Hash House a Go Go

So my friend April told me about this restaurant "Hash House a Go Go" that has really BIG food. (After going I'm still not sure why such a silly name)... So I decided to take the kids for breakfast for something to do since Jared is out of town. It is a really cool urban barn setting. Where country and modern urban city mix. You'd have to go to understand. Anyway, I didn't tell the kids about the big portions so it was all the more fun to see their little eyes get really big when we got our food. The pictures don't really give it justice. They have really fun lunches too. Everything is presented on huge plates and in funky ways. We'll definitely go back. Thanks April, great recommendation!
My banana brown sugar pancake was twice as big as my face!
This one is for G'pa Jackson

New Beginnings

We had our New Beginnings for our Young Women tonight. It was so much fun! The girls got way into it. We had the girls do all of the decorating and help run the show. I had a committee of girls help. Two of the girls are going to be able to pass off a 'project' for Personal Progress for all their work. We obviously had a very informal night with a sports/team theme. We had a former BYU football player in our ward as our pep talk speaker. He did an awesome job. The biggest hit however was our concession stand with candy, nachos, popcorn, and water bottles. We have a lot of athletic girls so this was right up their alley...they loved it!

Can you pick out the six leaders in this picture?

Valentine's Tradition

Every year we have a special Valentine's dinner. We eat all red and pink food. The menu usually includes: sweet n sour chicken with red sauce, pink rice, red jello, strawberries, apples, kool aid and pink cake. Last year we were lucky to have our good friends the Johnsons in town. This year we had our friends the Martins join us. They brought chocolate covered strawberries, and pink and white ice-cream for dessert: a yummy addition to the menu! Its a fun thing my kids talk about all year; the one time a year their 'health teacher' mom lets them eat straight sugar for dinner. Gotta love that!
2008
2007
2006

Las Vegas Temple visit

Sometimes the most impromptu things turn out the best. I got up on Sunday and decided that after church I was going to take the kids to the temple for a picnic. While it made my morning a little hectic since we have 9 am church,(and Jared was working), it was so worth it. It was such a gorgeous day, 70 degrees and sunny. We ate a little lunch and then the kids played and played. There is a lot of grass to run on, slide on, and roll on. The kids loved it. Hanna said "I love it here, when can we come back?" Its amazing that even little ones can feel the special spirit that temples radiate. We finally left after an hour and a half.

Valentine's Tree

Our cute elementary school here decorates this tree for every holiday. For back to school it had rulers and pencils and then rotated through each holday. They always decorate to the hilt for everything including changing the curtains in the front office. I finally remembered my camera today (I volunteer on Thursdays), and caught a few pictures right after school today. Jake has been coming to school with me trying to get ready for kindergarten next year!

Creative Friends

For my creative friends who are interested in viewing my creative blog I have added some new scrapbook pages.

Cauliflower hat

What do you think of my new hat? That is the question of the day....a super fun gal in our ward here has her own hand knit hat company. Its called Mutze which is German for hat. She is in a knitting group called the "hookers". She is a hoot and so fun to be around so I decided I needed one of her hats. Well, I defintely think the hat is cool and fun and different, but not sure I can pull it off. Especially after the reaction I got from Jared. He calls it my "Cauliflower hat". (Ashley if you read this you totally have my permission to hit him next time you see him). This coming from the man who also called my first pair of capris "clam diggers", my cute velvet chocolate brown ballet flat style shoes from Aeropostale "interesting", and asks me if I'm going "huntin'" every time I wear orange. So not really sure if I can trust him (he's fashion challenged). Anyway, it does keep me warm because the wind blows here a lot and it can be really chilly despite the desert climate. So when we were walking into the dentist office yesterday I asked Hanna and Carter what they thought of my new hat because Daddy thinks it looks like cauliflower. Hanna took a long look at it and then said and I quote, "It does make me want to eat something"! ......Well, I've decided that I like it and that's all that matters.

Rock Stars

We got Guitar Hero for Christmas this year. Our kids are getting really good at it. Even Jake and Josh play. They have a lot of fun doing it and its something that the whole family enjoys together.....even mom.