Moose, Bears and Mosquitos...Oh my!

BEWARE: This is long and maybe a little boring with lots of pictures!

Last Thursday we headed to Island Park for a little family get away with my parents and siblings. It was so much fun. Unfortunately we didn't see any Moose, Luckily we didn't see any bears (other than at IMAX and a big pile of poop behind the Boat House) and we were oh so fortunate to see plenty of mosquitos up close and personal. We had alot of fun together talking, playing horseshoes, going to West, fishing and just being together as a family. I look forward to doing it again next year!

This is my dad (Super Grandpa) hanging out with "the girls". We went to the IMAX and watched the movie about Bears. And we couldn't resist making a little detour to the Candy Store in West. It was expensive but fun.

This is Emily and Taylor (Caleb in the background in his baby carrier) on the back of the paddleboat.

On Saturday Ben and I decided to go Paddle Boating at Mack's Inn. I think it was a good experience but I am not sure I would do it again. The current was so strong that we kept getting marrooned in seaweed and rocks. We spent more time getting unstuck than we did anything else. At one pont we had a whole family looking down on us from the Mack's Inn cabins. They were throughly entertained by our stupidity! If nothing else they got a chuckle and I got a chuckle. I was laughing so hard at one point in time that peddling was out of question. From the picture above you can plainly see that Ben didn't find it that humorous!

After paddle boating we just sat on the dock and played in the river.

Saturday night Ben decided to take me on a romantic 4-wheelin' getaway. We rode for an hour all alone and enjoyed just being together. The trails we went down were so pretty. There were also so many wild flowers out that made it colorful and just plain enjoyable!

Chris and his new puppy came up and went fishing with us. The view was beautiful down at the lake! Averi even had fun!

Emily and Taylor with a cup full of wildflowers.

Week 3 Recipe

This cake is one that Ben's Grandma introduced me to and used to make alot. It is so delish!!! I forget I have it, but it is easy and fun to make for any occasion.

Amish Cake (Recipe straight from Amish country PA.)

½ c. butter
3 c. flour
2 ¼ c. brown sugar
1 tsp. vanilla
2 c. buttermilk (if you don't have buttermilk, you can always use milk and apple cider vinegar)
2 tsp. baking soda (put in milk)

Cream sugars and butter together then add buttermilk, soda, flour and vanilla. Bake at 350º F until done. Take out of oven and spread on topping. Put back in oven until bubbly (about 10 min.)

Topping

6 Tbsp. butter
1 c. sugar
4 Tbsp. milk

Today I put Emily down for a nap and did some scrappin'. Caleb even helped by grabbing the mouse several times and punched a few keys here and there.

Emily was about 6 months old in the picture and boy was she cute. I still think she is cute, just little girl adorable instead of baby adorable.

Camping...Adventure?

This past weekend we decided that we would have a family camp-out (in our backyard). We got all excited and even went and bought SPECIAL camp-out food-which consisted of strawberry milk and Little Debbie marshmallow filled oatmeal cookies. We thought it would be really fun to bring our TV in our tent and watch movies until we all fell asleep....well WRONG. Lesson learned: It is all fun and games until mommy gets mad, daddy falls asleep and Emily throws up all over. So we watched Mary Poppins and at 1:00 AM Emily was wide eyed and bushy tailed-NOT wanting to sleep. I told her that we had to go inside because we had given her plenty of chances....she gets mad and mommy gets thrown up on, not to mention all the blankets and Ben's nice mummy bag were then covered in pink chunks of who knows what. Let's just say that we came inside and didn't wake up until 10 the next morning. The tent still stands in my backyard. I am somewhat sad that all the time and effort was put into it and we never used it-I guess this is just another lesson learned.

P.S. Caleb was a trooper! He fell asleep and through it all he never woke up and went right in his bed when we decided to head in the house! Way to go Cabbie!

The flash was a little bright and made Caleb have the "Deer in headlights" look.

RECIPE OF THE WEEK

White Chocolate Berry Dessert

8 Squares (1 oz. each) white baking chocolate

6 T. Butter cubed

2 eggs

1/2 C. sugar

3 tsp. vanilla

1 C. flour

1/4 tsp. salt

Filling

1 pkg. (8 oz.) cream cheese, softened

3 squares (1 oz. each) white baking chocolate, melted and cooled

1 egg, lightly beaten

1/3 C. sugar

1/3 C. sour cream

1 tsp. vanilla

Topping

1 carton (8 oz.) frozen whipped topping, thawed

4 squares (1 oz. each) white baking chocolate, melted and cooled

1 pint fresh strawberries, sliced

Melt white chocolate in doulbel broiler, stir until smooth. Cool.

In a large mixing bowl, beat eggs and sugar until lemon-colored. Beat in melted chocolate mixture and vanilla. Combine flour and salt; beat into egg mixture. Spread in 9 x 13 baking dish; set aside.

For filling, in a small mixing bowl, beat cream cheese and chocolate. Beat in the egg, sugar =, sour cream and vanilla just until combined. Carefully spread over bottom layer. Cut through filling with a knife to swirl.

Bake @ 3500 degrees for 40-45 mon. Cool on wire rack.

Just before serving, fold whipped topping into white chocolate. Fold in strawberries; spread over dessert.

This is so yummy! I made it on the 4th. It takes sometime, but it is well worth the effort!!

Ten Tiny Toes

One of my best friends Elisa came from Boise to visit for the weekend and she took some pictures of Caleb. She did great job!! He is growing so fast I need to soak in as much of this as I can.

Come on and Celebrate!

