Walking Down Memory Lane...

For us a trip back to Lancaster is always a tough one.  Andy and I both grew up there and Riley spent the first three years of his life there too.  My own family has such deep roots in our hometown, so visiting is always bittersweet.  There are things and people that you miss, but things continue to change and it's not always like you remember it.

But seriously?  What's not to love about this landscape?

We tried to get in a lot of fun stuff with the munchkins while we were there.  Here's a glimpse of what we were able to get done in our short visit: 

Catching lightening bugs (aka fireflies) at dusk at Grammy's house - such fun and something they hadn't been able to do in Utah

Kendall had more fun playing with the leaf off of one of Grammy's plants because she hadn't mastered the skill of catching them!

A trip to Pappy Chooch's model train barn is always fun!

Train layouts in every direction!

Trains, trains, everywhere!

Pap showing Riley the older, first section of the train barn.  Pap even decided to donate the first two engines and one box car to Riley's future O gauge Lionel layout.  Andy and Riley have been discussing the possibility of building a layout in our basement since there is plenty of space.  Riley made his Momma proud by picking out two Pennsy engines.  They are GG1's which is Pap's favorite engine so we will think of him each time Riley runs his trains.

Even Kendall had fun checking everything out!

Swimming with our friends, the Millers - we try to do this with them if we are visiting in the summertime

Riley and Jill have been friends since they were born and still get along so well.

Kendall drinking yet one more glass of Turkey Hill "yemonade."

Is this the life on vacation or what?

The sillies don't take a vacation in our family!

We also got to spend time with my oldest, dearest and closest friend and her boys at Long's Park

These two have also been friends since they were born and just pick up where they left off.  

Crazy, just like their moms!

Myles was so sweet with Kendall.  He's such a good big brother!

Buddies!

Goofy kids

Jameson liked hanging with the big boys!

What would a trip to Lancaster be without stopping at Strasburg to see some real trains?

 Dad and the kids checking out the passenger coaches

What luck!  We got to watch them load up Thomas!  We waved goodbye to him as he headed out to visit other children all over the east coast.  Strasburg Railroad actually owns Thomas the Tank Engine.

Lots of leftover Thomas stuff still around from the week long Thomas celebration

I took the kids to one of our many favorite places for dinner - The Conestoga Wagon.  I promised them if they ate all of their dinner we'd stop at Pine View Dairy for ice cream as our dessert.  We use to take Riley to Pine View when he was just a little thing and our favorite part (aside from all the delicious flavors of homemade ice cream) was to go see the calves and cows.

Checking out the new calf stalls.  Kendall is just like her Momma and has no problem petting the cows and letting them lick her hands! 

Riley loves seeing the cows as much as they love seeing him!

And if you are going to hit up your favorite dinner and dessert spots, you shouldn't miss out on your favorite donut shop!  Can't pass up the chance to eat long johns from Achenbach's Bakery in New Holland!

Eating the extras the following morning!

We also got to visit with my aunt, uncles, and cousins while we were in town.  That was such a nice opportunity to catch up and see each other.  Jon and Laura were such gracious hosts!  Just wished that my parents, Matt, Mere, Alice, Lori, Jason and Madison were there too.

We saw some other friends as well while we were home.  We visited with my friends from CV who I miss dearly - but don't miss working nearly as much as I miss them!  Chris and Sherry Miller were kind enough to host the fun gathering.

Catching up with my CV teacher friends - miss you all so much!

We went to the Hoffman's for dinner and caught up with them and the Wilfongs which was delightful.  I love having friends who you can just pick from where you left off with.  (Facebook helps keep in touch too!)

Our former neighbors, the Farabaughs, from the "Loop" in Springdale were sweet enough to have us over for dinner while we were in town too.  We also got to see John and Linda which was a great surprise.  Sadly we were missing the Dansich family.  Jen was trying to come into town for the same week, but with her kids' schedules, it didn't work out.  They were missed none the less.

Our dear friends, Jeff Farabaugh and John Wingenfield

Andy's mom was gracious enough to make our favorite meal for us while we were there.  No one makes hamloaf as well as she does!  Andy's Aunt Shirley was able to stop by to visit with us for a little during dinner too.  What a great treat it was for her to see the kids and vice versa!

