Soup Anyone?

So here is a new favorite soup of my family. I tried it and had no leftovers to speak of. Everyone liked it. Hopefully if you try it, it will become a favorite of yours as well. Who doesn't like a new soup in the fall. I got it from my Southern Living Magazine, and everything I ever try from there is good. I also like it because it's fast, only 15 min of prep. That's my kind of meal. And if any of you think it might be spicy, I don't think it was nor did any of my children. Enjoy!

Creamy Black Bean Soup
makes:16 cups Prep:15 min
cook:30 min

1 medium onion, diced (about 1 cup)
1 tsp. minced garlic
1 Tbsp. olive oil
2 (15 oz) cans black beans, rinsed and drained
1 (32 oz.) container chicken broth
2 (4.5 oz.) cans chopped green chiles, undrained
1 (14.5 oz.) can Mexican-style stewed tomatoes, undrained
1 (14.5 oz.) can diced tomatoes, undrained
1 (11 oz) can whole kernel corn, rinsed and drained
2 Tbsp. chili powder
1 tsp. ground cumin

Toppings optional: sour cream, shredded cheddar cheese, diced tomatoes, chopped fresh cilantro.

1. Saute onion and garlic in 1 Tbsp. hot oil in a soup pot over medium high heat 6 minutes or until tender. Stir in black beans and next 7 ingredients, stirring to loosen particles from bottom of pot; cover and bring to a boil. Uncover, reduce heat to medium-low, and simmer, stirring occasionally, 15 min.

2.Process 2 cups of soup in blender or food processor 30 seconds or until smooth. Return to pot, and stir until blended. Serve with desired toppings.

Sunday Six

Here's just a few random thoughts:

1. I got my bucket filled this weekend.

I went to Estes Park for an overnight getaway with one of my book clubs. We've been together 6 years and thought we finally deserved it. It was beautiful up in the mountains with great fall weather. We did discuss our book for the month, but we also window shopped, walked, ate, laughed till our sides hurt, relaxed and did it all some more. We ended on Saturday night by going together to the Relief Society broadcast where I always hear things that make my heart swell and my testimony grow. Can you believe I've never been away from all my children overnight? I think it needs to happen with Trent next time (we'll see how long that takes to happen) Anyway, it was a fantastic weekend!

2.Boys, balls, and broken windows.

Friday morning was the boys first track off day, and Oliver came upstairs that morning and tried to tell me that when he and Miles went downstairs that the window was broken in the basement. I knew that wasn't the truth and he admitted that he had been throwing a lacrosse ball around (which by the way is one of the hardest balls) and had broken the window. Now mind you, this is the 3rd broken window in the basement! One time was by a neighbor boy but 2 times it has been by Oliver throwing different balls. How many times have I told the kids not to play with balls in the house? ( I guess they haven't seen the Brady Bunch episode where the lamp is broken) I called Trent to tell him about it and he wasn't as upset as I wanted him to be. He said it's just something that happens with boys (Trent said he's broken about 10 in his life) Ok, do I really have to accept this? All you ladies out there please tell me that this isn't just something that goes with the territory of having boys. I don't know how many more broken windows I can handle.

3.Paul Newman died this weekend.
So sad. I know I didn't know him personally and he was old enough to be my father or grandfather but, he had the "it" factor. He had so much charm and he was so handsome. My favorite movie of his was Cool Hand Luke, if you haven't seen it, see it and if you have, like me I might just have to watch it to remember how good he was....

4. What's next on my reading list. Let's see- REVENGE OF THE WITCH(for one book club), WHISTLING IN THE DARK(for the other book club) Hopefully I won't be reading them the days of the discussion like this month. And for my personal reading RACHEL & LEAH, GOSSIP OF THE STARLINGS, THE VIEW FROM GARDEN CITY, THE GUERNSEY LITERARY AND POTATO PEEL PIE SOCIETY, THE SENATOR'S WIFE. I'll let you know what I think of them. I need a cloudy, cool day with nothing to do but snuggle up with a good book (is that really going to happen? I hope)

