Headache

Let me just brag on my main man for a minute. Yesterday I had a terrible headache when I woke up. I thought it would go away if I moved around so I mopped, did laundry and did the dishes. Well, it only escalated to a migraine. Yowza! Add a crying baby and you've got a double yowza. Fortunately, just when I couldn't take it any more and had called Aubrey in tears, Olivia decided to play quietly by herself, as long as I laid on the floor next to her. To make me feel even better, Aubrey brought me soup from one of my favorite places (McAllister's), finished feeding Olivia dinner, played with her and then put her to bed while I lounged in my QUIET bedroom listening to jazz. I've said it once and I'll say it again: I could never be single parent. God bless Daddies and double-bless Olivia's. He is always so considerate of his girls.

Updates and other fun things

So, many of you have asked about Greensboro. It's going well. I'm over the initial shock and settling in nicely. The members are really nice and welcoming. The branch itself presents a few unique challenges. Most of the priesthood comes from outside the boundaries, so that makes it hard to visit the members like we want to and to grow the branch. Also, the missionaries were pulled out so that makes it doubly hard to do any kind of missionary work. However, the members who come do their best to contribute and work hard to look after each other. I think it will be a wonderful, tiring and challenging two years!

Yesterday I had my friend Jeni over for her birthday lunch. She loves Mexican food and she's trying to lose weight, so instead of taking her to Pepitos (just one of our all-time favorite Mexican places since college), I made her a healthy meal. The weather was beautiful, so I had full access to my grill. The least healthy items were the rice, cheese dip and tortilla chips (cake goes without saying). The tortilla chips had more calories than pretzels, but less sodium, so I went with chips. You could probably toast flour tortillas for a healthier alternative. Also, I didn't drain my canned tomatoes when I added it to my Velveeta (also high in sodium) so it thinned it out a little, meaning you ate less cheese with each dip. Rice just turns right into sugar when you eat it, even brown rice. Wild rice would have been even more healthy. Anyway, you can read all about the day on her blog and see pictures, but she asked me to post a couple of recipes. It was really fun, despite fussy kids, and we had a really great visit. All in all, a pleasant way to spend the afternoon. Feliz cumpleanos, amiga!

The Menu
Grilled Chicken with Mango Salsa
Spanish Rice with Brown Rice
Cheese Dip with Tortilla Chips and Carrots
Raspberry Lemonade
Mexican Chocolate Cake

Mango Salsa
1/2 medium red onion, finely diced
2 mangos, peeled and diced
1 red pepper, finely chopped
2 TBSP cilantro, coarsley chopped
1 TBSP green onion, minced
2 TBSP fresh lime juice
2 TBSP olive oil
Salt and pepper to taste

Toss all ingredients together gently. Great with tortilla chips, fish or grilled chicken breasts.

Spanish Rice with Brown Rice
2 cups cooked brown rice
2 TBSP butter
1/2 cup green onion, diced
1/2 cup green pepper, diced
1-14 oz. can of diced tomatoes, drained
Chili powder
Ground cumin

Saute onion and pepper with butter in a sauce pan until tender. Add rice, tomatoes, chili powder and ground cumin. Heat through and serve. You can also put shredded cheese on top. Yum.

*When you cook the rice, the package will probably call for more water than the white rice recipe. Use less water for a firmer rice. The juice from the tomatoes will make up for it. I learned this the hard way.

Mexican Chocolate Cake
This recipe called for espresso but I altered it to include the cinnamon-chocolate combination that is often found in Mexican deserts. It's also less than 200 calories a slice!!!!!
3/4 cup whole-wheat pastry flour
1/2 cup all-purpose flour
1/2 cup cocoa
1/4 tsp. salt
1 tsp. baking soda
1 tsp. baking powder
1 tsp. cinnamon
2 TBSP butter, melted
2 TBSP canola oil
2 eggs
2 egg whites
1-1/2 cups lowfat plain yogurt
2 tsp. vanilla
3/4 cup sugar
2 ounces dark chocolate, melted

Whisk together flours, cocoa, salt, baking soda, baking powder and cinnamon in a medium bowl. In a large bowl, whisk together melted butter and oil. Add eggs and egg whites and whisk. Fold in yogurt, vanilla and sugar. Fold melted chocolate into batter. Gradually sift in dry ingredients. Mix until just incorporated; don't over mix. Pour batter into greased 13x9 pan or two round 9-inch cake pans.* Bake at 350 for 25-30 minutes.

Frosting:
1-8 oz. bar Neufachatel cheese (reduced fat cream cheese), softened
1/3 cup powdered sugar
1 tsp. vanilla
1 oz. semi-sweet chocolate, melted

Combine all ingredients with a mixer until smooth. Frost the cake. Sprinkle with dark chocolate shavings.

