The World's Yummiest Tomato Soup

Thanks to my friend Amy I now have the world's best Homemade Tomato Soup.
(I miss you Amy!)
Last year our two little boys, who are the same age, were out playing in my backyard while we had a presidency meeting. While out there they decided to pick all my tomatoes and throw them over the fence into all of my neighbors yards. Needless to say I didn't get very many tomatoes off my plants last year. Bradley and I were sick one day and Amy showed up with this yummy soup to help us get better soon.
With it she included a letter asking for forgiveness for the loss of all my tomatoes.
After tasting how delightful the soup was I quickly forgot all about my lost tomatoes!
Thanks Amy for sharing this recipe with me! And now I share it with all of you!
Happy Cooking!

1/3 Cup Olive Oil
5 large Carrots, peeled and chopped
1 large Yellow Onion, Chopped
1 Tablespoon Dry Basil
2 Cans (28 Oz. Each) Italian Style Tomatoes
2 Cans (49 Oz. Each) Chicken Broth
2 Cups Whipping Cream

Saute carrots, onion and basil in olive oil. Add tomatoes and chicken broth. Simmer for 20 minutes. Take off heat.
Blend in blender. Return to heat. Add 2 cups whipping cream. Salt and Pepper to taste. Garnish with fresh basil if desired.

Way to pay attention to details!

This weekend we went to a family reunion up in Park City. Dave had gone up earlier in the morning to go on a bike ride with my brothers while I stayed home and got the kids off to their Primary activity (which was so awesome!). While the kids were gone I was trying to get all the packing done so could leave as soon as they got home. Well, I tried, but was unsuccessful! The girls helped me out and we were SURE we had everything we needed. We checked off our list of things and off we went.
Upon arriving, I soon discovered I had not brought ANY blankets for Dave and I to sleep with. I was so sure I'd forget the kids blankets that I forgot mine instead! Dave was more than willing to come home and get what I'd forgotten! (Such a good husband!)
This morning while I was getting showered and ready for the day I pulled a toothbrush out of our bathroom bag and noticed that I had brought my old toothbush that was blue and had sharpie writing on it (I had written my name on the sides because Dallas and I had the same colored toothbrush and I didn't want them to be confused with one another). I loaded up the toothpaste and proceded to brush my teeth. It wasn't until we came home this afternoon and I was putting everything away that I had actually brushed my teeth with Dallas' blue toothbrush. This morning I had not made sure the writing on the sides said 'mom'. The writing on the sides read 'Dallas'. A very discusted Dallas wants me to find a new toothbrush for her to use! Can't say I blame her!

Calling all Super Moms!

Here's your chance to give me all the 'free' advise you want!
As you all know Colter is potty training, but he is still struggling with going #2 in the toilet. He has done it once, but I am ready to be done with washing poop out of underwear. I would love any insightful hints or suggestions on how to encourage pooping on the potty! What has worked for you? Thanks for your ideas, in advance!
I know this is only temporary, but I'd like to speed up this temporary phase he's in!

Traditions! Traditions!

We celebrated a tradition at our house last night that will not be celebrated again. The tradition was short lived, but none-the-less we followed through.
Dave and I decided when Dallas was little that we would let her decide when she was eight years old if she wanted to pierce her ears. It was something she looked forward to. The night before her eighth birthday we took her to get her ears pierced. Well, with Aundrea turning eight we knew that we had to do to her what we'd done with Dallas. Aundrea, however wasn't sure if she wanted her ears pierced. She eventually decided that, yes, she wanted to. Last night we took her to get her ears pierced, on the eve of her birthday. Just like with Dallas. Its a little sad that this tradition is coming to an end, but who knows maybe the boys will decide to get their ears pierced on the eve of their birthdays :) (That'll never happen! Not if I have a say.) We'll have to figure out some other 'special' thing we can do with them, as we did with the girls, so they will have something to look forward to.

It's Great to be 8!

Today is Aundrea's 8th birthday!

I can still remember the day she was born. We were living in Provo, so she was born at the Timpanogas hospital. I had gone to the hospital to be checked because of some possible complications (I wasn't due yet), and 5 hours later had a tiny baby girl. (I use the word tiny losely, all my other babies were huge compared to her). She was born at dinner time 5pm and weighed 6lbs 8oz and was 19 inches long.

Aundrea is such a sweet and loving girl. Her passion is for animals, when she grows up she wants to be a veterinarian. She loves to play with her sister and brothers. She's getting to the age where hanging out with friends is cool, and she frequently is asking for someone to come over. There aren't alot of girls her age around, so sometimes it is difficult to find a friend. But when she does, you're sure to find them playing Little Pet shops or Barbies.

It's a tradition at our house to let the birthday child pick the dinner. When asked this morning what she would like her responses were: Hootenany Pancakes (a.k.a German Pancakes) or Whole Wheat Cereal. I just had to laugh! I was expecting Homemade Pizza or some other complicated thing, but no, leave it to Aundrea to think simiply.

Aundrea will be baptized in October. She is really excited to become a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Her baptism is the day before her sister birthday. Pretty cool. Her first official day of fasting will be on her sisters 11th birthday, what a cool thing to remember.

I am so glad to have Aundrea as my daughter! I am truly a lucky mom to have such an awesome and valiant daughter of our Heavenly Father as my daughter to raise!

I LOVE YOU AUNDREA!!
HAPPY BIRTHDAY!

Too pretty to eat!

I definitely think I'm turning domestic! Who knew that canning could be so much fun, or so rewarding. A few weeks ago I was making jams, last week it was Salsa, and today...it was gorgeous, and oh-so ripe Peaches! A little bit of my notzi mentality came out after processing the peaches when my daughter asked when they could eat them. I, thinking that the bottled fruit looked too pretty to eat replied, 'maybe after they've cooled.' But secretly I'm hoping I can hide it away in my pantry, to be eaten after I get over how pretty it looks.

Simple Prayers

This morning during Bradley's usual 2 line prayer for breakfast he decided to change things up. He had things on his mind. Things he knew Heavenly Father could help with. The prayer went something like this: 'Dear Heavenly Father, thank you for this day, bless that I can have fun, thank you for the rain and bless that it will 'ripe' our tomatoes, oh, and thanks for the food, in the name...'

I was so shocked that he was as concerned about our tomatoes and I am! But he has been taught that if you need help you can ask Heavenly Father and he can help you find answers. Why hadn't I thought of praying for my tomatoes? Is it too silly of a thing to pray for? I don't think so, not any more! Thanks Bradley for reminding me that there is always someone there to help us with the things in life that perplex us!
(...now I know that if my tomatoes don't ever ripen it was meant to be that way :). And if they do ripen its all because of the faith of a child!)