There's was guy who came to church one Sunday and he was going to be away from his family for six weeks so we invited him over for dinner which happened to be Father's Day. My stepfather was coming over and the guy, Neal got there before my dad and I told him how my dad from the mountains and he was living in Tennessee and much like Brandon has served his mission there, went back home, returned to TN and met a girl, got married, stayed. Anyway, my dad arrived told Neal where he was from and Neal and his companion had actually opened the mission in the very, very small area of Virginia my dad was from. They talked all through dinner. My dad enjoyed it and so did Neal.

So while he was in town he came over one more time, but the good part was that he sent us home a dip one Sunday and roughly it was
you take some cream cheese (not sure how much, I messed up on the first one and put too much and haven't tried it again yet, I used a little less than a block...play with it)
spread in bottom of pan
mix together
a can of pinto beans
black beans
chili beans
can of rotel
brown sugar (play with this one too)
mix together
pour over cream cheese
sprinkle with sugar
bake until bubbly
he gave us ruffles plain chips which was excellent, but he says his family uses fritos
let me just tell you this was good stuff, I'm hungry

and there's another recipe, Thai Panang Curry, he gave us the ingredients and recipe for just before he left..it is so good here's the link to the recipe on the recipe blog...
http://delectablydeliciousdinners.blogspot.com/

My Laura

So Laura story, she started dance today and was so excited. Her teacher is an old friend of mine from the student ward, way back when. So I hadn't told Laura much about her and we were getting her dressed in the changing room and I said that her teacher was a member of our church, but went to the other building across town. She looked at me all concerned.."Do they believe in Jesus?" I said yes...she immediately replied "well that's good they believe in Jesus Christ" .... this sunk in for a minute as she rambled on and then she put her hand to her mouth and gasped "Does everyone in the city believe in Jesus?" I explained, no, probably not but Miss Raquelle believed the same things we did. I think she was truly comforted by this. So sweet... I was reading a memorial blog recently where a mother said about her deceased daughter something that reminded me so much of Laura I saved it.....

there were times in life when she was like a gale force hurricane wind ripping through your life and other times when she was a gentle delicate breeze on your cheek

....that's my Laura.

School and stuff

Laura's started kindergarten and is really good at school and let's it all out while at home. She loves packing lunch, the playground and being picked up through the drive thru :).

Cole's in 2nd grade, big boy. He wasn't excited about school, but the first day he spent fifteen minutes, literally, telling the first part of the box car kids. He's given us a summary everyday. The teacher has a store wherein the kids can earn "money" and buy or save when the store is open on Fridays. The child is in heaven. If only he were in class with his kindergarten crush I wouldn't know what to do with him so probably best that's not the case. He thought he was going to hate the back playground and he loves it. I'm so glad. The mornings are already a challenge, shoes crisis, breakfast crisis, snack crisis - but we're not off to a horrible start.

I do miss the kids but have enjoyed time with Hannah. I also enjoy lunches alone while Hannah naps. I know there will come a day where I will have too much time on my hands, alas the break is nice. Like I tell my kids there are advantages and disadvantages to everything. I usually say that when Hannah's giving them trouble.

I have found teaching my kids has taught that good one and another I really like is when someone has hit someone for someone saying something mean..I tell them
You can't choose what somene does to you, but you can always choose how you react to it, you can only control yourself. Why is this so hard to remember as adults? We're only human I suppose. Ah....life!

Time Flies

When you're having fun. On Thursday Brandon and I celebrated our 10th anniversary. We have had a wonderful time building our lives together. We love our children, we love our home. we love each other and for the most part we love the life we're living. I wouldn't want to do it with anyone else. He's the best! Ten things I love about him are....

