Henderson Retreat

March had 2 big events that has a lot of pictures for each, so I am doing two posts. Henderson Retreat and Zions! So stay tuned.

 

 

Our Henderson retreat was so much fun! We headed to the cabin in Midway. MacKay's work has 2 cabins there that are available to sign up for a week or weekend. It is free, you  just have to restock supplies that you use. And bring your own food. What an awesome perk eh?! So we planned out the meals and packed up a truck bed full, with a trailer of snowmobiles and headed out. It was a fun weekend of laughs, playing outside, going to the park, sight seeing to the crater, eating good homemade food, as well as eating at the amazing Dairy Keen. Fun activities for the kids, lots of games; clue, ticket to ride; uno robot... Yummy salsa, Wayy too many snacks, lots of pictures, and Dad's 55th birthday. We also went to sacrament in Midway and Avery was not happy she couldn't go to nursery...(; Check out the pictures: {warning, there are a LOT}

 

 

This is all of our crap.....



 



 

Mom bought this game after playing it in Cheyenne at my Aunt Cindy's house! So much fun!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Matching Hoodies!!

 

Dad caught a lot of Z's...

 

 

Grandma is the best grandma ever! She had so many fun activities for the kids. She made these fish cups, with blue jello and sweedish fish. Avery LOVED going fishing for the fishies...

 

I broke the table, and of course MacKay and Brent fixed it! Like father like son.

 

 

Avery putting on some make up like Aunt Shanna

 

 

Avery is coloring her plate for balloon bashing 

 

Like I said: Best Grandma Award!!

 

 

We went to the park and had a blast playing soccer or football, swinging and running around! 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

We love Midway. GORGEOUS

 

Since Uncle Andrew was going to be gone for Avery's birthday party, he brought her his gift at the cabin. 2 twin babies. She was SO excited!

 

 

The view from our balcony!

 

We attempted to cut brent's hair, and after cutting just the top he was freaking out. Hair Cut From Hell. This is after the bath, he was terrified of us touching his hair again.....hahahaha

 

Avery in Aunt Shanna's shoes, ready for church. What a DOLL!! Right?!

 

Happy Birthday to my Dad!! Avery gave him the CUTEST gift ever, Read it, the answers are hysterical! Oh to be a kid... 

 

 

 

 

One of the paintings from the exhibit! This one was one of his favorites!

 

Blowing out candles on the German Chocolate Cake (his favorite) With a little help from Avery.

 

 

The other painting we got for my Dad! His other favorite!

 

Another Best Grandma Award: Mom had us make these awesome plates to remember this retreat. I drew the stick figures next to each persons memory! We had a lot of fun making these plates!

This was the Retreat Memory Plate:

 

This is the back of the Taylor Family Plate:

 

Andrew's LeBron James Plate:

 

Grandma and Grandpa's Plate with the grandkids hand prints and everyone's age. Shhhh...

 

 

The Edvalson Family Plate! 

 

The front of our Plate! I was obsessed with stick figures apperantly, and in this one, I guess wishful thinking played a part, because I am taller than MacKay....hahaha oops...

 

It was such a fun weekend! Wish we were all close enough to do this every year! {insert pathetic sobs here}

 

 



 

XOXO-Shanna

February Catch Up

Hello! I am feeling especially Blog-y today, so here it goes; the dreaded Catch-up Day. Our lives are actually quite fun! I need to document all of our happenings, or I forget how totally awesome our lives are! (;

Alright, February was a fun month full of family! (like always) We had a lot of outside time since Brent was doing really well with walking, and it was finally starting to get warm-ish! Here are some of my favorite pics that I never got around to posting on social media (shocker right?)

 

That little face and cheeser, I can't even handle it sometimes! Gah, he is cute.

 

Then we went to Heber with the Taylor Clan to the Cabin. We had so much fun, snowmobiling in, playing games and eating good food!

 

 

On the way home from the Cabin I picked up Lindsay and we headed to our girls night! MacKay had gotten 2 free Jazz tickets through work, and if any of you know MacKay, he doesn't like to watch Sports, (Actually one of the many things I love about him) he would rather play sports or get something accomplished off of the never ending To-Do List. ANYway, Linds and I were happy to take them off his hands! (; The Jazz lost, I cant even remember who they were playing, but we had fun! We went to one of our favorite cafe's; Paradise Café, before the game and we got all {girly-ly] decked out in Jazz colors.

 

Later that month we [Lindsay and I] went on another girls date {woah, two in one month! Score.} To watch our favorite sport with our favorite team! BYU Women's volleyball. Eating of course, at the Creamery with our favorite flavor of their ice cream: Strawberry Crunch. {insert mouth watering here} They won! Of course, and we loved ever minute of it!! I love that sport.

