Chicken Naan Wraps

 This recipe has become a favorite at our house.  I love that the whole family will eat it without complaint. It is a lengthy meal to prepare, but the kids help with it, and Tony is the main chef on this one.  I'll be making the Reuben Sandwiches for St Patty's Day, which are my favorite sandwich, so this makes it even. 

I wasn't able to find the video my husband found this recipe on so we could give them a shout out and credit for this yummy dish.  

Chicken Naan Wraps 

Chicken Marinade 

¾ C olive oil 

2 T fish sauce or oyster sauce 

1 T soy sauce 

1 squirt yellow mustard 

1 T Dijon mustard 

2 T garlic paste (3 cloves) {we use 2 T minced garlic 

2 t thyme

2 t rosemary 

Pinch of salt

Pinch of pepper 

Juice of 2 lemons (¼ - ½ cup)

Pound 3 large chicken breasts until ½ inch thick. Slice surface several times to encourage marinade and grilling. Place chicken in ziploc bag with 3 fourths of the marinade. Keep the rest of the marinade for basting. Let sit in the fridge for 1 hr to 1 day.

Grill on a hot grill, turn and baste often with remaining marinade.

Chuck shred chicken when done.

Sauce

½ C plain yogurt 

½ C mayonnaise 

Juice from 1 lemon (less than ¼ cup)

2 T garlic

Salt and pepper

Dash of cayenne pepper 

Chopped parsley 

(Add chicken seasoning, if desired. We skip this)

 Combine the sauce ingredients and set aside. 

Naan bread 

2 ¼ C flour 

½ t salt

1 pkg yeast (1 T)

½ C warm water 

1 t sugar 

½ C plain yogurt 

1 T olive oil 

Mix yeast, water, and sugar in the kitchen aid bowl until a head forms (about 5-10 minutes) 

Mix remaining ingredients with a dough hook until a ball forms. Let rest/rise in a covered bowl for about 1 hour.

Cut Naan dough into 8 pieces. 

Roll out until ¼ thick.

Cook on griddle with melted butter until golden brown while chicken is almost done so both are finished and warm together. 

Place the chicken inside the bread and eat sort of like a taco.

Add lettuce, tomatoes, onions, and cucumber as desired toppings. 

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Kirkham Prayer Board

I sure love our children! 
Over a year ago we started a prayer board to help the kids focus on what they needed to remember in prayers. We were getting into that repetitious rut!! 
I found a chalk board at Hobby Lobby (because sometimes you need it NOW and don't have time to craft something!). We started out with a side for Thank Thee, and a side for Ask Thee. We would write down any things we were happy/grateful for (sunshine, selling our house, good friends) on one side, and on the other, anything we wanted to pray for (a cousin battle cancer, help in school, a friend who was sad). We can refer to the board before family prayer for reminders. (Even I can't remember everything!)
Now we just jot down whatever comes to mind, a great time with family or friends, an illness, the rain watering the flowers, wind blowing away things, whatever and wherever on the board.
Yesterday @instajewels_ decorated the top for me. Since my migraine started 4 years ago, my familial tremor has become severe. My handwriting is atrocious. I love beautifying our home. This adds to it so much!  Thanks so much Julia!!!

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Moving Forward with Faith {Let's Get Busy Building}

We have been building a house since last fall.  I really need to be better at documenting it, so I decided to just start now and get words down before it leaves my mind.

So, let's see... I'll have a modge-podge of what we have been doing.  

For starters, we've been on this path of building for about 7 years.  When we added Delta and Emma to the family, we were instantly squished in our house.  Boys in one room, older girls in another room, and the three (3) little girls in another.  And babies have lots of needs.  Diapers, blankets, clothes, toys were everywhere.  Organization didn't look like it was organized.  

We had every room filled to overflowing.  We  had a full storage room with our food storage and seasonal items and hand-me-down and seasonal clothes. Plus kids have STUFF.  LOTS OF STUFF. 

The older girls moved out and did the adult thing, but we were still a bit squished. 

We had been trying to sell our home.  But because we had so much stuff, everyone wasn't able to see around it.  We tried selling several times.  When it didn't work out, we thought we weren't supposed to move.  Yet every time we took it to the Lord, we knew we were supposed to get into a larger house. 

Finally we decided to look for a rental.  We would move into that and empty our house since an empty house sells better.  Finding a rental took over 9 months.

