Our Jolley Journey

Our kids are going to have a Cousin!!!!

2011-12-25T21:18:00.000-08:00

We just found out that Aunt Angie is expecting a baby in July!!!

We're sooooo excited to have a cousin on this side of the family!

There is much rejoicing around this place!!!

Congratulations, Charlie and Angie!!!

Christmas Eve...

2011-12-25T21:11:00.000-08:00

Will this be the last year that M and K can wear matching jammies???

Christmas Came Early...

2011-12-25T20:29:00.000-08:00

Christmas came early at our house this year! On Monday when the kids got home from school, we had a fun treasure hunt set up for them. They went from room to room gathering clues until at last they came into our room where Dad was waiting with a special early Christmas present....a darling little puppy named Cosmo!!! M was sooo excited!!! She has been asking for a puppy for as long as she could talk. Dad and M have been researching puppies for the last year or so and they came across a breed that Dad feel head over heals in love with. So, when this puppy was found, it was love at first sight!! Welcome to the family, Cosmo!!! We're excited you're here!

Here's a little about our new puppy:
The Havanese is a dog breed of the Bichon type, developed from the now extinct Blanquito de la Habana ("little white dog of Havana"). The Blanquito descended from the also now extinct Bichon Tenerife, which was introduced to the Canary Islands by the Cubans. It is believed that the Blanquito was eventually cross-bred with other Bichon types, including the Poodle, to create what is now known as the Havanese. They are sometimes referred to as "Havana Silk Dogs," though this was originally just another name for the Blanquito de la Habana. The Havanese is the National dog of Cuba.
The Havanese is small in size and sturdy in structure with a tail carried up over its back and ears that drop and fold. The coat is abundant, long, and silky and comes in all colors. The Havanese has a spirited personality and a curious disposition, and is notable for its springy gait, a characteristic that distinguishes the breed from all others.^[2] The Havanese is considered an ideal family pet and a true companion dog. They are highly adaptable to almost any environment, and their only desire is to be with their human companions. Because of their strong social needs, Havanese will not thrive in an environment where they are isolated for several hours each day.

Six Flags Holiday Fun!

2011-12-25T20:11:00.000-08:00

Christmas Choir Concert

2011-12-25T20:05:00.000-08:00

The kids participated in a fun Children's Choir this year. They had a fun time! Here they are at their Christmas performance!

Christmas Fun...Gingerbread Houses!!

2011-12-25T20:02:00.001-08:00

Thanksgiving, Part 2...Brothers Rock!

2011-12-25T19:57:00.000-08:00

Thanksgiving 2011, visiting the family, Part 1!!!

2011-12-25T19:49:00.000-08:00

Grandma and Grandpa come to visit!

2011-11-06T21:38:00.001-08:00

Halloween 2011!

2011-11-06T21:24:00.001-08:00

Super Fun Weekend at the Pumpkin Patch and Six Flags!

2011-11-06T21:17:00.001-08:00

Fall Festival for School...love the boots!

2011-11-06T21:11:00.000-08:00

Family Pics

2011-11-06T21:07:00.001-08:00

Daddy Make-Over!

2011-11-06T20:25:00.001-08:00

Family Fun in Tennessee!

2011-11-06T20:22:00.001-08:00

Up and Running Again...

2011-07-16T21:08:00.000-07:00

We finally got a new computer and we're up and running again! Here's our first post in 2011!

In April we took a fun couples trip to NYC with the Bhams. We had a blast! So much to see, so little time. We were able to meet up with old friends, see some great shows and eat some good food! Life is good!

In May, for Memorial Day, we took the family to San Francisco. The highlights of the trip included: Six Flags, getting our car broken into and our laptop and some serious other stuff stolen...teaching us a very important lesson that you should never leave your valuables in the car, and the Muir Woods, which were breath-takingly beautiful!!

Family Fun for the Fourth!!

LOVE. LIFE.

Fun Web Site!

2010-12-01T09:52:00.003-08:00

This is one of my new favorite web sites:
http://www.citydeals.com/?ref=CDUMTM4Mjcx

Our S. California Vay-Cay!!

2010-11-26T15:54:00.000-08:00

This fall, we embarked upon a fun-filled family vacation.

We couldn't have asked for better weather,

better accommodations,

or better company.

We got to spend some quality time with Grandma and Grandpa and the kids enjoyed every minute of it!

We spent several days at Disneyland, went shopping, hung out at the hotel,

went to the beach, ate at yummy restaurants that we don't have at home and just enjoyed being together!

I'm grateful we were able to spend a fun week together as a family...

Disneyland was Magical!!

2010-11-26T15:23:00.000-08:00

Resort Fun...

2010-11-26T15:15:00.000-08:00

And yes, B-boy did eventually fall into the Koi Pond...

we even caught it on tape and if I can figure it out, we'll post it!!

Beach Day!!

2010-11-26T14:59:00.000-08:00

Magic Mountain!!

2010-11-26T14:39:00.001-08:00

Balloon Races!

2010-10-03T13:07:00.000-07:00

We made the Pioneer Woman's Cinnamon Rolls (http://thepioneerwoman.com/cooking/2007/06/cinammon_rolls_/)

And took off Bright and Early to the Balloon Races....

It's was a beautiful morning!!

This Doesn't Happen Everyday!!

2010-10-02T17:03:00.000-07:00

We were getting ready for school one morning a few weeks ago when B looked out the window and said, "Mom! There's a giant balloon landing in our yard!"
We ran outside and we were surrounded by hot air balloons.

It was magical!

We spent the next 1/2 hour running around and looking at balloons.

K dressed as a rat the whole time...

We missed the bus, but it was a spectacular morning!

The Last Summer Bash!!

2010-10-02T16:50:00.000-07:00

There's nothing like a week at the lake to end a great summer. We had great plans for a huge family shin-dig but were ditched by the extended family...we had a fabulous time anyway! We tried to talk everyone we knew into coming up with us...but no takers...should I take a hint??? We had an extra room at the condo and everything! Next summer we're making plans on going back...any takers this time around??

2010-08-28T10:39:00.000-07:00

We got to tag along on one of Dad's business trips this year...

