I saw a 12,000lb potato today!

The Idaho Potato Commission is ready to celebrate their 75th year of promoting Idaho® Potatoes in a BIG way...

 

The biggest name in potato history! For our diamond anniversary, we're taking our show on the road with an updated, larger-than-life version of the classic Idaho® Potato postcard— the world's largest spud, placed on the flatbed of a very cool semi-truck. This is HUGE!

The Truck:

 

 

 The Famous Idaho® Potato Truck will tour the country from coast to coast in 2012, stopping in cities of note, local grocery store parking lots, and at special events. Keep your eyes peeled for the one-and-only gigantic Idaho® Russet—our not-so-little way of reminding America that Idaho is the biggest thing to happen to the humble potato since bacon bits and sour cream!

Trivia. This Tater...

• would take more than 10,000 years to grow.
• weighs six tons (12,130 pounds), which is equal to 32,346 medium-sized Idaho® potatoes.
• is 1,102 times heavier than the largest potato ever grown,
  which weighed 11 pounds.
• would take 2 years and 9 months to bake.
• would make 30,325 servings of mashed potatoes. Pass the gravy!
• would easily make over 1,500,000 average-sized french fries.

Here at our local Hen House this morning

To see more on this large spud go to the Big Idaho Potato website

Chicken Parmesan Meatloaf

Prep Time: 15 minutes

Cook Time 45 minutes 

Servings: 4

Ingredients:

• 
  

  Servings Size
1 lb ground chicken (ground turkey can be substituted)

• 1 egg
• 1/4 breadcrumbs
• 1/2 teaspoon dried basil
• 1/2 teaspoon dried thyme
• 1/2 teaspoon dried oregano
• 1 -2 cloves garlic , finely minced
• 1 small onion , grated
• 1/2 teaspoon salt
• 1/4 teaspoon ground black pepper
• 1/2 cup grated parmesan cheese
• 1/2 cup pasta sauce (homemade or store bought)
• 1/2 cup shredded Italian cheese blend
• minced parsley (to garnish)

Directions:

1. Preheat the oven to 350 degrees. Lightly grease a loaf pan with cooking spray, set aside.
2. In a large bowl, combine the ground chicken, egg, breadcrumbs, thyme, oregano, basil, garlic, onion, salt, pepper and Parmesan cheese. To not over handle the mixture otherwise it will get tough. Place the mixture in the greased loaf pan and form into a loaf. Top the meatloaf with pasta sauce.
3. Place filled loaf pan on a baking sheet and bake in the preheated oven for 40-45 minutes. Remove the meatloaf from the oven and sprinkle the top with the remaining shredded cheese. Place the meatloaf back in the oven and bake until the cheese is melted.

    4. Remove the meatloaf from the oven and allow to rest for 5-10 minutes before serving/slicing.  Garnish with parsley if desired.

Recipe from: Food.com

* I made this recipe Wednesday night, and it was fabulous.  Easy to assemble and delicious.  I found it to be even better the next day for leftovers with some of the extra pasta sauce drizzled over it. I just wish I would have taken a picture of it..but just imagine a chicken meatloaf covered in hot, bubbly cheese!!

Easter at the Zoo

Sunday April 8th: Happy Easter!!

We headed to the KC Zoo to check out the animals.  After living in KC for almost 4 years, it has been one of the things that I have really wanted to go see and do. It was a gorgeous day.  Not to hot, not to cold, and not to crowded!! (And me being not that pregnant that it would have been miserable) It was JUST right. We had a fabulous time just the two of us, walking around leisurely checking out the animals.  Although for me it turned into looking at strollers to see which ones I liked and listening to parents yell out childrens names to see if there was anything that I heard, that I liked!! :)

We walked about 5-6 miles that day checking everything out. And managed to spend almost 6 hrs there.  It was fun to see the special things they had done for the animals because it was Easter.   A lot of the animals were given dyed easter eggs to eat, as a special treat and others were given plastic eggs to play with and new easter toys in their exhibits. And I will leave you with some of my favorite photos I took that day.

Nikita the Polar Bear enjoying his new exhibit

A group of Red Kangaroos just hopping about. This is how close to them I was without a zoom or fencing!

A 'roo' just sunning himself

My husband met a new friend.  Sheep were just roaming around waiting for you to feed them. (I think he thought if Pat would rub his head he would get a treat.)