I also got to see some of my former students.  What a great experience it's been for me to be able to watch these girls develop into such strong, independent women.  Lindsay took some pics of the kids for me.  She's an amazing photographer (my kids aren't the most cooperative subjects!).  I also got to have a delicious breakfast at Jennies (love local diners for breakfast!) with Kristin.  It was awesome to catch up with her in person.  I'm so proud of each of these girls and so glad they still feel they can come to me for advice.

Andy  and his cousin Jeff were able to spend some time together during this trip as well.  These two grew up more like brothers than cousins.  They have always been close at heart even though they have often been separated by thousands of miles.  What a great relationship they have.  I could tell when Andy came home that the visit with Jeff was exactly what he needed!  People who know you, really get you, and keep you grounded are invaluable.

On our way out of town, we decided to visit Inner Harbor in Baltimore, MD.  We were flying out of BWI which is just about 10 min. south of Inner Harbor.  Neither kid had ever been there before and both were sad to have to leave.

Riley thought the Constitution looked like a pirate ship!  He begged to go on EVERY boat!

Hanging out at the harbor - National Aquarium behind them.  Kids were bummed we didn't have time to go there too.  I think in the future, when we schedule our DC trip, we'll have to make extra time for a visit to Baltimore as well.

That anchor is bigger than them!

This is the type of image that makes my heart smile!

He really wanted to check out the submarine so I convinced Andy to take Riley for a tour.  The kid was in HEAVEN!

He was amazed by the three tiered bunks as well as the size of the bombs on board!

There's never enough time to visit everyone we want to see or do all that we want to do.  We were hoping to take the kids to the Turkey Hill Experience, visit with more of Andy's cousins, see other friends, visit other favorite eateries, visit Central Market, etc.  Too much to do and not enough time.  That seems to be the story of every trip to Lancaster!  I'm just very thankful we got to spend time with those that we did.  

Meatloaf on a Bun!

I was brave and tried one new recipe for yesterday's Utah Railway party at our house - no pressure, just all of Andy's managers from URR and 2 from Wyoming were at our house with their spouses and children!

I wanted to make burgers that weren't your ordinary ground beef on a bun so I found this recipe and we really liked it.  I must admit that I forgot to add the cheese - didn't realize I forgot it until they were all made, but they still tasted good!

Here's the recipe.  Hope you enjoy them as much as we did!

Ingredients

• 1 1/2 pounds lean ground beef
• 1/2 onion, finely chopped
• 1/2 cup shredded Colby or Monterey Jack cheese
• 1 teaspoon soy sauce
• 1 teaspoon Worcestershire sauce
• 1 egg
• 1 (1 ounce) envelope dry onion soup mix
• 1 clove garlic, minced
• 1 tablespoon garlic powder
• 1 teaspoon dried parsley
• 1 teaspoon dried basil
• 1 teaspoon dried oregano
• 1/2 teaspoon crushed dried rosemary
• salt and pepper to taste

Directions

Preheat a grill for high heat.

In a large bowl, mix together the ground beef, onion, cheese, soy sauce, Worcestershire sauce, egg, onion soup mix, garlic, garlic powder, parsley, basil, oregano, rosemary, salt, and pepper. Form into 4 patties.

Grill patties for 5 minutes per side on the hot grill, or until well done. Serve on buns with your favorite condiments.

The Biggest Thriller is a Caterpillar...

"...I like the way they creep!"

If you aren't blessed with a little boy who loves all things tractor, then you probably don't recognize that song from the "I Love Cat Machines" movie.  Today Riley chose to watch this movie this morning and then got inspired to color some pictures in his tractor coloring book.  Sadly, the coloring book is a John Deere book so this is what he did to make it the way he wanted the tractor to look:

He wrote CAT across the John Deere and made sure to color it YELLOW!  This one's for you Pappy!  ;)

Lord Of The Rings

Kendall has officially finished her first full year of The Little Gym.  She started the year as a Little Beast and finished as a Super Beast.  Next year she's going to enter the Funny Bugs class which is an hour long independent class.  I have talked to her her teacher about moving her into the gymnastics class they offer and she thinks after a few weeks of being in class without mom will get her ready for the gymnastics class - our future gymnast has already mastered the necessary skills to be accepted into the class early, but just needs to be able to handle going to class without mom.  She's following in her mom's footsteps with her love for tumbling and the bars!

