Family Photo Shoot!

This summer we had our family pictures taken...it had been far too long! We had a fun shoot in Provo with Erica. I love the way she captures families in her photos! So I emailed her and said I would love to have her photograph our family when she came out to Utah and I'm so glad I did...I love them! Thanks Erica! There were nearly 200 shots...these are just a few of my favorites.

Favorite Family Shots

Favorite Shots of Maddie and Will

Other Favorite Shots

Menu For the Week

Chicken Burrittos

Shredded Chicken Sliders topped with Cole Slaw, corn on the cob
These are soooo delicious! The sweet, cool cole slaw on top adds crunch and yummy flavor!

French Dips, corn on the cob, zucchini and tomatoes
I put a chuck roast in the crock pot and used half for the sandwiches and the other half I'm using for the shredded beef tacos

Fish tacos with mango pico de gallo

Mini Farfalle chipotle chicken pasta, romaine salad, crusty bread
I boiled the chicken breast for all three of my shredded chicken dinners the night I made this. I only used one chipotle pepper and it was plenty spicy and oh so yummy! This can feed an army!

Shredded beef taco cups with corn salsa
I've made these a few times...they are one of my favorite things...perfect for a lunch with friends!

Cluff Family Reunion/Temple Sealing

Swim Team

This year Maddie was on the Orem Swim Team at the Scera Pool. Each morning for the month of June and July she was in the pool by 9:00 am getting an amazing work out! I don't know if she'll do it next year or not. If you were to ask her now if she wanted to do it next summer, the answer would be "no". But I'm hoping she'll forget about the bad stuff and want to give it a try again if only for the exercise and schedule. Plus, she is so darling in a swim suit and cap! :)

Menu for the Week

photo from Martha Stewart's Dinner Tonight

Pasta with Tomatoes and Pinenuts, crusty bread, steamed brocolli
super duper easy!

Grilled Steak Quesadillas, black bean and avocado salsa, watermelon
We love these! I do the entire quesadilla on the grill.

Grilled pork chops, mashed potatoes, cucumbers and tomatoes
These were on the menu last week, but I never got to them

Asian Noodles with Chicken and Pineapple

Chicken Burritos, watermelon
We've made these many times and the chicken mixture can be used numerous ways

Southwest Chicken Pockets, blackbean salsa, watermelon
I got this recipe from a local cook book called Favorites. It has delicious recipes in it.

July Staycation! (Part 2)

Ben planned a great night out in the Uintas for the whole family. He wanted to take the little ones fishing. And he stayed up late the night before cooking for all of us. We had yummy food to eat and made s'mores around the fire! It was great to get out of the heat and let the kids run around and play in the stream. Maddie loved the fishing with Ben more than anything! The drive was really long but beautiful. I am constantly amazed at the majesty of these mountains. Sometimes I take for granted the beauty of this area...I know there are millions who have never seen anything like this and here we are living right in the valley of these awesome mountains! (although, I must say, the bugs up there were anything but awesome!...I have never seen so many mosquitos!)

July! (Part 1)

My sister Jana came to Utah for a couple of weeks in July and we all had a great time together with the kids! Jana is not one to sit around, so we were constantly on the go...something to do nearly every day! And since we haven't taken any kind of vacation this year, it was great to have some things planned to do for Maddie and Will! I call it our staycation!

One of our first outings was to the Dinosaur Museum at Thanksgiving Point. I think I'm done going there for a while...

I love this picture of Will...it completely captures how he is...always goofing off!

Maddie loves animals and the Earth. She expresses her gratitude daily for our beautiful Earth and for the animals.

The next outing was to the Tracy Aviary and Liberty Park in Salt Lake City. The kids really loved going there, especially to Liberty Park afterwards. That park is amazing and there is so much to do. Maddie, Jana and I rode the carnival swings (nearly made us vomit!) and the boys and Grandpa rode the ferris wheel. There are paddle boats and a fun water feature to play in.

Sibling Love at its best!

All of us (except Joce...she was taking the picture) at the bird show!

Boys Love Snakes...and all creepy crawlies!

Not long ago (end of May or so), Bob found a snake in the yard (one of many) and gave it to Will. Will made a little home for it in a pot. He put rocks and grass in it and gave it some marshmallows for food! Too Cute! He let the snake go later that day. Boys will be boys!

Menu For the Week

It's been forever since I posted last...I guess I've been kind of in a slump...or just really busy! But posting my menu is easy so I'll start there!

Garlic Shrimp Linguine, salad, bread, raspberries and cream for dessert
This was rapidly consumed by everyone! Seriously so easy and one of the yummiest things I've ever made (a huge statement!)

Breaded Chicken Fingers & Honey Mustard Dressing, corn on the cob, watermelon
Serve this to the children with the dressing for dipping. For Bob and I, served over romaine, sliced hard boiled eggs, bacon, shredded cheese and croutons-yummo!

