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.

Funny Quotes of the Day

Sara: Luke please stop biting your nails (a bad habbit he has picked up recently)

Luke gently touches my face and gently pushes it to the side then says "just don't look!"

about 30 seconds Bella looks up from what she's doing "Luka don't bite nails"

James and I start laughing, Luke looks frustrated (poor kid has 2 moms and a dad).

Little mommy

Bella continues to amaze me. Its very amusing how she is more observant than grown men. This morning we were all in the kitchen getting breakfast. I was making smoothies and James was standing around trying to help me. I started pouring the smoothies and Bella without being prompted ran over and grabbed straws out of the draw and handed them to me. At the moment it made me laugh but now it makes me almost want to cry because for the longest I thought I was crazy to expect my spouse anticipate my needs like this, the way my 2 year old daughter did. I feel like I am finally not alone! Don't get me wrong. I don't think men are lacking in any way. They seriously just don't get it and for the longest time I didn't get that. I guess what I am trying to say is that it really nice to have another female in the house. Girl Power!

Cherry Walnut Banana Bread Bars

I make this recipe all the time so I thought it was time to share it with the world. I love it because its a nice treat that is really healthy, no oil, no sugar, no white flour and salt is optional.

6 ripe bananas smashed
4 tablespoons of lemon juice
1 C of unsweeted applesauce
4 C whole whear flour (I like to use coarsly ground it gives it a nutty texture)
1 1/2 t Baking powder
1 1/2 t Baking soda
1 t salt (optional)
1 C Dried Cherries (or I use raisins or any other dried fruit on hand)
1 C chopped nuts (I usually use walnuts)

Grease a 9" x13" dish pre-hear oven at 350 degrees. Mix all ingredients together pour into pan bake for 50 mins. Let it cool completely before eating (this is espeacially important because the whole wheat flour will soften around the edges as it cools)

Funny Luke Quote of the Day

Sara " Luke you have to put your underwear on."
Luke "Why mom!"
Sara "Because if you don't you might get an ouchie."
Luke throws himself to the ground folds his arms and says "Mom you just broke my life."



Sara "Luke where is you your happy face?"
Luke (with a very grumpy face) "Someone stole it."
Sara "Who stole your happy face?"
Luke thoughtfully says "the wind"

Garden Box

Bella being totally silly and trying to ride her bike around the box

Do you ever just feel so blest? I have been feeling that way lately, I have been thinking to myself that Heavenly Father is really in tune with my family and our needs. James and I have really been wanting to do a garden this year, we eat so much fresh produce that if we got things growing well it would come in really useful. The only thing is neither of us has any experience with this and we didn't want to invest a lot of money doing it in case we didn't grow anything. Anyways I decided that I wanted to do a raised bed because I heard they are easier to care for and to keep weeds out of. I didn't however want to spend money on the wood to make one. Well one day after visiting teaching I was walking home and saw men loading up these large pieces of wood into the back of a truck, so I decided to stop and ask them what they were going to do with them and they were just going to take them to the dump! so of course I asked if I could have them. They were so nice they even brought them over and help unload them into the back yard. Then last week my friend Kathryn called and said she had some extra dirt and wanted to know if we wanted it. Hello so awesome! Now all we have to do is till up the ground underneath, throw the new dirt in and plant some seeds.

Fort Worth Zoo

This was a few weeks ago but I am catching up. Good times at the zoo. The kids favorite part was a bird atrium where they had a ton of parakeets and other small births flying around. It was so funny to watch them chase the birds. Bella ran around the whole time saying "I want the burdee"

You know you are in Texas

You know you are in Texas when you are leaving the state park and there is a sign that says...

Luke's New Bike

So we have been promising Luke a new Bike for a couple months. He really wanted one that would go fast so he can go for bike rides with us. We were at the local thift store and found this one. He loves it! He still falls over every once in a while but he is a tough kid and just gets up and goes agian. I can't believe my baby actually has a big boy bike!

Easter Egg Hunt

Afterwards we went to get Pizza and the kids pretended to play in the arcade. We decided its better to let them think that they were playing.

A city near by held their Easter Egg Hunt this Saturday and the kids had a blast. We met up with our friends Kathryn and Colt and their 2 boys. They had a bounce house that the kids of course loved! The kids maxed out to the point where the eggs were overflowing. On the car ride home they opened them all and Luke stuck the stickers all over the car window. I couldn't help but laugh when I opened the door to an egg covered, candy smeared face.

Funny Quote of the Day

Sara "Luke go to time out for pushing your sister"

Luke "I'm busy"

Sara "Wheres your happy face Luke"

Luke "Someone stole it"

John and Becky's Wedding Ut trip

We went to Utah on March 10th - the 23rd. Our main reason for going out there was for James brother John and his sweet wife Becky's wedding the were married at the Salt Lake Temple and it was an awesome day! We are so happy for them!

