This recipe originally came from mynaturalfamily.com and is one of my favorites.  I will serve it with tortillas so some choose to eat it as a wrap instead of a salad. Vinaigrette:
2 limes juiced (6 Tbsp lime juice)
2/3 c cilantro
2 garlic cloves
2 Tbsp honey
1/2 c olive oil
2 Tbsp white or balsamic vinegar
1 tsp salt

Marinade:
1/2 c cilantro
2 limes juiced (6 Tbsp lime juice)
2 tsp salt
2 garlic cloves
1 tsp cumin
1 tsp chili powder
1/4 olive oil

Salad:
4 chicken breasts cut into strips
1 large yellow onion sliced
2 peppers - red, green, yellow or orange - sliced
2 romaine hearts cut up
1 avocado, sliced
1 c cherry tomatoes halved
1/2 c shredded cheese

1. Make the vinaigrette.
2. Make the marinade.
3. Pour 1/2 the marinade in a bag with the chicken.
4. Pour 1/2 the marinade in a bag with the onions and peppers.
5. Let sit for a few hours if possible.
6. Heat up a large skillet.  Drain the marinade from the chicken and cook in the skillet on high heat until the chicken is lightly brown.  .  Drain any fluids from the pan.
7. Add the onion/pepper mixture along with any marinade.  Cook on high stirring every few minutes until the chicken and vegetables have caramelized a little with brown charred spots on them.  Let cool slightly.
8. Either toss all the ingredients together into a salad or have everyone assemble their own salads.

This recipe is originally from Carlsbad cravings.  My entire family loved it, which doesn't always happen.  I have changed a few things for just how I prefer to make it.
2 lbs chicken breasts
1/2 c salsa
4 Tbsp brown sugar
1 4 oz green chilies
1 14.5 oz can diced tomatoes, undrained
 1 Tbsp chili powder
1 tsp cumin
1 tsp garlic powder
1 tsp onion powder
1/2 tsp smoked paprika
1/2 tsp chipotle chili pepper
1/2 tsp dry organo
1 1/2 tsp salt
1/2 tsp pepper

1. Spray crockpot with oil.  Add all of the ingredients with chicken first.
2. Cook on high for 2-4 hours or on low for 6-7 hours.
3. Shred chicken in crockpot.  Stir everything together.
4. Cook on low for another 30 minutes.
5. Pour mixture into a colander to drain all liquid.
6 burrito size tortillas
1 c shredded cheese
nonstick cooking spray

Roll up burritos with 1/2 c filling and 2 Tbsp cheese.  Put on cookie sheet and spray burritos on both sides with Pam (or brush with melted butter).  You can let the burritos just sit at this point for awhile if needed.  When ready, cook at 400 degrees for 18-20 minutes and then flip burritos and cook till other side is golden and crisp about 5 more minutes.
2 Tbsp oil
1 Tbsp butter
3 Tbsp flour
2 c chicken broth
1/2 tsp cumin
1/2 tsp salt
1/4 tsp pepper
1/2 c sour cream
1/2-1 of a 4 oz can of chopped green chilies
1/2 c cheddar cheese

Melt butter in oil in a medium saucepan.  Whisk in flour and cook till thick around 3 minutes.  Reduce heat to low then gradually whisk in chicken broth.  Add spices and bring to a simmer while striring till thickened about 2-3 minutes.  Remove from heat and stir in rest of ingredients.

To serve top each burrito with sauce and any additional toppings like tomatoes and avocado.

*I have also cooked these burritos till almost crisp and then frozen them.  They work great just to be thawed and reheated.  It only works though if you crisp them first as otherwise they get soggy.*

The last week of school means very little school work or for Spencer school time and lots of last activities.  Robyn had her school dance festival.  I was able to leave work for an hour and watch her whip and na-na it with the gusto.  She thought she was so cool that her class picked that song.

Robyn also had field day and a class luau party at a family's office building where they had a giant hot tub, games, Polynesian food and movies (she thought it was the best party she had ever been to!).  And she had grade up day where she meets her new teacher for next year who she is a big fan of, and once again she is in a class full of boys.  And she was introduced to the school with the new student council.  Full week for her.  Plus to celebrate the last day of school, since it was only an hour and a half long, she and her friend went to our local dollar theater and watched a movie by themselves.  Its a little tiny establishment where I know most of the workers, otherwise I would have been too freaked out.  So busy and happy week for her.

