Easter Dinner and chocolatey chocolateness!

So for Easter I made this awesome dinner, which was delicious if I may say so myself

Table setting

Asparagus with pearl onions, bacon, and lemon juice

 Garlic mashed red potatoes with the skin on.

Strip steak topped with garlic herb butter.

Spinach salad with feta, pecans, and dried cranberries.

Fruit salad yummy yummy.

Dinner was a success but Dessert was even better  I didn't get pictures of it, however it was so good that I thought I would share it with you.

 Chocolate pazookie with Chocolate ice cream

1C Flour

1/2 C cocoa powder

1/2 tsp Baking soda

1/2 tsp salt

1 bag ghirardelli milk chocolate chips

1 bar ghirardelli chocolate dark or milk which ever you prefer

1 stick of butter

1 1/2 C sugar

2 eggs

1 tsp good vanilla

In a double boiler, or if you are ghetto like me and don't own one just use a metal or glass bowl that fits snugly over a pot with a little bit of water in it, on the stove over med low heat melt 1/2 the bag of chocolate chips and butter stir and remove from heat when nearly melted,  then add the vanilla and set aside.

In a separate bowl combine cocoa, flour, salt, and baking soda.

In your stand mixer add sugar and eggs with the paddle attachment, mix on low for 1 min. Turn the speed up to med, with mixer on slowly pour in chocolate. Mix for 2 min reduce speed to low and slowly add dry ingredients. Then hand stir in the other half of the chocolate chips and the bar of chocolate chopped into large chunks. Or you could substitute white chocolate chips and nuts if you wanted.

Then press into small ramekins for individual servings or into a pie dish for sharing.

( these also make great cookies just cook a little longer)

bake 325 for 10-12 min for individual and 15 for pie dish , depending on your oven and how you like it, I like the edges to be mostly cooked and the middle to be a little raw. Top with your favorite chocolate ice cream and serve hot!

Tristan Clark Eyestone

Introducing, the oldest of our bunch 7 1/2 yr old Tristan aka: Trissy, Trist, TC, T, Tchacho, Tristina Aguilara, Clark, Clarky malarkey,

Tristan is...

Hilarious

Good at sports/anything that takes coordination just like his Dad

 Thoughtful

An ornery cuss when he is mad

DETERMINED to have his way and has been since he was tiny!

Extremely entertaining

Competitive to a fault (just like his Dad)

Curious and loves to learn like a little monkey

 A good student and excels in math and science

Helpful around the house and knows how to take charge ( he is your typical oldest child)

A Handsome little devil and melts my heart with his charm ( also like his Dad)

Persuasive

Stubborn just like his Mom, we butt heads a lot!

Protective of his little brother who is also his best friend! 

Energetic, this kid wakes up at 6 am or earlier every morning.

Active, he always has to be moving hence the basketball hoop in our living room!

My sunshine! I have sung that song to him since he was a baby. You know it... You are my sunshine my only sunshine........And when I sing him a song at bed time he always asks for it cause he knows that he is MY sunshine, he makes my days fun and interesting as well as challenging. Lets just say he has some qualities that while desirable in an adult, are incredibly difficult to parent. I know and have known since he was a weensy babe in my arms that he was special and that there are important things for him to do in this world. I feel so blessed that Heavenly Father thought that I was up for the challenge of raising him. Although I am certainly not the perfect Mom and there are many areas that I fail miserably at, I am trying to raise him and all my kiddos to be kind, thoughtful, helpful, and responsible adults who will make good spouses and parents someday. 

Tristan was my first baby love I remember thinking I could never love anyone more than I loved Golden, but man was I wrong with each kid somehow my capacity to love has grown and they are each special to me.... yet I think there is something to be said about my first, I remember so many times just holding him, looking at his tiny face and choking up with tears and feeling so lucky to have him. He is the only child I remember frequently having those experiences with, probably because it was the only time I had peace and quiet long enough to. But for whatever reason, I know that I definitely need to remember those times more often, like when he is looking right at me telling him to stop as he tackles his sister!

