Sweet and Sour Pork

So upon request here is the recipe for Sweet and Sour Pork. I asked Jeni what recipe she used and she said it's from our Aunt Sonia so I gave it a whirl and I really liked it. I wasn't fond of this dinner growing up so I was really hesitant to make it, but I needed a new dinner idea. This tasted different than the stuff I remember.

Sweet and Sour Pork
1 c. flour
1/2 tsp. salt
1 lb pork cut into cubes
1 well beaten egg
Sauce:
1/2 c. sugar
1/2 c. vinegar (cider or rice- I used rice)
1/3 c. pineapple juice
1/2 c. catsup
1 tsp. soy sauce
2 T. cornstarch
2 T. cold water
1 c. pineapple
1 medium green pepper, cut up
cooked carrots (opt.)

Combine flour and salt. Dip pork cubes in egg and then into flour. Brown in oil til brown and done about 6-8 mins. In skillet combine sugar, vinegar, juice, catsup and soy sauce. Bring to a boil. Blend cornstarch and water together and gradually stir into sauce mixture. Keep adding until you reach desired thickness. Add warm pork cubes, pineapple, green peppers and carrots. Heat together while stirring until heated through. Serve over rice.

I didn't fry the pork cubes to save time and calories. So I just cut the pork chops up into cubes, sauteed them until they were done and set aside. Then I made the sauce and I didn't need to use all of the cornstarch/water mixture. Then I added the meat, pineapple and peppers. It was good.

Kate's Castle

Kate informs us daily that her room is a castle. She calls it her "pink castle". It goes along with this whole princess theme she is obsessed with lately. I probably don't help the obsession along when I buy her a princess backpack and princess flip flops (or "slip sops" as she calls them). It's really cute though to see how her imagination is developing. She pretends really well and so it's fun to listen to her playing and overhear what she talks about. She definitely picks up things faster than I realize. And just today as we were leaving our development, Kate asked about Tinkerbell (refer to Tinkerbell post). She says "Where Tinkerbell go?" I thought it was hilarious she still remembered this girl. I told Kate she was back in school again (some of the schools around here have mid-winter break).

Last night, Kate was "helping" me cook dinner and I was on the phone with Melanie. Kate was wanting to stir the pork around in the pan. (I was making sweet and sour pork which turned out so good. Everyone loved it. Thanks Jeni for the recipe recommendation!) While she was on a stool next to the stove she lost her balance and fell onto the pan and then onto the floor where all the pieces of meat and pan went flying. She was scared and she got burned on her finger a little. I think she touched the pan on her fall down. But luckily the pan or meat didn't land on her. All I could say to Melanie was "I gotta go" and hung up. After getting Kate happy and making her stick her hand in a cold glass of water I cleaned up the mess, finished dinner and I did call Melanie back. :) We have a gas stove so it could have been much worse had she touched more of the hot things. I hope Kate learned her lesson and will let mommy do the stirring and cooking- she can just watch. I've told her this multiple times, but you know how they love to help cook.

Preston hasn't been rolling over lately. I don't know what his deal is. He first rolled over right before his 4 month birthday. He rolled a handful of times, but hasn't done it lately. Kyle has yet to see him roll over so he doesn't believe me when I say he did! He's still eating pretty good so I hope that he keeps it up and puts on some weight (and rolls). We are actually taking him for a feeding evaluation next week because he's not the fastest eater and except for these last two weeks, he hasn't been interested in food. That's not the case now, but I made the appointment a month ago so we'll keep it and see what they have to say.

Good News!

I just got a call from Preston's doctor about the EEG he had done a week and half ago and it's normal!!!! We are happy about that. He hasn't had an episode for 3 weeks now so we don't have do to anything more for now (unless it happens again or more often). Yea!!!

Lions and Tigers and Bears, Oh My!

We had beautiful weather this weekend and so we took advantage of that and went to the zoo Saturday morning. It was a fun family outing. We have a membership to the zoo so we try to go often. It's nice to have a membership because there's no pressure if you don't or can't see everything. Kate rode the carousal and talked about "riding a horse" the rest of the day. She loved seeing the giraffes, elephants, monkeys and lions. Preston was good and hung out in the stroller.

