simplified chicken pot pie

 ^^ "Seriously guys, it's good stuff." ^^

 ^^ "Two thumbs up!" ^^

 ^^ "Chicken pot pie!!!" ^^

 ^^ "You guys have got to try my mom's chicken pot pie! It's delicious!!!!" ^^

 ^^ "...my belly is so full I can't sit up straight..." ^^

^^ "What do you mean there's something on my face, mom? I guess it's 

probably because I just devoured your delicious chicken pot pie." ^^

A couple of years ago I gave this recipe a shot. I'd never been much of a chicken pot pie fan, but this seemed different than the typical version so I tried it. I made several changes, mostly having to do with the chicken. I hate cooking meat, especially bone in meat, so a rotisserie chicken was not coming in my kitchen (I'm sure it tastes good, but that's more than I like to deal with (or pay for)).  We've tried boiled chicken and other things through the past year or so, but a can of already cooked chicken is just.too.easy. Of course if you like your meat a little more 'meaty' following the original recipe or whatever else seems tasty would be more than acceptable.  You could easily adjust the amount of carrots, chicken and peas you prefer as well. I could do with more vegetables and my husband sure wouldn't mind more chicken ;)

Chicken Pot Pie

Ingredients:

4 C water

2 T minced onion

2-3 t chicken bullion

2 bay leaves

1 1/2 C chopped carrots

12.5 ounce can of chicken breast

3 T butter or margarine

5 T flour

1/2 C milk

1 t dried basil

1 t salt

1/4 t pepper

1 1/2 C frozen peas

Directions:

1. Bring water, minced onion, bay leaves and bullion to a boil. When bullion is dissolved, add carrots and cook until tender. Less than five minutes.
2. While carrots are cooking, drain can of chicken and shred into small pieces. Set aside.
3. When carrots are tender, strain two cups of broth and set aside. Strain carrots from remaining broth. Set carrots aside and discard broth or save for another use.
4. Melt butter in sauce pan over medium heat until melted. Slowly add flour until mixed well. Slowly stir in two cups of broth previously set aside, along with milk. Stir constantly until smooth and slightly thickened. Add basil, salt and pepper.
5. Stir in cooked carrots, chicken and frozen peas until well coated.
6. Pour mixture into a greased 9x13 and set aside.

Biscuits:

1 1/2 C flour

2 t baking powder

2 t sugar

1/4 t salt

1/3 C shortening

1/2 C milk (probably less)

1. Preheat oven to 400˚.
2. In a medium mixing bowl combine flour, baking powder, sugar and salt. Cut in shortening until mixture is crumbly and combined. Slowly stir in milk just until moistened enough to hold together, up to 1/2 a cup.
3. Turn onto a lightly floured surface and knead 8-10 times. Gently roll to about 1/2inch thick. Cut biscuits with a cup or cookie cutter and place on top of chicken mixture in 9x13. 
4. Bake uncovered for 20-25 minutes or until biscuits are golden brown.
5. Allow to sit 5-10 minutes before serving.

Enjoy!

two and a half

Recently Madeline overheard me telling another mom at the library that she's "two and a half" and since then she's been quick to inform others of her age. I'm not sure she knows exactly what it means, but she does know she's going to be three soon. We frequently sing 'happy birthday' and she's practicing holding up three fingers. What a tricky thing to do! Getting that pinky to stay down and the ring finger to stay up. Good thing she has a few more months to practice ;) 

This little girl, who really doesn't feel like much of a toddler any more, is such a joy to have around. As much as her unkempt hair drives me crazy, she loves it down and she feels beautiful. The headband she puts on herself is just so her I don't even want to fix it (except maybe on Sundays). She's 110% girl down to her very core. Fancy Nancy, Tinkerbell, Frozen, all things pink and princess. Necklaces, rings, 'makeup', gloves (daddy's socks). I love that too :)

Madeline is such a good big sister. You saw that first picture of her feeding Luke, right? She absolutely adores her baby brother. Usually she'll introduce him to strangers before introducing herself. She builds forts out of couch cushions for him and asks him questions (usually gets mad when he doesn't answer ;) ) But she really is great with him.

She's great with other people, too. Loves playing with friends and says "hello" to almost everyone we meet on the street or in the store. She can bring a smile to anyone's face. 

