Thanksgiving

We have been busy having fun our sister Lisa came to visit us, it was awesome!!
 
While she was here we were able to go and see Harry Potter; the Wilsons were generous to watch Maia for us while we went. Fantastic and then through out the week we listened to the second half on CD so we wouldn’t feel jipped since we have to wait another 7 months for the rest of the movie to come out! But we enjoyed it I think they did well at making it close to the book. Then Lisa and I went to ICAA Ladies Night In! We made some super cute mugs, coasters, and frames as well as got a nice foot warmer. Then we went and watched a Palmer Hockey game; The Ruffs came with us and took some sweet photos of the game (refer to Jesse’s facebook to see them). We are proud to announce the team is still undefeated, 8-0!! There are a few more games before Christmas break so far its been fun, except the late late games those make life a little more difficult.
For Thanksgiving I made a Cherry Pie and a Blueberry Pie completely from scratch!
   Yes an Indian Pie, last year it was Pilgrims this year and NDN (so no more crap about me not being fair! ;) )
  The B is for Blueberry however it does look like an R which stands for REALLY Good!!!
I have a new appreciation for store bought pie crusts, although these were not difficult to make they sure were tough to make look nice and keep together as I transferred them from counter to pan. But I’m happy with them. They are way tasty!  Then I made my moms Apple Yam casserole everyone told me that tasted like pie too. Then I did Cranberry sauce, which we still have a TON of, and Jesse and Lisa made some delicious frybread!!  We went to the Ruff-sters for dinner they made everything else and it was sooo delicious!! We were hopping to have time to make it over to hangout with the Wilsons and their party going on for dessert (that's why I did 2 pies) but we had a Skype date and weren’t able to make it. Our Skype adventure was with Julie and Brain and everyone out in Hawaii for the big reveal of what their baby is, and its a boy!! We are soo excited for them, and can not wait to meet the little guy in February!
Black Friday the girls went out and did some shopping while Jesse stayed home and got some studying done. Although we were not up at the wee hours of the morning we were still able to get some awesome deals! I got some fabric for Christmas presents and for a blanket for Julie’s little guy! As well as stuff for The Ward Christmas party, our last activity as a committee (boy are we thankful for that!!), I’m in charge of decorating so I am putting together some little trees for centerpieces. Then we got a killer front row parking spot at the mall ( I know it was sweet) and Maia got to meet Santa! There were no kids in line so we hopped right in!




She was so good! She kept waving at the camera lady because she was shaking toys and things to get her attention. But not a single tear from my baby! The little girl after us made up for Maia’s lack of tears though, poor kid. That night Auntie Lisa watched Maia so Jesse and I could go on a date! It was fun :) We saw The Next 3 Days, and really enjoyed it!
Saturday was the day of the big game! So we hung out and watched it, unfortunately we did not win but we put up our Christmas tree! Not the 2 ft tree we have had the past few years but a new 7ft tree the Ruffs so wonderfully donated to us!!
Here is Maia helping daddy with the tinsel!
She really likes the ornaments (of course, who doesn’t!) and we have only had one casualty so far and it wasn’t baby that broke it. We bought the shatter proof bulbs so we thought they’d be safer and they are so far but don’t play catch with them as they may break with too much pressure :)
Then sadly we had to take Lisa back to the airport so she could go home to Rexburg and we miss her so much! We had such a great time with her here! It’s nice to get to visit with family especially for the Holidays! Now we get to look forward to out trip to Denver for Baby’s first Christmas!!