11. cultivated confidence (one to grow one, it's one of the things that attracted me to him and it keeps working)

10. hard working

9. money matters

8. when he writes..about anything

7. perfect patience with people

6. his appreciation of me being a mommy and always helping out with no complaints ever

5. he wouldn't knowingly hurt anyone, well not w/o a super good cause

4. his handsomeness, eyes, lips...you get the point

3. he always tries to be a better husband, as if he could be :)

2. the multifabulous job he does with our kids, that they have him to look to for an example

1. his desire to always be righteous and the discipline to get it right most of the time. I know his holding the priesthood makes an invaluable impact on our lives as a whole.

Has anyone seen my baby?

Hannah turned two today and it really seems like she was just born. She is such a treasure to our family. She was born the day before Cole started Kindergarten. Her life has been pretty much on the go...going to drop off, pick up, help in class, parties, plays, emergencies, etc. I'm not sure if it's a result of that or not but she's a pretty good sleeper. The first night we brought her home she was awake every 20 minutes, since then we haven't had much to complain about. She loves, milk, popcorn, belly buttons, elmo, Caillou, balls, bubbles, ballons, books, her family, going to nursery, talking talking talking, swinging, salty foods (no sweets for this chick, with the exception of ice cream). I believe she is going to be a social butterfly, possibly much more so than Cole and Laura. She loves to help clean or work in any way. I love being her mom and spending so much time with her. She is a wonderful child! Happy Birthday Hannah Nanna!



one day old


The kids wanted to sleep by Hannah the night she came home...so sweet!

Her blessing.


Pretty in pink


She'll pay me back for this one :).














Learning to crawl she would back herself under the couch.










she still loves the backpack with Daddy!

Hard at work!

This is how you would typically find her.

All grown up!!

Books

So I love a good book. I'm not one to sit down and read anything but when I get into a good book I love it. I've recently started reading A Tree Grows in Brooklyn because I heard it was good and evidentally an oldie. I'm hoping like some of the other great books I've read that while getting into it is not as much fun, getting through it is wonderful. Some of those in the past have been, The Book of Mormon, The Poisonwood Bible (I almost didn't get past the beginning on this one and I'm so glad I did, it's one of my very favorites) A Hiding Place... Like most things in life I suppose you have to dig in, put in the work and afterwards the rewards come. I really hope the brooklyn book turns out this way, but I'm not banking on it. Has anyone read it?

Great Day!

So a few weeks ago Brandon said he wanted to meet up with a guy who works for the state that lives down south and they had decided to get together one Saturday at Ichetucknee springs. I was less than thrilled although I think I was really good and did not express this to Brandon. I was secretly hoping this thing would fall through. My memories of this place is arctic land and potential gator slaying of humans. So the day comes and it didn't fall through and I am bracing myself for miserability on many levels. We get there and after getting a little lost, driving through rain, tying our tubes on top of the van. We get there and meet up with the guys from BRandon's work who are really nice. We go hope on the river and it is crowded, Brandon found out that this river is floated more than any other river in the United States, approximately 5000 float the river a day...whew.
So it was a bit crazy getting us actually on the river and floating, but we got there and it was so nice. It was chilly, but with most of your body in the tube it was just refreshing. There was seaweed, maneuvering, limbs and I did look to the side a couple of times to double check for gators. But it was really just so nice, it even rained. The funny or not so funny part was thinking we were getting on a 1/2 float that turned out to be an hour, it made it feel much longer than an hour. We went and ate and went back again, even Hannah w/o a nap. She loved it! Laura swam the first part of it with her swimminies which was a little nerve racking. Then she got cold, but even after the second run everyone was ready to do it again. They have little rafts for kids or people who don't really want to be too wet. Hannah wanted to stay with me in the innertube. It was so nice I would highly recommend it. It was better than sweating it out at disney and much cheaper. :) Nothing against Mickey. Here's the link....
http://www.floridastateparks.org/ichetuckneesprings/
We didn't take the camera for obvious reasons, but so many times I wanted to take pics of the kids, so next time we'll definitely spring for a water proof disposable.
Thanks Brandon for a wonderful idea and trip!!