Makenna- 5 1/2 - 6 1/2

1.  You love school.
2.  Mrs. Buzzell was your kindergarten teacher and you loved her!
3.  You ended at the top of your class for reading.
4.  You "loved" Michael Winward.
5.  You are in dance, piano and soccer and great at all of them!
6.  Camryn is your best friend, but you also like to play with Mia, Parker and Ryan.  You also met some new friends Braylen and Serae that were on your soccer team.
7.  You are the most thoughtful little girl. 
8.  You have the Martin temper and when it flares, boy does it flare.
9.  Your imagination is absolutely crazy.  Everything in the house has at least two purposed (example: laundry baskets = cars, rock = phone, table = clubhouse)
10.  You love to shop (except for groceries as you say)
11.  You already have a sarcastic personality and we love it.
12.  You will eat almost anything I tell you to.
13.  You love church!  You say your prayers by yourself, read scriptures, and enjoy going to church!  You are always trying to choose the right. 
14.  You listen!
15.  You were so excited when we told you that we were having a baby.  And then cried when we told you it was a boy!
16.  We took you to Anti-Gravity for your birthday with your friends and you had a blast!
17.  We go to the lake a lot and you are an animal on the tube.  You have been launched out and didn't even cry.
18.  You are willing to try most things at least once.
19.  You were a zombie Rapunzel for Halloween.
20.  You don't have a favorite movie.  You watch almost anything and even love Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles and Spiderman with Gavin.
21.  You help Gavin all of the time.
22.  You enjoy playing with all of your cousins. 
23.  This summer (2012) has been a blast.  We have been to Lake Powell, camping (in a tent even!), to a cabin for the Martin reunion, Sand Hollow and Quail Lake.
24.  You have been the best little mother since Griffin has been here.  You even tell me how to do things (example: when I grabbed his bottle by the nipple you told me that I shouldn't do that because my hands have germs on them and that I will be spreading it to the baby).
25.  You can be quite moody.
26.  You are very, very sweet and always will give Dad and me hugs and kisses!
27.  You are an excellent swimmer!
28.  You want to grow up so bad and it makes me sad!  You can't wait to get married.
29.  You and Mema have a very special bond and I hope you always have it.
30.  You tell me everything and aren't afraid to say what's on your mind.
31.  Gavin worships you and thinks you're the funniest girl ever (which you are)
32.  You bore your testimony for the first time on August 5th. 
You are a complete joy to our family Makenna!!!  Dad and I love you so much and I hope you always stay close to our family!!!

Making a comeback!!! (hopefully)

It has been a long time since I have done this...  A long time meaning over a year.  I really want to get back into the "blogging scene" since I don't keep a hand written journal for my kids.  

As most everyone knows, a lot has happened since last June.  Emily Maynard was the last Bachelorette, Makenna has finished kindergarten and started first grade, Gavin is moving into his second year of preschool, I just ate the most delicious cupcake ever, and most importantly, we have two new additions to our family!  No, we didn't have twins (thank freaking goodness), but we did have a baby in July and added a dog!!!

One day I may go back and do a bunch of past posts, but for now, I am going to summarize each kid and move on from there!  If anyone cares... Mom, that would be you.

Griffin- Three days old

Family Pictures

My awesome cousin once again took our family pictures before she moved out to Cali to be with her boy toy. Thankfully, she was able to squeeze us in before she left.

This was the best family picture sesh ever. Even though most of us match (except Kenna). It totally wasn't planned. I figured I would make things easy and just dress the kids in what they normally where, let Brent pick out whatever and then I would wear something I had as well. Then we went to a park, and took the pictures. It was probably only a half hour long and I LOVE the turn out. Damn we are a good looking family!!!!

(is this not the best picture EVER!?)

Wigged out.

Makenna is obsessed with Tangled (as most of you have probably witnessed). She used to try and get me to make a blanket stay on her head so she could use it for her long Rapunzel hair. It never stayed on, and it drove both of us crazy... her, because it wouldn't stay on, and her whining because it never would stay on drove me nuts. Then. I had an idea. And this is what I came up with.


Trashy?! Possibly a little. But let me tell you. This wig has many hours of play in it already. She wears it daily (all day), hangs it up at night on her headboard, and even kisses it before she goes to bed. She has put it through monkey bars to swing on it, wears it in the stores (when I'm in a good mood), etc. She once took it to her cousins house and lost it. Unfortunately. I have never seen her cry that hard in my life. She SOBBED for over a hour. SOBBED. She could barely talk after I finally calmed her down. I'm surprised she fell asleep that night. I was laughing so hard. After another one was made, the first one was found (that's how it always goes). So she is STOKED that she has two.

She slides down her hair on the couch (funny huh?!)

Easter once again.

Easter weekend was so much fun! It started off with dying eggs at home... Kenna liked it, Gavin LOVED it. He was so sad when there were no more eggs to color. Or paint (he kept correcting me).

I'm standing on my tip toes... he is crouching

After, we had the annual Staheli Family Easter picnic. And as usual, it was a lot of fun.