The Discovery Barn hosted my favorite animals, these yellow tailed monkeys. They were so active it was hard to get good pictures.  They were constantly running around, chasing each other, pulling tails, playing with easter eggs and frisbees..they were hilarious!

The Lemurs all huddled together in the sunny spot. All we could keep thinking was "I like to move it, move it" And then a little girl came up and started singing and dancing to the song from Madagascar, and Pat and I had to walk away we were laughing so hard

Llama talking to us! "Tina you fat lard" :)

I like looking at the colorful birds, but I decided I do not like walking through the exhibits!

2 of 5 African Elephants on display

Peacock..So vibrant

I love their feathers. I just wish it would have spread its feathers up for me

White Cheeked Gibbons in the Tropics was just as amused by us outsiders as we were of him.  Apparently him and his friend were being naughty and wouldn't leave the exhibit that morning for a cleaning, the zoo keeper told us. (It was a mess)

The sea lion show.. this guy weighs 400lbs

Baby sea lions

 Performing tricks for us

Action shot..Caught a fish

Black Rhino mom and Baby Layla

 Masai Giraffe and babies

 LOVE Meerkats!!

 "Where the deer and the antelope play.."

 This guy was awesome!! He was just so chill sitting there and he has a mohawk!

 Cheetahs

Nikita taking a few laps in the cool 65 degree pool

It's a...

........................Girl.........................

On March 27th, at our 20 week checkup/ultrasound We found out we will be welcoming a little girl into our family.  I didn't want to get my hopes up too high, but I was REALLY hoping for a girl. 

That morning as I was driving to the OB, I was listening to our local radio station, and they were having a segment where parents were calling in and telling stories of the stupid "boy things" their sons had done..anything from attaching a blanket to there back (like Superman) and jumping off of stairs and roofs, to peeing on electric fences, filling water ballons up with urine, things they had flushed down the toilet, lit on fire, swallowed,  rolled in...the list goes on. I was thinking "can I handle that?" (As I laughed)

I met Pat at the doctor and as we patiently waited for our turn.  The nurse call us back and we headed into the sonography room.  The tech asked us right away if we wanted to know what we were having and we answered in unison.."YES" She started waving the wand over my belly to find that the baby was head down low in my pelvis doing a headstand with her legs in the air.. a direct shot at "the naughty bits" The 3 white lines were distinct.."You're having a girl"!!!  I'm sure my eyes just lit up when she said that..and I also had to think "she did just say girl, right?" I was in such shock!!  I looked over at Pat and he was just grinning.  He wanted a boy, but had that gut feeling it was going to be a girl. This will be the 9th..yes 9th girl on his side of the family without ANY boys!! He has 2 girl cousins, who both had 2 girls each, and his brother who had 2 girls..and now our little lady!! CRAZY!! 

Everything checked out normal and healthy, and the heartbeat sounded good and strong.  The only thing they couldn't get a good look at was her lip.  Since her head was so far down in my pelvis they couldn't check for a cleft lip, so at our next monthly appointment they are going to do another U/S to check. (And I am going to have them verify the sex one more time!) :) We were sent home with 5 photos of our girl, a goody bag that had a baby changing table organizer and a starting can of formula in it, along with a book: Your baby from birth to 5 years. 

I couldn't wait to get home and spread the news.  My mom had the day off and I Skyped her and told her all about our appointment..and then asked her if she wanted to know what we were having (of course she did..that's why I skyped her, so I could see her reaction) I held up the girl balloon that I purchased and she just lost it. (she even wore waterproof mascara for the occasion!)  She was so excited, she had been hoping for a girl too!  I then sent out a few texts, and then went public with the news on facebook.  Such a great day!! Now we just need to pick a name for our little girl! 

22 Weeks

22 Weeks: 4.10.12

How your baby's growing:

-At 11 inches (the length of a spaghetti squash) and almost 1 pound, your baby is starting to look like a miniature newborn.

-His lips, eyelids, and eyebrows are becoming more distinct, and he's even developing tiny tooth buds beneath his gums. His eyes have formed, but his irises (the colored part of the eye) still lack pigment.


-If you could see inside your womb, you'd be able to spot the fine hair (lanugo) that covers his body and the deep wrinkles on his skin, which he'll sport until he adds a padding of fat to fill them in. Inside his belly, his pancreas — essential for the production of some important hormones — is developing steadily.