Curtains and Candy

I LOVE them!!! So much fun and will help keep the cold out!! And thanks to Jesse for hanging up the curtain rod with the screw driver when the both drill batteries died! Such a strong Jesse! I was thinking I might get some fabric that is colored and put it up at the top like a fake valance…Just gotta find that! I have been looking at lots of quilting patterns lately and wow there are some very talented quilters out there! I don’t know that I like the super intricate designs but I have come up with some cool ideas for my next project! Can’t wait to get it started.
So we have had this large bowl of Halloween candy that Maia like to take stuff out shake it about and put it back in, no harm done right? So she started to get attached to this long tootsie roll it was perfect wand size and she would wave it around and beat the bowl with it; great system we had going on. Today while I was getting breakfast going she was playing with the bowl and other toys and I come back and she has devoured 3/4 of the tootsie roll along with half of the wrapper!! Serves me right for letting her play with candy! But her candy eating did not end there. Later on this afternoon she found a fun size pack or rollos she had hidden earlier from her playing with candy times. Started the same way waving it around beating things with it, but being rollos the gold foil began to open up. So she puts it in her mouth, naturally, and started chewing on it and realized its delicious. It was hard to pry away from her. Sure will be fun to give her cake on purpose on her birthday!

  drunk on candy

shortly followed by the sugar blues

Silly Baby

Maia in her bouncer! She doesn't get hurt in this one!

This baby of mine has been screaming so much lately! And whataya know another tooth shows up! So two tiny teeth up front! I will post photos when I can get them, they are still tiny teeth she doesn't like to show! We are doing all sorts of things to help her feel better poor kid! Her sleeping is getting better now that we put a space heater in her room, the fleece footy jammies just weren't enough! She has even been adjusting pretty well to day light savings ending which has been awesome! She also discovered the boinger that stops the door from slamming into the wall and oh what fun that is! My mom tells me its just pay back cuz as a child I would play with that thing for hours. So far I don't mind it but ask me again in about a month :)

 (isn't that dress cute!!)

I got curtains for our front room this weekend! Now the rod just needs to show up so I can show off the new look! I'm super excited about them! And will share soon!
I would like to post about my newest project but its still a secret! Hopefully I can keep it for the few weeks I need to before Christmas! Secrets are hard!
I also made the next best breaded chicken recipe! Baked this time not fried but chicken covered in ranch and dredged in bacon, breadcrumbs, garlic powder, minced onion, salt & pepper. De-freaking-licious! No not the healthiest out there but come one can you resist Bacon AND Ranch together in a meal? We can't :) But will definitely be trying to do good at eating healthy and keepin in shape since we are lucky enough to go to Hawaii in March! (Thanks again Momma Fox!!) Wanna not be too self conscious at the beach! We will spend most of our time with Julie and new baby I'm sure but you can't go to Maui, Hawaii and not go to the beach ever! But lets get through Thanksgiving and Christmas/ Maia's Birthday/ New Years before focusing on that too much!
My mom sent me my old fondue set! So who wants to come over for a fondue party?

Fried Chicken

Today I made the BEST fried chicken!! It was the first time I’ve made fried chicken like this but it definitely wont be the last!! Here is the recipe:

• 2 Tbsp garlic powder, or to taste
• 1 Tbsp ground black pepper
• 1 teaspoon salt
• 1 teaspoon paprika
• 1 Tbsp Season All
• 1/2 cup seasoned bread crumbs
• 1 cup all-purpose flour
• 1/2 cup milk
• 1 egg
• 4 skinless, boneless chicken breast halves - pounded thin
• 1 cup oil for frying, or as needed (will vary based on size of frying pan)

1. Soak Chicken in COLD salted water for approx. 30 minutes or Buttermilk for 1-4 hours (I used cold water)
2. In a shallow dish, mix together the garlic powder, pepper, salt, paprika, bread crumbs and flour. In a separate dish, whisk together the milk and egg and Season All (or more paprika).
3. Heat the oil in an electric skillet set to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C). Dip the chicken into the egg and milk, then dredge in the dry ingredients until evenly coated. Let chicken sit in coating while oil heats to help coating to stick better.
4. Fry chicken in hot oil 5 minutes then flip. Continue to fry flipping occasionally until chicken is no longer pink and juices run clear/ internal temperature reaches 160 degrees F. You can cover the chicken between flipping to help avoid oil burns.

