Let's Go Fly a Kite

We flew kites for Family Home Evening tonight at Sugar House Park. It was so much fun. Definitely a perfect day for it.

Lincoln wasn't too into the kites. He didn't feel good today. he just "sat on Dad's head" the whole time.

Hunter did such a great job of flying his kite. He insisted on doing it himself.

I love spring!

Palmer's kite got stuck in a tree. What a good Dad, he climbed the tree and knocked it out and we all chased after the string so it wouldn't blow away. I am sure it looked so funny.

I look like Gumby!

Palmer was so into the kite flying. We had a blast! It is really so much fun when the kids get older.

It was such a wonderful Family Home Evening.

Hunter loved his Mickey kite.

Flubber

I guess I am making up for all of the time that I missed blogging. I absolutely love all of the old Disney movies. Not the cartoons, but the actual movies. Parent Trap, Blackbeard's Ghost, Gus, Herbie (Hunter calls this "Berbie"). We have been watching them with our kids on Sunday nights for the last little while. Tonight we watched "The Absentminded Professor." Lincoln came up to me after and told me he would like some "flubber" to put on his shoes for his birthday. Now if anyone knows where we could get this little commodity I am all ears :) I love these kids! They are so cute!!!

National Pi Day

I really haven't changed to a cooking blog (believe me I am not that good), but since I am loving cooking right now, I thought I'd share what I made. It isn't very pretty...but I was just happy it worked! Yesterday was "National Pi Day." March 14-3.14. So in honor of the unknown holiday, I made French Silk Pie. I got the recipe from Kraftfoods.com. It is the same one as the Betty Crocker Cookbook. It was really good!

* 1 cup heavy whipping cream
* 6 ounces semi-sweet chocolate pieces
* 1/3 cup pure butter
* 1/3 cup sugar
* 2 egg yolks, beaten
* 3 tablespoons heavy whipping cream
* 1 baked (9 inch) pie shell
* Chocolate curls (for garnish)
* 1 can heavy whipping cream (for serving)

Preparation
1. In a heavy 2-quart saucepan, combine the 1 cup heavy whipping cream, chocolate pieces, butter and sugar. Cook over low heat, stirring constantly, till chocolate is melted, about 10 minutes. Remove pan from heat.

2. Gradually stir about half of the hot mixture into the beaten egg yolks. Return egg mixture to saucepan. Cook over medium-low heat, stirring constantly, till mixture is slightly thickened and almost bubbly – 3 to 5 minutes. Remove saucepan from heat. Stir in 3 tablespoons heavy whipping cream. Place saucepan in a bowl of ice water, stir constantly till mixture stiffens and becomes hard to stir (20 minutes).

3. Transfer chocolate mixture to a medium mixing bowl. Beat the cooled chocolate mixture with an electric mixer on medium to high speed until light fluffy (2 to 3 minutes). Spread filling in a baked pastry shell.

4. Cover and chill pie 4 to 5 hours or until set best served within 24 hours, but will last 3 to 4 days if stored properly. Serve with whipped cream and a garnish with chocolate curls.
Notes
Be sure to use pure butter or pure margarine in this recipe. If not, water and oil will form in the chocolate and will ruin the chocolate silk. (No spreads!)

What a Cute Daddy

The boys each got a watch in the stocking for Christmas. Josh specially picked out each one and they were all just perfect. Lincoln has been so sad lately because he lost his. His sweet Daddy made him a new one. He even asked him what time he wanted it to be. It is always 6:05 because that is the time Lincoln likes :) Josh really is so good with the kids. I am so happy he is such a good Dad.

Last Basketball Game

Today was the last basketball game of the season (hence the creative title). It has been so fun for the boys to play. Hunter was excited to know that this is the last time he won't be able to play whatever sport the boys are playing. It has been fun. Lincoln even played this game. Soccer here we come!

Palmer really loved playing basketball this season.

This was such a fun trophy. The ball spins and everything.

Palmer is Growning Up :(

So I guess I am stating the obvious...but I am not happy about it. I would be fine if he stopped growing right now. The picture above is the valentine he made me. He sounded out "I love you." I was really proud of him. We read together every day. He is learning really fast. I am always shocked that he remembers exactly what we did the day before and remembers a lot of sight words. I think he is just about there. He is such a big help and says such well thought out prayers (the other day he told me he was going to pray from Grandpa Swenson, I told him that he should pray from Grandma Swenson, he said Grandpa needed his prayers more because he was dead). I am just so proud of my little boy.

A Small Taste of the "Queen Bee Tea"

I am finally posting some pictures from the Queen Bee Tea. I have been a terrible blogger lately, but to be honest I am trying to keep my head above water. More pictures to come...P.s please don't copy any of these pictures. You can buy them from Kirsten from $10 and she is going to donate all of the proceeds to Project Lemonade.