5. I hope this doesn't sound weird, but have you ever noticed the smell of your children? As I look at the different stages my children are in, it's quite telling about the way they smell (stay with me.)
Phoebe
literally always smells sugary sweet. I was hugging her the other day and her skin smelled so sweet, almost like syrup. Girls really are truly made of sugar and spice.
My boys
smell what I like to call sunshine. It's not a bad smell but like they've been running around letting the sunshine soak in. I know one day it will be gone and I will miss it.
Isabel
smells like a girl on the brink of womanhood, she experiments with different body sprays and girly perfume. She no longer smells like a little girl which is a little bit sad but I'm trying to be ready for her to grow up. When I think of all these it makes me a little bit teary. I just want to bottle the smells up so that when the smells are long gone and the kids have all grown up I can take a sniff and it will transport me back to the days of childhood. Can't they stay little forever?

6.A busy week ahead- Isabel's last track meet, One doctors appt for Miles(we'll see how big he's grown), one dentist appt for Oliver(he's got a big hole in his tooth) One doctor appt for Oliver(finally with the nose doctor to see if we can get him to breathe, please pray for him, it's going to take a miracle I think) one baby shower, one storytime, and lots of trying to keep the boys busy at home so they don't drive me completely nuts.

My favorite canidate

I wonder who you all thought I was going to say? Anyway, my favorite candidate is OLIVER. He is running for school treasurer. He's given his speech to the whole school and today he put up his posters for the upcoming election. His slogan that he came up with on his own was "This Hart won't let you down" I don't quite know how much responsibility he will have if he wins, but he promises he won't let you down. Trent printed fake money with Oliver's picture on it for him to pass out to people, and Oliver is excited. The boys tracked off (they have year round school) for 3 weeks and the election will be when they get back to school. The rest of the tracks will have a chance to look at the posters and listen to his taped speech while he is off track. So we wish Oliver the best of luck and hopefully it will be a Victory!

Happy Anniversary

I meant to post this last week on the actual day but of course you all know that my computer was out of sorts. So I'm posting this now because I want to note the day. My parents celebrated their 50th WEDDING ANNIVERSARY! It was on September 17th and I just want to wish them a belated Happy Anniversary. It's amazing to reach 50 years! Their love story is one that I hold as an example of how a marriage should be, where two people love each other completely, through good times, bad times, trials and triumphs. They truly have an unbelievable love story, I hope I tell it right. They met each other one summer at the Del Monte bean factory where they were both working. They dated and were married in six weeks. My dad was soon going to Moscow, Idaho to college so they had to move quickly. And the rest they say is history. I remember when I was younger I would be so embarrassed that as soon as my dad walked in the door at 5:30 on the dot the first thing he ever did was to go kiss my mother. (it wasn't just a peck on the cheek either) He would dip her and give her a long kiss, who cares who was watching. I now look back and I wouldn't have a memory any other way. I never doubted the love that they had for each other. I can only say I feel so lucky to have such wonderful parents who are an amazing couple who I feel so lucky to be a part of their family. Victor Hugo wrote "A house is built of sticks and stones and tiles and posts and piers. But a home is built of loving deeds that stand a thousand years" You truly have built a legacy of love that all your family benefits from. So Happy Anniversary, even if it is a little late!

missing in action

I just want you to know(whoever reads this) why i've been absent from the blogging business. Our computer is broken. I'm writing this at the library where Isabel is trying to get her computer done on the computer here. Hopefully the computer will be fixed by mid-week and I'll be back to posting. So don't give up on me, I promise to be back. Can I just tell you how hard it is living without a computer!

On Your Mark, Get Set, Go!

Before the race with her friend Courtney

Today was Isabel's first track meet of the season. This is her 3rd year doing track. It was freezing cold at the meet, it was down in the 50's. We were all cold, hopefully it is not going to stay this way. I don't mind lounging in the sun for a few hours, but today I couldn't wait to get out of the cold. Anyway, back to Isabel. She did great! She ran in two events. She always runs the mile, and today she also ran the 800m relay. I was so proud how well she did. She came in 3rd of all the girls grades 6-8. And her team came in 3rd in the relay of 8th grade girls. It makes me tired just watching her run, and she barely breaks a sweat, I know she doesn't take after me. She is off to a great season and I hope this will be a great year for her in track. Great Job Isabel!!

