Happy Happy Birthday Rachel dear!

Happy Birthday to this gorgeous girl! Glad it was such a great day! Love you! (Emily)

WHAT TO BRING FOR THE RETREAT ON FRIDAY!

Remember to bring:

* A FAVORITE THING--but bring EIGHT NOT SEVEN 

    because we will box up one of everything and send it to Tracy. 

* SWIMMING SUIT for sauna and hot tub.

* Either, A SLEEPING BAG, a KING-SIZE SHEET, OR
   just SLEEP IN THE BEDS there and wash and dry the sheets before you go. Also bring a PILLOW, and a TOWEL.

* A FAVORITE GAME FOR SEVEN TO PLAY, OR EIGHT,

* A FAVORITE MOVIE YOU THINK EVERYONE WOULD
   LIKE for late-ish Friday night. (if no consensus, we'll vote.)

Dynamic d'Evegnees

Getting home from Church at noon increases not only the time we have for family play, but apparently it sends our kids' imaginations into a new dimension where costumes roam free and super-hero-powers come alive.

A few Sundays ago the kids were playing downstairs while I was causing a wave of domestic destruction in the kitchen and preparing Sunday dinner. When I went downstairs I found them in a huddle of heroic proportions, collectively fighting off galactic bad guys en masse. They had already created the cast of characters, complete with the description of their super-powers and a plot for their upcoming movie (which is still in negotiations with the producers--aka the parents who own the expensive equipment).

The names, the powers, and the costumes were all their own--I'm just the lady that brought it to the big screen!

Happy, Happy Birthday, Emily Dear!

Our Happy Birthday sentiments are as bold and as bright as this blog!!!  We love you so much!  Keep checking throughout the day for birthday wishes!

Holiday Season to Birthday Season

With the close of the holidays we get a short break and go right into birthdays. With 2 in January, one in February and March, and two in May, the party planning gets into full swing. Last Friday I took Emma and 4 friends to St. George to celebrate her birthday. She chose this as her party and her present. We had a great time doing all the things young girls love--including going to the mall! Emma is gentle and kind and a calming influence in our family.

White Chicken Chilli

Since we are in the recipe sharing mood....here's another one!

White Chicken Chili
Layer frozen chicken tenders on bottom of crock pot
Add: 1 can rinsed black beans
1 can rinsed northern beans
1 can corn
1 can petite diced tomatoes
Mix 3 cups water, 2t chicken bouillon, white chicken chili seasoning mix, cumin (I use ½ t), cilantro (fresh or dry).
Poor in crock pot. Cook on high several hours (4 or 5).
Dish in bowls and top with sour cream (I use fat free), avocado, fresh cilantro
The kids like to dip tortilla chips in the soup (Emily)

Snow Ice Cream for a Snow Day!

The kids just finished licking their bowls to get every last creamy drop of this wonderful snow-confection, and we had to share the recipe and the demo-video! (I just had a spoonful, and it was pret-ty tasty!)

The kids foraged for the snow outside (you can guess the kind of severe warning I gave about avoiding the yellow kind!), and then helped measure and mix the other ingredients (since there are only a total of four, it was very easy to manage, even with the bonus of holding Marie the entire time). We had a ball. . . a SNOW-ball, that is! (Dork alert! Dork alert!)

Let me get some of their ratings and reviews, since they're surrounding me as I type this.

Ethan says, "It's snow-tastic!"

Holden says, "It's really goooood! So try it!"

Eve says, "Put some chocolate on it and then mix it!"

Caleb says, "Two thumbs up!"

Peter says, "I-Keem. . . chomp!"

Marie says, "Heyaaa!"