Ham and Potato Soup

Because we are starting to get into the cooler weather, I thought I would post my family's most favorite potato soup recipe. We have even had success with converting soup haters into soup lovers with this recipe. Love, love, love it. We had it just last week. I will note that I usually double this soup for us and only end up with a smaller size tupperware bowl full left.
Going to be trying a new cheeseburger soup tonight, will let you all know how it turns out.

3 1/2 C peeled and diced potatoes
1/3 C diced celery
1/3 C chopped onion
3/4 C cooked ham
3 1/4 C water
2 Tbsp chicken bouillon granules (can replace with 4 cubes)
1/2 tsp salt
1 tsp pepper
5 Tbsp butter
5 Tbsp flour
2 C milk

Combine all items to the pepper in a stockpot, bring to boil, and then cook over medium heat until potatoes are tender.
In separate sauce pan, melt butter over medium-low heat. Whisk in flour and cook, stirring constantly for about 1 minute. Slowly stir in milk and continue stirring until thick, about 5 minutes.
Stir the milk mixture into soup and cook until heated through and desired thickness.
Can sprinkle cheese on top as you are serving it up.

We came out of our house the other day and this is all we could see. We were surrounded by little flies. They were horrid and were just dying to find a new home in your nose. Literally.














Jamison trying on "Dora's" goggles...



















Jamison dribbling the ball down the field



















Trae doing what he does best and
loves the most.



















Fire chief Mason and his big dimples



















Jamie wanting his picture taken.
Reminds me of Captain Morgan commercials



















My family has been a bunch of "posers" this week, but I'll try to contain myself and only post a few. Okay, well after looking up this particular word in the urban dictionary I am thinking I have the meaning of poser all wrong. Poser = Someone who tries to fit into a profile they aren't. My meaning of Poser = They want to pose for pictures and lots of them. Hahaha! I have to say that my kids (and hubby) are not trying to fit into any wrong kind of profile. They are who they are. Kids may grow and change, but they have a pretty good grasp of who they are right now and at this age.
Sorry, if I get off topic or jump around, my coffee supply has been depleted and I'm one sad girl. I was reading this blog about a girl who needed to quit coffee, told her friends, and they were traumatized for her over her terrible diagnosis (of quiting coffee and she was quiting because of sleep problems). One even jokingly stated they could no longer be friends. Yes, my love for coffee is true and pure. I might even break my own rule of no shopping to go buy me one. Ssshhh... Don't rat me out to Jamie.
I do have good news about Trae and Jamison. They received their mid-terms and are both doing awesome! Woohoo! Trae did get a C in math, but we'll work on it and bring it up. That was his lowest grade and all the rest were A's and B's. Jamison is pulling in the A's and is doing so well. Now to find friends that live close and life will be perfecto-mundo!
Jamie has been trying to get back into soccer. He has gone to play a few times in Murray with my cousin's husband. I am just excited that he is getting back into something he loves. Hope he can find a team he can stick with for next season.
Jamie has also been coaching Jamison's team. He seems to be really enjoying it and the parents have all good things to say about his coaching skills. Unfortunately, I've been told my skills won't be needed at this time. (what do I expect though when I have never played soccer in my life ;) Jamison is just excited that they are currently undefeated. Last weekend they scored 7 in the first half! Jamie had to pull 2 of the kids back and Jamison out so the boys wouldn't continue to slaughter the other team.

Trae's self portrait... He says it's his crazy face.




















Mason styling his faux-hawk.


I just finished reading a new blog post from Creative Parenting (see their link on the right for the full story). It was so inspiring. Quoting from her this is part of what she said: "I believe that children with ADHD have more than their share of criticism. I believe that it is my job as their parent to lighten the load and show them how to do things, how to navigate problems – without all the negative feedback. I don’t need to join the chorus that is already out there... At the time, you will feel like ranting and raving, but you shouldn’t. Your best bet is to deal with the situation at hand, show them how to problem-solve, and be as effective as possible. At a later date, go through the scenario with your child and talk about what could have been done differently."
What a great reminder her words are for those of us parents dealing with children with ADHD.  It's so hard to remember sometimes that Trae's brain processes things so much differently than his brothers.
I can report that amazingly, after a year long struggle with lying about homework and getting failing grades, after not being allowed to play football this year, Trae is finally on track again and I couldn't be prouder... well maybe I can be once we get his actual grades.  We have worked so hard to get him to this place.  The restricted diets, the no medicine, the brain therapy have all moved us forward to helping him.  It's been a long, hard road, but we are seeing progress.
All in all, I have some pretty amazing kids and even though I didn't get that beautiful girl I always dreamed about, I wouldn't trade my boys in for anything in the world.

I planned my meals, I wrote my grocery list, and got everything we needed last Friday, but unfortunately while planning that list I forgot a few important things, like Trae's medicine, toilet paper, and toothpaste. All the basic necessities, well they are if you want a clean behind, clean teeth, and want Trae to have the tools to concentrate in school. So, I sadly already broke my promise and went to the store, but that's okay because I will just jump right back on my no shopping band wagon.
The family reunion this past weekend was better than I could have ever imagined. I think everyone was having a hard time going so long between visits, and we all agreed to now make this a yearly tradition. I'm all for it. It seems that when you haven't seen people in so long you just want to make sure you can say hello to everyone, but you never have enough time to hear all their stories. Hopefully, with facebook, blogs, and now with the collection of email addresses we can stay connected.

