"It's too hot to not..."

During the summer, we have decided it is too hot to not...

1. Eat lots of Popsicles
2. Jump on the trampoline with the sprinklers underneath
3. Get an inflatable pool and play in it
4. Run through the sprinklers
5. Eat Sno-cones whenever we pass by the shack, (if mom will let us)
6. Sit in the air-conditioned house (I said this one)

Idaho Digital Learning Academy

Well, I am finally back and have a few moments to add to my blog. I spent three very full days up in Nampa at Northwest Nazarene University for an Idaho Digital Learning Academy conference. It was very interesting and very overwhelming. The first day was pretty much introduction to the program and how to use Blackboard, not too bad and the information was relatively simple to digest. Monday evening we went to dinner with the social studies group to a Mexican restaurant in town. It was fun to relax and get to know my team a little more (these teachers are from all over the state of Idaho). Unfortunately, I was so anxious to get back to Mollie I had a hard time really enjoying it like I should have. I went and picked Mollie up at Rhett and Cassie's in Boise, met up with Tyler and then went back to the Hotel in Nampa. I was exhausted. The night went way too fast, as I had to leave at 7:30am for more training and this was intense. We finished that evening with a 5 year celebration dinner that was good, but once again went way too long as I wanted to get back to Mollie and Tyler. But again I was pretty warn out by the time I got to the hotel and the 3rd day began early again. We finished up at 3:00, so I headed into Boise to get Mollie from Rhett and Cassie's as Tyler had already headed back to Twin for work. Then I got to come home and see my kids, whom I had missed very, very, very much. It was a very good conference and a lot of new information to process, but I am very excited about it and can't wait to get my classes this fall.

The Next Food Network Star

Tonight for our ward party some of us were asked to do cooking demos with food storage items to help give ideas. I decided to do blender pancakes, a family favorite (Thank-you Melanie for the recipe).
Blender Pancakes
1 cup whole wheat kernels
1 cup milk
Place 2 items on high speed in a blender for 5 minutes then add:
2 eggs
2 tsp. baking powder
2 TBS. sugar
1/2 tsp. salt
2 TBS. oil
Blend on medium speed until well combined, cook on a griddle or fry pan.

Tyler was unable to attend as he had an appointment with the 18th hole at Canyon Springs Golf Course, very important, couldn't miss it. He took Reagan with him and I took the girls with me and asked Elise to be my little helper with the demo. I explained what we would be doing and gave her only one rule. "Don't pick your nose!" Thankfully she was very obedient. The demo started and I was set up on the left side of the stage with my table. I had my ingredients on the table, my blender and my griddle ready to go. I quickly realized I didn't have very much attention from the crowd as my little 3 year was stealing the show. She stood in the middle and would grab items from the table and describe them to the audience. At one point I looked over and she was demonstrating how to use measuring spoons. She also showed how to lick sugar from the bowl, (that was a fun one!). She took one of the pre-made pancakes and said, "And then you eat them!" and shoved it into her cute little mouth. Needless to say, Elise has zero inhibitions and loves to be the center of attention. Sorry I couldn't get any pictures as Tyler was not there and I was doing the demo. But here is one of her at the driving range today, Tyler took her out for a daddy daughter golf date today!

Reagan's first day of Golf

We decided to sign Reagan up for golf camp at the Twin Falls Municipal Golf Course with Mike Hamblin, the pro there, so tonight was his first night, and did he look cute. Tyler took him and they had a ball (ha ha). Reagan seems to really enjoy golf, so we figure we'll let him play and see if he continues to like it. Actually this is my way of making sure Tyler takes him every time he wants to go. I have to say Kudos to Tyler, a few weeks ago, he was on a US Bank team in a golf tournament and they won. One of his prizes was a gift certificate to The Golf Link, and he used that to get Reagan his own set of clubs, pretty cool I think. Thanks, Tyler

Watch out Mari Winsor

So, one of my favorite workouts is the Mari Winsor Pilates Series, and when I do it, my kids like to join me, so today I figured I would get it on tape. So here is my daughter doing "the 100" from Mari Winsor, she's a pro.

Canyon Rim Run/Walk

This morning, Paula and I went on a run/walk. We decided we would do the Shoshone Falls grade, meet up with the Canyon Rim Trail, jump off the trail onto t a dirt path connecting to the housing area of Meadow Ridge Lane. This was a great plan, but we were not sure which turn took us back to where the car was parked, so we guessed and we guessed wrong. We ended up going back out onto Falls Avenue, so we had to take that back to the Calvary church and back down the Shoshone Falls road to meet up with the car. It made a much longer morning run/walk than we had planned, but it was beautiful and a very good workout. Now that we know where we are going, we might make it a normal routine, but it was more than we both planned this morning. But alas, we got in our workout and it felt really good. It is gorgeous here.

A Day in Carey

Yesterday, the kids and I went to visit Tyler's Grandma Barton just for the afternoon. She lives in Carey which is about an hour away, so we jumped in the car, picked up my sister-in-law and took off. Mom Larsen was spending the week with her, so we thought we would completely destroy the tranquility by stopping in. Mission accomplished. We had such a good time, the kids played outside on the swing set, Tyler used to play on as a kid, they picked strawberries, went for a walk around the barn and corrals and had a wonderful Grandma cooked lunch of chicken, mashed potatoes, homemade rolls, homemade raspberry jam and lemon Jello. For dessert she made strawberry shortcake with fresh strawberries from her garden. Grandma Barton will be turning 92 this August and she still has so much energy, her flower garden is beautiful, She works very hard on it. We looked at Grandma's photo albums and overall just spent a very enjoyable, relaxing day with two Grandmas.

