Yum-O!

Wanted to share a couple of recipes I made this week during our big move (more on that later!). These are perfect for summer!

Spicy Hawaiian Burgers

2 pounds ground chicken
6 pineapple rings (or equivalent slices, cut about 1/2" - 3/4" thick)
6 slices pepper jack cheese
6 whole wheat hamburger buns
1/4 cup low-sodium soy sauce
1 tsp smoked paprika
1 tsp chili powder
1/2 tsp seasoning salt
1/2 tsp ground cumin
1 clove garlic, minced

Combine the ground chicken, soy sauce, 1/2 the paprika, 1/2 the chili powder, seasoning salt, minced garlic and cumin. Lightly mix with your hands and divide into 6 even balls. Form patties, making them slightly thinner in the middle and sprinkle with remaining paprika and chili powder. Refrigerate about 30 minutes.

Preheat the grill to medium heat. Coat grates lightly with oil. Grill burgers over medium heat about 6 minutes per side. The burgers should flip easily when they are ready to turn, if they want to stick, give them another minute. Top with cheese for the last 1-2 minutes of cooking time to melt. Remove to a plate and cover with aluminum foil to rest. Grill buns if desired.

For the pineapple, if you are using rings, grill directly on the grates over medium heat. Carefully turn after 1-2 minutes. If you are using pineapple slices or chunks, thread onto skewers and grill skewers in the same fashion. Assemble burgers and enjoy!

Broccoli Salad

We love this recipe because it’s not too mayonnaisey like a lot of salads.

10 slices bacon (I used turkey bacon)
1-2 head fresh broccoli, cut into bite size pieces
1/4 cup red onion, chopped
1/2 cup red seedless grapes, halved
3 tablespoons white wine vinegar
2 tablespoons white sugar (I used Splenda)
2/3 cup light mayonnaise
1/2 cup sunflower seeds

Cook bacon, crumble and set aside. In a medium bowl, combine the broccoli, onion and grapes. In a small bowl, whisk together the vinegar, sugar and mayonnaise. Pour over broccoli mixture, and toss until well mixed. Refrigerate for at least two hours. Before serving, toss salad with crumbled bacon and sunflower seeds.

Mother's Day 2012

With Mother’s Day just around the corner, I can’t help but think what an amazing experience it is to actually be a mom, and to also have such a wonderful mothers (a mom, step-mother and mother-in-law!) in my life.  I’m so thankful that God has given me the opportunity to experience this incredible journey of being a mother.  It truly is so much more than I ever imagined.

I’ve learned so much in these last 19 months that I’ve been a mommy and I know I will continue to learn each and every day…

Being a mother has taught me the deepest meaning of love. I remember the day Hadley was born, I ended up with a c-section after 21 hours of labor.  I was sick during the entire procedure (bless the poor anesthesiologist with the puke bucket), but I remember hearing that sweet cry from my little baby for the first time and laying there with tears streaming down my face, longing to see her and hold her.  There is just no feeling in the world like meeting your baby for the first time – the truest, deepest love.  I do fall more and more in love with her everyday J

Being a mother has taught me that this job is the most challenging and rewarding job in the world….every single day brings new challenges as I learn and Hadley learns new things.  But I am up for the challenge and the reward is great!  I’m lucky to have such a wonderful partner-in-crime by my side as we figure out this whole parenthood thing.

Being a mother has made me realize that patience really is a virtue.  This is something I am continually working on and praying for in my life. 

Being a mother is exhausting.  I work my out of the home job 8-5, and then come home and start my second job – dinner, play time, dishes, bath time, bedtime, laundry, etc.  I love both my jobs so it is all worth it.  I’m blessed to work for a great group of people that understand the stresses of being a working mom.

Being a mother has taught me that the little things in life are really the big things.  There is no better feeling than Hadley smiling at me and saying “I lub you” when she goes to bed, or tickling her and hearing that adorable belly laugh she has, or rocking her in the middle of the night, or seeing her eyes light up when she’s playing with her daddy.  These are the moments that I will cherish always and that make it all worth it. 

Being a mother has taught me to slow down and enjoy the simple things.  Like stroller rides to the playground, sitting outside blowing bubbles on a sunny day, finger painting and listening to good music, anxiously awaiting the cookies in the oven, and ‘dancing’ to music on the way to daycare each day.    

Being a mother has made me realize I need “me” time.  I’ve realized that having this time makes me a better mommy and a better wife, but I’m learning to deal with the guilt that comes along with that.  I especially felt the guilt last week when I was excited for Hadley to go stay with her grandparents for a few days so she could get over her cold/sinus infection.  I felt horrible that I was actually excited about having a couple nights to myself…a couple mornings where I just had to get myself ready and out the door.  We’ve had a few difficult weeks with Hadley and this mama bear simply needed to recharge.  But when I work all day, I feel even worse about wanting “me” time.  I did feel so refreshed when she came back and our little family had a fun little weekend together.

Being a mother has taught me what it means to really put others needs before my own.  I don’t think I’ve ever really been faced with having to put someone else’s need above my own until I had Hadley.  It does come so naturally to me and I would do anything for this precious little gift I was given!

Here are a few motherhood quotes I found on Pinterest that I thought I would share.  Happy Mother's Day to all the mommies I know!

Hello, May!

Been slacking on blogging and reading my blogs lately.  Busy, busy, busy!  Here's what we've been up to the last 10 days or so.

We Celebrated Craig and Grant's 30th Birthdays at Grant and Kandi's new home which is fabulous!  I just got a couple pictures of the big event.  It was so much fun!  

Hadley got a lesson from her Daddy on how to shuck corn. She's a wonderful helper and it eager to do so :)

Hadley was a little under the weather and went and stayed with her Granna and Pappy (Brandon's parents) for 3 days this week!  I know she had such a good time during her stay, which was her first stay overnight somewhere without Brandon or I.  We managed to sneak in a date to Bonefish while she was away.  Granna discovered Hadley loved salad this past week.  So here she is eating a salad at home this weekend! 

We found a treasure at the neighborhood garage sale for our Hadley Bear.  She absolutely LOVES this little car!  

Today we went to Dollywood. It was warm enough to let Hadley splash around in all the water pads/splash pads they have there.  Look how sweet she looks in her suit :)

We had SIX showings this week on our house!  Praying for an offer soon!