It is always a good time, and you never know who is going to be there... literally, half of the time, I don't know half the people that come to it. But they are always nice and make some killer dutch oven potatoes, so I don't care who comes!!! We ate, ate, and ate some more. It was SO freaking good. These pictures are out of order... but I'm too lazy to fix them. Sorry.

Some of the people getting ready for the hunt.

One of Gav's best buddies.

Such divas.

What kid doesn't love climbing on hay stacks.

And jumping from them.

Yes, I know my extra chin makes me look super old.

My grandpa convinced McKenzi and I to get back on "a good horse".

Little story. When we were four or five, my grandpa got us on a "good, old horse" that never spooked or bucked. Needless to say, we ended up on the ground when the horse got scared... we haven't really been on a horse since. So we figured we would try it again. We went around twice and the horse started backing up so we got off. We were proud of ourselves.

As you can see (I think we were saying naughty words at this point)

This is how we all felt by the end of our excursion. Isn't that hilarious?!

Sunday was great as well... we woke up like normal (meaning I was yelling at everybody to get ready for church for 45 minutes), coming home, me yelling some more (I'm really good at it right now) and then us having a relaxing rest of day, a dinner at the in laws and then home for bed (thankfully)....

Garlic Herb Chicken con Broccoli.

Well, I'm not a very good promiser (I know, not a word) and haven't posted in a while. Anyway, here is another meal idea. If you want the original recipe click here. But, if I were you, I wouldn't follow it straight up. Here is why. The sauce has hardly any flavor if followed that way. I have been craving garlic (can PMS make you crave it?!) and maybe that is why I wasn't loving it at first. But I fixed it, and my familia ended up LOVING the food.

Oh, and double the recipe. For the chickens sake. Here is my new and improved version.

Garlic Herb Chicken con Broccoli

1 lb. chicken breasts with seasonings (1-2 tsp. dried basil, parsley and rosemary; 1/2 tsp. red pepper flakes; salt and pepper to taste. Rub into chicken breasts. I just estimated the amount of seasonings)
2 tsp. olive oil
4 oz. dry pasta (I used medium shells)
1 c. heavy whipping cream
6 T. butter
6 tsp. minced garlic (if not more)
2 tsp. cornstarch
1 c. fresh broccoli florets
salt and pepper to taste (you will most likely want lots)
2 T. grated Parmesan cheese

Cook chicken in olive oil until done and browned. Set aside.

Cook pasta. Drain.

Stir butter and garlic in saucepan. Cook until garlic caramelizes. Add cream and cornstarch and stir on medium heat until thickened. Add pasta. Stir in chicken and broccoli and simmer until noodles are done.

Sprinkle with Parmesan cheese and salt and pepper to taste.

Divinie Breadsticks (super easy to make)

1 ½ cups warm water

1 tablespoon instant yeast
2 tablespoons sugar
3 ½ cups flour (I usually use a combination of unbleached all-purpose flour and white whole wheat flour but use whatever you have on hand!)
½ teaspoon salt
3 tablespoons butter, melted (for the baking sheet)

Mix all ingredients (except melted butter) in a large bowl or electric mixer and knead for three minutes. Let the dough rest for 10 minutes. Heat oven to 375 degrees. Spread melted butter onto an 11X17-inch baking sheet. Roll out the breadstick dough about 1/4 to 1/2-inch thick and cut into strips with a pizza cutter. Twist slightly if desired and place about 1/2-inch apart on the baking sheet. Sprinkle with garlic salt, herbs of choice (I vary this depending on my mood but it usually consists of rosemary, basil, or thyme in some form and crushed finely) and parmesan cheese. Cover with greased plastic wrap and let rise 30 minutes. Bake 15-20 minutes at 375 degrees until golden brown.

Recipe found here.

I hope you enjoy. If not, go to Olive Garden and order it. Its delish!!!

Sweet and sour chicken.

I got this recipe here. My kids love it, the husband loves it, and I love it. I have even put chunks of green pepper and onion into it, and that is delish as well. My mouth is watering just thinking about it. Yum-my!!!

Sweet and Sour Chicken
Printable Version

*Note: if you like extra sauce, double the sauce ingredients – pour half over the chicken and follow the baking directions in the recipe and pour the other half in a small saucepan. Cook the sauce on the stovetop at a simmer for 8-10 minutes until it reduces and thickens. Serve it on the side of the chicken.

*Serves 4-6

Chicken:
3-4 boneless, skinless chicken breasts
Salt and pepper
1 cup cornstarch
2 eggs, beaten
1/4 cup canola oil

Cut boneless chicken breasts into chunks. Season with salt and pepper. Dip chicken in cornstarch and then in egg. Fry in a little oil until brown but not cooked through. Place in a single layer in a baking dish. Mix sauce ingredients (below) together and pour over chicken.

Sauce:
¾ cup sugar
4 tablespoons ketchup
½ cup vinegar
1 tablespoon soy sauce
1 teaspoon garlic salt

Bake for one hour at 325 degrees. Turn chicken every 15 minutes so it is evenly coated with the sauce. Serve over rice.