Flashback Friday

Kids on their way to church. Despite the whining, fighting, yelling, hitting, spitting, I really do love these little ones!

Blueberry Bread Pudding

If you have never tried bread pudding you are missing out! This is very fattening and high in sugar, but that's what is great about it.




Ingredients:
3 eggs
4 cups heavy whipping cream
2 cups sugar
3 tsp. vanilla extract
2 cups fresh or frozen blueberries
1 pkg (10-12 oz) white baking chips
1 loaf French bread, cut/ripped into 1-inch cubes

Ingredients (for sauce):
1 pkg (10-12 oz) white baking chips
1 cup heavy whipping cream

Directions:
In a large bowl, combine the eggs, cream, sugar and vanilla. Stir in blueberries and baking chips. Stir in bread cubes; let stand for 15 minutes or until bread is softened.

Transfer to a greased 13x9 baking dish. Bake, uncovered, at 350 for 50-55 minutes or until a knife inserted near the center comes out clean. Let stand for 5 minutes.

For sauce, place baking chips in a small bowl. In a small saucepan, bring cream just to a boil. Pour over baking chips; whisk until smooth. Serve over bread pudding.

Legacy Lake

So, we headed back up to the Heber Valley Camp last Saturday. Ryan's parents were there, of course, along with sisters Jodie, Katie, and Marianne and their families. We ate BBQ turkey, dutch oven potatoes, salad, rolls, watermelon and peanut butter bars. We then headed to the lake. I got lucky and was in a canoe with Ryan and his dad, which means I really didn't have to do much. Unfortunately my big fat belly made me feel cramped and nauseated so I had them drop me off at shore. I got to hold baby Ethan again. He has such a beautiful little face. He is about 3 months old already! Yes, I am a bit baby hungry.

Ava went with her Uncle Ryan on the paddle boat and insisted on paddling herself. Day ending with a beautiful sky.

Flashback Friday

Disneyland 2010....waiting for Peter Pan's Flight.

Flashback Friday

Tomorrow I won't have the kids and will be doing homework like a crazy woman so I must do my F.F today. This is a picture of Ryan and I on a cruise ship in July 02'. We were docked at the Bahamas. Ryan might look a slight tipsy, but at least he looks much younger!

Heber Valley Girls Camp

Ryan's parents are serving a mission up at the HVGC and we were able to go up with 2 of Ryan's sisters (Jodie and Katie) and their families to see what they do and spend the night. We stayed in a really, really nice cabin (think AC, heat,indoor plumbing, and a huge restaurant-like kitchen). The only downside is it was only for 1 night. We will probably go up again this summer sometime to canoe on the lake etc.....

The missionaries. I love my in-laws. They are great people!

Ava getting ready to totally impress everyone! The Elder missionary that was helping with the zipline was like, "She is my hero! That just made my day!" Ava flew up the ladder, flew across the bridge, and flew down the line like a pro! We all laughed and laughed! It was so cute to see. Gracie absolutely refused to go. She was the only one that didn't go.....besides big fat pregnant me and Breck and 2 month old Ethan. But I reassured Gracie by telling her I wouldn't have gone anyway!

Ava walking back from her big adventure with Uncle Mark and Grandpa looking on. I love that little shy face.

Ryan's turn on the zipline.

Breck giving the camp 2 thumps up!

Grandpa and Breck.

Flashback Friday

Remember you are going to have to wait until we get back in our own place to get a flashback post that goes back far enough to make it interesting. :-)

Ryan and I saw this double rainbow from the deck a week or so ago. I did take a pic of the whole arch, but it wasn't as good....too many power lines in the way!

Pizza Party

My flashback Fridays have been slipping, but I do have things current to blog about. Yesterday we had a pizza party for the girls. When I say "we" I mean me. I had Ryan take Breck and leave, so Breck wouldn't be in the way. I let the girls invite 2 friends each from school. Invitation below is my "edited" version (i,e no address or phone number for all the weirdos online)

Ya, I know, I know pics of other people's kids on my blog, but the pic's not that clear so it's justified. Friends L-R Paige, Ayslind, Sidney, and Cyana.

They got in teams and we played a few fun games. Stuffing as many balloons in daddy's shirt as possible. Popping balloons with pens and then eating the gummy bears out of it, before running back to your team. These games were simple and cute and the kids LOVED them! I let them pick prizes for playing (not winning) or Ava's team wouldn't have gotten anything.

Not sure why some of the girls chose to have no cheese! I thought my kids were weird!

Belated Mother's Day

So I decided not to carry on in this post about how great my mother's day was, because frankly it wasn't that great! ha ha. It was ok. I mean it was fabulous as far as feeling grateful to be a mother and have healthy children and to stop and remember how much my own mother has sacrificed for her children. But as far as gifts and celebrating go....not so much! And that's ok. I feel like we just have so many holidays to spend money on it is ridiculous! And does all that stuff really matter?

So the real reason for this post is to journal what's been on my mind about the Savior. The other night we were reading a scripture story to the kids about Christ's crucifixion and got to the part (John 19: 25-27) where the Savior is on the cross and turns to John and tells him to take care of Mary his mother. I was really touched by that simple act of selflessness. I made a point to explain to the girls that even though Jesus was in horrifying agony he still made a point to make sure his mother was taken care of when he died! What a great example to each one of us. If you think about it each one of us is pretty selfish. When I am in pain all I can think about is me me me. I am so grateful for the Savior's perfect example of compassion and kindness. I am so grateful for the knowledge that I have of Jesus Christ.

Dance Festival 2010

Gracie's school had their dance festival on May 26th. It was long, but I was glad I was there just so Gracie knew we supported her. Ryan tells me 1/2 hour before that I should have let him know and he could have gotten off work. Well I didn't know that so I was left to haul the chairs and children in by myself.

Truthfully, I would rather not have the thoughts of dance festivals looming in my future for the next oh 12 years or so, but that's life!

Ava finally getting to play on the Kindergarten play ground.