Blueberry Pancakes

It's always nice on Sunday mornings because we get to sleep in since our church meetings don't start until 1 p.m. Well this morning I must've been really tired. I was all excited to make fresh blueberry pancakes for the family since we never get to eat breakfast as a family with our crazy workout schedules and such in the mornings. Well I got the pitcher-filled it with pancake mix, an egg, some oil and water. I stirred it all up and then put in the blueberries. They were on the griddle and I was wondering why they weren't fluffing up. They were soooo flat! I proceeded to make the whole batch of pancakes wondering what was going on. I got everyone to the table, we fixed our pancakes and started to dig in. The boys were all very nice about it and didn't really say anything about them being flat-then Mike stood up and went and dumped his in the garbage. I said what's wrong and he said they tasted different and it was ok but he was going to eat some cereal. Needless to say I went to examine everything in the kitchen and I realized that instead of putting in pancake mix I had switched containers-must've been the tiredness-and had just made flour cakes with blueberries. That is something I will never do again!!!

Pike Place Festival

Here are a few pictures from the gig last night. The boys always get excited when they get to go and see daddy play his guitar. They played this gig last year (thankfully it wasn't raining again). They play this particular festival for promotion more than anything else. Just a way to get the word around of Mister Miyagi and to get a good following to come to some of their club shows etc. We love our rock star daddy:)

Birthday and a Gig

We had a busy day today....we went out to mom, dad, and Tam's for Aarons birthday party. We had fun watching Dallas drive aunt Lisa around on the go cart and also watching dad and Tam organize their garden. Mike was a sport and helped plant seeds at the end. After the presents we ate some really good cherry cheesecake made with dream whip. It was real yummy. Juliet made a version and so did Mike's mom. Both were delicious. After presents we hurried home to get ready for Mike's gig at the Pike Place Market Festival. We had Chanelle, Richie and Desi ride with us and Cody stayed to ride with Aunt Lisa. We got to walk over by the water and then jump on the bouncy toy while we were waiting for Mike to get ready for set up. The kids were starting to get hot so we decided to take a stroll over to the 1st ever Starbucks and educate the kids in Frappicino etiquette. You should have seen the kids' faces when we walked in there and the smell of coffee filled the air. I asked the kids if they had ever been to a Starbucks before to which they answered no and I proceeded to tell them that they had drinks without coffee. Chanelle said YES! with a huge amount of relief on her face. It was funny! We had the first two rows in front of the stage so we were able to see real well. Cedes even made a cool sign which surprised Uncle Michael:)

Aaron opening our present: we got him a couple paint palettes and some canvases.

Dallas and Richie waiting in line at Starbucks

Playing on the bouncy toy


Aaron with his birthday cheesecake

The Last Leg.....

Sure hope you have enjoyed watching us along our trip as we had living it. It was a nice little getaway from the boys but we sure did miss them. We can't wait to go back there and take the boys so that they can see some of the cool things that we got to experience. A huge thanks to my mom and dad for watching all the boys so that we could go and have our little adventure. We love you guys! All in all it's good to be back now and can't wait to get back to the grind here at BSS. Dallas only has a few weeks left of school so we are excited for that to be done with. Cody had his kindergarten open house on Thursday night right before we left and he sure enjoyed meeting his teacher and seeing his classroom. It's going to be a lot of fun having 2 kids in school....we'll better hit the hay. Until next time:)

Make a Smilebox slideshow

Day 2 Coos Bay-Astoria

Make a Smilebox slideshow

Our Adventure Begins

Make a Smilebox slideshow

Great Deal!

We just got back from Joe's Sporting Goods and am super excited because we got a couple of really good deals. Now mind you I don't have the pictures up yet but wanted to share anyways....Mike got a new pair of Puma running spikes which retail for $80.00 and he got them for $17.00 and then I got a pair of steel toe Carhart (real leather) working boots aka motorcycle riding boots:) which retailed for $99.00 for ..... drum roll please..... $14.99! Super exciting! Now I have everything I need for our little excursion to the coast on the bike:) Can't wait to get away from BSS for a few days and away from the boys!!!! I'm so grateful that my parents have so graciously volunteered to watch the boys for us so we can get away for a while for my birthday/anniversary present. We have never both been away from the kids before so I'm a little nervous to hear how things will go but I know things will be fine. I hope the kids don't miss us too bad. Well anyways...got to go pack to see how much stuff I can take on the bike with us. I will definitely be taking lots of pictures on our getaway so be prepared for lots to look at next week:)

Happy Birthday To You

I just want to wish my awesome mother in law an awesome and happy birthday. You are someone who is always giving a 110% and I am so glad to be in your family. Thanks for being you-I love you!

Doesn't This Look Yummy!!!

