Aidree Lin Makes Her Arrival

Eight days ago on September 12, I became a proud aunt to my first niece. I am so excited to meet Miss Aidree Lin. She was born a big 8 pounds, 15 ounces and 22 inches tall. At her week visit, she was already 9 pounds, 2 ounces. From pictures, she doesn't look like a new born. She doesn't have that newborn, well, scrunched up ugliness. She is so pretty. I get to go home in 2 weeks and can't wait. Here are a few pictures, that it took me a whole week to get, but have so enjoyed.



A BSU fan from the very beginning. I thought it was so cute of the nurse to put a blue and orange bow in her hair for Aidree's fist BSU football game, which of course they won!













I love this picture of Aidree with my dad. How precious.










And of course, Grandma Gladys Swensen wouldn't dare send a great grandbaby of hers to earth without sending them with her chin.

Rules To Live By

I found these fabulous RULES TO LIVE BY and thought I would share.
Rules to Live By
1. Take into account that great love and great achievements involve great risk.
2. When you lose, don't lose the lesson.
3. Follow the three R's of good karma:
- Respect for self
- Respect for others
- Responsibility for all your actions.
4. Remember that not getting what you want is sometimes a wonderful stroke of luck.
5. Learn the rules so you know how to break them properly.
6. Don't let a little dispute injure a great relationship.
7. When you realize you've made a mistake, take immediate steps to correct it.
8. Spend some time alone every day.
9. Open your arms to change, but don't let go of your values.
10. Remember that silence is sometimes the best answer.
11. Live a good, honourable life. Then when you get older and think back, you'll be able to enjoy it a second time.
12. A loving atmosphere in your home is the foundation for your life.
13. In disagreements with loved ones, deal only with the current situation. Don't bring up the past.
14. Share your knowledge. It is a way to achieve immortality.
15. Be gentle with the earth.
16. Once a year, go someplace you've never been before.
17. Remember that the best relationship is one in which your love for each other exceeds your need for each other.
18. Judge your success by what you had to give up in order to get it.(Dalai Lama)
19. Be kind.

Quick and Totally Easy Chicken Corn Chowder

A sister that I VT has been sick this week, so I told her I would bring her dinner. I made bread this morning and then ran some errands. My errands were longer than I planned, so I changed the soup that I was going to make and ended up making my own concoction of Chicken Corn Chowder. It was so delicious that I had to share the recipe or at least write it down so that I don't forget it. I had it made and was out the door in 20 minutes, no joke.
Here it is my "Semi Homemade" Chicken Corn Chowder

1 can creamed corn
1 can whole potatoes
1 can chicken broth
1 can costco/sams chicken
1 can evaporated milk
1 can Chicken Corn Chowder (from Aldi's)
Celery 1/2 cup or so chopped
Carrots 1/2 cup or so chopped (or I shredded just a few, because I didn't have time to let them boil and soften)for color!
Frozen Corn I just dumped some in maybe 1/2 cup
2T sour cream
Salt and Pepper to taste

Bacon and Cheddar potato skins

Combine and bring to boil: chicken broth, celery and carrots until softened. Add frozen corn until soft.

In another pan combine creamed corn, whole potatoes (cut in pieces), chicken, not quite the entire can of milk (although I think you would be fine, I thought I had added the whole can and didn't), and Prepared Chicken Corn Chowder (if you have it). Warm, don't scorch the bottom.
Combine both pans and sour cream.
Serve with Bacon and Cheddar potato skins.

This was so delicious that I wished I could have eaten it with someone else. Maybe I will have to make this for my next RS Pres meeting. The best part about this was it only took less than 20 minutes!

Summer's Over...Already?

I know, I hear you all, it's about time I updated my blog. I still have a valentine background, not because I am waiting to fall in love with some hot hunk, well, really I am, but because my background just won't change. I do everything I am suppose to, but I think there must be something blocked, which won't allow me to do it on my lap top.
I really have been wanting to update over the summer, but I ask you all, where did the summer go and has it really ended. I mean Labor Day is only 2 days away and after that, well, most people in the West put away their flip flops and shorts and pull out the sweater's and jackets. Don't get me wrong, I love fall days, but I am just not ready to put away my flip flops. Maybe that is why I continue to live in the south, where I only stop wearing them all day from December through February, of course I always keep them at the door, for short excursions.
I do love Fall or rather the cool evenings, which surprisingly we have had this week, deserts containing pumpkin and cinnamon, fall leaves and of course college football! There is something about Boise State Football (great game this week!), fall leaves (my tree's think fall is already here as the leaves are already turning colors or maybe the tree has just died), and yes, I do love sweaters, although I did buy a pair of shorts and flip flops this week. This year though I feel like my summer needs to last another month, which is why I am planning to go to the beach in 10 days. Maybe then I will feel ready to move out of summer and into fall.
This morning has been very relaxing. This is the first weekend that I didn't have anything planned. That just doesn't happen very often. I had origiannly planned to organize the garage, but feel I would be a little more successful doing a little shopping, not for clothes...I have plenty of those, but for decorations for my newly painted room. You see, when my parents were here last week. I of course had to put my father's talents to work as I always do when he comes to town. We or rather he put beadboard up in my room and mom and Tenielle(someone has to supervise...that was me) painted one wall blue, I am talking Boise State Blue. I was a little hesitant thinking that it would make the room look too dark, but it is breath taking. Okay, maybe that isn't quite the word, but it looks pretty awesome. The room kind of has a French Country look. So I figured I would put today to use and will try to find some decorations for the walls. My mom has suggested plates. Apparently they are the in thing...different shapes, colors, sizes. Mom also feels I need a chair in one of the corners. The wall between the windows needs a large mirror, which my be pricey and hard to find, but will be quite the asset to the room. So I will head to my nearest TJ Max, although I had planned to wait until my beach trip, as there is a huge TJ Max/Homegoods at Hilton Head. Maybe I will hit a few yard sales or even maybe the goodwill. You never know what you might find. So there you have something to read today. I know I say I am going to keep up on this, so here is to a new beginning...hopefully!