A friend in our neighborhood had a rental that became empty, so we were able to move in there.  It seems HUGE!!  Ari and Jayden have their own rooms, as well as Katia.  

We don't have all of our things at the house.  We had put most of our seasonal things in storage.  Decorations, clothing, snow boots and other gear, and everything that is a less used item.  We did, however move our food storage with us.  

{{I've been playing a sort of GAME where I try and figure out how much of an item I need to buy before we move.  We have used lots of things in the past 14 months, and luckily haven't had to purchase a ton of food and other grocery items. That was so helpful when we were making two (2) house payments!}}

This whole process has been a blessing.  We have been able to go through some items and declutter!  Hooray for getting rid of things!!!  We also are able to see how big we need/want rooms to be.  It's helped us to know what rooms need to be larger, smaller, or are just fine how they are.  Ideas have come to mind while we are working on the house.  For example, we have decided to ask others about our placement of light switches.  Some rooms are easy to figure out, such as bathrooms and bedrooms.  Those go right inside the door.  Other rooms are harder to figure out.  Like the kitchen!!!  

Now that spring is upon us, hopefully we will be so busy getting the house done!!!

I hope that anyone with great ideas will share them with us.  Then we can find which ideas work for our family.

I am so excited to share our adventures!

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Forgetfulness

Wednesday is my temple day.  It's also my errand day.  I usually go run a few errands then head to the temple.  Inn the winter I can get the groceries first, then get to the temple when it isn't as busy.  This week I decided to go first, then do running around.  It was pretty good.  The session wasn't very big, and I was able to sit by a super nice sister.  I even stayed awake through it all. (Yeah, shouldn't be shocking, but in the last 6 months it's become pretty hard for me to get through the day.) 
Well, I then went to see what I could get done before lunch.  But hey, I forgot the coupons for a few thins.  I decide to go get groceries on the way home.  As I was getting ready to go in, I realized I forgot my family name at the temple.  It wouldn't have been a big deal, but that name needed sealing to her parents, and I didn't want to forget. I drove back to the temple to grab the name.  I remembered  an errand I could run on the way home. 
I finally got home and had lunch.  I made sure I had all I needed to go out again.  Went to grab Julia a birthday present.  Went to find what I thought she would like.  I know what she was talking about around Christmas, and decided that would be the thing.  It took a few stops to  find just the thing.  There were a few other things to get, so grabbed them as I could.
Got home and discovered that I had forgotten a few things!!!  Ugh!  Now I just have to try and check the list next time I go out. Pin It

Witches and Goblins and Ghouls, OH! My!

At our house we love Halloween!  As in, LOVE IT! 
Before status migrainosus I use to make all the costumes.
Since that has been put on the back burner, I have gone back to the movies!
We do love movies at our house, so this shouldn't surprise anyone.

I thought I would share a few of the movies we enjoy, and maybe a little history about each.

The first is, of course, Nightmare Before Christmas!  I mean, it works for both holidays even!!!

This movie came out 13 October 1993. We only had one child. (So much awesomeness there.)  It is claymation, so that's kinda cool.  It's Disney, which I am a huge fan of lots of Disney.  (Which you will see as I keep sharing all these movies.)  I loved that the main character is tired of all the "boring" stuff he's doing (totally relate-able!) and decides to try something new.  Then it goes all wrong!  Man, been there!  So in the end he realizes that he is great at what he does, and he learns to be happy with that.

Second, Hocus Pocus!

(Released 16 July 1993! Two great movies in one year!) Three witches!!  Coming back to take over the world (well, Salem)! Stealing the youth from all the children.  And then are beaten by children! Yeah!  Pretty awesome!

A movie from my childhood (which my parents had recorded off of TV during the Disney Sunday Night movie) Is Mr Boogedy!

This aired in 1983.  It was pretty freaky when I was a child.  The story is about a gag gift salesman and his family moving into a new house in New England which they soon find to be haunted by ghosts from the colonial period  Watching it now it seems cheesy! 
This movie was Julia's favorite movie.  She would watch it all the time!  (My mom let me have the recorded copy.  Then later we were able to purchase it on DVD.)

I'll leave these with you until next time, as I am needed by the children, and the dinner needs started.

Happy Watching!!

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This Talk Spoke to Me

This past week was SO VERY HARD!

It's so hard to think I'm improving, then mess up every day! I forget things and people, and freak out, and just want to be done. I ask for things to be better, and then can't figure out what I'm doing wrong that would make things so hard. What am I doing that needs to change? What is happening that I can't see or understand?