How your life's changing:

-At this point, you may find your belly becoming a hand magnet. It's perfectly okay to tell folks who touch your tummy that you'd rather they didn't. And if people are telling you that you look smaller or bigger than you should at this point, remember that each woman grows — and shows — at her own rate.

-What's important is that you see your practitioner for regular visits so she can make sure your baby's growth is on track. You may start to notice stretch marks on your abdomen as it expands to accommodate your growing baby. 

Inside pregnancy: Weeks 21 to 27

See all videos

-At least half of all pregnant women will develop stretch marks by the time they give birth. These small streaks of differently textured skin can range from pink to dark brown (depending on your skin color). Although they most commonly appear on your tummy, stretch marks may also show up on your buttocks, thighs, hips, and breasts. There's no proof that lotion helps prevent stretch marks, but keeping your skin moisturized may help with any itching.

Surprising Facts: Body changes beyond your belly

You expected your belly to grow — and perhaps your breasts, too — but the following physical changes may take you by surprise. As with many pregnancy changes, hormones play a role in most of these alterations in your looks.

• Thicker, more lustrous hair You're not actually growing more hair, just losing less than normal. During pregnancy, your body sheds hair much more slowly than it did before. What to do: If thicker hair is a boon for you, enjoy it. If it's making your mane more unruly than ever, ask your stylist to do some thinning at your next cut. These changes won't last forever. After your baby's born, you'll start to lose this excess hair, sometimes in clumps.
• Increased body hair Sex hormones known as androgens can cause new hair to sprout on your chin, upper lip, jaw, and cheeks. Stray hairs can also pop up on your belly, arms, legs, and back. What to do: Tweezing, waxing, and shaving are all safe ways to manage these temporary changes.
• Faster-growing fingernails Your fingernails may grow more quickly than usual, and you may notice changes in texture. Some women's nails get harder, while others' get softer or more brittle. What to do: Protect your nails by wearing rubber gloves when you're cleaning, and using moisturizer on them if they're brittle.
• Skin changes Some pregnant women report that their skin has never looked better. If that's you, enjoy the proverbial "glow." Others find the hormones of pregnancy aggravate skin conditions such as acne. What to do: Wash twice a day with a gentle soap or cleanser, and make sure that any moisturizer or makeup you use is oil-free.
• Stretch marks As your belly expands to accommodate your growing baby, you may get tiny tears in the supportive tissue that lies just beneath your skin, resulting in striations of varying color. These marks will begin to fade and become considerably less noticeable about six to 12 months after you give birth. There's not much you can do besides trying not to gain more than the recommended amount of weight. Heredity is responsible for the natural elasticity of your skin and plays a role in determining who will end up with stretch marks.
• Skin discolorations Increased melanin can cause splotchy patches of darkened skin on your face. These pigment changes may become intensified if you spend time in the sun. What to do: Protect your face by using a sunblock that offers both UVA and UVB protection with an SPF of 30 or higher, wearing a hat with a brim, and avoiding the sun during peak hours of the day (10 a.m. to 2 p.m.).
• Larger and darker nipples and areolas You may find that your nipples and the pigmented area around them (the areolas) are getting bigger and darker. The little bumps on your areolas, known as Montgomery's tubercles, may also be more pronounced. These bumps are oil-producing glands that help fight off bacteria and lubricate the skin. Some women also notice more pronounced veins in their breasts. What to do: Nothing!
• Larger feet Your feet may go up half a shoe size or more. Lax ligaments may make your feet spread a bit — permanently. Swelling can make your shoes feel tight as well, although it will go away after delivery. What to do: Buy comfortable shoes to accommodate your growing feet.

Update:
-It has been a pretty good week.  Ever since we found out we are having a girl, the pink packages have been arriving. My awesome mother in law sent 2 packages full of baby stuff. Books, stuffed animals, and of course pink clothes.  She loves to knit, and had even made us a couple of girly hats and a baby blanket!  Even when I have been out shopping, I can't resist looking at all the cute girl clothes and purchasing a few items here and there. :)

- I have been noticing more kicks after eating.  The doc even said that would happen and I would probably feel her more as she starts to top the scales at the one pound mark.

