Grilled Cheese Challenge {1. Classic}

Anyone get the Food Network magazine? Neither do we. But my dad does...and they often put inserts in that contain 50 variations of something. I was first introduced to this when my dad took on the 50 Smoothie edition. He didn't make them all, but the ones we sampled were delish. Well this month's was 50 Grilled Cheeses. Holy smokes. The only thing Ryan and I like more than grilled cheese is possibly macaroni and cheese...yes we have very mature tastes over here. Anyways, we took it on as a challenge. We plan to try every variation and follow the recipe exactly. Buckle your seat belts folks, they get pretty exotic. They started out with the basics though.

All sandwiches are to be cooked using this method:

• Heat 1 tbsp salted butter on skillet
• Press the sandwich slightly and place it in the skillet. Cook until golden on the bottom, 3-5 minutes.
• Flip, adding more butter if needed, and cook until the other side is golden and cheese has melted, 3-5 more minutes.

1. Classic: Sandwich 2 slices monterey jack cheese between 2 slices of country white bread, flipping once, until golden.

• Served with: fresh blackberries and pear slices
• Did we love it? YES. We expected it to be like our usual grilled cheese, but using the salted butter and cooking the sandwich in it rather than pre-buttering the bread made for great texture and flavor. We even got country white bread.
• Ryan decided to dip his in a ketchup/mustard mixture, and I topped mine with strawberry jam. Though before garnishing we tried the sandwich exactly as it was supposed to be made. 

*We decided we liked using half the butter at first, then putting the other half on before flipping the sandwich to the other side.

1 down, 49 to go!

15 Months

Time sure does fly by. Kyle hit 15 months last weekend. Crazy. We love him!

• He blows his nose every time he sees a tissue...or a stray sock.
• He walks full time now.
• He loves to "jump" but no longer leaves the ground when doing so.
• He loves chocolate more than anything else in the world.
• He is starting to pretend to do things.
• He thinks it is hilarious to ignore people on purpose.
• He loves naming body parts.
• He "gets" jokes now, and always laughs at appropriate times.
• He loves people.
• He claps when others clap...no matter what. My favorite example of this is on the news when it shows people clapping while talking about the stock market...he always joins in.
• He loves to keep the beat and dance, and is usually pretty good.
• He pivot turns.
• He seems to have an itchy nose constantly.
• He loves meat.
• He likes to wake up and sing before being taken out of his bed.
• He likes being the center of attention.
• He doesn't love to share.
• He loves to wrestle.
• He makes sound effects for planes and cars. 
• He loves his reflection, especially when wearing new clothes.
• He loves to make messes.
• He throws his food when he is done.
• He cracks himself up.
• He has added a monkey sound to his list of animal sounds, though the dinosaur is still my favorite.

He is so entertaining. He is pretty much always happy and loves to be crazy.  He has Ryan and I completely wrapped around his finger. We love this little guy!

Thank you emmett for the balloon!

thanks for the pic uncle mike:)

Swing

We are lucky these days to not only have wonderful weather, but we also happen to have a HUGE yard. We will definitely miss the roaming room when we move. All the more reason to explore it while we can. I found the boys out in the yard swinging this afternoon. I love that old tree swing. It is cool to see Kyle enjoying it so much. These boys are where its at. 

Farewell

Ryan's parents are leaving on a mission in a few short weeks. We are really excited for them, but we will miss them terribly! Luckily they aren't going too far. They are going to be running the church owned campground in Heber. We are allowed to visit, but their absence will definitely be felt. Sunday they had a little farewell. I wasn't up to going just yet, but Ry and Kyle headed up to see them. I sent the camera with Ryan to document the whole thing. So here ya go.

 Kyle and Grandpa...don't know where Grandma is...

 Helping himself....

Cousin Jarrett taking Kyle for a spin on the power wheels...I heard Kyle didn't really love it. Give it time.

Good luck Lundgreens! We will miss you!

Done and done.

The long awaited surgery finally happened! It went great and the recovery has been pretty simple. Counting down until I am allowed to lift Kyle and get my sweat on again. Seriously missing "normal" life...whatever that is.

I have had quite a few surgeries in my life, and my dad has been by my side every single one, except this one. Ryan took his place! I will admit, it felt a little weird having to fill Ryan in on our surgery traditions, but he caught on quick and I wouldn't have wanted to wake up to anyone else (no offense dad). Well through all those other surgeries my dad has always been a fan of the hat they make me wear before I go in...he texted me how much he regrets never getting a picture of it. So I decided to take the camera along for my dad. Ryan insisted on documenting a few other things too, which rarely happens. So yes. We took pictures. Luckily we spared you all the post op pics, because things weren't pretty. Besides the nurses keeping me for ten years in recovery against my will, everything went text book perfect.

 Ryan made me pose on our way in...

 This one is for you Dad

 Kissing the lucky leprechaun from my mom

My favorite person.

