Last night I made this Family Hamburger Soup I found in a Pillsbury recipe book I have and it was delicious.

Ingredients:

1 lb lean ground beef (I used ground turkey)

1/4 cup chopped onion

2 cups diced, peeled potatoes

1 cup sliced celery

1 bag (12 oz) frozen mixed vegetables (I used a mixture of fresh and frozen)

3 cups water

2 (10 1/2 oz) cans condensed beef broth

1 (28 oz) can diced tomatoes, undrained

1 tablespoon Worcestershire sauce

Directions:

1. In a large saucepan or Dutch oven, cook ground beef and onion over medium-high heat until beef is thoroughly cooked, stirring frequently. Drain.

2. Add the remaining ingredients; mix well. Bring to a boil. Reduce head to low; cover and simmer 18 to 20 mintues or until vegetables are tender, stirring occasionally.

For dessert I made Vanilla Cupcakes from my Cook Yourself Thin cookbook. They were delicious too. I think Joey at 4 of them already. Good thing they are low fat

This year to celebrate our 5th wedding anniversary we went to dinner at Cucina Toscana and then spent the night at Anniversary Inn.

Dinner was a lot of fun and expensive BUT amazingly delicious. Cucina Toscana is considered one of Salt Lake’s finest restaurants and has received numerous awards. If you are looking for the best Italian food in Salt Lake, this is the place to go. I look forward to going there again.

We have spent every anniversary so far at Anniversary Inn. It’s a nice bed and breakfast with themed rooms. Our stay this time wasn’t the best (the room was cold and our upstairs neighbors played FM 100 blaring loud for 3 hours in the middle of the night) but we still had fun.

Joey spoiled me this year with anniversary gifts. He bought me two cookbooks from America’s Test Kitchen:

and a Garmin Nuvi 1200:

What a happy surprise. Thanks honey!

It’s crazy to think today marks the end of a decade. Here are some things that have happened in my life for the past 10 years:

2000

June – Graduated from High School

August – Started college and joined the marching band

2001

June – Started dating Joey

October – Got my fingers stuck in the dough roller at 5 Buck Pizza. The nice ER doctor sewed them back on and they are good as new

2003

December 25th – Got engaged

2005

January 1st – Got married

May – Got my Bachelor of Science

2006

December – Joey totaled his car. We are now a one car family.

2007

May – Got my Master of Science

October 31st – Found kitten in the parking lot of a paint store. Ended up keeping her. We named her Pumpkin.

2008

August – Someone was looking for a home for a kitten. We decided to bring her home. We named her Coconut.

October – Bought town home

2009

March – Joey bought a used car. We are now a two car family again. Yay!

April – Went on a Baja Mexico cruise.

November – Found out I was pregnant! (We saw the doctor this week and he says the baby is active and measuring just right. Our expected due date is July 21st.)

I am excited to see what 2010 brings! I hope you all have a great new year.

I thought I would share some things I am thankful for:

• My relationship with Christ
• My husband – he loves me for who I am and puts up with me
• My family – they are always there for me
• My job(s) – a source of income and enjoyment (for the most part)
• My house – a place to call home
• My health – I am healthy and I hope I never take that for granted
• My Grandma – she has taught me so much but really taught me to love Jesus
• My friends – it’s always fun to get together with friends
• My hairdresser -I am thankful that I can afford to have my hair colored and cut
• Foodnetwork – fun to watch and a great way to get new recipe ideas
• Facebook – a great way to stay connected to friends and family
• My cats – especially when they curl up on my lap

I hope you have a great Thanksgiving!

Recently I have:

1. Read the following parenting books:

I like to read parenting books for work and secretly hope that it will help me when I become a parent. These books had some great information. Very useful and quick reads.

2. Learned how to make Starbuck’s Caramel Apple Spice Drink

I searched on Google for the recipe and found that it was pretty easy (all you need is: apple cider, cinnamon syrup, whip cream and caramel sauce). I did end up going to Starbucks to buy their cinnamon syrup but it was so worth it!

3. Updated my Amazon Wish List. It mostly includes books and kitchen things. I need a life!

4. Ordered Christmas cards.

5. Thought about when I should put up my Christmas decorations and start listening to Christmas music. It snowed on Saturday and I was really tempted to listen to Christmas music but I decided I am going to wait until after Thanksgiving. AFTER Thanksgiving people. AFTER!

6. Thought about what to buy everyone for Christmas and wondered what it would be like if we could spend all our money on stuff for us and the house? I even started a wish list for that (hand written). How bad is that?

7. Celebrated my sister’s 20th birthday. That made me feel old.

8. Learned my Grandmother is not doing very well and they have decided to only give her pain medications and sleeping pills to keep her comfortable. She is still able to get up and go to the bathroom and eat at the table but she is getting weaker and weaker. It is getting harder for my parents and sister to care for her. The future is scary and unknown for her (will she have a stroke? will so go peacefully in her sleep? how much longer will she be in pain?) but God is in control.

After talking to the construction workers and our HOA, we learned that they are putting in a secondary water line (irrigation water). The HOA apologized for not thinking to call us. I am just glad I know what’s going on.

They should be done by Wednesday.