more . . . . SOON!

One of the strengths of BYU-I collage wards is that most people are all in similar situations: young families, balancing school and home life, new moms and babies, so it's really easy to share ideas that are working for you, your family and get ideas and feed back from others.
I've had a great time discussing personal goals with good friends AND I've gotten some great ideas and inspiration back. So I'd like to share a few:
One of my new years resolutions was to incorporate more healthy meal planning into our busy schedule. More specifically - I was (and am) interested in acquainting my cooking skills with a wider variety of grains and nutrient dense foods that are kid friendly. Gunner's always been a little bit of a picky eater and that can be a struggle. But we taught him early on that he needs to take a bite or two. It's been successful for the most part. And with the new things I've been trying, hopefully we can tease him out of his pancake, yogurt, and corn dog preferences permanently . . . we'll see; I can dream can't I?!
When I was in nursing school one of the classes I had to take was a nutrition course - part of our final project included doing a self evaluation of our eating habits and caloric intake. I REALLY enjoyed it! It was like a strategy game: planning how to spend your calories, getting your veggies and essential vitamins in for the day, etc. . . . My dad was so proud!
Anyways, One of my good friends is an avid calorie counter; well, we got to talking and I was thinking about my nutrition class and I decided that I wanted to count veggies and calories again. It's been really fun! I've found some great recipes and I feel like I'm helping my kids appreciate healthy foods and a wider variety. AND I feel a lot better, more energy, my skin is clearer, I feel full after I eat and I sleep better. So here are a few of my finds from friends and from my own research.

1. I'm in LOVE with Quinoa (I'm pretty sure that you say it keen-wha) - it's a pseudo cereal grown in South America. You cook it just like rice and it is considered a complete protein because of the many amino acids it contains. In an article I read, quinoa was listed as one of the ten perfect foods.

2. I've tried several whole wheat bread recipes and my cousin's (Trachelle) has been the winner so far. If you click on the link to high heels and a sippy cup at the right you'll find it. I think it's a winner!

3. I've perfected a whole wheat, oatmeal, walnut (or pecans), carob-chip cookie that my boys adore and each 2"-2.5" cookie is 110 calories (98 without the walnuts). I use real vanilla and I think I'm in chewy-carob heaven when I eat them! I will dedicate my next post to this recipe!

4. Sweet potatoes - Johnny doesn't seem to develop a reaction to these (he's allergic to potatoes). They were also mentioned as a perfect food due to the high amount of beta carotene they contain.

Anyways, I've really enjoyed myself! I love reading about people's goals and New Years resolutions. I enjoy goal-oriented activities. So I hope that this can be encouraging, like yours have been for me. AND I hope that in spite of discouragement or unkindness (either from others or your own moments of self-doubt) that your New Year's resolutions are going well!

Share . . . Your Worst Fear

So, Almost every Sunday, our new RS President asks us to stand up, give our name, which apt number we live in and then she asks us to share a piece of personal information; like favorite dessert, something interesting etc . . . Of course this isn't the typical pattern of most RS, but so far @ BYU-I, it's pretty standard - what with all the moving people do - it's a way to get to know each other and fellowship in the short time we have together. SO this last Sunday, she asked us to share our worst fear ie something we're afraid of or dread.
Well, I was sitting next to my friends Star and Nikki and I leaned over to Star and said "Getting FAT!" we laughed. Nikki, gave me wide eyes and mouthed "getting Fat?" I nodded and she whispered "I know!"
Then when it was Star's turn to stand and share - she had to share before me - I whispered up to her "Getting FAT!" Egging her on, willing her with my huge grin to share this WHOLE RELIEF SOCIETY'S real FEAR. That of not being able to handle that unspoken standard we all hold each other up too after each child we bear. If you know not of what I speak, I'm sure you'll figure it out.
Needless to say, none of us shared the "getting FAT," fear. Though I was tempted, just for fun; but my personal vanity won out in the end - appearing shallow is just not an impressive way to make friends or to appear 'friendship worthy.'
Star's my swimming partner; we swap healthy recipes AND we are friends that, occasionally, discuss our pre-pregnancy wt's and our wt when we got married, which is a very catch 22 topic for me I don't think "weight goals," are a very sturdy foundation for budding relationships or ANY relationship, really. It's personal, frankly, like talking about money or budgets - you gotta be blood brothers or something.
Anyways, I've been really excited about the info we've exchanged and other stuff I've found in my research - I plan to share more . . . . SOON!

PS I know you are all wondering . . . or at least it makes me feel good about myself to think that you are ;)

First Day of Snow

Today was our first day of snow - I'm tore between excitement and depression - so I took Gunner out to play with some friends. Gunner made his first snowman, he was so excited!! he made snow angels with Brooklyn, Talon, and Kaden. They were playing so well together. Now Gunner's asleep (and so is Jack), they got all their energy out and now I hope they will recuperate for a long time.

