Corona Del Mar

We went with some friends to Corona Del Mar beach on Saturday. It was such a nice beach. We haven't been impressed with some of the beaches we have been too. We left at 9:30 and got home at 7:30. We roasted some hot dogs and cooked some burgers on this ring Taylor made. It was very creative. We even heated up some pizza. Our friends said they have never seen that done. It was very funny. You had to be there. The water was extremely cold, 54 degrees. Yes, I am not kidding. Preston kept wanting to play in the water and wanted Taylor and I to go in with him. My feet felt like they had frostbite. After a while your feet go numb and you can't feel them anymore. Callie was in the water all day too. Kids are nuts. They don't notice hot or cold. It actually was a great day to be at the beach. It was about 75 or 80 outside. It was so neat we saw a few dolphins and sea lions. They were way close to the shore. I tried to take a picture but they would come up out of the water and dive back in before I could snap it. Callie and Preston had so much sand on them and in their bathing suits. It took a while to get it off. A trick is too rub baby powder after your dry all over your skin and the sand falls right off. It really works. We went to eat and this fun place called Islands. It was a fabulous day.

Pinewood Durby

Our ward had a Pinewood Durby party on Friday night. Taylor had me paint the car with the Texas Flag on it. Taylor still has that Texas pride. We won best design. Sorry some of the pictures are blurry for some reason.

Birthday party!

Callie went to a friends birthday party on Friday and Preston tagged along. They had so much playing in the sand pit and eating pizza and push pops. They got so messy eating them. I captured some cute pics and a friend sent me a few she took.

Smore's Galore

My mom gave me this recipe. It was so good. Taylor needed me to make enough for 50 people for a YM/YW activity last night. I used chocolate chips instead of Hershsey chocolate bars because they would have cost $16 for just the hershey bars.

Smore's Galore

20 graham crackers
6 hershey chocolate bars or 2 1/2 cups chocolate chips
1 pkg. small marshmellows
6 tbs. butter
3 tbs. milk

Preheat oven to 350. Lay 12 long graham crackers and fill cookie sheet. Fill any holes with small pieces of graham crackers. Toast for 2 minutes in oven. Let cool. In bowl combine 3 cups marshmellows, 3 tbs butter, and 3 tbs milk. Melt in microwave for 1 minute. Stir and add chocolate. Wisk really good. Spread mixture onto graham crackers.

In another bowl break up rest of the 20 graham crackers into small pieces (size of a quarter or nickel). Melt 3 tbs. butter in microwave. Pour over graham crackers and stir with your hands. Add the rest of the bag of marshmellows. Spread over chocolate mixture. Sprinkle 1 1/2 cups choc. chips over top. Bake at 350 for 8-10 minutes. cut with a pizza cutter. Enjoy.

Venice Beach

We decided to go to Venice beach too. The kids had fun playing in the sand. It was a cold day to play at the beach though.

Hollywood with Britney and Andy

We decided to take Britney and Andy to Hollywood. It really isn't very exciting but Britney had never been. This is us in front of Kodak Theatre where American Idol is performed. Man would I love to get tickets and go. We walked around the mall that surrounds Kodak Theatre. It was fun. We went to the stars of Fame and saw some interesting characters like a pudgy Batman, Superman, Captain Jack Sparrow and many others. Callie closed her eyes a lot. Some of them were creepy.

Cute baby goats

Britney comes to visit us in California!

Britney, Andy and Baylee drove out from Arkansas, a 24 our trip. I drove Britney up to Oak Glen and took some pictures of Callie and Baylee dressed alike. We are at a Apple farm. They had some goats and a lama. Their were even some cute baby goats.

Red Velvet Cupcakes with brown sugar cream cheese frosting!

I received this recipe from my friend Summer. I had to make cupcakes for a Relief Society Birthday party and she suggested these. It was the best frosting I have ever had. They turned out really yummy. Thanks again Summer.

Red velvet cupcakes
1 pkg. Pillsbury German Chocolate cake mix with 1 cup pudding in the mix
*if you don't buy Pillsbury with pudding in the mix add 1(3.4 oz vanilla instant pudding)
1 cup sour cream
1/2 cup water
1/2 cup vegetable oil
1 (1 oz. bottle red food coloring)
3 large eggs
1 cup miniature semisweet chocolate chips
Preheat oven to 350. Place cake mix, sour cream, water, oil, food coloring and eggs in mixing bowl. Blend for 30 seconds. Scrape down sides and beat 2 minutes on medium speed. Fold in the choc. chips. Fill cupcake liners with 1/3 cup batter (makes 24 cupcakes). Bake at 350 for 18-20 min. Remove and let cool for 15 minutes before frosting.

Brown sugar cream cheese frosting

1 1/2 cups softened butter (3 sticks)
8 oz. cream cheese softened
1/4 cup brown sugar
1 tsp. vanilla
pinch of salt
4-6 cups powdered sugar
cream butter and cream cheese together. Add brown sugar, vanilla and salt. Add 2 cups powdered sugar at a time. I used 6 cups powdered sugar.

To garnish grate chocolate on top or mini choc. chips. You can be more creative than I did.

gorgeous eyes

So silly!

Brother and Sister

Such beautiful scenery

Wild flowers in bloom

Taylor and I were driving home from stake conference today and by City Hall we saw the most beautiful wild flowers. We decided to go back and take some pictures of the kids. They turned out pretty cute.

The Bachelor!

Oh my goodness! Can you believe what happened on the Bachelor tonight? I think Jason is an idiot. I am surprised that Molly took him back so soon without knowing what happened with Melissa. Molly wasn't thinking at all. I really liked Melissa and I agree with her that Jason should have tried to make it work. Jason said on After the final rose that his heart was still with Molly and his heart was telling him he wasn't over her. But what if your heart says to go and have an affair. You have to use your brain too. Anyways I think Jason will never make a relationship work and he will never marry. I feel so bad for his son Ty and hope his life isn't screwed up because of his idiot dad. I just wanted to share what I thought. Let me know what you think if your a fan of the show and if you watched it.