Here we go again!

Chad started school this week. I must say I'm slightly jealous (only slightly). I hate school, but I love learning. There are so many classes I want to take - but I don't want to have to worry about grades and such.

He took a history class last semester and to make a long story short, he missed the dead line for a VERY important assignment which caused him to fail the class. So, he gets to take it again this semester. I was pretty excited because he has the same teacher and we already had the book. Wahoo! We can save $90 right? Wrong! They came out with a new addition to use, so now we have to buy another very expensive text book for the same exact class.

I hate that because to me, they hardly change any information and make you buy a whole NEW book. I can see how some technology based classes would need an update from time to time...but not history. blah, blah, blah!

I'm looking forward to being finished with another semester. I know it will be over before we we know it!

Favorite Music Friday

Steven Kapp Perry wrote a Cantata called "Another Testament", which is about the Book of Mormon. When I was in College I sang this with the institute choir and I was hooked! The music is simple and beautiful. If you ever get the opportunity to listen to this music or to see it performed, I would jump on it. You'll love it!

Reading

I love reading! These are the books I've read over the last month...

Fablehaven vol. 1
Fablehaven vol. 2
Breaking dawn
Wuthring Heights
Fablehaven vol. 3

I would recommend them all; although I would only recommend Wuthering Heights because it is a classic - and apparently we should all read the classics - and because it's a very "interesting" read and a little strange. Wuthering Heights and Jane Eyre were written by two sisters (Emily and Charlotte Bronte) and I think I liked Jane Eyre better, although it too was strange!

With the exception of Breaking Dawn, Fablehaven vol. 3 was my favorite. You should give it a read...of course you should read the other 2 first!

Pine Valley

We went camping in Pine Valley for a couple days this week. It was so beautiful! I was so grateful we could find a place down here that wasn't in sage brush. I really didn't want to camp in the middle of the desert. Pine Valley is only 40 minutes from St. George, which was very nice.

This is James while we were roasting "smarshmallows". I think he is licking marshmallow off his flashlight...he just can't seem to get enough!

This is the fish James caught. I think its his biggest fish ever and it's apparently very large for Pine Valley reservoir. I think it measured in at about 13". What a good little fisherman!

This is the puny fish I caught. He was barley 6" long.

Of course camping wouldn't be complete without a plethora of bugs. This "little" guy hung around for a while. I have no idea what it is. It was like some weird bee/fly hybrid.

They also had the most beautiful butterflies I've ever seen in the wild. I tried to take more pictures of them, but they'd always fly away - except for this one. It actually let Chad hold it.

It was so nice to be able to get away for a few days and enjoy nature. It was the first time we'd been camping as a family since James was 13 months old. We were over due!

A kid friendly dinner

James doesn't like eating meat (unless of course it's fast food like a cheese burger or chicken nuggets!). I was so excited when I came across this recipe for homemade chicken nuggets and I thought I'd give it a try.

He and I got to make it together and the whole time he said "these are going to be so delicious!" We decided fries were a good side dish. I figure they weren't any worse than a baked potato. We just cut them to the right size, brushed a very small amount of oil on them and sprinkled them with seasoning.

You should give the recipe a try. It really was delicious, especially when you dip the nuggets in honey. Yummo!

Ingredients:

3 cups corn flakes

1/3 cup grated Parmesan Cheese

1/2 tsp salt

1/4 tsp onion powder

1/4 tsp garlic powder pinch of pepper

1 lb. boneless skinless chicken breasts

1/4 cup flour

2 large eggs, beaten

Cut the chicken breasts into nugget-sized pieces. Set aside. Preheat oven to 425 degrees. Lightly oil or coat a large baking sheet with nonstick cooking spray and set aside. Place the corn flakes in a resealable plastic bag and crush to a fine texture using a rolling pin or the bottom of a small saucepan. Poor into a medium sized bowl. Add the Parmesan cheese, salt, onion powder, garlic powder, and pepper to the crushed corn flakes. Place the eggs in a separate small bowl. Place the flour in a separate small bowl. To bread the chicken, coat in flour, shaking off excess. Dip in the egg, then coat well in the corn flake mixture. Arrange the chicken on the prepared baking sheet and cook until golden brown, about 12-14 minutes. After they are done cooking, you can enjoy them OR place in freezer to freeze. After completely frozen, seal them up in a FoodSaver bag to enjoy as you need them! (To reheat, remove a few from the freezer and reheat in the microwave for a minute or so).