 

Anyway it was fantastic, would work well to bake it too! Currently I am baking a cherry pie! I have not had one since I was pregnant and made one pretty much weekly! Something about fall and winter brings out my craving to bake! So please friends come over so Jesse and I don’t eat it all!!

Speaking of Jesse and eating! Jesse and our friend Jordan Merrill recently did the ketoses diet. For 5 days they ate little to NO CARBS! It was intense, on the very last day they went and worked out super hard then got to come home and carb it up!! This is Jesse enjoying his hard earned french toast with plenty of peanut butter and syrup and a sobe!

This little baby is soo silly! This precious shirt she is wearing I got for her at Target; cute right? I showed it to her as we were walking around not intending to buy it I just like to show her stuff, she is in training to shop after all. Beneath the picture of the cake it says ‘Pretty Please?’ so what does she do? Put it straight to her mouth! The girls wants cake! I will resist the urge to give it to her for 2 more months when she has her birthday! I hope!

Time Flies When You’re Having Fun!

  My baby girl is getting so big! This photo was the first I had with her after everything had settled down from birth and everything. (Dec 31st about 10pm) Even then she closed her eyes for the camera, it must definitely be passed on genetically! It seems every other photo I take I’m closing my eyes or about to close them! Haha! I was just thinking about my anniversary coming up in a few days and all that has happened in the past two years. It has been great! So busy!! But wonderful! Since the October of 2008 I got married, went to Hawaii, Graduated College, Moved halfway across the country, and Had a baby!! Heck I did all that BEFORE 2010!!

I have now been a graduate of Utah College of Massage Therapy for 1 year. I can hardly believe its been a year since seeing all my friends!  I love and miss ALL these people!! Since this photo 2 have gotten married 2 have gotten engaged and of course I had the baby! What fun :)

We have been through a lot and still have tons to look forward to! For example this Thanksgiving my sister (inlaw) Lisa is coming to visit us! We are totally stoked! Plus Harry Potter is coming out. Then we are going to Denver for Christmas, and then inbetween 3rd and 4th TRI we are going to Hawaii to visit Julie and the new baby (who is due for arrival in january)!!! My mother inlaw was so generous and purchased tickets AND a hotel for us to go and visit! (Thanks again!!) After that the first year of Palmer will be done! Sciences out of the way and a different kind of busy will come into our world. If things keep moving this fast next thing I know we’ll be moving to Canada, and my baby will be in school!! I hope to enjoy almost every minute of this ride we are on! We have been so blessed with great friends and family and I can hardly wait to see what else is in store for the Brown-Fox family!

My little Helper

Maia was 'helping' me fold laundry it was very cute.

She likes to help she just isn't very good at it yet. She will get there soon I know but it's so fun to watch her try it out!

Baby Food

Sometimes I think my baby only eats Crackers and Puffs. Not that I blame her for not eating baby food but I keep buying it. I get food for her from WIC and they seem to think the only baby food babies need are 4oz single flavor foods = gross. Fruits are not so bad but there are only like 6 baby foods that are single flavor and Maia will eat like 3 of them. I think they are all orange too! So I found some recipes to use up baby food that my baby wont eat. She just wants to be big and eat my food, but she doesn’t usually like my food that much either. So she eats more crackers. At least she still has formula so I know she is getting SOME nutrients! We’ll see how these new recipes for her turn out!

On other fronts I am looking for a new sewing project now that I have finished the buffalo vest; Which is super cute! So if anyone has any ideas or needs/wants a blanket/quilt I am totally willing to do something! Although I also still have plenty of Modge Podgeing to do from my projects I didn’t finish at Super Saturday last week! Jesse has finals this week! He did well on his 2 exams today and there are only 5 more then we are DONE with SECOND TRI!!! Totally psyched! Jesse has also started Hockey practice again! He is the only goalie on the team this year so a bit of pressure. But they only practice once a week and games are about the same in frequency. His first two games are next Thursday (Oct 21st 6pm) at the iWireless center and everyone is welcome to come cheer them on!