Kelly's HOME!!!!!!!

 I seriously can't believe she is HOME! Just looking at these pictures seems so surreal!!! So much has happened with our family since she has been gone (SO many blessings!) Here she is meeting ALL her new boyfriends!

 And JUST in case she couldn't tell who was who we made sure to put their name on their shirts :) This was such a strange homecoming since most of my fam went to DC to pick her up- but it made it even that much more exciting! Can't wait to catch her up on everything this week :)

WE LOVE YOU KELLY!!!!!!

Just Keep Swimmin...Just Keep Swimmin...:)

Yup. We love skinny dippin in this house :) Baby buns KILL me they are so cute!

We have been swimming A LOT as of late! It's hot- and it's nice to have a pool in the backyard! Deklan likes it now that the water is seriously like bath water from being so hot outside! His favorite part is bath time with mom after swimming :) Please excuse me in the swimsuit -I try to only choose the pictures with me somewhat covered up since I am still feeling a bit flabby these days. I am at my pre pregnancy weight- but my pre pregnancy weight wasn't truly ideal with doing in vitro and such- LOTS of drugs makes you feel pretty yucky! My goal is another 10 pounds- I am TRYING to start running again these days. Hopefully it pays off and I can build up some endurance soon! Eventually I will have to post a video of him in the bath- he loves it so much! For now I will leave you with more baby buns! :) Gotta love summer!!

New Hobbies

We have slowly but surely been getting back to normal life "post baby." Jonny and I have both taken up new hobbies. Jonny called me and said "I bought a car." Next thing I knew my garage was filled up completely with a 1969 Chevelle SS in a million pieces. His good friend and business partner is building one- so he wanted one too. Jeremy and him have had a blast working on these cars the past few weeks. 

Deklan looks tiny next to these massive wheels he got! It's got a ways to go, but should be a fun project.

Here is what it looked like when it was put together from the previous owner.


Father/son bonding time in the Az heat :)



What our garage looks like now:


The boys hard at work

My new hobby is learning attempting to cook. :) My friend Mindy (Who is an amazing cook!) is motivating me. She invited me to a cooking class to go to each week- where I bought this amazing Bosch and has taught me how to make bread!!!! WHO KNEW I could make bread?! Okay well so far it's more like assisting to make bread but one of these days I will try it on my own :)




Here she is snuggling Deklan- she has babysat for me numerous times and given me a chance to get away every now and again :) She has been SUCH a good friend! Minus me getting super sick this week things are slowly going back to normal. :)

I posted the recent recipes I tried :

Crepes
Whole Wheat Bread
English Muffin Bread (MY FAV!!!)

And a few from pinterest that were super yummy!

Pool Side Dip
Ham and Cheese Sliders

Now I need to work on finishing Deklan's room one of these days :)

Basic Crepe Batter

And the recipe for the billion crepes I made for the shower- also a Shars recipe. Although this nifty crepe maker is what made it possible- not sure I could make them without it :)

4 Large Eggs
1 1/2 Cups of Milk
1 1/2 Cups of Flour
1/4 tsp Salt

Combine Eggs and Milk in Bosch Blender. Add the flour and saltand mix on speed 2 until smooth.

Let the batter rest at room temperature for 30 min. before dipping and cooking.

Shars Basic Whole Wheat Bread

One more delicious bread recipe- also taught to me by Mindy and a few of you have asked for the recipe. This girl has not bought actual bread in forever because of how yummy this is- again NO bread maker needed- totally delish!

