Celebrations cookbook

September-

A blogger I have been following for quite some time was coming out with a new book. I was lucky enough to get an early copy to test out recipes.

 My family said the peach cobbler was amazing! I was unfortunately on a sugar detox and couldn't have any.

I made these sunbutter cups that were also great. 

Vegetable bacon parcels are delicious!  

Smokey candied bacon sweet potatoes are AMAZING! 

Carrot cake! This was actually Zoe's cake for her birthday.

I have made many other recipes in her book and love them all! 

In October was did a book signing at the Williams Sonoma store in Scottsdale so Laurel and I got tickets! 

Danielle Walker was so sweet in person.

The rattlesnake hike!

With all of our hiking in the desert is was bound to happen, we encountered a rattlesnake on our hike.

We started the hike at about 7am. Nice and cool especially in the shade. 

The desert does have its own beauty. 

We hiked the Bluff Springs trail which at some point loops into the Lost Dutchman trail. 

This was our longest hike yet at about 6 hours and 12 miles. The kids did great! At the beginning of the hike we saw a couple people. Then for several miles we didn't see anyone. Maybe around mile 8 we saw one hiker. He warned us that there was a rattlesnake on the trail up ahead and that he would let you know he was there.

 At that point it would have been longer to turn back and hike out where we came from as this trail loops around. We decided to keep going but now we were on high alert and Derek was the leader. Zoe was terrified so we had a family prayer right on the trail. When we got close that rattlesnake let us know. I'm not going to lie I was shaking. Derek lead the way for Chase and Maeley but Zoe was too scared. Zoe and I took a longer loop to stear clear of that awful snake. We had another prayer for gratitude that we were all okay and that that one hiker was able to warn us of the danger up ahead. After that we still were nervous about another one but at least we all knew exactly what a rattlesnake sounds like. 

We were happy to get back to the car and have lunch. We were hungry! 

New windows

Sadly towards the end of August during a monsoon storm we discovered that we had windows leaking. What sounded like a faucet left on was actually a window leaking. It was quite a bit of water. After getting towels out I went around the check all the other windows and found 3 others leaking as well. It was frustrating considering the house is only 10 years old. After having a professional come out and inspect each of our windows were came to the conclusion it was best to replace all of them. Not what we had wanted to spend our money on.

I'm really happy with how they turned out. I didn't realize how awful the old ones were until we got these installed. They are so easy to open and they look better too! 

My Disney Lego set

While looking on Instagram one evening I came across a picture of the Walt Disney World Castle Lego set that was set to come out September 1st. I immediately showed Derek and said I want that set. I even put the date on my calendar so I wouldn't forget about it.

If you know me very well you know I love Disney. Especially all things Disneyland. I enjoyed Lego's as a kid and still do as my kids are into them. There are always sets I find cool but I never would have thought about buying my own set. That is until this castle came out.  Because my kids are into Lego's we are part of the Lego VIP club. At the beginning of August I realized I could buy the new set early on August 17th. I'm not the type of person that has to be at the movie theater to watch the first screening of a new popular movie. Or be in line for a new book release. I'm just not like that. However I decided that I better get to the store when it first opens.  Seeing how this was already completely out of my character I didn't want to get there too early so I arrived about 20 minutes before the store opened. I was happy to see I wasn't the only adult excited about the set. I was about the 10th in line.

Seriously this set is huge! 

I can't remember how many bags there were now but there was a lot. I had it all organized before I began. Look at the instruction manual!

I built this set by myself. The kids only got to put the characters together. I did it over 2 days and think it was about 8 hours. I love all the details. Its incredible.

 Here it is in the loft. I love how it looks against the navy blue wall. 

I posted pictures of the set on Instagram when I first got it and when I finished it. I find it hilarious that I have had more people talk about this to me than anything else I have ever done before. I'm guessing I may have surprised quite a few people by being childlike and buying something fun and unpredictable. 

And no, I did not glue the pieces together. I will happily take this set apart and rebuild it again. It was kinda therapeutic to just sit and build it. 

Tucson Temple and Zoe's goal

At the beginning of the month we went to St David to see Grant be baptized. Its always fun to go down there are visit Marie's family. On our way there we stopped by the Tucson Temple to see how its coming along. 

Zoe got these scriptures in February from her primary teachers. From that day she set a goal to read the Book of Mormon before her baptism. Not only did she do it but she finished with 3 months to spare. I enjoyed getting to read it with her. She was always so happy to read each morning before school. 

To celebrate such a big accomplishment we took her to the American Girl store and let her chose something. She choose the desk for her doll Kit. Afterwards we had lunch at Zinburger. 

We are so proud of her. Zoe keep it up. You are an amazing little girl! 

Back to School 2016

This year school started July 25th! We had a wonderful summer. I'm finding that an 8 week summer vacation is the perfect length. My kids never get bored but are pretty happy to get back to see their friends. 

Chase is now in 4th grade

Zoe is a 2nd grader

(she's made it tradition to wear zebra on the first day of school)

Maeley is in 5th grade

I love these kids! They are such good kids. I know I say it every year but they are growing up too fast! 

Girls camp 2016

At the end of April our area had major ward and stake boundary changes. Our neighborhood got put into a brand new ward. Our new ward also is in a brand new stake. With crazy changes like that just months before girls camp we went with our old stake. I was called to be the 2nd counselor in YW. This was my first time ever going to Girls camp as a leader. Also because the stake had Trek it was only Beehive camp.

Here are some of the girls practicing for their skit. 

Because we made a 9th ward and there aren't 9 values they made one up and a color. 

We were gratitude and purple. Also our mascot was the raccoon. 

Besides the rain the first day it went well. It was fun to get to know the girls better and for the girls to bond together. As a newbie (and the rest of the leaders) to YW we were happy it was a small group and a shorter camp as now we know what to expect and what to do differently next time. 

These girls are so full of energy and have such sweet spirits. 

Chase's 9th birthday

This year we had 2 birthday parties! One with each side of our families. Chase had such a great time choosing the cake he wanted, tweaking recipes and helping make each one. 

Brownies with mint ice cream, whipped cream and Andes mint chopped on top. 

Laurel made these awesome cookies! 

Chocolate cake, with Reese's brownie ice cream and chocolate icing.

 He was pretty darn happy. I think he was surprised to get Star War's t-shirts because I do not like Star Wars but he does and that's what matters.