Yummy desserts and date night!

Today I made yummy peanut butter pie!! It is so delicious and looks delicious too! And just about the easiest pie I've ever made. I also made creamy raspberry dessert but won't get to try that until tomorrow. I'm sure it will be just as delicious and it was easy to make too. I also made chocolate cupcakes with buttercream frosting. I love desserts!

In just a little bit Matt and I get to go on a double date. I'm so exited to get to go out with some friends- kids free. We are going to Pei Wei which I haven't been to in a long time and we get to get lettuce wraps! Mmm-mmm! They are so yummy!

I really don't have much else to say because I need to get ready for my date!!!!!

Cabbage soup

Today I made some yummy cabbage soup. I made so that can eat for lunch for the next week. It seems like when I'm at home with Colston I either forget to eat or don't want to take the time cook something. But having this soup on hand has been the perfect thing for me to have for lunch and I don't mind eating the same thing every day and when I get tired of I take a break from it and have left overs if we have any. I am going to share my recipe with you and some things to do to make more fun if you prefer.

Cabbage Soup

1 green pepper
4 carrots
6 sticks of celery
1-2 cans of mushrooms or fresh (depends on how much you like mushrooms)
1 can of diced tomatoes or fresh
1 head of cabbage
can or bottle of v8 juice
8 cups of water
2-3 buillon cubes

Chop up everything and add to the pot. Add juice and water last and buillon cubes. Cook for about 2 hours on medium heat. Cooks faster on high but you need to watch it. You need a very big pot for this recipe or I cut the recipe in half and then when I'm out in a week I use the other half of the ingredients. This soup also freezes well if you make the whole recipe and want to save half.

Other options:

You can add lean ground beef (Uncooked and cook it with the soup and it won't leave lots of oil on the top like fatty beef does.)
You can also add asparagus fresh or canned, artichoke hearts, onions, mix rice or pasta, any spices you may like. They also have spicy v8 juice that will give it a bit of a cook. I like this soup because you can really make it your own and add whatever you want or keep out what you don't like.

Enjoy!

So long....

Wow! It has been a LONG time since I have written on my blog. I've thought about writing lots of times and just have not taken the time. So sad. But that's okay I am starting again now. So much has happened in the last 5 months or so but I'm not sure what all to include with out making this way too long of an entry.

Colston is now 21 months old and running around like a wild man. He keeps me so busy and on my toes! Today he counted to five all on his own! I was so proud of him! We actually got it on video too. Which is great because he always does awesome things and then we can never get it on video. One of the frustrating things of a toddler.

On other news, I went to the doctor today because my c-section scar is still bothering and it's been almost two years since I had my little guy. The first time I went to the doctor he said it should go away and I kind of felt like I was getting the brush off. But today I felt like he really listened to me and he told me he thinks it is a nerve that has gotten caught in the scar tissue or something. Which is what my mom has been saying for a while, so as always she was right! That's my mom smarter than doctors! My doctor said on my next c-section he will be able to take care of it. There are some other test results I am waiting on and I am praying all is well. Trying really hard to leave this all in God's hands. It seems the more I try not to worry the more I do. Why is that? Giving up control is so hard and hanging onto is exhausting! Thank goodness for my faith in God or I would probably go even more crazy with "what if's" and "why not's". God keeps me sane when I feel like I'm going crazy that's for sure.

On another note I had written months ago that I was trying to lose weight and I have finally succeeded some. Which I am so happy about. I started off by walking and changing my diet some and then in January joined a gym for the first time in my life. I love going to the gym now just to have some "me" time. Matt has been so great about watching Colston for a while so I can go when he gets home from work. He's such a great daddy! Since September I have lost almost 20 lbs and now I am starting to gain some muscle which is great. Tomorrow I have a work out sessions with one of the trainers at the gym which I am excited for. She has seen me working out some and said for me to come in tomorrow and she'll teach me some stuff. I am a little nervous because she said we are going to work out hard. Hopefully I can hack it! I officially weigh less than I did before I got pregnant so I am hoping to lose about 20 more and get toned! We'll see how it goes for me.

