And then the BEST present of all

Of all the things he is missing, carpet and a clothes dryer top the list.  I'm sure the fam is at the top but he just wanted to look at the carpet.  LOL  It was so nice to hear his voice and see his gorgeous face.  He is speaking the lingo and doing a great job on his mission.  His love for the Savior is so pure and true.  Love him and miss him but we're oh so proud.

Christmas Morning 2014

Twas Christmas morn

Two boys were awake.

Looking at presents

and giving them a shake.

Finally the parents came out of their room

And gave the go ahead to a messy room.

Dakoda started the mess

And Devin joined in.

No fair men don't get bedhead hair.  Dean got a set of walkie talkie radios and some other hunting stuff he needed.

Look at these adorable snow boots that my amazing hubby surprised me with.  

Ignore the beautiful hair but I'm loving this sweater and boot look.

Devin got a .223 gun and Dakoda got the computer parts he needed to build himself a computer.

I feel like we are very blessed to have such a great family to celebrate our Saviors birth with.

Pray it never comes down...

What started out as an idea in my head

Dean brought to life.

Luckily Dakoda and his muscles were home to help hang this badboy.

Definitely fills the blank wall.

Christmas 2014

The fake tree. We've tried real trees this tall and they just tip over and cause a mess.  Therefore, a fake one is perfect and can be up longer without making a mess.

The real tree.  I asked Dean to put down plastic so when we water the tree there is no way it can get on my carpet.  I did not say do the entire room.  lol  He did anyway.  No pine needles stuck in my carpet.  And yes those are horns in the tree.  They actually look pretty cool in real life.

We did outside a little different this year.  We bought all new LED green spotlights for the trees.  They are pretty hard to get a picture of that does them justice.  We have them all around the yard and it is beautiful.  I think I will try and find more next year.  Talk about easy peasy.

New Kitchen Walls

Yes that is stainless steel chair rail.  I have repainted behind those chairs a bazillion times.  That's a lot in case you're wondering.  As soon as the chairs hit it again the paint is gone.  In fact there is a hole in the sheetrock from the wear and tear.  I thought about a wood rail but that would require paint too and paint chips.  So in my little mind I though metal.  Dean and I ate at a restaurant in Park City one day that had painted metal around as a chair rail but the paint was once again the problem.  This piece of metal when we bought it was rusted and ugly.  Dean put his sander on it and shined it up.  We had to put a coat of clear polyurethane on it to keep it from rusting.  The bolts are shined up too so they match.  I LOVE how it turned out.  Bring on the chairs!

1A Basketball Preview

 Such a good shot.

 Those long arms come in handy on defense. That's for sure.

Who's that starting Varsity?  Why that's Devin Lindsay #3.  Couldn't be prouder of his hard work.

Love my handyman

You know when you get an idea in your head and you can't quite describe what you're thinking?  Well that is where this picture frame came from. I had this idea that I try and explain to Dean.  Finally he gets out some paper and draws my idea and asks if that is it.  He nailed it! Literally.  It's perfect.  Dakoda and Dylan's senior pictures are up.  I'm going to enlarge a picture of Devin for his frame for now since we have a few years before he graduates. Thank Goodness!  

We've had the wood for a few years while trying to decide on the details.  Like if you cut the wood how do you finish the edges so they don't show?  Black paint looked too harsh.  So we burned them with a torch.  And then the problem how to cover the smell of burnt wood.  Satin finish polyurethane spray did that trick.  Some of the wood was warped and wouldn't lay flat.  Dean just snapped them in two, burned the edges and fit them back together snug and flat.  Perfection!

A little scaffolding and tall ladders did the trick to get up high enough.  And so glad Dakoda was home to help lift it.  That thing is HEAVY!  Lag bolts in the studs will keep it from falling and decapitating me on the couch below it. 

The only thing I might change is to lower the pictures and put some sort of metal scroll along the top.  I have an image in my brain so if I ever come across the right scrollwork I'll do it.  Otherwise it is perfect just the way it is.  Not to mention those handsome mugs in the frames.  

Loving some ball action

Who is that starting Varsity???  Well that's right peeps.  Big #3.  Devin is da man.  He is playing his heart out and loving the outcome of his heart word.  What is that saying that Dylan use to say?  Hard work beats talent, when talent fails to work hard.  Yep..  It's paying off.

And so it begins....

And then there was one.   Dean and I showed up early and stayed late.  Not because we are that pathetic but because we have lost a driver.   Dylan was the chauffeur last year and now he's gone we have to pick up the slack until Devin gets his license in May.  But seriously about basketball.  I can't get enough of watching his play.  He's getting his game on. 

