Two kids? That's nothing!

So yeah I have no great pictures of myself as I'm always the one taking the pictures so ignore the critically caucasian (sp?) gal in the middle...but wow check out her calves! ha ha

Reunion Time

I love my family reunions we've been getting together on my moms side since before I was born! I treasure my relationships with my cousins and my aunts and uncles and all the amazing in-laws that we drag into the mix. We woke up Thursday morning already to go to the much anticipated reunion, Hannah had a temperature of 102 so I left her and Mason home in my hubby's capable hands and set out to Arches with my oldest two. It was awesome no fighting no whining just road tripping with my kids. I had a tent for Meg and I and let Hayden (the snore monster) sleep in his own tent. We had so much fun! I took this picture laying on the ground looking up at the arch! What a beautiful place Heavenly Father has blessed us with!

Spicy Cashew Chicken

4 boneless skinless chicken breasts diced in bite size pieces
sesame seed oil
1 t ginger (I use fresh from the produce section it comes in little jars already grated so if you need to use powder use 1/2 t)
1 cup chicken stock
1 T sugar
1 T white vinegar
2 T soy sauce
2 T corn starch
1/4 t cayenne pepper (can kick this up to make it spicier)
Cashews

bell pepper, onion, garlic (I don't use but I know it was in the original recipe), snow peas, asparagus, shrimp is good in this (add last 3-4 minutes)! Whatever you want I just use about 2 cups total veggies for my family.

Heat sesame oil until smoking (about a T can add more if needed) pat the chicken dry with a paper towel so it doesn't make the grease pop when you throw it in the pan. Add the ginger (cook until chicken is done) only takes 5-7 minutes) remove chicken from pan put into a bowl cover with tin foil set aside. put some more sesame oil in the pan and get it smoking hot add any or all veggies that you want and cook till crisp tender put garlic in whenever you want I guess. mix all remaining ingredients together (except cashew) wisk well so the corn starch doesn't clump add chicken and any juice that's come out of it back to the pan pour in sauce and stir on med hi heat until it thickens. I eyeball the veggies so it's just how ever much all together will equal enough to feed your family. I cook up 2 cups of long grain rice (not the instant stuff) and serve it over rice topped with cashews! I double this all the time and the original recipe only called for 1/4 cup chicken stock so I upped the stock and the corn starch to make more sauce. oh sesame oil is really cheap at the oriental markets but pretty pricey in the grocery store there is an asian market on about 5 north and state street south of weinerschnitzel here in Orem. ENJOY

Camp Riley

So I haven't posted for awhile and it's because I got sucked into facebook which is another blog option really anyhow I haven't shared my girls camp experience and this is really more journaling stuff for me so feel free to skip ahead to something more entertaining. It started out as any normal camp year the stake leaders were gearing us up to head to the mountains (Mia Shalom up Fairview Canyon) the first week of June. By memorial day we still had not been told if we would be able to get to the mountain due to snow. Well if you'll remember (haha memorial day ok I'll stop) it snowed here on Memorial Day so you can imagine the snow that was dumped in the mountains. Still we don't get word until Thursday (after memorial day but 5 days before camp was to start) that we were moving the camp to a place called Willow Park in Lehi. We make a few adjustments and get geared up to go a little closer to home (actually a lot closer to home) the girls were troopers and we were able to get a young women that sports a wheelchair to come because all the trails are paved. We get to camp set up our tents have a great Stake program and dinner and then head to bed. The next day it rained and rained we were prepared and warm and dry but our fellow campers were not so lucky. By 1:00 that afternoon a decision needed to be made should we stay or go. The camp directors and young women presidents from each ward gathered together to make a decision. It was decided to go home to indiviudual ward locations and then meet together as a stake (about 240 young women 12-18 years old plus leaders) the next day at our church. This is where Camp Riley comes into play yes I brought my girls to my home cleared out the furniture in my family room and squished 11 girls down there. The leaders slept in my front room we had just enough room for all. I learned that sometimes what we are asked to do by our leaders doesn't always make sense. We had a weather forecast why not just put camp off for a couple months? In life we have to be flexible (Shalom, Willow Park, Camp Riley) With each decision that was made much prayer was put into it and as we followed the will of the Lord we were blessed. Friendships were forged, memories were made and testimonies of our Savior Jesus Christ were strenghthened. Although our plans seemed to keep falling apart all of our goals were accomplished it just took a little more creativity. I'm thankful for parents who taught me to be flexible, for a Father in Heaven that does know each of us individually and is there if we will only ask, and gives us trials to make us stronger. What could have been a horrible experience was instead an amazing experience.

Fireworks display and....

Ok so I had to put this on it was during the fireworks (the closing to the festivities) and although my post has nothing to do with the fireworks that night at least you'll get a look at what his face might have looked like when Hannah said Dad I think it's funny that you can stick out your tummy and hold it out like that all the time! Time to lay off the mountain dew!!

Firetruck

Mason loved the fire truck we finally talked him into getting out of the truck because he needed to go see the helicopter.

SUMMERFEST

Ok can I just comment on the weirdo's that attend carnivals. We went to Summerfest in Orem Utah (at least I thought I was in orem until I arrived) As it turns out I was transported to Freaksville USA wow and can I just add that obesity is alive and well in America! On a brighter note I didn't lose any of my kids and we were able to spend all of our money and get out of there in under 3 hours. Ok I realize spending the money only took 3 minutes, and just to get it in writing before everyone posts the obvious I must be a weirdo if I went to the carny there it's been said!