Here is a video of what she's been able to accomplish this semester in Super Beasts.  She's got very little fear as you will notice.

For All My SAHM Friends...

This came through my email inbox today.  Even though I have seen it before, but decided it's time to share with those who haven't...

A man came home from work and found his three children outside, still in their pajamas, playing in the mud, with empty food boxes and wrappers strewn all around the front yard. The door of his wife's car was open, as was the front door to the house and there was no sign of the dog. Proceeding into the entry, he found an even bigger mess. A lamp had been knocked over, and the throw rug was wadded against one wall. In the front room the TV was loudly blaring a Cartoon channel, and the family room was strewn with toys and various items of clothing. In the kitchen, dishes filled the sink, breakfast food was spilled on the counter, the fridge door was open wide, dog food was spilled on the floor, a broken glass lay under the table, and a small pile of sand was spread by the back door. He quickly headed up the stairs, stepping over toys and more piles of clothes, look ing for his wife. He was worried she might be ill, or that something serious had happened. He was met with a small trickle of water as it made its way out the bathroom door. As he peered inside he found wet towels, scummy soap and more toys strewn over the floor. Miles of toilet paper lay in a heap and toothpaste had been smeared over the mirror and walls. As he rushed to the bedroom, he found his wife still curled up in the bed in her pajamas, reading a novel. She looked up at him, smiled, and asked how his day went. He looked at her bewildered and asked, 'What happened here today?' She again smiled and answered, 'You know every day when you come home from work and you ask me what in the world do I do all day?' 'Yes,' was his incredulous reply. She answered, 'Well, today I didn't do it.

Growth...

That's the one word I would use to describe this school year.  My little boy is growing up.  He's no longer that nervous, little 6 yr. old who told me as we pulled into the school parking lot that his stomach felt funny (I told him later that's called butterflies).  He walks (usually runs) into school with his head held high, his shoulders back while yelling good morning to a friend walking in at the same time.

He loves his school, as do we.  (Bet you couldn't have guessed that by all the long hours I put in for the Jog-A-Thon, helping teach science, teaching PE classes, chaperoning field trips, attending PTL meetings, helping at lunch, etc.)  Not only do we love his school, but we really love his teacher.  She's the kind of teacher every first grader should be lucky enough to have.  She's experienced without being old-fashioned or set in her ways.  She's loving, yet firm.  She's patient, yet encourages the highest standards for behavior and academic performance.  She loves each and every one of those precious little souls who walk through her door every day.  You know that because she tells them all the time, but also in how she behaves towards them.

She knows all of Riley's strengths, weaknesses and potential.  She knows if he's being lazy or genuinely struggling with something.  She knows his little quirks and loves him in spite of them!  She has been so instrumental in helping us to help Riley at home.  She has offered great advice in a way that is loving and heartfelt.  She is an incredible teacher but more so, she's a fantastic person.  Most of you know it's hard for me to send my children off to be educated by someone else, but with Mrs. F., there are no reservations.  The lessons she's taught Riley will stay with him for years to come.  She's built his foundation (his roots) in learning and his quest for knowledge.  She's also helped to develop his character, his self-worth and his confidence in Christ.

So how do you thank someone like that?  You really can't put a price tag on that type of accomplishment.  She deserves a million dollars, but sadly that is not mine to give.  So, instead, we are giving her some plants because she loves to garden along with a special note from me about how Riley has grown and been able to bloom and one note from Riley with a picture of his favorite animal on it.

Here's our thank you gift for Riley's teacher:

The two in the red pots are going into a cute gardening bag with a letter from me and a letter from Riley for his teacher.  The one in the middle is for his teacher's aide.

