You Have Been so Patient

My Camera charger died a few months ago.  I feel like my left arm is gone!  {and I'm LEFT handed!!!}

 

I have finally ordered a charger and will be picking it up when I head to the states for some added spiritual upliftment.  {and to have a week where the only teeth I brush are MINE}  Oh the JOY!

I'm headed to Women's Conference...alone.  None of my CLOSE amigas are going, sniff, sniff.  But I am pleased to have private time to really ponder what I'm learning.

I remember when this was taken.  It was the year all the stars aligned and we were able to go together.  I recall on this trip knowing that this would not happen again for a long time.  It was just PERFECT.  I will think of all of you while I'm there. :)

I love being a mommy...but I do know how to get away and not worry.

Want in on my SECRET???

 

Prayer.

Yep.  I say a little prayer to my Father in Heaven and ask for help to let me relax (and that my husband returns my children ALIVE).

Works every time.  {at least so far}  I can't wait to test my secret again.  

So thank you for hanging with me as I used old pictures and copied recipe pictures for my...recipes.

In a few weeks I shall return with probably more pictures than you'd like.  Ha!  Ha!  

So everyone...enjoy some MORE old pictures of my crazy family.  

AND can you believe that Wednesday marks our 1 YEAR anniversary in Costa Rica?

 

Yahooo!!!!  Another goal accomplished!!! Time for a little give away, don't you think???

Kids on a traditional Costa Rican cart.



The first day of {mommy's home schooling the oldest 3 so the little ones are headed off to} preschool.
Memories of Paige's baptism day.

During our CRAZY rainstorms the kids would enjoy being outside.  Look at that umbrella of ours.

My favorite path we found out driving one day.  I'm using this in a post about this Costa Rican life path we took.

Our home was the 3rd home on the left at the end of this road.  This is the road I walked everyday to the grocery store. 
Dallin and Paige...enjoying Costa Rica's puda vida!
My honey taking my sweetie to be baptized.  It was a perfect day.

Do I or Don't I??? { Galvanic Spa }

That is the question...

I've been wondering if I post about what we've been up too.

"Yes, of course you should post about it Shawna. It's awesome...why wouldn't you want to tell your friends?"

then that inner voice speaks again...

"No, don't bring it up on the blog...you don't want this to seem like an undesired sales call in the middle of dinner!"

but...."this is such an incredible product...why not SHARE it with all your friends? Let them enjoy it as much as you do!"

O.K. so I've decided to tell you.

I've always wanted to host a "My Favorite Things" party. Have you heard of them? It's a copy cat of "Oprah's" Favorite Things Show. Except without the thousands upon thousands of dollars in prizes.

Come on...I'm living in Costa Rica with 5 kids...let's not go there.

What you do is invite 10 friends and have each of them bring a basket with 9 items in it to give away. The item would be one of their favorite things. Before this product my item would have been my Pampered Chef large cookie scoop along with my PERFECT chocolate chip cookie recipe. Yumm.

But that all has changed. What I would bring in that adorably decorated basket now would be this:


(Of course if your interest is peaked...don't call the number at the end...email me. I can get you one in as little as 24 hours in the states, Canada and of course here in Costa Rica {I've got connections}).

Like what you see?

O.K. well here is the Science of it (I always want to know HOW things work):



Isn't that incredible?

I have one and use it once a week. If you know me you know I'm much more concerned about my spiritual health then my wrinkles. I love laugh lines because it means I've LAUGHED, often.

This ageLOC stuff is medically incredible. The one thing that bothers me on my face is the lines that go from my nose to the edges of my mouth. I'm so glad I'm not standing in front of you now because for the rest of this conversation I know that is where your eyes will be...on my mouth lines.

Can I say that they are leaving my face. SWEET!!! I'm pretty pleased. I've got a few friends that were devoted Botox'ers and now have left that poison for this. It just works better and has longer lasting effects. Did I mention it's cheaper?

So if you are interested in having one of these babies in your home...email me { photo mom 5 at gmail dot com } or leave a comment with your written out email. I'll get back to you.

Have a great one...I'm headed for my Galvonic Facial.

Jealous? :)

BBQ Sauce...

I always double or triple this recipe just to make sure I have it on hand. I pour it in the crockpot with chicken or ribs and let it simmer all day. Sometimes I use it to create BBQ baked beans.