I'm amazed by some of the conversations we have. She's incredibly observant, asking me about the billboards and people she sees from her seat in the car. She recognizes when we're driving past places like daddy's school and informs me when the light is green. 

Lately she's been very into her emotions. If Luke knocks down her tower she'll come to me with the saddest face and say,"Mom.... I'm just so sad..." I'll ask her why and we'll talk about how she could solve her problem and be happy again. She's independent but not to proud to ask for help when she needs it. At least once a day she still needs me to hold her and I hope that never changes. 

Her yearning to learn is contagious. I'm amazed by her steady interest in learning the alphabet. She asks for help writing letters and points letters out on signs and packaging. She definitely doesn't recognize all of them but is often asking for more.  I made a dashed line-letter for her to trace and she did amazingly well and keeps asking for more. She assembled a 46 piece jigsaw puzzle with me twice, back to back. I'm convinced she would have done it a third time but I was losing interest ;) She enjoys anything creative: scissors, glue, crayons, paper, paint, stickers, you name it, she'll do it. 

While she's still VERY busy, I find that all of her "messes" are purposeful. The couch cushions all over the floor? Oh that's just her castle. The plates, cups and bowls scattered across the kitchen? She was making a rainbow. Her imagination knows no limits, and oh that makes me happy. 

I think Jeremy and I would agree that the thing we're loving most about this spunky, curious, beautiful little girl at two and a half is the things she says. I realize this is getting to be quite lengthy, but bear with me. Or stop reading. Actually I'll be impressed if you're still reading ;)

While licking a spoon covered in chocolate muffin batter,"I think I loooooove muffins.... Muffins are my favorite."

"Attention everybody!" *dramatic pause* "Tinkerbell fixes things!"

As we're getting ready to read scriptures,"So what's Lehi up to?"  to which we responded, "Actually, Lehi died a few chapters ago...."

While in the bath, "Daddy, I have a bottom and Luke has a peanut. He's a boy with a beautiful peanut."

Another night while in the bath,"Mommy, why does Luke have a 'peanut butter' ?" (Perhaps we need to work on annunciating "penis" better?)

Pulling onto north Avenue (if you're not from Baltimore, it's known for blue lights, boarded up buildings and loitering  - sketchy, sketch),"ME-OW! This is a classy neighborhood!" She'd recently watch the 'Aristocats'.

Often she'll pull us all into a bear hug and say,"Aw..... I love you guys SO MUCH!!!"

When she's forgotten to say 'please' when asking for something I'll put my hand to my ear and then I usually say 'yes'. One time while I was debating about whatever it was she wanted, she said,"Put your hand by your ear so you can say 'YES!' ". 

"IT'S THE BEST DAY EVER TO JUMP!!!!!" 

"While 'serving me food' one day I mentioned that she was a very good waitress. She thought about it, whipped her skirt off, and said,"Now I'm a waitress!!!" 

Madeline - "I want to take a bath!"
Mom - "Talk to daddy about it I bathed you last night" (leaves room)
Madeline - "Dad, can I take a bath?! Please..... Mommy said, 'YES!' and you didn't say ,'NO!' "

During her prayer one night,"And thank you we could go to the library today, and two parks, and lots of stores, and three libraries, and church, and all the parks and the library..."  (We had stayed home that entire day.... guilt trip?)

Upon hearing the toiled flush from the living room while Jeremy was in the bathroom, "*gasp* Daddy pooped!! Daddy pooped in the toilet!!!!! Yay daddy!!!!" (Can you tell we're coming out of potty training? ;) )

She was looking in the mirror and i asked her what she was doing. She replied,"Oh just looking at myself because I am BEAUTIFUL!"

Changing the preset radio stations in the car while I was nursing Luke she finally settled on one and said,"Ooooo excellent."

As I'm tucking her down for quiet time,"Thank you mister mom!" 

"Goodbye, have a good luck!"

Madeline we love you! Thanks for making this parenting journey such a joy :)

let's go O's!

 ^^8 months old this boy^^

^^Little city kid^^

^^looking at the camera but not smiling...^^

^^Not looking at the camera, but smiling... 

She must be two or something ;) ^^

^^Watching out the window of the light rail. 

