It skipped a generation

Emily and Max went on a play date to Discovery Gateway. Out of all the activities, Emily spent most of her time loading the Hay into the Truck. I had to laugh because although I grew up on a ranch, I'm definitely a city girl at heart. Maybe Emily can be the cowgirl my dad couldn't make out of me.

Mint Brownies

This morning I was entering some of my favorite recipes into a website that my mom is making into a ">family cookbook . As I was entering this recipe for mint brownies it brought back the memory of the first time Bart and I talked to each other.
It was New Year's Eve and I was with my roommate Holly Buck and friend Tammy Miner. We didn't have a lot of plans so we headed to a party that this lady in our ward was hosting. When we arrived the only person there, beside the host, was this tall handsome man, that I recognized from the ward. He came out of the house and carried Tammy,who has C.P., out of the van and into the house. He's always been super nice like that!
I had a New Year's goal to not eat any chocolate for an entire year. Bart had brought these yummy mint brownies and I devoured them like an alcoholic the night before lent. Bart remembers thinking there is no way this girl is going to make it a day without chocolate let alone a whole year. (I proved him wrong and went an entire year without chocolate. I ended it 12:01 AM on Jan 1st with Suzanne's amazing "Get a date" brownies.) Needless to say my first conversation with Bart was over mint brownies.
Here's the recipe:

3 squares margarine
3 cup sugar
1/3 cup cocoa
6 eggs (mix 2 at a time)
2 1/4 cup flour
1/2 tsp mint

Frosting:
1 square soft margarine or butter
2 tablespoon milk
3 cup powder sugar
1 drop green food coloring
1 small capful of mint

Cream shortening and sugar. Add eggs two and a time. Blend in flour and cocoa and add mint. Cook at 350º for 18 minutes.
Mix frosting ingredients and spread on cooled brownies. You can also melt chocolate chips and butter and spread on top as well as sprinkle chocolate shavings or drizzle chocolate sauce.


*As I was asking Pauline for this recipe she told me that in Elementary, every Friday she would make a pan of these for Bart to take to school and he would sell them to teachers and other students. She said she has no idea how much he made but he would always come home with an empty pan. I think Bart has always been an entrepreneur at heart!

We're going to Galoon!

Oh the joyous summer days when Emily gets to go to Galoon (aka Lagoon) with her cousins Max and Ben.

"If I close my eyes maybe the tunnel on the train ride won't be there"

Jane's ride through the park maybe next year she will get to ride the real ones.

It was sure fun to have Jeff up from Arizona

Everyone waiting for the monkey show!

Only in Utah

As we were driving to the Oquirrh Temple Open House, from the Freeway Emily spotted the Jordan River Temple and said "Mom I see the temple." When we drove by it Emily was so confused why we weren't stopping because we were going there 'today' (slight change to the song "I love to see the temple" that Emily was singing in the car. As I was trying to explain that it was a different temple I saw the Oquirrh Temple literally around the corner and realized just how close it is the to Jordan River Temple. I think it is pretty amazing that the church has a need to have two temples so close together.

The pose we had to wait in line to get. Maybe if I had more talent as a photographer and a better camera it might have turned out a little better

I have a twinge of guilt that the whole way through the temple I was bribing Emily that if she was "reverent" there would be cookies at the end. She was a champ even with those long lines to go up and down the stairs.

My amazing Jane who loves commotion and crowds.

Emily and Bentley watching the divers at the Mayan restaurant

Cowa'burn'

We caught a ride back home with Sarah and stopped and spent the day at the new water park Cowabunga. Fun day other than I paid the consequences for forgetting to put sun screen on my back. I haven't gotten a sunburn like that since I was a kid. After a few days I was wishing I was a kid again with young skin that heals fast.
Well here are some pictures...

Emily
Jane

Bryler

Belle and her cousin Tayla taking Emily in the lazy river

Chapman just hanging out in the lazy river

Popeye

Here is the only picture we were able to catch of Emily being only a year old and doing her "Popeye". Even before Emily could walk or talk she started pulling this face. I thought she looked just like Popeye and before long you could say Emily do your Popeye and she would do this face.

Hi Dad

Hi Dad,
We sure are missing you but we're having a blast here in Teasdale with mom. Look at what we've been up to..

All day long mom hears "Can we drive the 4-wheeler over to feed the horses carrots?"



Jane's first encounter with horses. So far so good. She's also taken to watching the dogs and loves all the licks. I think Jane would love to take one home but as far as mom is concerned, she thinks dogs should stay in Teasdale where they can live outside.

I love it when I get to play my favorite Primary songs on the piano with Grandma Becky.

Taking a ride in the swather with Grandpa Dick.
See ya soon,
Emily (with help from her mom)

Small town USA

I love spending 4th of July weekend in Teasdale. Most people think of fireworks when the think of the 4th of July but I think of a small town parade. Luckily with two small kids I'm able to relive some childhood memories. Here is what a good parade is made of.

I parade is not a parade without candy.

The stash of candy collected from the street. (Emily was very serious that she collect every piece)Keeping the Patriotic spirit alive. Here's my cute Grandpa riding in the Veteran's float. He's almost 90 years old!
Smokey the Bear is a must!
Being with those I love!