What's New with the Egbert's

2011 is proving to be chaos. I get up at 6:00 am go to bed at 9:00 pm and by the time I get into bed I'm always momentarily shocked that the day is already over. It is during these busy times that I wish we lived closer to family. Living in Flagstaff has taught me a few major principles: how to rely on God and how to rely on my husband. From the time Jesse and I were married God has made it very clear that he has a plan for our family, and we just need to put our heads down and work.

I will never forget the time when we were living in Provo deciding on what graduate schools we should apply for. Jesse decided on 5 schools and sent in the applications. We felt good about the schools Jesse applied for, we put a lot of prayer and thought into them but one after another Jesse was turned down by all 5. I often reflect back at this experience and have come to the conclusion that the only way Jesse would have ever come to know of NAU is if he was turned down by all the schools he applied for. We had to be brought to our lowest point in order to find the right path. Sometimes it feels like all we can do is weather out the storm and hope that we endured it well. But the key is, did we endure it well?  I don't know exactly why I have been thinking about this experience. Maybe it's just because we are waiting to hear back about some very important things and I really don't want Jesse to be rejected again. Any who, moving on...

For the past few months Jesse has been working hard to secure our future. He applied and was accepted to take additional classes so he can get a certificate in statistics . This will allow Jesse to teach statistics on top of English and Linguistics. Also he has been working hard to present and publish his research. Just recently he went to New Orleans to present his research at a large conference with his group. He is also reviewing a book and hoping to get his review published. We have not heard back about the National Science Foundation Grant yet, but Jesse was offered the Applied Linguistics Doctoral Research Award of $4,000 per year for four years. Yay free money!!!

Landon just got put on the waiting list for pre-school. Jesse and I figured that he loves nursery so much he could probably use a few extra days a week where he can spend time with kids his own age. We have been working on Landon's room for some time now and just  finished.  Eventualy we would like to put Travis in that room so we had to get bunk beds and a big dresser. Landon is a very tidy little boy he is very particular how you clean his room. He likes his stuffed animals on one shelf and books on the others and his big bear and all of his blankets have to go on his bed.  I have had to be patient because I am just as particular and sometimes we clash in opinions.

Travis is happy and chubby, just my type of baby. He is growing and developing quickly. He rolls all over the place, sleeps through the night, eats solids, sits-up on his own and puts everything in his mouth. Travis looks up to Landon. It's really special to see how much Landon and Travis are learning from one another. Landon loves to make Travis laugh and each afternoon when Landon wakes-up from his nap he always goes and checks in on Travis before he comes down stairs to find me. I just love my boys. 

Book of the Month

"Anidora-Kiladra Talianna Isilee, Crown Princess of Kilindree spent the first years of her life listening to her aunt's incredible stories, and learning the language of the birds. Little knowing how valuable her aunt's strange knowledge would prove to be when she grew older. From the Grimm's fairy tale of the princess who became a goose girl before she could become a queen."  (http://www.goodreads.com/).

This is the first book The Books of Bayern series. I really love this book. It was fun to watch Isi grow and gain her own back bone through out the book. This is a must read.

Bob's Wedding Weekend

 Bob and Debbie
January 2011

Everyone who went to give their love and support.

Ben, Cam Cam, Rob, Cameron, Ashlyn, Jesse, Lizzy, Emily and Chris.  Laura and Sawyer were taking the picture

With 11 kids, 3 in laws and 6 grand kids you can only imagine what an Egbert family gathering looks like. Luckily we didn't have to shock Debbie too much, only 11 out of the 20 attended Bob's wedding. over the weekend everybody stayed at Laura's apartment. Just to give you a picture of the sleeping conditions, Jesse slept by the refrigerator. The Thursday evening before the wedding Bob came over to Laura's to play games with the fam. As weddings go there was a lot of driving and not enough time, but Bob and Debbie were sealed that Saturday for time and eternity in the Portland Oregon Temple. Congratulations!



The Egbert Clan!

I sent Jesse with our camera and he only took 3 pictures and one video. Needless to say 2 pictures and the video were of Sawyer, Laura's cute little boy. Laura was kind enough to donate her pictures to me.

I thought I would include one of the pictures Jesse took. He may have not taken very many but he at least took some really cute ones. Isn't Sawyer so cute!!!

Welcome to the family, Debbie!!!

