Parties and Pesto!

Hello everyone, 

Well, February is almost over...Looks like I'm not keeping up with my New Year's resolution of updating more often! I'll try to be better with this. 😅

This month we celebrated my little sister's birthday! I can't believe she's 15 years old!! I remember when she was a little baby...she then grew into a troublesome toddler who would eat sticks of butter and try to breakout of the house and walk the neighborhood when we weren't looking...She's mellowed out for now. 😉 

Birthday Girl at the Wizarding World of Harry Potter, Nov. 2015

We went to the trifecta of birthday goodies here in Gilbert - Joe's Farm Grill, Joe's BBQ, and Liberty Market. She chose a blueberry scone from Liberty, macaroni and cheese from Joe's BBQ, and a vanilla bean milkshake from Joe's Farm Grill. Of course, we like to support these local businesses while getting free birthday meals, so we also brought home sliced beef brisket, ahi tuna sandwich (featured on Food Network’s “Diners, Drive-ins and Dives” w/ Guy Fier), beet salad and chocolate macarons. 

Mmm mmm! Happy Belated Birthday, Hailey! 🎂 🎈

Joe's Farm Grill

Ahi Tuna Sandwich + Beet Salad

Liberty Market Chocolate Macarons

We have also succeeded in cooking more this month. One of our favorite things to utilize is our AeroGarden 7 LED indoor, hydroponic garden. Isn't it beautiful? 

We also bought a plant-based protein shake to make our mornings healthier! We add banana and a little peanut butter. I still don't love it, but I'm also used to scoops and scoops of ice cream in my shakes... 😋 

The dilemma of our household in one photo. 😂 We are lucky to have such an amazing baker as our mother. That's her lemon poppy-seed cake for Hailey's birthday party!

Anyways, back to the planter...We are growing basil, thyme, parsley and mint. The basil is taking over, so we've been making pesto each week! We'll use some throughout the week on pasta (zoodles, actually - zucchini cut into noodles), paninis, salads, etc., then we'll freeze the rest so it doesn't go bad. 

Here's how we made the pesto, adapted from Food Network's recipe here: 

• 2 cups packed fresh basil leaves (we'll sometimes throw in spinach as well)
• 2 cloves garlic
• 1/4 cup almonds (pine nuts are a bit pricey)
• 2/3 cup avocado oil and extra-virgin olive oil, divided (we will use a majority of avocado oil)
• Kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper, to taste
• 1/2 cup freshly grated Parmesan cheese 
• Varying amounts of fresh lemon juice (we have two lemon trees in our backyard) to take away any bitterness 

We throw it all in the food processor and adjust to our tastes! So far, so good! 

Otherwise, we've been enjoying the beautiful weather as much as possible! It has been rainy all weekend, which we also love. We open up a few windows and breathe in the refreshing desert rain air. When it is sunny, we go for walks!

I hope everyone is having a great February as well! What have you been doing? 

Please share! I love hearing from all of you! 

Thanks for reading! 

- Erik 

Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year!

Wow, the holidays go by fast once they are finally here...2016 ended and 2017 is well on its way! 

Let me catch you up on our holiday experiences:

December 25th - Christmas Day 

We woke up around 8am and began opening presents one by one. We completely forgot about the stockings until after breakfast. Whoops... 

It was fun to see everyone discover what has been sitting under the tree for them this whole time. Many thoughtful and exciting gifts!

I was ecstatic about my new games! I got six new games total! Thank you Mom, Dad, Jamie, Erin, Ashley, and Hailey for these goods! 

Stardew Valley
Beach Buggy Racing
Ori and the Blind Forest
Never Alone
Minecraft: Story Mode

Pokepark 2

Our Xbox One collection is growing! 

I'm so excited to play these new games!

After breakfast and stockings, we spent the day together - playing games and eating delicious food. We had tamales and played Charoodles (basically like charades with different props provided) with my Aunt Jamie. Watching everyone act out their cards was hilarious!