You have MINT so much to us with mint tea in the pot

Thanks for all your THYME and compassion with lemon thyme in the pot

Thanks for helping me GROW

Riley's school principal, who I really enjoyed working with this year, is leaving to take another position in a Lutheran school in Colorado.  The entire Chunko family will be sad to see him and his wife leave Grace, but know that God has something awesome in store for our school (his wife was the 5th grade teacher too).  For him we got a gift card for Starbucks and have it placed inside a paper coffee sleeve and it says "Thanks A LATTE!"  

We had planned to purchase the book "Hooray for Diffendoofer Day" by Dr. Seuss, but I didn't realize B&N would have every Dr. Seuss book except that one!  That book is the last one Dr. Seuss wrote (he actually didn't get it finished) and it's about a teacher who must prove she's taught her students to think or they will be sent to Flobbertown.  

That's what I get for waiting until the last minute to go pick it up!  Oh well.  I'll save that idea for another teacher!

Can't wait for tomorrow at 11:50 when summer vacation officially starts!  Whoo Hoo!  We have so much fun stuff planned!

The Art of The Thank You

Have you ever noticed that in this day and age, the art of the "thank you" has disappeared?  When my brother and I were kids our parents drilled it through our heads that saying as well as showing thanks was important.  Whenever a relative sent us a birthday card with any amount of money in it, we were required by my parents to call that relative on the phone and thank them personally.  Sometimes that was a little uncomfortable with some of my mom's many aunts who we didn't know very well, but a necessity none the less.

I require my children to do the same.  While it may not always be an actual phone call (different time zones, etc.) but they are required to thank the person who sent them something or gave them a present.  If they don't make a phone call, they are required to write a thank you to that person.  For Kendall, her thank you's are just scribbles on the card, but it's the thought that counts.

When someone gives me something or even hands something down to me for my kids, I thank them in person and again through an email or FB post.  Just to make sure that person knows how grateful I am.  I am glad that my mom has taught me the art of the "thank you" so that I can pass it down to my children.  Whenever we leave someone's house after a visit, I make sure to write a thank you in some form to let them know I appreciated their hospitality.

I'm not saying that I'm perfect at this task and that I have never gotten busy with life and forgotten to do the extra thank you, but I try to make it a habit to do it right away...now I have to go finish writing the thank you letters to all the companies that made prize donations to the kids' school for their Jog-A-Thon!

Home Sweet Home

As some of you know, we are taking a trip to Amish country (otherwise known as Lancaster, Pennsylvania) this summer.  For Andy, Riley and me, this is where we call "home."  Poor Kendall, home is wherever we are to her.  We are really looking forward to this trip.  There are so many things on our list that I'm not sure we'll be able to fit them all in!

Some of the many activities we're looking forward to doing while in the Keystone State:

Watching the kids visiting with their grandparents - the joy on all of their faces is to be treasured

Visiting with my family members (aunts, uncles, cousins, etc.)


Seeing, hugging, & lovin' on my prego BFF!

Drinking some Turkey Hill ice tea

Eating ice cream at Pine View Dairy while walking around the barn saying hi to the cows and checking out the calves

Taking the kids to get real Reese's Pieces sundaes at Friendly's

Going to Central Market - to shop, walk, take in the sights and smells, maybe eat a whoopie pie (or two)

Eating at any number of favorite restaurants in Lancaster (breakfast @ Wish You Were Here anyone?)

Seeing an Amish horse & buggy as well as a windmill and explaining to the kids why they use them instead of a car and electricity.  Maybe we'll get the chance to explain what "road apples" are while we're there!

Visiting with friends from high school at the Hoffman's


Catching up with my former CV colleagues @ the Millers'

Getting pictures taken of the kids by one of my favorite photographers - who is also a former student of mine and someone I truly admire

Watching the kids play with Riley's friends (Myles, Jameson, Ellie, Hank, Hannah, Drew, Jill and Natalie) from when we lived in Lancaster


Hugging my former "loop" neighbors and catching up after WAY too much time has passed - Hoping Tom can still "party like a rock star!"  (So glad the Danisch family can come from Chicago at the same time)

Spending a day in Philly with my family - taking the kids to see the Liberty bell, Please Touch Museum, going to Pat's & Gino's for world famous cheesesteaks, Jeweler's Row - to look and shop (okay, to get my ring fixed), showing them Betsy Ross' house and explaining who she was, running up the stairs of the Art Museum like Rocky, riding the train into 30th Street Station, taking the kids on their first subway ride...

