Merry Christmas Part 2

Here are a couple of pictures from Grandpa Jack and Grandma Melissa's camera

Merry Christmas!

We had a FUN Christmas and were very blessed!! The kids had a great time opening presents and vising family. We ATE (and ATE!), open presents and played with toys all day.

This is Christmas Eve in our new PJ's.

My camera was acting up so a few of my CUTE pictures turned out fuzzy but this next picture is really how the kids looked Christmas morning. We had the gate up so they couldn't get downstairs and this is how they looked when we finally let them down!! (A BIG BLUR!)

And a picture of Abigail with her new gloves. She thought the whole day was crazy!!

Santa and misc other adventures..

Abigail loves turning the pages to pick a new movie. She loves Sesame Street!!

And Abigail trying to look cute while getting into trouble..

Maverick just hanging out. He is a GREAT kid!!

Abigail did not like Santa holding her!!

A local theater had a Santa for kids to visit. We got there as they were leaving.
Luckily we live in a some what small town and the Santa agreed to take a picture with the kids outside of the theater.
The kids were very excited to meet Santa and told him everything he didn't want to know!!

Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year!!

"Snow Day"

I wish I had taken a picture today of the sunshine and total lake of snow on our "snow" day. Las Vegas had some snow yesterday and so the district closed all schools today. It is intersting how snow 80 miles away can affect our schools. We made a family day out of it and went to St. George where we actually saw some snow! I am in the process of uploading some pictures we took with the camera phone.

Also, today Savannah had her Christmas party at Pre-school and I was a parent helper. I forgot the camera!!! She did a great job and sang "We Wish You a Merry Christmas" and "Jingle Bells."

Quotes by Marjorie Pay Hinckley and Gordan B Hinckley

"Develop some intellectual curiosity. If you have it, you will never be bored. If you haven't, cultivate it, hold fast to it. Never let it go. To the intellectually curious, the world will always be full of magic, full of wonder. You will be interesting to your friends, to your spouse, and a joy to your children. You will be alive to all of the wonderful possibilities of this world." Marjorie Pay Hinckley

"You have the potential to become anything to which you set your mind. You have a mind and a body and a spirit. With these three working together, you can walk the high road that leads to achievement and happiness. But this will require effort and sacrifice and faith." Gordon B. Hinckley


I love those quotes!! I need to remember these as I go through times of trial with raising a family and going back to school. I love the part where Sister Hinckley says we will be a joy to our children if we have intellectual curiosity.

Christmas picture and memories

I tried to take cute pictures of the kids before church today.
Abigail just wanted the camera and the other two thought it was soo funny. ;)

Maverick and Savannah at our ward Christmas party last night.

This is picture is from one year ago exactly today.
It is amazing how much kids change in one year!!

And now here is Abigail eating food off a plate like she is a big kid!!

Thanksgiving

We had a fun Thanksgiving with lots of food and fun! The kids had a great time visiting family and eating turkey and pie!

Happy Thanksgiving!!

Happy Thanksgiving everyone!!! We are spending the afternoon with my parents and the kids are very excited for Turkey Day.

Things I am thankful for today:

My husband
My kids
My friends
My house
My church
My family
Our Country
My opportunity to go to college
The great city we live in

Tagged!

Tagged Part 1: Find the 4th picture from the 4th file
This is when we tried to have a cat. Jake and Maverick still miss him... :(





Tagged part two: Crazy three's.

1. 3 Shows I watch
Only 3?
Chuck
Biggest Loser
Ugly Betty


2. 3 Favorite Restaurants
Training Table
Macaroni Grill
Taco Bell


3. 3 Things That Happened Yesterday
Went to Church
Played Mario Baseball with Maverick
Relaxed


4. 3 Things I'm Looking Forward Too
Being done with college!
Christmas
Abigail learning to walk


5. 3 Things On My Wish List
Everyone to stay healthy longer than a week
Jake to teach community college
My kids will love me forever!