What's New with the Egberts

Life is busy, what more can I say? It seems like every time Jesse and I commit to slowing down our lives something is added to our list of things to accomplish. But no matter how much is thrown our way it will never be as bad as last semester. Over December break Jesse submited a grant proposal to the National Science Foundation. If all goes as planned he could be getting paid to do research with 2 very famous corpus linguists. We should find out in a few months if they get the grant. On Sunday Jesse calculated how long it would take to complete his PhD. If all goes according to plan Jesse will be done with his course work in a year and a half. His PhD should take about 3 more years.

It used to be a big bother when Landon walked into my bedroom every morning at 6:15 and turned on my light. Now, I look at it as a big blessing. I have been blessed with a 2 hour block to run and shower while Travis sleeps and Landon eats his breakfast. My kids are pretty scheduled so I can count on Travis waking up at 8:00 and Landon finishing his show and breakfast at 7:20. It has been pretty hard to get myself to run, but now I run 6 days a week and I hate and love every second of it. Recently I was called to serve as the Relief Society secretary. It has been a really special calling, and I can honestly say that I have grown and matured more then I ever have before over the last few months.

Jesse and I decided it was time to start potty training Landon. I really hate to talk about it, but I will be honest and just say that is frustrating and gross. One day...maybe. Landon is now a little boy it makes me so sad to see my first child growing so fast. But it is also extremely helpful to have him doing chores around the house and taking care of himself in some areas. He's mommy's little helper most of the day. Travis is a bundle of joy. He is mommy's chunky monkey. He has the cuttest baby rolls you have ever seen. Travis will start eating rice cereal within the next week. Wow, I Just can't believe how fast my kids are growing.

Book of the Month

"When Anne Shirley arrives at Green Gables farm on Prince Edward Island, she surprises everyone: first of all, she is a girl. Marilla Cuthbert and her brother, Matthew, had specifically asked for an orphan boy. She has bright red hair that won't manage and a mouth that won't shut. Nothing will ever be the same at Green Gables!"  (http://www.goodreads.com/).


Anne of Green Gables was a great book. I read the entire series a few years ago. Although I found some of the books with Anne's children boring I am really glad I stuck it out and read the series.

Pork Chop Casserole

Jesse was teasing me the other day that when we first got married I often cooked the same meals each week. Now that I think about it, it's true. So to make myself feel better I am posting a few recipes I have picked-up over the years.

PORK CHOP CASSEROLE

4 Pork Chops
flour
oil
3 cups potatoes, cubed
1 cup fresh peas, fresh or frozen
3 tbsp onion, chopped
2 tbsp parsley, minced
1 can cream of mushroom
1 envelop Lipton's french onion soup mix
3/4 cup hot water

Pre-heat oven to 350 degrees. Dip chops in flour and brown in hot oil. In Large casserole dish, place potatoes, peas, onion, cream of mushroom and french onion soup mix. Mix together. Top with browned chops. Sprinkle with parsley, salt and pepper. Cover and bake for 1 hour or until potatoes are done.

French Dip

I got the idea of this reciepe from the Rachel Ray magazine. Jesse and Landon love this meal. Landon ecpecially love the dipping part.

FRENCH DIP

1 can campbell's Condensed French Onion Soup
1 can campbell's Beef Broth
2 tbsp. worcestershire sauce
1 lb deli sliced roast beef
4 hoagie rolls
4 slices pepper jack cheese

Broil hoagie rolls until golden brown. Then heat oven to 400 degrees. Heat soup, broth and worcestershire sauce in saucepan over medium-high heat to a boil. Add beef and heat through (we like to add banana peppers also), Stirring occasionally. Divide beef among rolls. Top beef with cheese slices and place sandwiches onto baking sheet. Bake 3 minutes or until cheese is melted. Spoon extra soup mixture into bowls for dipping.

Merry Christmas

Having children is an extraordinary thing! Landon and Travis have taught me how to smile and laugh more; they've taught me how to love. This year my greatest gift was sharing this special holiday with my husband and children. 



Landon and Travis looked so cute in their Christmas pj's

Jesse and I decided that each Christmas we wanted to read Charles Dickens' A Christmas Carol. This is a story that teaches that change is possible. That no matter who you were yesterday you can choose to wake up a better person today. I look forward to reading A Christmas Carol each year. Jesse and I finished reading it on Christmas Eve.