Smelling manure - I know, bizarre, right?  But there is something about the smell of methane in the air that feels like home!


Eating some ring bologna and some Bomberger's sweet bologna


Stocking up on Tasty Kakes - gotta remember to save room in the suitcase for a few extra boxes to bring back with me!


Eating Grandma Utz's Kettle cooked potato chips

I know some of you from outside of the great state of Pennsylvania are thinking, she's gone off the reservation!  Well, yes, that's quite possible, but there are certain things about where you grew up, things that you may have hated or took for granted before, that now after being away for so long, are what you want to see, smell and taste.  This trip will be fun for so many different reasons!

Chicken Nuggets with Spinach?

Yes, another successful Deceptively Delicious recipe at the Chunko house!  They didn't look pretty or even like the ones in the cookbook, but they were tasty.  I don't care for spinach and I tried one and couldn't even tell they had spinach in them!  Pretty cool, huh?  Again, made with almost all organic ingredients!

Here's how to create these yummy creations:

1 c. panko breadcrumbs

1/2 c. flaxseed meal

1 T. grated Parmesan

1/2 tsp. papricka

1/2 tsp. garlic powder

1/2 tsp. onion powder

1 c. spinach puree

1 lg. egg, lightly beaten

1 lb. boneless skinless chicken breast/tenders cut into chunks

1/2 tsp. salt

nonstick cooking spray

1 T. olive oil

In bowl, combine breadcrumbs, flaxseed, Parmesan, paprika, garlic and onion powder.  Mix well.  

In a shallow bowl, mix spinach puree and egg with fork and set next to breadcrumb mixture.

Sprinkle chicken with salt (I skipped this part.  Not a big salt fan).  Dip chunks into egg/spinach mixture and then toss with breadcrumbs until completely coated.  

Coat large non-stick skillet with cooking spray and set over med-high heat.  When skillet is hot, add oil.  Place nuggets in single layer and cook until crisp and golden on one side, 3-4 minutes.  Turn and cook chicken is cooked through and crisp all over.  Serve warm.

*Note:  I used pre-cut chicken (very small chunks) and would NOT do this again. I would have used much larger chunks made easily from tenders than the little pieces.  What a pain to coat and cook.  I also was wondering how they'd taste if you would bake them verses cook them in oil on the stove...I don't own any non-stick pans anymore so I had to add more olive oil in my pan to cook them without burning.  Any thoughts?  You could also use sweet potato or broccoli puree.  Think maybe we'll try sweet potato next time for something different.  Again, another veggie we don't eat much here at our house.  But the kids enjoyed them and never once mentioned that they tasted any different than normal chicken nuggets.  They didn't even complain that they weren't in the shape of dinosaurs!

Chocolate Cupcakes with Avocado?

Who knew?  Right?  Well, I tried these today but already knew they'd be successful.  I have a friend from Mom To Mom in Jax who turned me on to them but never tried the recipe before.  Sooooo glad that I got around to trying them! Wow!  I made a few alterations to make them a little healthier.  I used all organic ingredients when possible.  Couldn't find organic avocados at the store the other day, but the majority of it's organic!

Here's the recipe:

1 c. avocado puree (mash with a fork then put in food processor for 2 min. )

1 1/2 c. sugar (I replaced the sugar with organic agave nectar to make them sugar free)

1 c. milk (I used about 3/4 c. milk because of the agave nectar)

2 tsp. vanilla

1/2 tsp. balsamic vinegar (weird to bake with, but I swear you don't taste it!)

2 lg. egg whites

2 c. flour (I added a tiny bit extra because of our altitude)

1/2 c. unsweetened cocoa powder

1 tsp. baking soda

1/2 tsp. salt

Preheat oven to 350.  Use non-stick spray for cupcake pan or liners.  

Beat avocado puree, sugar (or agave nectar), milk, vanilla, and vinegar with mixer.  Beat in egg whites one at a time, just until incorporated.

