Jasper

Bella has been potty training and I told her once she got the hang of it she could get a kitten. Let me tell you I have never seen her more motivated. She would go in the bathroom and just sit on the toilet making all kinds of noises for up to a half hour. After about 4 days of no accidents we went over to the animal shelter and she picked herself out a kitten. We had to wait about 3 days to pick him up because of all the vet stuff needing to be done and it was a long weekend. Finally this past tuesday we picked him up. He is so sweet tempered. The kids are really rough with him and he doesnt seem to mind. When he gets sick of if he just hides. He has been sleeping in Bella's bed with her. She told me the other day that she is the mommy and Jasper is her baby. At the shelter picking out the kitten

Grand Canyon Aug 2010

On our way home from San Clemente we had a little detour at the Grand Canyon. I had never been there before and its one of those things I had wanted to do for a long time. It was cool but I think next time we will wait till our children are a little older. They kept wanting to walk right along the edge (oh the stress).

preggers update

This is me at 20 weeks and it has gotten bigger, I am now 22 weeks (Yay only 18 more to go!). I know they say you get bigger with each pregnancy but seriously I am a little freaked out, not to mention I finally found something to kill my heartburn and so my appetite has been out of control. I absolutely refuse to step on a scale.
This is a picture of my sister with her 5th baby at 40 weeks, she is about 5'5" and a size 4 so she is smaller than me but seriously! This is in my gene pool! Freaks me out!

He's 4!

Happy Birthday little boy! My baby is four. Time has slipped by. He had his actually b-day in Ca with all his cousin. Unfortunately James missed it :( but we did have a little birthday party for him before we left Tx.

We went to Sprinkles in NewPort, its famous for its delicous cupcakes and ours were free because we knew the secret word. I love free stuff!

(dessert 1)

For Lunch we stopped at Ruby's diner. Yummy hamburgers.

(Emma, Brenn, Hannah, Heather, Josh, Luke and Cameron)
Bella


This is James cousin Josh who Luke just happens to extremely like.

The boys

Free Sunday

(Dessert 2)

Party at Linda lane where Luke had Dessert 3, 4 and possibly 5. I lost count.

Luke and his first love Tori

This was the early birthday we had for him with James before we took off to Ca.

t

Last Minute California Trip

So we ended up taking a last minute trip to Ca. We were there for about 2 1/2 weeks full of fun. Unfortunately James was working so he couldn't come but he was a good sport about it, even though I know he was super sad to miss out on hanging with his famil

My mom who lives in Ut just happened to be going to LA the same weekend we got there so we went up to see her and visited the Science Museum, James cousin Jackie went with me to help with the kids, such a sweet girl! Totally fun and totally free. Just keep a close eye on your kids. There were 3 of us watching the 2 of mine and we still managed to lose Luke (the worst feeling in the world) He was only gone for about a minute and a half but I was panicking.

Bella and Grandma Cherie

Yay for the pink sweet bath tub!

The kids riding the train at the Spectrum in Irvine (Hannah, Brenna, Luke, and Samson)

My good friend Tracie and her babie girl Suri (Samson above is also hers)

Bella posing for the camera on Grandpa's patio. What can I say, the girl can work it!

Heading down to the beach for a bon fire. Bella has a tendency to put her Blue baby in her shirt and then she tells me that she is having a baby too.

Cute little sand crab at the baby beach

Sea World! I can use one word to describe this outting Stress. For some reason Bella decided that she wanted me to hold this hole day and if I wasn't she was crying. AHHHH its stressing me out just thinking about it. Poor baby she had an awful time. I think Luke did have fun though, he had the distraction of James's sister Heather and her kids.

Bella absolutely loved the starfish, she kept calling them Tree Stars (they had recently watch Land Before Time)

Okay this was by far the funniest thing that happened on our trip. I should have had my camera on video tape. When Luke finally got his turn to Elmo he went NUT!!!! He was rubbing his face all over him hugging him and just could not keep his hands off him, even the workers were cracking up.

(Brenna, Luke, and Aunt Heather) I was somewhere off to the side consolling Bella in her fear.

OH and did I forget to mention that Luke didn't wear any shoes. Yay, he told me they were in the car when we were leaving and when we got there no shoes, so guess what he walked around Sea World all day with no shoes. Yes, I am a mean mom.

The thought going through my head at this time

"finally I don't have to hold her and she is smiling"

We were sitting in the splash zone during the Shamu show, to say the least we got soaked. Thanks goodness for garbage bags.

(Sara, Bella, Sonya, Luke)

It was so good it hurt. (Brenna and Heather)

James did surprise me. After my rough day at Sea Worlds I got back to the condo and his sweet face was there. Made my year and it was probably the first time in our marriage that he has actually surprised me. We spent Friday at the baby beach and eating Pedros tacos and then drove home Sat.

