Pinewood Derby

I had to share Kaleb's Pinewood Derby car. The race was this afternoon after school. Burke and Kaleb did some research to see what kind of car they wanted to make and they decided on Sponge Bob. They did a great job at making it! I'm sure you can tell that Kaleb did it all on his own - hahaha - JOKING! He did supervise very well though. It was actually a pretty quick car, but didn't place - so he was bummed about that. Maybe next year!

Our weekend

Burke is one of the advisers over the junior class this year. So it was the Jr. Prom on Friday and so I got to go with him to help out. We had a babysitter for the kids and as usual they were SO excited for that. We have some great girls here that the kids love to have over to watch them. That is such a blessing!!!

I didn't take many pictures at all, but here we are leaving on our "date". Burke had a tux from a choir in college he was in. They all had to buy them for that, so he got some use out of it. And everyone was so impressed. It was pretty funny actually.
The juniors decorated the gym so nice. The decorated it like Casino with face cards everywhere. It looked really good. It was dark and so my pictures did not turn out at all. But here is the little nook they made for the treats - which were amazing! They also have the dance open to the public, so parents and siblings come - junior high kids were there - so weird! Burke read off the names of the juniors and their parents. Then they learn a dance to perform for everyone. They chose THRILLER!!! And let me say, it was really AWESOME. Seriously. So, so cute. Fun kids. I'm so glad I got to go and see it all. Really a fun night with Burke.
Then saturday morning we got up and did a bunch of yard work. The other stuff is still in progress - there is SO much to do. So I will show you that later. But we planted some cute little flowers and Kaiya was so excited to water them. Here's a glimpse of those. Hopefully I'll have an update on the rest soon! :)

Out and about

The girls and I wanted to get out this afternoon, so we decided to go to the Museum. When we got there Kaiya wanted to explore outside for a bit...so we did and it was SO much fun. I got to take lots of pictures and they even let me - BONUS!!!

Here's some pictures of our outing:

The clouds were so pretty and the sky was so blue. AND the girls were SO CUTE.

Kaiya went up some stairs and when I was going up I looked at her and told her to stop for some pics of them in the clouds. She loved that idea. I couldn't see them very well though, so I just snapped and snapped. Here's our cloud girls.

And what a cute little poser Kaiya is, grabbing that cute little sister's face. How adorable.
This is behind the Best Western River Terrace Hotel. It really is a beautiful hotel. They made it all so nice. I let the girls run around for a minute and then we left, I felt kind of funny being there even though it's all open and everything. But right when were about to leave the owner came out to sit down out back there. I just said hello, like this was normal for us - hahaha! He didn't seem to mind.
This is the walkway connected to the bridge over the Green River. The girls loved running on this and throwing little rocks they found into the river.
They could have just hung out here all day - seriously.
Kaiya wanted to pose like Katelin.
The diesel's would drive by and felt like a mini earthquake under our feet. Kaiya wanted to wait for more and more of them to pass so she could feel it again.
She seriously kept posing like this, it was so cute. So I just had to keep taking pictures of the cuteness.
We finally made it back to the museum and went inside.

They have these mannequin guys that were dressed up to tell the stories of the Rivers. Their mouths, heads and arms move while they tell their stories. Kaiya thinks it's pretty cool. Katelin backs away and then after a few minutes thinks it's cool too.
I love this statue thing of these men riding the rapids. Sweet.
We had such a fun day. We'll have to go somewhere else next time and show you around this town. For those of you haven't been here that is. :)

Recipes to try

We tried these two recipes I found this week - they were really yummy, and both could be made in the crockpot - I ALWAYS find that a bonus. Here they are if you want to give them a try:

"Wendy's Chili"

2 lb. Ground Beef (Browned)
1-29 oz. Tomato Sauce
1 29- oz. Can Kidney Beans
1-29 oz. Can Pinto Beans
1 C. Onion Diced
1/4 C. Diced Celery
1/2 C. Diced Green Chilies
3 Medium Tomatoes
1 Tsp. Cumin
3 TBSP. Chili Powder
1 1/2 tsp. Pepper
2 tsp. Salt
2 C. Water

Add all ingredients into crock pot or onto stove top. Simmer for a a few hours.
**I would always half this recipe unless you are cooking for a really large group!

Chicken Taco Soup

2-4 chicken breast (depending on size, about 1 pound...these can be frozen too!)

1 can no salt added corn, drained

1 can black beans

1 can chili beans or light red kidney beans

2 cans diced tomatoes with green chiles

1 8oz can tomato sauce

1 12oz bottle of beer (or chicken broth)

1 1.25 oz packet taco seasoning

Place all the above ingredients into your crockpot and mix well. Set on low for 7-8 hours or high for 3-4. Pull the chicken out, shred, and place back into crockpot.

