Rainbow Chard Soup

Occasionally, I do something really smart.  Occasionally, I am a really good mom.  And, even more occasionally, I am both smart AND a really good mom.  Yesterday, I had one of those moments!  I took the kids to the grocery store with me after school, and set them loose in the produce department.  I let them pick out LOTS of fruits and veggies.  Our cart was so colorful, and they were so excited!
Then, we went home, and, while they devoured a bowl of fresh berries each, I used some of those yummy veggies to make some stew.  It turned out SO pretty and SO yummy!  And, the kids were excited to eat it, because THEY had chosen the veggies.  We all ate the yummy stew with some dark pumpernickle bread.
But, when I knew I had truly succeeded was this morning when Ben asked, are we having the same dinner tonight?  When I said "probably" he was SO happy!  That makes me happy!

Here's what I threw into the pot yesterday:

3 Tbsp. olive oil
1 1/4 onions
4 garlic cloves
2 celery stalks
5-6 stalks of rainbow chard (this was so fun and colorful!  Pink, Orange, Red!)
2-3 cups chicken stock
1/4 cup whipping cream (because it was in the fridge)
2/3 cup evaporated milk (because it was in the fridge)
chopped up ham
salt
Monterey Steak Seasoning

I sauteed the veggies, then added the chicken stock, whipping cream, evaporated milk, and ham and let it simmer on the stove for a couple of hours.

The one thing I would have changed is that I would have put in MORE veggies and less ham.  :)  Super Yummmy!

2013

This year I hope to:

Read:
Falling to Heaven, by James L. Ferrell
The Peacegiver, by James L. Ferrell
Bonds that Make Us Free, by C. Terry Warner
The Anatomy of Peace, by The Arbinger Institute
To Draw Closer to God, by Henry B. Eyring

Exercise:
30+ minutes per day, 4+ days per week, every week

Take time to:
Enjoy the small moments with my family and friends.
Be still.
Study Brazilian Portuguese.

Maybe:
Go to my birthplace, Western Samoa, to visit my parents on their mission.
Become a Foster Parent.

Merry Christmas, and a Happy New Home!

So, ... we moved one month ago, today.  Who moves in December?  Only crazy people.  Who hosts the office Christmas party 8 days after moving?  Only crazy people.  Now that we've established that we are certifiably crazy, let me just say, "Whew!  That was intense!  Let's never move again!"
Many blessings came as a result of our insanity:
We were blessed to have amazing friends and ward members come and pack up our whole kitchen at the old house, and drive with all those boxes to the new house and completely unpack and settle the kitchen in one morning and afternoon!  (What a brilliant concept and enormous blessing!)
We were blessed to have a dear friend (adopted sister) come in and hang all our pictures for us!  (What a HUGE blessing!)
We were forced to settle the main area quickly, and decorate it for Christmas!  Which really was a blessing in disguise.

The party was a success!  After that, it was time to focus on Christmas!  We hit the Nutcracker and The Hobbit in one day!  (It was actually a huge deal that The Hobbit opened on the same night as the office party we were hosting!  We are glad that we made it to the movie the next day.  And, for the record, the Nutcracker tickets were purchased months in advance, before we had found a house, made an offer, or moved.  And, when they were purchased, there was no doubt in my mind that we would have already seen The Hobbit the night before!  So, I wasn't just crazily trying to pack everything into one day--even though other evidence points to insanity.)

We spent time unpacking boxes, and wrapping presents.  We were watched over by our Elf on the Shelf, Jimmy.  We attended our new ward, and found that Ben was the only boy in a Primary class of girls.  That was hard.  We prayed, and the next week, he found out that he had been in the wrong class, and had at least two other boys his age!  Cue the Alleluia Chorus!!  Brianna, of course, made instant friends!

Christmas was wonderful!  We were blessed, in that although James was on call, once he came home on Christmas Eve (a little after 7) he was not called out again until Christmas Day evening, so he was with us for Christmas Eve and most of Christmas day, and did not miss out on any of the essential stuff.

Then, we headed to Utah for the Crowley Christmas party later that week.  It was fun, as usual, to be with family.  The next morning, we attended the temple with my niece who received her endowment in preparation for her mission to Argentina.  Strangely, I could NOT keep my eyes open during the session, which I felt terrible about.  It's like maybe I was tired for some reason.
Following the temple, we headed home, with my wonderful parents, who are preparing to leave on their mission in March to Western Samoa, to serve in the Apia Temple.  (Yes, that IS where I was born!)  Well, in Apia, not in the temple.
And, since we were already decorated, we threw a New Year's Eve party!  Then went skiing to Aspen for two days with just our little family!
What a great month!  I hope yours was great as well, and I hope that you know that I'm grateful for you.  :)
Um, I'm going to bed now, don't wake me until February!