Easters...

Every time I say the word Easter I think of Nacho Libre and start giggling to myself.  Anyway...just a quick post about our Easter weekend (and no it didn't involve diarrhea).  It was nice to focus on the "bunny" side of things Saturday and the Gospel truths on Sunday.  My mom even mailed us the BEST FHE lesson that went along with the Crucifixion and Resurrection stories from the Bible.  Thank goodness for Grandmas with a little time and love on their hands! 

One of my favorite parts of Easter is making Grandma Ahlstrom's famous Cream Cookies and letting the kids go crazy with the frosting, sprinkles, green grass coconut etc!  They were on a sugar high for several hours!

We had a campfire in the backyard and roasted marshmallows with their new camp chairs.  The boys built bird feeders at Home Depot and had a blast--the Easter bunny even visited and brought a few goodies! I always received a book in my basket so we've kept that tradition too!

We even did the traditional egg hunt in the backyard with friends--but had to put all their eggs in the freezer for a few minutes before they could enjoy the goodies inside--everything had MELTED!

   Hope you enjoyed your Easter as much as we did! 

Birthday Fun!

Jason turned 6--seems a little unreal but it happened just the same.  No sense in trying to stop time, better just enjoy it right?  He wanted a "sports" themed party where everyone could earn trophies so what better way to celebrate than take 12 five and six year olds to the park, play games, eat treats and run wild!

Jason kept insisting on a little bling for his cupcakes--the ring suckers on top were a HUGE HIT!

They all got to make their own jerseys--I ironed on numbers before hand, let them go to town with fabric markers and viola!  Our good friend Kim stayed with her 2 boys to help manage the chaos.  I think I need six arms instead of just 2!

His friends were very generous and managed to guess all the things a little 6 year old could possibly desire!

Then, being 96 stinkin' degrees outside, it was water gun time!  Even Scott got in on the action.  Pretty soon they were just dumping bottles of water on each other--and random kids at the park--we had to reign 'em in a few times!

All in all--a blast of a day but boy were mom and dad tired when it was over.  Kids have no idea what their parents go through to put on things like this.  I think I should be calling my mother to say thanks too!  Happy 6th Birthday Jason!

What were they thinking...???

We are in a mad search for baby girl names.  It is crazy that I can still come up with more boy names I LOVE than a single girl name that I even remotely enjoy--it is like a 4/1 ratio!  Hunter, Travis, Dylan, Jake--LOVE EM but girl names are where I'm drawing a total blank.  While perusing for baby names I came across an article published annually in Rexburg all about the "worst baby names" of 2011 and my mind was BLOWN.  Now you know that I LOVE Idaho--I'm a die hard Idaho girl but I'm always willing to admit that you can find a few weirdos no matter where you look--even in good ole Idaho.  Take a look at the list and tell me I'm wrong for wondering WHAT WERE THE PARENTS THINKING??? 

*just a side note--I got the following from this blog post and have to totally give the author credit for her witty commentary!  (before you read--just a brief caveat, I have heard a few of the more "original" names out there and really liked them, they aren't all goofy--so just know this isn't a personal attack on any family or friends that may or may not have chosen a more "unique" baby name--I still love you immensely!)  And I quote:

"Up first, as always, is the Mix-N-Match category. Choose a first syllable that suits your fancy and pair it with an incompatible second syllable! It keeps people guessing! Everyone will admire your ability to string together random sounds!


Rhyelle

Taylee

Brenley

Lynlee

Braedyn

Raylee

Ryken

Maeleigh

Next, the Sound-it-Outs. Do these resemble real names (or cities) phonetically? You'll have to sound-it-out, and sometimes bend pronunciation rules, to see!
Aydyn

Izibele

Lyncoln

Ayva

Gavyn

Gracee

Londynn

Maddilyn

Wiliam

Lynzee

Arryana

Ella Jaculyn (Jack-ewe-lynn?)

Invasion of the Ks (continued from last year):

Kellen

Kaimen

Kasten

Kayson/Kasyn/Kasen

Kayrie

Kenadee

Kimbree

Kaydee

Khloe LoAnn

Her mom's a 'Bachelor' fan!