Bella and her cousin that she loves! Cameron

Bella's funny quote of the day

Sara: "Bella you have a cute bottom."
Bella: "It's not cute! It's got poo poo in it!"
Sara: "laughing"

she repeats this anytime you mention her bottom, so funny.

Announcement Time

I should have done this a couple weeks ago but time has just been slipping by. I wanted to let all know that we are officially expecting our third child due in January. I went to the doctor finally yesterday and Luke and I got to hear its sweet little heart beat which is always such a precious moment. This has by far been my most challenging pregnancy but I am finally starting to feel better (Yay!). We are all excited but I think Luke is the most. He comes up to me at random moments during the day and kisses or pats my stomach, he also quite often randomy announces to strangers that there is a baby in his mommies tummy, so cute. Bella on the other hand claims that there in fact a baby in her tummy and when I explained to her that you have to be married to have a baby in your tummy she quite calmly explained to me that she was married and that.... she was a pink pony princess :) Cracks me up.

Under Construction

The past few months have been a bit trying on the Mortensen family but we are holding it together and are excited to finally be moved into our new home. We officially move our stuff in June 26th and we have most of the un packing done. My dad was sweet and came up from San Antionio to build a wall for the forth bedroom which is currently James office. He will eventually move out to the shop and the bedroom will be for Bella. This week we are just trying to finish up painting. Picture should follow soon, but no promises.

My projects

Someone was giving this bench away on the side of the road, it was kid of falling apart but James helped me drill all the parts back together and I sanded and painted it. Its actually an old church pew.

When we moved to Utah we didn't have a table and James sister Heather (who is awesome!) gave us this one! I have wanted to paint it white since we got it but just never got around to it till now. It turned out so pretty, it really transformed our whole dining area.

We bought a house!

So we closed on our house this past monday April 26. It doesn't seem quite real yet because we aren't moving in for 2 months (We are on a lease at this house till the end of June). We are really

excited about our little country house which is 5 miles outside town on an acre of land. Its so cute, the back yard is fenced off with a garden plot already in place. It has a big work shop building (not pictured) and a 3 car carport as well as a gardening shed and another big shed. The inside specks are 1600 sq feet 3bd 2 bath and it has a large pantry for food storage! so excited about that! The seller of the house was my previous relief society president and her husband and it was so nice to work with such a sweet loving couple. I have to admit I didn't do much work but James sure did and it made me really grateful to have a husband that is good at making decisions and who works so hard. I want my sister Heather to know that this was partially inspired by her because I love the way she lives up in the country, I don't know if we will be getting crazy with a bunch of animals but a couple would be nice. Below is a picture of us out to dinner after closing with the seller (I was trying to tell the guy to hold the button down that is why my face looks so funny).

Luke's funny quote today

Luke is coughing and I say "Bless you", his response is "Mom, that's not a blessyou its a cough!"

Yay! The gardens in!

So with the help of the missionaries (and some proselyting efforts) we got our garden in last weekend. Lets cross our fingers and hope something grows!

I bleached again

So I bleached. It was a combination of seeing the bleach readily available on my counter and boredom that prompted this. Here are some pictures my sister requested. I really like the way it turned out but let see how long it lasts. It had been about 6 months since I had died it dark. I'm seriously surprised my hair hasn't fallen out yet.

Black bean and corn salad

1. 15 oz black beans
2. 10 oz canned corn
3. 1 roma tomatoes
4. 1/4 C cilantro
5. 1/8 C red onion diced
6. lemon juice to taste
7. pepper to taste

Mix all ingredients together! very yummy and fresh (you might want to double this if feeding more than 2). Also this is great for taco stuffing

Chili Seasoning and chili

We eat a lot of beans so we go through a lot of seasoning I use this all the time with black beans and pintos

Chili seasoning

1. 6 tbl chili powder
2. 1 tbl cumin
3. 1 tbl seasoning salt (mrs. dashes or Lawrys if your not worried about salt)
4. 2 t onion powder
5. 2 t garlic powder
6. 1 t pepper
7. 1 tbl flour
8. 1/8 t cayenne

• mix all ingredients together, store in air tight container

Chili

I cook this in the pressure cooker usually

1. 3-4 dry beans pinto or black (if using black I recommend pre soaking or it will turn all ingredients an unpleasant black color)
2. 1 bell pepper
3. onion
4. 2-3 tbl garlic
5. 1 serrano pepper or jalapeno
6. 2-3 C diced tomatoes
7. 2 C tomato sauce
8. any other veggies you want to add in. potatoes are good
9. 4 tbl or more to taste of chili seasoning mix
10. 2 cups of veggie broth or 2 t of veggie seasoning

• saute bell pepper onion and garlic in pressure cooker
• put in all other ingredients
• add water till top of ingredients is covered.
• cook on high for 40-45 minutes longer if you like your beans softer

Split Pea Stir Fry

1. Frozen Stir fry mix (or just mixed frozen veggies)
2. onion
3. 2 tlb minced garlic
4. dry split peas
5. stir fry sauce (optional)

• Saute: onions and garlic add in frozen veggies and sauce cook till hot
• cook split peas till soft but not mushy.