Sweet Pork Roast Burritos
black beans and rice inside burritos

Grilled Pork Chops, mashed potatoes, cucumbers and tomatoes
We love our cukes and tomatoes in oil and red wine vinegar

Grilled burgers, corn on the cob, watermelon
We love watermelon and corn on the cob this time of year

Penne Pasta with Boursin Cheese and tomatoes, salad, bread
I got this yummy recipe from my friend and it so easy and so delicious! If anyone wants the recipe, let me know

Birthday Dinner-Maddie's 10th!

Maddie's Birthday- June 30, 2008

Every year, the children get to choose where they want to go eat for their birthday and every year, Maddie chooses Bonsai Japanese Steak House. The kids love having their food prepared right there in front of them-all that fire and the chef tricks! And Maddie absolutely loves the steak and shrimp!

In Memory of Dave Lant

Yesterday morning, we lost a good friend and an employee in a motorcycle accident. Bob's long time employee, Dave Lant, was killed when a semi truck driver ran a red light and hit Dave while he was on his way to work. Dave had been working for us for quite some time and was Bob's right hand man. He was a skilled pressman and a dedicated employee. He was so very loyal to Bob and we are going to miss him. Dave was also Bob's friend-when you work with someone, you actually spend more time with them than you do with your own family. My children loved to see Dave-he loved to tease them and give them candy-they will miss him too. Things at the shop will not be the same without him.

This tragedy has made me so grateful that families truly are forever. And also that this life is so short-sometimes too short as in the case with Dave and can be over in an instant. He left behind his wife of 14 years and three young daughters. We love you Dave and we miss you!

KSL article and video here

Menu for the Week

This week will be a catch-up week on the meals we missed the past two weeks...with the holiday and family in town, we've missed some of the meals on our menu. At least I don't have to come up with new ideas. And the Parmesan Chicken with Cream Sauce was such a hit, we're doing it again!

Photo from Martha Stewart's Dinner Tonight

Parmesan Crusted Chicken with Cream Sauce, couscous, asparagus

Fish Tacos, watermelon
Frozen breaded tilapia filets at Costco, corn tortillas, cabbage, LiteHouse jalapeno Ranch dressing and Harmon's store made salsa

Venitian Rolled Pizza, crispy romaine salad, raspberries

Asian-Style pork chops, cucumbers and tomatoes in olive oil and red wine

Pork Tenderloin with honeyed butter, roasted potatoes, steamed broccoli

Cold Cereal
Keeping it Real!

Happy Fourth!

This morning we had our annual 4th of July Breakfast at the Cole's beautiful home. The food was delicious-Bob was a pancake chef! Everything was so festive. There was a fishing pond, balloons and face painting for the kids. And of course, Claudia's home was spectacular!

Now I just have a cake to bake and pasta salad to make and we're off to Grandma and Grandpa's house!

Take Your Daughter...

or your 5 year old son...he loved it too :)

I took Maddie and a friend (and Will) to see this movie yesterday. We really enjoyed it. The story takes place during the Great Depression...and at times, I must say, it was really sad...okay, I cried. The struggles families went through were heartbreaking. It was good for Maddie to see that life is not always what you want, but you can get through it. I liked that it was a movie for children, but it was real...people losing their homes, cars, clothes, food, and even their dad...I try to teach my children that not everyone has it as good as they do (and there are many others who have A LOT more than we do). But seeing it in that setting...it made her think.

She made a couple of comments last night that made me realize she understood that life is not all Nintendo, Disneyland, new toys and FUN! Sad...but true. (dangit)

Maddie's 10th Birthday!

I can't believe it, but Maddie is 10 years old today! I can remember, as if it were yesterday, the day she was born...and it truly does seem like yesterday! Ten creeps up on you fast. But my oh my how she has changed! She is becoming a young woman and teenager tendencies are rearing their ugly head, but what I love is the sweet innocence she still has.

These pictures really capture Maddie...she is so silly!

10 GREAT THINGS ABOUT MADDIE!

1. She is so silly! She is not a serious child...hardly ever. I am so happy about this. I see other children who are far too mature for their age, not age appropriate. In Maddie, I see a true 10 year old!

2. She loves to read. Once she starts a book, she can hardly put it down. At night, I have to go in and make her stop reading and turn her light out.

3. She is a good friend. Maddie is a loyal friend.

4. She loves yummy food...seriously, she'll try anything and usually likes it! And she LOVES to cook.

5. She is a very talented artist...probably one of her favorite things to do is draw. We have a wall in our house of her beautiful, framed artwork.

6. She is a beautiful pianist. Her piano teacher said "Maddie must have played the piano in Heaven."

7. She is always honest and expects others to be also. She is very surprised when she finds out someone was not honest.

8. She loves to learn new things...about anything and everything. She is interested in space, animals, science, how all kinds of things are made, cooking, history...you name it, she can tell you something about it! She is so smart!

9. She is passionate about almost everything...our Drama Queen! (I'm not sure if this is great or not, but it is true and is a driving force in Maddie's life)

10. She loves her family...she would rather be with us than with anyone. She loves to plan things to do with her grandparents, aunts, uncles and cousins. I know this wont last, so I'm happy she's this way now.