"I need a napkin...my mouth is watering!"
I forgot...I'm the mother...that means I've got to get my own napkin. Excuse me a moment...

O.K. that's better.

Without further aduo... (no idea how to spell that)

Big Al's K.C. Bar-B-Q Sauce

INGREDIENTS

• 2 cups ketchup
• 2 cups tomato sauce
• 1 1/4 cups brown sugar
• 1 1/4 cups red wine vinegar
• 1/2 cup unsulfured molasses
• 4 teaspoons hickory-flavored liquid smoke
• 2 tablespoons butter
• 1/2 teaspoon garlic powder
• 1/2 teaspoon onion powder
• 1/4 teaspoon chili powder
• 1 teaspoon paprika
• 1/2 teaspoon celery seed
• 1/4 teaspoon ground cinnamon
• 1/2 teaspoon cayenne pepper
• 1 teaspoon salt
• 1 teaspoon coarsely ground black pepper

DIRECTIONS

1. In a large saucepan over medium heat, mix together the ketchup, tomato sauce, brown sugar, wine vinegar, molasses, liquid smoke and butter. Season with garlic powder, onion powder, chili powder, paprika, celery seed, cinnamon, cayenne, salt and pepper.
2. Reduce heat to low, and simmer for up to 20 minutes. For thicker sauce, simmer longer, and for thinner, less time is needed. Sauce can also be thinned using a bit of water if necessary. Brush sauce onto any kind of meat during the last 10 minutes of cooking.

I'm back...(want to make sure you know it's me speaking and not Big Al)

So here in Costa Rica I have yet to find Molasses so I don't add that to mine and it still turns out mouthwateringly delicious. So enjoy...

Love ~ME

It's Easter Morning...

May your family have a wonderful time together with family and friends.

Enjoy this lovely video from The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and join with us as our thoughts are brought to the needed sacrifice our Savior made on our behalf.



He is risen!

Welcome Easter...

It's late Friday night...the Elders just left and the town has basically been shut down since Thursday.

When my honey said the town shut down for the holiday, I didn't know he meant "shut-down" completely from Wednesday to Sunday. Did you know that it is illegal here to drink from Wednesday to Sunday? Did you know that you can be arrested if you are caught?

Not that I plan on drinking...just thought that was interesting.

So the stores around us are closed but for the Easter Bunny's sake (and the tradition) I hope I can find a few of the bigger ones opened tomorrow.

So if you are like me and have yet to prepare for Sunday morning festivities...you might want to check out my gringo friend Robbie's blog. She had the COOLEST idea for dying eggs.

Can you guess how she did these???

Me neither. So head over to "hotmomsrus.blogspot.com"

It's 3 AM, scratch that, 4 AM...

and one of God's creatures has decided to belt out the most beautiful lyrics somewhere outside of our home. It is absolutely music to my ears, except that I want to sleep!!!!

I've tried to ask the bird to leave, but he insists on presenting his lullaby here at our home at this hour.

So I've conceded and here I am, listening and typing. {Thinking about using the rocks my son collected from the park yesterday as a weapon}

Anyway, I wanted to show you how we get around town {country} here. Most streets do not have names. We use churches {that are connected to parks}, banks and broken down houses as a reference; anything that would stick in someone's mind.

A direction to a school for troubled teens I used to visit went something like this:
Go right about 5 kilometers. Turn left and go all the way around the blue church. Drive for 2 kilometers and turn right again after the train tracks. When you pass the 3rd white house (shack) turn left. "Hummm...is that house considered white or cream? Augh!!!" Turn left at the street with 3 small and 4 large electric lines passing over it.

O.K. maybe those aren't the exact directions but you get the picture. Right?

Here are the directions to my friend's house we visited the other day...
{I put the directions in a different order so no one could surprise my friend and just show up on a day her maid isn't there. Aren't I nice?}

At the bottom of the
hill as you start back up, you will come to a fork with CR Bank in the middle of the fork, stay left and continue up the hill
• Your first possible left turn is just past the Cruz Roja sign – DON'T TURN
HERE
• At your second possible left, turn left – this is the
Country Day School road which you will come to in about 2.5 blocks. No sign,
but CDS is on both sides of the road and looks institutional and school-like
with huge chain link fences.
• Keep going till you have to turn right at a No Hay Paso.
• You will come to a wide yellow speed bump just before a dangerous
intersection, continue on straight thru the stop
• Continue straight up for about a mile. You'll pass a dark
orange condo on the left: Keep going.
• At the top of the hill, the asphalt road you are on takes a 90° curve to
the left. BUT a new gray brick road continues straight ahead of you: take...