*I got this recipe off of a blog that I follow....the blog is really cool....anyways-this is just one of many recipes on there and I just wanted to share it with you. The blog is http://bigblackdogs.blogspot.com/


No-Knead Challah
Recipe adapted from "Artisan Bread in Five Minutes a Day"

1 3/4 cups lukewarm water
1 1/2 tablespoons granulated yeast (2 packets)
1 1/2 tablespoons salt
4 large eggs, lightly beaten
1/2 cup honey
1/2 cup unsalted butter, melted (or neutral-tasting vegetable oil such as canola), plus more for greasing the cookie sheet
7 cups unbleached all-purpose flour
Egg wash (1 egg beaten with 1 tablespoon of water)
Poppy or sesame seeds for the top

1. Mix the yeast and water, salt, eggs, honey, and melted butter or oil in a 5-quart bowl, or a lidded (no airtight) plastic food container.

2. Stir in the flour without kneading, using a spoon or spatula.

3. Cover and allow to rest at room temperature until the dough rises and collapses (or flattens on top), approximately 2-3 hours. I let it rise most the day and then put in the frig over night so it's completely cold. It's easier to work with if it's cold.

4. Use over the next 5 days. Beyond 5 days, freeze in 1-pound portions in an airtight container for up to 4 weeks. Defrost frozen dough overnight in the refrigerator before using. Then allow the usual rest and rise time.

5. On baking day line a baking sheet with parchment paper, or a silicone mat. Dust the surface of the refrigerated dough with flour or corn meal and cut off a 1-pound (grapefruit-size) piece. (I use surgical gloves if the dough is very wet and it usually is.) Dust the piece with more flour and quickly shape it into a ball by stretching the surface of the dough around to the bottom on all four sides, rotating the ball a quarter-turn as you go.

6. Divide the ball into thirds, using a dough scraper or knife. Roll the balls between your hands (or on a board), stretching, to form each into a long, thin rope. If the dough resists shaping, let it rest for 5 minutes and try again. Braid the ropes, starting from the center and working to one end. Turn the loaf over, rotate it, and braid from the center out to the remaining end. This produces a loaf with a more uniform thickness than when braided from end to end.

7. Allow the bread to rest and rise on the prepared cookie sheet for 1-2 hours.

8. Preheat the oven to 350-degrees F.

9. Brush the loaf with egg wash and sprinkle with the seeds.

10. Bake near the center of the oven for about 25 minutes. Smaller or larger loaves will require adjustments in baking time. The challah is done when golden brown, and the braids near the center of the loaf offer resistance to pressure. Due to the fat in the dough, challah will not form a hard, crackling crust.

11. Allow to cool before slicing or eating.

HB Dad

Hope you have a great day dad! You're an awesome father in law and I'm glad that you are mine:) You are always there and willing to help anyone and everyone. I remember last year in particular when the van got locked and the kids were still inside and you came and saved the day. You are the best dad and I love you!

Gonna Getchya

As many of you know I have been battling a cold the past few days...well last night after I got the kids into bed and finally settled down to sleep (mind you I took some nighttime cold medicine prior to this) Michael also crawled into bed. I was almost asleep mind you and was at a point where I could actually breathe a little through all the congestion...well needless to say as soon as Mike gets in and pulls the covers up he starts screaming and jumps out of the bed as fast as he can screaming that there is something that crawled and touched his leg. Well that is sure enough to freak me out and I jump out of bed too and flip on the light. After a few seconds of panic Mike throws the blankets back and guess what it there?

Brandons' sock!!!! I'm sure glad that a sock could scare my husband so bad that he almost wakes up the whole house;) My poor honey:)

HAPPY MOTHERS DAY

Thanks for always being there when I need you-you are a great blessing in my life:)

I love my mom so much and hope that she has a wonderful mothers day. I know she is sooo excited for this mother's day because my brother, Elder Cooper, will be calling from New Mexico and she is real anxious to hear her baby sons voice. I love you mom and am so grateful for the many things you have and are always doing for me. I love you!!

Lucky Me!

Maribel and I (Dallas took the picture)

The back of my h

Front view with make up done

I just wanted to say how I am so lucky to have such awesome friends and family around me. On Saturday (the day of my surprise party) Maribel had asked if she could come over and do my hair b/c she was starting a blog and wanted to put pictures on of different peoples hair that she had done. I thought sure no biggie;) Little did I know that she was doing this so I would look like a beautiful princess for my party:) Maribel also did my make up as well so I felt extra special. I told Mike afterwards that it was a nice touch having Maribel come over to make me up so nice and he said that he didn't have anything to do with it....it was all Maribel:) She is so sweet and I'm so lucky to have her as a friend. Thank you Maribel for making me feel like a queen at my party:)

Happy 32nd Birthday!

Happy birthday to my sweet, sweet husband Michael Adam! I love you and hope you have a great day. I'm sure glad you were born;)

More Fun Party Pics

HB To Me!

Well I probably and may as well be the first to say I'm officially 30 now. Thanks to everyone who came to my surprise party and had nice things to say about me at the roast. I was soooo surprised and shocked really that my husband would do and be able to pull something off like that. Also thanks to all who helped him with his mischievousness:) I know it took a lot of planning, emailing, decorating, rearranging etc... and I am so grateful that I have such wonderful friends and family. It was a really special day for me and one I will never forget. I love you all!


Me and Brandon