O Christmas Tree

Nothing quite like a real tree to brighten the house.  We've learned over the years after many tipped over trees that a normal height for a real one is great.  The really tall tree is fake and it never tips over.  So yes we have to have two trees.  This is Dylan's fault since he insisted on getting a real one before he went on a mission. Now we feel like we have to carry on the tradition.  And I have to admit going and getting the tree is the finest part of it all. 

Americana Eggs

They said the eggs would be blue when I bought these chicks but I never dreamed that it would be that noticeably blue.  This is the first eggs she has layed and there is no guessing which chicken it came from. 

Cilantro Verde Enchiladas

Once in a while I run onto a recipe that is a definite keeper.  This bad boy is one of them.  I've made it quite a few times over the last 6 months or so and we wolf it down every time.  It came off of the internet so I thought it would be nice to share it on here too.

Cilantro Verde Enchiladas

1 bunch Cilantro
2 cups salsa verde (green enchilada sauce)
1 medium-large onion, quartered
1 jalapeno, seeded and sliced (keep some seeds if you like heat)
1 Tbsp chopped garlic (1-2 large segments)
1/4-1/2 tsp salt or to taste (this will depend on the salsa verde you use)
1 8 ounce cream cheese
10 tortillas
4-5 cups diced or shredded cooked chicken (I used six pre-frozen breasts from Costco. If using fresh chicken, three or four large ones would probably be plenty.)
2 cups monteray jack cheese, shredded

Cook your chicken in the oven or crockpot with salt, pepper, garlic powder, lemon juice, and a little olive oil to add another level of greatness to the enchiladas. Preheat your oven to 350°.  I've actually left the chicken on time bake so when I get home from work it is ready to throw together.

In a blender combine onion, salsa, cilantro, garlic, jalapeño and salt. Blend until smooth. Stir in softened cream cheese. (I honestly just throw it all in my food processor for a few minutes until it is creamy smooth. Oh and I've never used a jalapeño in it.)  Pour half of the sauce over the chicken and stir until well coated. Reserve remaining sauce to pour over the enchiladas.

Scoop about 1/2 a cup of chicken mixture in each tortilla, roll up and place side by side in a lightly greased 9×13 pan. Pour reserved sauce over finished enchiladas and cover with tinfoil. Bake for about 30-35 minutes remove foil and sprinkle evenly with shredded cheese. Bake uncovered for 10-15 more minutes.

Enjoy!

Halloween 2014

Good times at college.  Thank goodness for Facebook so I can see what he's up to. :)

A Missionary on P-day.  In case you couldn't tell. LOL

Kind of sad when you don't go trick or treating anymore.  Times are for sure changing in the Lindsay household.  Instead of Trick or Treating we went to the high school and played basketball for a few hours.  The next day I'm so stinking sore I can hardly move.  No wonder my boys are so long and lean.  haha  Maybe I should play more basketball.  Holy Cow.  Best exercise program around I'm sure.  

Since there was the Trunk or Treat for the kids at the church we only had a handful of kids.  Which seriously isn't that different than other years.  We do live off the beaten path a bit.  Another sad change this year is no pumpkin carving.  The jury is still out if I'm sad about that mess or not.  It's so fun with little kids but the older they got the more power tools they wanted to use.  And let's just say a sawzall can throw pumpkin shavings quite a ways.  So some day when we have little ones again, that traditional will have to return.  But until then...  We're good.

Elder Dylan Lindsay is doing GREAT

http://dylanincordoba.blogspot.com/2014/10/october-27-2014.html

I may be a smidgen partial but that is one great missionary!

It is so good to see his face and know that he is doing well.  And there is nothing in the world better than getting on my email to find that he is on at the same time.  A short chat with a son that is 5800 miles away is the best way to start out a week.  I know that I was born in this day and age because I'm weak.  I could in no way handle going weeks or months not knowing that he was okay. I miss him terribly but seeing these kinds of pictures makes it so much easier to handle.  Those kids will get to be with their families for eternity because of Dylan being gone for only 2 years.  Kind of a good trade off.  It would be incredibly selfish of me to not let my missionary change people's lives in such a profound way and spread the Word of Christ.

Goblin Valley Fun

 

Dakoda and MaKayla got to visit Goblin Valley again this year with the Sun Center for college.  They go down each year and help with the Goblin Valley Marathon.  These are amazing kids doing amazing things.  I'm so glad they get to enjoy life a little before growing completely up.