New Year....new recipes...new hobby?

So I have a goal to learn or try new things in the kitchen. This past week or two I have been in love with trying recipes from Deceptively Delicious. A cook book my sister in law Tiffany sent me months ago.


I'll admit,I was afraid of the unknown and the new ideas she has in the cookbook! When Eric was gone in Jan. I watched Julie and Julia...not being the brave soul that Julie was I didn't think or want to do what she did. But in some odd place in my brain it looked fun and challenging! Something to make the days different. Maybe I need hobby!
Many of you know that I enjoy cooking and baking, there is something satisfying about seeing your finished product and better yet, having it devoured by your family! So, I have tried new things and my family to my amazement ate it all...Eric has been out of town, so it has been the prefect time to try something new.
So far we have made brownies with spinach and carrots, breakfast cake with squash (this is the only one we didn't love, I know what I need to do to make it great!), peanut butter with carrots, chocolate and cream cheese, sloppy joes with sweet potato and squash, peanut butter and jelly muffins with carrots, lemon ice cream sandwiches, chicken nuggets with broccoli, and in the oven right now is ginger bread with broccoli and carrots and it smells GREAT!!!

This soup I am going to try next week. It look so good.


Lemon Ice cream sandwiches....yummy!

California Christmas

We left on the 23rd to come to Roseville. We had such a great time. Christmas Eve we had a pinata, it was so much fun and the boys all loved it! We played lots of games, sang some carols and had lots of treats! The boys had the best Chrismtas ever. Robbie recieved ski lessons from Santa, Kamren recieved a bike from Santa. Santa wrote them both a letter to let them know that their gifts were at home. Nana and Grandpa got the older boys Red Rider B.B. guns, they were SO excited and have been shooting since! Abe got lots of toys, David got Buzz lightyear, toys, games and treats! The family got an indo board, and that was a HUGE hit with all the family. It was great to be together and make fun memories. Now we are heading back to the grind of life! I hate driving...

Christmas Card 2009 (for all those who I don't have addresses)

The year 2009
Sure was fine.
12 Chickens came to stay,
Sadly, Koda passed away.
All are busy and doing well,
Here is what we have to tell!

Indoor soccer, coaching football,
And traveling move of the Fall.
Elders Quarum Secretary,
Wishing he had a fairy,
to finish his car,
that does not move far!

Raspberry, strawberry and huckleberry
Picking seemed to make her merry.
Canning, cleaning and painting,
wants a goat that is fainting!
Young Women Secretary and Wolf Den Leader,
Wishes her car was a two seater!

Piano, football, wresling and such,
Boy I think this kid does too much.
Turning ten next year,
not much does he fear.
Scouting, science and good books,
Robbie sure has good looks!

Winning State wrestling, working hard
Kamren is always on his guard
Started piano, played sports a lot,
Reading and good grades he sought.
Funny, cute and in second grade
This kid has got it made!

Loves to hug, scream and shout,
David is even known to pout!
Rides his bike and makes a mess,
a true red head, none the less.
Loves books, sports and cars,
Can this boy really be ours?

Growing liks a snail,
Abraham can fit in a pail!
Adorable, sweet and a little rough,
I think his brothers will make him tough.
He is our red headed wonder
Who can sream as loud as thunder.

Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year!
Love,
Eric, Chell, Robbie (9 yrs) Kamren (7 yrs) David (3 yrs) and Abe (1 yr)

State Wrestling (folkstyle)

Robbie


Kamren

Robbie...I don't have any still ones of Kamren

Robbie, again!

Robbie, Kamren and some of their friends that are on the team.