Spencer had finals for three days where school ended at 11.  And one day where they signed yearbooks for an hour or two and then he came home.  So basically school has been out for him all week long.  He is working a little more and trying to transition to summer routines.  Thursday night I went to pick up Jeremy from the airport and Spencer has been enjoying his dad time this afternoon:


We were all excited to have Jeremy back and have been bombarding him with attention.  He said he has never worked so hard and with so little sleep but he enjoyed the adventure of it.  He had one free night at the end where he got to go to dinner with his fellow photographers:

He has been trying to catch up on sleep and rest his knees and back since.  But we got to go out for dinner Friday night and catch up on the last 8 days and a bike ride on Saturday.  Saturday all but poor Spencer who had to work went to the pool.  Taylor was in heaven once the rain stopped and the sun came out.  Robyn was so excited to be swimming that she was going on the first day regardless of the weather! 

Saturday we also did our annual bonfire where we roasted corn, brats and marshmallows and burned up so much homework that we have a huge pile of ash outside.  Always a good way to end the school year.

Allison had regular school every day until Friday when she decided not to go sit in a classroom for an hour - with her teacher encouraging her to stay home!  So she had a friend come over after they slept in to make waffles and then spend the day playing around.  She tried out the 8th grade graduation dance because everyone who told her it was lame had never gone.  And she came home after an hour agreeing with the lame assessment.

Saturday the two girls and I went to Thanksgiving Point for their bulb sale.  They dig up all their bulbs from the tulip festival and dump them in crates unlabeled.  You get to just browse through and pick out what you want.  So we brought home a big bag and get to see what they are in the spring!  And then our short errand of returning one thing turned into girls wanting to look for an outfit for family pictures in August.  Shopping with girls has turned into a big new adventure!  But we all had fun.

Rest of the week was the regular routine of piano lessons, me going to work and working on homework.  Since I had two days off without kids this week for one more time I celebrated.  One day I went for a bike ride - without rain or flat tires - it was awesome.  And one day I got to go do a session at the Provo temple.  Awesome days.  Robyn even made us brownies one night.  Kids really stepped up while Jeremy was gone, making treats, voluntarily doing helpful things.  We talked last week about how we needed to be like Redwood trees that hold onto each others' roots and support each other and not like Voles who nibble the roots of trees and plants and kill them.  So its cheesy but I have been saying, "be a tree" often lately.

Robyn had two teeth pulled Monday afternoon and an expander put in.  She didn't realize how bulky and uncomfortable it would be.  Much tears and complaining while her family all told her about their horror experiences of having dental work done which didn't help.  What did help is that Friday she learned she made it to student council for next year over which she was very excited.  And she and her friend Gillian had their first babysitting job Friday night.  Robyn was a little upset when she learned it was going to be at our house so I was around in case of emergencies "What!?  We have to be supervised?!  Don't you trust us?".  They worked hard and were good little babysitters to three little kids.

Allison had her end of the year choir concerts this week.  She had 3 concerts so each one wasn't so crowded.  All of us but Spencer got to go Tuesday night.  (Spencer was off shooting and having a BBQ with the priests and laurels.  He thought he got the best of the bargain).  The concert though was awesome and well all really enjoyed cheering her on.  I think Robyn is rethinking her anti-choir stance.

On Wednesday I drove Jeremy up to the airport for him to fly to Barcelona to be a photographer for a week.  He spent the days leading up to it, wrapping up all his official work stuff and all his unofficial work stuff with the studio.  He is having a great time, little sleep, lots of work and lots of picture taking.

With Jeremy gone and a huge rainstorm the rest of us decided to go to the archery range Saturday morning before Spencer had to go to work. 


Taylor had his dance festival this week.  No pictures, because I got to help his class after I helped with mine.  He enjoyed being wheeled around very fast outside, the sunshine and people cheering for him and the snow cone truck that arrived for all the kids.  Taylor got his new daffos this week.  He isn't sure about them yet.  At first, he just seemed uncomfortable and then he decided he just wouldn't walk in them.  But they are loosening up and his feet are toughening up so they should work out.

