Oatmeal Squares Trail Mix

Six weeks of recipes to catch up on too! Sorry:) I don't really love nuts in things but I really liked this...

8 C. Oatmeal Squares cereal
2 C. Craisins
2 C. pecans
1/4 C. butter
1/2 C. brown sugar
1/2 C. corn syrup
Cook butter, brown sugar, and corn syrup to a boil stirring constantly. Remove from heat and add 1/2 tsp. soda and 1 tsp. vanilla. Pour over cereal mixture and stir until everything is coated. Put on a cookie sheet and bake for 30 minutes at 250.

Country Quiche

Maybe I have been on a little bit of a breakfast kick but we had this for dinner with a salad and it was GOOD! I have never made quiche before but it was simple and quick and even my kids liked it. You can really put whatever sounds good to you in this quiche and it has a nice no crust/a little crust taste to it. (O.k. so that might not make sense so you'll just have to try it!)

3 eggs
1/2 C. Bisquick
1/4 C. butter, melted
1 1/2 C. milk
1/4 tsp. salt
Dash of pepper
1/2 C. cooked spinach
1 tomato diced
1 pkg sausage, browned and drained
1 cup shredded cheese
(I wanted to add a few cooked mushrooms but my family protested)
Grease a 9 inch pie pan. Place first 6 ingredients in blender and blend well. Pour mixture in pan. Add other ingredients with cheese on top. Press gently with back of a spoon so that everything is below surface. Bake 45 minutes at 350. Let stand 10 minutes before cutting.

Blueberry French Toast Cassorole

This is wonderful!! I LOVED this recipe and the yummy homemade syrup that goes on top. It is a good thing it makes a lot because you have to have more than one piece!

12 slices bread
12 eggs
2 pkgs. 8 oz cream cheese (I used low fat and it was still fabulous)
1 C. blueberries
2 C. milk
1/3 C. syrup or honey

Cut bread and cream cheese into cubes. Place in a greased 9x13 pan. Sprinkle blueberries over top. Beat eggs; then beat in milk and syrup. Pour over the top. Cover and refrigerate over night. Bake covered at 350 for 30 minutes. Uncover and bake another 30 minutes.

Blueberry Syrup

1 C. sugar
1 C. blueberries
2 T. cornstarch
1 C. water
1 T. butter

Mix sugar and cornstarch. Add water and cook over medium heat until boiling stirring constantly. Add blueberries and cook another 3 minutes. Add butter and serve.

Six Weeks Worth of Updating...

I have been a little behind on blogging. Well O.K. a lot behind! Here are some highlights of the last six weeks...
April fools day left Ryan nauseous, pale, faint, and weak in the knees. A positive prego test appeared and was left on the back of the toilet in plain sight! (thanks to a special pregnant friend!) He kept asking me over and over " How could this be? How could this be?" After seeing the blood drain from his face and Ryan collapsing in a chair I decided the joke was up! I laughed and laughed but Ryan didn't even crack a smile. He just kept saying "I feel sick!" The kids enjoyed their hot fudge sundae's for breakfast and all day long played tricks on mom.

Peyton started flag football and some how ended up on a team of all 1st and 2nd graders. Needless to say he is the smallest but I think he loves it the most out of all the boys. They have an awesome quarterback and receiver and have won every game so far! Next up is golf lessons and then baseball and swimming lessons. What would I do for a little free time that does not involve sports? We celebrated Peyton's 6th birthday on Sat. with lots of grandparents, movies, gameworld, pizza, cake and ice cream, and presents. It is still hard to believe we have a 6 year old! Are we really that old? He is Ryan in a six year old body! He loves every sport, is the class clown and loves to make people laugh, has more energy than any of us know what to do with, and is so smart and loves to learn and go to school. We love him so much and feel bad he is the first "trial" child for our parenting mistakes, mishaps, and blunders.

Finley (a.k.a. unicorn) can frequently been seen riding her bike around the neighborhood, eating breakfast, watching a show, or playing in the backyard with her unicorn Halloween costume on. Why do I even ask what she would like to wear everyday when I know the answer is "My unicorn". I do set limits and make her change when we go to the store, pre-school, and of course church! Cheerleading just finished and Finley got to dance in the end of the year performance. She was so cute and didn't even get nervous with all those people watching. She loved the outfit and wearing makeup. What can I say; she is still a girly girl who loves sports and beating up on her brother!