PERFECT EVERY TIME MADE FROM 100% FRESH GROUND WHOLE WHEAT
Ingredients 6 cups warm water, approx. 115 degrees 2 tbs. Sea salt 2/3 cup canola oil 2/3 cup honey 3 tbs. Dough enhancer 2 cups high gluten bread flour or 1/3 cup vital wheat gluten 3 tbs. Saf instant yeast 6 to 8 cups of fresh ground flour (to begin with) (10 to 11 cups of un-ground grain will make enough flour for this recipe)
Directions Use the momentary switch (m) to mix well. Turn the machine to speed 1 and continue to add wheat flour only until the dough begins to pull away from the sides of the bowl. When you can see the sides pull clean as well as the dough coming clean from the bottom of the bowl you know you have enough flour. (do not add too much flour) the dough should be very sticky and does not come together at this point, but the bowl is clean. Knead on speed 1 for 8-10 minutes or until the gluten has been developed. If you feel your dough is too dry, simply add a few tablespoons of water to moisten. (always pulling the sides clean) if dough starts sticking simply add a little white flour to take up the moisture. (remember your bosch has 700 watts of power and a reset button.) Oil your hands, remove dough from mixer onto a slightly oiled counter, divide your dough with a dough divider into 4-5 large loaves depending on your pan size. (we like the 8 ½ by 4 ½” pan, and we usually get 5. However, because we never measure our flour exactly, sometimes we get 4, it will depend on the weather and the climate outside. Shape loaves, and place in a well greased or sprayed (pam) pan, never use oil. Cover with a dry towel and let rise until dough has risen double or approx. 2 inches above the rim of the pan. This will take from 30 to 60 minutes depending on the room temperature. Bake in preheated oven at 350 degrees for 30-35 minutes, or until the inside temp. Is 200 degrees. An instant read thermometer is very useful in telling whether your bread is done. Tests after baking time is complete by taking bread out of its pan and pushing the thermometer into side or bottom of loaf. If not 200 degrees, place back in pan and bake another few minutes. Cool on cooking racks before putting into bread bags. The bread can be frozen up to 30 days without freezer burn.

English Muffin Bread

*Note: If you are using active dry yeast instead of instant yeast, proof the yeast in a small bowl with 1 cup of the water and the 3 tablespoons sugar. Let the mixture bubble and foam before starting the recipe. Simply put the proofed yeast/water mixture in a bowl and add in the other ingredients according to the recipe directions. Just a reminder, if using instant yeast as called for in the recipe, there is no need to proof the yeast before adding it in with the other ingredients.

OH MY YUMMY!!! This stuff is like instant happiness in your tummy- NO JOKE! It's crispy and soft all at the same time. My good friend Mindy brought me a loaf after I had the baby and I was instantly in love- the she taught me how to make it! No bread maker necessary- try it people- there are only like 5 simple ingredients and it is A-MAZING! Recipe is from http://www.melskitchencafe.com

*Makes 4 loaves of bread (8 1/2-inch by 4 1/2-inch)

INGREDIENTS:
5 1/2 cups very warm water
3 tablespoons instant yeast
2 tablespoons salt
3 tablespoons sugar
11 1/2 cups all-purpose flour

DIRECTIONS:
In a large bowl or bowl of an electric stand mixer, combine the water, sugar, salt and yeast. Mix. Add half of the flour. Mix. Add remaining flour. Mix. The dough will be very, very sticky. Don’t be alarmed! Cover the bowl and let the dough rise until doubled. Stir down the dough with a wooden spoon.

Grease four loaf pans (8 1/2-inch by 4 1/2-inch) generously with cooking spray. Divide the dough between the loaf pans. It helps to grease your hands because the dough is still sticky. The dough should fill the pans about halfway. Cover the loaves with lightly greased plastic wrap and let the bread rise until doubled. It will look puffy and bubbly.

Bake at 350 degrees for 25-28 minutes until lightly golden brown on top and baked through. Remove from the oven and turn the bread out onto a cooling rack. Butter the tops while still warm.

This bread can be frozen and/or it lasts, covered or bagged, at room temperature for several days.

Baby Sister's Bridal Shower

mmmm the crepe bar :)

Luke enjoys patting Deklan on the head :)

Yup. baby sister is getting married! It's crazy and oh so exciting! My sisters and I worked really hard on this party today! It was lots of fun but we are partied out! Congrats Tawnee!!!! We love you!!!!! P.S Yes my sister and I are wearing matching shirts...this was unplanned and there was no time to change- had to document though :)

Independence Day!

For the Fourth of July we went to our friends beautiful new home to swim and do fireworks. It was so much more fun with this guy this year (even if he did sleep through all the fireworks :) He was at least dressed for the occasion. 

A few tears were shed with Jonny and Jeremy throwing the big fireworks all over the place but overall no one was hurt :)

 Bailey with her festive pants and Deklans buddy Tillman

 Being loved on from their dog- hahaha!

 Deklan's very first fourth of July!