Jeff & Mason surfing the pool.
Love Mason's little toes sticking up over the board.














Trae and Jamison were jumping off the side of the pool
trying to "surf". So funny watching them.































Today was the first day of school for the boys. Everything went so smoothly this morning. No fighting or whining, organized, and on time. I wish it was like this every morning, but I won't be holding my breath. Life would be too easy if it was this simple, but boy would I enjoy it. So far they are enjoying their teachers and hopefully, it will stay that way.
We had our last shindig at the Stubb's home and enjoyed ourselves immensely. They cooked us hamburgers and brought out the ice cream cones after wards. Everything was wonderful. The highlight for the kids was when "Jeff-fa-fa" came to play. He is like a big kid himself and entertained them all.
Saturday was soccer camp for Jamison and Mason. They learned some new skills that are going to help them for this upcoming soccer season. I can't wait to watch the boys play, especially Mason, who is at such a fun age to watch.
Had plans for Sunday, but unfortunately, I was down for the count, dang herniated disc anyway. So instead the boys watched a ton of movies on the xbox from netflix and didn't even bother to get dressed. I'm sure they enjoyed that more than all the chores and deep cleaning of their rooms and closets that I had originally planned.
So there is our life in a nutshell, at least for the past couple of days.

Thai-Style Ground Beef

I found this recipe, tried it and liked it. I think I was hesitant to try it because of the strange ingredients, but I was limited on time and refusing to head out to the grocery store where I knew I would buy more than I needed. So here it is, let me know what you think.

1 lb ground beef
onion, diced
1/2 tsp garlic salt
1 tsp curry or red curry paste
1 can tomato sauce
1 can coconut milk
1 Tbsp brown sugar
1/4 tsp grated lime rind (I don't always have a lime on hand & will use 1/2-1 tsp lime juice)
1 1/2 tsp lime juice
1 tbsp worcestershire sauce or asian fish sauce

Brown ground beef and onion over med-high heat.
Stir in remaining ingredients and cook for 5 minutes or until slightly thickened.
We serve this over hot, cooked white rice. (2 C rice/ 4 C water)

Mason & Ellie curled up on the bed after a long day
of going to the park, on a hike, to the park, on a walk,
to the park, to the park, on a walk..... phew, we were
tired.















Jamison and Grandpa fishing at the kiddie pond.
Grandpa couldn't help himself and took over Trae's
ditched fishing pole. It was too late in the day and the
fish were not interested in us at all.















I forgot to post this picture with the others from the
Dinosaur Museum outing. Grandpa decided to cut his
own hair and Grandma ended up finishing it for him.
We had a good laugh over his suntan lines on his head
from where his hair used to lay. This man has had the
same haircut for as long as I can remember. What a
shocker to see his bald head!

Last night Jamie and I went in search of a new kitchen faucet. Who knew it would be so hard to pick one? There are just a few styles and not many colors, but in the end I picked the one that was a little different. It matches my overhead lights, which is a plus in itself. I didn't want to get a new faucet until I redid my countertops, but I guess when you break it, you have to replace it. And I'm the one that broke it. I do have to say that Jamie should take some of the blame, but he'll say my hand was on that faucet when it broke and so it is my fault.
Jamie and I have this ongoing spanking war going. At times it wanes and at times it is going strong... last night it was on! It was on until Jamie decided to cheat, by picking me up and trying to put my butt into the kitchen sink. He then reached behind me to turn on the faucet and I decided I was having none of that. I grabbed hold of the faucet to keep him from pulling it out to spray me and the dang thing broke right off in my hand. Needless to say the water came spraying straight out and soaked me more than I would have gotten soaked from the sprayer. So there is my story, it might be a had to be there story, but I can tell you that I laughed until I cried. Poor faucet.

We've had such a busy week and boy, did we play hard. Trips to the park, the Dinosaur Museum, swimming, and of course all the games played on the wii. Mas had a few "tea parties" on a piece of cardboard in the middle of the kitchen floor (he of course served guns with his refreshments). I was entertained by Auty's and Jamison's game of pretend of being on an island at the park. They had to avoid such obstacles as hot lava, and a bridge that was near ready to collapse. I was pleasantly surprised by how much time the boys spent building mini dinosaur cities out of water and sand at the play tables in the dinosaur museum. So glad that Grandpa, Grandma, Uncle Brett, and Aunt Cynthia went with. Made our adventure all the more fun!
I was lucky enough to go grab coffee with my dear friend ,Ashley before they left Saturday morning. Who knew the coffee shop was open so late and the reason the doughnuts are so expensive there is because they are so darn good! We will miss spending time with our friends, but happy that we have unlimited calling between us. haha!

Jamison had 4 teeth pulled and Trae had 3 teeth pulled a few days ago. After the teeth were pulled, Jamison had his top and bottom spacers put in and Trae had his top spacer put back in. Poor guys are not liking life and Mama is getting sick of mashed potatoes.














One of their last playdates before the big move. The kids had a hard time going with out Auty coming over the past few days, not sure what they are going to do when she has moved. Gonna miss our girl.













I have been dying to get a picture of these flowers in my garden, but their blooms are so short lived that it has been hard. Finally, this morning I captured one. So beautiful!

