Happy Happenings and visitors

Lately we've had some really great weeks. We are happy, healthy and really enjoying the outdoors, laughing, playing, and of course new episodes of LOST, that is mostly just me. Last weekend was really great because it was General Conference, plus Salem and Ryder came and visited! I would post the picture we had taken, but it was taken with my camera and I don't know where it is. But they were so much fun to see! Ryder played with Ben while Salem and I talked- it was wonderful, I wish we could do that everyday. So this week Kristen, Tyler and Alex are in town for a Brady Fam wedding! So it has been non stop slumber party over here, and it is fantastic.
They arrived the day before Easter, so of course we started the festivities right away with painting eggs:) Enjoy the pictures, most of them are of Archie....

Wearing his cousins shoes....Sitting on the table wearing his cousins shoes and his aunt's headband....

Yeah for festivities!!!!

Our beautiful eggs!

More fun

Chub face--- his little-red-riding-hood makes his face look cute and fat

First bath in the BIG bath tub!!

Something is funny!

PS- foodies

The grilled bananas were AMAZING! I am a banana liker, not a lover, but these were so sweet after they had been grilled, and you can sprinkle a little cinnamon and sweet and condensed milk over them to make them even better!

Thursday night dinner, last week

So I am a little late in posting this wonderful meal, but it was so good that it needed to be seen! We made shish kabobs, with grilled pineapple, grilled bananas, a mandarin orange salad- it was amazing. Kara, Devin, Ben, Kate, Archie and Pat and Susan all partook- we all helped make and we all ate, perfect meal.

Double batch of dutch oven bread- it looks like a cupcake without the frosting...
The meal! I love the colors.

Grillin'

Salad: manderin oranges, candied pecans, swiss cheese and a few other delicious things

Chicken with green and yellow peppers.... sooo good

Shrimp and grilled bananas, not to be eaten in the same bite

This is just a previous meal that we had, but Ben took a picture so I thought I would post it, becuase this too was delicious.

I am not sure what we have going on for this Thursday, but if anyone has any food ideas they want to share please do! I love new recipes!

Food, Glorious FOOD!

Lately we have been having some really delicious meals; I have to write about them, I love food, and I love new ideas on how to cook- so if you have any tips or tricks, share them!
A couple weeks ago we tried sweet potato fries, very delicious- I have heard of two ways to prepare them, one by frying in oil, and one by baking. We haven't tried baking them yet, but we will soon. We also got a tip from a friend that you can bake asparagus- just put it on a pan, salt and pepper, and bake!
Thursday nights have, in the past, been a family dinner night, extended family, where we might experiment a little on what we eat. So we have been trying to carry on on this tradition, I think I will take pictures of our Thursday night meals and share. Last week we tried fried plantains and burritos, the burritos were great, the fried plantains on the other hand were edible. Devin and I tried to make them delicious, they just kept falling apart, I don't think I boiled them long enough. We added water, oil, finally flour kept the batter together long enough to fry, and they had a hint of that plantain flavor, the rest was 'fried' flavor! Oh well, not a complete success or failure, so we'll try again someday.
This week we are doing shish kabobs, grilled pineapple, grilled banana, mandarin/pecan salad and Brazilian lemonade (a la our wonderful sister up in Montana). It is fun to try new things with a bunch of people because when they don't work out it's okay because you have a whole kitchen of people to think of back ups! And when they do work out, you just think of how much fun you had cooking with a whole kitchen of people, talking, laughing, playing with babies- those are my favorite meals. I love family and friends, I love food, I love experimenting!

Spring

Chewing on his fingers after dinner....

Fun with Dad

More fun with dad..

Cuddles with Mom

I just liked his outfit, so of course I took about 20 pictures of him, he would smile, then be mesmerized by the flash and his smile would disappear--- he is a really smiley boy usually.

Today it is snowing... but last week was a beautiful spring week, and I know there is only more beautiful to come, so even if it snows today, deep in my heart I know it is spring time, and it can't possibly snow all the way through August, so I am being patient. So I have been trying to do some projects inside that will keep my busy and engaged- I have been reading a lot, and writing some, thanks to reading and writing clubs- I love it. I took the birds that Kristen made for me and turned them into a mobile- it was fun, I strung them through thin ribbon, added some bells and there ya go. Originally I was going to let Archie play with it, but it is a little too fragile, so it will just hang and look pretty in his room.

We are having more and more fun together; I love watching Archie grow up, but especially the interactions between Archie and his papa. He is becoming so much more aware of things going on around him, he twists and turns and doesn't want to miss a thing- he is already about 18 pounds and for as much as he moves around in my arms when I am holding him, I don't know how much longer I will be able to do it!

He is attempting to sit and follow Aunt Kara's fun toy- it is harder than it looks!