Sunburned

My sister Rachel and her kids came up to visit this week, we all had a really good time and hope to see all of them again really soon! We decided to go to Rigby Lake on Tuesday and both Rachel and I got sunburned really bad, the sad thing is we were both wearing SPF 50 Sunscreen.
Thanks for coming to visit us Rachel!

Fun 4th of July Weekend

We had a really fun 4th of July weekend. Joe's parent's and most of his siblings came to our home on Sunday for a family dinner and some fun, some of them had to head home Sunday evening, but two of his sisters and two of his brother's and their families stayed here for the 4th.

We spent most of Monday at Rigby lake playing in the water and the sand, we then came back to our house for a BBQ and then headed down to Freeman Park for some fun and fireworks.

It was a great weekend and we were so glad that everyone could come to visit, we hope they all had as much fun as we did and that they will come back and visit soon!

Summer has finally come to Idaho Yay!

We have finally had some warm weather here, this is what the kids have been doing!

This pool has been worth the money we spent to buy it a couple of years ago!

Happy Father's Day

Just wanted to tell the Father's in my life Happy Father's Day!

To my Dad, I love you and I think you are the best! Thanks for putting up with me, and for raising me to become that person that I am today! (I would post a picture but I don't think he would be happy with my choice!)

To my Father in Law, thank you for raising such a wonderful Son, and for welcoming into your family!

To Joe I love you! Thank you for being such a wonderful Husband and Father, We are so blessed to have you in our lives!

Fun with Friends

My friend Mandy's In Laws have a pond on their property, and we were able to spend some time out there on Wednesday. Thanks Mandy for letting us come out and play! We had a blast!

I have some other pictures, but I am respecting my friends privacy and wont publish them here, you will have to come look at our scrapbook if you want to see the other pictures!

We Love when family comes to visit! (Picture Heavy!)

Joe's brother Mason and his wife Sarah came up to visit us for 4 days last week, along with their little sister Madison. We had lots of fun with them while they were here!

Wednesday we took them to the Idaho Falls Temple Visitors center, walked around the Greenbelt so that they could see the Falls, we made a stop at the big Indian Head in Idaho Falls for a pictures, then it was home for some lunch, we then took them to Fat Cats for bowling, pizza, mini golf and some arcade games, and then it was off to the DI in Rexburg. (Can't pass up going to the DI when it is right there!)

We also played a game outside and watched Mason and Sarah play Dance Central and a couple other Kinect games before bed!

Checking out the falls, and the temple!
Thursday we headed down to Arco to see EBR-I the first Nuclear Plant and then it was off to Craters of the Moon. June 9, 2011 and we were all wearing coats because it was so cold. We have never experienced the cold at Craters before, usually when we go we are all dying of the heat! We did get rained on, but all in all I think everyone had a good time!

Playing with the manipulators at EBR-I!

Craters Of the Moon

If you look closely at this picture you can see a face, creepy!

On the way down to Craters of the Moon we saw some prong horn deer and on the way home we caught this picture:

Isn't it beautiful?! I think a rainbow is just one of the sign that Heavenly Father sends to show us that he loves us!

Before we left the house I asked Joe if he wanted to fill his camel pack up with water for the hiking at Craters of the Moon, so now Jena thinks there are camels there. She was really disappointed when we were almost there and she asked if we were going to ride camels and I told her there weren't any camels there!

Jena riding her Camel down the path!

We like to look for licence plates when we go places, here is a list of the ones we saw while traveling to and from Craters of the Moon:

Florida

Texas
Idaho

Utah
Oregon

California

Washington

Montana

Ohio

Illinois

New York (this was a hippy bus)

Alberta Canada

Michigan

Arizona

Nevada

Colorado

US Government.

When we got back we had some dinner and then roasted marshmallows and made s'mores!

Friday we were off to see Mesa Falls, Big Springs, and Yellowstone! The weather was much better on Friday then it was on Thursday, we were so glad to see the sunshine, but we still had to wear jackets in Yellowstone!

Mesa Falls

I need to crop and photo shop this picture, but I think it turned out great for using the timer!

We were disappointed at Big Springs, none of the trout were out and the Johnny Sacks Cabin doesn't open until the 4Th of July.

Yellowstone!

Love Jena's face in this picture, she had fallen asleep on the way to Old Faithful and she wasn't happy about us waking her up!

Mason & Sarah!

I have a bunch more pictures of Yellowstone, but if you want to see them you will have to come and visit us and look at them in our scrapbook! Although I don't have any pictures of Old Faithful erupting because the camera batteries went dead right before it went off!