Then a friend posted this talk! It helped me think of how well I AM doing! I'm praying, reading scriptures, going to all my meetings.

This doesn't mean I'm done and don't have to keep trying. But I'm doing well for what I'm going through. And Heavenly Father loves me.

Be Ye Therefore Perfect—Eventually By Elder Jeffrey R. Holland Of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles

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School Performance part 2

I think what amazes me the most, is that they have less that 6 weeks to put this whole thing together.  And it doesn't matter what talent everyone has when the class starts, they will be improved by the end.  And EVERYONE gets to perform!!

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Ari's school performance

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Healthy Journey

This summer I decided to participate in a Healthy Living contest.  I was so so so hoping it would help with the migraines.  But alas, it didn't.
Anyway, here were the rules that we followed, in case you were wanting to do your own:
You will use a scoring sheet each week to keep track of your score. Each week when you weigh in you will send me your weight and how many points you earned for that week and I will enter it into a spreadsheet to keep a tally of individual and team points and % of weight lost for each week. I will add whatever points you earn for weight lost.
Each week I will post the team and individual points and % of weight lost or gained in this group. I will NOT post actual weight. Here is an example of how you can earn points.
Scoring: (see rules below for further clarification)
Exercise: 15 min = 1 pt (up to 16 pts/week)
Eat a healthy breakfast = 1 pt
NO junk food = 2 pts; MINIMAL junk food = 1 pt
3-4 servings of vegetables = 1 pt; 5+ servings = 2 pts
No soda = 1 pt
No eating w/in 2 hours of bed = 1 pt
Drink at least 64 oz of water = 1 pt
Get at least 7 hours of sleep every 24 hours = 1 pt
Weight loss = 2 pts for every % lost (rounding up)

 Needless to say, I did get my weight and healthy habits where they should be.  No more running to the the pantry for handfuls of chocolate chips!  Eating lots of veggies!  Exercising everyday.

We'll see what the future holds.

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Raising My Spirituality

Sunday is the BEST day.  I love being able to feel the spirit, learn new things (or be reminded of things), serve, and just start being a better person ('cuz I mess up, like lots!).

One thing I have learned to help extend the feeling of peace from sacrament meeting is to not Rush out of there.  We all have someplace we need to go afterward.  Whether it's to teach a class, attend a class, run an auxiliary, or help in the library.  Sometimes I have felt that I needed to leave before the closing prayer.  However, when I was in the primary presidency, our bishop admonished us to stay until after the closing prayer was said.  I was wondering about this.  We needed to set up the room and get things ready for the children to arrive.  Yet he told us that everyone should stay until the closing prayer, and that we should still have plenty of time to get there and settled before the primary room started filling up.  The schedule for Sunday meetings gives a 10 minute break between Sacrament meeting and the rest of the classes. This is more than enough time to get there. I have our kids start to clean up their items during the closing song, then we are all ready to leave right after the prayer is said.  

So here I am a few years later, and unless there is some unforeseen problem, I stay until the very end.  I like not feeling rushed to get to Sunday School. I like keeping the thoughts shared in talks in my head so I can ponder them. When I'm not rushing off I can be thinking about these things.  

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High Tea Lemon Cookies

Totally wanted these cookies to eat. But I was a MAJOR fail!! I got the recipe online. Two different sources. But it was crumbs. (Katia said it was like sand. She thinks we can use it for Kenetic Sand.) At least the icing was good. I MAY have just ate it plain and with the crumbs mixed in.
Back to the drawing board.

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IHOP at Home

The kids love going to IHOP.  Sometimes they miss it so much that they create it at home. Pin It

Sometimes Fun is Best!

It's so fun to see the kids make amazing "creations" with the most basic of items! Pin It

Harry Potter Potions

So, the little girls have finally caught the HP Bug!  Hooray!!
The first order of business was to get them going with some spell books.
I found this one at dirt and sunshine.  So good.  I did make a word doc if that would help anyone who wants to print it out.  The PDF wouldn't let me print it in book form like I wanted.  Anywho...

I'll hopefully get an updated version and post it here.  I really love that the girls love to pretend still.  It makes me so happy.