New Address . . . kind of.

I've had a couple of people ask - because we moved, last year, on December 16 or something - so most people may still have our old address. Here is the correct one:

Johhny and Heidi O'Barr
111 west 7 south apt. #303
Rexburg, ID 83440

hm phone 208-359-7222
cell J's 208-360-0580
cell H's 208-360-2272

Thanksgiving Report

This was my first year making a Turkey, it was pretty intimidating - but I'm made of stern stuff. Running a marathon . . . cooking a Turkey for Thanksgiving . . . no pressure. My Turkey was 11 lbs and it took 3 hours and 45 minutes to bake. I used a recipe I found online and the turkey was $.38 per pound (a steal!!) so if I screwed up it was an inexpensive learning lesson. Johnny said it was the best Turkey he ever had, "Thanks!" [proudly beaming]. Here's some before and after shots.

We shared our Thanksgiving with our good friends the Teerlinks and The Jeffs. It was good food and good friends. We watched Kung-Fu Panda. Gunner and Kaden (Gunner's Friend) loved it! Here's some more shots.

Chrystina made little hats for the kids . . . so CUTE! Gunner and Kaden were game.

But Jack and Ava were not diggin it! Maybe latter.

I took my brother to the MTC this last week . . .

Me trying to hold my fat camera for a close up picture

So I dropped my baby brother off at the MTC in Salt Lake this last Wed. It was really neat and surprising emotional! I drove down with my two sons Mon. night so we could pick Trenton up at the airport the following morning. After we picked Trenton up at the airport we spent Tuesday Christmas shopping at the outlet mall in Park city. Gunner and Jack loved hanging out with their uncle Trenton, and Trenton seemed to be way cool with it. I'm sure they were driving him nuts - they were driving me nuts, long car drives don't go well for toddlers and infants; the next car we get is Totally going to have a TV and DVD player!


Wed. at breakfast before we headed to Provo.

On Wed morning we loaded the crazy kids up and started our treck to Provo. Everyone fell asleep on the way there, I always feel so left out when everyone is sleeping but me - it's always lonely the first 6 months of my child's life . . . [dejected sigh]
When we got to Provo, Trenton realized he had forgotten his belts in Alaska so we had to go buy him a couple before we dropped him off at the MTC. By the time we unloaded the kids, went and bought some belts, loaded the kids back up, and headed for the MTC we had about 15-20 minutes to get there. And of course I got lost on the way there. I couldn't get ahold of Johnny to give me directions or my dad . . .What if they won't take him if we are late . . . all the nice companions will be used up by the time we get there . . . Trenton will have to fast for days seeking forgiveness . . . My babies are starting to whine and cry in the car . . . AHHHH! This was suppose to be an organized meaningful experience, just like a crazy family reunion - my co-worker (Dave) says that's why they should always have beer at family reunions (crazy heathen).
So we finally found it, and we had 3 minutes to get inside and these are the pictures we had time for . . .



It says "New missionaries enter here"


It says "Family and Friends enter here"


Gunner, on the way to melt-down city



After, we were done taking pictures, we were directed to a chapel down the hall; there was a 30 minute devotion for all new missionaries and their family members. Gunner didn't last 10 minutes, he started whining about fruit snacks - I was all out - and then he threw a holy living fit that I have only seen the likes of 2 other times in his life. Yeah for us - I'm so glad that this new phase of his terrible twos could be experienced in the MTC! Needless to say I took him right out and he was in time out - it didn't seem appropriate to use bodily harm as a teaching tool in the MTC. I told Gunner he was in time out because he was not being reverent he proceed to cry out "No time-out!! [lots of crying]" then very loudly "I need Jesus!" I then suggested that Gunner say a prayer for comfort very quietly. And then Gunner started saying a sweet little prayer, that was still louder and there was more crying interspersed throughout it than I would have liked, but it calmed him down a little. Then the devotional was over and Gunner was calm enough that we could go back inside and say our last Good-bye for two years. I could barely control the tears I was so proud of Trenton! Gunner gave uncle Trenton a hug and then Trenton took Jack in his arms to give him a hug and kiss! I couldn't believe I was so emotional! Trenton's doing the right thing and we felt the spirit touch our hearts about his choice to serve the Lord. I'm glad we could be there for it!

We went to Krispy Creme afterward because - I LOVE FRESH Krispy Creme! Gunner is so cute . . . sometimes!

What happened toThanksgiving!

So, I learned how to change my background and I decided to dedicate my initiation into this Blogging phenomenon to our nations long, lost, step-holiday . . . Thanksgiving.

I'm going to make a Turkey this year, my strategy is to try it out in a dutch oven, I'm very excited to taste the genius of my carefully laid plan. If only you could taste test on your blog; I'd love to share!