Licence plates we saw while traveling in Yellowstone:

Idaho

Utah

Montana

Michigan

Iowa

Wyoming

Nevada

Colorado

Washington

New York

New Jersey

Missouri

North Dakota

South Dakota

Texas

Pennsylvania

Oklahoma

Alabama

Florida

Massachusetts

British Columbia

Kentucky

Georgia

Indiana

Tennessee

Arizona

Connecticut

Louisiana

New Mexico

Wisconsin

Minnesota

US Government

Ohio

Alaska

Ontario Canada

Hawaii

New Hampshire

Animals we saw:

River Otter

Bison

Golden Mantled Ground Squirrels

Raven

Elk

Mountain Blue Bird

American Gold Finch

Snowshoe Hare

Bald Eagle

Uinta ground squirrel

Canada Geese

Mama Bear and 2 cubs (they were way off in the distance we could hardly see them!)

Clark's Nutcracker

Swan

Crane

Jack Rabbit

Cotton Tail Rabbit

On our way out of the park we had to stop for some Bison crossing the street, Jena will tell you that was her favorite part because they walked right past her window!

Saturday we spent some time playing the XBOX 360, then it was off to play some disc golf and going to Big Jud's for the Big Jud's experience for lunch, they we spent some time relaxing before Mason, Sarah and Madison headed home!

Thanks for coming to visit us Mason, Sarah, and Madison, we hope that you had as much fun as we did!

Camp Out, I mean in!

The girls loved that their dad suggested a cam pout with the tent in the family room last night, too bad Jena ended up in our bed at some point! She was really quiet about it though because neither one of us noticed her until about 5 am.

Kindness

I want to be kind to everyone, for that is right you see, so I say to myself remember this, kindness begins with me.

President Thomas S. Monson taught us how to interact with our peers and everyone we meet when he told the Young Women of the Church "my precious young sisters, I plead with you to have the courage to refrain from judging and criticizing those around you, as well as the courage to make certain everyone is included and feels loved and valued."

Remember Kindness begins with me!

I just needed to give myself a reminder that I need to be kind to everyone.

Planting a garden is fun to do!

We planted our garden yesterday afternoon. Tomatoes, Broccoli, Cucumbers, Strawberries & Cilantro. We still have one empty box, not sure what we are going to plant in it!

Pioneer Woman's Twice- Baked Potatoes

These were Oh So Delicious so I wanted to share the recipe!

Twice Baked Potatoes

8 large baking potatoes, scrubbed

vegetable oil

8 slices crisp-fried bacon, diced

1/2 pound (2 Sticks) Butter, cut into slices

1 cup sour cream

1/2 cup milk

1/4 to 1/2 tsp. seasoned salt

1/2 tsp. black pepper

2 cups grated sharp cheddar cheese

2 green onions, sliced

Preheat oven to 400* F. Rub the potatoes with vegetable oil, place on baking sheet & Bake for 45 minutes, or until potatoes are done. Turn down oven to 300*. In large bowl, combine butter, sour cream, bacon, milk, seasoned salt & pepper. When the potatoes come out of the oven, hold potatoes in towel and slice lengthwise. Scoop out the insides into the bowl with other ingredients, reserving the potato shell on baking sheet. Use a potato masher to mix all ingredients together, then stir in 1 cup of cheese. Add green onions; stir, taste & adjust seasonings if necessary. Fill each potato half with the mixture and sprinkle with more cheese. Bake for 10-15 minutes, or until cheese is melted and potatoes are hot.

Definitely not low fat but they are very Yummy!

Happy Mother's Day

Mother dear, I love you so. Your happy smiling face is such a joy to look at; It makes home a lovely place.

Mother dear, I love you so. Your lovely shining eyes are just like stars that twinkle way up in the bright blue sky.

Mother dear, I love you so. I'll try the whole day through to please our Heavenly Father. I'm so glad he gave me you.

Happy Mother's day to my wonderful Mom and Mother in Law. I Love You!

A Mother's most important roll is to love her family above all else

" I surely know that there is no role in life more essential and more eternal than that of motherhood.

"There is no perfect way to be a good mother. Each situation is unique. Each mother has different challenges, different skills and abilities, and certainly different children. The choice is different and unique for each mother and each family. Many are able to be "full-time mom,' at least during the most formative years of their children's lives, and many others would like to be. Some may have to work part- or full-time; some may work from home; some may divide their lives into periods of home and family and work. What matters is that a mother love her children deeply, and in keeping with the devotion she has for God and her husband, prioritizes them above all else."