Happy spell making! Pin It

Tender Mercies

You know those things/times that are crazy (trying to get the school routine figured out before it's spring) and you have this little thought pop in and just jump on it? {Those are RARE moments for me.}
Anywho... Last week was one of these weeks. Crazy everything. Exhausted from working in the yard and canning. Sunday was oh so needed!  Sacrament meeting was so thought provoking. Sunday school was great. Then Relief Society. Sitting down visiting with friends. The welcome and announcements. Time for the opening prayer. No one is up there ready to lead. What are we going to do? One second and I'm up there. I just jumped up.  The RS Pres was so thankful. I didn't even think about it. Just helping out. Fast forward to today. We were struggling to get there on time. My hands were shaking quite badly, but I had a thought of hairstyles for Delta and Emma I was determined to accomplish.  Finally got it done, teeth brushed, talks ready, off we go. 
I get there and the welcome remarks are going on. Announce the opening song. The organist is looking around. No one is up there to lead. Hey, I can do that. I jump up and go up there. I look to make sure I have the correct song, the organist plays the introduction, and off we go. Great song, turned out okay. We're good.
Then as I sit down for the prayer, I realized that three weeks ago the Ward Music Director had asked me to sub for her. Oops! So very grateful I had the experience just the previous Sunday so it was not a big deal to just get up.
Then in RS the music director wasn't there again, so I just got up again.
I do love music. I know it is a gift from Heavenly Father. I also know He gives us tender mercies to help us and let him know he loves us.

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Super Sunday!

Sunday is such an amazing day!
I love the opportunity to rejuvenate. I get to refill my bucket that I dip into through the week.
It is a chance to set (or reset) goals.
It is a change from the week.
Even though there is the stress of getting everyone and everything ready, it is still peaceful.
We listen to different music. (Songs singing praise.)
We watch different movies. (Use to just say Disney, but now Veggie Tales or movies put out by the church.)
We hang out with different people. (Family or those in need.)
We serve differently. It's more focused. Instead of thinking about taking cookies/bread, it is teaching and sharing.

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But What if I Wanted to Do Something?

So this has been a long, hard week. 
I have been reading a ton! I finally started reading some books by Traci Hunter Abramson. I really enjoy them. She used to work for the CIA, but then stayed home with her children.  Any way, she's pretty good.
So yeah, been reading. Not sure if it helps to lay around reading, but it's been hard to concentrate on much, do much. O know I need to have some down time. I know I am lucky (Blessed really) that I have learned to work through the pain. I am blessed with an amazing husband who makes breakfast everyday. Who comes home and doesn't care what the house looks like, but will just jump in and start helping.
But what if I wanted to do something? What if I wanted to sew? What if I wanted to work on the basement? What about that?
I did finally get up Thursday afternoon and scraped the floor in the bathroom since we are going to be tiling it.
That felt good. Then not good later. But I was done doing nothing.  Of course I paid for it today. Oh well. I read another book and watched the opening of the Olympics.

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Super Whammy Migraine Day

Today was so not good.
For starters, I didn't get enough sleep last night. I'm sure that made things worse.
I guess it just frustrates me that it's hard to function. Just when I think I can handle my situation, the pain becomes worse. Just when I think I might be able to focus and accomplish something, I have a hard time figuring out how to do something.
I spent the morning getting breakfast, had kids get breakfast (Delta made pancakes), and everyone got ready for the day.
I finished one book I had been reading, and started another.  (I'm currently reading books by Traci Hunter Abramson.)
Jayden decided that we should go to the movie today. (We do the summer movie thingamajig, where you purchase tickets for the whole summer at half the price.)
Then after that we went to the library to borrow a movie (because the movie showing was different than the one advertised). The library didn't have it, but got a movie for me.
I let the kids have friends over, then I laid down and read some more.
Tony came home and is fixing dinner while I type this hoping that maybe getting my thoughts down will help me be able to handle how I feel.

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Easy Summer/After School Snack.

So I'm getting exhausted! These late nights after busy-go-go-go-and-do days are wearing me out.
To the point where what ever you want to eat is fine with me.
Chips? For lunch? Sure, go ahead.
Ramen noodles for breakfast? And lunch? And dinner? Okay.
So when I came across this post on Instagram, I was very intrigued. It reminded me of how the beginning of summer looked. And I think I can still do nothing and it will work. Slushies made with apple juice and strawberries! Brilliant!
Because let's face it, I have no energy left for super awesome snacks!
So, yeah, head over to http://www.tipsfromatypicalmomblog.com/2016/08/ad-organize-fridge-freezer-back-school.html
You will be glad you did!

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Graduation 2016

https://youtu.be/FlordMSFfdE Pin It