July Memories

July is over. It was such a fun month. The best part about it was being with family and getting out of the Arizona heat. Kelsey and Joey returned back from China on June 21st and have been staying with us until they leave for law school. It has been great to spend time with them. Joey didn't cut his hair while they were in China so he had Marianne cut it as soon as he could.

We had a welcome home party for the world travelers. It was so fun to have everyone together. JT was the only one not there. He had to leave before they got home because his summer school class at BYU started before they got back. They finally got to see him while we were in Solana Beach. We had JT fly to San Diego for the 4th of July week so they could see each other because they will be gone to school before JT gets home in August.

Cute cousins.

Aunt Kelsey.

We spent the 4th of July week in Solana Beach. We love just relaxing and going to the beach. Solana is a very layed back beach town in the middle of the very busy San Diego area. It is close enough for Warren to be able to stay there while he is working in Cali every week. The condo we stayed at was way to small for all of us but it was still fun. The condo we have rented in the past has been sold and is no longer available for us to rent. We are so sad. Now we will be on the hunt to find another great place to escape to in the summer. 

Happy girl.

Fun in Solana Beach.

Yummy sand.

Staying warm.

Uncle Joey digs fun holes.

Just chillen

4th of July cuties

Anxiously awaiting the fireworks to begin.

Happy Birthday America!

Our sweet granddaughter's first birthday was July 21st. She is always so happy and full of energy. She is pure joy.

She loved the blanket I made her.

Her first birthday.

Her very own cupcake.

The next week we flew to Oregon to stay with Kris and Tiersa in a house they rented in Cannon Beach. It had been a few years since we had been there. It is my favorite place on earth. I love the Oregon coast. We had so much fun. There is nothing better than wearing sweatshirts to stay warm in the middle of summer. I love it. 

Our favorite fruit stand on the way to Cannon Beach.

So good !!!!!

Tillamook Cheese Factory.

Manzanita Beach.

Looking for starfish.

Love it !

Down town Cannon Beach.

Pizza Feta.

It is always so hard to say good bye.


We got home late on a Monday night from Oregon and early Wednesday morning I had to leave for Young Women's Camp. We went to Parker, AZ and stayed in a very nice home on the Colorado River. It was my kind of camping a comfortable bed, running water, & air conditioning. It was the best camp ever. The girls and the leaders had a great time.

The best young women in the world !

A June Birthday

I had so much fun with my oldest granddaughter when we went out to lunch at Wildflower. Afterwards  we went shopping for her birthday present. She looks so beautiful and grown up in this picture.

May Memories


May was such a fun busy month, with music performances, graduations,birthdays & the Angel Moroni's arrival. Here are a few picks from last months activities.

Cutest little Sunshine Singers

School music concert. I love those blue eyes.

Eating a huge cinnamon roll at Sweet Cakes.

The arrival of the Angel Moroni.

Music Concert

Funny cousins.

Kindergarten graduation.

Birthday lunch & shopping with NaNa.

Carnival Cookies

I have really been struggling with any kind of motivation to write a new post until today when Marianne told me she has been waiting for me to post this recipe for Carnival Cookies. They come from one of my favorite cookbooks called Super Natural Every Day by Heidi Swanson. They are gluten free as long as you use gluten free oats and have no sugar in them except for what is in the chocolate chips and bananas. They are so yummy and you don't have to feel guilty when eating them. My only problem is that I feel like I can eat as many as I want and that may not be such a good thing. I used air popped popcorn but pan popped is probably ok too just don't season it. Make sure you don't mix in any old maids (unpopped kernels )into the cookie dough or you might break a tooth and that wouldn't be so good either.
 ENJOY!!

Carnival Cookies
1 1/2 C. well-mashed bananas (about 3 large)
1 tsp vanilla
1/4 C. extra-virgin coconut oil (if solid barely warm it to soften)
1 1/2 C. rolled oats
1/2 C. almond meal (You can make your own almond meal by pulsing raw almonds in a food processor until it resembles sand. Don't over do it or it will turn into almond butter.) 
1 tsp aluminum-free baking powder
1/2 tsp cinnamon
1/2 tsp fine grain sea salt
2/3 C. shelled whole peanuts
1 C. bittersweet chocolate chips (Ghirardelli is my favorite)
1 1/2 C. popcorn


Preheat oven to 350*
Combine bananas, vanilla and coconut oil in a large bowl. 
In another bowl, whisk together oats, almond meal, baking powder, cinnamon, and salt.
Add the dry ingredients to the wet and stir until combined.
Fold in chocolate chips, peanuts, and popcorn.
Dough will look looser than standard cookie dough but don't worry about it.
Shape into small balls about 1 tablespoon each. Place them 1 inch apart on parchment lined cookie sheets and bake for 14 to 17 minutes until deeply golden. Cool on a wire rack. 

A Really Great Summer Salad

I loved this salad the very first time I had it at Kris & Tiersa's house. It comes from a recipe in the Engine 2 Diet book by Rip Esselstyn. I thought it would be great with quinoa so I changed it just a bit.

This makes a great meal. Nice and light, packed with protein and yummy nutrients. Once the quinoa and sweet potato are cooked and cooled this salad comes together very quickly.
Ingredients:
1 cup of uncooked white quinoa, cooked according to package directions and cooled.
One large sweet potato or yam. I used 2 medium ones. Bake whole at 425* for approximately 50 minutes or until it feels cooked through when you give it a squeeze, cool, and cut into cubes.
1-1 & 1/2 Mangos cubed
One avacado cubed
1 red bell pepper diced
1/2 bunch of cilantro, chopped
1 15oz can of black beans rinsed. (I like to cook my own and make extra to freeze and have on hand for later)
2 limes juiced
Balsamic Vinegar

Once sweet potato and quinoa are cooled toss together with all the other ingredients.
Pour lime juice and a drizzle of balsamic over the mixture and toss together and chill.
This salad keeps well for 2 days covered in the refrigerator.

Let me know how you like it.