That evening we tried to watch the Muppet Christmas Carol to see how similar it was to the book. Landon was running around the living room acting like a wild child while Travis was spitting-up every three minutes. About half way through we decided to stop everything and get the boys dressed in their Christmas pj's, take pictures and put them to bed. After they were in bed, Jesse and I shared our own Christmas with each other. Jesse got a frame for his diploma and I got a vintage plate that had my favorite quote on it.

"This Is My House

I'll Do As I Darn Please"

I plan on hanging this in my kitchen for everybody to see. It will be the Rachelle Egbert Motto.



Jesse brought both of the boys down on Christmas morning.

On Christmas morning Landon woke up at 5:30. Jesse and I decided the night before that no matter what time Landon got up we would get up too. So, being the good parents that we are, we changed Landon's diaper, gave him a sippy and let him play in his room until 7:00. All the while we were snug in bed.

Every time I leave the office door open Landon will come out carrying a pen and paper to color on. I decided it's time for him to have his own learning space. So we got him an easel/desk for Christmas. I was really worried that he wouldn't like it, but I was excited to see Landon happily coloring away all Christmas morning. Travis got rattles, teething toys, and a blanket. We even got a present for Penny. She got a bone that was 2 feet long.

Landon and Travis didn't know why they were getting so many cool presents, but they weren't complaining.

Since Jesse and I wouldn't be going to Utah for Christmas this year some of my family came to us. Landon was already acting pretty spoiled, but at 9:00 am, when my parents got here, he was so overwhelmed with presents he didn't know what to do. We finally had to put his desk in the back room so he would open the rest of his presents. For Christmas Jesse got a Kindle and I got a new bed spread. I also got my dream time out corner: a head massager, a neck pillow and a hot cup for my hot chocolate. These are supposed to be used with my foot bath I got for Mothers Day. I plan on spending a lot of time in time out.



Penny got new booties for Christmas. She slipped and face planted it in the snow. I think this pictures is so funny I had to include it.

It's the most yummiest time of the year



Travis is huge and didn't fit on Landon's lap. It didn't help that Landon didn't want cute little Travis to be touching him. Poor kid.


Christmas is the only time of year where I kick back and eat what ever I want. I love food and I am slowly but surely beginning to love cooking too. I thought I would share some of my favorite holiday recipes that I grew-up with and am now sharing with my own children.

BARBECUE MEATBALLS

75 Italian style meatballs
4 cups ketchup
3 cups brown sugar, scant
3 1/2 tspns liquid smoke
2 tspns onion powder
1 tspns garlic powder

Mix together ketchup, sugar, liquid smoke and powders in a large bowl. Add meatballs and mix until meatballs are well coated. Pour meatballs and sauce into crock-pot; cover and simmer for 3-5 hours.

WASSAIL

(Read the NOTES First.)

• 1 gallon apple cider

• 4 small cans frozen orange juice, diluted

• 2 small cans frozen lemonade, diluted

• 8 cinnamon sticks

• 40 whole cloves

• 20 Allspice berries

• 1 tsp ground ginger

• 8 cups water

• 4 cups sugar

Simple Syrup: Put water, sugar, cinnamon sticks, whole cloves, Allspice berries, and ginger in crockpot, and let cook on low for 8 to 10 hours. I normally do this overnight.

Mix in 5-gallon container: orange juice and lemonade according to directions on the juice cans. Add apple cider and spiced simple syrup. Strain while pouring the spiced simple syrup into the juice ingredients 

Stir well.

Notes:

• For a deeper flavor, I add to the crockpot simple syrup, the water used to make the 2 concentrated lemonade cans. I put the concentrated lemonade in the 5-gallon container and the water in the crockpot. 

• If you don't have a crockpot simmer the simple syrup on low heat in a covered pot for 4 hours.

• We use a 5- gallon orange Igloo drink dispenser.

• Serve hot or cold; store in the refrigerator.

• Makes 4.5 gallons.

