Megyn

This old barn which is the backdrop for this picture really has orange and blue moss on the rocks. It is a neat place to take pictures.

Jared

I was fiddling around with Lightroom and converting a colored image to B&W. This is what I came up with.

Our California Adventure

Here we are on the pier at Seal Beach, sending greetings to everyone, especially our son on the opposite coast.

You're never too old for the teacup ride. Er, maybe you are. All that spinning would make me throw up.

Soaked after a trip down Grizzly Rapids. Somehow the water always seemed to find me, no matter where I sat in the raft.

Tamsyn practicing her driving skills. Speaking of which, she's the owner of a newly acquired driver's license. (From the state of Utah, not Disney).

Mickey's short. But then again, he is a mouse.

That's all folks.

Mexican Beef Pile Ups and Cornbread

The corn bread recipe I used was the one I gave most of you for Christmas. However, here is a link to the website where it is found.

Update on my Mom

I just wanted to let everyone know that my mom had her surgery today. She had to be there at 10:00 and they were supposed to start at 11:30. I finally received a call at work at 6:30 that she was out and doing well. I have to say that today was one of the most emotionally draining days of my life. Every time the phone rang I said, "Please be someone in my family, please be someone in my family." Not being there was hard on me but I am very thankful that I was able to spend some time with her yesterday.

I don't know all the facts but they were going in to remove the tumor out of her colon and they were able to do it all laposcopically (or something). There was just the one tumor and they just cut out like 12 or so inches of her colon. She does still have one tiny one in her lungs that they will figure out what to do when she recovers from the surgery.

My sister called me and said that my dad had the race on in her recovery room and right when she came in the first words out of her mouth were, "ooooooohhh the race is on, who's winning?" (big nascar fans) I still haven't spoken to her but I'm sure I will talk with her tomorrow. I want to thank the family for all of your positive thoughts and all of your prayers on her behalf. I will post again when I have more facts. Love you all!!!

Happy birthday, Tyff

Sisters

Happy Birthday, Marilee and Tyffanee

Alyssa had the same idea I had, she just beat me to it. I can remember Tyff's birth on Marilee's birthday because I was there right in the middle of it. She was my first grandchild and I was so happy to be there when she made her entrance into the world. It was something I'll treasure for the rest of my life. Thanks Marilee and Ron for presenting me with such wonderful grandchildren. I love you so much.

Happy Birthday Mom and Tyff!

I just want to let my amazing Mom and sister know how much I love them and appreciate all that they have done for me, and our family! I have so many memories growing up of being taken care of by one or the other. And they are still constantly taking care of me and everyone else around me. I learned to love and to care from them both and am the person that I am today because of their wonderful influences! I hope that they have wonderful birthdays and know how much they're loved by me and this whole family!

Requested recipes

Here are the recipes I promised to post. If you have any questions about them, let me know. I didn't type the directions for mixing in the last two cupcakes. Just use the basic method found in the Citrus Cupcakes.

S'mores Bars
1/2 cup butter, softened
3/4 cup sugar
1 egg
1 tsp vanilla
1-1/3 cup flour
3/4 cup graham cracker crumbs
1 tsp baking powder
1/8 tsp salt
5 milk chocolate bars (1.55 oz each)
1 cup marshmallow creme (1 7-oz jar)

In a large bowl, cream butter and sugar until light and fluffy. Add egg and vanilla; beat well. Combine the flour, cracker crumbs, baking powder and salt; gradually add to creamed mixture. Set aside 1/2 cup for topping.
Press remianing mixture into a greased 9-inch pan. Place candy bars over crust; spread with marshmallow creme. Crumble remaining graham cracker mixture over top.
Bake at 350 for 25-30 minutes or until golden brown. Cool on a wire rack. Cut into bars. Store in an airtight container. Yield: 1-1/2 dozen.

Citrus Cupcakes
1-3/4 cups flour
1-1/4 tsp baking powder
1 tsp baking soda
1/2 tsp salt
3/4 cups sugar
1/2 cup butter, softened
2 eggs
1 tsp vanilla
1 cup sour cream
Zest of 1 lemon
Zest of 1 lime
Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Beat the sugar and butter together until light. Beat the eggs in one at a time. Add the vanilla, zests and sour cream and beat until smooth. Finally, sift the dry ingredients directly into the bowl and mix well on a low-medium speed. Spoon the batter into muffin tins lined with paper. Bake for 15-20 minutes. Cool on a rack. Frost with Citrus Frosting and mark with a lemon drop or lemon head. Yield: 18 cupcakes.
Citrus Frosting
3 cups powdered sugar
1/2 cup butter, softened
4 oz cream cheese, softened
1/2 tsp salt
2 tsp lemon juice
2 tsp lime juice
With a mixer, combine 1 cup of the sugar with the butter and cream cheese and beat until very smooth. Next add the rest of the sugar and the salt and beat until smmoth. Finally, add the citrus juices and beat on medium speed for two minutes or so.

Oreo Cupcakes
1/2 cup butter, softened
1-1/2 cups sugar
3 eggs
2 tsp vanilla
1/2 cup sour cream
1 cup milk
3 cups flour
1 tsp salt
1 Tbsp baking powder
Oreos
Mix together in a similar manner as above. In each paper-lined muffin cup, place an oreo half, or a mini oreo. Spoon batter over top. Bake for approx 18-20 minutes. Yield: 24 cupcakes. Frost with Cream Cheese Frosting and sprinkle with crushed oreos or top with one mini oreo.
Cream Cheese Frosting
1/2 cup butter, softened
8 oz dream cheese, softened
3 cups powdered sugar
3 Tbsp cream
1 Tbsp vanilla
Mix frosting as above.

Peanut Butter and Jelly Cupcakes
2 cups flour
1 tsp baking powder
1/2 tsp salt
1/4 tsp baking soda
3/4 cup unsalted butter, softened
1-1/3 cups sugar
1/2 cup creamy peanut butter
3 eggs
1 tsp vanilla
2/3 cup sour cream
Jar of your favorite jam (not freezer jam)
Mix batter in a similar manner as Citrus Cupcakes. Bake for 18-23 minutes. Let cool. Spoon jam into a pastry bag that has a tip with a large opening (such as a #1). When cupcakes are room temperature, push the tip into the center of the cupcake and fill. Frost with buttercream frosting. Mark with a jelly bean, if desired.
Buttercream Frosting
3 cups powdered sugar
1 cup butter, softened
2 tsp vanilla
2 tsp cream
Mix as indicated above, adding more cream if needed.

Chimichangas

I hate to interrupt the steady stream of wonderful pictures (thanks, mom), but I will anyway. While in Utah, we had dinner with some friends of ours who used to live in our ward. The Murdochs. The Chimichangas were so good, we asked for the recipe. Try it!!

2 1/2 C. chicken cooked and chopped
1/3 C. green onions
1/2 tsp. oregano
2/3 C. Salsa
3/4- 1 tsp. Cumin
1/2 tsp. salt
1 C. cheddar or jack cheese, grated
8 tortillas

Combine chicken, salsa, onion cumin, oregano and salt in the saucepan. Simmer 5 min. Fill tortillas with chicken mixture and cheese. Fold up tortillas and place seam down in buttered baking dish. Brush tops of chimichangas with butter.

Bake at 475 degrees for 13 minutes or until crisp. Top with salsa, sour cream and /or guacamole.

Kennedy & her silly bands

Twins, almost

New eyes

I've been doing some of these edits with my eyes half shut so if they are not quite right, don't blame me. I'm doing all right but I look like a scary critter that you wouldn't want to meet up with in the dark.