TTT on Wednesday

I have a delicious and very easy crock-pot recipe to share.  We all really enjoyed the dish and Garth counts it now as a favorite.  I think it was adapted from a recipe in Real Simple.

Crock-pot Short Ribs with Cabbage and Carrots

1/3 cup soy sauce

2 T. honey

1/4 cup rice vinegar

2 garlic cloves, crushed

1 T. grated fresh ginger

1/2 t. red pepper flakes

2-3 lbs. beef short ribs

5 carrots peeled and cut into 2 in. slices

1 medium green cabbage cut into eighths 

1 T. sesame oil

4 green oils, sliced

In the crock pot combine the soy sauce, honey, vinegar, garlic cloves, ginger, and pepper flakes.  Place the short ribs and carrots in the the pot.  Arrange the cabbage on top of the ribs and carrots.

Cook on low for 7-8 hours.  About an hour before serving, stir it all together so the cabbage can get down into the juices.  This is optional, but I also cut the beef off the bones and into bite sized pieces so the meat could soak up the juices.

We served it over a bed of brown rice drizzled with sesame oil and green onions. 

It was a treat.

From Pre-schoolers to Mammograms

This has been my Tuesday:

I had my first meeting with the MOPS table leaders today.  It was great to see the women's faces I would be working with and get to know each other a bit.  It was also good to catch the vision of our coordinator.  I think this is an exciting ministry to be a part of and am looking forward to things starting up this fall.  

I have to admit, that I was feeling a bit old during our get together.  Only two other mom's have older children in school.  Everyone else is truly in that Pre-school or younger stage with their children.

So, I had to leave early to make that dreaded yearly woman's check up.  I had Jaydon in tow because everyone else had something today too.  He just sat and played with this Star War's bucket.  He did great.  The doctor comes in and does the exam.  She asks about family history of breast cancer and I explain.  At the end, she asks if I would like to have a mammogram done.  WHAT???  Of course, I don't want a mammogram done.  Who does?  My mom and grandmothers have those done.  She explains that she doesn't detect anything wrong, but I am a candidate for an early mammogram because of family history.  

Talk about two extremes.  One minute I'm talking to mommies about their pre-schoolers and the next minute I am setting up an appointment for a mammogram.  And this all happened before noon.  I thought turning 30 was hard, but I am still reeling and in disbelief that I have a mammogram appoint set up for next Friday.  

Good grief!!!  At this rate, they'll be scheduling a colonoscopy tomorrow.  

Hi!  My name is Lynita Aldrich and I have entered the world of the yearly mammogram.  That just stinks!!!!!!

I feel a bit better now that I have shared.  Thanks for listening.

Texas Weekend

I'm back in California!!!

I had a wonderful weekend in Texas visiting my family.  Garth did a great job with the boys.  We are also blessed with wonderful friends who gave their time and energy to make sure the boys were taken care of on Thursday.

My flight was delayed about 2 hours getting out of San Diego because of storms in Dallas.  I arrived about 5 p.m. and was met by my mom and sister.  Let the fun girl time begin.  We hit one mall for a bit of shopping before getting to my parents' house.  Nissy took Friday off, so we both stayed at mom and dad's and woke up the next day for a full day of fun.  We headed up to Northpark Mall and did some maternity shopping for Nissy, shopped for the boys, and for me of course.  I may have found my new favorite store to shop - Anthropology.  It was a joy to be with two of my favorite women for some much needed girl time.  I hope to do it again sometime - sooner than later.

Saturday was the big day!!!  We celebrated Buddo graduating from Baylor University and my parents success in sending all three of their children through college.  (We are pretty blessed kids.)  I have missed a lot of Buddo's "stuff".  I am so glad I got to see him walk across that stage and receive his diploma he worked so hard for.  I am so proud of him and all his accomplishments while in college.  I know the future is still a bit unsettled, but I pray the Lord will continue to bless his life and use him to be a blessing to those around him.  After the ceremony we headed over to Blake and Nissy's for "gut packs".  If you know my brother, you know this is so fitting.  A gut pack consists of Fritos, sausage, beef, beans, cheese, onions, peppers, and pickles.  If that doesn't say Buddo, I don't know what does.  It was great visiting with some dear family friends and family.

Then Sunday came all too soon and I was back on a plane to California.

Thanks for letting me spend a weekend away, Garth.  I truly am glad I was able to see Buddo graduate.  It was also so nice to spend some time with my sis and mom.  It was kind of like a recharge for my battery.  It was quite freeing to do some things for myself by myself.  Thanks for managing the boys while I was gone and not complaining about it.  I know it can be trying at times.  I know the boys enjoyed their special time with Dad.  Now, maybe sometime soon we can have some time together without the boys.  What fun that would be!!!  I love you and thank you.

TTT

I've got a great one for you today!!  It is nothing fancy at all, but it is all so good.  Last night we had rice bowls and roasted sweet potatoes for dinner.

The rice bowls were very tasty.  I will give you a run down of what we had in them, but really you can tweak it to fit your taste buds.

Rice Bowls

Rice (we had brown)

Beans (we had black and refried to choose from)

Guacamole

Salsa

Cheese

Thats it!!  Grab you a bowl.  Layer it with rice, beans, guacamole, salsa, and cheese.  Eat!!!

I had some leftover brown rice that needed to be eaten, so this was a great way to get rid of it.  Garth and I both used black beans, but I think refried would have worked too.  I made fresh guacamole and salsa.  You could also add chicken, beef, green chilies, some veggies - really anything you would like to toss in.

