Enjoying a beautiful day!

It was one of the nicest days we've had this year, so we decided to head outdoors. One of the hikes we never got around to last year was 'R' mountain or also know as North Menan Butte. There are two buttes but one is on private land. The North and South Menan Buttes are two of the world's largest volcanic tuff cones.
The buttes are the remains of the only volcanic eruptions that have occurred in freshwater within the boundaries of the modern United States.

Ready to head up. It was only an 800 ft. climb but it was a steep one.

Jared stabbed a dead cactus with his knife he got from the dollar tree.

The view was amazing at the top. You could see the whole snake river valley. Everything is still VERY brown. I want to go on the hike again when everything is green.

There were a lot of caves & fun rock formations.

Ellie, Rachel & Jared. Little did they know this is just the first of many pictures. haha


You could see the valley through this hole in the rock.
Jared standing on the rock...

Jared jumping off the rock...

Jared sticking out of one of the holes in the cave.

Even though there aren't too many signs of Spring yet, it was still breathtaking.

Can you spot the Rexburg Temple? It is a white dot in the middle of the picture. Those are the Tetons in the background.

As you can see, there is still snow.

In some spots, there was still lots of snow!

Daddy & Ellie

Rachel testing her balancing skills. She looks like she is ready to do some cliff jumping.

Another fun cave.


Hey, how did you guys get up there?


Love those guys!


Ellie walked the entire way, this was amazing in itself because she normally will ask for a piggy back ride whenever we go on a walk within minutes of starting. She also didn't want to go on a hike and was asking to go to the beach. Ellie even got her bathing suit on and beach shoes. Too bad we are now where near the beach. She is definitely my California girl.

At the very top!

Yes, there are lots of pictures because we had a lot of fun!

Ellie even gave me a hug and told me she had a fun hike. I'm so glad we didn't disappoint even though it was 1,000 miles away from the beach.

Word of the Day

While I was doing my last post, I used the expressing "racking my brain" I wasn't sure on the spelling, whether it was racking or wracking so I googled it and I learned something...

The word rack in racking (one's) brain is thus spelled. That is because it derives from the rack, the medieval instrument of torture on which a victim was slowly stretched. (This stems from the familiar rack 'a framework'.) This rack was used as a verb meaning 'to torture on the rack', and hence in the transferred sense 'to torture', and then figuratively 'to stretch or strain', which is the sense in rack (one's) brain.


Won't forget how to spell racking any time soon. Won't be posting any pictures to go along with this post either.

What's for dinner?

Finally success! I have tried doing a dinner calendar several times, I think it is a great idea to plan out dinners so that you have variety & save money. Only getting the things you NEED at the grocery store instead of random things that sound good but have no idea what to do with it once you get it home really helps the bank account. In the past I have physically gotten out a calendar and written down what we were going to have each night of the week. The problem with that is things would get busy during any particular day and we wouldn't have time to make whatever dinner we had listed for the day or I just wasn't in the mood for the dinner listed and would end up making something else.
This time I planned for two weeks. I simply made a list of 14 dinners. I made sure I got all the ingredients. I planned everything from lo mein, enchiladas, bbq pork sandwiches to fish and chips. I was able to get everything for around $140. Included were items I got for breakfast and lunches. It helps to get out the store ads too, so that you can plan your meals around things you can pick up on sale. So, depending on the meal, I was usually able to feed my family for a little more than $1 per serving.
Each night, I choose a dinner off the list and make it. That way I can make quick & easy meals if we are busy and I don't feel like I need to stick to whatever dinner I put on a particular day like I did when I had a calendar. It also saves me from racking my brain as to what to make for dinner each night. Instead I sit down once every couple of weeks and make a list. Saves on the visits to the grocery too! I am just happy I found a system that works for out family!

Made me laugh

Still makes me laugh...

Ellie gets spoiled by G & G Mayfield

Even though we live almost 1,000 miles away from my parents they still managed to make Ellie's birthday special. My kids don't have any cousins on my side of the family, which is never fun for my kiddos. I loved growing up with cousins. But they do get the benefits of being the only grand kids, and YES they get spoiled. Ellie got a package on Monday, she was so excited to open up her presents from Grandma & Grandpa Mayfield. (I made her wait until the older kids got home from school to open them.)