We celebrated Easter in Utah with our families and had a busy weekend with lots of egg hunts, food, parties, and fun. The Easter bunny was good to the kids and left them the usual swimming suits, cover-ups and rash guards, goggles, and flip-flops. They also came home with more candy than Halloween! We went to church with Ryan's parents and the kids looked so cute in their Easter outfits!

Italian Sandwiches

I know it's St. Patrick's Day and I know this is Italian but at least it's good! This is a recipe my Mom made for us when Gabe was born and brings back fond memories. It's really easy and has wonderful flavor. (My sister in-law does a similar version with turkey and a few more ingredients to make a sloppy joe. E-mail me if you want that recipe also.) Thanks Mom for all your ideas and taking care of me!

1 1/2 lbs. hamburger
1 1/2 lbs. Italian sausage
2 large onions, sliced
2 large green peppers, sliced
2 large sweet peppers, sliced
1 tsp. salt
1 tsp. pepper
1/4 tsp. crushed red pepper flakes
8 sandwich rolls
Monterey jack or pepper jack cheese

Brown hamburger and sausage. Drain. Place a third of veggies in the bottom of crock pot. Top with half the meat. Repeat layers; top with remaining veggies. Sprinkle with salt, pepper, and red pepper flakes. Cook for 6 hours on low. Serve inside roll with cheese on top. This is wonderful with or without red pepper flakes. Also is a great recipe to half as it makes a ton!

The Leprechaun Visit of 2009

Every year on St. Patty's Day a funny leprechaun comes to our house and plays tricks on our family. (Thanks to my friend Jen for this idea!) This year he put backpacks in the oven, shoes in the dryer, colored our milk green, put moustaches on the kids, and wrote "Luck of the Irish" on the bathroom mirror. After a breakfast of green pancakes and milk (which Finley would not eat and only howled at the top of her lungs about) we were off to preschool. On the way Finley saw the city workers out working on a manhole which they had spray painted green arrows all around. She asked what they were doing and I told her "the leprechauns go back to Ireland through that hole." After school I was trying to take a picture with all 3 kids and of course could not get them to all look at the same time so I yelled "There's a leprechaun behind me!" Looking at the picture that was not one of my brightest ideas. Then the kids headed down to the basement for a movie and "surprise" we had blown a fuse. The lights and T.V. would not turn on. Peyton's eyes bulged out of his head and Finley began to cry. Our funny little leprechaun was not so funny anymore. Hopefully I have not ruined my kids and caused nightmares! Needless to say we enjoyed St. Patty's Day!

Those Finnish Sure Know How to Make Soup!

This is a recipe that my mother in-law found and I Loved it. It is a simple, creamy, smooth soup that even your kids will like and it's a great way to sneak in a few veggies!

Finnish Vegetable Soup

• 1 head cauliflower, chopped
• 2 large potatoes, chopped
• 8 carrots, peeled & chopped
• 2 zucchini, chopped
• 1 quart chicken broth
• 8 oz cream cheese
• salt & pepper to taste

In a 6 quart stock pot combine all ingredients, except cream cheese, to a boil. Cook until veggies are soft, about 20 to 30 minutes. Add cream cheese. Blend in a blender until smooth. Serve with a little grated parmesan cheese on top.

This is wonderful with a crusty warm bread and your favorite salad.

Gabe's New Do

I decided to cut Gabe's beautifully balding baby head after my sister asked "what is up with Gabe's hair?" It was my hint and I knew it was finally time. The patches of hair and baldness combined with the really long comb over on top could no longer be managed, so off it all went in one fail swoop! I have to admit I was a little sad to see all that baby hair in the sink but he sure looks adorable! We were surprised by how blond he now is and how much older he looks. It took a little getting use to but we love it!

Need I Say More?

WHATEVER!... Is all I have to say about the hair issues that befall on my family. Yes it did come out and no you can't really see the bald spot it left behind.

Disneyland 2009

If you know our family you know we LOVE Disneyland! Our kids want to live there someday and Ryan and I dream of our annual trip either with friends (the Devries Family this year) or family. We enjoyed every second of sunshine and warm weather, all of our favorite treats from Disneyland (i.e. raspberry white chocolate chip cookies, white chocolate hot cocoa, pineapple ice cream, and corn dogs from the corn dog castle) seeing our kids ride all the rides they could handle; including Finley who was just tall enough this time to ride almost all the rides. She beat out the boys for the title of "Dare Devil" and made Ryan proud! We drove to Cali. this time and were pleasantly surprised at how well our kids did. Despite the yelling, biting, hitting, and crying we actually think we would do it again. Gabe won the award for BEST BABY EVER! He smiled a lot (something to do with the sunshine I think) slept great both at night and for naps in the stroller, and was all around wonderful! (I knew there was a reason he is currently the favorite)

Texas Roadhouse Ribs...Need I say more!

