Like Father like Son

As you can see I finally got around to updating our blog. I had so much to update I needed the time to do it, so I decided today was blog day. Ryan hates Blogging because it means his mom is on the computer and doesn't pay him any attention. So now he has become smart about it, he will shut my laptop and unplug it! Smart kid! So this Is the last post because my child deserves an afternoon at the pool.

I couldn't resist posting this picture. We were on our way to church and had decided to walk, Ryan always runs far away from us so we bought this "monkey leash". It was the first time we had used it and he loves it! But I thought they looked so darling in their matching glasses while walking to church. I love these two boys!

A Playdate with Jack

We had a swimming play date with our cute friends Mary and Jack. It was a great afternoon and we are so glad they came and had fun with us!

We hope you guys will come again!

Liberty Land

{Ryan and Uncle Jer }

We went to check out Liberty Land last weekend. It was a perfect night out. All of the rides are kid friendly. Ryan was able to go on all of them, including a fast roller coaster. Jeremy came with us and was so nice to go on the rides with Ryan. He is a great uncle and brother and we sure love him. I recommend checking out Liberty Land, its affordable and fun for the whole family. The miniature golf course is really awesome too!

The boys

Ryan in his red airplane{he loves airplanes}

"A little merry go round"

a round of skee ball

Some video games, miniature golf, a push pop, and I would say one of Ryan's best days ever!

We will be back soon!

Grandparents

We have had a wonderful summer, with lots of boating! My grandparents were in town for a week, and we wasted no time getting them out on the boat with us. We had a wonderful time, playing games, talking and swimming! We miss you both already!

Grandpa and Dad

My grandparents Dont you just love the hat? We were headed to a rodeo!

Jamie and Ryan in Utah Lake

Ryan

Yummy Desserts

I made a peach blackberry trifle for the Dutch oven night. It was delicious! The combination of sweet blackberries with organic ripe peaches is wonderful. I loved the color combination too! I started with making the vanilla custard {if you want the recipe let me know} Then I prepared the peaches and washed and dried the blackberries carefully. I also used a sponge cake and cut it into small squares.{you can also use short cake, or angel food cake but I like the moistness of a sponge cake. The sponge cake I used had a bit of orange zest} I whipped up some heavy whipping cream and sweetened it. Then you layer, the ingredients. You cant go wrong with a trifle at a party, there is never any leftovers.

Dutch oven dinner night

{ryan and his friend jack playing in hammock}

Last week for our dinner group activity we planned a Dutch oven dinner night, the families in our ward were invited, and they brought dutch oven dinners to share. The food was delicious and we had a great turn out. The kids loved playing together, Ryan especially loved the trampoline! Thanks to everyone for such a fun evening, ending with yummy"smores". {And a special thanks to the Kargis Family for hosting.}

The Dutch ovens

Ryan and the girls

Ryan and Hana

Emily with some friends

Jamie I love this picture!

Amelia and Danny

Avery

{I have lots of pictures so if any of you want copies let me know}

Recipes

Quite a few of you have asked for the recipes from the Due Date Shower,

The fruit dip was soooo good, I got the recipe from my darling friend Harmony, hopefully she doesn't mind if I post it:

Fabulous Fruit Dip

1 pkg cream cheese softened
1 can sweetened condensed milk
1 container of cool whip regular sized

Whip all ingredients together and chill until ready to serve serve with strawberries, grapes, pineapple, apples, bananas, any other fruit you like.

Chicken and fresh basil panini's:

1 loaf country french bread sliced thin
1 lb chicken breasts marinated for three hours in Italian dressing, then pounded about 1/4 inch thick. Grill on a BBQ until cooked, put aside.
Tomatoes sliced thin
Mozzarella cheese sliced thin
Freshly grated Parmesan
Basil leaves washed
Basil oil or olive oil

Panini grill

Brush both sides of each slice of bread with oil, stack basil, chicken, tomato and both cheeses top with another piece of bread. Place on grill until melted. Enjoy!

Before Grilling

Happy Birthday Aunt Cassi

It was my sisters Birthday Last week, my Mom was out of Town so I hosted it at my house. We had Chicken and Steak Kabobs, Grilled Pineapple, Peppers and Potatoes, Pasta Salad, Bread and Fruit. Then I made a Chocolate Bundt cake and We sang Happy Birthday. We love you Cassi and hope that you had a wonderful Birthday!

A few things about Cassi:

She is a very Fun person

She loves her Husband Mark (he is very cool)

She makes the best chocolate chip cookies in the world(just ask our dad)

She has lots of friends and always has plans!

She is kind

She has great taste!

She is so nice to Ryan

She is Genuine

She really is the best sister and I am so glad we live close!

Baby Gift

At my friend Callie's shower, she received four hooded towels. Two of my friends in my neighborhood made them. I love Ryan's hooded towels, and so I decided to make some for Jana's shower. Now I am not the best seamstress and could definitely use a few lessons, but I knew what I wanted them to look like. So thanks to my friends Harmony and Ariana, They turned out great! The huge rick rack is so cute!

We had to see what it looked like on Jana's cute nephew!

"Jana's DUE DATE Shower"

I had so much fun decorating for my dear friend Jana's baby shower. The theme I took from Hostess with the Mostess and decided on a Due Date Shower. I love how it turned out! Bright and colorful with orange and blue accents and the food was yummy too!
We had two round tables, clementine Izzy Sodas, cute pacifiers made from "winto green mints" and orange and blue jelly bellies.

I posted Jana's "Due Date" On white shelves and used them as the centerpieces.

I also bought the Martha Stewart tissue paper to make these fun looking tissue paper balls.



I filled baby bottles with coordinating candy these are light blue M and M's

I tied a pacifier on each table setting.


We served Grilled chicken, with fresh basil, mozzarella, Parmesan and tomato Panini Sandwiches, with fruit and fruit dip, and a fabulous pasta salad! For Dessert Orange Sorbet with a cookie, I didnt get a picture but the orange looked great with the table.

To thank the guests for coming, I made orange white chocolate covered cookies with orange sanding sugar, my friend Tina helped me make the custom stickers, I love how they turned out! I put them in small white Chinese looking boxes.

Here is the Invitation

Callies Shower

Last week I helped my Friend Amelia throw a shower for our friend Callie who just had twin girls. The Theme was "Baby Cakes" And Amelia and I made lots of cupcakes. (Really Amelia made most of the cupcakes, I made the vanilla bean cupcakes with vanilla bean butter cream and I put a strawberry on top) It turned out really cute, here are a few pictures from the shower: