Friday night I was able to get together with some of my old roommates. We missed several of our gang and wish they could have made it but you know how life is. We were lucky to get five of us together. I love these girls so much. College was a true highlight of my life. I wouldn’t have changed a thing about it! College shaped me. I became ME. On top of missing these girls I miss how much I used to laugh. That night when we got talking we all admitted that we aren’t as funny as we used to be and we miss that part of us. We all used to be hilarious! It’s true.
We played a game called "chocolate unicorn" where you see how many dingdongs you can balance on your forehead. As you can see I have quite a large forehead and was able to do quite well. lol This is the left over. Juls, me, Lisa, Kari, Britt
Love you girls if you are reading this!! Thanks for making me laugh.
p.s. Lisa thanks for letting us chill at your house!
Last week we got back from one of the best vacations we have ever had. We have been saving up and also looking forward to this trip for over 18 months now. In the days leading up to the trip there were dinners that were intrupted by “Utah, Utah” chants. Yes that’s how excited we were!
We were able to spend 10 days in Utah. They were jam backed with seeing as much family as possible. Here was our iterary:
Thursday: Leave house at 4 am VA time, arrive in Utah 11 am UT time. Nap. BBQ with Ben’s cousins.
Friday: Hang out with my fam. Ben fix families cars and motorhome. Roommate reunion for me.
Saturday: Drive to Burley and spend day with Ben’s grandma and cousins.
Sunday: Still in Burley. Visit Ben’s other grandparents and uncle. Drive back to Utah.
Monday: Set up camp at Cherry Hill Water park with my family. Parents surprise anniversary party.
Tuesday: Swim, Swim, Swim! (Cherry Hill Water Park)
Wednesday: Still at Cherry Hill. Rock climb, batting cages etc. Pack up and leave. Go flying with my dad.
Thursday: Drive to St. George with Ben’s family. Swim!!
Friday: Swim, Swim, Swim. 5th Wedding Anniversary. Tuachan theatre to see show Aladdin.
Saturday: Swim, Swim, Swim. Iron Chef competition!
Sunday: Drive back to Salt Lake. Visit with my parents one last time.
Monday: Fly home.
(If you read all that I’m impressed. It was for journaling purposes.)
Now on to the exciting things. The pictures!!
IDAHO TRIP
My parents driving a tractor.Me and My mom twin.Ben taking the kids for a ride.
After the tractor ride Hallie got a private tour of the dairy that Ben’s uncles own.
Swinging on Grandma Stoker's steps.
We love Grandma Stoker!We love Grandma and Grandpa Crane!
We loved our visit to Idaho. We wish we could have stayed longer. The great thing is that just by going to church we saw everyone in Ben’s extended family. They all go to the same church house! It was very convenient for us. 🙂
Those of you who know me well know that I love camping. I jump at any chance we get to go. Ben was more than accommodating when I asked if we could go over memorial weekend. We decided to head towards West Virginia and camp at the George Washington Forest. We lucked out and got a great spot. It was secluded and away from all the other campers. It was also near a lake with a little beach area. Talk about heaven-camping and the beach! We all had a great time and can’t wait to go camping again!
Our perfect spot. p.s. I'm really amazed that everything fits in our prius.Finding sticks to start the fire.Putting the charcoal in the fire pit.Playing with bubbles.Roasting giant marshmallows.That is one big bite!Hallie enjoying her dessert.Coming back from cutting logs.Trying to cut down a tree (with the blade cover on).Hallie was so excited to go on a hike and insisted she be in the lead.Kyle was happy to follow along behind.
On Saturday we spent the day at the beach. The water was full of tadpoles which fascinated the kids. Hallie was able to catch several of them and trap them in the moat around her castle.
Watching the tadpoles she captured swim around.Swimming with dad.Taking a break in the shade for lunch.I just want to squish that belly! That night the kids roasted hot dogs.Ben and I are loving the curls that have grown into Kyle's hair.Bringing back my Oakcrest days by making ash cakes. Ky and I coloring.
Last week I made a pot of black beans the old fashioned way and I have been eating them constantly. This week I wanted to spice them up a bit by adding them in a recipe rather than just eat them over rice. Here are two recipes I made today. They are fantastic and vegan. This is my second time making them so they are tried and true!
Zucchini, Black Bean, and Rice Skillet
1 Tb oil
1 1/2 cups sliced zucchini
1/2 cup diced green pepper
1 can black beans
1 can diced tomatoes
1 cup rice
1/2 cup shredded chedder and m. jack cheese (Omit these if vegan)
Cook rice separately. (Once rice is finished I start the rest of the meal) Heat oil in large skillet. Add zucchini and bell pepper. Cook 5 min. Add beans, undrained tomatoes and cooked rice. Sprinkle with cheese (or not) and enjoy! Â Here is the link to where I found the recipe. There are a few differences.
Chunky Avocado Salsa
2 medium tomatoes
2 avocados
1 cup sweet white corn
1 bushel green onions
1 can of black beans (drained)
Garlic pepper
Garlic salt
Parsley
Hot Sauce to taste
Mix everything together but avocados. Add them last and gently stir. Serve with chips. Â Here is the link to where I found the recipe.
