Father and Son Campout

This weekend Mark and Danny took Collin to our wards Father and Son campout. Mark said that Collin had so much! Collin looks so old in these pictures that it makes me want to cry.

Roasting Marshmallows

Last weekend we went over to my parents house and roasted marshmallows in their back yard. Mark roasted them over this little fire pit that my dad has. The kids loved it! We had Owen that night and he was so funny! He kept stealing marshmallows out of the bag that my mom was holding when she wasn't looking. Don't you love Collin's stylin' Hulk pajamas? My dad bought them for him and he thinks he is the coolest kid around when he wears them.

Japanese Gardens

Yesterday Mark and I got brave and took the kids to the Japanese Gardens at the UW arboretam. It was so hot and of course Quinn refused to sit in her stroller so we were all so tired by the time we left but it was absolutely beautiful. The kids loved seeing giant gold fish and turtles in the pond and crossing the water on the stone bridges.

Talent Show

Collin & Gracie sat in the back and pigged out on junk food the whole time

Collin in front of his display


Collin's "pretend" cooking pictures

Tonight was our ward's primary talent show. All the kids were so cute! Collin's talent was cooking. I had it all planned out to make cookies and take pictures and put together an awesome display for him but I was so tired that I just took pictures of him pretending to cook and then bought cookies at the grocery store. I know, totally lame, but I think that we fooled everyone. Collin was SO excited and talked the whole way there, but then acted super shy once we got inside. I could barely get him to look up let alone smile for the pictures. He really did have a blast even though you wouldn't know it by looking at him.

Visiting Teaching Activity

Our relief societ recently had a visiting teaching activity. Someone from our ward sang the most beautiful song from the broadway Wicked. Scroll down and check it out at the very bottom of the page. They also gave us this poem which I love!

The Awakening

"I'm only a visiting teacher," she

said, and her head hung low.
"I'm really not very important, I

guess I'll not go.
I'm sure that no one will miss

me, no one will really care.
I'll see to my work this morning,

instead of going there."

So she hurried around all morning,

her home was polished and swept;
then stopping to rest for a moment,

she sat in her chair and slept.
And scarce had her eyelids fluttered,

before a vision came to her sight;
And standing there before her was a

personage clothed in white.

She saw in His hands the nailprints,

His brow where the thorns had lain.
His side where the sword had pierced it;

His face with its look of pain.
"I gave you some work to do,"

it seemed she heard Him say,
"You thought it of no importance,

so you stayed home today."

"You did not deliver my message;

you did not feed my sheep.
You only slept and polished

and stayed at home to sleep."
"Oh, Master," she cried, "Forgive

me, that I should fail to see.
Had I done it unto the least of these,

I'd have done it unto thee."

-Anona Tomlinson Peterson

Central WA Softball Team

http://blog.oregonlive.com/breakingnews/2008/04/the_best_tale_of_sportsmanship.html

Chicken and Bean Puff Pastry Empenadas

These are delicious. I got them from this website: http://www.stick-of-butter.blogspot.com/

Chicken and Bean Puff Pastry Empanadas

recipe courtesy Dave Lieberman

For the filling:1/4 cup vegetable oil1 small onion, finely chopped2 cloves garlic, pressed1 teaspoon ground cumin1 1/2 teaspoon dried oregano1/4 teaspoon cayenne pepper1 (15-ounce) can black beans, drained and rinsed well1 1/2 cups finely shredded cooked chickenKosher salt and black pepper1/2 cup packed fresh cilantro leaves1 package prepared puff pastryFlour, for rolling out pastryAbout 1/4 cup vegetable oil, for brushingFilling:Heat oil over medium-high heat in a large skillet. Saute onions and garlic until onions are soft and translucent, about 4 minutes. Add spices, stir to mix fully, and cook for 2 to 3 minutes. Add black beans and chicken and season with salt and pepper, to taste. Cook until black beans are heated through, about 5 minutes, then remove from heat and let mixture cool fully. Add cilantro and stir well.

Preheat the oven to 375 degrees F.Lay out a sheet of puff pastry on a lightly floured surface. Flour the top of the dough and roll out the puff pastry until it is about 1/16-inch thick and about 12 inches by 16 inches.Trim edges to size, if necessary. Cut 4-inch strips crosswise and lengthwise making 12 (4 by 4-inch) squares. Make sure the squares are well floured and stack them in a little pile.To form empanadas:Fill a little dish with some room temperature water. Imagine each square you work with is separated in half by a diagonal. Place a couple tablespoons of filling in the top half. Dip a finger into the water and moisten the edges of the top half with water. Fold the bottom half to meet the edges of the top half. Use a fork to pinch and seal the edges. Lightly brush the tops with vegetable oil. Place finished pockets on a nonstick baking sheet and bake about 12 to 14 minutes, or until golden brown and puffy.

Bothell Landing

This weekend Mark and I took the kids to Bothell Landing. It is such a great park. The slough flows through it and so we were able to feed the ducks. We rode bikes along the trail. Collin was so hilarious. The trail runs along the water and he was VERY afraid of accidently riding into it, so he kept steering towards the middle of the trail. Mark had to force him to the side so he wouldn't get run over by other bicyclists. Quinn started walking down a small hill and started going faster and faster until she put her head down and started doing a somersault, I caught her upside down. Gracie had the most fun at the playground and going down the big slides.