PAZOLE

Ingredients:

14 cups water
3 lbs. boneless pork country style ribs or pork loin (cut into beef stew size)
5 cloves garlic, minced

1 clove garlic, minced

Salt to taste

6 (1 lb. each) cans Juanita’s Mexican Style Hominy

1 can Las Palmas Red Enchilada Sauce

2 fresh tomatoes

¼ cup Knorr Tomato Bouillon with Chicken Flavor powder

1 tablespoon oregano

Garnish

1 bunch radishes, chopped

1 small cabbage, finely shredded

3 to 4 fresh limes, sliced

5-6 avocado's sliced

1 bag Guerrero Tostaditas

1 container sour cream (as a spread on tostadas)
Fresh salsa

Instructions

In a large pot, boil pork meat, 5 cloves garlic, and salt for about 45 minutes. Add hominy. In a blender, mix red enchilada sauce, tomatoes, 1 clove garlic, bouillon powder, and oregano. Add blended mixture to pot. Simmer for 30 minutes. Put garnish in separate bowls and allow guest to garnish how they please.

Serve with tostadas spread with sour cream and fresh salsa.

Note: Put radishes, cabbage, and limes in separate bowls. Soak the radishes and shredded cabbage in cold water and refrigerate until ready to serve. The Guerrero Tostaditas can be purchased at Macey’s.

First Snow

I don't consider it the first snow of the year until it sticks to the ground. I used to hate winter but slowly I'm finding it to be my favorite time of the year. It forces us to slow down, stay home and spend less. Our apartment is right next to a forested area and Landon loves to look out our kitchen window when it snows and point to the forest and say "no'', he is still working on his "S".

Penny began her life with the Egbert family in this snow covered forest. She loves to belly flop, eat and play in it. After every snow storm Jesse and Penny will take a long walk and take pictures of all of the beautiful scenery.

Often when Penny and Jesse come home from a walk her nose is covered in snow.

The other day I was complaining that Penny is a wimp and a useless animal. Jesse decided to take Penny on a walk and take pictures of her being confident and beautiful to prove me wrong. I must admit, I do love this dog. Sometimes I feel like she is my third child. 

Christmas Decorations

 

For Christmas this year we are staying snug as a bug in Flagstaff. So we had to get some decorations to make it feel like Christmas. Jesse surprised me one Saturday early in November and said "lets go get a Christmas tree." If you know me, you would know that I don't like to start Christmas until after Thanksgiving, no decorations and no Christmas music. Thanksgiving is just a forgotten holiday, and I for one am not going to forget it. But...this year we were in definite need of some Christmas spirit, so I didn't complain. We drove all around Flagstaff and priced out Christmas trees. We settled on a 7.5 ft tree from Home Depot. Then Jesse told me that I had no more then $30 for ornaments. This was a hard thing for me because I really wanted nice ornaments, but I finally decided this is for the kids so I just picked-out one of those shatter-proof ornament kits and decided to make gingerbread men.

After we got our tree decorated, we woke Landon up from his nap and told him to come and see the tree. He was in a really bad mood because nobody, and I mean nobody, is allowed to wake him up. Well, I guess Penny is the exception to that statement. Anywho...we told Landon to come and see the tree and he of course refused and started throwing things, so I grabbed him by the ankles and carried him to the stair landing. He stopped crying and looked at the tree for a long time then with a big smile he looked up at me and said "tee".

The next weekend we went to Wal-mart and got the rest of the necessities: tree skirt, Christmas star, stockings and garland. While Jesse did homework and Landon took a nap, Travis and I decorated the rest of the apartment.

Travis is captivated with the Christmas tree lights. He likes to have tummy time in front of the tree.

Landon likes to eat his breakfast next to the Christmas tree. Sometimes he eats the Cinnamon dots off of the gingerbread men, but it's so cute that sometimes I have to pretend I didn't see it. I am so grateful to spend Christmas with my children. It gives me great joy to see them happy and excited.

Happy Graduation #2!

I can remember while Jesse was attending Salt Lake Community College, we would have several conversations about the future: Get accepted into BYU, Get a Bachelors Degree, Get a Masters Degree, Get a PhD, Publish research, Present research and most importantly do that best you know how to do. As years go by Jesse is accomplishing our goals that we made together at the very beginning. He graduated summa cum laude with University Honors from BYU and, as of December 15th, Jesse received his Master's degree in Teaching English as a Second Language with distinction from NAU. He is officially starting his final degree.

This semester was so ugly and exhausting that Jesse and I celebrated his graduation the only way we could possibly handle...sleep. Jesse came home from his last final, ate dinner and tucked Landon and himself into bed. We are officially slowing down. No more running when you can walk.