- I haven't had anyone reaching for my belly..yet.  But I do think it is because I am still so small.  I thought I was fairly average size..but now I am starting to get a little self concious that I may be to small..I know everything is on track and fine though, so I am just one of the fortunate ones who may gain the small end of the recommended weight! ( Ask me again in July or August when I will probably be retaining a lot of fluid and as big as a house!)  Even when I went to get my haircut last week, the hairdresser did not believe me when I said I hadn't had a haircut in over 4 months (since I found out I was pregnant) She said "You don't even look pregnant"

- No stretch marks! Thank goodness.. I have noticed thicker hair, stronger/longer nails, and random body hair but nothing out of the ordinary.  Sunday we walked over 5 miles at the zoo, and that was the first time my feet had really swollen or my hips and knees ached.

5 Ingredient M&M Peanut Butter Bars

M&M Peanut Butter Bars

3/4 cup peanut butter (I used creamy!)
2 large eggs
1 cup packed brown sugar
2 cups all-purpose baking mix (Bisquick, for example)
1 bag of M&Ms

Directions:

1. Preheat oven to 325*F. Spray an 8-inch square pan with cooking spray.
2. Combine peanut butter and eggs until well mixed and smooth.
3. Add in brown sugar and stir until combined.
4. Stir in baking mix until moistened (I used my hands because the spoon wasn’t cutting it for me–it is a very thick batter).
5. Fold in M&Ms. Again, using my hands worked best for this step. Not all of the M&Ms stuck in the batter (or perhaps it would be more accurate to call it dough). I just shoved them in when I put it all in the pan.
6. Spread mixture in greased pan and bake for 35-40 minutes or until golden brown.

Recipe from: Not Rachael Ray

* I made these for our last food day, and they were a big hit!! I was unsure of bars made with bisquick in them, but they were delicious. Very thick and rich, but yummy!!

21 Weeks

21 Weeks: 4.3.12

How your baby's growing:

-Your baby now weighs about three-quarters of a pound and is approximately 10 1/2 inches long — the length of a carrot.

-You may soon feel like she's practicing martial arts as her initial fluttering movements turn into full-fledged kicks and nudges. You may also discover a pattern to her activity as you get to know her better. In other developments, your baby's eyebrows and lids are present now, and if you're having a girl, her vagina has begun to form as well.

How your life's changing:

-You're probably feeling pretty comfortable these days. You're not too big yet, and the usual discomforts associated with early pregnancy are, for the most part, gone. If you're feeling good, relax and enjoy it while you can — the third trimester may bring with it a new crop of complaints.

-That's not to say you won't have some minor glitches to deal with now. For example, increased oil production may contribute to the development (or worsening) of acne. If that's the case, be diligent about washing well with a gentle soap or cleanser twice a day, and make sure that any moisturizer or make-up you use is oil-free. Don't take any oral acne medications — some are very hazardous during pregnancy — or use any topical acne products without first checking with your practitioner.

 

 

Live birth: Twins

See all videos

-You're also more prone to varicose veins now. As your pregnancy progresses, there's increasing pressure on the veins in your legs; higher progesterone levels, which may cause the walls of your veins to relax, can make the problem worse. You're more likely to get varicose veins if other family members have them. Also, they tend to get worse with each successive pregnancy and as you age. To help prevent or minimize varicose veins, exercise daily, prop up your feet and legs whenever possible, sleep on your left side, and wear maternity support hose.

-You may also notice so-called spider veins (a group of tiny blood vessels near the surface of your skin), particularly on your ankles, legs, or face. They may have a spider- or sunburst-like pattern with little branches radiating out from the center, they may look like the branches of a tree, or they may be a group of separate thin lines with no particular pattern. Though they may be a bit unsightly, spider veins don't cause discomfort and usually disappear after delivery.

Update:

-  I do feel like I have finally been feeling flutters now at this point. I feel a little bad not knowing for sure, but from what I have read and been told..it probably is her that I am feeling.  I notice it in the morning right after I eat breakfast, and again at night as it is quiet and I am trying to go to bed. I am patiently waiting till they get stronger and Pat can feel them from the outside.

-  Since it is a girl, I told Pat that her vagina was starting to form this week..his response was that "her vagina better not develop until she is at least 24!"  Ha Ha!! I think he is slowly accepting he is having a daughter and coming to terms with all the pink.  I know once she is here, he will absolutely be in love with her.

- I am feeling great with a lot more energy!  Saturday we went to a KU viewing party and  5 out of the 10 girls were currently pregnant, and 2 had recently had babies! Leaving only 3 non pregnant girls at the party!!  So crazy to me!! It was fun to see everyone ranging from 13-38 weeks, and sharing stories and comparing bellies! :)