Menu Plan Monday - 2/25

Here goes this week's menu:

SUN: teriyaki salmon, roasted red potatoes, sweet corn, spinach salad
MON: chicken-ginger potstickers, steamed rice, green salad
TUE: meatloaf, mashed potatoes, mixed veggies
WED: Tongan food…Aki's cooking
THU: homemade mac-n-cheese, steamed zucchini, crusty bread
FRI: pork and veggie stir-fry, steamed rice
SAT: out in SLC

Welcome to the world!

Introducing my newest nephew, Maxwell Byron Udall, born on Saturday February 16 to Brigham & Shayla. He is grandchild #22 for Barry & Risa.

Max weighed 8 lbs. 1 oz. and was 20.5 inches long. He and Shayla are home now and doing well! Brigham has looked forward to paternity leave, as he is very busy at work preparing for deployment. He will have about 2 months together with his new family before heading off to Iraq for 15 months.

Congratulations, guys! He is adorable (look at those dimples!), and we can't wait to meet little Max!

Menu Plan Monday - 2/18

Here goes this week's menu:

SUN: crockpot BBQ boneless pork ribs, homemade mashed potatoes, spinach salad
MON: taco salad (tortilla chips, meat/beans, cheese, lettuce, tomato, etc.)
TUE: Japanese chicken curry, steamed rice, green salad
WED: pizza, green salad
THU: quesadillas, beans and rice, salad
FRI: broccoli-cheese-potato soup, rolls, veggie tray
SAT: pesto chicken and pasta, crusty bread, cucumber-tomato salad

to the best thing in my life, aki

happy valentines day, wherever you are. i forgot to tell you that this morning before you left, what with the extreme weather conditions and stress we were experiencing. i believe you are somewhere in the sky right now between arizona and texas. soak up some sun for me. we'll enjoy our belated valentines dinner date upon your return.

for now, i'm digging us out of feet and feet of snow, only with help from the neighbors, of course. the kids are jumping into the snow drifts, popping up with bright red ears and cheeks. makai is a bit sad there is no school, so no valentines day party. but i think he'll live. sometimes i feel i won't live, if i throw up one more time. i'm sure you're not missing that part!

we all miss you and can't wait to pick you up at the airport. be mine.

Financial Peace

We've got it all set up. Aki and I have volunteered to be the class coordinators for a Financial Peace University class, held here in Tooele, starting later this month. The course lasts 13 weeks, with once-a-week classes. It consists of DVD instruction, book work, group discussion, and homework (application), of course.

Sarah, you had asked about how to do it for free. The entire course (13 weeks) is not free…but if you do it through Zions Bank, the cost if $93 per family (a savings of about $40). The first lesson IS free, for anyone who wants to atttend and see for themselves if the class is something they'd like to do. To find out where/when the nearest class is to you, go to daveramsey.com and there on the homepage, you can put in your zip code. You can go ahead and register for the class preview (or, just show up), but don't purchase materials on-line. You'll get a better deal buying them directly at the class, should you decide to participate in the remaining lessons.

We found the class to be extremely valuable in helping us get "on the same page" in regards to our finances. The class is for everyone, whether you're trying to get out of debt, save more, pay off your house, invest, or looking to retirement, the material runs the whole spectrum. And it's entertaining and motivating! Overall, Dave Ramsey helps you to have a healthier, happier attitude about money…in other words, financial peace.

And no, I'm not getting paid a cent to say/do any of this. And no, we're not even Zions Bank customers (long live America First Credit Union). It's just that we benefited from the program and know many others like us who could use this in their life. The classes are being offered all through Utah (via Zions Bank) and nation-wide (via DaveRamsey.com), and are offered 2 to 3 times a year. Check it out!

Here we are back in May 2005, when we first took the class. We won Zions' $1000 drawing for all class participants. We were stoked, as you can see. :)

Menu Plan Monday - 2/11

I just realized I never posted our menu last week. Oh well…I'm such a space cadet these days. Here goes:

SUN: mushroom chicken bake, steamed rice, green salad, corn (brownies for dessert)
MON: beef enchiladas, black beans, Mexican rice, steamed broccoli
TUE: creamy chicken noodle soup, rolls, grapes
WED: sweet 'n' sour meatballs, steamed rice, green salad
THU: Valentines Day - breakfast for dinner (heart-shaped pancakes!)
FRI: turkey burgers, chips, orange sections
SAT: Valentines date (pizza for kids/babysitter)

Busy week

There is too much to blog about, lots on my mind. Here's a quick rundown of my thoughts swirling 'round:

1. Lost - woah, season premiere! I was watching in the dark while Aki slept, and I let out a full-on scream at one point (Jacob's cabin/eye, for those of you who watch). I can't wait until Thursday night, and I hate that there are only 8 episodes.

2. Financial Peace - Last week, Aki and I headed a fireside for our ward to show Dave Ramsey's free "Super Savers" seminar. We had a great turnout, with a lot of interest, so we will be starting a Financial Peace University course here in Tooele, to start later this month. I highly recommend looking into it…I will post more on it later.

3. I hate snow.

4. Wedding Bells. My cousin Marcus (Bell) was married on Saturday, here in Salt Lake, to a girl from Tooele. The whole thing was really beautiful and very nice, held in one of SLC's old mansions. I enjoyed seeing my Bell and Whiting relatives, and eating fantastic wedding cake, of course. I am thrilled for Marcus and Cortney…they are so much in love. And I'm jealous of them, honeymooning in Cancun right now. What I would give for some sun!

Marcus and cousin Emily

Marcus and the new Mrs.

5. Super Bowl. I really didn't have a preference, but was that an exciting finish or what? That's when football's fun to watch.

6. Stranded in Provo. Coinciding with the S.B. on Sunday was my niece Alli's b-day party (yummy food and b-day cake, once again!). It was snowing so much I was afraid to leave and make the trek back to Tooele. So I stayed there, the kids too…we left Aki stranded with no car at his Super Bowl party. He said he'd make it home somehow (what a guy). Nothing like a spontaneous sleepover with the cousins on a school night. Thanks, Cord and Heidi, for accommodating us…it was really fun hanging out with you!

7. Super Tuesday. I think tonight's news reports will be quite the entertainment (at least for a nerd like me). Looking forward to it.

I knew it, I KNEW it.

I've always felt "pregnant brain" was a real and valid excuse. I personally experience it…I've wondered if, along with the calcium and iron the baby leeches from you, it takes a few brain cells here and there.

Now there is scientific proof, ladies! Click to read "Pregnancy does cause memory loss, study says" on CNN.com.

Oh! I forgot to tell you (see? I tell ya, it's pregnant brain)…I went to the doctor today and heard the little one's heartbeat, much to my relief. I'm out of the first trimester now, and really hoping for some nausea relief soon.

Is that an awesome picture or what? I need a dress like that.