Evylee's First Birthday Party

Evylee's official birthday party was held at our home the Saturday following her birthday.

 

She was very curious about her very own cake and touched it gently here and there.

Anxious to get a good messy picture, her daddy encouraged her to stick her hand into the cake!

Evylee was not happy about it!

She really preferred using a fork.

I think we have a "little lady" in this small fry.

Recipes from our February Birthday Bash

Cafe Rio Shredded Chicken Salad

Café Rio Dressing

1 buttermilk ranch dressing packet (make as per recipe)

2 tomatillos (tomato like vegetable with a husk around them)

½ bunch of cilantro

1 clove garlic

Juice of 1 lime

1 jalapeño (Use the seeds too if you like it spicy.)

Blend all the ingredients well. Refrigerate.

Cafe Rio Chicken

1 small bottle Kraft Zesty Italian Dressing 

1 T chili powder

1 T cumin

3 cloves garlic—minced

5 lbs chicken breast

Cook all together in a crock pot for 4 hours, shred meat and cook 1 additional hour. (Makes enough for an army -- we just save it for left-overs.)

Café Rio Rice

4 c water

4 t chicken bouillon

4 t garlic –minced

½ bunch cilantro

1 can green chiles—or equivalent fresh

¾ t salt

1 T butter

½ onion

2 c rice (see note)

Blend cilantro, green chiles and onion together in food processor. Bring water to a boil and add all ingredients, simmer covered 30 minutes. (This also makes up a boat load.  Might want to make half a batch for family size meal.)

Black Beans

2 cans black beans, rinsed and drained

2 cloves garlic, minced

1 teaspoon ground cumin

1 tablespoon olive oil

1/2 teaspoon salt

Cook garlic and cumin in olive oil.  Add beans and salt. Place on medium heat and stir until heated through.  

Toast flour tortillas in skillet and top with shredded cheese.  Layer beans, rice, chicken, lettuce, guacamole, salsa, and a sprig of cilantro.  Top with crunchy tortilla chips and dressing. 

Everyones Favorite - Homemade Hot Fudge Topping

Boil together until smooth.

1 cube butter

2 squares unsweetened chocolate

1 1/2 cups sugar

1/2 cup canned evaporated milk

Add 1/2 tsp. vanilla, and 1/4 cup corn syrup. 

Happy Birthday, Emily!

I was looking through my journal and found an entry about Emily written on her birthday when she turned TWELVE-YEARS OLD.

Monday, February 3, 1997 - Happy 12th Birthday, Emily!  Let's see if I can describe you accurately:

"Spirited, fun-loving, ever-smiling.  Mostly silly, seldom serious. Contagious cackle. Crazy about cooking, piano doodling, singing, and listening to broadway soundtracks. She can often be found pounding nails with Dad or gardening with Mom. Nickname - "Ed" but right now it's "Honey" because it's close to Valentine's Day. 

Want to know her friends nicknames?  They're Sugar, Foxy, and Babe... but just for the month of February. Whenever she uses barbecue sauce or ketchup, WATCH OUT! More often than not it ends up all over her plate, her front, and her fingers. She still isn't too crazy about the dark. Often she can be found sleeping with Audrey... in the same small twin-sized bed. She likes to be casual... VERY casual; she doesn't mind being grubby or having mussed-up hair... until she dresses up for fancy events, that is. Then wow, is she ever a knock out.  She knows her scripture stories, has already read the Book of Mormon on her own.  She really is a Honey."

I get a kick out of the fact that a lot of this old journal entry still describes her!  (Except for the ketchup, etc.)  

Happy 24th Birthday, Emily!  I can't wait to see what this new year will bring your way!

And Desiree!

Obviously, Evylee gets her looks from YOU!  (only Michael was pretty cute too.)

Michael made the best decision in his life when he asked you to be his wife!  

We love having you as our "daughter".

Can't imagine how it must have felt to receive the best gift imaginable on your birthday last year!  You are such a terrific little mother.

Have a wonderful 22nd birthday, Desiree.  We hope all your dreams this year come true!

And Evylee!

Happy First Birthday, Evylee!  Potts and I just can't get enough of you!

We love to watch you and the excitement in your eyes as you grow 

and learn new things each and every day.

Three Birthdays on ONE Day -- and another close by!

It's not often that three family members have the same birthdate! And Randy's was just four days before.

So while the rest of America watched the Super Bowl, we Celebrated with our Birthday Babies!

Emily sported the latest in Backyardigan Birthday hat fashion design.

Who says we're crazy?

(FYI - This is Desiree in the "twotwo" that gets handed down to the one who turns 22)

We're just one sizzling happy family!

Friendship Renewed

I am often pricked with inspiration, but brush it aside because it isn't really "convenient". Not my Audrey!  She is a Doer with a capital D!

Last week Audrey emailed Josie and Kelly, two former friends from GRADE SCHOOL.  

Life's circumstances and choices had separated them somewhat in middle school.  She invited them to dinner out and they both accepted. They had such a great time catching up on the past nine years.  That girl of mine will never be alone because she knows what it means to be a "friend".

"A good friend remembers what we were and sees what we can be."

                                                                         --- Unknown

A Birthday Song for Potts

Happy Birthday, Randy!

Randy was tagged by me on Facebook and challenged to write the 25 Random Things about himself.  Well he passed it right back to me and said he wanted ME to write them "for his birthday" this Friday, so I did!