I think we'll do this when we can because it was fun!

Most of our pictures from our trip to Seattle look like this:

The kids sat for hours in the back seat and took pictures of the passing scenery...

which would have been an awesome idea to keep the kids occupied with other things besides watching movies....

but the battery was low and the camera is old....

by the time we actually got to Seattle the battery was dead!

This is driving through Portland...such a pretty city...there's some sort of volcano in the background...
one of the pictures that actually turned out!

This is what most of the pictures look like....trees flying by...but it's nice to see trees!!!

Seattle Space Needle!

Woodland Zoo...it's awesome!

We got the Seattle City Pass (http://www.citypass.com/seattle I've decided this is a great way to go and if we visit another city with a City Pass, we'll probably get it!) and we got to do a whole bunch of fun things around Seattle! We went to the top of the Space Needle, Seattle Aquarium, The Woodland Zoo, Pacific Science Center, a Harbor Cruise, and the Flight Museum.

One the way home, we got to stop at a couple of outlets and I discovered that Oregon doesn't have any sales tax...at all...zip...zero...it made me feel like the great deals were even better just because we didn't have to pay any tax! That alone was worth the trip!!

Seriously so fun!!

2010-08-28T09:54:00.000-07:00

We had the such a fun time boating with some fun friends the other week!

We went to a nearby lake and it was awesome!

The water was warm...we were the only ones there for a first part of the morning...

and then this happened...

the boat ran over the rope....it was a doozy.....

Then our Stake President, who just happened to be out on the lake too

came by to say Hi...

realized we needed some help and jumped right in...

lucky for us, we had some kids googles in the swim bag....

and the kids had fun too!

Pioneer Trek 2010: Best Yet!!

2010-08-28T08:47:00.000-07:00

Man, Don't we look good!!??

4 Treks and counting!!

Summer Hollyhocks! Thanks for the pics Chuck!

2010-08-28T08:41:00.000-07:00

Who is This Girl??? Pictures Taken By M

2010-08-09T17:55:00.000-07:00

Summer Visit to Utah!!

2010-07-06T21:10:00.000-07:00

Another visit to Utah come and gone!!
I love the Fourth of July!! We had a great weekend!! It's always so fun to see family and friends. Never enough time to see everyone or do everything we want to do! We got to take the boat out, and although it was too windy to ski, we had a blast on the tube!

Other than visiting family and friends, some of my favorite things about visiting Utah are:

* Yours, Mine, and Ours. A fun consignment shop in Bountiful. I always leave with a good find or two. This trip, my sister-in-law found an amazing necklace for $3.50....her husband bought her the same kind for Christmas for $60.
* Cafe Rio. Why don't they have one here??
* And while I'm at it, I'll mention Rumbi as well. That's another one I'd like to bring to town.
* Down East. Didn't make it there this trip.
* Bountiful Rec Center...really every town should have something like this. It's awesome!
* Dick's Orange Rolls...there's not another bakery like Dick's in the whole world....go get a doughnut today...
I know there's more, but I can't think of them right now....I'll leave it for another post....
Happy Summer!!!!

Children's Books...

2010-05-24T14:03:00.000-07:00

Something you may not know about me: I love Children's Books (in college, I worked at a children's bookstore...picture You've Got Mail...and it was so much fun!!)
Anyway, a friend sent me the link to the coolest website: http://www.schoollibraryjournal.com/blog/1790000379/post/500042850.html
This is the poll a bookworm took on her blog for the Top 100 Picture Books. She didn't put it in a list...and so I spent my Sunday afternoon going over the results and making the list.
I think it would be fun to see what everyone's top ten favorite children books!! Send me your top ten and I'll compile our own survey!!

I'm going to make this our family summer reading list!!
Drum roll please.....

