Why Wait?

In some places, school is already out and summer has begun! Around here, school is still in session and the weather has been cool and rainy. I took advantage of this "May gray" to try out a new chili recipe and make some of our favorite soups. Soup may not seem like summertime food, but I think summertime is the perfect time to break out the crock pot and avoid heating up the house. That means you don't have to wait until autumn to try out these delicious sweet potato recipes.

Sweet Potato Chili

1 pkg ground turkey
1 onion diced
2 cloves garlic, minced
2 14 oz cans tomato sauce
1 14 oz can chopped tomatoes
2 cups chicken broth
2 large sweet potatoes peeled and diced
3 Tbsp chili powder
1 tsp salt (add 1 more if you like, we are low salt, GF and dairy free here!)
1/2 tsp pepper
1/4 tsp oregano

Brown meat and then add all ingredients to crockpot. Cook on low 6-8 hours.

Enjoy!

Moroccan Curry Soup

3 cups chicken broth
4 cloves garlic, minced
1 large sweet potato peeled and diced
1 yellow bell pepper, diced
2 Granny Smith apples, diced
7 oz can diced green chiles
1 14 oz can chopped tomatoes
1 14 oz can garbanzo beans, rinsed
1 14 oz can coconut milk
Juice of 1 lime
1 Tbsp curry powder
1 pinch cinnamon
1 pinch cumin
salt and pepper to taste

Put all ingredients in crockpot and cook on low 6-8 hours

Before serving add:
2 Tbsp cilantro, chopped
2 cups baby spinach

First Love

This afternoon Lavender gave her big brother Aaron a hug and then asked me, "When we grow up, can we get married like you and daddy?"

"You can get married when you grow up, but not to Aaron. You will marry some who isn't your brother. Someone tall and strong and good like Aaron."

"How about Evan?"

"No. Evan is tall and strong and good, but you can only marry someone who isn't your brother."

"I know! Ryan!"

"Ryan is your brother too. You can't marry him. You can marry someone who is little right now, but when you grow up, he will be big and strong and good. Doesn't that sound great?"

"No!" She gave me an exasperated look and snuggled up to Aaron.

More Sweet Dreams

Lavender gave up her (okay, actually it was MY) beloved nap right around the time she turned three. She had previously been a champion napper, so it was tough for me to give up 2+ hours of quiet time each day! Now she only naps if she happens to be in the car in the early afternoon. It doesn't usually work out for me, but once in awhile the stars align.

Today we hopped in the car around 1:30 to take cousin Cammi (world's best playmate & mother's helper) home. It takes about 30 seconds to drive to Cammi's house, so we were back in our driveway lickety-split. Lavender asked me if we were going to the store. I told her "no." Then she asked a question that really surprised me:

"Will you just drive around so I can sleep?"

I quickly agreed, and she began singing to herself. After a five minute drive around the neighborhood, she was out! I got to read my scriptures, check my email and work on the laundry in blissful peace and quiet. A good afternoon for both of us!

Before and After

This girl LOVES her babies and animals! Marie is obviously the favorite though, since she gets tucked under the covers.

I'm Free!

When you ask Lavender how old she is, she holds up three fingers. However, they are not the three fingers you might expect. She also explains that she is "free."  Recently she met a little boy at the park. She explained that she was three years old. He was an older, wiser man of nearly four, so he decided to correct her pronunciation.  

"You mean you're TREE" he explained. And just to make sure she understood, he repeated, "You say it TREE, not FREE."

Happy St. Patrick's Day!

3rd Birthday Interview

What is your favorite thing to play? Play with Brianne and Leighton

What is your favorite color? Blue and green and red

What are you good at? Playing nicely with my cousins, Dallin and Cammi

What food do you like to eat? Apple and peanut butter

What makes you happy? Playing with Brianne and Leighton. Eating cookies.

What is your favorite thing to wear? Shirts and dresses and my Sophia dress or my green fairy dress and fairy wand from Halloween.

Where do you like to go?  To the airport

Why? It’s my favorite place to go. It makes me happy.

One more thing . . .  I like to play on the trampoline with my brother Aaron.

What songs do you like? Elsa and Anna songs, "Let It Go."

What do you want to do when you grow up? Jump on the trampoline or play in the sandbox.

What toys do you like to play with? I’m finished with this now. Can I have a lollipop?

After I gave her a lollipop, she wanted to answer more questions so I asked: What did you do for your birthday?

I had a Marie party. It was so fun. There were so much people there. The Bakers had to be there and Brianne and Leighton. Ryan brought Teddy over. Cary came with Molly. I sang “Happy Birthday.” We had ribbons on my presents. I got new clothes. Leighton didn’t let me open my presents by myself. I wanted to, but she didn’t let me. 

Brianne and Leighton gave me an Anna nightgown and bracelet and necklace. Bakers gave me presents. It was a doctor kit. I played with it and I took it to the doctor ‘pointment. They gave me shots and put bandaids on me. He looked at my feet and body. I didn’t cry.

She weighs 30 lbs and is 36 1/2 inches tall.

I was shocked that she didn't scream or even cry after 2 shots.
She said, "It hurt a little."

Tell me more about your birthday. I had birthday cake. Cupcakes with a Marie little thing on top. It was really cute. I got ice cream. Pineapple with no dairy, so I could eat it. 

I got Marie necklaces and put them on all the sisters and moms. I played with Brianne and Leighton and went outside. We be’d nice and Teddy didn’t bite us. I’m done.