I cannot believe that he will be 8 in a few months everyone, including old ladies at the store, told me that time would just fly by but at the time it seemed as though the terrible twos would never end. Now I find myself wishing that I had enjoyed the chaos of toddler hood a little more you know? You never expect that they will actually grow up and not be chubby faced babies anymore. Anyway I LOVE this boy and when he turns 16, you better hide your daughters cause he is gonna be hot stuff I'm just sayin'.

Busy Busy Busy

This week didn't seem so busy until I started to list off all of the happenings in the Eyestone home this week
the highlights include:

haha I thought this was super funny!

• Monday: We dyed Easter eggs with the Gates for FHE which was super fun and mom kinda went crazy and used the extra dye to Tye dye T-shirts.
• Tue: I honestly don't remember that's how awesome it was.
• Wednesday: Daphne spent the day with Abuela and was thoroughly spoiled/ came home with way too many presents. Golden and I decided to hit up my fave shopping spot on his lunch break, LC aka Last Chance. I got some awesome deals including Steve Madden wedges for $10! And of course Daph and Vy got pretty church dresses at $6 a piece violets is a DKNY pale pink bubble dress it was such an awesome find! Then that night we went to the Easter pageant and ate Ned's for dinner ( a pageant tradition) The pageant was fun and Daddy actually got to come with us this year, he's usually working. Ask Golden about the guy who was pretty much sitting on his lap!!!! 
• Thurs: Golden didn't have to work!!! which always makes my day. We just did super boring stuff like go to Sam's club, Ribbons and lace, and Jason's deli.... oh yeah and we picked up some boxes cause we R probably moving. So if you know someone who is looking to rent a 3 Br, 2 1/2 bath 1,416sq ft condo for $925 a month feel free to have them call us!Then at night Auntie Randi babysat so that the "Easter Bunnies" could go to the store and buy way too many fun things for 4 very naughty kids.
• Fri: I got a super cute hair cut and dye from Beth with the help of her HILLarious assistant Cami who had me laughing the whole time. I had so much fun with those girls and I wish I could just quickly learn how to cut hair so that I could work at Tantrum too. Then that night we went over to Grandma Eyestone's for a yummy dinner and lots of fun Easter activities and as usual Tristan got to throw the football around with uncle Tay-Tay, the kids got lots of fun presents and treats and all left in new clothes. Grandma's, you gotta love em'.
• Today: I CLEANED ALL DAY LONG! no seriously my house was a train wreck. then I..... made hair bows to match Easter dresses, ironed church clothes, seasoned steaks so they could marinate over night, looked up a recipe for chocolate cookies for dessert tomorrow, went to Joann's and Fry's for last minute necessities, and on and on and on. Luckily for me Grandma Linda had a secret project for the kids to do without mom and so she watched the big kids while I ran around like a chicken with my head cut off. I am pooped! seriously and sadly my day is not nearly done I still have to set the table all fancy like for tomorrow, give myself a pedi so I can wear my new shoes, stuff eggs, and assemble Easter baskets. Oh yeah and homework. I am starting to realize that my job is NEVER done. 

So if I don't see ya tomorrow HAPPY EASTER!!!
P.s. I had to mention that I have THE best husband ever who totally just walked in the door with yellow tulips, my favorite!! He totally just made my crazy day.

Yummy easy Hummus

2, 15 oz cans garbanzo beans
1/4 C olive oil
1 Large Red Bell Pepper
4 large cloves of garlic
1 tsp garlic salt
a dash of sesame oil ( Do not skip! you can find it at any grocery store down the Asian food isle it lasts a long time so it's totally worth the investment, this is in place of tahini,  which is just sesame seed paste)
 And salt to taste

