Conference Weekend/Easter Hunt

Conference weekend we went over to Taylor's sister's house in Dallas.  Taylor's other siblings came and his parents.  We had a great time.  We watched conference and had dinner together, (the traditional Texas meal, brisket from the bbq) yum!

Helping Paige find eggs.

 

Since the move to Texas I have been doing my hair wavy.   With the humidity I have more curl.

Texas Tornadoes!

Thanks for your many, many texts and phone calls this week about concern for our family.  We were okay during the many storms around Dallas/Ft. Worth but some were not.  This house is a family friend in Arlington, about 30 minutes east of here.  Their home was hit on Wednesday and is a complete loss.  The house has a basement which kept them safe during the storm.  Wouldn't it be weird to walk out of the basement and see the sky?  The neighbors next to them had a lot of damage as well and also across the street.  A few houses down had no damage.  Tornadoes are crazy that they can destroy one house and not touch the house next door.  Many ward members were helping them get all of their belongings.  It was an unbelievable sight.  There were pieces of siding hanging from the tops of trees and a 2x4 protruding from a brick wall.

Cousins and Fort Worth Zoo

Austin and Paige riding the 4 wheeler

Paige trying to touch the sting rays.

Riding in Preston's, teachers stroller.

Preston loves turtles.

They watched a show at the zoo about texas weather.  It had rain, thunder , and lightning .  Paige got a little scared.

Albuquerque, New Mexico

On our move out to Texas we stopped by our friends in Albuquerque.

We have known Lance and Kylee since college.  We went to eat at the Melting Pot.   It was delicious.  It was a new experience for us.  

Paige sleeping in a little chair, just her size, at Lance and Kylee' house.

Our kids loved riding this battery powered car.  

Paige was so cute riding in the back.

Our hotel in Albuquerque had a slide into the pool.  We planned to stay at a different hotel  but our friends suggested this one.   

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Secret Ingredient Tomato Soup

Secret Ingredient Tomato soup (I halved the recipe and still had left overs)

3 tbs. olive oil

1 small onion diced

5 cloves garlic minced

3-14.5 oz. cans diced tomatoes

2 cups chicken stock

7 oz. prepared pesto 

1 tbs. sugar

1 bay leaf

1/8 tsp thyme

s & p to taste

1 cup fat free half & half ( I used heavy whipping cream)

Directions:

 

In large pot, heat oil over medium heat.  Saute onions 3-5 min or until soft and translucent.  Stir in garlic and cook another minute.  Poor in tomatoes, chicken stock, pesto, sugar, bay leaf, thyme, salt and pepper.  Cover and simmer 30 minutes.  Remove bay leaf and puree using an immersion blender or regular blender.  Only add 1 cup at a time  to blender and cover with towel in case it splatters hot soup.  Stir in half and half or heavy cream and serve hot.

Our goodbyes to friends in California.

 Good bye to our house and friends.  Callie and Bryce (neighbor).

 Callie and Skylee are friends from church.

 Lilly and Paige.  Believe it or not Lilly is only 2 months older but way taller!

 Some of the ellsworth kids.

 Katy and me.

 Callie crying in the back seat as we drove away from our house for the last time.

 We finally arrived to Texas!

 It is very windy

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.