Is that funny or what? There are many days I think about Utah and the EASY South, North, East and West directions there. Oh, and street signs. I've spent many moments on the phone trying to explain to someone that the best way to get a hold of me is email.

It really is.

But get this...through all this CRAZINESS, the other day I told my sweetheart..."Honey, I've been thinking I might just want to retire here."

Smack...he hit the floor in a dead faint.




Crossing the street in Costa Rica from Peter Krupa on Vimeo.

40 years ago, yesterday...

my sweetie entered this world. Can you believe he's 40????

I can't! That means I'm headed there...in 4 short years.

So in honor of my honey's special day, that was yesterday {hey, we were busy} I would like to post my favorite things about him.

1. He has a great since of humor...even when he doesn't know he has a great since of humor. Maybe I just think everything is funny. Hee, hee.

Yeah, I do.

2. He is an honorable man. {this species can be difficult to find nowadays, almost extinct}

3. This one I can't mention...{hee, hee} but I love him for it!!!!!

4. My man is a proud pappa!!!


5. He is very in touch with his "spiritual" side.

Can a woman want for anything more???

Happy birthday Wes! To the next 40 years, together!

Crisp-and-Creamy Baked Chicken

Oh so divine!

{and easy} Which makes it more divine.

I got this from my FREE Kraft magazine. {www.kraftfoods.com)" Did you know that if you go online you can signup for a FREE magazine sent out every 3 months and packed full of easy recipes with beautiful pictures?

Did I mention it's FREE? I think this would be a great {FREE} gift to any new bride or college student just leaving home.

Just my personal opinion. :)

O.K. ready for the recipe?

Crisp-and-Creamy Baked Chicken

Prep: 10 minutes Total time 35 minutes.

4 small boneless skinless chicken breast halves
6 T of Shake N Bake Extra Crispy Seasoned Coating Mix (I just use seasoned bread crumbs)
2 cups of instant rice, uncooked
2/3 cup (1/2 of a 10 oz can) cream of celery soup ( I used 1 cup of low fat sour cream mixed with powdered ranch dressing, YUM)
1/4 cup of milk (if using sour cream use less milk)
1 cup shredded cheddar and Monterey Jack Cheese (I use whatever cheese is cheapest here)

Preheat oven to 400 degrees. Coat chicken with coating mix as directed on package. (I dipped my chicken in milk and then the seasoned breadcrumbs) Place in greased 13x9 baking dish.

BAKE: 20 minutes or until chicken is cooked through. Meanwhile, cook rice as directed on package.

BEAT: soup and milk with wire whisk until well blended. Pour evenly over chicken; sprinkle with cheese. Bake an additional 5 minutes or until cheese is milted and sauce is bubbly. Serve with the rice.

How Many Days Can I Go Without Complaining?

{Said in the Tootsie Roll commercial voice, the one with the owl} One...two ooh, three...CRUNCH!

I guess we will never know...

Except I do know..it took me 79 days before I complained. So lame. Especially when I thought the day would never come.

{My daughter saw the above picture and said, "Mom, why is that guy naked?" In all my years watching that commercial...I never noticed that! Hee, hee.}

Anyway, the situation I'm frustrated with...my laundry attitude.

Living in our other home, you might remember that we didn't have a washer and dryer. We had a clothes line...and I had to pack up our dirty clothes twice a week and get them to the next little town to wash them at my sister in laws. Such a struggle. Especially since living by the beach we had plenty of wet, soon to be mildewy clothes. It was ROUGH!

Moving here we acquired a GLORIOUS washer and dryer. They are so beautiful and my most coveted items in the house.

Then yesterday morning, I woke up and the first thought that went through my head was, "Was I drooling?"

Oh no...I meant the second thing that went through my head. "Augh...I have to do laundry today!!!"