1. First you roast the red bell pepper and half of the garlic drizzled with a little olive oil and a sprinkle of salt, in a baking dish in a 400 degree oven for about 20 min or till you smell it. Roasted garlic = more flavor less dragon breath.
2. Drain the beans one can fully and one can most of the way. The extra little bit of moisture will help you cut back on olive oil. In your food processor/blender/immersion blender, blend garbanzo beans, sesame oil, olive oil ( start with 1/4 cup and add more if it is not wet enough to blend after you add the roasted ingredients),  fresh garlic, and seasonings I would start with a palm full of salt and then adjust to taste. Get that going a little before you add your roasted ingredients so that you don't just pulverize the bell pepper and end up with red goop. 
3.  Then blend for like 3 minutes or till smooth. Refrigerate over night  so that the flavors marinate together then serve with pita chips or what ever you prefer. Yields a ton so feel free to half the recipe. Stays good in the fridge for like 2 weeks seriously and it's way cheaper and yummier homemade!

Violet Rhys

 Violet Rhys Eyestone Aka: Vy-Vy, violetty, Lettie, Vy, Reesie, Reese's pieces, and Daph calls her byby. ( She doesn't have her pop star name yet cause I can't think of one, feel free to make a suggestion!) She just turned 8 months and is the baby and most likely the last of our little brood.

 I LOVE this happy baby, she seriously always has a huge grin on her face and expressive eyebrows. Her skills include but are not limited to: 

• Crawling ( since 7 months old)
• Waving 
• clapping
• dancing/ bobbing her head back and forth to music
• sitting up and kneeling/ trying to climb on stuff already
• stinking up the house with her dirty diapers.
• kissing her siblings
• annoying the cat and eating his food
• making her mama smile every time she sees her
• squealing really loud in church for attention and then laughing about it
• The Splits! seriously I am gonna get a picture of it to prove to you!
• Being super cute and making me wanna do nothing but kiss her all day long

I am apparently the meanest Mom ever because all of my kids know that Violet is my favorite and my best, or so I tell her daily. To be fair I did tell them that the baby is always my favorite, meaning when they were a baby they were my favorite too.

Violet is the ONLY kid that likes/liked me better than Golden!I feel like I finally have a mamma's girl. All of the other babies preferred him, which really annoyed me. HELLO I was the one feeding, changing, playing with the little stinker and instead of being attached to me they love their Dad? grrrrrr I guess I don't blame them he is my favorite person too and at least that meant they preferred him when they were screaming.






When Violet was born she had respiratory distress and for a few days we were really worried that she would return to heaven before we ever got her home. This was really a scary experience for us but it made us appreciate this little gem all that much more! I'd like to think she was given the choice ,during the first few days when it was touch and go, to return home to our Heavenly Father , having received her physical body .Sometimes I even thank her for choosing to stay here with our family. Every time I look at her and think of what could have been I am filled with so much gratitude that she is still here and that it is my privilege to be her mom!!!!!!!

Curly locks no more

As I posted on facebook Fi-Fi got a drastic haircut. Other than me trimming the ends, this little chick has not had a real haircut until now.












Drum roll please........

 My favorite stylist( and good friend) Auntie Beth at Tantrum Salon cut this darling A-line bob, with which I am obsessed! Make an appointment with her, you won't regret it! ( ask for plain ol' Beth not auntie)

 Here's a side view, see the stackage in the back!!!

I took some fun pictures of her getting her hair washed and cut on my cell phone, but as I previously mentioned I am technology challenged and can't put them on here. The highlights have been:

• She asked me for like 2 weeks to get her hair short like mine and even attempted to do it her self, luckily it was underneath so U couldn't tell)
• Getting her hair washed by Beth's assistant Morgan ( also her brothers name so she was a little confused) She was so relaxed she almost fell asleep .
• Me bribing her with a sucker so she would hold still and keep looking down, her consequently blue tongue kept her preoccupied for a few.
• Getting a pink sucker at the end! Yes I know giving her 2 suckers was bad parenting but the first one was a dumb dumb and ended up getting thrown away with hair on it.

Her feelings about it change every few minutes. I think she wants me to think she hates it cause she knows how much I like it.  Last night she looked in the mirror and said, "I hate myself!". But then auntie Randi came over and they have pretty identical cuts so that made her happy to look alike. But really who cares what she thinks it is darling and I am so glad that we cut it all off!!!