Vegan Enchiladas

1. 2 anaheim chilis diced
2. 1 green pepper diced
3. 1 onion diced
4. 4 cloves garlic dived
5. 1/2 package of corn tortillas (try and find the fat free ones) cut into fat strips or 4ths
6. 1 can of corn
7. 2 cans of black beans
8. 2 cans of plain chili beans
9. 1 can enchilada sauce
10. olives -optional

• saute 1st four ingredients.
• in large casserole dish layer sauce, toritillas, beans and corn, saute mix and sauce. keep layering until ingredients are gone or pan is full. sprinkle olives on top. Bake at 400 degrees for 45 minutes

Fresh Salsa

I got this recipe from Lisa Mortensen when we were visiting for Thanksgiving

4 roma tomatoes chopped
1/4 white onione (I dice it up in one of those choppers you use for nuts from ikea)
1/4 green bell pepper chopped
1/2 C chopped cilantro
1/2 jalapeno dice (in chopper)
1/2 large lemon or 1-2limes juice
Salt to taste
mix them all together.

Stuffed Bell Peppers

This is one of those recipes that I change every time I cook it. Its very versatile so have fun with it.

6-8 bell peppers any color I usually use green cause they are the cheapest
3-4 cups of cooked brown rice
2 C tomato sauce
3 t itailian seasoning (this is where you can mix it up if you want mexican seasoning instead)
1-2 Cups beans (I like black)
Veggies of your choice (zucchini, onion, garlic, mushrooms, tomatoes ect.) chopped
nuts (cashews are really good)

• saute veggies add in tomato sauce and seasoning.
• add in beans and rice
• cut tops off bell peppers get all the seeds out
• I bake them in a 9x13 baking pan that has been spray with nonstick spray
• stuff the peppers set tops on
• bake at 350 degrees for 30- 60 mins until tops start to get brown

Thai Style Butter nut Squash Soup

1. Butternut Squash (peeled deseeded and cut into chunks)
2. Onion
3. 3 t curry powder
4. 1 packet or can of coconut milk (131/2 oz)
5. 1 pint veggie broth

• Saute onions
• add stock, squash and curry powder
• bring to boil/cover simmer until tender
• stir in coconut milk
• puree

Wounton Chips

egg roll wrappers
any seasoning of your liking I use Mrs Dashes a lot because of the lack of salt

Cut into chip size strips
coat cookie sheet in non stick spray lay down chip strips so none are over lapping
spray top with non stick spray
Sprinkly with seasoning

Bake 350 degrees for 15 minutes. check frequently when light golden brown they are done.

Oatmeat muffins

2 C oat meal

2 C cold liquid (apple juice, soy milk, anything you have on hand get creative)

Combine these 2 and soak for 15 minutes

1 C of fruit puree (I have used apple sauce, bananas, sweet potatoes agian get creative)

1t Baking soda

2t Baking Powder

add nuts and raisins or if your feeling a little devilish chocolate chips add to your liking

mix it all together bake at 400 degrees for 15 mins. Fill muffin cups half way full.

Butternut Squash Soup

1 Garlic Clove

1/2 Chopped Onion

1 t Sage

1/8 t Pepper

3 c broth (I use veggie but you could use chicken watch the sodium in these)

1 1/2 lb butternut squash cubed, peeled, seeded

Cooking

• Saute onions & garlic add spices, broth, &squash
• bring to a boil
• cover reduce heat for 20 mins or until tender
• puree half of the soup mix it all together

*sometimes I will add in different types of veggies to make this soup more interesting

Red Radish Tabbouleh

1/4 t sea salt

1 C bulgar wheat

3tbl lemon juice(fresh)

1/2 C parsley finely chopped

2 Green onions minced

1/2 C thinly sliced radishes

to cook Bulgar you can either soak it overnight or bring 1 1/2 c water to boil put in bulgar turn off heat and let sit 20-30mins

Put all ingredients in boil and mix together

Whole Wheat Bread

Bread Machine Whole wheat bread. We make this constantly got the recipe from Paul and Teena Lindorf.

1 1/3 C of water Heat in microwave for one minute Dump into bread machine pan

1/8 C of Oil Dump in pan

1/4 C Honey "
(or 1/8 C molasses)

1 1/2 teaspoon Salt "

1 teaspoon Ascorbic Acid "
(crushed vitamin C)

3 C whole wheat flour "

1 1/2teaspoon yeast "

Close lid press whole wheat turbo press start set temp at med/dark

*Every bread machine varies so you might have to adjust the the wheat/ yeast quanitities based on how your bread turns out.