Top 100 Picture Books

#1: Where the Wild Things Are by Maurice Sendak (1963)
#2 Goodnight Moon by Margaret Wise Brown, illustrated by Clement Hurd (1947)
#3: The Very Hungry Caterpillar by Eric Carle (1969)
#4: The Snowy Day by Ezra Jack Keats (1962)
#5: Don't Let the Pigeon Drive the Bus by Mo Willems (2003)
#6: Make Way for Ducklings by Robert McCloskey (1941)
#7: Harold and the Purple Crayon by Crockett Johnson (1955)
#8: Madeline by Ludwig Bemelmans (1939)
#9: Millions of Cats by Wanda Gag (1928)
#10: Knuffle Bunny: A Cautionary Tale by Mo Willems (2004)
#11: The Story of Ferdinand by Monro Leaf, ill. Robert Lawson (1936)
#12: Good Night, Gorilla by Peggy Rathmann (1994)
#13: Blueberries for Sal by Robert McCloskey (1948)
#14: The True Story of the Three Little Pigs (1989) by Jon Scieszka, ill. Lane Smith
#15: Lilly's Purple Plastic Purse by Kevin Henkes (1996)
#16: Owl Moon by Jane Yolen, illustrated by John Schoenherr (1987)
#17: Caps for Sale by Esphyr Slobodkina (1947)
#18: In the Night Kitchen, Maurice Sendak (1970)
#19: Miss Rumphius by Barbara Cooney (1982)
#20: George & Martha by James Marshall (1972)
#21: Bark, George by Jules Feiffer (1999)
#22: The Monster at the End of this Book by Jon Stone, ill. by Mike Smollin (1971)
#23: Bread and Jam for Frances by Russell Hoban, illustrated by Lillian Hoban (1964)
#24: Chicka Chicka Boom Boom by Bill Martin, Jr. and John Archambault, ill. Lois Ehlert (1989)
#25: The Little House by Virginia Lee Burton (1942) *Disney video on YouTube
#26: Corduroy by Donald Freeman (1968)
#27: Alexander and the Terrible, Horrible, No Good, Very Bad Day (1972) - Judith Viorst, ill. Ray Cruz
#28: Sylvester and the Magic Pebble by William Steig (1969)
#29: The Tale of Peter Rabbit by Beatrix Potter (1902)
#30: Brown, Bear, Brown Bear, What do you See? by Bill Martin Jr., ill. Eric Carle (1967)
#31: Click Clack Moo, Cows That Type by Doreen Cronin, ill. by Betsy Lewin (2000)
#32: No, David by David Shannon (1998)
#33: Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs by Judi Barrett, illustrated by Ron Barrett
(1978)
#34: Olivia by Ian Falconer (2000)
#35: Tikki Tikki Tembo by Arlene Mosel, ill. Blair Lent (1968)
#36: Stinky Cheese Man and Other Fairly Stupid Tales by Jon Scieszka, ill. Lane Smith (1992)
#37: Eloise, by Kay Thompson, ill. Hilary Knight (1955)
#38: Harry the Dirty Dog by Gene Zion, ill. by Margaret Bloy Graham (1956)
#39: The Napping House by Audrey and Don Wood (1984)
#40: Mike Mulligan and His Steam Shovel by Virginia Lee Burton (1939)
#41: The Relatives Came by Cynthia Rylant, ill. Stephen Gammell (1985)
#42: Curious George by H.A. Rey (1941)
#43: Tuesday by David Wiesner (1991)
#44: Strega Nona by Tomie de Paola (1975)
#45: The Polar Express by Chris Van Allsburg (1985)
#46: Scaredy Squirrel by Melanie Watt (2006)
#47: If You Give a Mouse a Cookie by Laura Numeroff (1985)
#48: The Big Orange Splot, by Daniel Pinkwater (1977)
#49: Black and White by David Macaulay (1990)
#50: Jumanji by Chris Van Allsburg (1981)
#51: Miss Nelson is Missing by Harry Allard, ill. James Marshall (1977)
#52: The Snowman by Raymond Briggs (1978)
#53: The Three Pigs by David Wiesner (2001)
#54: The Little Engine That Could by Watty Piper, ill. George & Doris Hauman (1961)
#55: Frederick by Leo Lionni (1967)
#56: Diary of a Worm by Doreen Cronin, ill. Harry Bliss (2003)
#57: Flotsam, by David Wiesner (2006)
#58: Why Mosquitoes Buzz in People's Ears: A West African Tale (1975) by Verna Aardema ill. Leo and Diane Dillon
#59: Chicken Soup With Rice: A Book of Months by Maurice Sendak (1962)
#60: King Bidgood's in the Bathtub by Audrey Wood, ill. Don Wood(1985)
#61: The Story About Ping by Marjorie Flack (1933)
#62: Traction Man is Here! by Mini Grey (2005)
#63: “I Can't,” Said the Ant: A Second Book of Nonsense by Polly Cameron (1961)
#64: Skippyjon Jones by Judy Schachner (2003)
#65: Officer Buckle and Gloria by Peggy Rathmann (1995)
#66: Little Blue and Little Yellow by Leo Lionni (1959)
#67: The Arrival by Shaun Tan (2006)
#68: We're Going on a Bear Hunt by Michael Rosen, ill. Helen Oxenbury (1989)
#69: Miss Fanshawe and the Great Dragon Adventure by Sue Scullard (1986)
#70: The Paper Bag Princess by Robert Munsch, ill by Michael Martchenko (1980)
#71: The Little Brute Family by Russell Hoban, ill. Lilian Hoban (1966)
#72: The Story of Babar, the Little Elephant by Jean de Brunhoff (1933)
#73: Runaway Bunny by Margaret Wise Brown (1942)
#74: Horton Hatches the Egg by Dr. Seuss (1940)
#75: Zoom at Sea by Tim Wynne-Jones, ill. Eric Beddows (1993)
#76: The Library by Sarah Stewart, ill. David Small (1995)
#77: How the Grinch Stole Christmas by Dr. Seuss (1957)
#78: Our Animal Friends at Maple Hill Farm, by Alice and Martin Provensen (1974)
#79: The Jolly Postman: or, Other People's Letters by Allan Ahlberg and Janet Ahlberg (1986)
#80: Possum Magic by Mem Fox, ill. Julie Vivas (1983)
#81: Who Needs Donuts? by Mark Alan Stamaty (1973)
#82: The Lorax by Dr. Seuss (1971)
#83: Chester's Way by Kevin Henkes (1988)
#84: Whistle for Willie by Ezra Jack Keats (1964)
#85: Yoko by Rosemary Wells (1998)
#86: Kitten's First Full Moon by Kevin Henkes (2004)
#87: Stellaluna, by Janell Cannon (1993)
#88: A Hole Is to Dig: A First Book of First Definitions by Ruth Krauss, ill. Maurice Sendak
#89: Not a Box by Antoinette Portis (2006)
#90: Dinosaur Bob and His Adventures With the Family Lazardo by William Joyce (1988)
#91: Swimmy by Leo Lionni (1963)
#92: The Giving Tree by Shel Silverstein (1964)
#93: The Little Mouse, the Red Ripe Strawberry, and the Big Hungry Bear by Audrey and Don Wood (1984)
#94: The Gardener by Sarah Stewart, ill. David Small (1997)
#95: The Very Quiet Cricket by Eric Carle (1990)
#96: Where Is the Green Sheep? by Mem Fox, ill. Judy Horacek (2004)
#97: Anatole by Eve Titus, ill. Paul Galdone (1956)
#98: Little Pea by Amy Krause Rosenthal, ill. by Jen Corace (2005)
#99: Go Away, Big Green Monster by Ed Emberley (1992)
#100: More, More, More Said the Baby: Three Love Stories by Vera B. William

Walt Disney - Ferdinand The Bull - 1938

2010-05-20T17:42:00.000-07:00

I had to check this book out at the library after watching the movie, The Blind Side. Loved this book so much I had to order it...and the kids loved this video!

Celebration!!

2010-04-19T21:52:00.000-07:00

To celebrate our 10 and 11 year anniversaries, we dropped the kids off with the grandparents for the week and headed on a cruise!! This was our first cruise....we didn't know what we were missing! We were able to talk Ry and Riss into coming along with us and they showed us the ropes of cruising! Wow! What a fun week! We went swimming with the sting rays in Grand Cayman, on a canopy zip line tour in Honduras, and snorkeled to our hearts content in Cozumel and the Bahamas. We ate and ate and ate (I gained 5 pounds!) and we read and relaxed. Seriously, such a good time!

