*Joey's Quarter Of A Centry Old B-day Party- My Birthday/Our Anniversary Celebration*

I know it's been almost a month but I wanted to share... We celebrated Joey's on July 31st when he turned 25! I bought the most delicious Honey Glazed Ham, made my Momma's homemade Macaroni & Cheese (which Joey loves), heated up some home canned Green Beans, and Nikki made some awesome Vinegar Cucumbers. It was all in all a successful b-day dinner!

We topped it off with a Chocolate Cake w/ Chocolate filling w/ Chocolate Frosting... so in other words a Chocolate Chocolate Chocolate Cake :)

Isn't he a handsome birthday boys?! :) Those were my b-day presents to him!

Joey & Bret Nicole

And I give you...

The Birthday Boy! (goon)

My birthday was on the 15th and for it Joey let me go shopping :) We were down visiting my family(where my parents gave me Photoshop CS5 for a b-day present!!! I'm stoked!)  so we headed to the big BIG city and went to Cabelas, AA Callisters & The Gateway Mall. I got a super cute pine tree pillow (for my future pine tree guest room haha) & sugar baked Cashews from Cabelas, a couple sweaters for this winter from PacSun & AE, a couple Wrangler baby onsies (haha... not comment) & cookie cutters in the shape of a cowboy hat and a boot at AA Callisters, and the most beautiful vase from Anthropologie.

After shopping we went to check in to our hotel room. We got to stay at the Anniversary Inn in the Swiss Family Robinson room! It was gorgeous. It had a fish tank full of exotic fish, cheesecake & sparkling apple cider, candles all around the jacuzzi tub, and the bed was up in a tree(with chocolate covered strawberries on a pillow)!

Cute story: Joey ran out to get a movie from the RedBox so while we was out I decided to go get some pops and some ice. I was getting the ice when along walks Joey around the corner with a big ol' smile on his face, he saw me and stopped like a deer in the headlights... he had a  huge bouquet of red roses that he was going to surprise me with in the bedroom. He has picked me beautiful wildflowers numerous time but he's never bought me flowers, so this was kinda special. I am glad I caught him in the act because his face before he saw me was priceless!!! Such a sweet hubby!

We dressed up nice and went to dinner at PF Changs. We were going to go somewhere super fancy but I was in the mood for Chinese and PF Changs is my all time favorite! It was, like always, DELICIOUS! 

The next morning I got to sleep in and we got to eat a delicious room service breakfast in bed. I have to say one of my favorite things about the whole stay in SLC was that I got to shower under a waterfall!!! 

These are my roses almost a week later and they still looked beautiful in my b-day vase

*Pretty Yummy Idea*

I was starved one night but didn't want to cook and to top it all off I had basically nothing in my kitchen to eat. So I found some chicken nuggets in the freezer and had a fun idea. So I scrounged up some pizza sauce (homemade by yours truly) and some mozzarella cheese and made....

Ta Da! Mini Chicken Parmigiana! 

They were so easy to make! I just:

- Cooked the nuggets in the oven by following the instructions on the bag

- Removed the nuggets about 5 minutes before the recommended time was up

- Topped each nugget with a dollop of pizza sauce and then a pinch of mozzarella cheese

- Replaced the nuggets in the oven for the remaining 5 minutes

- Wah la! Super easy and super fast and super good mini yumminess that Joey loves!

*Wee Bit Wednesday #10*

{One} What is one food that, as an adult you love, but as a child you'd never touch?Onions & Tomatoes! Love them!
{Two} Did you go to college? If yes, what was your major?I did and hopefully will go back soon! My major at first was Animal Science, then was Equine Science. Maybe, when I go back, it will be Agricultural Business. We'll see!
{Three} What's the most wild animal you've seen in real life(not counting at the zoo)?I don't really know how to answer this. I thought a "wild" animal was a "wild" animal. I didn't know there were different levels of "wild". But, whatever, I've seen almost every kind of wild animal around in the American northwest... Deer, Antelope, Elk, Moose, Bears, Cougars, Bobcats, Badgers, Foxes, Skunks, Raccoons, Porcupines... You name it.  
{Four} Have you ever been to a fortune teller?There was one at a carnival I was at but I didn't want to spend my money on getting my fortune "told". 
{Five} Can you juggle?Very sloppily with 3 round objects.
{Six} Hardwood floors or Carpet?Depends on where in the house. I love carpet though. I think that's because growing up we lived in a lot of places with wood floors and I always wanted carpeted floors haha.
{Seven} Is it called "Soda" or "Pop"?When I lived back east it was Soda. Then we moved out west and I've called it Pop ever since
{Eight} What was your first car?I've never had a car, but my first vehicle was a navy blue '96 Chevy Silverado regular cab. I had it since I was 16 up until just last year. I loved that truck!