Tenley/Tenely (yep, two)

Hopefully just a typo:

Sebastain

Clear eyes, full hearts, can't lose:

Riggins (middle name Klyde)

HEE-HAW!!!!!!!!!!11

Brayah

Aaaaaaaand, the "What the *%# ??????s"

KeiseLyn

Tytan

Reggie Tayzlie

Zavan

Acelyn

Skylee

Auree

Razdyn

Jenikka

Paizli

Loey

Jerrick

Arkadian

Point 1: One of my favorite parts of doing this each year are the anonymous comments I get from disappointed people outing their friends and family members as terrible namers. Keep doing that.

Point 2: I just thought of a possible inherent perk of invented naming - in five years, when little Razdyn wonders the meaning of his name, his mom gets to make THAT up, too!

Point 3: I feel sorry for the grandparents. A few months ago I sat in front of an older woman on a flight who was cheerfully explaining to her seatmate that she was on her way to visit her new grandson. When the lady asked what the sweet little dear's name was, the grandma clammed up and replied reservedly, "Slate". To some degree, his name diminished her joy. (It came out later that Slate was the younger sibling of Crimson, Indigo, and Sage.)"

End quote--this is me again.  I just have to add that I just met a few little boys/girls that I'd like to add to the list, namely: Diesel, Dax, Braecy (Bray-C), Kaizen, Brantley among others.  So when I search for baby names and think, I really like Alice Jane, Ava or Megan---don't judge me for being totally ordinary.  At least my kid will know how to spell & pronounce their own name, won't get called the wrong thing at the beginning, middle, end and everywhere in between of each school year and their name will actually have a meaning and hopefully sentimental thought behind it.  So to all the Tommys, Brittanys, Mathews and Emilys out there--I salute your parents for maintaining some semblance of normalcy and sanity amidst a world of "originalists for the sake of being original (i.e. weird, stubborn, uneducated, sporadic, down right crazy etc).  Cheers to all the common baby namers out there!

And the winner is....drum roll please...

Thanks to everyone who participated in March's recipe contest.  We had a WIDE variety of CINNAMON ROLL recipes submitted, everything from caramel pecan rolls to some made with whole wheat flour.  This month was telling--for me anyway--of how cooking usually goes.  I liked certain aspects of A LOT of the recipes and so there is a TIE.  The winners are...Roma Tidwell (my adorable sister in law who didn't even know her recipe was entered) for the roll/dough portion and my cousin Amanda Reynolds for the filling & frosting portions.  They will each be receiving a gift card to Cold Stone.  I will post the new category for the month of April in a few days.  If you ever have a topic suggestion, let me know!

The hybrid recipe is as follows:

2 C warm water, 2 1/2 Tbs yeast, 3/4 c sugar--allow to proof for 10 min.

Add 1/3 c oil, 1 1/2 tsp salt , 2 beaten eggs--mix well and slowly add 1 small pkg vanilla pudding and 7 C flour.  Allow to knead for 7-10 min with dough hook & rise until double. 

While rising, mix 1 C softened butter, 1 1/2 C brown sugar, 6 Tbs cinnamon, 3 tsp cornstarch.

Roll out about 1/4 inch thickness and spread with filling leaving a 1 inch unfilled portion at the bottom of the dough.  Roll tightly, brushing the clean strip of dough with a little water to help seal the edges.  Using floss or string, cut rolls about 1 1/2 - 2 inches thick.  Starting in the center of a cookie sheet, arrange the rolls so that once risen, the edges will be touching--keeping them thick and fluffy during baking.  Allow to rise until almost double (approx 30 min).  Bake in a preheated oven at 350 degrees for 20-25 min.  Cover with tin foil if they begin to brown too quickly.

Frosting: 1/3 C butter, 8 oz cream cheese, 1/4 tsp salt, 3/4 tsp vanilla extract (pure Mexican vanilla works best), 1/8 tsp lemon extract, 2 C pwd sugar (or until you reach desired consistency).  Whip and frost warm rolls. 

Happy eating & thanks again for all your submissions!