One of those days.

Today my house looks like this....
 My babies and I are still in PJ's and I can't seem to accomplish anything worthwhile!
SO instead of getting my act together and forcing myself to DO something I'm just gonna quit fighting it and read a book. Right now I'm reading MiddleMarch by George Eliot, solely so I can watch the movie of it on Netflix and actually know the back story.

Do you prefer to read the book first or watch the movie? Really I wanna know.
I used to like to read the book first since then you know the whole story, except that sometimes you end up hating the movie because it is inevitably NEVER as good as the book. So now I think I like watching the movie first so that you can just enjoy it without anticipating the next event. The  exception to this rule for me are movies made by BBC they are so accurate that you feel like you know and love the characters more if you read the book first. Now that you know I am obsessed with reading and BBC movies...

No seriously when I get a new stack of books it's like Christmas to me. First I read all the backs, then I put them in order from most interesting to least and decide in which order I will devour them, usually leaving the best for last. One of the best birthday presents I ever got was when my brother and sister in law sent me a stack of  fresh books from Amazon it was like getting a box of goodies, I couldn't wait to dive in.
 It is sometimes hard to find time to read with four kids but days like today are perfect for just that! Ignoring your kids every once in a while is good for them. They learn self reliance, problem solving, and resourcefulness! No really try it, the mess can be picked up later it's only gonna get messy again in .5 seconds anyway. And reading helps to relieve stress so when you return from your mini mind vacation you will be ready to work and play with a little more zeal!
(Photos via Google images)

Daphne Jayne Eyestone

I'd like to introduce you to all of my children just not in order.

This girl Daphne aka: Fi-fi, Jaynee, Nina, Nienie, The feef, Jayneefer Lopez, or sour patch kid

( **** Side note about me: all of my children have at least 5 frequently used nicknames. Their middle names even have nicknames because I think why have a middle name if you don't use it! They each also have a female pop star name, even the boys, I have no explanation for that one.****)

• Daphne is the 3rd of 4 children, she is a,"Little momma" to violet and reminds me all the time when I tell her she is too little to help with certain things.

• She can be sweet and cuddly but I am pretty sure if she were ever in a bar fight, she would win. Her 2 older brothers have nothing on her cause she fights dirty, you know nails, kicking, pinching, pulling hair, teenage girl style

• She is a BIG TIME Daddy's girl and has been since day one! She cons him( and other people for that matter) into carrying her everywhere. She constantly says,"I have Daddy's eyes" and she does. He won't admit it and don't tell my other kids but she is his favorite, even though it drives me a little crazy since that means I am the only one who can discipline her, many a new dress has been willingly purchased in consequence, so I shouldn't complain.

  

• She is so tough that I sometimes forget how sensitive she is. When she was younger many a relative felt guilty after they told her,"no" and she howled like you just ripped her heart out.

• She has a lot of favorite people, and they all know it cause they get HUGE hugs when she sees them. She also has not favorites and they know it too! She often tells everyone that they are her best friend, including our cat Aloyisious (Big Al for short). If her brothers really want to get her back for attacking them, all they have to do is say that they are not her best friend.( I then put them in time out, on the grounds of emotional abuse)

• For the last 3 years she has told me on a consistent basis," I grow up, I get booboo's (boobs), I be cooking mama, I marry Tay-tay" ( uncle Taylor). We finally convinced her she can't marry her uncle, but she kept saying,"who I marry then?"and she persisted saying she would marry Tay till we found a replacement suitor. (he knows who he is)

• She is kinda obsessed with marriage and the word "marry" also means kiss to her so she constantly asks her dad, brothers, and me to "marry" her when she wants a kiss. Her brothers usually respond with an ewwww gross! She also tells Golden and I to "marry" each other quite frequently.

• She is really into making up songs, usually one liners, and she belts them at the top of her lungs endlessly with her head tilted back and eyes closed like any good diva. Last weeks classics were: My Friends Give me Wedgie which consequently inspired the lyrics to My Friends Just Break My Heart.