My sister Michelle is getting married in Oct so she was able to fly out from Ohio and we were able to pick out our bridesmaid dresses with all but one of her bridesmaids present.

Its always fun in Utah because there is so much family fun around. We stayed at James sister Heather's house and the kids just love playing with their cousins. The day after we got back to Texas (its about a 20 hour drive each way) Luke asked if he could get and the car and go back (I am pretty sure its because he wanted to see his cousins not just that he wanted to watch shows)

We when up to my sister Heather's house in Heber where she pretty much has a farm. Luke officially fell off a pony for the first time but he was a brave boy and got back on it later. We helped her collect her eggs from the chicken coop and feed the baby sheep. She had tons of new baby chicks and brand new puppys. Just like a week old (sooo cute) to say the least we were sad to leave!

Intorducing

When we were in Utah we went to visit my sister, Heather, who breeds Golden Retrievers. She generously offered us one of her puppies and to say the least we could not resist this adorable little face. So in way of announcement we would like you to introduce you to Oscar (Oz or Ozzy) Chop Chop Mortensen (the Chop Chop is what my nieces and nephews called him in Heber so we thought it was appropriate to leave it as part of his name). He was born Dec 23, 2009 and is just as sweet and smart as Golden Retrievers are rumored to be. He is already training well, his only two vices are he likes to nibble a little to rough and has not been house broken. He is definitely already a member of the family and the kids absolutely adore him!

Funny Luke Quote

Luke: "Mom why is your tummy squishy like my bottom?"

I had no response to this I just started laughing.

Funny Quote of the Day

James " Luke you have a cute bottom".

Luke (in a calm voice) "Stop looking at it" as he slowly walks away.

Baby Elephant

How Cool is this. James found it and I just had to share it.

Funny Quote of the Day

We went for a jog this morning and their are a lot of dogs in our neighborhood.

Luke: "Mom those dogs are burping!"
Sara: a little confused I responded, "do you mean barking"
Luke: With a little giggle " Yeah barking!"

Another one from a couple months ago.

We were going out and Luke really wanted to go to the library (so he could feed his addiction to Thomas the Train DVDs). I said first we were going to the park. Luke's response was "Mom if we go to the park I will be really upset at you".

Merry Christmas

We did something new this year, and that was to go to Maggiano's (the best italian food I've ever had) for Christmas eve. We had enought leftovers to last us the entire weekend and I didn't have to cook a thing. So yummy! The bishop and his family did have us over for Christmas dinner so we did have the traditional stuff but it was nice not to have to worry about all the bells and whistles. We also had a special surprise Christmas eve. It started snowing and Luke insisted in going out and playing in it even though it was dark. I couldn't say no to the kid seeing as it was Christmas eve.

The kids got to open up their Christmas eve present which was pajamas. I was worried they would be disappointed but they seemed content just to be able to rip something open.

I guess Luke and Bella were good kids this year because Santa hooked them up.

Christmas morning and our little snow bunny wanted to go play. We had a good 4inches. It was our first white Christmas that me James have had since we got married.

Luke conducting his new trian set.

For the past couple months Bella's favorite thing to do it color. After she finished opening her presents she went straight to this table. We have to hide our writing utesil because if anything is within her reach she will find it and color on any piece of paper she can get her hads on (including books, magazines, trash, and important documents).

Happy Second Birthday Baby Girl ( Under the Sea Style )

Bella turned two and the lucky girl got 2 birthday parties. A small one with the fam on her actual birthday and big party the following Sat. Below is her receiving a present from her Grandma Betty. She was so excitedDolls, Dolls and more Dolls. That night she even forfeited her Baby Horsey (which she has had attached to her hip since birth) so that she could sleep with all of her dolls.





I asked Bella in early Dec what type of party she wanted to have and I was actually slightly shocked when she responded that she wanted a Mermaid party (I was totally obsessed with Mermaids when I was a child). I have a few things that my mom had saved from my childhood that help with the decor.

We had bubbles, a lagune filled with stuffed animals. I dressed the kids up for fun, making Bella an Ariel tutu dress and when I asked Luke what he wanted to dress up like for the party (thinking he would say something like a shark or octopus) he said "I want to be prince Eric". What party would be complete without friends. This is baby Eli with his dad Jake.

The kids played pin the tail on the Mermaid and won prizes ( I let the little ones cheat with no blind fold)

Tyson showing us his skills

Good try buddy!

I made my first pinata. Unfortunately I made it super tough and ended up having to crack it open with the brute strength of my foot.

Go Craig!

This pic is funny cause it looks like Flounder is trying to get away.