This week I took my math placement test for the class I need to take to graduate.  I needed a 70 and I got a 48.  So I will be studying a lot this summer as I can retake the test two more times.  I was feeling bad about the low score but I had assumed I wouldn't pass the first time and then the coordinator pointed out that most return missionaries get a worst score the first time and it had been 20 years since I took a math class!  So hopefully it will come back because I seriously looked at some of the questions and wondered if I ever, ever learned these concepts!

We are off to a park.  Amazing how long a discussion can go to choose which park to go to!  I think we need to implement a kid of the week to make all these important decisions as getting a consensus is really a difficult process.

Hard to believe that 20 years ago Taylor was born!  We were so young and had no idea what we were in for.  That first Mother's Day going back to the hospital and spending the day in the ER was tough.  Its amazing what a journey it has been.  We have spent the week planting and weeding and mowing for Taylor's annual birthday BBQ on Saturday.  Always a fun time to visit with friends and have kids run around.  And we had perfect weather - which is not usually the case.  Taylor ate his dinner of chocolate cake and whole milk with a big smile on his face.  (For the first time every, I bought a birthday cake and everyone was totally fine with it.  I am trying to be better about just letting things go.)  I am always amazed at the love and kindness that is shown towards Taylor and our family.


As part of the week we moved the chickens out to the coop.  Jasper is extremely motivated to get to them right now so we are having to be super vigilant.   When Jeremy scolds him, this is what happens:

Other odds and ends is that I finished hemming the ottoman cover my mom made me so we no longer have to see Jasper's clawed rips all over the top of it.


I met with the wheelchair guy and the physical therapist to get Taylor measured for all new wheelchair parts.  He has grown quite a bit and his wheelchair currently does not fit him at all.  So the frame will get stretched and then he is getting bigger pads, seat, back, buckles etc.   It will make him much more comfortable.  He gets new daffos tomorrow too as his legs have grown which will help as well.

The girls saw the dentist this week and Robyn had two teeth pulled.  Tomorrow she gets her retainer to hold everything in place while her teeth grow in.  She is super excited about it.  And while at the dentist they opened up swim team signups!  Luckily I had two friends notify me and one of them registered Robyn for me so she could get on the team.  I guess this week I missed another parent come to school event.  I really am stinking at making it to those this year and Robyn reminds me everytime that all the other kids had their mom there!

 Girls had their closing cast party with their theater group this week and are enjoying being at home more.  Friday night they were both living it up with friends and enjoying the summer evenings.

Spencer and Jeremy met with Spencer's school this week about doing a computer coding class for the summer.  Its a pretty heavy commitment of 8 hours a day for 9 weeks and would involve Spencer missing quite a bit of things.  Spencer is getting to practice making some hard decisions on this one as he has to decide for himself and I am trying really hard to keep my mouth shut.

Classes started for me this week.  Its a pretty light load so far as I am still only waitlisted for my second class.

The past few weeks have been full of the girls' play.  They had dress rehearsals daily into the night and all day on Saturdays.  Then they had two performances for schools during two day then they performed 8 more times for the next week at night and one matinee.  Last performance was last night and today they are tired!  It is always an awesome experience and luckily Jeremy volunteers to go do photographs a couple of times for them.  Next post will be cast photos I am sure.

My parents have always been on a mission when my girls have been in plays over the past few years, so they decided to plan a visit around the play this year.  (My mom pointed out that she was sort of glad to be here for the first few days of performing and not at the end because crabbiness grew as the play progressed!)  It was awesome having them here as it also coincided with Women's Conference and my Mom's birthday.

I was able to join my Mom and my friend Brenda for Thursday of Women's Conference and took a "sick" day from practicum and work.  It was awesome.  I felt like every talk was just what I needed to hear and came home with a full head and heart that made sleeping hard and very tired feet.

