On the Road Again...

John had to work in AZ so we ventured down early to do a little sightseeing in the southwest...

We picnicked most meals to save on mula...Sandwiches for breakfast, lunch, and dinner...mmmm...I am happy as long as I am with my hunnies.

pleased to be out of my parka and into the sunshine.

This is where we stayed. It was sweet!!! I'd never have known about this place if John hadn't stayed here previously for work... Here is why you should go on a road trip and stay at the Cameron Trading Post ASAP...

We only paid $70 bucks a night and the rooms where clean, comfy, and had some serious southwestern flare.

The garden was a little oasis in the desert. Completely unexpected from a cheap motel in the sagebrush.

I knew that we would be eating some tasty fry bread when we walked in the motel restaurant and it was packed with Native Americans.

I went wishful shopping at the trading post. It was packed with authentic Navajo souvenirs. These are the things I would have bought if I was one of the rich Europeans passing through.

So it turns out the GRAND CANYON isn't just a clever name! It was GARGANTUAN and absolutely breathtaking!!! There were people from all over the world that traveled so far to see it and it is practically in our backyard.

The building in the background was designed by a woman in 1906. Awesome. Her name was Mary Colter and she was the main architect/interior designer of the buildings in the park back in the day. Holla! I wasn't expecting such girl power at the Grand Canyon. I will be checking out a book about this inspiring chica soon .

Fact: This bridge is over 100 years old... it doesn't carry cars anymore but carries John's pipeline.

Tourists asked to stop and take our pic on our hike. I guess they don't see many babies in backpacks... or at least way cute babies.

This view is one of the many reasons I am wild for the the West.

This is what happens when we apply sunscreen to my babies hair. So stylin'

The Grand Canyon was the perfect way to spend my first Mother's Day. I think I might be praying for pipeline problems in this area so we can head back down south really soon!

Happy Mother's Day to Nana and Grandma Gregory!

We love Nana too! We have a special post for her coming soon!

recipe

Here is the recipe I made with the cabbage. It was pretty yummy and the name makes you want to eat a lot of it...Which is why I will be renaming all my recipes...bulging belly brownies, swim suit season squash, etc.
-It makes a ton, so freeze some for later.
-I would only use one onion next time.
-Don't tell your man the name..skinny isn't the best adjective when your feeding a hungry hubby:)

Ingredients

1 (2 lb., 3 oz.) can of Italian plum tomatoes

4 cans of water (use tomato can, fill with water)

4 chicken bouillon cubes

2 large onions

1 large green pepper

1 large red pepper

1 bag fresh carrots

1 bunch celery

1 med. green cabbage

Sea salt

Pepper

Directions

Blend tomatoes and 4 cans of water. Add 4 bouillon cubes. Shred or chop all vegetables, except cabbage. Add to broth. Cook 2 hours, then add shredded cabbage and cook 1 more hour, slowly. Add salt and pepper to taste. To make soup more of a "meal" you may add cooked brown rice

Here is another recipe my friend just posted and I made over the weekend. (Thanks Linds, it was delish!) I could live on pancakes...wait, I sorta did my Sophomore year of college:) Yum, chocolate chip pancakes while watching reruns of Friends...good times.

Oatmeal Cinnamon Pancakes
Ingredients
1 cup all-purpose flour
1/3 cup quick cooking oats
1 teaspoon baking powder
1/4 teaspoon baking soda
1/2 teaspoon cinnamon
3/4 cup unsweetened applesauce
1/2 cup fat free sour cream
1 egg, lightly beaten
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
1/3 cup milk

Directions
Heat a lightly oiled griddle over medium-low heat.
In a bowl, mix the flour, oats, baking powder, baking soda, and cinnamon. In a separate bowl, mix applesauce, sour cream, egg, and vanilla. Stir applesauce mixture and milk into the flour mixture until evenly moist and thick.
Scoop about 1/4 cup batter for each pancake onto the prepared griddle, and cook, turning once, until golden brown on both sides.

I added 1/2 tsp salt and about 1 TBL agave. Don't mistake the unbelievable moisture of these pancakes for being under-cooked! They are sooo good!! (And very healthy) -Lindsey

Produce Power!

I love it when my blogging peeps post mommy advice, recipes, consumer tips, etc...

So I am blogging it forward with a tip my sister introduced me to last month... The fabulous Community Food Co-op... the Co-op pulls every one's mula to have greater purchasing power from the farmers. Then people volunteer their time to cut down on distribution costs. The result is lower priced produce. Last Saturday I picked up my box filled with 7 different fruits and veggies for only 10 bucks! And it made me learn how to cook a cabbage... since it sort of came with the other stuff:)

The last day to make your purchase is this Friday, May 7th. Then you pick up your food at a local church a couple weeks later... the website explains more.

Hope this is helpful and makes you as passionate about your produce as me:)

Peace.