Cake #2

2010-03-22T16:14:00.000-07:00

Mom, this picture is for you. These were the cupcakes we took to B-Boy's class today...he wanted the rocket for his party and the Balloon cupcakes for his class treat. I was going to print out a picture of a house and put it at the bottom of the ribbons so that it would look like Up!, but B-boy just wanted the Balloons....no house...so this is what we have...

B-Boy is 6!!

2010-03-22T15:26:00.001-07:00

When I asked B-Boy what he wanted to do this year for his birthday, he didn't even have to think about it....he wanted to have a party at Chuck E. Cheese's!!
We all had a great time. The kids played their hearts out, we ate pizza and cake, and Mom got to go home to a clean house...yay!
In B-Boy's words, "it was the best day of my life!!"

Pure Joy!

2010-03-22T15:18:00.000-07:00

I love this girl!!

Chocolate Mud Pie

2010-02-21T14:05:00.001-08:00

I've been experimenting with different recipes and made this one last night. Brock has declared it as his favorite of the favorites:

Chocolate Mud Pie
It has gooey chocolate cake and yummy chocolate sauce all in one! Yum!

1/2 cup flour
1/4 cup granulated sugar
1 Tablespoon unsweetened cocoa powder
1/8 teaspoon salt
1 teaspoon baking soda
1/4 cup fat-free milk
1 Tablespoon canola oil
1/2 teaspoon vanilla
1/4 cup chopped walnuts (optional)
3 Tablespoons packed brown sugar
2 Tablespoons unsweetened cocoa powder
2/3 cup water
Fresh berries (optional)
Vanilla ice cream or yogurt (optional)

1. Turn on over to 350. Lightly coat a 9-inch pie plate with cooking spray.
2. Put the flour, granulated sugar, 1 T. cocoa powder, and salt in a med. bowl. Stir with spoon to mix. Stir in the milk, oil, and vanilla, and walnuts if you like them.
3. Pour batter into prepared pie plate. Put the brown sugar and the 2 T. cocoa powder in a small bowl. Stir with spoon to mix. Put the water in a glass measuring bowl and put it in the microwave and cook on high for about a minute or until bubbly. Take from the microwave and carefully stir the water into the brown sugar mixture. Slowly pour brown sugar mixture over batter in pie plate.
4. Put the pie plate in the oven and bake for 20 minutes. Cool for 20 minutes and serve warm with berries and scoops of ice cream if desired.
Makes 6 servings. 127 calories per serving. 3 g fat, 0 cholesterol, 117 mg sodium, 25 g carbohydrates, 16 g sugar, 1 g fiber, 2 g protein.

More Skiing...Every Week Gets Better!!

2010-01-30T16:03:00.000-08:00

Learning to Ski!

2010-01-28T10:23:00.001-08:00

For Christmas, we got the kids skiing lessons. This past Saturday was their first lesson. The program here is so great...they have 2-hour lessons every Saturday for the next eight weeks. Dad goes up with them and helps teach (he came home and slept for 2 hours!)...what an amazing dad they have!! They had a very fun time and are looking forward to more time on the slopes!

Great Quote

2010-01-28T10:09:00.000-08:00

I love this:

Our Papa’s mantra for a rich and fulfilling life was simple. “All you need, darlings” he would say as he hugged us close. “Are just three things: someone to love, something to do and something to look forward to.”

Happy New Year 2010!!

2010-01-23T16:07:00.000-08:00

We went down south to visit cousins for New Years! It was soooo much fun!
The weather was perfect, the food was amazing (Aunt Riss sure can cook!), and the entertainment was out-of-this-world! We're grateful for family members who are also some of our very best friends!
Thanks, Ry and Riss, for such a great weekend!
If this is any sign of how 2010 is going to be, it's going to a very good year!

Our New Pets!!!

2010-01-23T15:42:00.000-08:00

Uncle Charlie and Aunt Angie got us frogs for Christmas. We love them!! They really are some of our favorite things. We just got done reading Where the Red Fern Grows and decided to name the frogs after the dogs in the book: Little Ann and Big Dan!

Ice Skating!!!

2010-01-23T15:18:00.000-08:00

Look at me go!

Come on, B-Boy! You can do it!

You're almost there!!

I love my dad! Wish I could skate too!

Yahoo! We can skate! We're having fun!

Life is good!!

Merry Christmas!

2009-12-04T17:41:00.000-08:00

It’s a Wonderful Life!
Here are some of our highlights for 2009:
Moving to a Fun New Place * Summer trips to the Lake * Making lots of new friends * Season Passes at Six Flags * Soccer * 2nd Grade * Kindergarten * Gymnastics * San Francisco * Monterey, CA * Loosing teeth * Piano lessons * Visiting with Family and Friends in Utah * Parks * Friends * Bear Lake * Swimming * 10 Year Wedding Anniversary * Baptism *
More blessings than we can count!
2010 is sure to bring many new friends and adventures!
We wish you a very Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year.
Sending Lots of Love your Way!!

Happy Thanksgiving!

2009-12-02T15:43:00.000-08:00

We're grateful for the time we were able to spend with Family and Friends over Thanksgiving! We hope that this Holiday Season remains Merry and Bright!!

A Big Day for M!!

2009-11-11T19:44:00.000-08:00

M was baptised this past weekend...it was a neat weekend.

Happy Halloween!

2009-11-01T16:46:00.000-08:00

Monterey!

2009-11-01T09:53:00.000-08:00

We took off and went to Monterey last week. We've never been to Monterey and thought it would be a nice trip. Monterey is a spectacular coastal community in northern California and we had a great time. We had a chance to visit the world-class Monterey Bay Aquarium, Cannery Row, we went on the 17 Mile Drive (through Pebble Beach...Wow...beautiful,) and the kids' favorite part was playing on the beach in Carmel-by-the-Sea. On the way home, we had to stop at Six Flags and see the Fright Fest that they are putting on right now. The kids LOVED it. We had such a fun trip!
The Aquarium
Dennis the Menace Park...the kids
had a blast here...very retro!

The Train at the Park

The Beach in Carmel....the kids got a little wet

The Lone Cypress on the 17 Mile Drive

Back at the beach...