 We FaceTimed with my siblings, nieces, nephew and brother-in-law as well! I was so happy to see everyone. Our FaceTime sessions can be chaotic, but they are fun and always make me laugh.

We also got to open even more gifts once my sister returned from Hawaii with my eldest sister's family presents. They got me a very cool toy that flies up into the air and lights up, we're going to take it to the park tonight to watch all of the colors. I'll have to show you guys asap.

We also opened our new Ticket to Ride game! I played with my boombox while they slowly took over Europe's railways. :P

Ashley was playing too (I know, she actually sat down for a longer game!) and took this photo.

(P.S.: She totally won! Maybe she'll play games like this more often? ;) )

January 2017 (so far): 

Now it's already January 8th! In two months I'll be turning 25!! That is crazy...

My twin and I made lists of what we want to work on in 2017. We made individual ones and one for our whole family to add to that we wanted to work on together.

I want to:

- Update my blog at least once a week and on holidays

- Get in my wheelchair more often (I get in it everyday already, so this should be an easier one :P)

- Update social media more often (Instagram, Twitter, Facebook)

- Cook and bake more with my family (and of course I'll share the recipes we try) 

As a family we want to:

- Do an activity together once a month

- Work on family history, pictures, etc. on Sundays

- Have the siblings cook a family meal at least once a week

- Eat outside more often (on the backyard patio, at the park, have picnics) 

- Clean more often, together (surface and deep clean)

Looking up recipes to try (we use Pinterest too!)

Helping clean the 4Runner! 

Lola is ever helpful with my blog. 

Do you have any 2017 goals? Please share! 

Thanks for reading. Have a great Sunday! 

Cheers, 

Erik

It's Almost Christmas!

Hello everyone, 

I hope each one of you have enjoyed the holiday season so far. I can't believe Christmas is THIS SUNDAY!! I can't wait! 

We've been busy preparing and celebrating in different ways - 

We decorated the house a few weeks ago. Check it out!  

Decorating the tree and setting up our village! 

A low quality video of our tree... :D 

All the lights! 

Our house has also been full of baking, baking, baking! My mom made peanut butter bonbons, pumpkin rolls, raisin-filled cookies, sugar cookies and cranberry bars. Mmmmm.


Pumpkin rolls! The best...

We all tried to help as much as we could! She's so sweet to make these every year. 

We have also received so many delicious goods from our family and friends! Too many to post...  

One of my favorites was what my Aunt Jamie brought us - homemade fudge and beautiful cookies! Look at that craftsmanship.

Yes, please. 

My sister Erin was also here for a little while before leaving to spend time with Andrea and her family in Hawaii! Not a bad place to be, especially for Christmas! Build a sand-man for me! :P 

*I know she took some photos, I'll have to get them from her or find them!*

It has been great having my other sisters out of school too. Ashley still works, but Hailey plays games with me while she chats with our cousin, Paige.

Here's a snapshot from our walk yesterday. I wasn't in the mood for the video I guess! :P Sorry, Ash. x) 

So, what are you wishing for this Christmas? I'm excited to spend time with family and to get new video games for my Xbox One I got last year! 

And lastly, for giggles, here's me trying to eat my brace yesterday... >:) 

I'll post more of our festivities - Christmas Eve, Christmas morning, prepping for 2017 - very soon! 

Until then,

Merry Christmas!

Love, 

Erik 

Veterans Day

Happy Friday and Veterans Day!

Thanks to all who have served and continue to serve for my freedom. I'm also grateful for the time I get to spend with my family today.

Here's what we've done so far:

First we enjoyed the cooler weather and shade in our backyard. I listened to music (per usual my first request was Breakaway by Kelly Clarkson) while Hailey read and Ashley did some stretches. Lola interrupted her multiple times by jumping on her stomach or laying down by her head. Rusty and Twiggy stopped by every so often to see what we were up to.

