Thursday, February 21, 2013

New Blog

I have decided that since I can't upload anymore pictures to this blog, I will start a new one. The new site will be:

www.emtrevpatrick.blogspot.com

Check it out in a few days. I will try and post there soon!

Wednesday, February 6, 2013

Quick Update

Well, it's been a good year so far. I can't believe it is already February. Time is sure speeding by. My family and a couple friends and I have started an 8 week fitness challenge, found here. We are into our second week now, and I am feeling great. I have more energy from working out, I am totally paying attention to what I eat, and I feel a big difference! I have only lost a couple of pounds so far, but I think I am losing "inches" and adding muscle. Hopefully I can stick with it. I am using myfitnesspal.com for tracking my calories, and it has been 30 days since I started doing it, and I haven't missed one day!!

Trevor is busy with school. This is his last semester. He can't wait to be finished. He is planning to continue to landscape once he is done. I am so proud of him for actually sticking with it!

Tyler is getting so big. We went to his Asthma doctor last week. He is just over 41 inches tall now and weighs 37 pounds. He loves Power Rangers, Avengers and Spiderman. He loves to draw/ color, is very good at counting, and wants to know how to spell everything. He can spell Tyler, Mom, Dad and Fox without any help. I just can't believe he is almost 4. We cancelled out his naps a couple of weeks ago because he would not go to bed at night, and he has been going to sleep before 8:00 every night since. It has been great. Most nights, he will be asleep within 5 minutes of us reading stories. It used to be up to 45 minutes sometimes. What a nice change. I actually get some time to myself in the evenings now, which is good for exercising!

Tuesday, January 8, 2013

Christmas and What Not

Well, another Christmas has come and gone, and it was a good one. Tyler was old enough this year to really get the idea of Santa. He was so excited every time he would see him anywhere, and run over to talk to him. He wrote his first letter to Santa, which we mailed, and he received a really nice letter and some stickers and stuff in return. He was so happy when he got the return letter. He was very specific about what he wanted. He especially wanted a new sword. He saw Santa at our Ward Christmas party at the beginning of December and told him about the sword he wanted. About a week before Christmas, he was sitting on our bed and says "Santa sure is taking his time with my new sword". Trevor and I both thought it was so funny.

We spent the Holidays down in Welling at my family's house. Everyone was there over the holidays. It was so fun to see everyone. Jen and Dan weren't going to be coming, but my Grandma passed away on Boxing Day, so they were able to make it down for the funeral. It was nice to all be together, even if for such a sad occasion. I was sad to see my Grandma go, but am glad she is able to be with Grandpa again. I know they are happy together.

It is nice to be home again, and back in a routine. Trevor started back to school on the 2nd of January, which was pretty early, not that they have really done much over the last week. I came back to work yesterday, and it is nice to be busy again all day.

I haven't posted much lately because my Picasa account is full apparently. I can't post any pictures until I do something about it I guess, which kind of discouraged me about posting. Anyways, just thought I'd let you all know we are doing great and having fun together.


Thursday, November 29, 2012

Sir Paul

I had the chance to go and see Paul McCartney in concert last night with my father in law. It was probably the best concert I have ever been to!! He played for 3 hours, had no opening act, and played tons of Beatles favorites. I am so happy that I got to go. I was very impressed with how good sounds for a 70 year old man. He is sure talented.

He opened the show with Magical Mystery Tour and closed it with The End. Both very appropriately placed. He did two encores. During one of the encores, he brought a fan on stage who had a sign that read "The only tatto my dad would let me get. Please Sign." So he did. He asked who she was, where she was from, and where he should sign. He signed her side rib cage. It was cool. He also had the Edmonton Police Service Pipes and Drums join for one song. That was cool too.

I was hoping he would play "Blackbird", and he did. The rest of his band was off stage, and he stayed out and did a couple of songs by himself, this being one of them. It was so good! They sang "Live and Let Die" and had some really awesome pyrotechnics to go along with it.

I had a really fantastic time. I didn't get home until almost 12:30, so I am pretty tired today, but it was totally worth it. Thank you Bumpa!!