Even KK loved the beach!

Oh Boy....

Yes, M is ducking behind the B-boy...she's a nut!

Spiced Pumpkin Seeds

2009-10-31T15:02:00.000-07:00

Here's another pumpkin recipe we're trying out this year. I haven't baked the pumpkin seeds out of our pumpkins for years...thought I'd give it another try.

Spiced Pumpkin Seeds

Rated:
Submitted By: Carolyn
Prep Time: 10 Minutes
Cook Time: 1 Hour
Ready In: 1 Hour 10 Minutes
Servings: 8
"Make this snack by roasting fresh pumpkin seeds in margarine, Worcestershire sauce, and garlic salt."
Ingredients:
1 1/2 tablespoons margarine, melted
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/8 teaspoon garlic salt
2 teaspoons Worcestershire sauce
2 cups raw whole pumpkin seeds
Directions:
1.
Preheat oven to 275 degrees F (135 degrees C).
2.
Combine the margarine, salt, garlic salt, Worcestershire sauce and pumpkin seeds. Mix thoroughly and place in shallow baking dish.
3.
Bake for 1 hour, stirring occasionally.

Pumpkin Puree

2009-10-31T13:29:00.000-07:00

We're trying some new things this year. I'm giving this a whirl...has anyone tried this before?

Pumpkin Puree
http://thepioneerwoman.com/tasty-kitchen/recipes/sidedishes/pumpkin-puree/?print=1
Added by Ree Drummond on July 29, 2009 in Sides, Vegetables
Prep Time 45 MinutesCook Time 45 Minutes
Servings 6
Difficulty Easy
Ingredients
2 whole Small Pumpkins
Preparation Instructions
Select a couple of small-ish pumpkins. Cut the pumpkin in half. With a spoon or a scoop, scrape out the seeds and pulp from the center. You don’t have to be too thorough with this.
Place all the seeds into a bowl (you can roast them later and make pepitas). Repeat until all the pumpkin pieces are largely free of seeds and pulp.
Place pumpkin pieces on a baking sheet (face up or face down; I’ve done both) and roast in a 350-degree oven for 45 minutes, or until pumpkin is fork-tender. They should be nice and light golden brown when done.
Peel off the skin from the pumpkin pieces until you have a big pile of the stuff. If you have a food processor, throw in a few chunks at a time. A blender will work, too, if you add a little water. Or you can simply mash it up with a potato masher, or move it through a potato ricer, or process it through a food mill.
Pulse the pumpkin until smooth. If it looks too dry, add in a few tablespoons of water during the pulsing to give it the needed moisture. (Note, if the puree is overly watery, you should strain it on cheesecloth or over a fine mesh strainer to get rid of some of the liquid.)
Dump the pureed goodness into a bowl, and continue pureeing until all the pumpkin is done.
You can either use this immediately in whatever pumpkin recipe you’d like, store it in the freezer for later use.
To store in the freezer, spoon about 1 cupful of pumpkin into each plastic storage bag. Seal the bag with just a tiny bit of an opening remaining, then use your hands to flatten out the pumpkin inside the bag and push out the air. Store them in the freezer until you need them.

Favorites...

2009-10-25T20:11:00.000-07:00

What's a book on your "must read" list?

Our Wild Game Drive: Reno Style

2009-10-18T19:19:00.000-07:00

I know we're not in Africa...but we took a Wild Game Drive today!
Wild horses can be seen near Reno!! There are an estimated 40,000 wild horses in Nevada. The horses roam the public lands and are under the watchful eye of The Bureau of Land Management. We literally got face-to-face with several of these beautiful wild horses. It was amazing!
We even saw lots of cattle, lambs, and even a donkey or two....
What a Game Drive!

Pumpkins for the Pumpkins!

2009-10-18T18:37:00.000-07:00

M Turns 8!

2009-10-18T14:03:00.000-07:00

Out For a Walk

2009-10-18T13:43:00.000-07:00

Is that a Barn Owl??

Fall=Soccer

2009-10-18T13:38:00.000-07:00

The B-Boy is back playing soccer again this year....he LOVES it!

Balloon Races!!

2009-10-18T13:34:00.000-07:00

We woke up on a beautiful Saturday in September and headed to see the Balloon Races...it was a spectacular sight!

KK Turns 2!

2009-10-18T13:33:00.000-07:00

Oh, The Joys of Summer!

2009-10-18T13:17:00.000-07:00

2009-10-18T11:52:00.000-07:00

We had a fabulous time in Utah this year. Nana took us on a great adventure and we got to go all over the valley and visit all kinds of great places. We went to the Planetarium, the Children's Museum, the Lion House and Temple Square, the Zoo, and the Aquarium. If you have a couple free days in Salt Lake this year, get a Salt Lake Connect Pass. We'd highly recommend it!
http://www.visitsaltlake.com/visit/activities/connect_pass/

It's Jolley Time!

2009-10-18T11:09:00.001-07:00

Seriously Some Good Banana Bread: Creamy Banana Bread

2009-07-17T16:13:00.000-07:00

I just got this recipe from a friend...it is so good, I had to share!

Creamy Banana Bread

Ingredients
1/2 cup butter or margarine, softened
1 (8-oz.) package cream cheese, softened
1¼ cups sugar
2 large eggs
1½ cups mashed ripe bananas (about 4 medium)
1 tsp. vanilla extract
2¼ cups flour
1½ tsp. baking powder
1/2 tsp. baking soda
1¼ cups finely chopped pecans
1/4 cup packed brown sugar
4 tsp. cinnamon

Directions
Prep time: 20 minutes, Cook time: about 1 hour 15 minutes
Preheat oven to 325°F and spray two 8½x4½x2½-inch loaf pans with nonstick cooking spray. Cream butter and cream cheese in a large bowl with an electric mixer. Gradually add sugar; continue beating until light and fluffy. Add eggs, one at a time, beating well after each addition. Stir in mashed bananas and vanilla. Add flour, baking powder and baking soda, stirring just until moistened. Combine remaining ingredients in a small bowl. Pour half of batter into prepared pans; sprinkle with half of nut mixture. Repeat layers and bake for 45 minutes. Tent loosely with foil and bake for 15 minutes more or until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean. Makes 2 loaves.
Nutritional Information:Nutrition per serving (140 g, based on 12 slices): 460 calories, 7 g protein, 24 g total fat (10 g sat., 0 g trans), 55 g carbohydrate, 3 g fiber, 31 g sugar, 80 mg cholesterol, 230 mg sodium, 10 points
Shopping List:1/2 cup butter or margarine, 1 (8-oz.) package cream cheese, 1¼ cups sugar, 2 large eggs, 1½ cups mashed ripe bananas , 1 tsp. vanilla extract, 2¼ cups flour, 1½ tsp. baking powder, 1/2 tsp. baking soda, 1¼ cups finely chopped pecans, 1/4 cup packed brown sugar, 4 tsp. cinnamon

South Lake Tahoe...We Really Are Blessed!