• Her most interesting favorite food is beans of all kinds she likes pinto (of course), black, kidney, and even garbanzo (in homemade hummus!).

•  Funny Daphne story: One time Gramma Linda was carrying her down the stairs and she said to her,"Gramma I HAVE legs!" I heard her from down stairs and could not stop laughing at the sass mouth on that girl.

I Love this girl! She keeps me laughing, crying, and on my toes for sure. All I have to say is, she is lucky she's cute cause otherwise....  

Swear you Won't Make Fun?

Today everyone in our house (except T ) is sick. Golden even came home early which is practically unheard of, so while he sleeps and Daph and Mo claw each other's eyes out. Seriously they are not best friends anymore according to Mo.
 I am indulging in a guilty pleasure that I am embarrassed to share. I am a huge fan of the ABC family show The Secret Life of the American Teenager

When it came on Netflix I did nothing for an entire week while I watched all the past seasons. My obsession is a little more under control now that the new season started. So Tuesday mornings I just put my headphones on and watch it on the laptop so that no smut is overheard by my babies. I know it is a teeny bopper show but I can't help it I love high school drama what can I say. I wouldn't recommend that you start watching it but ......... if you do call me so we can talk!

Shut up so i can feel the spirit!

I was just sitting here hanging out with this girl.....

thinking  about my day and how it didn't go just as i planned golden was called into work so I resumed my role as a single parent for the 5th night this week in addition to completeing an assignment due today, cooking meals, and watching LDS general conference, which was the best part of the day. It's funny cause not that long ago I used to dread listening to two days of endless talks but now, I love watching conference,  because I always feel a renewed zeal to live more righteously, to be a more patient and unselfish parent and spouse, to be more consistent in my prayers and scripture study, and just be a better person plus I usually I get out of it a few personal messages that I needed to hear. I find that i experience a range of emotions from guilt for my failures, encouragement to make changes,and excitement for all of the new things that I will perfect at starting now
..........ok now! Then as usual, life happens and before I know it I am grumpy with my kids and I feel like yelling over the chaos," SHUT UP SO I CAN FEEL THE SPIRIT!!!!!"( that one's for Tobi). so the question is how do I find balance? how do i choose which worthy pursuits to focus on? I often lay awake at night listing all of the things I "should" be doing,
 Before I know it I am practically hyperventilating and in the end feel too overwhelmed to even start. many a sleepless night is due to this list of failures that I keep tally of :

Oh dear!

•  consistent family/personal scrips/prayers                   
• FHE
•  attending the temple
•  visiting teaching 
• having a clean organized house
•  being better prepared
•  going to bed and waking up earlier
•  DIY projects
•  teaching my kids  
• cooking more often
•  being hotter.........the list goes on and on till about 3am.

 The lesson that I feel the lord is painfully trying to teach me is to be satisfied growing "line upon line precept on precept" I think that we all have to find balance and we each experience seasons in our life where certain principles are easier to live, and more pertinent to our progression than others.  the best and most uplifting message of the gospel is our ability to start fresh each day through repentance and the atonement.
  As a parent I  have begun to understand an inkling of the love my father in heaven has for me. I often make promises to my children and put into place requirements that must be met to achieve those rewards I want them to succeed so badly that I am willing to give them chance after chance after exhausting chance because I don't want them to miss out on any of the things I have offered. As I have reflected on this, it has opened my eyes to how our heavenly father must feel about us, how many times he is willing to "gather us in  as a hen gathers her chicks under her wings ".

 If I, an incredibly imperfect parent, am gladly willing to give my children as many chances as it takes to improve, then our Father in Heaven who is infinitely more long suffering must be just as anxious for our improvement so that he can likewise reward our efforts. I know that this is true and even though tonight was not my best parental performance and I probably failed my parenting 505 pop quiz, tomorrow will be better because I will try to remember all of the lessons I learned today and they will inspire me to do better and when I inevitably fall flat on my face (.... so tomorrow morning) I can repent and try again.