Happy Birthday Alice!

Many years ago, I took a painting road trip for a company I was employed with in Arizona.  The trip went up the Pacific Coast States and then down the pan handle of Idaho, past Boise, Twin Falls, onto SLC, Utah and back to Mesa, Arizona.  The trip was filled the most beautiful landscape and terrain. Until...of course, I got to the Twin Falls area.  When I approached this area of Idaho, the thoughts of "who in their right mind would live is such a desolate and barren place as this!"  Little did I know that it was, for a period my home, and  the home of my future wife. 

It wasn't until serving in the North Carolina Mission that the "land of desolation" produced and introduced to me the most precious gift and reward I could ever ask for.  I met Sister Hamilton in the mission home in Charlotte, NC and thought that she was a very likeable person.  Yes, I know, I chose my words wisely, I was a missionary for dang sakes!  Anyways, we became good friends while serving in the same district/zone of Winston Salem, NC.  Our friendship grew that eventually progressed to an eternal friendship on December 20, 1997.

It has been 12-13 years since that wonderful day.  We had only dated (well, if you call it dating) for 2 months prior to our wedding.  My life has been enriched tremendously!  She is my strength and stability.  I have only become better in these years because of her influence.  She has a loyalty to her Father in Heaven that inspires and motivates me to be the same.  I can ALWAYS count on her to not waiver.  I am forever grateful for the parents of my precious wife that raised and taught her well to be a hard worker, stand up for truth and right, play sports, laugh and joke, cry and hug, love and serve.

Happy Birthday Alice!  I love you!

Matt

The Chocolate Baby

These two cute kids were playing this morning, like they always do, and Mason mentioned something about taking care of the "chocolate baby."  I thought it was pretty cute and it reminded me of a movie Corrina Corrina where two little girls were best friends.  The one little white girl asked the little black girl if she tasted like chocolate.  She responded by asking if the little white girl tasted like vanilla.  Then they proceeded to lick each other's arms to see if they had flavor.  It was too sweet and innocent!

Easter & General Conference Weekend

This Easter weekend was extra special...it was also General Conference.  Actually it was triple exciting because Memaw was here to visit for part of the weekend!  Here is a picture story of what we did this weekend, including listening to all of conference!

The neighbors in our cul de sac have a tradition of having a huge easter egg hunt.  Everyone contributes candy filled eggs and all the adults and older kids hide them in the neighborhood.  We haven't participated in the past because we had late church or were involved in doing other things, but this year we joined in the fun.  It was a great time and the kids were so excited to hunt and find so many more eggs. 

We have great neighbors!

I love this picture of them all examining their loot!  :)

Carter and I got anxiously engaged with folding paper towels to make our

own wet wipes.  It was a great project while listening to conference. 

Our traditional conference table set-up.

These are their Easter presents.  The corn bags from Memaw ~ a REAL TREASURE!! and the Scripture Readers from Mom & Dad. 

What a great weekend!

We LOVE Conference & we LOVE Easter!

Chloe's Bruised Nose

Chloe and Carter were out in the backyard playing.  They were trying to stand up the basketball hoop that was on its side.  As they were both lifting, they realized that they weren't strong enough, or tall enough, to stand it all the way up.  Carter let go pre-maturely and the rim came down and scraped Chloe's nose good and hard.  It was bruised for about a week.  Chloe was terrified with all the blood that came out of her nose, but it didn't take her long to realize she was going to live.  :)

 Gotta love this tough girl!  It left a big dent on the top of her forehead also. 

Hopfully one of these days, the kids will listen when we give them a

warning NOT to do something.

Cub Scout Boys

These cute boys love to dress up, and today...well, they were scouts.  They were so cute, and the mamma just had to take pictures and write about it long enough to keep the memory!

What a handsome little face...it hides the most mischievious little pranks!

I love my little scouter-men!

Homemade Maple Bars ~ Yummy!

Today, was one of those "You're the BEST Mom EVER!" Days, as the kids would say.  Those don't happen for me very often, because Matt makes more delightfully-edible food than I do...so it was a happy day for me!  I tried a new recipe from one of my great Visiting Teachers, Karen Ustach.  She is the forth-coming Martha Stewart, I do believe!  Anyway, I tried her Maple Bar Recipe with a little twist...and used fresh ground whole wheat in place of the white flour.  I must say, they were quite tasty and didn't last much past the next day!  (Of course, they were fried in oil, but we won't tell!)

Here is the recipe for those of you who "dare" to try!

Maple Bars by Karen Ustach

2 cups Warm Water
1 ½ Tbsp. Yeast

Dissolve yeast in water.

Then add:

¼ cup Sugar
3 Tbsp. Oil
2 Eggs
1 ½ tsp. Salt

Mix well and pour over 5 cups flour. (Alice used fresh ground whole wheat flour)

Mix well. The dough is very sticky. Refrigerate for 1-2 hours or it can stay in the fridge for up to one week. Do not punch down until ready to use.

Heat oil (2 inches deep) in heavy saucepan. Spoon a golf ball size piece of dough onto floured surface and roll in flour to coat. Flatten with your fingers to about ¼ inch thick. Place in hot oil and fry until brown on both sides. If the oil is hot enough this should only take 20 -30 seconds. Remove from oil to paper towels (or cooling rack with paper under it). Frost when slightly warm.

For frosting mix powdered sugar, a bit of very soft or melted butter, maple flavor to taste and enough milk or cream to make spreading consistency.

Enjoy!!!

The Pooper-Scoopers

Today was "Let's Start Prepping the Ground so that Some-Day we can have a Garden and a Grass-Yard" Day.  We found a place where we can get free manuer, and since our ground is mainly sand, it is hard to plant anything.  We have heard that things grow best when you add manuer to the ground first.  Since we have a roto-tiller and can get free manuer, all we are out is a little sweat and sore muscles.  So, another great day to teach the kids how to work...and stink! 

They all got on their boots, and started scooping-poop! 

(The smell even brought the neighbors out to see

what we were up to!)

After the poop was dumped and stirred into the sand, Mason wanted to see how soft it was...

...and I believe he thinks he is driving something and going somewhere...

What an adventurously hard-working day!  After all, what are a nice pair of boots good for if they don't have a little manuer on them?