*Each cake makes 16 one-slice servings that are less than 200 calories.

A-Z All About Me

This tagging stuff is getting WAY out of control! But, in the spirit of friendship (I really do like Tracy), here I go...again!
A-Attached or single? Attached...eternally...
B-Best friend? Aubrey
C-Cake or pie? Cake...ice cream cake from DQ
D-Day of choice? Friday! Even though I don't work anymore, it means I get Aubrey for the weekend!
E-Essential item? Trident gum in the dark blue package.
F-Favorite color? Green, although the hot pink and purple of my youth are coming back in a big way.
G-Gummy bears or worms? Worms...I like to eat their multi-colored bodies one colored section at a time (see my fettish with M&Ms and Skittles a few entries down).
H-Hometown: Milford, Nebraska, home of the EAGLES!!!!
I-Favorite indulgence? Ice cream, jelly beans and Route 44 strawberry limeades from Sonic.
J-January or July? January
K-Kids? Baby O
L-Life isn't complete without? Aubrey smackin' my bottom in the kitchen and Olivia blowing raspberries at me.
M-Marriage date? Dec. 14, 2002
N-Number of brothers and sisters? Two sisters, one brother.
O-Oranges or apples? Apples
P-Phobia and fears? Water, Aubrey dying and the dark.
Q-Quote? Remember who you are and keep your nose clean.
R-Reason to smile? Aubrey, Olivia, Peanut, Parley P. Cat, Sparky and Sammy.
S-Season of choice? Spring.
T-Tag three people? The Pointer Sisters.
U-Unknown fact about me? I am very handy with power tools and can build or repair anything from dog houses to tables to reshingling a roof.
V-Vegetable? Carrots...I like to chew them and suck on them in my cheek...they're very sweet.
W-Worst habit? Micro-managing.
X-X-ray or ultrasound? Not sure what this means, but I've had both. I prefer ultrasound because you don't have to wear protective gear.
Y-Your favorite food?-Steak and baked potato. I LOVE BEEF!!
Z-Zodiac sign? Gemini.

Just look at her now!

Olivia's six months old now and growing like a weed in my mom's vegetable garden. She's such a giggler and an absolute joy to have in our family. She was definitely worth the wait!

Best Friends!

When Olivia's outside, Sparky and Sammy don't give her a minute's peace...and she loves every second of it! We took these Sunday afternoon. She's right in my shadow, so they're a little dark. It just all happened so fast I didn't have time to move and let the sunshine in. Sparky is so sweet with Olivia. When he's done kissing her, he lays right in front of her like a guard dog. (Of course, he falls asleep and he's deaf, so some guard dog he is! Of course, you have to step over him to get her and he does move pretty fast for a 60-lb. dog...)

Phases of Olivia

It's been awhile since I've posted pictures of Olivia. Aubrey took these in January. It's amazing what a little cropping and black and white can do to a run-of-the-mill snapshot!

Aloha, Alana

Today we went to the memorial service for my friend Alana. She passed away last Sunday from a brain tumor. She didn't want a funeral, but I'm so glad that the family chose to do the memorial. I'm sure it helped all of us in attendance grieve. It was the first time that I was able to cry about her death. So many sweet things were said about her but the biggest stand out to me was the phrase "Christlike" used over and over again. She really embodied the attributes of the Savior. I remember meeting her almost 10 years ago when I first moved down here to go to school and being immediatley taken in by her warm spirit. It's a true statement that you didn't have to be a friend to Alana for her to be one to you. She was my visiting teacher for a couple of years. I still have a small porcelin doll dressed in blue that she gave me once. She got it for me because the doll's hair was brown (like mine) and Alana always said that she like me in blue (she also remembered it's one of my most favorite colors). She also gave me a music note ornament once (again remembering how much I adore all aspects of music). She taught me a lot of hula dances, listened to me complain (while never complaining or judging) and really understood my sense of humor (which is sometimes odd). She was graceful, kind, soft spoken, funny, meek, strong-willed and without guile. When Olivia was born, and shortly before things took a real turn for the worse, she gave Olivia a crocheted blanket. I don't know how long it took her to make it, but I really appreciate it because I know what kind of love and thoughtfulness went into it. The last time I saw her, I came home and checked on Olivia, asleep in her crib, wrapped up in Alana's blanket. I'm not ashamed to say that I cried my little eyes out. Alana impacted so many lives during her short time on earth. I'm not easily impressed by people, but she is one person it has been my privelege to know. She definitely left me a better person, but what's even greater is knowing that she will continue to impact people she will never meet in this life. How often do you think I'll tell Olivia about the woman who made her blanket? A bazillion times, I know. I'm so glad that she is in a better place and able to do the things her body wouldn't allow her to do here. When it's my time, she's definitely someone I'd want to greet me at the gate with an aloha and a purple lei.

