Barley Vegetable Stew

So, I don't typically like the soup recipes I find so I compiled this one on my own and it is fantastic!! It's now my most favorite vegetable soup recipe and it's 100% healthy!

Barley Vegetable Stew

7 cups chicken broth
1 cup uncooked barley
2 large carrots, chopped
2 stalks celery, chopped
1 (14.5 ounce) can diced tomatoes with juice
1 zucchini, chopped
1 (16 ounce) pkg frozen mixed vegetables
1 (15 ounce) can garbanzo beans, drained
1 onion, chopped
3 bay leaves
1 teaspoon garlic powder
1 teaspoon white sugar
1 teaspoon salt
1/2 teaspoon ground black pepper
1 teaspoon dried parsley
1 teaspoon paprika
1 teaspoon Worcestershire sauce

DIRECTIONS Pour the vegetable broth into a large pot. Add the barley, carrots, celery, tomatoes, zucchini, garbanzo beans, onion, and bay leaves. Season with garlic powder, sugar, salt, pepper, parsley, curry powder, paprika, and Worcestershire sauce. Bring to a boil, then cover and simmer over medium-low heat for 90 minutes. The soup will be very thick. You may adjust by adding more broth or less barley if desired. Remove bay leaves before serving.

We arrived home from the hospital around noon, and Ammon has been sleeping ever since (currently four hours and counting).  He is doing so great and healing so rapidly.  His tolerance for pain is so amazing to me; through our whole hospital stay he only cried a couple of times despite his inability to see anything, he is truly an amazing little man!

This picture is of him the day after his surgery with his swollen little eyes.

Afternoon Photoshoot

I wanted to take some fun pictures of my little sweety before his surgery, so we went into the front-yard while Ammon worked it for the camera. Say Cheese!!

I'm Committed!!

Alright, I've had it!!  I am going to start training for a figure competition once and for all!!  Perhaps by posting my commitment on my blog will greater ensure that I follow through with it...finally!  This chick is my desired outcome (I'm sure you're all thinking, "good luck with that"..) but this woman used to weigh a whopping 200lbs!!!  And if she can do it, I can freakin' do it!

Yellowstone

We went to Yellowstone over the 24th holiday. It was such a great vacation and such a great opportunity to be surrounded by the incredible beauties of nature. Ammon was so good despite the long drive and endless hours in his car-seat. During our vacation we saw a grizzly bear in the park, pretty exciting!! He just looked so cuddly and sweet, I wanted to snuggle him!

my blanky

From Sea to Shining Sea

We had such a wonderful 4th of July.  Initially Adam, Ammon, and I were going to have a picnic just the three of us but were so blessed to have our family join us as well.  We hunted for quite a while for a great spot in the canyon where we didn't have to hear the highway or be surrounded by the hoards of people, when finally we landed the perfect spot in Bridalvail right next to the river and encompassed by the cool trees.