GF Chicken Nuggets/Tenders

I realize to most people eating chicken tenders at a restaurant is no big deal. You can do it any time you want. Well, it used to be one of my favorite foods, but I haven't been able to eat any for two years. We buy chicken nuggets at Against the Grain for Makayla, but they are way too expensive and just not appealing for me to even want to try. So I decided to make some myself. I grabbed my trusty Life Tastes Good Again cookbook and got to work. Now I'm not a big fan of frying food, but I figure we could try it once. We used our cool white connecting tray things (thanks Cory and Angie) for first coating the chicken with cornstarch and then a mixture of featherlight mix, ranch powder, vinegar, water, baking soda, and possibly something else. Unfortunately our pan wasn't deep enough and we had to flip the chicken to cook both sides.
Don't mind the mess in the background I had just finished washing some 5 gallon buckets to fill with food storage and we were letting them air dry before filling them.
Nate took over the frying while I worked on the corn on the cob, garlic cheese biscuits, getting the table set, and feeding the girls.
Look Mommy I got corn on the cob. It's big!!! Whenever we have corn that is about all Allie will eat. She ate her two giant ears, some fruit, and that was about all she could fit in her tummy.
Kayla was being a stinker and didn't want to eat the outside of the chicken. But when she did she didn't even die so I'd say it was a success. She was just wanting the garlic cheese biscuits (like they serve at Red Lobster-only GF) since we haven't made them for a while.
I forgot to get a good picture of the chicken, but there are a few on the blue plate sitting on the table. We made 5 chicken breasts worth; so we have lots and lots of extras. The recipe suggested reheating them on a baking sheet in the oven. I guess we'll be trying that tonight.
The Verdict:
Delicious! Yummy! Fabulous! Yep, we kinda liked them. Nate and I both were drooling over the chicken and eating more than we should have. It was sooo good. So good in fact we decided we're going to have to invest in a fryer so next time we make them our entire kitchen doesn't have to be covered in grease. I'm not a real ranch fan, sorry Chuck, but adding just a little big of ranch powder to the batter gave it such a good taste. I didn't even use the barbeque sauce for dipping. I highly recommend this dish to anyone GF or not.

Kindergarten

Makayla (and Mommy) has been experiencing a mixture of emotions this week. Everything from elation, excitement, fear, dread, shyness, and back again to excitement. Kayla told me on the way to kindergarten orientation Monday morning, "I'm not sure I'm ready for this. I was really into it before when it was a long ways away, but now I'm not so sure." She was glad to meet her teacher and get to see her classroom, but she came home bored. Apparently she didn't enjoy hearing all the information that us parents were happy to finally receive.
Then Tuesday Kayla had her first real day at Kindergarten. She was nervous until we read The Kissing Hand. I kissed both of her palms and even used pen to add lips so she wouldn't forget. After that she knew I loved her and would be back to get her soon. She was also worried she might forget me. After I assured her Kindergarten lasted only a little longer than preschool, suddenly she wondered what all the fuss was about. She did fine at preschool, and she was going to do fine at kindergarten. Mommy did good too.
Off on her own-okay Allie and I were only steps behind her.

Ms. Pietrzak, the teacher, is standing in the background with the yellow paper in her hand.

Kayla is already getting started; notice the cute red head climbing in the chair next to her. The only tears we had were from Allie who really wanted to stay and color with her big sister.

Time to pick Makayla up! Everyday her class will wait out front until a parent or older sibling comes and gets them from the teacher. Ms. Pietrzak is very adamant that she will not allow kindergartners is leave unaccompanied.

Makayla had a great time at school. It was lots of fun except she hurt her hands at recess. I think she'll live. Today is early day which means she went at 11:10 instead of her normal 12:20 and will be done at 1:05 instead of 3:10. She thought it was great fun to have brunch before she left. She's already so confident with this whole school thing, she didn't even want Allie and me to walk her to class.

It really is true what they say about sending your child to school being a time of mixed emotions. I couldn't be prouder, and I'm glad she is ready for this step towards independence. But she's getting older and more independent. I didn't tell her she could do that.

Making a Castle

Makayla found an empty box and decided to make a castle for her and Allie to play with. Kayla did all the planning and most the drawing and then Nate got to work cutting windows and doors. The girls have been having sooo much fun playing in their castle.

Makayla asked me yesterday if she could have a giant box for Christmas to make a huge castle out of. So if anyone is replacing an appliance-I know what you can do with your box.

Which Outfit for School?

Makayla and I got out all her new stuff for starting school tomorrow. We combined some new and some old to make a bunch of outfits. I asked her what she wanted to wear, and she decided she wanted to be a model and have help deciding what to wear her first day. So please help us decide. What do you think? (BTW she positioned herself for all the pictures.)

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Our Cowgirls

Sunday we got to get up way too early again-this time we headed to Roy for my cousin, Kenneth Miles' homecoming. After church everybody went back to the house his dad has been building. I am very impressed with the level of workmanship, although seeing how he and my dad learned from the same person I shouldn't be.
The best part of the day came when my cousin Brandon went over to his house and brought back Cricket, one of his horses. Now Makayla has always loved riding on horses, but this was Allie's first time. We were a little nervous as to how she would react, but she loved it too. Brandon even had this little tiny saddle that was perfect size for the kids.

I love riding the horse Mommy!!!
This is my cousin Jacob and his little girl. She is just over a year and rode around all by herself. Apparently she does it quite a bit, but all of us mom's were freaking out worrying that she was going to fall. Jacob just laughed at us.
Thank you Cricket!

