Amazing Vegetable Lasagna Recipe

So my friend Holly recently posted a recipe on her blog that I decided to try yesterday.  Turns out it is a keeper.  It was so good in fact that I would like to share it with my friends too.  Try it, you won't regret it!

1 pkg oven-ready lasagna noodles
1 15oz container ricotta
2 eggs
1/2 cup or so parmesan cheese (if you have grated on hand, that would taste the best)
pepper to taste
dried (or fresh) basil to taste
bell peppers (I like to use a couple different colors: red, orange, and yellow)
broccoli
1 onion
a couple carrots
1 jar of your favorite pasta sauce
A few handfuls of mozzarella

Use about 4 cups of chopped vegetables combined (use more or less if you want). Dice the veggies--couple handfuls of broccoli, 2 whole peppers (at least), whole onion-, and grate the carrots. As you chop them up, put them all in a big microwave safe bowl with a little bit of water and microwave them for 6 minutes or so until they are tender. 

While the veggies are "cooking" mix together the ricotta, parmesan, eggs, pepper, and basil. Then add veggies to this mixture.

Then assemble lasagna: pour some pasta sauce in a 13 x 9" pan first then add a layer of noodles. Then cheese/veggie mixture, sprinkle with handful of mozzarella. Then repeat layers starting with pasta sauce until you run out of toppings. Bake at 350 for about 1 hour and 15-30 minutes. Let stand for 15-20 minutes to firm up. 

Mimi and Papa's Visit

Jake's parents drove down from Idaho to spend his birthday with us. Hannah had a lot of fun with her Mimi and Papa and warmed up to them immediately. Within a few minutes upon their arrival they had her smiling and laughing. They arrived on Thursday which was Jake's 27th birthday! I can't believe he is 27. We started dating when he was 21...time just flies right on by. For Jake's birthday we went out to dinner at our favorite restaurant, The Happy Sumo. Then we went to his Aunt and Uncles house to have dessert. Jake got some money from both sets of parents which he is planning on putting toward some golf clubs. The following day Jake got off work early and went golfing with his dad at Cedar Hills. While the boys were golfing us girls went shopping at the Holy Cow Boutique. Hannah made out like a bandit! Mimi bought her a new swimming suit and cover up, sun hat, leggings, socks that look like ballet slippers, this cute little onsie, and some embroidered socks. On Saturday morning we went to breakfast at Mimi's Cafe and than had to say goodbye. It was so much fun having Mimi and Papa here, but the visit was way too short.

You should get one too!!

A couple of mom's in my branch were talking about how they are all getting Seven Peaks Season Passes this summer and suggested that I do the same. They mentioned that in the summer it get's too hot to go to the park, so they take their children to the water park. It sounded like a blast so I got one! I am way excited. Hannah loves bath time, so I'm thinking she will be a big fan of the pool. I did some searching online and found some good deals on swimming suits for Hannah and I. They arrived yesterday so I just had to try them on Hannah. Here are some cute pictures of her in the adorable swimming suits. They are for ages 6-12 months...but I'm guessing she won't be able squeeze in it at a year old, I just hope they last the summer. I tried mine on too, but I'm going to spare your eyes and not document that :-) For any of you moms that are reading this, you should get a season pass too!! It is only $49.95 for the summer and children under 4 are free.

Hannah is quickly becoming a pro at sitting up on her own.

5 Months Old!

Our little girl is growing up so stinking fast.  She is becoming a very busy and active girl.  She is always trying to reach for anything in her view.  Her favorite thing to play with is a water bottle.  Yes I know...easy to please.  If only we had known this before we bought her real toys :-)  She is becoming very smart too.  Yesterday Jake gave her one of his empty Gatorade bottles to play with.  Than he held a bigger empty bottle in front of her and she immediately dropped the smaller one and reached for the big one, it was precious.  She just recently started sitting up on her own.  I have been playing with her on the floor and letting go while she is sitting to see if she could balance and a couple of days ago she did.  She sat there for a couple of minutes just playing with her toys.  Yesterday she showed daddy her new trick when he placed her in the corner of the couch with her back supported by the couch, and when he came back she sat up on her own and played with her toys.  She is still very talkative but has decided to show us her not so pretty voice which consists of grunting and squealing.  She never fails to keep us entertained. 

