Food Friday- Tex Mex Chicken & White Cheddar Spaghetti

I decided to try a new meal this week. That NEVER happens. I was a little nervous because it has jalapeños...and I have never tried them before. But it added an amazing Mexican taste, but it is NOT hot. I swear it. It has a couple odd ingredients that I didn't have on hand. But it was so worth it! MacKay loved it, and so did Brent(making sure there were no pieces of jalapeños for his little tummy) So I am telling you guys, try this. Tonight! (; YUM YUM YUM!

 

I got this recipe over at Lauren's Latest. An amazing cooking blog! Go Follow her HERE!

Tex-Mex Chicken & White Cheddar Spaghetti

Yield: 4 servings

Ingredients:

3/4 lb. thin spaghetti
3 tablespoons butter
1 cup diced yellow onion
2 tablespoons all purpose flour
1 cup chicken stock
1 cup milk
1/2 lb. grated sharp white cheddar cheese
1 tablespoon chopped pickled jalapenos + 1/2 tablespoon juice
1/2 teaspoon cumin
salt & pepper, to taste
2 cups cooked, shredded chicken
3 tablespoons chopped cilantro

Directions:

Bring large pot of water to boil. Cook spaghetti to al dente and drain. Remove hot pot to burner. Melt butter and saute onions until softened, about 5 minutes. Stir in flour and cook 2 minutes. Slowly whisk in chicken broth and milk to prevent lumps. Increase heat to thicken sauce. Sprinkle in grated cheese and stir continuously to melt into sauce evenly. Stir in cumin, salt, pepper, jalapenos, jalapeno juice, chicken, cooked spaghetti and cilantro. Toss to coat everything evenly in sauce. Taste and adjust seasonings. Serve warm with more cilantro.

XOXO- Shanna

Brent's First Birthday Party!

 

I don't know where we got our love for planning parties, my sister and I, probably from Pinterest.

Speaking of Pinterest, that is the brilliant inspiration behind this party. I had so much fun planning it. I know, I know, he is ONE! Why the big event? I will admit. It was for me. I enjoyed every moment! My talented sister designed the announcement and all the fun little signs. Enjoy the pictures!



Brent is the light of our life! We cannot imagine a life without his dimpled smile, his amusement when we try to stop him from picking his nose. His little hands bringing me his shoes in the morning saying "side, side" (outside...) his animal noises, his kisses, his obsession over his belly button. His little run, and how he stumbles but never cries. How we find bruises on his little head, but have no idea how he got them. Tough kid doesn't whine! We love his pudgy little hands grabbing the air to tell us what he wants. I love when I am singing him to sleep, he decides it is time to make the most noise, blowing bubbles, trilling his tongue, remembering how to do patty cake, and finally deciding to sing along until drifting off to sleep. Love when he wakes up he babbles and laughs to himself until I go to get him, then plays run away from Mom. I love how excited he gets when "Da" comes home, how he knocks on the screen door until it is opened to Daddy's open arms. Truth is I just love everything about our little boy. What a year! What a fast, hard, fun, year. The best year of my life. Happy Birthday Brent!! (in January...) I am sure there are a million other details I am missing, but that will be all for now. Enjoy!

 



 

Pretty soon, he was DONE having the frosting on him. He wanted to cuddle me.....We rushed him to the bath tub!!

 

 

 

 

 

XOXO- Shanna

Missionary December

Holy Cow. I think the reason why I haven't caught up on blogging is because the month of December had so.much.going.on. Just thinking about it makes me dread writing about it. But here I am, taking the leap!

First off, this December was the month of Missionaries in our small little world! First up, MacKay's sister, Sara! She left at the beginning of December. It was a super hard goodbye. Mostly because of my little one. He LOVES Sara. She came over almost daily. She really earned her much wanted title, "Favorite Aunt Sara" So it was really sad to say goodbye. As you can tell from the photo below. I know. Heart break!! 

 

Then we went and visited Santa!! Brent was truly intrigued. No smiles and no blabbers. Just interested stares! haha. Santa was shocked that Brent was showing no emotion. Must get that from his Daddy, we all know it couldn't have been from his mama! (;

 

Next up my Best Friend came home from her mission!! She went to Nashville TN, and we are SO excited she is home!! It was a sweet reunion, and she got to meet my little man. It was so fun, and he loves her!

 



 

 

These are some of my favorite pictures of all time! Glen (the boyfriend) was at the wrong terminal when Mols flew in, she was sad but hide it well! He finally showed up when she was talking to some old mission buddies. We documented her surprise and the sweet moment that was just for the two of them. It was such a perfect moment, I think he planned the whole thing. All the hoopla would be over and he would get to have her to himself for a couple minutes!! Brilliant. Well done Glen, well done.

 



 

 

 

Aren't they the cutest?

This is Jenna and I waiting for over an hour for her delayed flight!!

That is Love.



 

 

And the final missionary is my Brother!! He was in Brazil for 2 years. You guys. I know you know that missionaries are out for 2 years. But 2 years?! It's a long time! Anyway, after 2 very long years, Andrew is home!! The welcome home was so sweet. My parents picked him up in Brazil, so they had 2 fun weeks before he came home! Thank heavens because we got him all to ourselves! Here are some fun pictures of the reunion!! My cousin was there taking these amazing pictures! (notice the hilarious and well planned placement of the colorful posters in the back, "HOME WELCOME ELDER!!!" (; hahahahaha)

 

 

On the long drive back to Cokeville from SLC I had to sit in the back seat of a van with these two love birds....two years of separation. AWKWARD! (;

 

Home for Christmas was sweet with the whole family! For Christmas Eve we went sledding with the Thompson's and had the time of our life. Until Andrew dislocated his shoulder! hahah. of course he would.... Then went back to their house and ate soup and breadsticks and played the game Telestrations. YOU GUYS. You need to buy this game. Right now. It is so fun. We were dying of laughter. Enjoy these candid shots!

 



 

Daesha is in the middle and had no snow on her, Linds and I on the other hand had a lot!

 



Linds and Devin won the award of going the farthest!

 



 

Avery's face. Priceless!!

 



 

Candid.

 



 

 

Then home sweet home for the rest of the break. Lots of fun hearing Andrew playing the piano again. Music to our ears!

 

 

Christmas dinner! A picture with MacKay and not Mom. Then flip flipped. So fun so have everyone together! (:

 



Christmas morning was so much fun! I got a kitchen aid!!

 



 

My mom's beautiful tree!

 



 

And a Happy 11 Months to this cute boy!

 

XOXO- Shanna