Meanwhile my sweet mom was making Grandma Rigby's apple bars and Aunt LaRue's pumpkin bars. She's baking for Albert Mueller's 100th birthday! What a fun and incredible celebration.

Grandma Rigby would make these and cut them into little squares then freeze them. She'd get them out to thaw a little and it would be the perfect cool, delicious treat. I don't think anything will ever top the apple dumplings, but these are so yummy!

Mmmm...Spice, cloves, cinnamon...Anyone want the recipe?

Along with Kelly Clarkson, I am on a Christmas music rampage! The minute it became available on Music Choice, I have asked to tune in. Do you think it's too early to listen Christmas music? I feel like Christmas will come quickly so it's fun to indulge!

On almost 24/7...(much to my family's dismay at times, ha!)

We also made nachos for a little snack! It's the easiest thing to make, but here's how we did it. :P

Step 1.) Lay all chips nicely on a plate. You want each chip with significant surface area exposed so that every chip can get great cheese coverage. 

We used Food Should Taste Good Inc multigrain tortilla chips with flax seed, sesame seed, and quinoa. Then we destroyed any healthy aspect of the chip by layering and layering cheese!  

Step 2.) Put away the chip bag before you fill up on the undecorated chips...

Like our bird snack clip? 

Step 3.) Grate ALL the cheese and layer it evenly on the chips. 

Step 4.) Blast your nachos with radioactive goodness AKA microwave in 10 second periods until the cheese is to your melty preference.  

Step 5.) Either layer on your favorite toppings or put them in dipping bowls. We seasoned black beans and poured some salsa (we'd usually make our own, but we kept this very simple). 

Step 6.) Enjoy! 

It's a very healthy day because we also just ordered a buy one get one free deal through Papa John's...We did have salad this morning though, so don't judge too harshly. :P

Thanks for reading!

Erik

Post-Summer Adventures & Oven-Baked Chicken Tenders

Hello everyone,

Whoops, I haven't updated my blog since my family's trip! Sorry about that! It has been busy since my sisters have returned to school and I recently had surgery. 

I got surgery to replace a pump in my body that releases baclofen to help my muscles relax. It was over within a day, but I stayed at the hospital for one night, just in case. Erin flew from Utah to Arizona to stay with me! 

 

She's so sweet! 

That was back in September. Just last weekend I went to the doctor's office to get the pump refilled. Ashley drove us to Phoenix where I have my appointments! 

Vroom vroom! P.S.: The Dr. Pepper is NOT hers. Dad left that in the van (and should stop drinking them please!) 

In the waiting room! Couldn't wait to say hi to my doctor! 

The appointment went quickly. We got a different, larger room than last time since I had my 'fan club' with me (Mom, Ashley, and Hailey). :P 

We stopped by Nekter for a healthy acai bowl to treat ourselves...(However, that didn't stop me from asking for a strawberry milkshake when we got home, haha!) 

We also decorated our house for Halloween!

There's 'George' hanging from the ceiling of our entry way! Spooooky, right? 

I'm obviously very excited about Halloween! And the dogs were hoping for a walk since we were at the front door... 

Fun pumpkin lights. Now to get a real pumpkin to decorate...

I need to brainstorm a new costume for this Halloween! Last year I was a school bus...but the possibilities are endless. Any ideas? 

Anyways, those are some updates! 

Now onto our latest recipe that we tried earlier this week: Baked Chicken Tenders! 

We modified this recipe from Trisha Yearwood of Food Network. Instead of cheese crackers, we used crushed Townhouse crackers and Panko bread crumbs.

It was a fun, messy process! We dipped the chicken tenders in the mayo-mixture, then caked on as much of the cracker mixture as possible before laying it on the pan. Once we had enough on the pan, we stuck it in the oven. 

While the chicken baked, we cooked brocolli and cut up some healthy sides.

 

Once it was done, we double checked the temperature of each one and proceeded to feast! They were delicious! 

Yum! 

Thanks for catching up with me! Stay tuned for more fun and recipes! 

- Erik