Halloween Surprise

We finally got around to taking down our Halloween decorations today and found something that I thought was particularly funny. This year we decided to make Ghosts out of Suckers and Napkins. We then added these to our Halloween decorations outside our house. The kids really loved seeing something that they did decorate the house. When I went out to take them down I found one that, due to weather, had become even more appropriate for halloween.






Gotta love those red suckers!

Happy Birthday Brigit

It was 2 years ago that Brigit joined our family. She is always so happy and a joy to have around. We are so glad that she made it to our family. Last week sometime Ben told me that she needed a Castle Cake for her birthday. I wasn't too sure about that and did some looking to find some online. It turns out that most Castle Cakes require more cake than we are actually able to consume before it gets bad. We did a little modification and I think it turned out well. We'll save the full blown Castle Cake when there are more people around to help us eat it. :) It was a little different with it being a Sunday. She had said she wanted pizza, so we got a couple from Sam's club the day before so we could eat it Sunday. We took a ton of pictures and had a good time celebrating. Thank you for your birthday wishes. Here's our girl:

Happy Halloween

We had a different Halloween this year. It started very early as our 2 older boys decided that it was time to wake up at about 3:30 in the morning.... We had a few things that needed to be returned to a few different stores and had a few more things we needed to do before Brigit's birthday on Sunday. So, we had a earlier lunch and headed out the door. I think everyone was pretty much asleep before we backed out of our drive way. We got to do our running around and then the kids all woke up at about 3:00. We still had two more stops to make, but no big deal if kids are with us. We decided that we would try out trick-or-treating at the mall since it was close to where we were at the time.

So, we made it through and got back home and had a bite to eat before heading out for some trick-or-treating in our neighborhood. Captain Hook took Dash, Peter Pan and Tinker Bell out and I stayed home with our little army man.

They made it back with plenty of candy and we ended up having about 18 trick-or-treaters here at our own house. I think that's the most we have ever had and that does include the 3 that live here. Well, here are pictures of them all, they didn't turn out as good as I hoped. Hope you enjoy.

New Recipes

I have been meaning to post these for a couple of days now. Since I got my bountiful basket full of produce, I have had to come up with different ways of useing a few things. With my Mexican Mix that I got I found a recipe for Chalupas that turned out to use a lot of what I had gotten. You use a green salsa which base would be tomatillos. It turned out to be quite a bit spicier than first intended. Very little is needed to feel it. :) You blend the salsa all together then cook it. You also heat corn tortillas and then you add a LITTLE salsa then sour cream, chicken pieces, and cheese on top. You can find the recipe here: http://www.epicurious.com/recipes/food/views/Soft-Fried-Tortillas-with-Tomatillo-Salsa-and-Chicken-109433







You blend the salsa all together then cook it. You also heat corn tortillas and then you add a LITTLE salsa then sour cream, chicken pieces, and cheese on top.

We also had some Bok Choy to use. I have heard of it, but never used it. So, I found a recipe that uses it as a stir-fry. I missed taking pictures of it, but here is the recipe if anyone wants to try it: http://allrecipes.com/Recipe/Chicken-Broccoli-Ca---Uniengs-Style/Detail.aspx

We ommitted the oyster sauce, because I don't have that on hand, but it still turned out really well. If you've never eaten Bok Choy, but you eat oriental food, then you probably have tried it and just didn't know it. While I was eating I recognized the flavor and taste. The leaves almost have a spinich look to them.

Anyway, It's been fun trying new recipes. We'll see if we come up with anything else this week.

Sorry, I can't get the links to work. I'll see if I can get them fixed.

Bountiful Baskets

I just had a wonderful experience this morning. I have been hearing about Bountiful Baskets for a little while now, but there hasn't been a distribution point close enough to me for it to work out for me. For a basic overview: It is a produce co-op. So a bunch of people purchase into this so you get a better price (take out the middle man). So, for a first timer it is $18 for the basket. After you're first time it is $15/basket and there is a fee of $1.50 for handling. Besides just the basket you can add other items as well. Other items such as bread, pumpkin, box of apples, a Mexican mix. Each week is different, so you get online and order through the website.

The Springville site is new. Today was the second time that it's been here. I wasn't able to participate the first time, but I went today. So, I ordered just a regular basket and then added on the Mexican mix. The total price was $27. I also was able to go a little early to help them set the produce out. 50% is fruit and 50% vegetables. Here is a list and pictures of what I came home with. A pineapple, a bunch of bananas, a bunch of apples, a bunch of plums, 2 tomatoes, a bunch of broccoli, bock choy, 2 cucumbers, a bag of grapes, 2 heads of lettuce, 4 artichokes, and some sort of fruit that looks like a lemon only smaller...not sure exactly what it is and a bunch of them. In the Mexican mix I got 3 avocados, 3 different types of peppers, corn tortillas, cilantro, green onion, yellow onion, and tomatillos.






Mexican Mix and a tomato

Anyway, I was very happy with what I came home with. Now if I can learn to use it all and eat it before it goes bad, I think I got a great deal.

You can find more about it at

Feeling Accomplished

WOW, what a day we have had today. We decided it was time to take care of some things outside today. I forgot to take pictures today of what it looked like before, but I did take plenty of during and after clean-up. I will see if I can find an older one of the outside. We worked on the "Devil's Strip" getting it cleared out and then we put some carpet down and are now in the process of getting rocks to cover the area. If anyone has some rocks that they want to get rid of, let us know. :)

We also took out all the bushes that were in front of the house. We are thinking that we will put rose bushes around the house to cover up the ugly cement.

It's fun to do something and really see the results of the work. We may be feeling it more in our bodies tomorrow, but for now, it just plain feels good. :)







I couldn't find a picture before with the bushes out front, but just imagine them way to big for the space and wanting to climb over the porch. That should give you an idea.

Welcome Home Niels!!

This past week Mike's brother came home from his mission. We weren't able to go up the day he came home, but this weekend we got to see him and spend time with those that are around. We also got to go to a baby blessing for our newest nephew Oliver. I waited to post, so I could add pictures. Of course, I really didn't take enough, but here are a few.