Isabel running the mile (I know it's blurry, but she is fast)

I Just Have To Share

You have to use you imagination for the ugly silver

Ok, I always see all these pictures of people finding amazing bargains and turning them into things that are so cute, wondering where they find these treasures. I just have to share that I finally found my own. I was at Target just wandering for a minute as I usually do. On an end cap I see two lanterns. They are by the way shiny, ugly silver but that doesn't stop me. I look to see what the price is, they had been $30.00 a piece and they were marked down to $7.00. It was my lucky day. I thought of all the holidays that I could use them for. I took home my treasures spray painted them black (ok, Trent did), filled them up with some fall things that I already had downstairs, put them on my mantel and stepped back to enjoy. I don't like to toot my own horn, but I think they turned out pretty cute. I think finding them at a bargain price makes them even cuter. Anyway thank you for letting me indulge for a minute.

The finished product

Tagged

I was tagged by my friend Kristie, so here it goes:

20 Years ago:
1. I was 15, and we moved to Connecticut for a year while my dad did a sabbatical.
2. I was listening to Erasure, 10,ooo Maniacs, Some Kind of Wonderful soundtrack, and Ziggy Marley, to the point that the whole family could sing along.
3.We got cable for the first time. I was glued to MTV for a really long time trying to catch up on what I had been missing out on.

10 Years ago:
1. Trent finished graduate school in Denver
2.We move to Memphis, TN for Trent's first "real" job.
3. Got pregnant with Oliver

5 Years ago:
1.I was trying to talk Trent into having another baby.
2.Trent starts at Manhard Consulting. I know it's a weird name but it is his current place of employment
3.Trying to deal with turning 30.

3 Years ago:
1.My brother, Thomas came to stay with us for 3 months(I loved it)
2.We move to our current house.
3.We went to Yellowstone

1 Year ago:
1.Think we are going to move and put our house on the market.
2. Trent starts commuting to Reno(turns into 9 months)
3.Oliver has his first nose surgery

This year so far:
1.My mom and dad left for a mission in Jerusalem
2.We find out we don't have to move to Reno, and Trent stops commuting(relief)
3.Oliver has 2nd nose surgery because the 1st one didn't work. The 2nd one doesn't work either. We don't know what to do.

Yesterday:
1.Went to the park with Phoebe
2.Cleaned house
3.Helped kids with homework

Today:
1.Went to story time with Phoebe
2.Helped in Miles' class.
3.Finished a great book.

Tomorrow:
1.Go to Isabel's first track meet of the season
2.Clean my house again.
3.weed the garden

Next year:
1.Isabel will start high school(I can't believe it!)
2. With that, I will have to wake up really early, every day to take her to early morning seminary.
3.I want to paint all my kitchen cabinets.

I tag Stephanie (since she got me last time) and anyone else who wants to play along.

Jungle Quest

Miles Walking The Ropes

So I'm just now catching up from Miles' birthday. I offered him a party, but Miles said that he just wanted to do something with the family. (Who knew he liked us more than friends?) Anyway, we decided to take the kids to a place called Jungle Quest to celebrate his birthday. Jungle Quest is a place where they harness the kids in and then they are free to go on zip lines, rope courses, rope swings and climbing walls. They had a blast, we spent almost 2 hours there. Phoebe couldn't go because you had to be at least 5 yrs old (they had a tree house playground that she could play on). She really wanted to and I don't doubt that if they would have let her she would have jumped off without a second thought. They pretty much are all daredevils. Miles was a little hesitant at first but once he did it, he wouldn't stop. We went out to dinner after and we didn't get home until after 9:oo. The kids needless to say fell right into bed. Miles' said it was a great birthday!

Phoebe catching her breath

Isabel & Oliver getting ready to race on the zip-lines.

Miles making one of his climbs.