2009-06-20T21:49:00.000-07:00

My mom and beautiful 88 year old grandmother came over for a visit and we spent the week in South Lake Tahoe. We went to a new beach everyday and visited all the "must-sees" on the South Shore. We even found some outlet stores where Grandma Edie found a pair of shoes (you know every vacation must yield a new pair of shoes...) We ate oatmeal everyday (well, almost everyday...but you know...Grandma is famous for her morning oatmeal). And we had a fabulous time. I'm grateful for the chance my kids had to spend some quality time with their Nana and Great-Grandma Edie....really, how many people get a chance at knowing their Greats so well? As Grandma Edie would say...we are just so blessed!

There really are pine trees on the beach...it's beautiful!

The kids haven't stopped talking about the sailboat....

Notice the teeth....

Grandma Edie at Emerald Bay...

The whole group at Emerald Bay...we can't get enough of this place!

Notice the teeth....Nana pulled out one of M's front teeth during our trip! It was a highlight for sure!

What a wonderful adventure...thanks Mom and Grandma for the memories!

Summer Fun: San Francisco!

2009-06-07T21:19:00.000-07:00

M got out of school on Wednesday and we decided to take a quick trip into San Francisco and Discovery Kingdom for the weekend. The kids absolutely love Discovery Kingdom. I got a great deal on season passes over Christmas...I'm hoping to get the same deal for next year...if any of you are interested in getting passes, let me know and I'll keep you posted on the deals! I think it's fun because they have great animal shows with whales, dolphins, elephants, tigers, and other fun animals. It has fun rides for the kids and Dad can't wait for next year when hopefully M is tall enough to ride the really big roller coasters!
In addition to Discovery Kingdom, we took a trip into San Francisco and spent the day wondering around. There is soooo much to see and do there. We went to Pier 39 and saw the sea lions. Which M decided are cool, but smell really bad. We walked all over town, down China town, rode a trolley, and took the BART into and out of town. Then we had to drive back into town with the car so we could drive across the Golden Gate Bridge! The views of the Bay and City are beautiful...we want to go back and bike across it someday....so much to do....so little time!

We Love Playgroup!

2009-06-07T19:50:00.000-07:00

We have such a fun playgroup here and we're discovering some very fun parks around town...some even have water features. Most of the time I don't know about the water until it's too late...but the kids sure have fun!

Memorial Day Weekend: Reno!

2009-06-07T19:29:00.000-07:00

We took a little tour of Reno while Charlie and Angie were here. There really are some beautiful areas in Reno.

Memorial Day Weekend: Emerald Bay State Park

2009-05-26T11:39:00.000-07:00

Charlie and Angie made the long journey and came to visit us for Memorial Day! We've been missing them and it was so fun to have them here. Thanks, Char and Ang! We hung out, went shopping, took a tour of Sean's work and even got to spend some time with him "on-duty". And, we spent some time at "the lake" and went up to Emerald Bay for a day hike. It was beautiful!

Emerald Bay is one of the most photographed places in the world! In 1969, Emerald Bay was designated a National Natural Landmark for its brilliant panorama of mountain-building processes and glacier carved granite. The natural beauty, geology and history of this unique island make it one of the highlights of any visit to the Lake Tahoe area. The park features Vikingsholm, one of the finest examples of Scandinavian architecture in the western hemisphere. The "Tea House" on Fannette Island, the only island to be found in all of Lake Tahoe. Emerald Bay was designated an underwater state park in 1994. It is the resting place for many boats, launches and barges used in the lake before the turn of the century, during the heyday of Emerald Bay Resort and used in the construction of Vikingsholm.

This sandwich was sooooo good! Probably one of the best I've ever had!

Father and Son's Campout!

2009-05-22T16:17:00.000-07:00

For the B-Boy, the Father and Son's Campout is the most anticipated weekend of the year. This year didn't disappoint. Both Father and Son had a super fun weekend!

Cupcake Class!

2009-05-22T15:58:00.000-07:00

The Whole Foods Store here has the funnest kids' cooking classes. We went to the cupcake class and had a blast. Life does not get better than this!

M Lost a Tooth!

2009-04-26T15:34:00.001-07:00

M lost another tooth this week. It's a top, front tooth. I think that in first grade, it must be a rite of passage to loose a tooth. M is so excited...now she talks with a lisp and can't say her "s"s...but as a mom, I must admit, I miss that cute baby tooth...

Spring Break at Six Flags!

2009-04-20T18:39:00.001-07:00

We spent a couple of days at the Six Flags just a few hours away from home...the weather was beautiful and we had lots of fun!

The whale show was one of the favorite parts of the day...

M got to pet a porcupine!!

Easter!

2009-04-20T17:58:00.001-07:00

We had the best Easter ever! Mom, Dad, and Joe came for a weekend visit. We went all over town, to Virginia City, and Lake Tahoe. Thanks for the great memories, Mom and Dad!

