Holden wants a cookie

Carson swimming March 2012

HCG Diet

Dave and I started the HCG diet on January 2nd, through our chiropractors office. You can read about the diet here. This is not an easy diet but it does work, five days in and I have lost 10 lbs. I would love to lose 40 lbs but I'm shooting for 30. Hopefully, we will both continue to see progress and be able to stick to the diet. I'll post before and after pics when we complete the diet.

Here is a link to our results: HCG results

Christmas

We had a wonderful Christmas this year at my mom's house in Memphis. We drove down Thursday the 22nd and stayed until Friday the 30th. Along with my family staying at my mom and step-dad's house was my sister and her family and my step-sister and her daughter. It was a full house and I think the kids really enjoyed getting to spend so much time together. My mom took the kids to do a lot of fun things while we were in town. They got to go to Stary Nights, The Children's Museum, the Zoo, to Imax to see and movie and also to the theater to see Alvin and the Chipmunks Chipwrecked, plus many visits to get frozen yogurt.

The weekend before Chrsitmas

The weekend before Christmas we celebrated with my dad and step-mom by having lunch at their house after all going to church together. Later that night we went to Dave's parents house for dinner and to exchange gifts . It was a nice day and the kids loved opening all their presents.

Blake and Carson

Many Santas

We have taken the kids to see Santa every year since Carson was born. Normally we go to the mall and pay the outrageous amount of money just so we can see Santa and have a picture with him. Well, this year was no different except that since we have taken the boys to the mall to see Santa we have run into him all over the place. We now have 5 different pictures with Santa. Here they are:

Italian Beef

I thought I would share a recipe for something my mother-in-law made for Holden's birthday party that everyone was asking me how to make. So here it is.

Italian Beef

This recipe is done best in a large Crockpot ahead of time, shredded, grease removed from juice & then put back in Crockpot with juice & reheated. Can also be done in the oven at slow temp-but I find the Crockpot to be the best! Figure ¼ lb of meat per person and then add just a little to account for fat which you will discard after cooking but adds the flavor.

1-2 large CHUCK ROAST(S) (must be chuck to be tender)

1-2 package(s) of dry Good Seasons Italian Dressing Mix

1-2 package(s) of dry Good Seasons Garlic & Herb Dressing Mix

I small jar to 1 medium jar of whole pepperoncinis

Flour

Take chuck roast and run it through the flour to lightly coat the roast and place in Crockpot. Lay the roasts & sprinkle ½ of each dressing mix on top and lay ½ pepperoncinis on top.When finished I pour ½ the juice from pepperoncinis in crockpot-depending on how spicy you may wish to use all or none and more or less pepperoncinis. The recipe I originally got it from calls for a package of each dressing for about each 3 lb roast. I think this is too much-too salty. I use about ½-3/4 pkg. Experiment and find what fits your tastes.

Cook on low for 10 hours or so or over night works well. Cool a little and then shred with fork on cutting board. You can cut it but shredding is easiest and works best. Take juices from Crockpot and put in bowl in fridge. When cooled grease will rise to top of bowl and I skim off and discard. Put shredded beef back in Crockpot and poor remaining juices over and reheat. It always tastes better reheated or as leftovers. I like the whole pepperoncinis because if people don’t like them they can pick them out.

Great served with good multigrain rolls or bread cut in small sections and I love provel cheese you can also use Provolone, white American, Swiss, whatever you like.

ENJOY!

Halloween Festivities

We had a lot of fun going to the pumpkin patch and picking out our pumpkins to carve. Dave always carves the pumpkins, we have tried to get Carson to help but he has no interest. Both Holden and Carson had a great time trick or treating. Our neighborhood is great on Halloween, lots of people home and lots of decorations. 

Nathan and Carson

Carson, Nathan and Blake

My Little Monster

Mimi and Holden

Dave's Cards Pumpkin