Saints v. Cowboys... It's OK Saints, it's just one game.

The 19th Mike & I had an amazing opportunity to go see Marcus play his first home game with the New Orleans Saints in the Superdome. Marcus is Mike's sister's husband's little brother aka Mike's bro-in-law. Marcus graduated from Weber this year and was signed by the Philadelphia Eagles. He scored a touchdown pre-season and was placed on the practice squad, for reasons unbeknownst to anyone by God. At the beginning of this month Marcus was picked up by the New Orleans Saint to play Fullback and Special Teams. It probably goes without saying but everyone is so proud of Marcus. These are amazing opportunities for him and his family and he is so deserving of every single one of them

Go Marcus Mailei!

https://www.neworleanssaint.com/Team/Injured%20Reserve/People/Marcus%20Mailei.aspx

During the end of the game Marcus injured his hamstring. He is currently on the IR but plans to play with the Saints next season. He was #36 but is now #46.

Mike is Packin' Heat!

Merry Christmas Mike!

Today Mike & my Dad went on a Christmas gun shopping adventure. He purchased a Glock 9mm with sleeping toddler in arms.

The Adventures of Chef Ali.... 12/14/1009

Wings, Wings, Wings, More Wings Please!

I can say with total confidence that Mike's favorite food, hand down, is wings. I have been trying forever to make a sauce that he loves. There are plenty that he loves that can be bought but it is not very economical or homemade. So here are the 2 winning sauces, drumroll please....

Sweet Thang, Sweet Heat!

3 Tbls Franks Red Hot Sauce

1 1/2 cup brown sugar

Crushed Red Peppers (your preference, I use lots)

Heat over a medium to high heat until sugar has melted, continously stirring with whisk. Once sugar has melted, remove from heat, transfer into sealable container, and leave uncovered to get to room temp.

Oooh Thats Hott!

2 cups Franks Red Hot Sauce

1 Stick Butter (super healthy I know)

Garlic Salt (to your liking)

Heat over medium to high hear until butter has melted, stirring occasionally. Once butter has melted and ingredites are blended, remove from heat, transfer to sealable contained, and leave uncovered to get to room temp.

Both can be served over cooked chicken wings, cooked chicken strips, cooked chicken chunk. We love the Wal Mark Great Value Chicken Chunks. We good those (microwave, over, or deep fyer) put in large mixing bowl, pour sauce over chicken, and shake, spin, stir (whatevs) until chicken is coated. Serve with Ranch of Blue Cheese!

Ali's Ranch Dressing

1 packet Ranch Seasoning

1 cup Milk

1/2 cup Mayo

1/2 cup Sour Cream

Dash of Seasoning Salt

Dash of Garlic Salt

Dash of Pepper

Dash of Italian Seasoning

Mix together w/ whisk, cover, refridgerate. Will thicken up in about 8hrs.

Mmmm Mmmm Enjoy!

All I want for Christmas is a healthy little boy....

Sunday we spent the majority of the day in the Emergency Room. Ethan started having an outbreak of his HSP last Thursday and then coughed up and threw up some blood on Sunday. Keep in mind he has been acting great, eating great, and his blood work the prior Friday was great. After what we all went through in May/June I do not take any sights of blood lightly. The ER was in close contact with his Rheum and they put him on an antibiotic and gave a dose of his steriod. We are super bummed about the steriod because he has been off of it for about two weeks, really hoping he is not going to need to go back on it. Also, not thrilled about the antibiotic because we would prefer Ethan to build up his own immunities. Unfortunately with an auto immune disease he isn't given the opportunity to do that. To top the cake Ethan also has a hernia :( It is not of a big concern, we will watch it and visit the pediatrician if it drops or gets worse.

Keep thinking and praying for Ethan to be healthy this week so we can travel home for the holidays worry free.

Christmas Came Early @ The Maquets

This past weekend Santa came early at our house and we celebreated Christmas! We will be traveling this next weekend, to New Orleans for a Saints game, and then the following week, back to Utah for the holidays. The truth is that I was just so excited seeing all those presents under the tree and we had Ethan's train set all put together it just didnt make sense to wait, haha.

It was a ton of fun, especially to see Ethan with his new HUGE train set. Mike got the first addition to his Garden Gnome collection, an Army gnome holding a gernade. They both also got many other gifts from "Santa." Not spoiled at all ;)

MERRY CHRISTMAS!

Christmas Lights

Last night we went to go see Christmas lights with our friends Brent & Rachel, they are expecting their first child in March. I wish there were words to describe this place but the only thing that comes to mind is redneck. It seriously cracked us all up, we had a great time! Ethan did not like meeting Santa, Rudolph, or Mr. Grinch. He would cry hysterically and then turn around and say "bye" as if nothing had happened.

It is just funny sometimes!

Sometimes Ethan just acts like a little turd and we just have to make ourselves laugh. Trust me it is absolutely necessary for our sanity. Ethan was laughing too, dont worry!

** Notice the tape around his diaper, this is not something we did for a good laugh we do this daily for Ethan's own good. He thinks it is cute and a good time to take off his diaper. This would be fine if he would use the potty. We have cleaned up after his diaper charades one too many times.

Busted Lip, Oh Owie :(

A couple days a week the Army has the guys play Ultimate Frisby. This is a lovely sport that apparently can get pretty rough. Last week Mike came home with a busted lip.



Ali's Version (Drama Queen): OMG Mike was playing ultimate frisby when he got hit in the face for no reason and his tooth went right through is lip. It was really graphic and I totally think he should have got stitches;)



Mike's Version (The Real Story): Him & another guy were both going for the frisby when the other guy jumped up and accidentally punched him in the face. Mike was coming in from behind and totally takes the blame.



Ethan's Version (So Sweet): "Dad Owie, Oh Owie!"

Gingerbread House

This past week we bought decorated a gingerbread house, it was a fun family activity. Mike & I were admiring our work, beautiful right, when we turned around to find that turdy bird Ethan had got into the sprinkles, dumped them all into his mouth and over the table, hillarious & messy! Good times!

Wishbone

What does this mean?... Following tradition Mike & I saved the wishbone from the Thanksgiving turkey, let it dry (forever), each grabbed and end, made our wish, and pulled.... Then it broke into 3 pieces neither one of us getting the bigger end. I can tell you that neither one of our wishes has come true :( Kind of funny!

Catching Up, November 2009

So sorry everyone, I am so behind in my blogging world. Here is what we have been up to...

Ethan got his first outside play set. He loves it and was super helpful while Mike was trying to put it together ;)

Mike & I are still totally in love and being goofballs all the time. Every Sunday we are sitting our cute little tooshes on the couch watching football and eating wings!

Ethan colored a thanksgiving turkey, made out of his own hand print. He loves coloring as long as the crayons can stay out of his mouth, hehe.