Monday, November 12, 2012

Make-It Monday

Mexican Chicken Alfredo

Makes 2 Pans 8x8 or 9x9; 1 pan 9x13
Cook Time: 30 minutes
Temperature: 350 F

1 pkg (16oz)  Spiral Pasta
2 Lbs  Cubed Chicken Breast
1 medium  onion, chopped
1/2 cup  green pepper, chopped
1/4 tsp  pepper
1 Tbsp  oil
2 jars (15oz)  Alfredo sauce
2 cups  cheddar cheese, divided
1 cup  parmesan cheese
1 cup  medium salsa
1/4 cup  milk
4 tsp  taco seasoning

Cook pasta. In large skillet, cook chicken, onion, green pepper in oil. Stir in Alfredo and boil. Stir in 1 3/4 cups cheddar cheese, parmesan cheese, salsa, milk and taco seasoning. Drain pasta and toss with chicken mix. Divide between 2 - 8 or 9 inch pans or 1 - 9x13 pan. Cover and freeze one casserole. Cover and bake remaining casserole at 350 F for 30-35 minutes. Remove form oven, sprinkle with remaining cheddar cheese and return to oven for 5 more minutes.
***To use frozen casserole, thaw in fridge. Remove from fridge 30 minutes before baking. Cover and bake 350 F for 50-60 minutes.

I really like this casserole. It is different and quite delicious! Give it a try.

Tuesday, November 6, 2012

Fun in the Fall

I am going to overload you with pictures again this post. If I would just take the time to do a regular update, it wouldn't be so bad! Sorry. 

We went to a place called Prairie Gardens with Russell's family on Saturday. The kids seemed to enjoy it. It is just a farm with a bunch of little activities for the kids.


They had a petting zoo. Tyler thought the goats were cool, but refused to touch a little baby black rabbit that they had.


They had little motorized tractors to drive. He would have stayed on there all day if we could have let him!


They even had face painting. Of course he wanted to be Batman!

We went swimming at the Terwillegar Rec Centre again. This time Tyler was able to go on the waterslide by himself. He also swam (doggy paddled) an entire lap alone, so he was marked as being able to go off of the small diving board!! He was pretty excited.



These are the Dupont's, some friends from church who just live about half a block away from us.


First (and only) time on the diving board. He jumped right into Trevor's arms, and then was too scared to go again. maybe next time.


Gangnam Style!!

Tyler braved the cold on Halloween and lasted outside at -15 for almost an entire hour to go trick or treating. He dressed up as Captain America. I think he had a really good time.



Some goofy glasses from a treat bag at Dayhome!




Looking spiffy in his Church clothes!


A visit from Brady. He sure loves that baby! We enjoyed babysitting him one night for Mal and Cody.


Wearing Morgan's Batman Mask.

Trevor was in his first official races at the track. Here are his track times and places! He did really well.





We finally got a new car!! We got a 2013 Ford Focus ST. We absolutely love it. It is fantastic and pretty cool, if I do say so myself. I am very happy with our choice.


2 of our friends at church also drive white hatchbacks, so we think it is funny to all park in a row. Trevor was dying to get a picture of it, which we finally did on Sunday!


Monday, October 22, 2012

Make-It Monday

Garden Chicken Stir Fry
source:  Campbell's
Calories:  230
Prep Time:  5 min
Cook Time: 25 min

1 Lb   Chicken Breast Strips
3 cups   Fresh, cut up veggie mix
1 1/4 cup   Chicken Broth
1 Tbsp   Soya Sauce
2 Tbsp   Corn Starch
1 tsp   Garlic Powder
1/2 tsp   ground ginger
4 cups   cooked rice noodles

Cook chicken & set aside. Cook veggies until tender crisp. Reduce heat to medium. Add mixture of broth, soya sauce, cornstarch, garlic & ginger. Heat to boil. Return chicken to skillet. Reduce heat to low. Simmer until desired thickness. Serve over noodles.

**Sorry for another Stir Fry recipe. This one is quite delicious as well. We eat it quite often. I buy those big packs of ichiban style noodles and serve it with those!