So glad to have this little episode behind us. Thanks for all the help we have received these last few weeks, it has made all the difference.

Ginger.

 "You're a natural redhead right?"

My life is complete.

Thank you person I have never met for asking me that question last week.

Wake up

For the last few weeks I have been pretty sick. Turns out I need my gallbladder out, but the surgeon has taken his time getting me in. Now I am just a few days away from the procedure and I can't wait to get it done and get back to my life. I am a believer in things happening for a reason, and yesterday I think I understood maybe one reason this has happened.

Now don't get me wrong, I am not pretending this is some HUGE deal. I know lots of people who have gone through it and the surgery is simple. But not feeling myself, and not feeling able to do my normal activities for a few weeks has taught me a few things.

I don't think I am alone in my struggles of feeling a bit worthless. As much as I am told that motherhood is a divine calling and the most important thing I can do with my life...the day to day feels pretty darn mundane at times. Besides the hair I do on the side, Kyle is my job. I love him, and I am grateful to stay home with him because SOMEONE has to do it, and I prefer it be me. Again, I am very GRATEFUL to be blessed with the chance to be a mom and that I get to stay home. But the lack of deadlines, paychecks, reviews, and adult validation makes me feel like I do nothing. So I often end up feeling worthless and like I contribute nothing to the world. Uplifting eh?

Well since I have been sick, my eyes have been opened. I have been so lucky to have help from friends and family and Ryan has been picking up a lot of extra tasks. BUT. Things aren't the same. Kyle is struggling, the house is falling apart, and our whole little world seems to be turning upside down. Watching this made me realize how much I do. Keeping Kyle healthy and happy, bathrooms scrubbed, floors steamed, laundry folded, errands run and dinners made might feel mundane to me, but it keeps us going. Someone has to do it, and believe it or not, I seem to be the best one to do it in our little house. It isn't glamorous and half the time it all goes completely unnoticed, but the million little things I do each day really do matter.

Yes. Sometimes gallbladders just go bad and that's all. But for me, I think the timing of all of this was to teach me I do matter. I do make a difference, and I am not easily replaced.

Here comes the bride?

Kyle and I were lucky enough to tag along with my adorable cousin to a wedding dress store last week. She looked amazing in every dress...and Kyle had the time of his life. He would stand on the bridal stand and look in the mirrors clapping like we were all here to admire him. While I can't give away pictures of THE dress (which she found the next day)...I will give you Kyle showing off. 

We are so happy for Brynn!  

Am I the only one...

...who doesn't find pictures of girls with perfect abs/legs/whole body coupled with some work out quote motivational? Maybe its just me.

Katie Crabb Productions

I have mentioned my insanely talented sister in law before, but after watching my wedding video, our family vacation video, and the newborn Kyle video she made, I feel the need to bring her up again. She is amazing. I also feel like sharing my tangent about videos.

If you read this blog you know I am pretty addicted to photographing everything. I have no skills, but I love pictures and the memories attached to them, so I take crazy amounts of pictures of about everything. But vidoes? Videos do even more.

When I was getting married I wasn't going to do a wedding video. They are usually expensive and I didn't feel like making room for it in the budget. Katie talked me into it, and I am forever grateful. Don't get me wrong, I love my wedding pictures with all my heart. Many are still displayed in my home, and I look through my book of them often. But no picture captures my wedding day like my video does. Watching actual footage of Ryan and I interacting on our wedding day is such a treasure to me. That day was such a blur, so I love watching it over and over to make the memory a little more clear. Magical. Not only do I have to thank Katie for the amazing job she did on our video, I have to thank her even more for making me get a wedding video! Katie is amazingly talented and in my opinion, way under priced. At her prices, there is room in any wedding budget for a video. You will never regret it.

After I had Kyle, Katie came and did a little newborn video of him. She captured Ryan and I interacting with him, and his sweet little countenance. I cherish this video so much. I forget how things are so fast, and though again I love my pictures, there is just something about live action that means so much more. And watching it all in high quality, put to music, and looking so professional is so neat. It brings back memories in a way pictures cannot.

Even now as I look back at our low quality footage of Kyle I love it. I regret so much that we have not taken more video. Video captures life happening. No poses. Just how it actually is. I would have loved if I had Katie at the hospital when Kyle was born, or have interviewed Ryan and I while we were engaged, and now I can't wait to have her come hang out with my fam and just capture footage of us being us, and turn it into the timeless memory I will love forever. I can't stress enough how great she is. Her work is amazing and her prices are more than affordable. The way she captures things is perfect. Candid. Life. Personal.

She has made me realize that videographers are great for so many more things than weddings. Check out her site. I promise, you will not be disappointed. We all worry about regular photo shoots for our families and important events, but why not add a video? Such a magical way to remember how things happened.

Go. Check her out. Right now. Click HERE.