September Simplicities

I wish this was my yard

Do you feel it in the air yet? Fall is on its way. Maybe some of you remember the book Simple Abundance, it came out about 10 years ago. Anyway it's a day book and at the end of every month the author would give you ideas about how to enjoy that month which she called Joyful Simplicities. So here are some ideas from both the author and myself about how to enjoy your September. So maybe take some of the ideas and enjoy the end of summer and the beginning of fall!

1. Stock up on your own school supplies. Experiment with every type of pen you can find until you discover one that writes wonderfully. Get your own notebooks, markers, tape and scissors. Should the kids get all the fun?

2. Make caramel apples. Roll them in nuts, chocolate chips, toffee bits, drizzled chocolate, and sprinkles.3.Pack away your swimsuit. Bring out your sweaters.

4. Celebrate the autumn equinox with a festive dinner of fall favorites (make a pot of your favorite soup, chili, soup, stew).

5.Start making your Christmas list this month so that you won't be frantic in December(ok this is a good idea, we'll see if it really happens at my house, probably not).

6.Bring home a pot of mums for your front porch.

7. Make or enjoy something with apples. (apple crisp, apple pie, apple tart, apple cider, you get the idea) or even just try a new variety of apple that you haven't tried before.

8.If you have children, this is the time to have them decide on their Halloween costumes. Don't despair. They don't divide the children into two groups at school: those wearing store-bought costumes and those wearing homemade ones!

Halloween 2007

9. Take a walk and breathe in the crisp air.

10.Start feathering your nest for fall, put away the summer stuff and bring out the fall decorations.

11.Buy yourself a new fall scented candle and light it. So even if you don't have fall weather yet the smell will get you in the mood.

Just thinking about these things makes me excited for fall! I hope wherever you are September will be a wonderful month for you.

Happy Birthday Miles!

Today Miles turns 7! I can't believe it. I remember the day he was born so well. He made me wait until 2 days before his due date. He definitely was worth waiting for. So in honor of him turning 7, here are 7 of the many reasons I love him.

1.He has such smiley eyes, and even when he doesn't want to, he can't help himself from smiling.

2.He is such a good natured, laid back boy, who is always willing to go along with anything that I ask of him.

3.I love him because if I can catch him without him noticing he does what I call his "x-men moves" I don't know what he is exactly imagining because he's always embarrassed when he notices me. But I think it is funny all the same.

(Wolverine is his favorite - Halloween last year)

4.He's got such a gentle soul. He may play the tough boy, but he has a really good heart.

5.He is such a good brother. Especially to Phoebe. He loves the others, but he has always loved and taken good care of Phoebe. She can do anything and he will take it.

6.He's curious. He always wants to know why things are and where things came from, and how things work. There's a lot going on in that head of his.

7.I always think of Miles as my miracle baby. He was a surprise, and proved to me that I could still have children when I was told I shouldn't. He will always have a special place in my heart.

Happy Birthday Miles! I'm so proud to be your mom. I know that you truly were heaven sent!

Labor Day

Castlewood Canyon

I don't exactly understand the purpose of Labor Day. I guess it's a day off from work but then you work hard at playing. It was a great day. We woke up early to go down south about 30 minutes from our house to Castlewood Canyon State Park to go hiking. We decided on a 2.5 mile hike which doesn't sound like much, but it was considered a moderate hike, and we hiked over boulders and places where the path disappeared. The kids were a little bit paranoid about the poison ivy that was all over by the trail. It didn't help that I told them of an instance when I was 15 and mistakenly got poison ivy from my knees to my ankles(it was awful!) The kids were great troopers though !

The kids crossing a bridge over a gulch

I was amazed at how well they did. Even Phoebe didn't give up until we were about an 1/8 of a mile from the end.

Phoebe & Trent (notice how happy Trent looks carrying Phoebe).

It was a beautiful day and it was great to spend time together just as a family. We had a picnic after the hike where suddenly I was bitten by a ton of mosquitoes. We made it home by the afternoon where we rested just long enough to re energize to have our friends over for a BBQ. It was such a pleasant night no one wanted to go inside and end the night. It was a fantastic day, I know because I did not here one sound at bed time. They all fell into bed and crashed. It was a good way to end the summer season!

The kids enjoying the day

Myself and Trent during our hike.