The Middlebrooks Family: So Much to Say!

Hello All! So I guess I have been a bit "blogged out" since the holidays. We have been so busy though! Brian has been working on his latest project....THE stairs! They look so good & they aren't even finished yet. Here are some before & after pictures....

before we moved in

After 2 years, we are seeing the light at the end of the tunnel, where this house is concerned. We still have a couple projects to do, but we are getting close. I can NOT wait until the day the house is completely done & we can just enjoy it. Then again, there is tons to do OUTSIDE :)

Another HUGE event that happened this month was AL's 1st BIRTHDAY!!!! Holy Cow! I still can't believe she is a year old! It has gone by so fast & Brian & I are amazed everyday with all that AL understands & does. She makes the FUNNIEST faces & has this little-big attitude that you can't help but laugh at, covering your face of course.

morning of the 16th...AL is trying to blow the candle out...

Did NOT like the hat...

AL's birthday party was on Saturday, the 17th. It was super duper fun but completely overwhelming, for AL & me. There were so many people....38 adults & 8 kids to be exact. I mean, our house is a pretty good size & all, it just doesn't have a very open floor plan. So everyone got to know each other very well. My favorite part of any 1st Birthday Party is the eating of the cake. It makes for the BEST pictures! Except of course where my child is concerned...AL is such a dainty eater & it showed with her 1st cake eating experience. She picked the icing off the top w/ her tiny fingers & didn't eat any of the actual cake. We still got some cute shots though.....

I am READY

Waiting for everyone to arrive

This was just the beginning

AL racked up in the toy/book/puzzle department. We could open up our own Toy Shop or Daycare. She wasn't all that interested in the actual opening part of the gift giving, but all her little friends were happy to help. They all played so well together except for a small issue with the sharing of AL's beloved "doggie". Not Kahlua, a stuffed dog that she carries around so much, it already needs "surgery".

We served 2 different types of Chili for the party. A regular chili made with Venison & a white bean chicken chili. So many people asked for the White Bean Chicken Chili recipe, so here it is....

PREP: 30 min

SOAK: overnight (or a couple hours before cooking...directions on bag of beans)

COOK: 2 1/2 hours

1 lb dried Great Northern beans

2 medium onions, chopped

1 tbspn olive oil

3 (4.5 oz) cans chopped green chiles, undrained

4 cloves garlic, minced

2 tspn ground cumin

2 tspn dried oregano

6 cups chicken broth

5 cups chopped cooked chicken breast

3 cups (12 oz) shredded Monterey Jack cheese w/ jalapeno peppers

1/2 tspn salt

1/4 tspn pepper (white pepper if you don't want to see the specs)

1/4 cup chopped fresh cilantro (optional) (I did not add)

-Sort & rinse beans; place in large Dutch oven. Cover w/ water 2 inches above beans; let soak overnight. Drain; set beans aside. (directions are also on bag so you don't have to do overnight & beans are not supposed to be tender yet).

-Saute onion in hot oil in Dutch oven over med-high heat until tender. Add green chiles & next 3 ingredients; cook 2 mins, stirring constantly. Add beans & chicken broth. Bring to boil; cover, reduce heat, & simmer 2 hours or until beans are tender, stirring occasionally.

-Add chicken, 1 cup cheese, salt & pepper. Bring to boil; reduce heat, & simmer, uncovered, 10 mins, stirring often. Stir in cilantro if desired.

-To serve, ladle chili into individual bowls & top w/ remaining 2 cups cheese.

Yields 13 cups.

***Calories per 1 cup serving: 359 :)

Trying out her new chair