{Nine} What is the most decadent dessert you've ever eaten?My good friend Kevin made Joe & I the best Creme Brulee, made with real vanilla beans and with raspberries! He is going to culinary school and he is pretty darn good at what he does. I literally licked the bowl.
{Ten} How often do you rearrange your furniture?Hardly ever... If not never. I have a billion pictures hung on my walls and the furniture are placed exactly where they compliment the pictures and I do not want to have to rehang them haha.
Bonus Questions:
{Eleven} How tall are you?5' 7 1/2"... Don't forget the 1/2" :)
{Twelve} What food can you absolutely not stand to eat?Anything Mint, Kiwi or Strawberry flavored. Anything with Caramel on it, in it, just a hint of it... Puke. And hamburgers. Long story short; I lived with a lady friend of mine for about a year and we were both dirt poor. She had a couple feeder steer that were being grass fed(yucky) and we had one butchered into hamburger meat. And we had, not even joking, hamburger paddies, with no bun, and a little bit of ketchup for dinner almost every night for 6 months. If I were lucky I would get a sub while I was at work or my boss would buy some take out, or I went to my parents for dinner. Hence why I despise hamburgers.
{Thirteen} How many pillows do you sleep with?I start off with the very tip of one under my head. But, eventually I end up with the pillow pushed above me and my head flat on the mattress. I'm most comfortable that way I guess!

*Wild Weekend*

This weekend has been bittersweet, but, more on the sweet side :) I came up to Idaho on Friday and am staying until Thursday while poor Joey feeds, pulls ginormous calves, sews up prolapses, takes care of the dogs and cat, teaches our little group of 5 year olds in church by himself and eats the leftovers I made for him. My parents went out of town Sunday and I am "keeping an eye" on things until they get back. I also wanted to spend some time with them (Fri & Sat) and my little sister and brother before I start work (yes I got a job! I'll write about it after I start, a week from Monday!) and before they head out to visit my older sister's little family of boys in a couple of weeks for a couple weeks(without me {super sad face}. So far I have...

- Went to TGI Fridays with my fav cousin Amber, her man and our good friend Tyler. Had the Jack Daniel's sample(totally recommend!). 

- Washed the nasty, caked, red mud from my truck. 

- Had a chocolate-eating scare with Coatsy(little turd!). 

- Bought the cutest little sweaters, a jacket, dentals raw-hides, pee-pee pads, new toy rope and oatmeal doggie shampoo for Coatsy.

- My parents took me to my favorite mexican joint, where I, of course, got the Cream Cheese & Crab Enchilada. Mmmm mmm. 

- Went to the cheap theater to see "Unknown"(pretty sweet movie!). 

- Went to church with my little sister, brother and favorite cousin Amber. 

- Cooked a delicious sunday dinner that consisted of steak, roasted vegetables, potato rolls and Amber's ridiculously good apple dumplings. Wow.

The only thing that I really really didn't like about this weekend was... No Joey :( I miss him. Only 3 1/2 more days! I needed a couple days to recoup from the first few weeks of calving season. We lost quite a few calves and I was being a wuss and was so sick of seeing dead animals around the ranch. I just wanted away. I am still trying to get used to all the loss and trying to focus on the thriving parts of the ranch. I respect the women out there who stick by their husbands through out all the trials on the ranch, it's hard, don't let anyone try and tell you it's not! Anyway, hope everyone had a stupendous weekend!

My AMAZING Cream Cheese and Crab Enchilada... So unhealthy, but, so freakin' stinkin' good!

Coatsy in one of his new sweaters. So cute!

*Wild Weekend*

Our "Wild Weekend" consisted of:

Friday

- Snow snow and more snow

- Drive to the big BIG city aka: SLC

- Met my parents and brother's family

- Ate the best German food around. Wiener Schnitzel with Spaetzle and Red Cabbage. It's almost like you're in Germany (Trust me. I know. I lived there.)

- Went to the mall!!!

- Spent too much time in three of my fav stores Anthropologie, Urban Outfitters & Baby Gap(Sad? Yes.) 

- Drove around trying to find Marie Calenders, just to realize I could look up the location on my cell phone... I did, and we found out the one we were looking for had closed down and the closest one was across town. And SLC isn't a small town haha.

- So, we ended up eating at Village Inn

- Everyone else got pies. Yeah, I got a full breakfast. Luckily, Joey helped me eat it

- Started feeling really sick and feverish. First Joey and now me. Go figure

- We headed home at 11pm. Had a long night ahead...

