Recipes & My Big Head

Jason forwarded me the P90X nutrition guide a while back, and I found some recipes that looked amazing.  I made this pork tenderloin recipe this week, and it was a hit with everyone.  Jason was really impressed, and I think that says a lot, considering we're talking about pork tenderloin.  I just backed off the hot sauce a bit for the kids. 

Island Pork Tenderloin

• 16 oz. lean pork tenderoin (I think I bought a loin filet that was 1.5 lbs or so and just increased the rest of the ingredients)
• 1/2 tsp salt
• 1/4 tsp pepper
• 1/2 tsp chile powder
• 1/2 tsp ground cumin
• 1/2 tsp cinnamon
• 1 T olive oil
• 1/4 C packed brown sugar
• 1/2 T minced garlic
• 1/2 T Tabasco sauce

Preheat oven to 350. Stir together salt, pepper, cumin, chile powder & cinnamon, then coat pork with the spice rub.  Heat the oil in a 12-inch skillet over medium-high heat & brown, turning, about 5 minutes.  Stir together brown sugar, garlic & hot sauce and pat onto top of tenderloin.  Place pork in a roasting pan and cook in the oven until a meat thermometer reads 155-160.  For a 1-lb tenderloin, they call for 20 minutes.  For the Hormel tenderloin I bought at Target that was a little larger, it took around 40 minutes.

I also made some easy sweet potato 'fries' one night this week.  I googled and found this recipe from an Oprah episode... I thought they were outstanding.  Jason was a little iffy on the Italian seasoning, but to me that's what made them so good.  Here's the link: http://www.oprah.com/food/Oven-Baked-Sweet-Potato-Fries

We were up until 1 a.m. doing payroll for the company last night, so needless to say, I'm wiped today.  Jason got up at 5:30 to do P90X.  Dedication, I tell you.  I consider it success when I make three trips up the stairs in a day.  He's gonna be all muscular and toned for Mexico, and I'm going to be doing everything I can to cover pretty much everything below my shoulders.  Plus slathering on a healthy dose of sunscreen.  I've been on the hunt for a wide-brimmed hat, but the cute ones I've found at Target are really tight on my head.  I have a big head for a girl, I guess.  I was lamenting to my friend Leslie this week, and she suggested I look in the men's department.  I laughed invisioning myself at Bass Pro trying on old mens' fishing hats because they're the only ones that fit me.  What I need is a glamorous, Hollywood-esque floppy hat made for large domes.  Do they make plus-size headwear?

Happy Easter this weekend!  The kids got to hunt eggs at preschool on Wednesday, and we'll probably let them do another hunt on Sunday, maybe at Uncle Trav's house.  We're even thinking about eating out so no one has to cook.  That's my kind of holiday!

Past Few Weeks

Things have been relatively calm around our house the past week or so.  I feel like I'm starting to hit my stride and bouncing back from the syndrome also known as THE NEWBORN WEEKS.  Things are definitely looking up and getting back to normal.  We've gotten back to hosting and attending playdates, and that really helps with normalcy.  The house is nowhere near getting decorated, but at least all of the boxes are unpacked.  Let me rephrase... there are a few unpacked boxes, but they are now in the garage.  Where they may stay.  For the next 10-15 years.  But oh, what treasures I'll uncover at that time!

I thought I'd just post some pictures of our past couple weeks. 

Daddy's birthday which was 4 days before Jax's... and I'm realizing I didn't do a nice birthday post for my sweetheart.  Sorry about that, dearest.  You know I love you.  I've just been a little deranged as of late.  I like this picture because it makes me flash forward about 13 years, and instead of Emerson helping her Daddy open birthday money, she's asking for some cash for the weekend.

We have a rabbit who hops through the back fence where there's a low spot, and he comes right up to the back porch under the bushes.  We have yet to name him. 

Emerson decided she'd like to coupon like her Momma one day last week.  Apparently the infant car seat was the best place to find some peace and quiet so she could file with the best of 'em. 