Oh, and right before the game, I went to the  BYU Art exhibit called the Sacred Gifts with some of the Taylor Clan. It was an amazing exhibit. There were three artists from Europe (from a looong time ago) and their paintings were all of Christ. I can't tell you how amazing they are! It was the first {and last} time these paintings will be allowed to leave their spots in many different cathedrals and such over in Europe. They had a video explaining the significance of us being able to show these paintings. We are a different religion than the places that hold these paintings, but they finally allowed us this exhibit because of our shared appreciation of the paintings, and the meaning of the paintings. It was an amazing exhibit! We went with MacKay's family the first time. I was so impressed I had to tell my Dad about it, they came up a couple weeks later to see it, (In March) Dad bought a painting, and he also got one for his birthday the following month.  We were so lucky to see these paintings!

That concluded the month of February! March was a fun month, with LOTS of pictures, the Henderson Retreat, and Zions, with City Volleyball! Lots to show. Stay tuned!

XOXO- Shanna

Fruit Pizza Bars- Food Friday!!

Ok, So I have compiled a few recipes to find {what I think is} the PERFECT recipe of Fruit Pizza Bars. I tried a lot of different recipes for the bar itself, and the topping. I can now finally say I have satisfied my OCD perfection of these Bars!! {finally...} However I am seriously the Lazy Chef, if I can cut a corner {or 5} I will do it! SO, I have two options for the Bar without the topping. There is the #1 Option I like to call: "The Lazy Chef Specialty" and then option #2 is for those who like to go above and beyond with their apron and spatula. I like to call it "The Show Off Edition." Ya, I said it.
So be that as it may, here is the recipe!

But can I just say, this is my go-to dessert. I make it for everything. It is EASY, delicious and you will be asked for the recipe many times! I didn't want to bring this up or anything, buuuuut, at a Ward auction for the Young Women it sold for $37.....soooo. Let that speak for itself. Oh, and it looks pretty. (;

Pinterest Fruit Pizza Bars

BARS: (2 options)

Ingredients #1- The Lazy Chef Specialty:

2 Sugar Cookie Mix bags- Betty Crocker

2 sticks of Butter, Softened (as per cookie instructions)

2 Eggs (as per cookie instructions)

Directions #1:

Prepare cookie bars as per instructions on package of cookie mix. Spray a cookie sheet pan. Place lump of dough on cookie sheet and spread evenly to all sides with your fist. Bake at 375 degrees, for 10-15 minutes, until light golden brown and a toothpick can be taken out clean. Cool completely.

TOPPING:

Ingredients:

8 oz Cream Cheese (softened)
1 cup Powdered Sugar
1 tsp Vanilla
8 oz Cool Whip
3 Cups of Fruit: (I use, a mixture of cut up fresh Strawberries, whole fresh blue berries, canned mandarin oranges and canned tidbit pineapple. Sometimes I add sliced fresh kiwi. Any fruit would work, peaches would be wonderful!)

Directions for Topping:

Mix together cream cheese, powdered sugar and vanilla. Beat until smooth, then add cool whip. Beat until smooth. Spread Topping over COOLED bars. (Tip: Cut bars into desired pieces BEFORE you add the fruit, it is easier than trying to dodge, or cut over the fruit.)  Add fruit in whatever design you choose, serve immediately. Don’t place the fruit on topping until you are ready to serve. I have also seen these decorated like an American Flag for the 4th of July:

Enjoy!! (below is the other option for the bars:)

If you are looking to be more domestic, here is a from scratch recipe of Sugar Cookies!:

Ingredients #2- The Show Off Edition:

1 cup unsalted butter

2 cups sugar

4 Eggs

2 tsp vanilla

5 cups flour

1 tsp salt

½ tsp baking soda

Directions #2:

In a large bowl, cream butter and sugar until fluffy. Add eggs, one at a time, mixing after each egg. Mix in vanilla. In a separate bowl, whisk together flour, salt and baking soda. Add to wet mixture and mix just until combined. Spread on a greased pan. (13X18X1) The dough will be heavy and sticky. Bake at 375 degrees for 10-15 minutes, until light golden brown and a toothpick can be taken out clean. Cool completely.

See above for Topping.



XOXO- Shanna

Workout Wednesday!- #BIKINISERIES & #100bysummer

Happy Workout Wednesday!! I am so excited about this post and can not wait to tell you about the 8 week challenge I am participating in. #BIKINISERIES & #100bysummer

I have three words for you:

TONE IT UP

 

I have had a few people express interest in these little challenges that I do. So I just decided to type it out and put it up for all to see in case anyone else is interested! I have also done so on my facebook page a while back. But since there is yet another challenge I am writing about it again! (:

Right now Tone It Up is in the 2nd week of the #BIKINISERIES. I have done it for 3 years in a row, and I love it! It gives me motivation to workout each day and eat a little bit healthier! It helped me drop all my pregnancy weight in 3 months and made me feel more confident!

Alright first of all go HERE and read this post first! Tone It Up can explain everything better than I can! It has everything you need to know about the challenge!! Don't worry, it's free. (: Then come back and read my little input! It is the first week's workout schedule, which was last week, but before the Monday-Sunday workout schedule it explains the details of the challenge!