Roasted Sweet Potatoes

Sweet Potatoes

Salt

Maple Syrup

Butter

Cut up the sweet potatoes kind of like steak fries.  Place in a bowl and sprinkle with salt.  Melt butter and maple syrup together.   Pour over the potatoes and toss.  Place potatoes on greased cookie sheet just not too crowded.  Pour remaining maple syrup/butter mixture over the potatoes.  Place in 425 degree oven and bake until they start to brown.  (I didn't pay any attention to the time - sorry.) 

These were a delight.  I think next time I will not cut them up so fat.  I think a bit thinner and crispier would have even been better.  Once again, its all up to you. 

So, give these a try.  They are both so easy, yet delicious.  And go out on a limb and make your own guacamole and salsa.  You will taste the difference and be so glad you did.  This would be a great party dish too.  Just set out all the options and let people build their own.

BTW - Just two more sleeps till TEXAS, but who's counting????

Mother's Day Weekend

I hope all you Mom's and Mom's-to-be had a wonderful weekend.  We sure did.  

Garth arrived back on Friday.  We are all glad to have him home.  The house just seems to run better when he is here.

On Saturday Dylan had another football game.  We FINALLY played a team of little boys like the Vikings.  Dylan caught a pass and ran it in for a touchdown.  It was one of those passes where he is covered well and kind of fumbles it a bit before securing it and running it in for the score.  Great focus that Dylan has.  :)  So the game is tied and we we enter sudden death.  The other team had a chance to score first.  They were denied.  Our turn.  Dylan lines up at quarterback.  He gets the ball and just lets it sit there behind his head.  Its the old Statue of Liberty play.  A little guy runs up behind him, grabs the ball, and runs it in for a touchdown.  The Vikings win.  Yep, finally a win.  Dylan did the happy dance - We win, we win.  (Garth nipped that real quick.)  Lots of high five's and smiles all around.

Some friends were camping this weekend down at the beach in Carlsbad, so we went down to join them for the afternoon.  We took the boys down to the beach and they had so much fun.  It was a bit chilly, but Dylan didn't care at all.  He loved playing in the ocean with this buddies.  Jaydon was content just playing with is Star Wars bucket of toys in the  sand.  As we were leaving the water to head back to the campsite we saw a few dolphins jumping up out of the water.  It was a cool experience.  Back at the site we enjoyed dinner and the boys continued to play with their friends.  Garth and Ben played their guitars and we ended the night with s'mores by the campfire.

I was blessed Sunday with a great Mother's Day with my boys.  We had lunch at PF Chang's.  It was so good and a real treat because it wasn't fast food or Rosa's.  We spent the rest of the day just hanging out.  It was a great way the spend the day.

I am so blessed to be called "MOM".  I admit that I get worn down by the job at times, but I do love my boys.  I feel honored that God entrusted these little treasures to me to raise.  Dylan and Jaydon - Thank you for making me a mom.  I'm so glad you are mine and I love you more than life itself.

With that said, I have the pleasure this week of having some time away from my little boys.  I get to go to Texas for Buddo's graduation from Baylor.  We are so proud of him and his many accomplishments while there.  I can't believe we are all graduated.  I also get some much anticipated time with my mom and my little "mom-to-be" sister.  I can't wait.  I know the time will be wonderful and will pass too quickly.  Please keep me in your prayers as I travel and Garth and the boys in your prayers that things will go well ( I would love to do it again sometime). :)  

Have a wonderful week.

TTT

Its Tuesday already.  We are managing the week without Garth around.  He left Saturday morning for an exercise in Twenty-nine Palms and will return on Friday - we hope.  Dylan had a football game on Saturday.  We didn't use the camera or the video camera this go around because once again he played another great team.  These boys were so tall and good.  The coach walked around with a clipboard and out of the huddle every kid would go exactly where they were assigned and execute the play.  Bless our little team's hearts!!!!  We made it through the first half without totally falling apart.  However, the second half brought the Aldrich name some glory.  Dylan caught the ball and ran almost the entire field for a touchdown.  It was a proud moment.  I think I actually cheered him on from upon the field I was so excited to see him heading for the end zone.  That was the lone touchdown for the Vikings.  The boys got crushed once again, but with the big smiles on their little faces, you would have never known.

On to the food - 

Its just another chicken dish.  Nothing too exciting, but very easy.  Refer to the Agave Lime Chicken basically, but substitute apples and rosemary.  

Apple Rosemary Chicken

Whole Chicken

1/4 c olive oil

1/4 c balsamic vinegar

sea salt

4 apples

4 sprigs rosemary

Place a whole chicken in a baking dish.  Place the rosemary under the chicken.  Drizzle olive oil and balsamic vinegar over the chicken. Sprinkle with salt.  Cut and core apples and place around the chicken.  I put a quarter apple in the cavity of the chicken.  Bake at 350 degrees for about 1 1/2 hours or until done.

(compliments Elana's Pantry)

Just for Mommy.....

We ate dinner out last night at a local Mexican restaurant.  It was a real treat.  Anyways, we have been teaching Jaydon to pray before our meals and last night was just too cute to ever forget.  

Ward ("Lord" in 2 yr old language) bwess ( "bless" in 2 yr old lingo) ony (he always says some word we don't understand to start things off), Jack, Jackson, my Star Wars - Where are my Star Wars?  One, two, three, five, six, seven, eight, nine, ten.  Amen YAY!!!!!!

I need a few of these very cute moments to help me through some very trying times with my toddler.  He has entered the world of testing, trying, and fit throwing.  I find myself praying a lot more these days.  :)  Its funny how these little blessings from God can bring us to our knees - and so quickly!!!