Costa Vida/ Cafe Rio Sweet Pork copycat recipe

I love both Costa Vida and Cafe Rio Sweet Pork burritos. Could eat them everyday, but unfortunately, because of Trae's allergies I don't get the opportunity to go there often. Here is a recipe I found to get that yummy stuff at home.

4-6 lbs pork roast (butt/shoulder works well)
19 oz. can red enchilada sauce
1 can or 20 oz Dr Pepper (NOT diet, I usually double this: see below)
1 tsp salt
1/4 tsp garlic salt
1 1/2 C brown sugar

You can cook this 2 different ways; crockpot or oven.
Crockpot: Place roast, dr pepper, salt, garlic salt in crockpot and cook on High for 4-6 hours. Take out of crockpot and shred. I usually will dump out the juices in the crockpot before putting the shredded meat back in. Pour Dr pepper, brown sugar and enchilada sauce on top and cook on high for another 30 minutes.
Oven: Season meat as desired and wrap in foil. Cook in 275* oven for 5 hours. Pull meat out and allow to cool slightly. While it cools mix remaining ingredients together. Shred meat and pour sauce on top and mix.
Serve on salad or in tortillas with beans and your favorite toppings.

Roy Days 2009

I've been having nightmares for a week over this BBQ that we would be throwing this weekend. Last year I had to become not a nice person to keep control of the situation. This year was so much different. We had an amazing time, and I was reminded last night that we have some really great friends. So thank you guys!
We sat in the backyard most of the evening chatting things up while the kids swam and wrestled in the pool. Autumn brought out her "new phone" to show the adults and I'm afraid that there were many of us that fell for her trickery. Her new phone had a horrible side effect of shocking you, locking your hand around the dang thing, until you could finally fling it away from you. Gave us all a good laugh, as long as you were not the one holding the phone.
Later in the evening we sang happy birthday to our friend, Jessica, and pulled out the birthday cake that her husband had enlisted me to order for her. She was completely taken by surprise and had even thought her husband had forgotten. What a good guy!
We finally meandered out to the front, after our stop in the kitchen to let the guys show off their bellies. Very impressing manliness there. Jamie tried to impress us all with his golfing skills in the front yard, but unfortunately it was just a lot of fluff and dug up grass.
The fireworks were our grand finale and we are so lucky that we are able to enjoy them from our front yard. The evening was bittersweet because we will be saying good bye to our long time friends as they move on to their next journey to Colorado in 7 days. It seems that no matter where we lived, the other has followed until now. It will be hard not having them a hop, skip, and a jump away.

I was just thinking I should update this and when is a better time than now... right between the kids throwing up. It is so easy to clean up the germs when you go out and about, but I have now found out it is harder when someone brings the germs to your house. I have to laugh because I didn't let them come into my home, but instead led them around to the backyard. So they left us with germs instead of the promised money for the items they wanted to purchase. Which the little topic of selling things on KSL could lead me into a whole different fit. If you don't have the money for the items don't call, if you plan on not showing up for your appointed time don't call, but still people continued to call. So many callers. Luckily, I can now take a deep breath and realize that the items are all sold and paid for.
So back to the throw-up. My poor Mas was off kilter this morning and would just stand in the doorway and get sick. I finally gave him a little lecture about how he was old enough to make it into the bathroom before getting sick. Which then led him to be sick on the bathroom rug. Another lecture later, I saw him run into the bathroom holding his little lips together until he could make it to the toilet. Poor guy.
Now that I've entertained you and disgusted you with one of my child's issues this morning. I will say good-bye for now.

The boys and I had a great Saturday. We went to their "adopted sister's" birthday party. Trae was really showing how competitive he was on the race track. The activities were non stop for 3 straight hours. They did the water bumper boats, the race tracks, laser tag, and a movie ride thing.

German Pancakes/ Dutch Babies

Today I was thinking I would add my kids' favorite breakfast item. It is referred to by many names: puff pancakes, dutch babies, german pancakes. No matter the name, they are pretty good and very simple to make.



1 1/2 C flour
1/4 tsp salt
1 1/2 C milk
1 1/2 Tbsp sugar or honey
6 eggs
6 Tbsp butter

Turn on oven to 425*. Place butter in 9 x 13 pan and place in oven and allow to melt.
While melting the butter, mix the remaining ingredients. Pour over the melted butter and cook for 25 minutes. We like to sprinkle powdered sugar over it and then drizzle syrup over top.

"Here comes Sleeping Beauty!" Mason proclaimed as he ran into my room. "No, just kidding it's underwear" He giggles and then announces "It's just Mason!" He is a million laughs rolled into one... well, not one pair of underwear obviously. I'm thinking maybe 5 pairs of underwear. Trae at this moment is busy forwarding this picture to all of his friends via phone. He is one proud brother.
We had such a great time at the pool yesterday! Thank you Kara, "the girls", and her sweet birthday Mom. The kids were all on their best behavior. I only had to throw one child into the pool for being a stinker. They spent most the afternoon building a cruise ship, which then became an island, and finally a fort out of all the floating things they could get their little hands on. Such big imaginations.
So the quote I saw today wasn't very nice, but it made me laugh: "Some people are like Slinky’s. Pretty much useless but make you smile when you push them down the stairs."