M. Russell Ballard

Feeling a bit domestic today

Today was Grocery Day, when I got home and got them all put away, I decide to do a little baking. I made some Chocolate Chip Cookies for the kids (which will probably be gone tomorrow) Then I made this to go with tonight's dinner!

Doesn't it look Yummy?!

I am going to be trying out a couple new recipes in the the next week or so I will have to let you know how they turn out. Twice Baked Potatoes and Baked Creamy Chicken Taquitos.

Now I need to do some cleaning so that I can fulfill my domestic roll for the day!

What We Believe

Today at church our lesson in Relief Society was about how we can share what we as Latter Day Saints Believe by using our online resources like our personal blogs, so I wanted to share with all of you what we Believe.

The Articles of Faith:


1. We believe in God, the Eternal Father, and in His Son Jesus Christ, and in the Holy Ghost.

2. We believe that men will be punished for their own sins, and not for Adam's transgression.

3. We believe that through the Atonement of Jesus Christ, all mankind may be saved, by obedience to the laws and ordinances of the Gospel.

4. We believe that the first principles and ordinances of the Gospel are: first, Faith in the Lord Jesus Christ; second, Repentance; third, Baptism by immersion for the remission of sins; fourth, Laying on of hands for the gift of the Holy Ghost.

5. We believe that a man must be called of God, by prophecy, and by the laying on of hands by those who are in authority, to preach the Gospel and administer in the ordinances thereof.

6. We believe in the same organisation that existed in the Primitive Church, namely, apostles, prophets, pastors, teachers, Evangelists, and so forth.

7. We believe in the gift of tongues, prophecy, revelation, visions, healing, interpretation of tongues, and so forth.

8. We believe the Bible to be the word of God as far as it is translated correctly; we also believe the Book of Mormon to the be word of God.

9. We believe all that God has revealed, all that He does now reveal, and we believe that He will yet reveal many great and important things pertaining to the Kingdom of God.

10. We believe in the Literal gathering of Israel and in the restoration of the Ten Tribes; that Zion (the New Jerusalem) will be built upon the American continent; that Christ will reign personally upon the earth; and, that the earth will be renewed and receive it paradisaical glory.

11. We claim the privilege of worshiping Almighty God according to the dictates of our own conscience, and allow all men the same privilege, let them worship how, where, or what they may.

12. We believe in being subject to kings, presidents, rulers, and magistrates, in obeying, honoring, and sustaining the law.

13. We believe in being honest, true, chaste, benevolent, virtuous, and in doing good to all men; indeed, we may say that we follow the admonition of Paul--We believe all things, we hope all things, we have endured many things, and hope to be able to endure all things. If there is anything virtuous, lovely, or of good report or praiseworthy, we seek after these things.

Joseph Smith

If you would like to know more about the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day saint you can visit their website at http://www.mormon.org/ or click on the button on the left side of my blog that says I belong.

Last Night's Dinner (It was really yummy!)

Here is what I made for dinner last night, this is one of our family's favorite meals! And it is a great way to get your kids to eat Spinach!

Three Cheese Chicken Penne Pasta Bake

1 1/2 cups multi grain penne pasta uncooked

1 pkg. (9oz) fresh spinach leaves

1 lb. boneless skinless chicken breast, cut into bite size pieces

1 tsp. dried basil leaves

1 jar Spaghetti sauce

1 can (14 1/2 oz) diced tomatoes drained

2 oz (1/4 of an 8 oz pkg.) PHILADELPHIA Neufchatel Cheese, cubed

1 cup shredded Mozzarella Cheese divided

2 TBSP Grated Parmesan Cheese

Heat oven to 375 degrees F. Cook pasta as directed on package, adding spinach to the boiling water for the last 1 minute.

Cook and stir chicken and basil in large non stick skillet on medium-high heat for 3 minutes. Add Spaghetti sauce and tomatoes; bring to a boil. Simmer 3 minutes or until chicken is done. Stir in Neufchatel cheese.

Drain pasta mixture; add to the skillet; stir together and add 1/2 cup Mozzarella cheese. Spoon into a 9x13 baking dish; bake for 20 minutes, sprinkle with remaining cheeses and bake an additional 3 minutes.

We also had some homemade bread sticks to go along with the pasta, it was really yummy! I wanted to share, maybe it will become a family favorite at your house!