Then, of course, there are the many (and changing) faces of sweet Hayden.  She will be 11 weeks tomorrow, and that doesn't even seem possible.  The girl loves to coo and smile and even treated Daddy to her first little laugh.  I'll try and load the video of it before too long.  You'll see from the last picture in the set that the Van Valkenburg Chubby Baby syndrome has struck once again.  I love, love, LOVE her rolls! 

Jax and Emerson adore spending quality time on the floor with Baby Hane, giving her kisses and telling her how beautiful she is.  I caught a few sweet moments. 

And last but not least, my first room to complete will be Hayden's nursery.  It's gonna be a slow proess, but here's a sneak peek.  I'll reveal the finished product someday. 

Got Batteries?

For those of you that are local, head to Reasor's this week or take their ad and price match at Target/Walmart.  All Duracell Batteries (AA/AAA/C/D/9volt) from 2-10 count are on sale for $4.88.  Target's 8-count D packs and 4-count 9-volt packs are priced at $11.99.  Sweet deal!

JaxiPoo is Two!

Time flies when you're having fun, I guess.  I am reeling from the fact that my baby boy turned two on Wednesday.  I think the little guy had a good day, other than when he was asked if he was going to be two.  Every time he would scowl his best scowl and say NO in a gruff voice.  Reminding him that he would be eating Thomas the Tank Engine birthday cake that night seemed to brighten him up pretty quickly. 

Here's the birthday boy swinging with MeMa (or Grandma, depending on who you ask) in his shirt made by my friend Terra (http://www.tickledsewpink.com/)... I love her work!

I got his cake from Target (no can do on the whole making-from-scratch-with-a-new-baby-thing) and the consensus was that the flavor was really yummy.  I set his piece of cake in front of him, thinking he would just dig in and cram it into his mouth.  He seemed to be confused about what to do without his fork, so he just leaned over and tried to eat it that way! 

Here is Hayden enjoying the festivities.  You'll also notice I've gotten rid of my highlights.  I have this love/hate relationship with them.  I love them for a good 6 weeks, then I can't wait to go back to plain 'ole brunette.  Catching the occasional episode of Kardashians while nursing during naptime also fueled the fire.  Those girls may be as dumb as rocks, but they have the most gorgeous, luscious hair I've ever seen.  Genetics and salons probably play a wee part in that.  Nevertheless, I realized I missed my brown hair and actually went to a new place with a new stylist and am really happy with the outcome.

Big sister helped Jax open his gifts and enjoyed being the first to sample them.  I have a feeling her technique won't go over so well the older he gets. 

Here's birthday boy on the morning after his big day (yes, wearing the same clothes over again... don't judge) playing with his new tool set. 

 

Happy Birthday to my sweet boy! 

Body Parts

I have a post ready to go for Jax's birthday last week, but for some reason Blogger isn't letting me upload pictures right now.  So I've got it in edit mode just waiting...

I just have to share what Jax said on the changing table a few weeks ago.  I've been identifying his body parts using the correct terminology, and it's so cute to hear him repeat them back.  This particular day, he had a poopy diaper and was attempting to reach down and see what he could grab.  I firmly told him no, that we don't touch our poo-poo.  He replied back, "And no touch my popsicles."  Hilarious.  

Conversation about her wedding day

We watched Cinderella after naptime today, and when Cinderella hurried down the castle steps wearing her beautiful wedding dress, Emerson went nuts.  Here is our conversation:

Emerson: "Oh yook, Mommy!  Cindereh-wa is wearing a beeeeautiful wedding dress!"

Me: "Yes, she is."
Emerson: "Mommy, someday when I'm a yittle bigger, I will be a bride."

Me: "Yes, ma'am, when you are 30."

Emerson: "Yes.  And I will marry a handsome prince.  Do you know what his name will be?"

Me: "What?"

Emerson: "Daddy!"
Me: "Yes, I know Daddy will be so glad to marry you."

Emerson (leaning in to touch foreheads with me... talking in a very dramatic, whispery voice): "And after the wedding, we will get to eat GUM.  And open surprises.  And eat bomb pops.  And I will have a purple oval ring." 

What more could a bride want, really?