My niece Marie came down to model for us from Logan. My sweet sister-in-law came so far to help out. Thanks Lisa!

My niece Chadra at the fashion show. Doesn't she look like a princess?

Kirsten is the greatest friend. She came to the tea and took pictures of everything. She is one of the most talented women that I know. I really love her. Thanks Kirsten!

Nicea from Good Things Utah came and brought her cute daughters.

Josh came and work so hard all day. I love you Josh!

My beautiful mom, sisters, sister-in-law and nieces. They were so wonderful to come to the tea.

Our model princesses.

It was so exquisite I can't even describe it.

Beautiful Miss Utah, Kayla Barclay.

La Caille did such a great job. Everything was wonderful.

The food was so good (at least the little I had was :)

Speaking at Y.E.S.

I am trying to put all of the things that I missed on here,while I was having camera/computer difficulties (story of my life). This group I got to talk to a while back is called Y.E.S. It is "Young Women Empowered by Self Discovery). It is made up of mothers and daughters. They were really great and so fun to speak to.

This is Jennifer Griffiths. She is truly an amazing woman. I really can't believe all that she does. Thanks for having me come Jen!

Belated Birthday and Valentines

The night before Josh's birthday/Valentines Day we decided to go out. Grandma Ann came and babysat. We wanted to celebrate the birthday while she was there so I made Josh a heart cookie cake and had him blow out candles (we only had pink from my birthday, sorry honey!). We went that night to see "Taken." It was so good!

Happy Birthday/Valentines Day Josh!

We have strawberry crepes every year for breakfast on Valentines Day.

While the boys went to their basketball game I went to Miss Riverton's Valentine tea. She is honestly so great.

Seriously so cute. She had people there to do the girls hair and nails and taught them to walk like a princess, and then they had a little tea.

she had a professional photographer come and take pictures of all of the girls. We got to be in them with the girls!

Our special Valentines dinner of lobster tail and steak. It was so yummy! We decided that we didn't want to go out this year on Valentines Day and leave our kids. Espcially since it is Josh's birthday and the kids wanted to spend it with him. We got amazing steaks and lobster tail for $30! The best and cheapest Valentines Day meal ever. The kids didn't like the lobster (or wouldn't try it) so I ate it all!!!!!

Make a wish!

I made Cookies and Cream cheesecake for Josh's birthday cake. The whipped topping hides the cracks...does anyone know how to prevent cheesecake from cracking in the oven?

Who could be at the door?

Valentines and treats from their secret admirers (Josh and me)The ziplock just added a bit of class to the whole thing :)

In Memory of Melvin Standley Swenson

Yesterday was the funeral from Josh's Grandpa, Melvin Swenson. He was more like a father to Josh. He was the one who baptized Josh and his sisters, gave him the priesthood and one of Josh's heros. Josh and I lived in an apartment in the basement of his grandparent's house when we were first married. I have so many memories of Josh's grandparents. It was such a touching funeral and as always I wished that I had spent more times sitting down listening to stories of his life. He was so honest, compassionate, kind, and hard working. I could go on and on about him. His testimony of the gospel had been recorded the week before and we got to hear it. It was perfect. We will miss him a lot.

I have never been to the funeral of a soldier before. Grandpa Swenson served in WW II. The American Legion made the graveside service so wonderful. They read about the oaths he had taken when he became a soldier, and played taps. Completely amazing.

The soldiers folded the flag that was on Grandpa's casket and gave it to Granma.

Twenty One gun Salute. It was so cool!

Josh really loved his Grandpa. He was more of a father to him. I know he will miss him so much.

Josh's aunts putting flowers on the casket. Grandpa Swenson must be one of the most loved men ever.

The boys were so crazy at the cemetery. Josh was a Pallbearer so I had the kids by myself. I was a little worried about it, but Josh's family totally helped me. Thanks guys! Sweet Alex pretty much had the kids all day. They love him so much. At the cemetery the kids kept taking things off the graves! I was so embarrassed! I guess we have never taught them "Cemetery Etiquette."

This is our only picture with Grandma in it. She is honestly such an amazing woman.

Speaking at Copper Hills Elementary School

Today I got to share my platform at Copper Hills Elementary School. I really love this party of my "job." I haved said it a million times, but the speaking part of being Mrs. Utah is really the BEST! I also feel so strongly about speaking to these kids who are about to make such important decisions in their lives about the topic of "Accepting and Overcoming Adversity."

The kids I talked to today were so great! Honestly one of the best groups that I have talked to so far. They were all so quite and attentive, I was surprised, because the elementary schools sometimes are challenging to get my topic on their level. They were great. I always leave inspired and today was no different. There are such good people in the world! I will be so sad when I don't do this anymore. Luckily I get to go back and speak to the other tracks in a few weeks.