Friday was my last day of practicum and it was bitter sweet.  I have learned a lot being at Timberline this last semester teaching reading/math.  The kids had made me cards and had me sit in their special chair while they said nice things about me.  Hard not to cry and it was totally awesome.  Plus which some amazing people work in that classroom who I have enjoyed getting to know.  So with that over plus a final earlier that week, turned in last projects and the semester was over.  This week a new semester starts.  Special Education Law class...not super excited over that one.  Plus I am wait listed for sign language so hopefully I get in tomorrow for that one.  They moved another class to the fall plus told me I needed to take a math class which will bring my credits to 15 credits.  So I debated how to make those classes work that semester but decided instead to stop working in the fall rather than in January.  Jeremy and I both thought it would just be too much.

While my parents were here they worked hard on projects around the house for me.  My dad fixed things I didn't even realize could be fixed!  He even tackled our rhubarb which turned out to have the root system of a tree and was a big project to get out.  Spencer now thinks the pick ax is his new favorite tool.  It is always wonderful to have them visit and the time flies by way too fast.   My dad took the girls to the junior high play one night when they only had a matinee during the day.


For my Mom's birthday we went and walked through the Tulip Festival at Thanksgiving Point.  Then my mom spent the afternoon sewing a cover for my torn up old ottoman before we went to see the girls' play.  It is always sad to see them leave and their visit never seems long enough.  The longer they stay the more I think of things I want to do or talk about!
 

With no more practicum it meant I was free all day Wednesday and got to go with Robyn to a field trip for the day to Camp Floyd.  It was fun to see her with her friends.  The next day she met me after school to say that I had missed her recorder concert that morning at school and that I never came to those things that were important to her.  Yep knife right to the heart that one.

This weekend I have just dubbed Mother's Day weekend.  Saturday morning my two friend Brenda and Brooke and I did our second traditional run down Provo Canyon and Kneaders french toast at the end.  We decided last year to just make up our own race and thought it should become an annual thing.


Then Spencer, Taylor and I got to go see Civil War and clean the office while Jeremy did cast photos.  Then Taylor and I got to go see the girls' play and cheer them on.  Then we got to go out for ice cream after.  Lots of tears and emotions at the end of the play but they all loved it.  Allison and Robyn each have a close friend that decided that this was their last year in the acting company which was tough for them.

Mother's Day has had its ups and downs in our house.  20 years ago Taylor was admitted on Mother's Day to the hospital and since then it seems there is always something happening on Mother's Day.  But everyone has tried their best to overcome tiredness and crankiness and hurt backs to try to be kind and thoughtful today which I appreciate.  For some reason today it has really hit me emotionally that you try to be a certain kind of mom because that is the mom you want to be, not because of any returns you may get.  I am grateful for a great mom who has been an amazing example to me of someone who always was trying to be the best mom she could.  And I am grateful for all those who mother our children in ways I cannot.  Happy Mother's Day!

Spring Break was awesome and should happen more often.  That said we had quite a few hiccups in our plans.  Friday night we took Taylor to respite, grocery shopping, packing and picked up the tent trailer from the repair place.  While Jeremy was driving the trailer to our house, it became disconnected and ran under the truck punching a hole through the trailer and breaking the trailer's braking system.  And Jeremy's police volunteer friend who stopped to help him pointed out that his truck wasn't registered for this year.  Just a little stress to start off our trip.  Luckily the repair guy ran over and helped Jeremy fix up the trailer.  We found the registration to prove that the truck was registered but the sticker had come up.  We packed up the next morning and headed off to Cedar City, listening to Conference once it started.

Got to the RV park in Cedar City.  It was truly an RV park which Robyn was not expecting and hence major tears and pouts ensued as we tried to explain that we were just staying here at night and going up into the mountains during the day.  With snow in many high places and spring break going on we hadn't been able to get a camp site that worked besides an RV park.  All unloaded and went up to hike Cedar Breaks and a few yards away from the speed limit change sign on the way up the canyon we get pulled over for speeding and not waiting for the sign to accelerate.  Luckily we got off with a warning.  Get up to Cedar Breaks....the last 3 miles of road was closed due to snow.  So we drove back down ten minutes to warmth and heat and played by the river instead.  We sort of just hung out for the afternoon and I get a call from respite that Taylor wasn't drinking because we had forgotten his special sippy cup.  It was sitting on our counter at home.  Thankfully my friend went to our house, gathered up some cups and drove them up to Taylor for us.  And that was the end to our hiccups.  I have decided all family vacation require a few obstacles just to prove to yourself that you can persevere as a family to have fun!