Me. Trae took this picture & we can definitely tell I am camping.




















Cami & Jesicca playing tennis




















Mason & Jesicca checking out the pictures they took.




















Trae wanted the full experience of fishing with the guys and so hopped in the river with them.




















Jamison skips constantly, even while playing tennis.




















Jamie walking back from his little fishing excursion.




















Mason posing with his golf club and ball.
















Cami, Gage, Tyler, Jesicca, and Ali fishing at the kiddie pond.














Jamison




















Trae




















Mason helping Daddy. Guess he figured he would need to be a super-hero to do it.

Sorry, I got a little picture happy while uploading them, but I'm thinking you can just skip over the ones that don't interest you.
I am so sad that summer is coming to an end, but we had a fabulous weekend to end it. We headed up to East Canyon to do some camping and dragged along my cousin and her family with us. Saturday for us girls and the kids was spent in the trailer because of the rain. All I can state is that all children lived and were unharmed during this day. Our guys disappeared for the majority of this day fishing and I hear, had a really great time. They bonded...
Sunday was cloudy and a bit chilly, but after breakfast we drove up to the kiddie fishing pond. I think Tyler did the most fishing, but who's telling. The poor kids didn't catch much, but Tyler let his kids reel in the two that he caught. The first one he tried to get little Gage to pose with, but Gage caught on to what Daddy was going to hand him and ran for his little life.
We were able to enjoy ourselves and got some swimming in, way too cold for these old bones, a round of miniature golf, if you can call it a round with a bunch of children running around pushing balls every which way, and some tennis. The day was all about having fun and spending time outside.
Mason woke Jamie and I up several times Sunday night with his hollering. He kept yelling "Mom?" I asked him if he needed me to tuck him back in. He didn't respond and so I started to doze back off when he yelled "Mom, yes, tuck me in." I of course got up, got him all situated and went back to sleep. Once again I hear him yelling "Mom". I yell back "What?" (just picture Louise from The Family Guy ~ never see the show, but I have a ring tone where Stewie keeps yelling at Louise until she finally blows up and yells What) He yells back "Mom, catch me a fish. I can't catch one." By this time Jamie is awake and we both just giggled over this. He remembered in the morning and brought it up that I needed to catch him a fish. I am still not sure if he was remembering the kiddie pond or if this was all in his dream.
All in all, we had a great time and it was fun to have friends to enjoy the outdoors with. Hopefully, they will want to come with us again and can get used to our bossy OCD natures... okay, okay, my bossy OCD nature.
I wanted to share an incident with Mason. I was lecturing Jamison on how he needs to follow the rules and put his dirty dishes in the sink after he is finished because I am not his slave and am not going to do it for him anymore. Mason turns from the computer screen to look at us and says "yeah, because she is my slave."
Well, that's all I have for now. Hope everyone had a great Labor Day weekend!

Cornflake Cookies

We love cookies at our house, especially chocolate chip, but because of Trae's allergies we end up paying $7.98 for chocolate that Trae is able to eat for each batch of cookies. Not very economical and they are now sadly reserved for special treats. I'm always in search of a yummy cookie that doesn't call for chocolate chips. I think we have found a winner with these cornflake cookies. They are now one of my favorite cookies. Beware of eating too many due to a tummy ache and calories. ;)

1 C butter
1 C vegetable oil, we use canola
1 C sugar
1 C brown sugar
1 egg
1 C crushed cornflakes
1 C chopped nuts (optional, we don't do nuts either)
1 C quick-cooking oats
3 1/2 C flour
1 Tbsp baking powder
1/2 tsp salt
2 tsp vanilla

Cream butter, sugar, egg, and then add in oil.
Mix in dry ingredients.
Form dough into walnut sized balls and flatten with fork.
Bake in 325* oven for 10-12 minutes.

I'm sitting here trying to remember all the hilarious things my boys have said to me in the past week, but I'm drawing a blank. My brain just doesn't want to cooperate this morning.
I've been making goals for Jamie and I in regards to money and how much of it we have been spending. I'm realizing that the store has become my friend. It's so lovely to wander down the isles and see all the new products and contemplate what to buy next, but then you find you have lost sight of your budget, as we have, and just buy what you want, when you want, and the item doesn't seem as special as it once would have been when you waited to make that purchase of want.
Anyway, as any addict would say, "It has been 9 days since my last purchase." Haha! I'm going to be forcing my way into my cousin's head and having her explain to me how she can possibly make it an entire month without stepping foot into a store. I'm so excited to learn from her.
The boys had a great first week of school and seem to be fitting in. They enjoyed their week of no homework and played their little hearts out with friends. Mason and I spent Friday picking tomatoes, peppers, and onions out of our little garden. We made salsa and spaghetti sauce with our bounty.
We had a busy past weekend. Saturday was spent in the house, cleaning and folding laundry. I was disappointed that I wasn't able to watch my semi-girly movie during my laundry folding time. Instead, I was forced to watch kungfu. I despise kungfu. Someone mentioned that I should learn kungfu and then I would be able to convince Jamie that we will be watching the movie of my choice. I may dwell on this suggestion.
Sunday was spent in our poor neglected yard and it is looking amazing again. I am loving all the flowers that are still blooming and making our backyard looks so happy. The boys ran in the sprinklers and had swordfights with the swimming noodles. We all played in the pool and Jamie threw the boys in the air and wrestled with them. We finished our day with bbq ribs. Jamie knows how to make a tender, yummy rib.