Then that night we went to some friends house and had a yummy dinner followed by playing the Farming Game. Kyle and I both grew up playing that game and it's so fun. The couple we played with liked it too so we had fun playing for a few hours. It was a late night for everyone! We kind of payed for it the next day with tired kids (and parents!). :)

I am a dental hygienist and worked full time for 2 years and then only one day a week for almost 2 years after Kate was born. It was great to get out of the house and nice to earn extra money. My coworkers are great and even though I quit working last September before having Preston, they still invite me to things. They are too nice. Well, last week they gave me the option of filling in whenever I want or working one day a month. I thought about this long and hard. It would be nice to keep up my skills a little, get out of the house and bring home some extra cash! (This job pays well so even one day a month is good!) So I talked to my family, Kyle and I prayed about it. Kyle wasn't sold on the idea and I was giving him the pros and cons. I asked my friend, Kati, who used to watch Kate one day a week if she'd be willing to watch the kids. (She has two of her own the same ages as my kids so it would be like watching two sets of twins!) She said yes, but then thought about the craziness of it all and decided against it. After getting her answer I talked to Kyle again and we decided that I would not work. I can always fill in if I really want, but I feel good about my decision. I figure why add more stress to my life (like if the kids are sick that one day I need to work and trying to find someone to watch them is tricky). Kyle said I could work the one day a month if I would feel more fulfilled, but he said "we only raise these kids once and it's worth it for you to be home with them". I have a good husband. I should be grateful he's not pressuring me to work and that he appreciates and values a stay at home mom! So onto the next poopy diaper and load of laundry!!! ha! :)

Tagged...

My friends Courtney and Megan both tagged me (my first time!). I know this is really long, but here it is.

#1- Ten years ago:
I was in HS and enjoying my senior year.
#2- Five thing on my To-Do list:
(this was from today) do laundry, go to Target, go to Post Office, go visiting teaching, take a nap (Preston was up through the night for a bit)
#3- Snacks I enjoy:
My all time favorite is powdered donettes with chocolate milk! yum!
#4- Three bad Habits:
I have a hard time throwing away stuff until I get on my rampage as Kyle calls it, I put off doing laundry and/or chores, and I'm not patient enough.
#5- If I suddenly became a Billionaire:
I would build my dream house, pay off everything, travel, shop and then save.
#6- Places I've lived:
Mattawa, Rexburg, Cheney, Seattle, Everett
#7- Jobs I've had:
worked on my Dad's farm baling hay, quality cherry checker for Stemilt, worked in a deli (yuck) and dental hygienist.
#8- Things people don't know about me:
I like to make cards using rubber stamps (when I have the time or energy :)), I worry too much and make lists all the time.

Next one:
How long have you been together? We will be married for 8 years in May! Long time.

How long did you date? We knew each other before he went on his mission. Then dated for 5 months before getting engaged. Then we were engaged for 6 months before getting married.

How old is he? 29 (almost 30!)

Who eats more? He does most the time, but I can keep up (I shouldn't though) and it also depends what food it is.

Who said "I love you" first? I think he did. He first said he "cared" about me. I think he said that because it's not so serious. :) I actually thought it was cute. Then as we got more serious it turned to "love".

Who is taller? He is, but not by much especially when I wear heels.

Who is smarter? I am book smart and he is everything else smart. He knows more random facts than anyone I know. He loves trivia games and I hate them (and I'm the one that loves games!).

Who does the laundry? I do, but he helps out a lot.

Who does the dishes? I do most of the time, but he does do it a lot. It depends on what's going on at night and who is home.

Who sleeps on the right side of the bed? I do.

Who pays the bills? Me!

Who mows the lawn? Kyle does. It takes him a long 15 minutes to do it! :)

Who cooks dinner? I do or else we would get mac and cheese all the time. ha!

Who is more stubborn? Probably me, but he is super stubborn too.

Who kissed who first? He kissed (or pecked) me first! He was nervous and I was still in high school. We laugh about it now.

Who asked who out? He mainly did, but my Mom asked him one time when he was going to ask me to a dance because she needed to make my dress! I was so embarrassed! :)

Who proposed? He did at the Las Vegas Temple.

Who is more sensitive? I am.

Who has more friends? I do.

Who has more siblings? I do. I have 5 and he has 1 and 2 half.

Little Guy

I meant to post these pictures with the previous post, but forgot so I had to add them.

I thought this picture was funny because Preston has been making this funny face a lot lately. He'll suck his lips in and it makes me laugh.

I love his rosy red cheeks and lips in this picture. He hasn't been the best eater, but lately he's been Mr. Piglet. He's been eating 6 oz (or more) every 3 hours! That's a lot for him. I don't mind feeding him when he eats like that. Now hopefully he keeps eating that way so he packs on the pounds.