1. Randy was born in Santa Ana and is still a California kid at heart.

2. Was potty trained at nine months - so his mother says.

3. At age 2, he was found by his mother at the bottom 

of their swimming pool. He never has been able to float.

4. He learned to swim by age four.

5. Moved from California to an antiquated farm near Sun Valley at the age of twelve.

6. Had a trained featherless chicken named Ajax. (The chicken would actually come when called.) Too bad his dog ate it.

7. Made his own 6 ft. unicycle out of a bicycle.

8. Was a star football player and pole vaulter. No one has even come close to the pole vaulting record he set at Wood River High.

9. Was a "hot dog" skier. He practiced ski jumping off the manure piles on his farm.

10. Attended college on a track scholarship, but was kicked out of Boise State as a senior because of an alleged unreturned library book.

11. Learned sign language so he could communicate with a deaf roommate.

12. Nicknamed "Radar"

13. Converted to the LDS religion at age 20.

14. First saw me in 1976 and kept a picture of me in his wallet. We didn't meet until three years later.

15. Had an afro, mustache, motorcycle, and chevy van when we met.

16. Favorite place on the planet? Hawaii. Disneyland is a close second.

17. Is scuba certified.

18. Favorite thing in the world (besides me)? ICE CREAM hands down!

19. Eats Cinnamon Toast Crunch every morning for breakfast.

20. Doesn't like to wear a suit or tie. Its ironic that as bishop he changes into them nearly every day.

21. Is as passionate about Photoshop as he is about Photography and is absolutely amazing at both.

22. Is a kid magnet. Maybe because he is still one at heart.

23. Will do about anything to please me, his adorable wife, including giving me all the answers he THINKS I want to hear.

24. Is the KINDEST man you will ever meet.

25. Randy is the world's # one husband, father, and grandfather. I am so blessed to call him mine. 

Love You, Randy! May I have a kiss now?

25 Random Things

Jennifer B. tagged me on facebook and asked me to come up with 25 random things about myself.  Now that was a task!  But now that I've gone to the trouble, I thought I would keep it for posterity.  Here is the list I came up with this morning. Maybe I will add to it from time to time as I think of other random items.

1. I am a "dog person" with one named Bailey who won't let me out of her sight and even cries when I am gone (for more than a day)

2. My husband wrote a "check" to my dad for 10 cows and 8 chickens when he proposed. That makes me a 10 Cow Woman and more!

3. I'm always on an exercise kick of one sort or another, but love food and hate to diet - Hence, I look pretty much the same from year to year.

4. I'll take cheesy finger foods over dessert any day.

5. I'm a morning person. You can't keep me awake after 11:00 pm and I don't stay in bed much after 6:30 am.

6. I miss my mother and attempt to be an amazing "Gammie" just like her... and just like her mother.

7. My favorite TV show is "Masterpiece Classics".

8. I like wearing hand knit slippers to keep my toes warm.

9. My best friend is my husband (though my dog thinks she is!)

10. I make some pretty terrific sour dough French Bread and like to give away at least one loaf while it is still warm.

11. I really like having a clutter-free house which some times frustrates my husband because he can't ever find anything. BUT if he asks me where something is, I can usually tell him.

12. I'm from Twin Falls, Idaho and often miss the acres and acres of green farm land.

13. I find it very difficult to even think of 25 unique things about myself!

14. I do not like to shop and HAVE to return home after an hour or so because I feel as though I will break out with hives or something.

15. I manage the money so its probably a good thing that I don't like to shop.

16. I like cooking for my family. My children bring their families over on the 3rd Sunday of every month for a big Family Dinner. I do not like to fix dessert, however. 

17. I used to be a pretty fine softball player and still like to participate when I have the chance.

18. I enjoy traveling with my husband. Before 2005 I had never been to Europe, but I've been four times since and have another trip in the works for September.

19. I wish I could remember the German I studied in college.

20. I like vegetables. Especially broccoli.

21. I adore and love tending my five grand-babies.

22. I absolutely love hanging out with my daughters. They are a hoot when they are together. I find myself laughing so hysterically that I nearly... Well, you know.

23. I could snorkel all day long.

24. Pet Peeves? Truck exhaust. Waiting in line. Burping out loud (even though I can probably do it with the best of them.)

25. I love to have my feet rubbed, and my good husband actually loves me enough to do it once in a while.

So... Is this the Kathryn YOU know?

Update 1-31-09:

 

26. I've ingested Alligator and Zebra and probably most other edible items from A to Z.  

27. I was allergic to my first pregnancy and had hives all over! Maybe it was because I was carrying twins. I didn't know THAT until 10 minutes after Jenni was born! Doctor Petersen, "Uhhh, I think we have another one in here!"  

28. I was one of 10 valedictorians in my high school and had a GPA in college of 3.97. I know, I know, it's hard to believe. I think I gave all my brains to my children!

Need a Lift?

Take a minute and listen to Elder Wirthlin's last conference address.  I did while walking this morning (half hour #1 and first point earned for our fitness contest!) His message immediately put a smile on my face and a spring in my step.  I promise it will give you a lift too!

P.S.  If you would rather, you can read it!

"Come what may, and love it!"

"Gammie's House" - an ABC Book for Lily

This fun book project was four months in the making.  It all began when Lily stayed with me after her baby sister, Kylie, was born in August.  I photographed our adventures and published them in an alphabet book for Lily.  Here is a slide show of the pages --