This is more like instructions than a recipe but it truly is the best! My sister-in-laws friends called up the Texas Roadhouse and asked them how they did it. This is what they said...

Rack of ribs (Costco or Sam's are the best)
Score the back of each rib
Place 1/2 rack in 9x13 backing dish (you need 2 pans)
Pour 3 T. liquid smoke and 1 1/2 C. cold water in each pan
Cover with saran wrap and seal tightly. You don't want the ribs touching the saran wrap.
Place foil over saran wrap and seal tightly.
Cook at 250 for 5-6 hours.
Cool slightly then smother with favortie BBQ sauce and grill until sauce is slightly seared and carmalized appox. 10 min.

These are wonderful and worth the time. They really are very easy you just have to plan ahead!

I Don't Know Why Mom's So Mad....It's Just Hair!

This is what happens when you think to yourself my kids need "kid" scissors to practice with. I remember now why I had never bought them before and why they now are in the garbage. Thankfully Finley's hair actually turned out great!

We Are the Champions My Friends (well almost!)

We spent the weekend watching Ryan in a tennis tournament. He had a lot of fun and made it all the way to the championship! He lost the last match to an older "gentleman"who had been studying Ryan's game all week. Old men who are into tennis can be slightly strange. He also talked his friend Greg into the doubles tournament which was played the same week. They had a lot of fun despite Greg's injury and Ryan playing several matches that week.

Blog or Not to Blog?

I have to say that blogging has not turned out to be my most favorite thing. (Surprise! Surprise!) I feel as though it gnaws at me everyday; calling me until I finally sit down to at least a couple of hours of me trying to make a worth while post. I also find myself comparing my currently plain blog to others who have FABULOUSLY decorated blogs with perfectly happy beautiful children, even more beautifully rested mothers, and fathers who bring home the bling which supports their all around wonderful life. Don't get me wrong; I am really happy but very normal. My kids only look perfect on Sundays (hence the picture) just before church and are usually a wreck by the end of sacrament meeting, I am NEVER rested and long for younger skin, body, and energy, Ryan does bring home the bling in the form of "I'm glad you like it honey. I searched by price and picked the cheapest thing I could find!" As I thought about this dilemma I decided that is why I started blogging in the first place; to show the real me. That includes the fun wonderful things we do and all the stuff in between. We are not perfect but dang we are FABULOUS! It is time to shift gears and be grateful for all I have. I will always have room for improvement but that is what makes life worth living! So I will continue on and blog to be grateful, normal, happy, & fabulous!

Sleep Anyone?!?!?!

My sleeping life has turned into a wreck of a circus with feedings, pottings, music on, music off, I need a drink, tuck me in a 3 a.m., I had a bad dream, I need medicine, feed Gabe some more, and last but not least "Mom look I woke up early today!" Well lucky me! I wake up looking like someone ran me over and I am not a morning person to begin with! HELP ME RONDA!!! Who knew having three kids could be so much fun! It seems like our sleeping life was normal and under control until we came home from Christmas and now I'm just too sleepy to make Gabe cry it out and I don't have the energy to argue with my kids at 3 a.m. But it has finally come to a breaking point (i.e. me in tears first thing in the morning) So we begin a new sleep tonite. Pray for me. I'm going to need it.

This One's for the Grandma's

I thought I would do a little update on my kids. They certainly keep me busy with basketball, cheerleading, fighting, bum wiping, feeding, playing, and mess making! What would we do without them! :)

PEYTON... just started basketball, and like all sports, loves to play. Him and his friend Cannon are playing on a 1st grade team so needless to say they are definitely the smallest but probably the most sassy. He is already thinking about the next sport and asks me daily when soccer sign-ups begin. He is excited about our next trip to Disneyland and wants to know why we can't just live there!

FINLEY...just started cheerleading and is the cutest thing I have ever seen. I was never a cheerleader and am still completely uncoordinated but Finley loves to tumble, run around, and yell really really loud so we figured why not! The other night after baths Finley came into my room with the biggest moustache/beard I have ever seen on her cute CLEAN face. The conversation went like this: Me "Finley what in the heck have you been eating?" Finley "Nothing. Why?" Me "You haven't been into the candy?" Finley "No Mommy. Why?" bat bat of the eyelashes. At this point I lifted her up to the mirror to see her face and the beautiful green moustache/beard. She laughed and said "Oh yeah I think I did eat some of the candy!"

