Family Pictures

I think the last "official" family pictures taken on my side of the family were done when my brother got married. Everybody looked pretty good (especially the bride and groom), but my dad looked particulary handsome-like somebody who had just stepped out of "Gunsmoke". The only other family pictures I remember (other than those at Dave & Christy's wedding) were done by a family friend, Donna Truesdell, who had a love for photography and a cool little darkroom in the basement of her house!

This week we had family pictures taken with Darren's ENTIRE family since all the siblings were in town. There were lots of discussions about what to wear, who would take the picture, where it would be taken, etc. I was very pleased with the decision to go with "casual" dress-white shirts and jeans! We ended up having a friend of the family take the pictures at North Canyon Park. It wasn't as bad as I had anticipated, although it was somewhat tricky to get all the little kids paying attention to the photographer (and not the butterflies that seemed much more interesting).

Grandma & Grandpa with all of the grandkids!

Smith-Morehouse Reservoir

This past week we spent two nights at the Smith-Morehouse Reservoir with Darren's family. Although I have fond memories of the many camping trips my family made in Alaska (Deep Creek being my favorite), camping is not on my list of "fun" things to do as an adult. I think it has something to do with sleeping on the ground with a back that has arthritis issues, using an outhouse (the smell never improves), not to mention all of the clean-up upon arriving home (especially the pine sap that somehow made its way onto the butt of my dog). Despite my lack of love and joy for the great outdoors, the kids had fun. Well, at least one kid. As you can see from the pictures below Addy had a great time. Delaney spent most of her time reading and wishing she had cell phone service to text her friends. She did manage to have some fun when her cousin, Nicole, taught her how to roast StarBursts.

We rented a kayak, which everybody loved.

Addy and her cousin Josh both caught Rainbow Trout.

The Best Dad Ever

Addy's poster (click to read) pretty much sums up how we feel about the dad at our house.
I am grateful for the type of dad Darren is-kind, funny, and loving.

I love this picture of Addy & Darren.

This would have been a great picture if Darren's eyes were open!

Summer Begins

Summer is finally here! Today was our first day of 90+ temps, and the girls were ready with their "water weenies". I am thankful they have a dad who can teach them about such cultured things!

Addy had way too much water in her "weenie" and ended up with a "weenie whiplash"!

The "weenie warrior"!

Sunday Snack

Sunday afternoon seems to be baking day around our house. If something doesn't get baked here then we go up to Grandpa & Grandma's to see what kind of treat Uncle David has made (usually something involving peanut butter). Today Addy made the best chocolate chip cookies we have ever had using her Aunt Catherine's recipe. They were really yummy-better than the Mrs. Field's recipe that I usually use. The differences between the two recipes is slight, but Catherine's recipe makes fluffier & tastier cookies (this according to Addy).

Delicious Chocolate Chip Cookie

Cream together:

1 cup butter

1/2 cup white sugar

3/4 cup brown sugar

Add:

2 Tsp. vanilla

1 egg

In a separate bowl mix:

2 1/2 cups flour

1 Tsp. baking soda

1/2 Tsp. salt

1 package chocolate chips (we like milk chocolate)

Add the flour mixture to the butter mixture. Cook at 375 degrees for 9-12 minutes.

Very yummy!!

Check out the chocolate chip on Addy's lips!

The BIG 40

I can't believe I'm married to an old man! We recently celebrated Darren's 40th with a dinner out to Robintino's with his parents. Afterwards we went to their house where we had a yummy chocolate mousse cake from Parson's Bakery. (This is Jan's favorite bakery. We think she spends a large chunk of her retirement money on this place. She buys enough cookies and sweets to feed an army. Unfortunately her army consists of only herself and Don. This means a lot of leftover goodies for the grandkids and the adult kids!)

Viewmont Elementary also celebrated Darren's milestone. All the staff members dressed in black. They decorated his door with a picture of the teachers on one side of a hill and Darren dropping over the other side (He is "Over the Hill"---In case you didn't get it!). The cook made a coffin cake. Darren estimates that over 200 kids sang Happy Birthday to him! You can't beat that.

As far as Darren thought, that was it for celebrations. However, I had a secret birthday party in the works. With the help of the girls and a couple of neighborhood friends, I was able to pull it off without Darren even having a clue.

The theme was the 60's. We were all supposed to dress in 60's attire, but at the last minute decided to dress in black as finding 60's outfits was too difficult to do! My friend Lisa prepared chocolate and cheese fondue with lots of yummy dipping things. Our friend Brian provided the entertainment with the use of his Wii and Guitar Hero game. I made all of the guests a top 20 hits of 1968 CD.

To get Darren out of the house, Addy told him that he needed to take her on a daddy-daughter date to the bowling alley. As soon as they left Delaney and I frantically prepared the house, Lisa made the food, and the guests started to arrive. I have to say that when Darren walked in and we yelled "Surprise!" I felt quite proud of the fact that I had kept the whole thing secret. (For those of you that know me----keeping secrets is hard!)

We had a great night celebrating the birth of a great guy!

Surprise! A look of astonishment!

Darren rocking with Guitar Hero!

Donnie was "on fire" with his guitar solo!

Happy New Year!

In early December we learned that Uncle Dave & Aunt Christy were going to squeeze in a Utah visit between trips to Las Vegas (where they watched ultimate fighting) and California (where Dave went crazy riding roller coasters and they boarded a cruise ship to Mexico). Our time together was short-less than 48 hours, but we had a great time. We played Apples to Apples, during which time Dave learned that lemons are bad-lemon drops are good (thanks Addy), and Addy learned that Michael Jackson IS really a black man. We played Twister, darts, and the new Wii at Grandpa & Grandma Dean's house. We soaked in hot springs. We visited Cabela's. We cried (okay-Sheri is the only one who cried) when we said good-bye at the airport. We love Dave & Christy!

Dave & his super models at Crystal Hot Springs in Honeyville, Utah-It was a great day, other than the fact that Delaney lost her retainer and Dave left his swim trunks in the dressing room (AFTER soaking in the hot tubs-not before!!).

Twister Time-Addy & Darren!

Christy & the girls playing Twister!

Dave & Addy battling it out to the end!

Good-bye!! We love you Dave & Christy!