We had so much fun over the 4th of July. It was nice to relax, catch up with family and friends and most of all eat YUMMY YUMMY food!!! We spent the day with my family and then came back to Blackfoot and enjoyed a concert performed by the community of Blackfoot--KUDOS to them because it was really enjoyable! It made me really appreciate those who are fighting for my freedoms! After the concert we set off fireworks and then came home and listened to everyone else set off fireworks---all the way into the next morning. Lucky-I know! The next day we just hung out as a family.

One highlight of the weekend was Caleb got his first haircut---he is only 3 months old, but he needed it!

Favorite Recipe Tag

So here is my favorite recipe tag: Although it is only a tag I think I will start posting a recipe every week because it is fun and I like to try new things:

Pasta Salad:

12 oz. bag bow tie pasta
12 oz. box radiatore pasta
20 oz. can pineapple tidbits
2 cups chopped celery
4 green onions, sliced
1 pkg. craisins
1 cup cashews or almonds
1 cup grapes, sliced
4 cups chicken breast, cooked, cooled and diced
1 cup mayo (Do not use Miracle whip)
16 oz. bottle of Coleslaw dressing

Directions:
Cook pasta, rinse with cool water and let cool. Mix with other ingredients.

Variations: (You can play around with these ingredients omiting some and adding others)
*Add coconut
*Replace the green onion with red onion.
*Add cilantro
*Add corn
*Add green or red pepper
*Use Cool whip instead of Coleslaw dressing

Have fun and I hope you enjoy!

I tag Adrienne, Daynna, and Tracy!

You can learn many things from children. How much patience you have, for instance.

Today has been a day from Hades...up until now, because it is nap time and my babies are sleeping! YAY! But I have to say, through all the screaming and whining I find laughter. This afternoon I think Emily and Mom both needed some fresh air so we set out to mow the back yard. There were so many stinkin' bugs though!! But we accomplished the task and came in for lunch. It didn't take long before I found Emily upstairs in her highchair asleep. She is my sweet little princess...most of the time. And luckily...even though my swing is out of batteries Caleb is asleep as well. That is after several minutes of me rocking it by hand. Oh how we are so spoiled with new technology!

I have to tell everyone of my accomplishment maybe because I am so proud of myself. This past week I finished The Book of Mormon all the way through (even the Isaiah chapters). This is the first time I have read it cover to cover and understood it. I read the Family BOM for most of it becasue it gives explanations at the bottom. Hence, why I got through the Isahiah chapters. I am now starting on the Doctrine and Covenants and hope to be done by the end of the year. 6 Months my be a long time for most people, but having 2 kids has taken a toll on my body and sometime sleep overwhelms me and I just can't keep my eyes open enough to think let alone read. Anyway now I have told everyone so I hope to stick with it.

Update:

No move to Pennsylvania. I am somewhat disappoineted and somewhat relieved. We feel that would like to live there someday, maybe next time around.

Also tonight as a family we attended a concert of a 22 year old Blackfoot graduate named Daniel Curran and I just have to say how wonderful it was. He is a tenor soloist and did a beautiful job!! I am glad we took out 2 hours of our night to be in attendance his performances. Emily even enjoyed it for the most part and Caleb slept for the whole 2nd half.

Anyway that is that and I am going off to bed now.--;-}

Life is a great big canvas, and you should throw all the paint on it you can.

We have had a busy, stressful, fun, emotional week. Ben recently interview for a job in Pennsylvania and we haven't heard if he is hired. It has been an emotional rollercoaster to me. In the past week I have spent more time in meditation and prayer than ever before. I have faith that we will do the right thing and the Lord will help me and my little family be happy...that is what the gospel is all about isn't it! So that is the stressful, emotional part of the week and then comes the fun. IT IS FINALLY FEELING LIKE SUMMER!!! We are literally soaking up the sun! For the past 2 days we have put our sunblock on and started outside. We have pulled weeds, worked in our garden (which is like 4 ft by 2 ft) and ran through the sprinkler. It is funny how something so small like the smell of fresh air or the site of water can renew my spirits and make the grey skies blue again.

Some more fun that has happened is today I had a Scentsy party (http://www.scentsy.com/amberwilliams) it was so much fun! Thank you to all of you who came. It was fun to mingle and eat lots of chocolate!! If anyone still wants to order, my party doesn't close until Tuesaday. Thanks Amber for being such a great consultant!!

Here are some pictures of us outside:

My Bad!

So yesterday I learned that these signs are truly there for a reason!! We decided to go swimming at the Blackfoot swimming pool, which by the way can be pretty scary. I loved it when I was little but it has really gone down hill over the years. Anyway so after Ben, Emily, Caleb and I got into the pool the first thing Emily says is she has to go potty. I was holding Caleb so Ben volunteered. After a few minutes he came back and once again we get settled in and Emily said I have to go poop. We didn't want to chance it so I decided it was my turn to take her...total mistake! I get out and head for the bathroom. As I started into the bathroom I saw the clerks give me a strange look. I didn't know why so I kept walking. After about 2 seconds of turning the corner to the bathroom I then realized why the strange looks...there was a middle aged man standing there NAKED showering. My first thought was "why is there a naked man in the women's restroom??" Then came my second thought "Holy Crap I AM IN THE MENS RESTROOM" without making a scene I slowly turned around hoping naked guy didn't see me and hoping Emily didn't see naked guy. I got to the final destination and walked slowly back to the pool. I tried to keep my composure but as soon as I saw Ben I started laughing uncontrollably. I was so embarrassed! So lesson learned pay close attention to the restroom signs, they are there for a reason especially at pools!!! Questions I have though...#1 don't men have anything to hide?? I would never walk around a women's restroom naked. #2 Why in the heck didn't the clerks say anything to me??? Ugh!