Add flour, cocoa, baking soda and salt.  Mix until smooth.  Divide among muffin cups.  Bake until tops are lightly browned and spring back to the touch, 15-20 minutes.  Turn out on rack to cool completely.

Store in airtight container at room temperature for 2 days or freeze for up to 1 month.

You could frost them, but I don't think they need it!  Jessica Seinfeld has a frosting with cauliflower puree and cream cheese, but I'd rather pass on the calories and sugar and just enjoy the yummy cupcakes.  I also made them using my mini-muffin pan and it's a great way to make them into smaller portions for your little ones!

Enjoy!

Homemade Organic Goldfish Crackers

After many, many requests via FB, here is the delicious recipe for homemade goldfish crackers!  Hope your kids enjoy them as much as mine do!

Goldfish Crackers:

1 c all-purpose flour

4 T cold unsalted butter, cut into small pieces

8 oz cheddar cheese 

1/2 t salt

1/2 t fresh-ground pepper

A fish cookie cutter.

Pulse the flour, butter, cheese, salt, and pepper together using a food processor until the mixture resembles coarse meal.  Pulse in 3 to 4 tablespoons of water, one tablespoon at a time, and only enough so that the dough forms a ball and rides the blade.  Remove, wrap in plastic, and chill for 20 minutes or up to 24 hours.

Line 2 baking pans with parchment paper and set aside.  Roll the dough out to 1/8-inch thickness. (If you roll it thicker, it will still work, but the crackers won't be quite as crunchy. This dough rolled out so easily; you'll wish that you always worked with cheddar!)  Cut out as many crackers as possible.  Place them 1 inch apart on the prepared baking pans.  Bake at 350 F until golden and crisp - 15 to 20 minutes.

We used mini apple shapes, fish shapes and bunny shapes for our crackers

Golden and crispy!

It was hard to let them cool before popping them in our mouths!

  *Just to add, I used all organic ingredients to make them an even healthier option.  I also made them with extra sharp cheddar.  Andy even liked eating these and he doesn't normally care for goldfish crackers.  I have some mild cheddar I'd like to try as well as maybe giving some pepper jack or adding some other seasonings on our next attempts.

These are as easy as they are delicious.  Kendall actually helped me cut out the little shapes to make them.  I found miniature cookie cutters at HERE for a reasonable price.  The fish one is not exactly like the Peppridge Farms fish shape but my kids didn't care.  You can find one more like it HERE but it's more expensive and I knew that didn't matter to my kids.

ENJOY!

Field Day Fun!

Lutheran High holds a field day for all three Lutheran elementary schools in the Salt Lake Valley.  They host it at a big park nearby.  All grade level classes (first - eighth) compete against each other as well as against their own classmates in individual and team events.

Riley was entered in: the Dash, the Sack Race, the T-Shirt Relay and the Crab Crawl.  He was so excited for Field Day that he could hardly contain his energy.  Kendall came along with me to help cheer on Riley and his friends.  She had as much fun as he did!

Riley with some of his friends at field day

Hayley is a the best 7 yr. old babysitter I've ever met!  She's so good with Kendall!

This is Kendall's little boyfriend.  They are so cute together and have become really good friends over this past year.  She prays for him at night!

Next to Riley is one of his closest pals - Chloe.  Thought I was going to mention the boy on other side of him, huh?  Well, they are good friends too, but Chloe is such a tomboy (regardless of the bow and hat) that she and Riley get along so well.  She plays transformers and star wars with him!

This picture is one of my favorite of the day.  Riley wanted Kendall to come sit with him and his buddies and then I caught them holding hands.  This is the picture I have to burn into my mind so that when they are fighting like cats and dogs, I can remember that they really do love each other!

Looking for ants on the ground was big excitement for the kids

Riley and his biggest cheerleader

Waiting for the crab crawl to start with his buddies

Mentally preparing for the T-Shirt Relay

I can't tell you how wonderful it was to be at a school field day and NOT be in charge of it!  I enjoyed every minute of watching my child enjoy himself and not being stressed over running the event.  Riley was so proud of himself.  He won ribbons in all four of his events and couldn't wait to tell his Dad all about it later that night.