Camping

So for our anniversary Nate and I took the kids camping. I have so many memories of camping and I want my kids to experience camping as well. We went to Zion's camp. About 45 minutes to an hour away. We had a great campsite, great food (if you ask me, the kids didn't care for foil dinners and kabobs), and mosquitoes were aplenty! I thought it would be fun but I wasn't prepared for the wonderful time I had!

Zion's camp has a small pond, and a beach/meadow area around it so we went down there rode some paddle boats, canoe, and a raft. Played wiffle ball with Nate, Daniel, Amber, my mom, Whitney, and Amy played too! so cute how Conner and Isaiah would chase the ball instead of running to the base!! Badmitten and slip n' slides, and picked fresh blackberries too!! So much fun!

We had smores, foil dinners, kabobs, peach cobbler in the dutch oven (thank you Amber, it was delicious!!!), pancakes, lots of bacon, eggs and a bunch more!!

We went on a night hike that was really great! The kids complained and whined about how they were scared the whole way and wanted to do it again when we were done! It was so neat!! So peaceful, and beautiful!! I enjoyed doing all the food but need more practice and finesse'!!

Being up there was so fun, and I loved it so much that Nate and I want to go again this month! Loved it!





I did however, forget my camera!! So disappointed!

Palago Food

In no particular order, the Ravioli's, the view from the walkway to our workshops in one of the buildings, the Ricotta with Truffle oil and breads that I will NEVER forget!!! YUMMMMYYY!!!!

Chicago!

Got back from The Pampered Chef's National Conference in Chicago on Friday night. There is no way to adequately describe my experience! I think that everyone should experience that city. I can't not wait to go back next year!! I'll try to capture our experiences but it may take a few entries.

We flew into Midway on a stormy night. Thunder,lightning, rain the whole thing which made for a bit of a bumpy ride. I was surviving this until we started to land. We are almost on the runway when the pilot unexpected pulled up...I mean straight up. Or it seemed like it. The plane was shaking and bumpy, and all I could see was white clouds with horizontal rain, flashes of lightning next to the wing of the plane. So scary! They circled the plane back around and finally, mercifully landed! This one did me in. I was so sick!!! Still had to get onto a shuttle to take us to the hotel!

Monday was our treasure hunt at McCormick Place! This place is huge!! Takes up like 2 or 3 city blocks. Don't know for sure but it was massive! Got some free stuff and did some shopping for for Pampered Chef clothes, purses, decals etc. Then we went to the Hancock building! 96 stories and my ears popped all the way up but the view was so worth it!!! We were right next to lake Michigan!! Someone recommended a restaurant at the Hotel Conceierge so we went there. the restaurant is called Palago and this place was doin' it right!!! They make their pasta fresh every day! I had the Veal Ravioli's with a Pistachio Butter cream sauce!!!!! May I say.....WOW!!!!! Here is a picture of the food, restaurant and me enjoying it!!


Ricotta with Truffle oil!!!!! Toasted home made fresh daily delicious bread!! The ricotta with Truffle oil!!! DIVINE!!!!!

P.S. Having trouble getting all the pics. to upload so I may have to make several posts to get them all, sorry!

LOVIN' the Mommy life!

Getting ready for my trip. The goal: get packed, don't leave Nate with a sink full of dishes and a dirty floor! So far I'm only 1/2 packed and I feel like I'm in a hamster wheel with the cleaning part!! Got the floors swept and mopped without incident and went to do a load of dishes. Finished that only to find that the nice neat (large) pile of folded clothes on Conner's bed I was trying to put away was all over the floor. No longer folded and some thrown into the toy box. He wanted to jump on the bed and the clothes were in his way. It's a disaster in there!!! Started on that, and Ethan decided to destroy the kitchen while I wasn't watching...again...ok, I give up for now. I'll have to wait until they are all in bed!!! I love being a mom, being here with them and watching them grow. The house can wait I guess!!!

