Instagating an Instant Pot

Wife, mother of 4, middle school teacher, graduate student, and somewhere in there is just me, Jen.  On a typical weeknight, I have about an hour to actually decide what I want to fix for dinner, cook it, eat it, and clean up before it's on to homework for kids, bedtime for husband and kids, and homework for me.  Do I really need to state that I don't have a lot of time to cook the way that I dreamed about as a teenager?

I'm always looking  for quick, healthy, recipes that my children will eat and that actually taste good.  My mother gave me an Instant Pot for Christmas, and I'm willing to try it.  But I'm going to need some accountability, or it will end up sitting on a shelf in kitchen waiting for that once-in-awhile recipe (Sunday Roast in a Slow Cooker, for example).  So, I made a Pinterest Board with my sister-in-laws to see what they've tried and get new ideas.  And I'm going to blog once a week about my adventure.  (52 posts instead of 365.  Seems reasonable...right?)

Welcome to 2018.

Christmas Advent

So I remembered to buy some chocolate Advent calendars for the kids this year before we left on vacation.  Only problem is...how does chocolate relate to the true meaning of Christmas (besides the fact that it often helps Mommy be nicer and calm down from rough days.)

But serious, I feel like I need to incorporate something more with this commercialization of counting down until Christmas.  Enter...the scripture chain.  After browsing Pinterest, I came across this blog:  http://www.thethingsilovemost.blogspot.com/2011/11/our-other-traditions.html that had a list of scriptures from both the Book of Mormon and the Bible relating to Christ.  The scriptures are super short, unlike other scripture chains out there, which really will make it palatable for my children while they wait anxiously to devour their chocolate for the day.

Let's see how it goes.

*Happy Holidays to Everyone!*

Frustration

So, I'm trying to finish up scrapbooking the year 2007 and I only have 1 picture from that Christmas!  Really?  It's kind of sad and pathetic.  I mean, it was our first year married and we didn't document it.  Silly us.

So...did anyone happen to take pictures with us that year (2007)?

Christmas 2011

I promised my sister that I would post pictures. I'll even do it this year! Amazing! So, here are a couple of highlights from the last couple of days.

Playing with cousins (Shelly Holt holding baby Ava Barrios.  Jen holding Carter.)

Christmas Eve Tradition of Playing Christmas chimes.  (This was Kaylie's first time.  She LOVED it!)

Playing with Uncle Connor before we leave to go home.

Getting ready for the Christmas Joy to begin.

Before

After

Kaylie with her new Pretty Pink Princess Tower. (As soon as it was set up, she moved all of her new toys and clothes inside. Good purchase, Nate!)

Carter with his new high-chair tray rattle. (He thinks it's much yummy to play with this way.)

Kaylie and Carter in their new Christmas clothes at Nana & Papa Call's home.