I had a wonderful Mother’s Day again this year. I am so blessed to be the mom of these two little lovers. They require me to be so much more than I ever thought I could be. They challenge and stretch me and teach me what life is all about. Last night I read a quote that really struck me from one of my church leaders Elder M. Russell Ballard. Â He said, “God is the Father of us all and has extended to us the privilege of our own family, which was previously only his, to help us become more like him.” I will forever be grateful for the opportunity and privilege God has given me to be a mom.
This past Saturday we went for a boat ride in D.C. It was a fun little outing that Hallie requested we do much more. Here are some pictures of our adventure.
The two men in my life. Kyle kills me in these sunglasses. He HAS to wear them in the car and if it is sunny outside. He always has this same "cool dude" pose. It's like he knows he is hot stuff when we wears them.On the boat.Hallie posing for the camera.One of the many things we saw was the Lincoln Memorial.We walked along the river after our boat ride and found these fountains.This may be the reason Hallie requested we come back a lot more. She loved it!
Yesterday we went with our neighbors to a nearby strawberry farm. The kids were so excited to go to a farm and pick strawberries. I know that they have a big part of their dad’s “farm love” in them. One day we will own a big plot of land and call it a “farm” but until then we pay to visit and pick food that someone else grew. $20 bucks gone but a memory made, cute pictures taken, and a tummy full of the best tasting strawberries I have ever had. We ate just as many as we put in our bucket. And today, the day after, we have homemade jam and fresh strawberries still to eat. Life is good.
So excited to be at the farm. We love adventure!The very first pick!
Kyle was next!
Oh so cute!He was eating as soon as we got there and didn't stop until we left. lolSuch a good helper. She was great at picking good strawberries. Not one gross one made it into our basket.I love this picture of her. She is just so beautiful! Kyle was more interested in running up and down the aisles and eating strawberries that someone else picked than he was in picking his own.Taking a break from picking strawberries to pick wild flowers.I'm guessing from her face that something was wrong with that strawberry. lolStill eating up until the last second. I can't blame him I was too. 🙂What we took home. Aren't they beautiful?!
The kids ready for church. I'm sad this was taken with Ben's phone instead of the camera. But that's what happens when you are sick and leave the job up to dad. Thank goodness Tiffany was here to make up for it the rest of the day. They sure are cute though despite the bad picture.Easter morning.Checking out the goods.
We had a little easter egg hunt in our backyard after naps.
Nothing beats an easter egg hunt in jammies!
He had to try wearing his "basket" like big sister.The all to familiar butt crack. lol
Hallie found the big egg.Big kisses for a job well done!The kids and aunt Tiffany.
My BFF came to visit us a couple weeks ago. There isn’t a person in the world who is better than she is. She makes me a better person just being around her. I truly am blessed to have such an amazing best friend. For years I prayed for the Lord to bless me with a best friend. I had to wait several years to find her but it was worth it because we are soul mates. lol She knows all the bad about me and she still focuses on my good and loves me.
While she was here she took many pictures of the kids. I’m so glad she did. What I’m even happier about is the fact that my kids are as head over heals for her as I am. 🙂 The two weeks she was here went by too fast. Hallie keeps asking when she is coming back. My answer, “Hopefully soon”.
I love this picture of Hallie! She looks like the wild child that she is. I often let her pick out her clothes. She looks like the purple people eater. lolI swear my kids never stop eating! Oh wait either do I.He is one cool dude!Trying out the big kid swing in our backyard. Oh he is so cute I just want to squeeze him all. the. time. Playing at one of the coolest playgrounds.Have I mentioned how I just want to squeeze him all day?Again with the squeezing! It doesn't get cuter than that?!While I was getting my hair cut Tiffany took the kids next door to get a manicure. Hallie was in heaven! Kyle got one fingernail painted. He was proud of it!
He actually posed for the camera. That never happens!Twin girls wearing green. Hallie was concerned when she put on a green shirt exclaiming that it wasn't St. Patricks Day and therefore she shouldn't be wearing green. Oh the mind of a 3 year old.Tiffany took Hallie on a date.They went to a seafood resturant right on the beach. Hallie was excited to learn about how they catch and cook the crab but not excited to eat it.Two of my favorite people!I guess Hallie kept staring out the window at kids playing on the beach while she was eating dinner. After they ate Aunt Tiffany made sure they had lots of playing time. Aunts are so nice!
Beaches are one of her all time favorite things!
Playing in the sprinkler at our awesome neighbors house.Oh to be a kid again.Taking a break and eating a popsicle.Me and my best friend. Oh how I wish she didn't live across the country.
Hallie had asked Tiffany to stay until Jesus came. (She asks a lot of questions about Jesus’ second coming.) We thought that was hilarious! Hallie even asked her husband and all of her family (parents, siblings, etc) to come live with us, just to seal the deal. Of course giving priority to Tiffany and her husband in offering them her princess castle in the playroom. Can you tell we love her? Best friends are heaven sent. 🙂