GABE...Currently our favorite child. He has started to roll and has also started sucking his thumb. I can't decide if it is the cutest thing ever or the most expensive. (i.e. braces, braces, braces) He is all Ryan from looks to late night David Letterman. He weighs in at 15 lbs. (50th percentile) and is 26 in long (78th percentile) with a ginormous melon (80th percentile). We are enjoying every last minute of the last baby stages for our family. It is exciting and a little sad all at the same time, and a little more exciting, to have the "done" feeling.

I'm Back...

You probably thought I had already quit, right? Well I had some malfunctions with the good ol' computer but all is well now thanks to our neighbor friend and computer genius Chuck! We now owe him something fabulous and this is what I think I will make...
( I am suppose to be on post baby motivational biggest loser family edition diet can you tell? Hunger is my friend and so is delicious chex mix!)

Chocolate Chex Caramel Crunch
8 C. Chocolate Chex cereal (I use a cup or two less to have it a little gooey)
3/4 C. brown sugar
6 T. butter
3 T. corn syrup
1/4 tsp. baking soda
white chocolate chips
mini marshmallows (optional)
broken up graham cracker pieces (optional)

Microwave brown sugar, butter, and corn syrup for 1 min. Stir. Microwave 30-60 sec. longer. Stir until blended. Stir in baking soda until dissolved. Pour over cereal, stirring until evenly coated. Microwave for 3 minutes stirring every minute. Let cool 2 or 3 minutes and then add chocolate chips, marshmallows, and grahams. Spread on baking sheet lined with wax paper. Let cool and enjoy!

A Fabulous New Recipe

Simply stated: I love food. (hence the extra baby lbs and hopefully frequent trips to the gym) I also love to cook. One of the best cooks I know is my sister in-law Amy. We can thank her for this fabulous new recipe.....

Italian Chili

1 lb Italian sausage
1/2 C. diced green pepper
1/2 C. diced red pepper
1/2 C. diced onion
1 clove garlic minced
Brown sausage with peppers, onion, and garlic. Then add the following:
2 15 oz cans Italian tomatoes diced
1 15 oz can chili beans
1 15 oz can white kidney beans
1 1/2 tsp. basil
1 1/2 tsp. oregano
1 1/2 tsp. Italian seasoning
2 Tbsp. corn starch mixed well with 1/2 C. cold water or cold beef broth

Heat to boiling stirring occasionally. Let simmer 20 minutes. For those who don't love sausage I used half hamburger and half sausage and it turned out really well!

This was great with some warm crusty garlic bread and we even put shredded Parmesan cheese on top. I dare say it is better than the O.G.!

Here we go...

I have finally caved into much pressure from far away family and close friends to begin a blog! Truthfully I hope I can just find time to post occasionally and keep everyone on the up and up with the things we Idaho Craguns are doing. So here is the first Post.... (please don't say to yourselves "I wonder why I never received a Christmas card from the Craguns" because I never sent one out so please enjoy)

The Christmas Card That Never Was 2008

Here we are another year older and another year wiser! 2008 brought us much happiness, a few vacations, and a new addition to our family. We are still in Idaho Falls and are still trying to adjust to the bitter winters and howling winds. Ryan is still happily selling drugs in which he loves his territory i.e. Jackson Hole (can you say fabulous skiing) and Montplier-Preston (can you say Bear Lake). He is still an avid BYU fan and tried endlessly to convince me to name our newborn son Fui, Max, or Austin. I spent much of the year growing a baby, sewing, enjoying a much needed girls vacation to see WICKED in L.A., recovering from a baby just in time to travel to Disneyland, cooking and of course creating this wonderful blog. Peyton has started Kindergarten and loves school. He reads and writes and we are in awe at how it all just clicked. We are proud of his "smarts". He loves all sports and loved playing Soccer, T-Ball, and now basketball. He loves to annoy his sister and kiss on his new little brother. Finley has started pre-school and learned to ride a bike this summer. She loved our trip to Disneyland and still talks about how scary the "maderhorn" was. We joke about her lack of motherly skills because "Gabey baby gets on my nerbes (nerves) when he cries." Gabe was born on Sep. 16th and we love him! He is already tipping the scales at a whopping 14lbs. He loves his mama, is smiling, laughing, and cooing.

From our family to yours

Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!

Love,

The Cragun Family