Try me or don't try me!

I'm sure a lot of you have heard of the Pioneer woman, if you haven't you need to find her. A while back after my mother in law gave me a few new recipes to try from PW I got the book. I have been addicted to it and also go on line to find new recipes. I have to say not all of them are winners in the Zourkos house. Only a few have failed. I think the worst one of all is the pumpkin smoothie, yuck is all I have to say. Reading the recipe I was so excited to taste and by the looks of her pics....but oh my it was not good at all. I do have to say that the white chicken enchiladas are the hubby's favorite. They take a while to make but are well worth it. The latest one I made and was a total hit is the sour cream enchiladas. I added some shredded chicken to these and it worked out well. I am starting to test myself every day with trying new things and testing them on the family. I think for the most part they are loving the new recipes. I highly suggest to all of you to try some of her delicious meals!

A Family Update

Things have been crazy as usual but we are still having fun along the way and I think that is most important. Maddy is finally getting over a bad sinus infection, that I think had been around for some time. Now that her antibiotics are kicking in she has more energy and isn't so grumpy!!! LOL I just got her first quarter report from her teacher, and she is doing very good......way to go Mad! Her teacher has also seen a huge improvement in attitude and behavior since last year. I am so thankful for Miss Debbie, she has really been patient with Maddy and taken her time to understand that she is a unique little girl. I think her therapy classes are working to relax and calm her. It has been a long process, but very worth it! She is still into her animals, I don't think that will ever change and that is okay with me! By the way she is 5 now!!! Had a pretty fun birthday party with family and close friends.Thank you to all that came to celebrate, you really made her day! Brhody on the other hand is proving to be a boy all the way. He is a tough little man, taking tumbles and falls but getting right back up. He has been crawling for about 2 months now and 2 days after crawling decided to start pulling himself up on everything....nothing is safe! He now walks along everything in our house. He is just now starting to try and stand alone, just last night he stood for 10 seconds alone. Daddy was very proud of him. He has been cutting teeth like crazy as well, he is up to 5 now and another on it's way through. Only 10 months old and on his second cold, poor guy! He is a trooper though, still smiling through them both! He sure has had a rough start to life, but through it all has been one of the happiest babies I have ever seen. As for Jake and I, the same old same old. Jake's work has been slow. He did however finally get some snow tires for wheelin, which he went last weekend and had a great time. After what seemed like a very long wait got to see Breaking Dawn part one....which I know what your thinking who cares but I am a big fan and am Team Jacob!!! LOL Had a great time though, got to spend some time with my sister which always makes me happy! So all in all we are doing well and happy and for the most part healthy!

A Pirates Birthday

I finally got brave enough to take Maddy to a birthday party of one of her school friends. Let me tell you this was not an ordinary birthday party. It was pirate themed and I felt like I was on a pirate ship! The party was at Shaun's Grandmas house, who by the way planned the whole event. It was amazing, down to the pirate table settings. When we walked up on the porch, there was a table set up with eye patches, swords, hand hooks, bandannas, and pirate tattoos! It was over the top!!! The next 3 pictures are of the sit down lunch, which included pizza, jello, little sandwiches, and a bottle of root beer. The bottle of root beer was also pirate themed. It was Shaun and his brothers birthday part, they are only 2 days apart. They each had their own table and circle of friends.

This was Shauns table.....which includes Shaun, Jacob, Jackson, Maddy, and Jesse. They all go to school together! Little Maddy was the only girl!


This is when the real fun starts....they are lining up to start the treasure hunt.

Shaun and his brother were the captains and their circle of friends lined up behind to help search for the treasure.

Each team had a hand made and rolled up map......all I had were silly clues on paper ( I suck )...lol

Off they go for the next clue!

After about 10 clues they finally find the treasure.....Time to dig!

By the time they got it dug up they were all very dirty....but so excited to go whack out some candy.

Maddy was the 3rd to swing and on her 2nd hit it flew off the rope but didn't break so they rehung it and she hit it one more time and it flew off again so Shaun's dad ripped it open and the mob ran for the prize.

Maddy's Day!!!

Maddy's Birthday party was a hit!!! I am so thankful to all of you who came and celebrated with us. She had a great time and was of course exhausted after everyone left. Grandma Linda made her a really cool cake. I had spent a lot of money on her presents at Toys R us and got that dinosaur free. Grandma thought it was smaller than that....LOL I thought it turned out awesome.

There is a reason she has that face. For the last month or so every time we go to Target, Maddy has to go look at the big horse. Every time we look at the big horse, she starts crying and does not want to leave it behind. I hear all kinds of reasons it should come home with us......Mom, what if another kid buys it......Mom, what if they don't have it next time we come......Mom, what if nobody wants to buy it for my birthday? Oh my Maddy! Well I passed on getting it and let Grandma get it for her. Before everyone got here, we let her open her present and as you can see she was more than happy to have the BIG horse at home. She also let us know that it was the best present ever!

Next we moved onto the treasure hunt. The kids loved it! We went up and down the stairs searching for clues.

After searching and searching they got their treasure.

Grandpa Don was kind enough to take pictures for me and I found this one on my camera. I just love it! Doesn't my little man look so handsome in his handsome gear???

Maddy is a very thoughtful little girl. She did not want any of the kids to feel left out so she had a great idea of letting all the kids blow out a candle with her. We made cupcakes and each kid got to have their own candle and blow it out with her. She really is a sweet kid.

Twister came out and the party really got started....Go Grandma!!!

Maddy had to be the boss of the game.

All in all we had a great time, and again thank you all for taking the time out of your busy day to come celebrate with us. It means a lot to have such loving family and friends!

A couple of weekends ago, it was rainy and we were trying to figure out something cheap but fun to do.......then both at once Jake and I say....The Reptile Zoo! Maddy did not want her picture taken in front of this snake, but daddy told her to stand there and let mom take the picture!

Can you tell she is very nervous??? LOL

Brhody really enjoyed this guy.

Maddy was brave enough to hold the snake this time. He was a cute little guy too. That is weird for me to say, because I don't really like snakes all that much.

Brhody kept grabbing for him too.

He was really soft. I kinda liked this little guy, he grew on me.

Green Anaconda.......Wow

You can't miss the two headed turtle.

This guy was beautiful, I love his head.

These two were enjoying each other!!! Had to tell Maddy that she was giving the other turtle a piggy back ride...LOL

These guys were really cool....Maddy did not want to leave these guys.

This snake has the reputation for being the crankiest snake here, and holds the record still. Jake thought it was so funny that it kept striking at Brhodys fast wiggling feet.

Couldn't get very good pictures but he was mad and struck at Brhody about 15 times. It was crazy how mad he got.

Microwave!!!

Daddy finally decided that we could get our new microwave!!! Yay, no more dinky counter microwave.

Any project that daddy does the kiddos have to involve them selves too.

Brhody really wanted that drill, but when daddy showed him how it worked and the noise it made...LOL he was a little scared!

He kept turning back to look at it....maybe making sure it was staying where it was....I don't know...LOL

Once he got past the drill noise, he was back to wanting to help daddy!

He eventually got board and moved on to his own project. He loves to tinker with things.