The Beach, Again!

 We went to Corona Del Mar yesterday.  The weather was perfect, 75 degrees.  I am really glad we decided to go last minute.  I picked up my friend Sarah and her 2 kids.  We had a great time.

Paige seems happy here but man, she was terrible.  She kept screaming anytime I  would take her near the water.

Tyler and Preston

Preston borrowing Tyler's boogie board.  The kids were playing in the 55 degree water.  Brrrrr!

Paige was so cranky I tried to get her to lay down.  Didn't last very long.

I was walking in the sand and stepped in some tar!  Who knew!  I tried to get if off and  the next photo shows what happened.  Then I got it on my brand new bathing suit!  

We explored around some caves and looked at different sea creatures like anemones,  sea cucumbers and hermit crabs.  Callie absolutely loved it.  

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They made it up and down the rock without anyone getting hurt.  

Nacho Cheese Soup

My sister had this soup brought to her after she had a baby.  She made it for us when we visited at Christmas time.  It is really delicious.  When I make it for my family, I use less chili powder (1/8 tsp.) because they can't handle the spicy and neither can I!

Serves: 8 Prep. Time: 0:20 or more nacho cheese soup 1/4 cup butter OR margarine 1/4 cup all-purpose flour 3 cups chicken broth 1 cup milk 8 oz. Velveeta process cheese food - cubed 10 oz. can Ro*Tel® tomatoes and chilies 2 cups cooked, shredded chicken 1 tsp. cumin 1 tsp. chili powder salt and pepper – to taste shredded Colby Jack cheese OR Mexican blend cheese – as needed -In a pot, melt butter over medium heat. Stir in flour and cook, stirring often, for 3 minutes. -Slowly whisk in small amounts of chicken broth at a time, then whisk in milk. -Reduce heat to low and stir in Velveeta cubes; stir until melted. -Stir in Ro*Tel, chicken, and spices. -Once soup is heated through, it is ready to serve at this point. However, if you wish to make tortilla strips, it can sit over low heat while they are made. Stir the soup occasionally. -For tortilla strips, cut tortillas into strips and deep-fry in 350 degree vegetable or peanut oil until golden, then drain on cooling racks. -Spoon a ladleful of soup into a bowl, add a handful of shredded cheese, then spoon another ladleful of soup over cheese. Sprinkle tortilla strips over top. Repeat for remaining servings. Notes: If you want to save a lot of time, use crumbled tortilla chips instead of tortilla strips. As a substitute for Ro*Tel, you can use 1 1/2 cups of salsa. Spiciness can be easily adjusted by using spicy Ro*Tel or salsa and/or adding cayenne pepper to the soup.

Sweet almond chex mix

My friend Lori made this last Christmas for us.  I couldn't stop eating it.  I made it last night but didnt add the almonds and I don't have almond extract so I use vanilla.  It still is yummier than ever.

1 pkg. sliced almonds(sorry no size given)  how much to your liking
1 18 oz box Corn Chex Cereal (only Corn)
1 teaspoon almond extract (or vanilla)
3/4 cup sugar
3/4 cup light corn syrup
1 stick butter

Warm butter, sugar, corn syrup but don't boil.  Stir until sugar dissovles.  Pour on top of cereal.  Put onto 2 greased cookie sheets.  Bake at 250 for 10 minutes.  Stir and let cool.

Sledding in Oak Glen!

It rained all day yesterday and it was cold enough that there was a little snow on the mountains this morning.

We drove up to Oak Glen and took Preston, Paige, Kimberly, my friend,  and her son Joshua sledding.

We borrowed snow pants and mittens from Kimberly since they used to live in Chicago.  Neither of us had sleds so we used a swim tube and a boogie board.  They worked pretty well.

I took Paige a few times down.  It was really fun.

We did a 360 and ended up here.

Wipe out!

She loved playing in the snow and making snow balls.  She enjoyed eating the snow too.  

Oak Glen had quite a bit of snow.

Time to go home.  We were all wet and freezing.

Farewell Party!

Our friends Jim and Liana Wilson and Debbie Jensen hosted a Farewell party for us.  It was wonderful to visit with everyone.  Thanks to everyone who came to wish us well in Texas. It is going to be hard to leave our friends and the gorgeous weather.

Dan and Geri Rentz

Scott and Ranelle Curtis

Bill and Nina Johnson

Jennie and me.  

Liana, me and Jennie

Brandon and Megan Hebdon

Camie Ferguson and me

Me, Debbie, and Ranelle

Tay, me, Jim, and Liana

Lindsey, Kim Winkleman, and Megan

Margarat Palhegyi

Rachel Grajeda

Melissa Durham and Sarah Ochs

Me, Paige Brown, and Meredith Salisbury

Paige, Rick Loe, and Clint Brown

Debbie, I love you! 

And of course, the TEXAS FLAG!  Taylor had to bring  it.  He has so much Texas pride.  

Lakers Game

One of Taylor's customers invited us to the Lakers Game against the Phoenix Suns on Friday night.  

His customer got reservations at this restaurant inside the Staples center.  We ate dinner while watching the game in the stadium.  I am leaning up against some glass.  It was really cool.  

Jack Nickelson is the third person in from purple bench.  He has on sunglasses and is wearing black and brown jacket.  

Then we went to our seats for the last quarter of the game.  

We also won 4 free tacos cause the Lakers won and the Suns score was under 100.  

Valentine's Activities

    Callie, Preston, and our neighbor, Bryce made these cute Valentine's paper flowers.

My friend pinned these valentine's and I made them for the kids classes.  Took a while but turned out adorable.  Not a great picture.

Newport Beach

The weather had been so nice in Yucaipa, we headed to Newport Beach.  I decided to pull Callie out of school since we are moving back to Texas and we may not be able to go again.

 My friend Sarah and I went with her 2 kids.  They rode their scooters all over.  We went to Jack's surfboard shop to buy some Tom's and the kids did great.

 There were so many surfers in the water.  It was crazy.  You can't see very well.

 It was a little bit chilly but Preston and Callie put their suits on.  They had so much fun.  We weren't able to stay very long.  They were disappointed we had to go home so soon.

 Paige and Afton.

Me and Sarah

Girls night out/Baby shower

   Lindsey, Charity, Me, Katie, and Melanie eating at BJ's.  So yummy.  We had a great time.

Playing Winter dress up

 It wasn't really cold outside but they decided to put it all on.  Preston's hat is too small and Paige's is Callie's hat.  Still cute!