I'm it again...

Boy, I am just super popular this week! My cousin Steff tagged me, so here I go again!

6 Facts/Habits About Me
1. I'm not the cleanest person in the world. That being said, I must have a spotless kitchen at least one time during the day, I absolutely hate getting dirty and I don't pet my dogs unless I brush them first. But my laundry is also overflowing, my coffee table is always cluttered and I firmly believe the best thing a child can do during play is get muddy.
2. I buy plastic plates that are separated into different compartments. Yes, I mostly eat off of "real plates" but I can't stand for my food to touch (I cannot emphasize this enough) and these plates make my life easier...especially when I 'm at a picnic eating off my lap. Also, I never mix Olivia's baby food. Some moms mix the fruit with the veggies and that makes me want to gag. I will only put fruit in her cereal.
3. I divide my M&Ms, Skittles and other colored candies by color group and then by even numbers. For example, when I eat M&Ms, I will only eat an even number of them and their colors must be coordinated. For example, I can eat two reds and two yellows because they are warm colors. I eat the blues and greens together because they are cool colors, etc. With the Skittles, I will eat the purple and yellow together because they remind me of irises and I love irises. If I'm left with an odd number, I give one to Aubrey or I halve them. (Yes, Aubrey knew this before we got married...)
4. I love to sing. I make up silly songs all the time. My life is a musical and Aubrey and Olivia are extras.
5. I'm in the habit of coloring and chewing when I'm bored. I guess that makes me a two-year-old gerbil. My desk is covered in scraps of paper that say, "Cheyenne loves Aubrey" and "CM + AM", etc., in all kinds of fonts. Also, I go through gum like a smoker trying to kick the habit. If I don't have gum, I chew on my fingers.
6. I hate cold weather. I grew up in Nebraska and I love the snow (for a while). Winter is also one of my favorite seasons. Alabama has, however, completely softened me. If it's in the mid-40's or below (considered warm to Cornhuskers), yuck. And yet I still go out without a coat and laugh at the people down here for being all bundled up.

So, I tag Tracy, Courtney, Meghan and Debbie

What the heck?!

So I don't normally post things this often, but I got online to check my comments before winding down for the evening and noticed my playlist is all screwy. I sooooo apologize if any of you had to listen to stupid David Allen Coe instead of my super sexy Neil Diamond. Olivia does not approve of the songs on that list. So, the question is, who changed them? I'm working on changing them back. This is almost as bad as Aubrey trying to steal food off of my plate....

You're It!

Okay, so Tracy tagged me and volunteered me for this game of blogger cat and mouse. This is how you play:

1. Grab the nearest book.

2. Open to page 123

3. Find the fifth sentence.

4. Post the next three sentences on your blog with these instructions.

5. Tag 5 people.

So: "On his left, the withes which bound her to a pine, performed that office for Alice which her trembling limbs refused, and alone kept her fragile form from sinking. Her hands were clasped before her in prayer, but instead of looking upwards towards that power which alone could rescue them, her unconscious looks wandered to the countenance of Duncan with infantile dependency. David had contended, and the novelty of the circumstance held him silent, in deliberation on the propriety of the unusual occurrence."

This is from The Last of the Mohicans by James Fenimore Cooper which, by the way, is NOTHING like the movie. Speaking of books and movies, The Count of Monte Cristo is a completely different story as well and all the movies are different from one another. Why do they do that? But I digress. So, here are the people I tag: Tiff, Steff, Jeni, Caroline and Kimberly, YOU ARE IT!!

Have you been bitten yet?

This post is a long time coming. My sisters-in-law totally got me hooked on three vampire books that are super popular out west. They are: "Twilight", "New Moon", and "Eclipse" by Stephanie Meyer. Many of you have probably already heard about them. My sister Savanna told me about them a long time ago but I never read them because I thought they sounded stupid. I'm more into Jane Austen for my romance, Harry Potter & Lord of the Rings for my fantasy and Clive Cussler for my adventure (middle earth and orks are so much more believable than vampires and werewolves). Anyway, Aubrey's sisters had been sharing the books and while we were in Magnolia for Thanksgiving, Christie got me to read the first one. I reluctantly agreed and read it all in one night. I couldn't put it down. I can't really tell you what it is about them that is so addictive. I read the other two the same way...all at once. Anyway, if you haven't read them, you need to read them and see for yourself. It's not even a story I can identify with...I mean, who can? It's about a high schooler in love with a vampire. Have any of us been there before? The only thing I can relate to is the sweet smell of the vampire's breath (two words, Sara: Josh Whipple). I can only tell you that after I read this series, I wished Aubrey was a vampire AND a werewolf.