- Half way home we hit a snow storm. So it took us an extra hour to get home. The dirt road to our house hadn't been plowed yet(of course) so we had to cross our fingers that we didn't get caught in the snow drifts and pulled off the road haha

Saturday

- Today I decided was going to be my Lazy Day

- Slept in... till like 10:30am... Okay, so 11am. We got home late okay?!

- Watched "Man on Fire" on TV. Awesome

- Watched "Blue Crush" on TV. Retarded

- Watched "The Hot Chick" on TV. hahaha

- Watched "That 70's Show" on TV. Like 3 episodes

- Decided I should probably get up and take a shower

- Whined to Joey over text that I was bored. He suggested I shovel the walkway. Yuck

- Decided I was bored enough to shovel the walkway

- Half way through I posted this on FB: "Taking a break from shoveling the mountain of snow and ICE from our walkway. Sheesh it's a big job for someone who can't breathe right now haha. If u see me passed out I've got meds and an inhaler in the house thanks haha".

- Finished shoveling after my 2nd wind. It was pure ice okay, it was a workout

- Still had some 2nd wind going on so I grabbed the dog leashes and took the puppies for a walk. On the way back my arms were about ripped out of their sockets so I let the dogs run loose. They stayed with me for the most part... When they weren't chasing after bunnies or the neighbors cows.

- Got home to "Dad" aka: Joey wondering where we were and wondering why I had shoveled the walkway because he was just joking and had been planning on doing it himself

- Cooked a dang good breaded Pork Chop meal that we ate on our TV trays in the living room while we watched recorded episodes of "Grey's Anatomy" and "Modern Family". P.s. Haven't seen "Modern Family"? You haven't lived, or had a coughing/crying fit from laughing so hard. Totally recommend it!

Sunday

- Church, where we teach the cutest class full of 5 year olds. Love them

- Great talks in church. Too bad I coughed throughout the whole hour

- GORGEOUS, sunny day outside. I've been debating taking vitamin D but if the days stay like this for at least 2 days in a row I think I'll be okay

- Headed over to the ranch to have some fried trout the nephews caught themselves, apple pie made by Diane, and corn bread made my yours truly. Delish

- Now here I am. Finally blogging after a full fun weekend.

How was your weekend??

Oh so good German Food

 The awesome lightbulb display in Anthropologie. Bad quality, I took it with my IPhone and shaky hands haha. But, I am so doing this. Yes, I sure will take those old light bulbs off your hands thank you very much :)

Two hilarious books at Urban Outfitters

*The Ranchers Wife Who Doesn't Love Beef*

My dad-in-law Monty is out of town shipping calves so Joey decided he wanted to invite his mom over for dinner.  I'm excited, I'm making really yummy pork chops w/ apples and onions (Cudos to our friends Jed & Cami for being our guinea pigs the first time I made these)! As I was deciding what to make for dinner I realized how much I love pork & chicken. I would take either of them over beef any day. I also realized how funny it is for a cattle rancher's wife to prefer pig and chicken over beef.  I like beef, don't get me wrong. It good for you, full of nutrients and I'm not against it in the least, I just prefer the taste of a good pork chop or the fun, tasty things you can do with a chicken breast.

Here's a delish and fast way to cook a chicken breast:

- Take a large chicken breast and make a "butterfly" cut(like picture). It's where you cut the breast lengthwise to where it's still connected just slightly

- Put the breast inside down on a skillet with some olive oil(or vegetable oil) and cook for a couple minutes

- Remove and cut a *(star shape) on both insides the of the breast(the side you just barely cooked)

- Fill the star's with your favorite salsa and fold the breast so it looks like it did before you made the butterfly cut

- Place back on the skillet and cook both sides the rest of the way through

- Before you remove the cooked chicken place a thick slice of sharp cheddar cheese on top of the breast and let it melt

- Serve with Fiesta rice and Mexican style beans

*We Are Not Wii People :)*

Does anyone remember this post?  Well, this was one of my first attempts at the Wii, it was embarrassing beyond belief.  Joey & I aren't big video game fans.  The first and biggest reason is... well... we just aren't good at them.  ESPECIALLY the darn Wii.  I don't know what it is, our hand/brain coordination is off, or maybe we're just plain retarded.  The reason why I'm writing about this is because last week was the last straw, I had to write about this after what happened.  But, before I tell you about that let me just list a few other Wii-gone-wrongs.