Decadent Hot Chocolate

2009-04-05T12:27:00.000-07:00

This hot chocolate is soooo good...it's similar to Williams Sonoma hot chocolate, if you've ever tried it...in Africa they would call it divine:

http://thepioneerwoman.com/cooking/2008/10/decadent-chocolate-milk/

P.W.’s Homemade Chocolate Milk Mix for the Fridge
1 cup heavy (whipping) cream
4 ounces semi-sweet chocolate pieces
Heat cream over medium-high heat until slightly boiling. Add chocolate pieces and turn off heat. Whisk slowly until chocolate is melted and mixture is very smooth. Pour into a container and keep in the fridge up to two weeks. Mix with cold or warm milk, depending on how frightful the weather outside is.Note: Mixture, after refrigerated, will be quite thick. Just stir well in cold milk and you’ll be fine.

Haircuts...

2009-04-05T11:48:00.001-07:00

Sean thought it would be really funny to give himself and Brock goofy haircuts...Emma was disgusted! She was so worried that we would have "an ugly family!"

If you could hear the laughter at our house right now...

B-Boy the Tick-Boy!

2009-03-31T17:44:00.000-07:00

So, last week, B-Boy was out playing in the backyard. That night I had him in the tub and as I was washing his hair I felt what I thought was a big dirt clod...upon further examination the dirt had legs!! "Uggg! Gross! Sean!!!!! Come look at this!!! B-Boy has a tick!!!" Oh, gross. Yuck!!

We pulled it out and as of right now, all is well. We do have it saved in a plastic bag, in case we need it for identification purposes...and five days later it's still alive and well. Uggg! Gross!

But, the funny part of the story is after we got B-Boy out of the tub and cleaned the wound, we were putting him down to bed and he looked up at me and said, "Mom, you know, I'll probably get special powers and turn into Tick-boy...just like Spider-man."

Our Little Man Turns 5!

2009-03-24T08:31:00.000-07:00

Brock turned 5 this week!
We went bowling and to Chucky Cheese to celebrate!

Whahoo! Life does not get any better!

San Fran!

2009-03-17T17:24:00.000-07:00

We took a day trip to California over the weekend and spent some time at the Jelly Belly Factory and Six Flags...it's fun to explore and see what there is to do over here.
The kids loved Six Flags and I was surprised at how much there is to do!
WE had a fun weekend!

Dad...we love you!

2009-01-13T15:49:00.000-08:00

KK!

2009-01-12T15:24:00.000-08:00

M the Ballerina!

2009-01-12T15:18:00.000-08:00

Happy New Year from Paradise!

2009-01-12T15:06:00.000-08:00

Happy Holidays!!

2008-12-09T13:07:00.000-08:00

It’s a Wonderful Life!

Here are some of our highlights for 2008:

Dad’s new job * Selling the house in Kaysville * Living with Nana and Papa while Dad is in training in Virginia * Soccer * 1^st Grade* Mrs. Melanie’s Preschool * Ballet * The BIG cross-country road trip * Wicked * Loosing teeth * Violin lessons * Orlando * Walt Disney World * Parks * Friends * Bear Lake * Swimming * First Steps * Weekends in Midway * Sleeping through the night * Washington, D.C. * More blessings than we can count!

2009 is sure to bring many new friends and adventures!

We wish you a very Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year.

A Night In Bethlehem- The Ward Christmas Party...

2008-12-07T17:15:00.000-08:00

B-Boy the Bowler!

2008-12-07T17:04:00.000-08:00

Oh my Heck! B-Boy loves to Bowl! While Dad was home for the weekend, B-Boy insisted that they go bowling...he's really good too!

Sweet and Sour Chicken

2008-11-15T15:46:00.000-08:00

I've had a few requests for this recipe. It's one of our favorites.
Enjoy!

Sweet and Sour Chicken

2 pkgs. Ritz crackers, crushed
1 1/2 T. Parmesan cheese
2 tsp. garlic salt
1 tsp. season salt
Mix these together, put in bowl.
1 (8oz.) container plain yogurt, put in another bowl
1/2 c. melted butter (to drizzle over chicken)
8 chicken breasts, cut in 1/2 and pat dry
Dip chicken pieces in yogurt, then dip in cracker crumbs, set on 13 x 9 inch pan, not touching each other. Now drizzle melted butter over chicken. While baking, make sauce.
Sauce:
1/2 c. ketchup
3/4 c. water
1/2 small can drained crushed pineapple or tidbits, add just before serving
3/4 c. brown sugar
1 T. cornstarch, min in 1/3 c. water to thicken
1/4 c. vinegar (apple cider)
Simmer 30 minutes. Serve over rice. Baking time: 45 minutes. Temp: 350. Serving Size: 6-8.

Halloween Fun!

2008-11-02T12:34:00.000-08:00

We had a FUN Halloween week...yes, week. We had Halloween parties, carnivals, treats and fun all week long!

Esme? Really?

2008-10-24T15:09:00.000-07:00

Take the Quiz and Share Your Results!

B-Boy's Fall Fun

2008-10-16T21:24:00.000-07:00

We made our annual trip to the Pumpkin Patch yesterday. B-Boy had a blast!

M's 7th Birthday!

2008-10-16T21:00:00.000-07:00

Happy Birthday, M!
We had a very fun day today...we went to the movies, shopping, and had a big family dinner with M's favorite meal: Sweet and Sour Chicken...for her Birthday cake, she requested a Banana Pudding from Pop and Granny...What a day!

B-Boy's Last Soccer Game

2008-10-14T21:51:00.001-07:00

The soccer season has come to an end. B-Boy's skills have really improved this year and loved playing on a team.

Our Washington, D.C. Trip

2008-10-14T21:15:00.000-07:00

We just spent a wonderful "Ryan and Syrissa sponsored" weekend together in Washington, D.C.
Ryan and Syrissa flew me and KK out to DC so we could spend a long weekend with Dad. The weather was amazing and we had so much fun. We went to the National Mall and visited all the monuments and memorials. We went to Arlington National Cemetery. And we got the grand tour of Dad's "home away from home." It was so good to see Dad again! He is looking so good and I think that he's actually learning a lot! Thanks, Ry and Riss for the fabulous weekend! M and B-Boy had "the biggest party ever" with you guys! Thanks for taking such good care of those two while we were away!