Come Swim!

Hey Girlfriends...

I am having a swim play date at my mom's indoor pool in Draper this Thursday

at 12:30. Bring your suits, towels, and a treat to share (anything you already have in your cupboard... apple slices, cheerios, whatever:)

Why you ALL should come...

1) Your kiddos will take the best nap after!

2) The light is dim and you don't have to worry about shaving, being tan, etc..FYI.. I will be wearing my mom's granny suit.

3) We all have spring fever and it's going to be another cold week:(... so let's just pretend we live in Cali as we chat by the pool:)

Let me know if you are thinking of coming and I'll send you the address... (hello, this is the internet... and we don't want some hairy man showing up;)

Hope all you bloggidies can come!

Camping

We went camping last week with my sister and cous and their little families.

We stayed at a super nice camp ground right in Globlin Valley...Best part, it had showers.
This place is sweet for little tykes...and big kids too:) It is like a natural playground.

Good thing our men were scouts and had practice hiking with heavy loads.

The kiddos after a game of hide and go seek in the goblins.



Can we say Facebook profile pic!


We stuck with the reef theme and had a little luau.

Jake was the Limbo King. My sis and cousin Romney held their own almost until the end...Me not so much.

Such a fun campout. James isn't so much a camper though. Thank goodness this campsite had free wi-fi so James could get his youtube on. He started to have serious withdrawals by the last day.

Making a Case for the Broken Vase................

James is quickly kid-proofing our home one mess at a time......

It was harder than I thought to sweep up the remains of my two favorite vases this week. James likes to be on my hip, and his hands swipe at anything faster than a frog on a fly.
I knew this day was coming. Just as I know our crisp white linen furniture will eventually be a kid's canvas for magic marker and sticky fingers.

Choosing between a living room full of nicer things and baby swings, I will be picking the latter....I'll just need my camera... somehow taking pictures of the destruction helps purge my depression of the disappearing doodads:)

Baby's Intro to Easter...............

..................I think he's a fan:)

For God so loved the world

that he gave
his only Son,
that whoever believes in him
shall not perish
but have eternal life
.................John 3:16

This passage is all the more pertinent now that I'm a parent...............

Wishing You A

.............Jessica, John, and Baby James

Colorado Rocky Mountain High.................

John supervised a crew in Colorado, so James and I followed him up there for a little road trippin'. The week pretty much can be summed up by the below picture...Baby James+

Bob the stroller+my jogging shoes................................

I feel like a tour guide introducing my baby to all the world has to offer... Some of James's firsts on this trip included: a to listen to a Bob Marley soundtrack, a spotting of the moon, and a stroller ride along the Colorado river....

We went to the much advertised Rifle Gap. We asked the park attendant at the information center to point us to the gap and she nonchalantly replied she didn't know where or what it actually was... For Reals, lady...way to have pride in your job/home town. It was pretty hilarious, considering we had just paid her 6 bucks to see the Rifle Gap.
So it kinda became my mission to find the gap. Apparently this is it. In the 70's one of my favorite artists hung this installation there... kind of think they ought to have left it... or at least put a plaque up in rememberance. Thank goodness for google.

One afternoon was spent at Glenwood Springs soaking in the hot springs pool. Nothing like a sulfur spa to stimulate your senses;) James LOVED the springs and it seriously felt like summer until you had to get out..Buuuuuuuuuuuuur!

Fact: This hot tub spring is over 100 years old. There was a picture of it at a restaurant with pioneer woman soaking in their bloomers and bonnets.

Apparently Colorado has taken the rocky mountain high lyrics a little too literal. These medical marijuana shops were everywhere. Smell of weed permeating the fresh mountain air=Lamesauce!

My vacay to Aspen dream was realized. And it was magnificent! Everything I ever dreamed and so much more! *sigh of fulfillment* I've never seen so many learjets in my. entire. life.
And I got some serious ski fever looking at all those happy shiny spring skiing people.

Since I couldn't ski with James (steep hills, steep prices)... we went art gallery hopping.

I met some kindred spirit skier/artists and

left inspired by the art, architecture and the breathtaking scenery.

.

Here is my little snow angel enjoying the Aspen snow. I am trying to spend as much time as possible acclimating him to the mountain air so he will love the West. Those Gregory prairie loving genes are sorta strong:)
It was great to explore some of the towns we usually just pass on the way to Denver. It made me think that I need to take better advantage of exploring some of the places around my abode. So many times on the trip I took a moment to think about how lucky I was to be chilling with my baby in the middle of the day on a weekday and not in some cubicle or in staff meeting...ugh! Yup, being a mom has made me one happy gal!

On the way home we stopped at a small town and picked up this fireplace mantle we found on KSL for 60 bucks. I am pretty happy since we were about to pay LOADS more for some faux stone one. I can't wait to get started painting it and attaching it the wall. Before and after pics coming soon.