1) We can't play Wii Family Feud.  Well, we can play, just don't even think about handing us the controller... unless you wanna loose... really badly... pretty much because we run out of time before we can even think of moving the controller to the right spot on the screen.  All I can say is wow, yup, we're retarded.
2)  Wii fitness+Joey+Jency=Amusement for the rest of forever (Watch video below)
3) I guess you can play competition games against us on the Wii if you need a self esteem boost.  Because we always loose!

The story that, I guess isn't too funny on here I just realized because it was more of a "you had to be there" moment, but I'll tell it anyways....

We were invited over to our friends Kevin & Dany's to eat some AMAZING food Kev cooked (he's going to culinary arts school), hang out and play some Wii.  It starts out pretty innocently, a game of Wii bowling (before I was even allowed to touch the controller I had to put the little loop around my wrist so I didn't accidently chuck the thing into flat screen TV), some Wii golfing, THEN Wii baseball time... Ahem... Kevin bats.  All is good.  Dany goes.  All is good.  Joey's turn... hits Kevin in the arm so hard everyone can hear it.  Kevin scoots over and pretty much flinches every time Joey holds the controller from then on.  He ends up almost whacking me across the head, almost chucks the controller into the TV, and provides us with entertainment the rest of the night.  HAHA, it was hilarious, way to go Joe.  That's my husband.

Here's some funny video's from our night playing Wii Fit w/ Eric & McCall...

(Joey "Flying")

(Eric "Flying")

Needless to say, we will stick to outdoor activities and things where we won't be humiliating ourselves by doing :)

*Tomatoes+Jars=Delicious Canned Tomato Soup*

I just want to throw out a big "THANKS" to Michelle for teaching me how to can the other day. I'm LOVIN' it. And everything we've canned so far is so yummy! She had a huge cardboard box full of tomatoes that we turned into pizza sauce & delicious homemade tomato soup. She showed me all the gadgets, recipes and jars I need to use to help the canning go by easier. This is going to be a blast.

We are going to can:

- Homemade Salsa

- Homemade Jalapeno Jelly

- Homemade Spaghetti Sauce

- Homemade Pepper Relish

- Homemade Apple Sauce

- Homemade Apple Pie Filling

I also want to can on my own:

- Pickled Green Beans

- Pickles

- Homemade Fruity/Pepper Sweet Relish

Now I can check another thing off my

"Learning How To Be A Homemaker List"

*Sweetly Divine Indeed*

Oh my good gravy, can I just say how much I LOVE Sweetly Divine Bakery in Logan?!?! They have the world's greatest sandwiches there. I always get the ham sandwich it also has on it spinach, red onions, cheddar cheese, ricotta cheese(I think, if not than it's some kind of chunky white cheese pieces), pesto sauce and the most amazing apricot jalapeno jelly on their freshly made focaccia bread! They sell them by halves which is the perfect amount. And they also have great soups! I went in one day when I was sick and craving soup and their special that day was pickle soup... what? It was sooo freakin' good. And their desserts are to die for. I always get the "swan" cream puff. Delish. I don't think I have ever felt this way about food before. It's kind of embarrassing how much I worship that place. Holy Hannah it's good. Check out the website http://www.sweetlydivine.com/... But really, you're just gonna have to try it for yourself! Mmmmmm

(A picture of their ham sandwich and homemade soup)

*Mmm Smokin' Blues BBQ W/ The Fam*

I love it when my parents and little brother and sister come down to visit! I'm so glad they live only less then 3 hours away!

On Friday the 5th we all went out to a new restaurant in Providence, UT called Somkin' Blues BBQ. They have every flavor Root Beer and live music. They have really yummy sweet potato fries aswell. Other than that I don't really care for the food too much but everyone else liked it so it was a good time!

Grandmother (Momma), Ethan & Grandpa (Daddy)

Eric & McCall lookin' like the adorable couple they are.

Me & ChristiBug

A fun Mason jar lamp that I'm going to make for my kitchen when we build our house.

*HAPPY HALLOWEEN*

For Halloween Joey helped his dad separate steers from heifers so they could be ready to ship next weekend. So while the boys were doing that out in the cold I relaxed in the warm house. :) That evening we carved our pumpkins we brought from Logan.

Mines the girly one with real lipstick haha. And Joey's of course is the cowboy Wine-cup brand.

Our "costumes" haha. We didn't go all out because we weren't gonna go out anywhere. I don't even think you can tell but I had hot pink super long eyelashes on. Joey also picked his orange shirt to wear in celebration of Halloween haha.

Diane made DELICIOUS homemade doughnuts. As you can see we'd already eaten half of them before she was even finished. I swear we had at least 6 each. Mmmm mmmm!

After carving pumpkins we watched baseball. Not a very eventful Halloween but I was totally okay with that.