She sleeps in a variety of different positions.  Ranging from crooked neck positions to side sleeping while covering her face.

This is how her daddy discovered her and how he quickly found out that she can sit on her own.

She reaches for everything!  From the camera while I'm taking a picture to the mirror above her swing...

to her cute little feetsies.
Propping her self up while sitting.

She is such a happy little girl and never fails to brighten up our days with the most beautiful smile I have ever seen.

.  

Easter 2009

My parents and younger brother were able to come visit us for Easter and my Birthday. Easter Sunday we had Stake Conference. Elder Richard G. Scott came and spoke at it. He gave a wonderful talk on the Atonement and the importance of teaching gospel principles to our children. Following Stake Conference we had dinner at my brother Ronnies house. We had the traditional ham dinner, yum.

For my Birthday we all went out to dinner at Chef's Table. Once again, yum. It was so fun having family in town. Hannah loved all the attention.


Playing in her play gym.
Grandma Geri curled her hair for Easter.
Hannah was very patient throughout the process.
Hanging out with Grandpa Ron and the bunny that the Easter Bunny (aka grandparents) brought her.
All dressed up in her Easter dress.
Showing off the pretty dress.
Who needs a monkey gym when you have uncle David?
This one didn't end well....they both face planted.

Hannah and her cousin Daniel. They are 6 months apart.
Too cute.
Daniel wouldn't sit still for the camera.

Hannah enjoys sticking out her tongue lately.

Turning around to make sure I was still watching her.
Grandma Geri and Mimi bought Hannah this cute little Easter outfit.  The hat and slippers are from Mimi and the bunny, bib, and outfit are from Grandma.  Pretty cute if you ask me.

4 Month Check-Up

Today was the dreaded 4 month check-up. Hannah did so well! The pediatrician asked if she was talking and then Hannah proudly started babbling to him. It was adorable. She handled the shots better than an adult would have. She screamed for a few seconds in shock and fussed for about a minute. But within 2 minutes she was laughing at her daddy again. Here are her stats:

Height: 26 inches 95th% Our girl is going to be taller than me at this rate!
Weight: 14 lbs 12 oz 76th%
Head: 42 3/4 cm 90th%

4 Months Old!

Wow, time certainly fly's by! Hannah is now 4 months old! To celebrate her 4 month birthday we went out to dinner at the Happy Sumo (our favorite) and then fed her rice cereal! She is also rolling over now! This afternoon she rolled over for the first time from her tummy to her back. The sad thing is that I wasn't there to witness it. I placed her on her play gym for some tummy time and I came back to check on her and she was on her side, I left again, and when I came back she was on her back playing with her toys. We are so proud of our little munchkin! She continues to talk a lot, and her sounds are becoming more mature. Jake's aunt commented that Hannah really sounds like she's talking, or at least Hannah thinks she is talking :-) She is also sleeping really well. She averages about 7 hours straight each night and on ocassion she spoils me with 8 hours.

Favorite Things
Toys! Hannah loves playing with anything she can get her hands on. There is this one rattle that Mimi gave her that if you just shake it in front of her she starts laughing at it.
Talking! She is Mrs. Talkative.
Watching TV
Eating rice cereal
Playing in her play gym
Laughing at daddy

Here are some pictures!

Hannah enjoying some tummy time with her toys.
She LOVES her mobile. I caught her smiling at it and took a picture.
I thought this face was cute.
Playing with her turtle toy.
Uncle David came to visit over General Conference weekend. She enjoyed playing with him.
Smiling in anticipation of the food to come.
Loving the rice cereal!
She is so precious....
This was mid way through her first time rolling over.