Joy in Simple Things

It's so easy to fill up the calendar with "things" to do. Go here, go there. Go, go, go!

My whole family has been under the weather this week and by today we all feeling like sticking close to home. In between sneezing and blowing noses, it was nice to just be. Be home. Be together. Be resting. Be a family. Finging joy in simple things.



Daddy had a great idea of working together as a family on a project. He (and the kids) picked baking brownies. The kids helped him drag out all the necessary items: ingredients, measuring instruments, bowls, and the mixer. They then took turns adding each thing.



(I should pause and tell you that they did wash their hand prior to beginning, but it's probably a good thing that we are pretty much home bound this weekend and keeping the brownies to ourselves. It's hard reminding toddlers NOT to lick things, or dip fingers into thing for the sake of staying ssanitary. So sorry, we will not be sharing this time.)




It was wonderful seeing everyone spending time with each other working on something collectively. What a great reminder to slow down, clear the calendar from time to time, and just be.

Here are some pictures from the festivities:

Chicken Marsala is a Hit!

This evening my family and I had a recipe taken from one of my Weight Watchers cookbooks: Make It In Minutes. I've made it in the past. However, the last time I made it it wasn't great. I don't know what I was missing. I can tell you that until this evening, I've lacked the confidence to try it again.

Chicken Marsala is one of my hubby, Troy's, all time favorites. If it's on a menu at a restaurant - he'll try it. In fact, on our 5th anniversary last month that is what he ordered when we went to the Rock City Grill. He was highly disappointed that time around. Well, Troy has not been feeling well the last few days, so as a get well gesture I decided to muster up some courage and try this dish again.

This time it turned out great! The chicken was seasoned nicely. The mushrooms sauted to perfection. The sauce thickened as instructed, unlike last time when it became a paste-like, mess. It was yummy! Tyler, my dear son, even enjoyed the mushrooms!

For the few of you that venture to my blog, I'd like to share the recipe:

Chicken Marsala

• 2 tsp Olive Oil
• 4 - 4 oz thin-sliced boneless skinless chicken breasts
• 1/2 tsp salt
• 1/2 tsp coarse ground black pepper
• 2 C sliced mushrooms
• 2 tsp all purpose four
• 1/4 C dry Marsala wine
• 1/4 C reduced-sodium chicken broth
• 1 Tbl chopped fresh parsley

1. Heat the oil in a large nonstick skillet over high heat. Sprinkly the chicken with salt and pepper. Add to the skillet and saute until cooked through, about 3 minutes on each side. Transfer the check to a platter and cover to keep warm.
2. Add the mushrooms to the skillet; saute until browned, about 3 minutes. Sprinkle the mushrooms with the flour, stirring to blend. Add the wine and broth; bring to a boil. Cook, stirring occasionaly, until the sauce thickens, about 3 minutes longer. Stir in the parsley. Spoon the mushroom mixture over the check.

Per Serving (makes 4 servings):

* 4 WW pts * 164 calories * 4 g total fat * 0 g dietary fiber *

If you are in the market for a good cookbook I highly suggest this one. The other recipes my family has enjoyed are: Polynesian Pineapple Chicken & Turkey Rolls Cordon Bleu.

Happy dining,

Good-bye Diego...

...hello, Tranformers!

Our little man is growing up SO fast. It seems like just days ago everything was about Go Diego Go! Now, all our little man can think of are Transformers.

In fact, I've been going through our house looking for items for an upcoming yard sale (I'm up to 6 garbages worth and 3 boxes). While sitting at dinner last night Tyler asked, "what is a yard sale?" We explained that from time to time people have yard sales to sell their items that they no longer need to purge, declutter and possibly make money to buy something they really want. By the end of the discussion he had volunteered to sell all of his Go Diego Go toys in order to purchase new Transformers.


He's no longer a baby or even a toddler. He is now a genuine "Big Boy". I can no longer shop the in the toddler department when shopping for clothes for him. He's constantly on the hunt for things that are "cool". He takes showers instead of baths. He plays video games with great knowledge of everything. He rides a two-wheel bike. The list goes on and on.


Oh, how I cherish the moments he still lets me craddle him and kiss on him. Those moments don't happen often, but when they do....it's like heaven.

Tyler, babe, I love you with all my heart. Don't grow up too fast, okay?

Not goodbye, just see you later...

1 There is a time for everything,
and a season for every activity under heaven:
2 a time to be born and a time to die,
a time to plant and a time to uproot,
3 a time to kill and a time to heal,
a time to tear down and a time to build,
4 a time to weep and a time to laugh,
a time to mourn and a time to dance,
5 a time to scatter stones and a time to gather them,
a time to embrace and a time to refrain,
6 a time to search and a time to give up,
a time to keep and a time to throw away,
7 a time to tear and a time to mend,
a time to be silent and a time to speak,
8 a time to love and a time to hate,
a time for war and a time for peace.

Ecclesiastes 3:3-8

Jay, we love and miss you. You will always be in our hearts. Please watch over us all.

Jason Alexander Christensen

February 2, 1975 ~ March 12, 2008

5 Years....my how the time goes by!

I'm 10 days late in posting this. Troy and I celebrated our 5th wedding anniversary on the 23rd of this month. We are both amazed at how quickly the time has gone by. In 5 years so much has happened. It's hard to even wrap our brains around what the next 5, 10, or 15 years will hold!

In 5 years we've:

* Moved 5 times.

* Aquired 4 animals (2 cats, 2 dogs).

* Lived in Spokane 3 years.

* Had 2 amazing children!

* Bought 1 house.

There are so many things that fill in the spaces between those 5 things listed that there would be now way to put them in one post. I can tell you this, the last 5 years have been some of the best years of my life. God has blessed me more than I feel I sometimes deserve. I've got a wonderful husband. Bright, beautiful, and creative children. A house that becomes more of a home everyday. And friends that are priceless. There really isn't much more I could ask for in life.

Troy, my love, thank you for the last 5 wonderful years! I look forward to the years ahead and what God has in store for us. You are a true blessing in my life and I know that there is no better man for me. I love you to the moon and back!

Yay! I can do laundry again! (Never thought I'd hear myself say that.)

Oh the sweet joy of having a working washing machine!!

Earlier this week my husband came upstairs and announced that our washer was in deed broken. I just couldn't believe it....I went downstairs and fiddled with it myself. Nothing. It would fill with water and empty - never aggetate.

So, over the course of the last week we went from store to store trying to figure out the best deal. Our dream was to have a front loading set - better on clothes and more energy efficient. However, that was going to take quite an investment. We even went to our local ding and dent center where things are discounted due to having minor damage during shipping or having been a previous floor model. I would have gladly given them our money, until they acted like used cars sales men. Ugh! No thanks.

Next we went to Costco and Lowes. Both of them had comprable prices, however since we knew we'd need financing on this unexpected expense we choose to give Lowes our money. When you open an account with them they give you 10% off your first purchase. Ultimately, we decided to put our dreams aside (for now) and get a top loader. We are hoping when we go to sell our house next year that we will be able to use the profits of the house on upgraded appliances.

You don't realize how quickly laundry will pile up when things aren't in working order. Thankfully we have many dears friends that have been willing to let us do a few loads here and there over the course of the week. I couldn't imagine what it would have been like to go to the laundry mat with two toddlers in tow.

Needless to say, I'm thrilled to have our new washer here and working! Wee hoo!