When Robbie was in Kindergarten he wanted to wrestle, but the only team we knew of was in Rexburg and I was not about to drive up there to wrestle...boy have times changed!
In first grade Robbie read the note that they had wrestling in Rigby, so Eric and I gave in and let him try. We did the practices, but not the meets the first session. Then Robbie talked us into doing the meets for freestyle, we have been hooked since.
It is crazy to think that Robbie has been wrestling for 4 years now and Kamren for 3 years. Robbie is a two time State Champion in Freestyle and Folkstyle and Kamren is a two time State Champion in both styles, he was also Eastern Idahos Outstanding wrestler of the year, and won another trophy from a Bantam festival.
Robbie attened a Kael Sanderson camp this summer in Heber City, UT, and that has made wrestling blood boil in him! He has never really loved folkstyle, but this year he could not get enough mat time. He lost two matches this season. He really earned this State title this season. The boy he wrestled for first had beaten Robbie every time last year but once. Robbie lost to him at State freestyle last spring. Needless to say Eric and I were a little, or a LOT nervous about this match. Robbie got into the zone, pumped himself up and went after this kid. It was fun to see Robbie come into his own. He pinned the boy in the third round! IT WAS AMAZING! I do have to say I was proud of him. He had worked so hard for this.
Kamren only lost one match this year, it was when he wrestled 55lb. Once he went to 50lbs he was undefeated. He was the animal that we all know Kamren to be. It was fun to have two State Champions last week.
Our team as a whole took 2nd at State. It was wonderful to participate and we look forward to taking State in Freestyle. For now we will just enjoy the holiday season and then we will hit it hard back on the mats! How our boys love the mats! If anyone is interested here are some links of State, not all of the matches are here but some.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=l22xUYvbAwY
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JXy469SbbO8
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=u7q0ykL7uhs
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=19RFF9nbd00
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qf3V0cK0uUY
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RUBu7TJdGxM
To the boys....we are so proud of you! We love how determined, strong and full of life you both are. Keep up the work!

Clair E. Gail Wrestling Meet

Kamren wrestled twice and pinned both times in the first period, he took first place. Robbie had 11 in his bracket and wrestled 5 times, 4 wins and the final match was a loss...by ONE point! He has beaten this kid before so he was pretty upset with himself. He did a great job! He took 2nd place, the kid he lost to took 3rd, so he really should have beaten him. A lot of other coaches were watching his matches, Robbie is the one to beat. So, the kid from Madison that beat him was so excited when he won, so was the Madison coach. Everyone was shocked! When we were sitting on the bleachers afterwards some coaches were passing by talking and we heard them say, "did you see Robert Larsen get beat?". It was bitter sweet for Robbie. Both boys did amazing jobs. I was so pleased with them both.

Halloween

Halloween is so much fun! But it is also a CRAZY time when Eric is gone for most of the month and we are trying to get the yard/house winterized. This is the first year in 2 years that Eric has been here for Halloween! We had a ward party, which was fun, you can acutally wear a costume that can be seen. The school had a carnival, Eric took the three older boys and I stayed home and canned apple sauce! Halloween we had a trunck or treat in the neighborhood, nice way to do it with little ones. We were done around 5:45 and then headed home for dinner and a movie night with the boys. What a great Halloween.
Now we are gearing up for Thanksgiving. I think this will be our first quiet one in a long time. Erics family usually comes up, except when his mom has to work. This is one of those years when she will be working and Bob does not want to drive back up...he is taking the boys to a BYU football game the weekend before Thanksgiving. Here are a few pictures of Halloween. Abraham was a lion and a pumpkin (depending on what day) Kamren was a nerd, David was "just David", until Eric told him he could not go trick-or-treating if he didn't dress up, Robbie...a punk! He would make a cute girl! They all had fun!

How to Host a Murder Game Night

We have had a game group for a few years now. Some people have moved and so we bring in new couples. Eric and I have enjoyed this so much. We take turns hosting the night and we have started a few traditions along the way. Around Halloween we do a How to Host a Murder Party...always a blast. This year the Montano's hosted it and it was so much fun. We were super heros, Eric and I were Blue Blaze and Nerdon, The Montano's were Electra and Vampo, Bezzants were Stingmata and Jester, Brownings were Red Wonder and Wishes and Neads were Mr. Fabulous and Shiver. It was a blast and we love gettting together and making these great memories. We always look forward to the next month to get together. I do have to say, Eric was the best and we could not stop laughing...his hair is a real cut we gave him two days before. What a sport he was, enjoy the laugh!