We checked out a park, and another park and a library and old bookstore and just basically played together.  Sunday we drove down to Zions and spent the day hiking and exploring.  It was an awesome day.  We did two big hikes.  One with Jeremy, Emerald Falls.  And then Jeremy nicely spent over 3 hours hanging out at a picnic spot while the 3 kids and I did Angel's Landing which Robyn and Spencer really wanted to see.  Allison came under protest because she said she knew we would come back telling how awesome it was and then she would regret not going.  Its got some pretty good steep switchbacks going up.  Allison was saying she was thankful that she got Jeremy's sweat genes which means she doesn't turn red like a tomato and sweat a ton, like Spencer and I do.  Robyn thought she had Jeremy's sweat genes as well until this hike...every photo her face is dark red.  She was so excited to do this hike though that she never complained or slowed down. 

The last half mile requires walking along the edge of a mountain where you hold onto chains to make sure you don't fall down either side.  Spencer took lead and made sure to help girls across any tricky spots and I was in the back so I could yell periodically, "do not let go of the chain!!" (a church talk waiting to happen, and I shared it today in YW).  The view was wonderful.  A couple was getting married out on the edge and Spencer went out to add to the rock collection there and crashed it.  Luckily they didn't seem to care!


We rode the tram throughout the park and did little hikes here and there to see things.


On Monday we toured SUU and got to see what the campus was like.  Spencer was very impressed with it and liked the small college feel.  Then we drove home and met a very happy Jasper at the door.


Tuesday we didn't have to pick up Taylor until 7 so the kids and I spent the day exploring all of Thanksgiving Point museum's.  At Taylor's school fall festival we had bought four day passes.  We have never attempted to do all the museums on one day before and it made for a very full and fun day of hanging out together.  At the farm the girls laughed when they realized the mama goat sounded just like them bleating, "maaaa, maaa" and a mama sheep sounded just like Spencer bleating in a bass voice, "maaaa".  I think that should be my new ring tone.  Then we looked at chicks for a bit, picked up Taylor and Spencer babysat while Jeremy and I went to the movies.  I was taking full advantage of a week of playing!

Sadly I couldn't play all the time and had to do school and homework and girls had play practice at night.  But we fit in as much as we could.  Enjoying some yard work, running errands (Spencer finally has jeans that fit and won't rip when he bends over), Allison got to go a few places with friends and a lot of staying up late and watching movies.  Taylor approved of the yard work:


Spencer and I did our first bike ride of the season.  It took 2 tries to get it right as our first one involved a massive mother/son communication fail.  But the 2nd try was awesome.


One day we went and got our new set of chicks.  Agatha is mine (Aggie for short), Brek is Taylor's (short for breakfast, he had a big smile when we were joking about names and said breakfast), Daisy is Spencer, Bubbles is Allison's and Ginny is Robyn's.  They are getting really big quickly and are currently in our garage.  Jasper is banned from going anywhere near them.



Taylor got a new quilt courtesy of my amazing parents.  I didn't realize how old and ratty his old quilt was until the new one came.  That is true of most things in my house though.  I get used to how they look without realizing things now have holes and worn fabric.  When it came and we put it on the bed, Jasper wouldn't let anywhere near it except for Taylor.


Now everyone is back in school and the routine of life is rolling once again.  Girls have play practice every day often till late right now and are loving it.  Spencer stayed home with a stomach bug one day.  Jeremy's computer broke and he is working to fix it.  Our vacuum met its match with girl crafty thread's and tooth floss and is currently being taken apart and put back together.  Spencer discovered a pick ax and has been busy tackling some yard projects for me.  School is winding down for me with projects and tests.  Just the usual day in and day out of stuff which keeps everyone happy and busy.  Jeremy is looking forward to next month as he signed up to do a weeklong photo shoot...in Barcelona.  He just finished up the republican county delegate meetings.  We are all starting to dream about summer and summer plans.