Picture time

Here are a few pictures I took on my trip to California, there is an amazing park down the street from my sister's house, it was perfect for picture taking. I love nothing more than to be able to photograph my own neices and nephews. Here is Calvin, cutest tiny little guy, best baby in the world:
My gorgeous sis and her handome little guy. I wish I looked as good as her post babies.
Two sets of twin girls! Anna Kate, Andie (Alexandra) Jane, Ava & Addie Jo


Jolie, Leah kissing Cal


Leah, my little munchkin of a niece. I sometimes secretly want to trade her for my twins, I adore her that much!

My beautiful and very talented sister and her cute as can be family.

California Trip & 10 year anniversary

We spent the past week in California with my sisters. Lots of cousins and swimming, shopping, girls day out with no kids, yummy food from all our California favorites, including my sister Aileen's kitchen, treehouses, ziplines and more.

For Aaron and my 10 year anniversary we got to sneak away without kids to one of our favorite places, San Diego. We stayed on Coronado Island in the same fancy hotel we spent our honeymoon. We got a villa right on the water and it was pretty much the perfect spot.

I also got to do some photo shoots with my neices and nephews and I can't wait to share those pictures, coming soon . . .

New Recipe Sunday Asian Style

We haven't had new recipe Sunday for a very long time. I was excited for this one. All dishes were 5 stars, yummy in our tummy, delish on a dish, great on a plate. We will definitely be making these all again in our house.

First up: Appetizer by my mom, Wontons w/ dipping sauce

Wontons (from The Essential Mormon Cookbook)

1 lb. sausage

1 egg

4 ounces water chestnuts, drained and chopped

3/4 cup finelly chopped celery

4 green onions, finely chopped

1/2 tsp Accent

1 pkg wonton skins

cooking oil

brown sausage, drain fat and move to large bowl. Add all other ingredients except wonton skins, oil and sauce. Place about 1 tsp of sausage mixture in middle of each wonton dkin. Fold into triangle shapem moistening and pinching edges together. Then pinch long ends together and twist into cresent shape. Heat oil to 375 degrees. Drop wontons in oil (about 6 at a time) Turn over when lightly golden. Drain on paper towels. Wontons may be frozen and reheated. Makes about 40.

Sauce:

1 1/3 cups packed brown sugar

1 1/3 cups pineapple juice

1/2 cup vinegar

2 tsp ketchup

2 tsp soy sauce

1/2 tsp gartlic salt

1/4 cup cornstarch

1/2 cup water

In medium saucepan bring all ingredients but cornstarch and water to a bol.

Thicken with cornstarch mixed with water.

Next up, I made chow mein, it is my favorite thing to eat at Chinese restaurants and I have never attempted to make it. I thought this was the perfect chance. It turned out great, I loved it. (I may or may not have had three servings of it) Click here for the recipe (again from one of my favorite recipe blogs, her recipes never disappoint) I made mine veggie w/ a package of cabbage/carrot mix, mushrooms, onions, bean sprouts and celery. I sauted the veggies in oil, added about half of the sauce then removed the veggies from the pan. I then tossed the noodles with the remainder of the sauce and then tossed all veggies in with the noodles. I used three 6 ounce packages of chow mein noodles and doubled the sauce recipe here.

Main dish by me. I chose sweet and sour chicken and it was so good! It took some effort (I was in the kitchen for an hour and a half to make the chicken and the chow mein, that includes cleaning all dishes too =) ) Well worth the effort. Click here for the recipe, it is seriously good. I did add green peppers, onions and pineapple chunks to it but next time I would add them just to the end 20 minutes or so of cooking so they still have some crunch.


Lets talk Dessert: Dawn made us almond joy cookies and a joy they were! Again, I may or may not have had three. All diets go out the window on Sunday dinners around here. The recipe for these will soon be on the recipe blog, whats4dessert.blogspot.com

Our Zoo trip

Perfect weather + good friends + no school + a beautiful zoo = a great day

Trip to the doctor and the prize

Today Adalie had a fall, became very lethargic and threw up. She had a concussion and had to been taken right to the doctor. I was very worried.

She seemed to be fine when we arrived and showed signs of improvement.

At the end of her appointment she received a token.

The token would work in a vending machine full of toys, eight different choices.
She looked at all the choices:

Sparkling bracelets

Glittery rings

Little rubber monkeys

Puzzle balls

Bouncy balls

squishy balls

cute little animals

What did she choose?

Why, this:

It was the first time since her fall she laughed and smiled and we were so glad. What a silly prize for a pediatrician to have, I think we will get one everytime because our whole family got a big laugh from it.

Here are a few of her and Ava mustache free that we took before realizing just how bad her fall was. Actually, we started to get nervous as we took photos because she just wasn't acting herself and being smiley so we quickly aborted the photo session and gave the nurse a call.