Don't you love her itty bitty braids.^^

^^baseball games are LOUD! Madeline was so confused as to why everyone was screaming and hollering. I tried to explain that a grand slam is kind of a big deal and everyone was happy but she wasn't getting it so finally I told her,"You can scream at baseball games! Just not at home..."  "oh WOW!" She said.

 ^^We figured if Madeline felt her ears should be covered Luke's ears should be covered too. Poor kid thought his parents had lost it, taking him to such a loud and strange place!^^

^^I can't tell you how much I'm loving this beard :) And there's no sarcasm here.  Someday, Luke, you might be able to grow one too. But for now I'm too in love with your soft chubby cheeks^^

^^'Seriously, mom, it's like wayyyyyyy past my bedtime.'^^

^^There's a first time for everything. mmmm....^^

^^You'll have to believe me when I say she enjoyed it 

more than she's letting on :) ^^

^^loving the photo bomb Anna ;) ^^

It was LDS family night at the Oriole's game last night. The second baseball game in two weeks for Jeremy and I (we got to go on a date to a National's game last week) and the first baseball game ever for the kiddos. I have to say I think I'm a convert. There's something so appealing about the atmosphere (as long as you're not sharing your seat with the severely obese woman next to you... we moved during the 5th inning). It probably helps that I have a decent grasp on the concept :) As Jeremy said,"Yeah it's a slower paced game that you can get." Thanks babe. But more than that it's the smells, the crowd, the dancing and the music. The cheering and the kissing cam. Who doesn't love seeing a couple in their eighties steal a kiss on the giant screen? It enlivened my soul to be united in one cause with thousands of other people, all with the common goal of 'rooting for the home team'. 

It was also our first time on the light rail (well the kids and I). I'm a wee bit embarrassed to admit it, since we've lived easy walking distance from it for two years.. but we finally did it! The only mishap was right after Madeline asked for her buckle and I explained there isn't a buckle. You have to sit in your seat and hold still so you don't get hurt. The 'no buckle' part clicked (pun intended... haha that one's for you Dad!), but not the hold still part. You might notice there's a bruise below her left eye in the pictures at the game but not on the train ;) 

The kids were really well behaved. Madeline was cheering and making friends with people around us. I guess she did get into the trash around us a little... At one point I looked down and Luke had somehow (Madeline?) managed to help himself to an empty, except for the last few drops, beer cup without leaving my lap. I guess we can cross underage drinking off his list. Excellent cup holding skills for a kid his age, though. Really impressive. We kept a closer eye on them after that. I'm sure we wouldn't have enjoyed the game nearly as much if our kids hadn't had a good time as well. We really have GREAT kids. I mean, really. We didn't get home til almost four hours past their bedtime but they stayed happy the whole time. Luke of course fell asleep five minutes before we got home.... But he still went to bed well.

I'm really excited to be getting to the stage with our family where I feel like we can do stuff and enjoy it again. It feels like we've been in a box for a while, and now that Luke's a little older and more interested in activities it gives us more reason to get out as a family. HIP HIP HOORAY! 

I'm ready. 

p.s. The Oriole's won :)

last of the lake photos

 ^^It's a pretty amazing experience to be swimming and watching a bald eagle catch a fish not too far from you.^^

^^I accomplished a goal this summer! I got up on the wakeboard. And stayed up^^ 

 ^^We both got up :) ^^

^^I'm such a wuss when it comes to tubing! I used to love all the crazy stuff... Being a mom changes you!^^

^^Notice how Joshua is enjoying himself, while Dad and I have fear written all over our faces :) ^^

 ^^kisses for Aunt Hannah!^^

 ^^taken from inside the house... I'd go back in a heartbeat.^^

Well, it's taken me a while to get the rest of these photos up, but here they finally are. I think I've kind of felt like if I didn't post them it would mean we'd never left...? Somehow? It was such a great vacation.

I can still feel myself in the water, listening to, "Beautiful Day" by U2 from the boat's speakers.  Getting up on the wakeboard, then crashing into the water and laying on my back waiting for the boat to come around and get me. The waves were rocking me back and forth and a small seaplane flew right over my head,  across the perfect Northwest blue sky. And I remember thinking, 'I am so happy.'  U2 said it right, it was a beautiful day. A beautiful five days. I'd go back in a heartbeat.

p.s. We miss you Christian and Peter!