Can you believe it?

I swore I got it! I understood how good and easy life is with these modern utensils to help me through my chores. I really thought I would NEVER complain at the luxury of having a washer and dryer again.

How long did forever last? 79 days, exactly.

Don't worry...I quickly realized my folly and changed my laundry attitude. I reminded myself of my blessings and hopped on the "gratitude wagon" again.

Whew!!!

Tonight my son Dallin and I took a casual walk to our favorite bread store and had an interesting conversation on our way home.

Dallin: "Remember when we used to complain about having to put dishes in the dishwasher? giggle, giggle"

Me: "yeah..."

Dallin: "I'll be so thankful when that's all I have to do."

Me: "Me too."

Dallin: "Costa Rica sure has changed us."

Me: "Yep."

{I just need to fight harder not to change back. Being human can be so frustrating some times.}

Disneyland's {opps can't say that!} Cornbread...

This could be titled "Corn Bread Cup Cakes" because they are so sweet and yummy. I don't cook them in a skillet, but in a 9x9 pan or muffin pan. Do whatever you are most comfortable with, but you have to try these! I figure most of you still have some cold weather left in your month {I saw your weather report} so enjoy.

Amusement Park Cornbread {you can print it here}

SUBMITTED BY: Trish
"A delicious cornbread that will transport you to a magic kingdom of flavor. This recipe can also be used for cornbread muffins."

INGREDIENTS

* 2/3 cup white sugar
* 1 teaspoon salt
* 1/3 cup butter, softened
* 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
* 2 eggs
* 2 cups all-purpose flour
* 1 tablespoon baking powder
* 3/4 cup cornmeal
* 1 1/3 cups milk

DIRECTIONS

1. Preheat oven to 400 degrees F (200 degrees C). Lightly grease an 8 inch skillet.
2. In a large bowl, beat together sugar, salt, butter and vanilla until creamy. Stir in eggs one at a time, beating well after each addition. In a separate bowl, mix together flour, baking powder and cornmeal. Stir flour mixture into egg mixture alternately with the milk. Beat well until blended.
3. Bake in preheated oven for 20 minutes, or until golden brown. Serve warm.

These deserve a little honey butter...don't forget to mix some up.

Is There Anything Better...

than sitting down after a long day of cooking, cleaning and refereeing and realizing your little ones have come to snuggle?I wonder how long they have been waiting to hang out with mommy today?

Life is so good...

and I refuse to let it pass me by without noticing.


This is my daughter. My one and only daughter. She is the most interesting and entertaining child I have ever met or heard of.

I was working on the computer one night and she too just wanted to be by mommy I guess. I didn't notice she had escaped her room but when I finished up my work, there she was, sleeping on the hard tile. I believe she decided to use my waterproof mascara to become a fair Indian maiden.

Or was that permanent marker?

Anyway, she is amazing.

The Writers Club...

So I found this "writer's club""...not that I'm a writer or anything. In fact there are no talent prerequisites, that's why I can join.

I thought this was a fun, easy idea. Write your day out using only nouns. A little more difficult than I imagined; I do love my adjectives.

eyes
sunlight
snuggles
laugh
breakfast
school
school
school
school
sandwiches
mop
windows
fights
toys
playground
snuggles
laugh
balls
swings
sunlight
tag
home
bathrooms
floors
computer
dinner
snuggles
laugh
baths
laugh
teeth
pajamas
snuggle
bed
mosquitoes
mosquitoes

Makes you think my life is perfect over here, huh? {minus the mosquitoes}


O.K. so I can't stand it. How can you really tell a story without descriptive words?
Here's my new list.

sleepy eyes
crisp sunlight
slight snuggles
quiet laugh
steamy breakfast
starting school
tough school
interesting school
done school
yeah school
quick sandwiches
drenched mop
grimy windows
constant fights
distractive toys
rickety playground
abounding in snuggles
contagious laugh
bouncy balls
rusted swings
cheery sunlight
running tag
comfy home
needed bathrooms
shiny floors
friendly computer
delicious dinner
tons of snuggles
content laughs
bubbly baths
wet laughs
squeaky teeth
toasty pajamas
sleepy snuggle
chilly bed
buzzing mosquitoes
dead mosquitoes

Tah-dah! Day done!