Back?!


Ok here is my 2 cents: (;


I LOVE that they post a weekly workout schedule. I don't always follow it, because sometimes the videos are a bit cheesy or I want to workout my arms instead of abs that day! Either way it still motivates me to check the weekly schedule every Sunday, and then I make my own plan in a notebook, or white board. That way I know what to expect every day, and instead of my day running me, I RUN MY DAY! I love planning. (;

 

Here is my board: Ignore the scribbles. I have an AM and PM for each day, mostly what Tone It Up has on their schedule. then I check it off when it is complete. They also do PM challenges that aren't workouts, things like making a vision board (on Pinterest or the old fashioned way (;  ) To write your blessings in your journal, things like that. In the corner of each day in the section of PM I have boxes and a cloud looking thing. This is where I record my 1: Miles for the day, 2: Check-In with TIU on instagram, and 3: how many oz of water I drank that day! Oh, I also have been putting in parenthesis how many miles I anticipate I will go that day, and total. So sorry it isn't more readable. But it works for me! (; 

You read about their Booty Call. That is just basically to get up before you usually do and fit in some cardio! Some weeks I fit it in, some weeks I don't. But I still always try to fit in the workout sometime throughout the day!


The little cardio challenges are lots of fun! #100bysummer, #100byhalloween and #100byvday. I have done them all. The cardio challenge is from day 1 to the first day of summer. June 21st! If you are just wanting to start, no Biggie! Just calculate how many miles each day till then to make it work! I don't workout on Sunday's, so I have to calculate that in, and run more in the week! Some times I give myself a cushion day because Saturday's are always crazy.  Here is a blog post that Tone It Up has put up to explain and answer questions of the #100bysummer challenge! CLICK HERE.

Remember though, It is NOT just running. You can walk, run, jog, hike, bike(biking counts for 1/3, so bike 9 miles and it counts for 3), swimming, it counts for 3X!! Elliptical, and my FAVORITE; cardio videos actually count toward your mileage!! They say 10 mins= 1 mile. Make sure they are CARDIO videos, not just toning. Like a HIIT Workout. (High Intensity Interval Training.) So you do a Jillian Video for 20 mins and you did 2 miles. (if you have ever done a Jillian Michael's workout, it works me out way more that running 2 miles!!) If you do Insanity, it counts for mileage, (it's worse than Jillian!) If you take a Zumba class, it counts! That way you don't get sick of running! I love it. For me, I have to have some variety, so I try to fit in some hiking and biking in there sometimes!
This program is FREE, however they do have a Nutrition Plan available for those that are interested. I do not have it. I do know a bit about it though. From what I have seen and heard it is amazing. Pretty strict, and it is a lifetime membership and updates. One time fee of $150. (Not bad at all) It comes with a downloadable document (a lot of people print it out into a book) and if gives you tips, and guides you how to live a healthier lifestyle. Complete with TONS of recipes. Like I said, anytime they update their Plan, you get the update for free, FOR LIFE. Pretty sweet, If I had the money, I might think about it. They have a few different plans, Vegan, Vegetarian, Regular, Gluten Free, and Pescatarian. (< who knows what that is?!)


If you go to the link I shared at the top, you can scroll down and sign up for their news letter. It is handy in case you forget to check their site, and it will send you an email when they update the blog on weekly schedules and what not.


They encourage you to check in through FB, Instagram and Twitter and all these other social media sites for prizes. Sporadically I will check in, but I am not at all hardcore about it. I just check in with my sis, and my workout partner! (accountability is KEY for me)


Lastly, they have an APP (TONE IT UP) and I believe it's like $1.99 or so. It is handy, but not necessary. I have it, and I love it. I can check their blog, and it sends me messages about weekly schedules, you can schedule your own Booty call, it gives your Daily workout(so you don't have to search the blog and scroll down to the certain day you are on). And it has a place to upload pictures for your check in on FB, Twitter or Instagram. Even weekly Motivation Success stories! (also on the blog) Check it out. (:


They do not just do 8 week challenges, I follow them all year round. They update every week, and then throw in these 8 week challenges to help get motivated. So it doesn't have to be sporadic, it can be a lifestyle if you wish!


Hope you like it! Let me know what you think, and if there are any questions. (:

Click HERE for this week's schedule!

Here are my favorite workouts from last week and this week!! A Cardio Routine, and my Favorite Toning Vid pick of the week!:

 

Monday's Cardio Routine: This is KILLER. You can do this on a treadmill, bike, or we just did it outside! 6 rounds of this was hard! We found that we are our own worst enemy, and it was harder to convince our MINDS to keep going then our bodies, but we did it! And felt amazing. Try it. (:

 

 

Then last week they had this beaut. A killer arm routine, just three moves, but it burns! Need hand weights. Enjoy! (:



3 Moves for a Sexy Upper Back

So far I am at 13 Miles for #100bysummer!

 

XOXO- Shanna

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