Scooter

My youngest son always makes me laugh. He is such a fun little guy and aside from the fact that he is adorable, he scoots like no other!! Nate put this link up on you tube and I thought I would share it with you. Enjoy.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YJzMzESH4CE

Chicago-Pampered Chef

Ok so I'm going to Chicago next month...18 days actually...and I'm so excited. Pampered Chef schpeel comin' at ya'. I've been with The Pampered Chef for 6 years now. I've taken time off here and there to have children or because I wanted to but, I'm still in business. I love doing it and even though sometimes I think I should quit I just can't leave it alone. It is so much fun. The cooking shows are a blast, I learn a lot from other people and the food is DELICOUS! Our tools really save time in the kitchen so that Mom isn't still in the kitchen while everyone else eats. Plus they products and recipes make cooking so much fun and more of a family affair. My kids love to help me when I use my food chopper, or Salad & Berry Spinner. Plus, I can't help but love helping other people. Moms who have babies that they don't want to leave but, need extra money to help pay the bills. College age folks who want to earn money to pay for college or a mission. I know many ladies and gentleman who are retired and can't work full time jobs but "work" 2 times a week and get paid what they did working 40 hour work weeks. Together. It's a blessing and I'm in a position to offer that to other people. Pampered Chef has done so much for so many! I honestly don't think that it's the answer for everyone but it is a great opportunity for anyone who wants to be successful.

Anyway back to Chicago. This trip is for National Conference. National Conference is where they reveal all the next seasons new products, recipes, specials, and they giveaway a TON of stuff! This time the big thing is they are giving away a CAR!!! Woohoo! I have been one other time but this time I will be equipped with some really fantastic restrants to visit and I'll be going with a very good friend of mine! The reason I'm able to go on this trip is my wonderful husband. Nate gets frequent flier miles because he travels incesantly. He used a bunch of them to fly my friend Tamera and I out to Chicago on a first class flight there and back for FREE!! As if that wasn't enough, he used his hotel bonus points to get us into the Chicago Hilton for FREE!!! Tamera and I get our own beds and Pampered Chef arranges all transportation and most meals. I know I probably embarressed him by posting this but I wanted him and everyone else to know what a great guy he is and how much I appreciate and love him for his unselfish actions. He's also going to be taking care of the kids all week and that in and of itself is huge!! I love him for making this trip possible for me and not making me feel guilty about it at all. In fact he's encouraged me to go. He knows how much it means to me and how often I get to do something like this for myself. He's such a wonderful husband not to mention my very best friend. I love you Babe!

Fresh Strawberry Cake

I am someone who loves to bake, and I have the extra pounds to prove it. I love baking because it's exact. If I just follow the recipe and the instructions the finished product is ALWAYS delicious!! Cooking is difficult for me. I'm not sure why this is except that you have to have a little bit of creativity to do it well. That is what I lack. My talents lie in other areas. That said you have to try this Strawberry Cake. I'll try to post the picture of it but...I make no promises since I haven't figured out how to do that yet.

Recipe

1 pkg. White Cake mix
1 pkg. (3 oz) Strawberry Jello
4 eggs
1 cup oil
1/4 cup water
1 cup mashed fresh strawberries, divided
1 pkg. Cream Cheese, softened
1 cup powdered sugar
2 cups Cool Whip

1. Pre-heat the oven to 350. Combine cake mix, dry jello mix, and stir to combine. Add eggs, oil, water and 3/4 cup of the strawberries. Beat 30 seconds on low speed, then turn up the mixer to medium-high and beat for 2 minutes. (I actually set my timer for this.)

2. Bake cake in 2 8-in cake pans for 30 min. Remove from the oven and let cool in the pan for 10 minutes. Remove from the cake pan and cool on a wire rack until completely cool.

3. For the frosting: Beat cream cheese until creamy. Gradually beat in sugar. Add drained berries and mix well. Whisk in 1/2 cup of the cool whip and fold in the rest. When frosting 1 cup goes in between the layers.

So very yummy with the fresh berries and everything!! Try it and let me know what you think!!