What a Drive

My dealings with the police department has been limited to the stealing of power from our home and Nathan's speeding tickets (yes that is plural). Friday after going to the temple open house, Mom and I decided to stick around while everybody else headed back to Poky in my van. We went to a couple of stores and then slowly started home.
We were almost to the Chubbuck exit when I see flashing lights in the rear view mirror. I start panicking. Did the speed limit already lower to 65mph? I don't think so. Maybe it did. What else could it be? I don't think I did anything wrong.
The officer came up to the window-shined his flashlight in our innocent and extremely perplexed faces and informed me I did not use my turn signal after passing the semi. Before I passed the semi I had also swerved slightly over the white line. Why did I do it? Now I'm a pretty conscientious driver. I'm constantly getting scared as Nate swerves from one side of the lane to the other. It drives me crazy so I make a point to not drive like that. I'm also one of the few drivers in Utah that actually uses a turn signal. Now I thought hard and couldn't come up with a reason for my obviously very inattentive driving. (Later I decided I must have crossed the line when I was debating about passing the semi.)
The officer asks for license, registration, and insurance. I grab my license and my mom gets out their neatly organized holder for registration and insurance information. After commenting that she hopes the updated information is there, we only find the current registration but only the old insurance information. The officer then tells me that for not having current insurance information the driver is automatically given a $116 ticket and has their license suspended regardless of who's car they are driving. My heart drops to my toes. I'm going to loose my license for not using my turn signal once. Hello! How many people don't even know what that little knob is for?
Then he thanks us for at least wearing our seat belts, hands back my license, the registration, and outdated insurance information, and walks away. Mom and I look at each other. Are we free to go? Did he just let us off? Apparently so.
I just want to warn everybody to make sure you have your current insurance and registration in any and all vehicles. Also a warning to those living in the Pocatello area, there is at least one extremely bored police officer who doesn't appreciate people who don't drive without absolute perfection. Be ware. He is out there. He will be watching.

Twin Falls Temple Open House

Friday morning we got up at super early (okay, Nate actually got to sleep in) and headed for Twin Falls. I'd gotten tickets to the temple open house. Makayla has been really asking a lot of questions about temples and I wanted to be able to show her the inside. After what seemed like eternity (neither of us were fond of the barren landscape on the drive), we arrived. We got hugs from Kayla who had spent a couple of days with Grandma and Papa. (I can't believe how big she's getting!)
Then we went into the temple. Now those of you who know Allie know she just likes to make noise-happy, sad, mad it doesn't matter. She likes to make noise, and when you try to quiet her-she just gets louder. Well now factor in we've been up since 6am and had her trapped in the carseat all morning...
The tour started with a movie about the area and uses of the temple. Nate had to take Allie out in the hall because she just didn't want to quiet down. Then we went over to the temple. Allie just about lost it when they put those little booties on her feet. I ended up taking them off much to the dismay of one of the temple workers while telling Allie she was going to have to be carried the entire time if she wouldn't wear them. She agreed. Unfortunately she only wanted me to carry her.
The first room we went into was the baptismal font. Allie proceeded to moo at the oxen as loud as she could. The rest of the time she did fairly well, except for in the Celestial Room. Unfortunately she just didn't understand the significance of that special room.
Makayla however really loved getting to see the temple. I think she now has a much better understanding of how things are in the temple. I think we'll have to do a family home evening on the temple next week to help her understand things even better. I'm really glad we could take her, but I know I would have enjoyed it a whole lot more if Allie wasn't quite so tired and squirmy.

The cousins all together-Allie, Tyler, Kayla, and Jason

Allie was so happy to not be stuck in a carseat or having to be quiet inside the temple. She ran, twirled, and collapsed on the soft grass.
Our little family
Grandma and Papa and the grandkids (minus Jason)
Amy, Dad, Mom, and Grandma Garbett
Allie and Amy in front of the temple Allie and Amy playing on the rocks.
Cory, Angie, Tyler, and Jason
Makayla just loves to model for the camera.
Cory and Jason-Wow I can't believe how big that little boy is getting.

Pop! Pop! Pop with Papa!

While I don't think that surgery sounds like fun, we sure had a good time getting to have Grandma and Papa visit for a week while he was recovering. The girls were really good at being careful to not jump on Papa's tummy. It was great fun to not feel so rushed.
Papa found some pink popcorn at a fruit stand in Brigham City on the way here. The girls couldn't wait to see it pop up pink, but it was whiter than white when popped.




Yum! Thanks Papa!

It's a Bird! It's a Plane! No. It's a Princess!

One thing Dads are great for is having fun! The girls are always so excited when Dad is home and has energy to play. They really like it when they get to fly on Daddy's legs. It also gives Dad a good work out.

Kayla was trying to teach Allie how to hold her arms.
Better just show her. Allie was awfully brave to sit underneath. Don't worry no one was harmed in the making of these photographs.
Wow! Look at Allie fly.
Daddy's worn out! Better watch out though, it looks like Allie's on the attack.
Gotcha! Hugs and Kisses for Daddy!!!

Tightening the Chairs

The other day Nate was getting ready to tighten the screws on the chairs and finish leveling them. He'd just gotten out the screwdriver when his phone started ringing. A little while later we realize there's a noise coming from under the table.
Allie decided if Daddy was going to take forever on the phone, she'd fix the chair herself.

I love the look on her face in this picture. It's like, will you quit taking my picture. I'm working here.
Kayla wanted to help too! She grabbed the screwdriver and set to work.
Nate decided even though he was still on the phone he'd better get to work. Doesn't he realize it's a lot easier to work when you don't have a phone glued to your ear.
As if the phone wasn't complication enough, Allie decided to jump on. The more the merrier, right.