The Washington Monument is a large, tall, sand-colored obelisk near the west end of the National Mall in Washington, D.C. It is a United States Presidential Memorial constructed to commemorate the first president, George Washington. The monument, made of marble, granite, and sandstone, was both the world's tallest stone structure and the world's tallest obelisk, standing 555 feet 5.5 inches (169.3 m) in height, ^[1] until the Juche Tower was erected in 1982. It is also the tallest structure in Washington D.C. It was designed by Robert Mills, an architect of the 1840s. The actual construction of the monument began in 1848 but was not completed until 1884, almost 30 years after the architect's death. This hiatus in construction happened because of co-option by the Know-Nothing party, a lack of funds, and the intervention of the American Civil War. A difference in shading of the marble, visible approximately 150 feet (46 m) up, clearly delineates the initial construction from its resumption in 1876.

Its cornerstone was laid on July 4, 1848; the capstone was set on December 6, 1884, and the completed monument was dedicated on February 21, 1885. It officially opened October 9, 1888. Upon completion, it became the world's tallest structure, a title it inherited from the Cologne Cathedral and held until 1889, when the Eiffel Tower was finished in Paris, France.

The Washington Monument reflection can be seen in the aptly named Reflecting Pool, a rectangular pool extending to the west toward the Lincoln Memorial.

The Lincoln Memorial is a United States Presidential memorial built to honor the 16th President of the United States, Abraham Lincoln. It is located on the National Mall in Washington, D.C. The architect was Henry Bacon, the sculptor was Daniel Chester French, and the painter of the interior murals was Jules Guerin.

The building is in the form of a Greek Doric temple and contains a large seated sculpture of Abraham Lincoln and inscriptions of two well-known speeches by Lincoln. The memorial has been the site of many famous speeches, including Martin Luther King's "I Have a Dream" speech, delivered on August 28, 1963 during the rally at the end of the March on Washington for Jobs and Freedom.

Arlington National Cemetery, in Arlington, Virginia, is a military cemetery in the United States, established during the American Civil War on the grounds of Arlington House, formerly the estate of the family of Robert E. Lee's wife Mary Anna (Custis) Lee, a descendant of Martha Washington. The cemetery is situated directly across the Potomac River from Washington, D.C., near The Pentagon, and is served by the Arlington Cemetery station on the Blue Line of the Washington Metro system.

More than 290,000 people are buried in an area of 624 acres (2.53 km²). Veterans and military casualties from every one of the nation's wars are interred in the cemetery, from the American Revolution through the military actions in Afghanistan and Iraq. Pre-Civil War dead were reinterred after 1900.

Part 553 of Title 32 of the Code of Federal Regulations establishes regulations for Arlington National Cemetery, including eligibility for interment (ground burial) and inurnment (columbarium). 32 C.F.R. 553 Eligibility for burial differs from eligibility for inurnment in the columbarium at Arlington National Cemetery. Due to limited space, ground burial eligibility criteria are much more restrictive than other National Cemeteries, as well as more restrictive than inurnment in the columbarium.

The persons specified below are eligible for ground burial in Arlington National Cemetery, unless otherwise prohibited.^[3] The last period of active duty of former members of the Armed Forces must have ended honorably. Interment may be casketed or cremated remains.

Any active-duty member of the Armed Forces (except those members serving on active duty for training only).
Any veteran who is retired from active military service with the Armed Forces.
Any veteran who is retired from the Reserves is eligible upon reaching age 60 and drawing retired pay; and who served a period of active duty (other than for training).
Any former member of the Armed Forces separated honorably prior to October 1, 1949 for medical reasons and who was rated at 30% or greater disabled effective on the day of discharge.
Any former member of the Armed Forces who has been awarded one of the following decorations:
The President of the United States or any former President of the United States.
Any former member of the Armed Forces who served on active duty (other than for training) and who held any of the following positions:
- An elective office of the U.S. Government (such as a term in Congress).
- Office of the Chief Justice of the United States or of an Associate Justice of the Supreme Court of the United States.
- An office listed, at the time the person held the position, in 5 USC 5312 or 5313 (Levels I and II of the Executive Schedule).
- The chief of a mission who was at any time during his/her tenure classified in Class I under the provisions of Section 411, Act of 13 August 1946, 60 Stat. 1002, as amended (22 USC 866) or as listed in State Department memorandum dated March 21, 1988.
Any former prisoner of war who, while a prisoner of war, served honorably in the active military, naval, or air service, whose last period of military, naval or air service terminated honorably and who died on or after November 30, 1993.
The spouse, widow or widower, minor child, or permanently dependent child, and certain unmarried adult children of any of the above eligible veterans.
The widow or widower of:
- a member of the Armed Forces who was lost or buried at sea or officially determined to be missing in action.
- a member of the Armed Forces who is interred in a US military cemetery overseas that is maintained by the American Battle Monuments Commission.
- a member of the Armed Forces who is interred in Arlington National Cemetery as part of a group burial.
The surviving spouse, minor child, or permanently dependent child of any person already buried in Arlington National Cemetery.
The parents of a minor child, or permanently dependent child whose remains, based on the eligibility of a parent, are already buried in ANC. A spouse divorced from the primary eligible, or widowed and remarried, is not eligible for interment.
Provided certain conditions are met, a former member of the Armed Forces may be buried in the same grave with a close relative who is already buried and is the primary eligible.

Here it is: Sean's Home Away From Home...

Hi Daddy...B-Boy is so Awesome!

2008-10-07T20:13:00.000-07:00

Hey Cute Girl!

2008-10-07T20:03:00.000-07:00

KK out enjoying the sun shine!

The Most Beautiful Day for a Hike!

2008-10-03T21:41:00.000-07:00

Last weekend, we went on an awe inspiring hike up Mt. Timp. and through the caves.
It was the most beautiful day and the kids did great.

The BIG Road Trip

2008-10-03T19:38:00.000-07:00

We drove:
5 Days
2088 Miles
And
We had a blast!
We spent one day in Chicago where we were able to see the sights and go to Wicked...
So Fun!!!!!

Family Pictures August 2008

2008-10-03T18:49:00.000-07:00

Amy took these pictures as well...thanks, Amy!

These Kids Look Just Like Their Dad!

2008-10-03T18:23:00.000-07:00

Our friend Amy took these pictures. Her web site is: clipsandclicks.com
She is one talented lady!