. I have missed blogging, so now it is time to catch up. Let's begin with Mckay's Birthday party!

On the day of McKay's birthday his teacher invited us to come to class before lunch and share stories about McKay and then let him pass out a treat to his classmates. We also surprised him with a happy meal to eat at lunch time. We do birthday parties every other year, and Madison and McKay wanted it to be at Boondocks. (McKay Jan 13th, Madison Jan 14th) So Chris and I took on the challenge of 8 friends plus our own kiddos. Here are a few pictures from McKay'sLightning McQueen birthday party!

They grow up way too fast

It is so true, they grow up way too fast. I love every stage, but just wish they would last longer.


All ready for first trip to church
We just love her blue eyes and can't believe we have a child with them.
I think I have a picture like this of Chris with every kid as a baby. He loves to snuggle.
Savannah loves to watch the DS
Pinkalicious! What did I ever do without a Bumbo chair? They are a definite must with a baby.

Madison turns 6

To begin Madison's birthday, we headed to Claires after school to get her ears pierced. As you can tell, she wasn't too happy at first, I distracted her from the pain by letting her pick out some earrings. Her favorite pair were some little pink dolphins.
Trenton falling asleep at the doorway before Madison's guests arrived.Madison wanted to have a Tinker Bell themed party.

Family Game Show Night

I have a new favorite magazine! Disney Family Fun. It is the best! There are so many great ideas for kids. Having a Faminly Game Show Night is one of them. I of course had to do this, and it was a hit. So much of a hit, that my kids kept playing the games for a couple days after our fun night.

Dress for success

During the get-dressed-for-school rush, kids get slowed down by fiddly snaps and stubborn zippers. In this game, it's oven mitts that humorously hamper the process. Pile an assortment of large size clothing on the floor. Take turns donning the mitts and racing the clock to see who can put on the most items in one minute.

Lunch-bag Launch

In this laugh-out-loud game of burger flipping gone awry, the use of a kitchen implement will thrill the inner 8 year old in everyone. Make balls by stuffing ten paper lunch bags with newspaper, then tape them closed. Players take turns using a spatula to fling the balls into a laundry basket set about 10 feet away. The object:get the most baskets in one minute.

Bean counting

Even if your kids won't touch their beans at the dinner table, they'll gladly do it here. Pile some dry beans on a table and place an empty bowl next to them. At "Go," players have one minute to move as many beans as they can to the bowl using tweezers.

M & M Straw Game

http://www.oneshetwoshe.com/2011/02/m-m-straw-game-she-michelle.html

10 years

Happy Anniversary to Chris and me! 10 years! We celebrated by going out to dinner at Ruth's Chris, and can I tell you that it is a wonderful place to go for such an occasion. The staff made us feel so special; rose petals on our table, many wishes of Happy Anniversary, perfect customer service, the most delicious steak dinner, and a free, delectable dessert of our choice. Next year we will go to Hawaii since we couldn't this year because of sweet Savannah(and the baby weight I still have to get off, LOL).

I am very blessed to have Chris as my husband. Chris has such a fun sense of humor and is very witty. He is understanding of my needs and always there with a hug to make me feel special. A very hard worker and provider for our family, incredibly wise and intelligent, dashingly handsome, and a great father who adores his children. Most importantly he is a man who honors his priesthood, has a deep love of the gospel, and relationship with his Savior, and always willing to serve others.

Our engagement picture

A new tradition

This year I discovered the book, "The Elf on the Shelf." It is a darling story that comes with a toy elf. The elf is magic and goes to the north pole every night to report to Santa if the children have been naughty or nice. Every morning he is in a different spot in the house from his visit to Santa. Can you guess what the first thing is the kids do when they get up in the morning? If the kids touch him, he loses his magic. The kids can talk to him and tell him all their Christmas wishes, but he can only listen, he does not talk. You also get to name your elf! Ours is named Zittle. What a great new tradition to start the Christmas season with each year (and a great way to keep the kids in line;)!