Matt is now leading the music at church and doing a wonderful job! He is still the youth pastor and now the worship leader as well. We had our spring fling a couple of weeks ago and Matt and I are both too old to stay up all night. But we did have a great time and I think we had the best behaved teens there! Of course I'm biased but I don't care. They were awesome the whole night and we never had to get on to them. The next Sunday one of the teens we had been praying for since camp got saved and it was amazing. His mom has been praying for him for a long time and during church that Sunday he wrote on his bulletin "I want to get saved." I almost cried when Matt told me. I can only imagine the emotions his mom felt when she read that. What an answer to prayer! God is so amazing!

On December 31st I was doing my devotions before the new year and came across John 13:7 which is when Jesus is talking to Peter about washing his feet and he tells him "You don't understand what I'm doing now but one day you will." That was the perfect verse for me to find right before the new year started. It has been such a blessing to me and has helped me to take all the circumstances I don't understand lightly. It's amazing how much comfort God's word can bring you if you just let it.

100 miles before 2010

Today started the challenge my friend Allie has going on which biking, running, jogging, or walking 100 miles by 2010. I am happy to say I am trying to do this challenge! I walked two miles today and plan to do that 5 times a week. I'm also doing a challenge with my mother in law and sisters in law to see who can lose the most weight between now and Thanksgiving when we are all together. We shall see who is the victor! I am trying to keep to a 1,ooo calorie a day diet but that is very hard since I have a major sweet tooth! But cutting out soda should help me a lot but we will see. My mom also bought me this cool thing to help you lose weight in your face. Super excited! If this challenge goes well I'm hoping we make another one til the first of the year but that will be very hard with all the yummy treats at Christmas! Wish me luck!

First Haircut

Got Colston his first haircut. We went to cookiecutters and they did a fabulous job! I am so impressed with them! The lady who cut his hair did a great job of distracting him during the haircut. They played a video for him and he got to sit in a little car and had a blast turning the steering wheel. There were a few times that he gave her a "what are you doing" look and pushed her hands away but for the most part he let her do her thing. And they printed off a picture for me and attached his locks to it. So now I just need to frame it and put it in his room. I probably won't get a picture printed out every time but it was a nice touch for his first one. I would definitely recommend cookiecutters to anyone! They know their stuff! And as a bonus they had a changing table in their bathroom! Which was great because of course as soon as it was time for his haircut he made "boom boom"!

Starting some discipline

Today I did my turbo jam video that I was so excited to get but never use! I hate working out! If I exercised half as much as I thought about it I would be so incredibly in shape. But alas thought do not count! So I am hoping that today was the start of me disciplining myself to work out and get in shape. If I actually get committed to this and keep up with it I will probably get pregnant right as I lose weight. Just my luck!

Another cake

My friend Pam paid me to make a cake for her daughter's 8th birthday. She had her party at the skate rink and wanted a cake that was black and hot pink. She wanted pop/punk kinda like Hannah Montana or Avril Levine. I basically had freedom to add or do whatever I wanted to make it my own creation. I kept looking for streamers or something cool and sparkley to go on top of the cake and on the sides. I found these star wands and thought they were perfect! Then later Matt found the little star things I put on the side of the cake. The ribbon was my favorite part! The zebra added a bit of punkishness to the cake I think. The hot pink stars I thought went better with the theme than polka dots would have. It took me a long time to get the frosting smooth but it was definitely worth it! This is one o my favorite cakes that I have made. I think it had a lot of originality and personality! Did I mention the birthday girl loved it? I don't know why but I was so nervous making a cake for a little girl. I was so worried it wouldn't be what she was expecting but she said it was great! She said she "had an awesome party with a cool cake!"

I love my new hobby and will be making another cake this weekend so I will be posting more pictures! Hope you guys enjoy!