Happy 6 Months Mollie

So today Mollie is 6 months old. I can't even believe it, but she is. The time has flown, but I have loved every minute. She is such a fun little baby, who sleeps through the night, has started eating solids really well, (I was very worried at the start) and she will laugh and smile with very little effort. She adores her brother and sister and is such a momma's girl it is fun. Don't get me wrong she lights up when her dad walks into the room, but she gets concerned when I am gone too long.

I thought it would be fun to do a brief comparison of the three kids each at six months. Mollie weighs in at about 12-13 pounds and is 24+ inches tall today (not an official weight, her 6 month check up isn't for a couple of weeks).

Elise: 6 months weighed 18 pounds 8 ounces and was 27 1/4 inches tall
Reagan: 6 months weighed 19 pounds 2 ounces and was 27 1/2 inches tall

There is quite the difference with Mollie isn't there, like the kids' pediatrician said, it's my turn to have one with my genes.
And for one last little note, here they all are today.

Yah, I think they are all related what do you think, could we have more cookie cutter looking kids?

My Budding Musicians

Ok so I found this video clip of the kids playing piano a couple of months ago, and thought it was pretty cute, so I figured, hey blog it, right? Anywho, (to quote from EJ) here it is.

I don't remember the song entitled "Heavenly Father wants me for a Christ", but I may have missed that day in primary, who knows.

"Pleeeaase Open, Pleeeaase Open!"

Yeah, this was what I was saying in my mind and out loud as my children and I watched 5 base jumpers jump off the Perrine Bridge this morning. YIKES!. It scared me to death and the paranoid mom that I am I explained over and over that the jumpers were very well trained, had all the right equipment, and had practiced a lot. Reagan and Elise were tickled to watch them, and in the 12 years I have lived here this is the first time I have actually watched jumpers. Here is a little FYI, this is one of only three bridges in the US where this is legal, (I think it is three). Anyway just a little trivia about our city. I could never do it in a million years, my stomach leaped into my throat just watching them. I don't know how they take that first step off. WOW, very impressive. And I am so mad, I didn't have my camera, so this a picture of random jumpers, not one of the ones we saw today. Rachel would have had her camera, why can't I be more like Rachel? You can watch a video on You Tube of some base jumpers (click on base jumpers), it is pretty cool.

I love mini muffins

So perhaps I am way behind, I don't know, but I have to tell you, I love mini muffin tins. I just recently acquired a set of two tins which will make 24 mini muffins and I love them. Who knew a piece of metal could bring me such joy. The other day I made mini Frittatas, they were lovely and today the kids and I made mini cinnamon muffins that we will call cinnamini muffins. They are a delightful treat, fun enough to eat for lunch or a snack and small enough to not feel too badly about it. I believe everyone should acquire mini muffin tins! I want you to know they are so terrific, I actually made 36 cinnamini muffins for lunch along with a blueberry, banana smoothie and this is all that is left after the four of us got to them, the kids loved them, they are like little mini treats to tempt our tummies.

Perhaps I should be a little more exciting!

Ok, so yesterday I was working on the computer in the back and the kids wanted a movie on, so I put Pinocchio on for them to enjoy. I came out to check on them and this is what I found. I guess, I should make life a little more exciting for them, next time we'll go with The Lion King instead, that's pretty action packed. I suppose I could look at it another way, I am so exciting, I plum tuckered 'em out!, Ya, I like that better.

I thought I would also throw in a cute little picture of my Mollie in her new outfit, pretty stylin' girlfriend.

Beautiful Twin Falls

The Perrine Bridge over the Snake River
The kids and I are under the bridge here, it is really unnerving when a big semi truck drives over th etop, a little scary.The Snake River Canyon and the Canyon Springs Golf Course, I think this is one of the prettiest areas of Twin Falls.

The kids are looking out over the River, I went out there with them before I took the picture and my stomach literally did a flip, it is a long drop. I have no idea how base jumpers do it!

And that was our family walk, it was followed up with sno-cones for the kids. And by the way, no one makes a sno cone as well as Jacque did when she worked there.

We Made It!

No-Sweets-May is over, and both Tyler and I made it to the end. YEAH!!!! We went the entire month minus two special-previously-dedicated-go-off-days, (Elise's Birthday and Mother's Day!). I did this last year and I have to say, it was way easier this time. Perhaps it is because I am not 2 months pregnant like I was last year, but I found it very liberating, in fact it is two days into June and we still have not had any sweets.
I found Peanut Butter was the key to end any sweet cravings, so a small spoon of peanut butter and I was good to go! I guess it helps that I like Peanut Butter. The toughest part for me were the two cake/cookie orders I had to do this month. I am a frosting fanatic and I couldn't even taste it, that was a minor miracle in and of itself.
My prize for doing this is 2 more seasons of Friends. Yeah, I'm so excited. Anyway, Congrats to both Tyler and Rachel for completing the challenge as well, Nice work! And those of you who have designated June as No-Sweets-June, Awesome, I will probably be in it with you (for most of it)!

Good times were had by all!

Too Much Fun!