Spring Break project

Since we were going to be out of town for most of our Spring Break, I didn't think we'd get any projects done. But never fear...we did! Hahaha, I was trying to think of a clever rhyme for that, but couldn't. :) I've been wanting to re-do our table that Burke's mom found at a garage sale for us when we first got married. It's been very used, and was before we got it. So Burke stripped off the old stuff and sanded it and then I painted it all Vintage White and then antiqued it a bit with the sander. Then put on the polyurethane and ... I LOVE IT!!! Such and improvement. Check it out:

BEFORE:

AFTER:
It just brightens up the room, I love it!

Oh, I have all of our Easter posts up below, I just HAD to share this last project we did too. :)

Easter at G'pa & G'ma Ottley's

On Sunday afternoon we were going to head over to my dad's for the afternoon session and then dinner with everyone. I called them before we left and they were headed over to my brother's grave site to visit for a minute. We hadn't been there for a long time so we headed over to meet them. I'm glad we did.

Katelin ran to greet them.

They had put these two eggs on his grave and the kids wanted to open them and look inside.

I love the look on Kaleb's face. In his there was just a paper and Kaiya's had candy! They put swedish fish in one because that was Jeremy's favorite candy and in the other one was a little paper my dad had folded up with a message that read - "Happy Easter Jeremy! He has Risen and so will you!" Something to that effect. Really sweet. The kids happily ate the swedish fish for him.
Kaiya was so cold so Burke gave her his jacket and my dad gave Kaleb his to wear. Kaleb is loving it.
Then we headed over to my dad and Gail's for Conference, dinner and an Easter Hunt!

Here's some pics of the hunt.


Can you see the look in Kaiya's eyes that she's found one!?!
And Kaleb too - he's veering his body around to go and grab it.


Erin, pondering the buds on the tree??? CUTE!
Sally sure has many friends.

We really love our family. SO glad we don't live TOO far away so that we can come and visit and enjoy time with everyone when we come. LOVE YOU ALL!!!!!!!!

Hangin' out at my moms

We stayed at my mom's for a few days over our break. We always party while we're there. It's fun to get all of the cousins together and play during the priesthood session. Look at all of those cuties!
We got Sally's haircut while we were there also. It was about time! She loved all of the kids - for a while and then was SO HAPPY to be put in her kennel for a break.

She loves Opa. Whenever she could she would run in there and snuggle on his lap. Even while he was asleep. Kaiya caught her there with my camera one morning.
We watched conference in the basement. It was nice and cosy. The kids enjoyed their candy while we watched. I also did a Easter General Conference page for them to do while we watched. When I put out the paper and crayons they all sat down and started to color. Katelin lasted for about a minute, Kaiya was a bit longer - she colored and then listened to the speakers on and off and did what she was supposed to on the paper - for about 10 or 15 minutes. Then Kaleb, he stuck around for a long time and when Burke would start taking about something that was said he would say "DAD, I'm trying to listen!!!" He didn't want to miss out on something he was supposed to do. It was really cute. I'm glad he enjoyed it for as long as he did.
Candy mouth smile. :) This is his Easter Basket with the conference topics he heard while he was listening.
We also got to hang out with my step-brother, Robb and his family. We went to Red Lobster finally, for Kaleb's baptism dinner. He loved it. I also got to go shopping with my mom and Mary.

Bowling with G'ma & G'pa Simmons

Burke's parents took us bowling while we were in Salt Lake over the weekend. Oh, and before that to the "another plate, another plate" restaurant, also known as Golden Corral. The kids just love that place and I think it's pretty great too!

This was Katelin's first time bowling, so it was really fun to watch her get into it too. Here's her bowling shoes - and Kaleb's. :) Too cute! I love them!



Katelin did this everytime she pushed a ball off of the little slider thing. She would just lean her chin on it and watch it roll.

Kaleb and Kaiya loved to help her get everything set up and then let her push it off. They would all stand there together sometimes and watch their success.
What a fun day.

My Little Scout

It's been quite new getting into this scouting thing with Kaleb. I don't know anything about it. So I'm excited to learn. We've had fun passing things off together and then going to the Blue and Gold Banquet's to receive his little award thingy's. Last month, they did a dinner. It was so great! And before they always have games for the little ones to play while we're waiting to get started. This time it was with the little party blower's - you had to blow it to hit the ball over to a certain point. The girls got into it.

Kaleb just wanted to blow his instead of playing the game. Still fun!
Here he is getting his stuff and doing some handshake that I have no clue about!
Then I had to head off to Young Women's before it ended and while I was gone they did this:
I don't know what that is all about either. And I was supposed to be there to receive a pin, and I was gone! So Burke did it for me - way to go Mr. Mom! I'm excited to figure all of this out. He sure loves going to scouts and doing fun things with all of the other boys and his Scout Leader, she is AMAZING!