6. 3Things I Love
My family - Jake & my kids are the best
My friends
My home

7. 3 Things I Can't Stand
Rude people
Dirty dishes in the sink
Whining!


8. 3 People to Tag - Your IT!
Liz M.
Jessica Z.
Jill L.

Dinner

We just finished an interesting dinner. I decided to make a recipe I found on someone's blog. It sounded great. I couldn't find one ingredient so I decided to substitute. The ingredient I couldn't find was roasted red peppers (1 cup). I have never cooked with peppers before, I really do not like any kind of pepper. I figured I could substitute red pepper flakes (1/4 cup) and get the same taste. Savannah was the first to try it and told us that it was hot. We figured she meant hot like just off the stove hot but she didn't. Then Jake tried a bite. He said through the pain that she meant spicy hot!! Jake then ate his bowl, Savannah's bowl and Maverick's bowl of pasta. He had to drink lots and lots of milk after!! Lesson learned: red pepper flakes do not have the same taste as roasted red peppers!!

Here is the recipe in case anyone is interested in trying it. What we tasted through the spice was really good!! I found the recipe here: Recipe

Tortellini with a Creamy Roasted Red Pepper sauce

1/2 c. butter (1 cube)
1/4 tsp. garlic, minced
2 c. whipping cream
1/2 tsp. black pepper
1 c. parmesan cheese (grated)
1 c. roasted red peppers (the kind in a jar)
red pepper flakes (to taste)
3-4 cups cheese or spinach tortellini (cooked)

Optional:

1 c. cooked chicken ( rub Montreal Seasoning on 2 boneless chicken breasts and baked at 400 degrees for about 40 minutes. Then sliced the chicken into strips)


Melt a little of the butter in a medium saucepan and add the garlic. Saute on medium heat for about a minute, then add remaining butter, whipping cream, and pepper. Bring to a boil and add the parmesan cheese. Lower heat and simmer until the cheese is completely mixed in. Dice up the red peppers and add them to the sauce, continue to simmer. Serve over tortellini. Top with chicken, shrimp, or anything else you would like!

9 years!!

9 years ago today Jake and I were married in the Las Vegas Temple. That is crazy!!! In 9 years we have lived in 8 places, bought 4 houses, and had 3 children! (We even tried having a cat but see prior posts for that adventure!)

We have gone through so much together and I love Jake more each day we are together, through the good and the bad.

We had a CRAZY day but we were together for most of it so it was a great day.

I love my family!

She seems so cute and innocent, doesn't she?

Trying on new Christmas dress and loving it!

Trying on new Christmas clothes and being silly!!

Savannah is so amazing. She loves to pose and needs constant attention.
I really believe she thinks she is in charge of our household.

Our Prince and Princess!!

Sword fighting between princes!

Abigail loves watching the action around the house and is starting to get into it.

Misc fun!

Abigail loves being pushed and now loves pushing Maverick on the cars.

They are so cute when they aren't fighing...

Just hanging out..

Watching TV before school.

Being silly Abigail eating breakfast.

And more pictures from Disneyland

Here are some of the pictures that Grandpa Jack and Grandma Melissa took.

Maverick on the "big" boy rides!!

Family dinner on Halloween

More "big" boy rides!

More Disneyland pictures!

Savannah and Abigail were able to meet Woody and Jessie from Toy Story while Maverick was riding Splash Mountain. (I am waiting for pictures from Grandpa Jack and Grandma Melissa which should have lots of pictures of Maverick on the "big" kid rides!!)

Group picture of everyone on Autopia!
(Jake & I , Sermed & Maverick, Shanna & Savannah and finally Grandpa Jack bringing up the back) Thanks to Grandma Melissa and Abigail for taking the picture

Jake and I were able to go on a few rides together!

Savannah loves the fast rides! She can't wait to go on the "big" kid rides.

Savannah went to the Princess Faire and had her hair done by the Royal Hairdresser. She loved meeting the Princesses. She was able to meet Cinderella, Aurora and Jasmine.

A picture of Abigail on her first Disneyland ride!!