While she waited for them to come home, she used the packages to build a castle. haha
Ellie has started to get into Barbies and My Little Ponies. It is so fun to watch her play.

Ellie also loves puzzles. I am glad she has the patience to put them together. She's a smarty!

Ellie got lots of cute clothes too! She changed her shirt 3 times yesterday just so she could wear her new clothes!

The thing Ellie wanted most was to see was her Grandma & Grandpa. She was going around the house yelling. "I want Grandma & Grandpa" I guess next year they will have to hand deliver her gifts! I can't thank my parents enough for always making my kid's birthday special. I love you guys!

Don't mess with a good thing

Today I decided to try a new recipe for Oatmeal cookies. When you already have a recipe you love, and you have made it so many times you basically have it memorized and you've tweaked the recipe just right, why change it? I don't what made me decide to try a new recipe, I thought maybe it will be better than the one I use. Well, today it back fired. The cookies turned out awful! Now, I've wasted all the ingredients, not to mention time. Should have just stuck with what I KNEW would turn out yummy. Maybe it is a good thing after all, it will keep off the extra pounds!

Believe

"Believe in yourself. Believe in your capacity to do great and good things. Believe that no mountain is so high that you cannot climb it. Believe that no storm is so great that you cannot weather it. You are not destined to be a scrub. You are a child of God, of infinite capacity.
Believe that you can do it~Whatever it is that you set your heart on. Opportunities will unfold and open before you. The skies will clear when they have been dark with portent."
Gordon B. Hinckley

4 Year Old Pictures

Ellie' B-day!

This year we decided not to throw Ellie a birthday party with friends. We just kept it nice and simple.

We started the day with a plate full of Mickey Mouse Pancakes, sausage, & hash browns!

We took some pictures of Miss Ellie on her birthday.
Ellie trying count out how old she is.

4 Years Old.


Then Ellie and the other kids got to go to a St. Patty's Day party that our friends were having. (It was held a week late because her kids got sick.) They had lots of fun searching for the hidden goodies the leprechauns left behind.

We walked to get some yogurt. It was such a beautiful day. We just couldn't waste it!
Ellie talked daddy into giving her a piggy back ride.

Ellie is on the phone with Grandma & Grandpa Mayfield wishing her a happy birthday.

Enjoying some yummy yogurt. Maybe I should have warned people I was taking this picture.

Eating Yogurt was very serious & intense. Love the face.

Silly Girl!

The cake, I hope looked better in person...and it was purple and pink not gray.
We came back for some dinner. Ellie wanted Pizza. Then we had presents & cake.

Ellie blowing out the candles

Opening up presents.

New Bike! Whoohoo!

Testing out her new bike! She loved it so much she said she wanted to sleep on it.

We ended the day by watching Princess and the Frog.

Happy Birthday!

Happy 4th Birthday Ellie!

It's amazing how fast 4 years go by...Happy Birthday Elisabeth Claire, My little Ellie.

Little Feet

Ellie took this picture of her own feet. I've been looking at the picture and as a mom, I've been thinking a lot lately about these two little feet.
Where will these two feet take her? What will she do? Who will she become? Will she be a dancer, because she loves to prance around the house in pretty dresses and costumes? Will she be a chef because she is always by my side in the kitchen, helping bake, cook, stir, roll, pinch, & taste? Will she be a powerful voice for good because her voice resonates through the house and I can pick her voice out of a crowded playground? Will she make people laugh? Will she be a good mommy? Will she choose to follow the Savior?
I know that this little girl is special. Ellie is strong and kind and beautiful! Ellie brings so much happiness to our family, she is full of life, love, & laughter. I know these little feet will take her down many paths, each one making her the person she will become. I feel so blessed to be her mom. I am so excited to watch her grow, learn, and develop. I can't wait to see where these feet will take her. I love my little girl!

St. Patty's Day Fun!

Of course we had to make some leprechauns traps. We couldn't have them stirring up any trouble.

Rachel is on the left, Jared's is in the middle, Ellie's on the right.

Tuesday we made some green popcorn! It was very yummy and very easy to make.

On St. Patrick's day we made rainbow colored cupcakes. It was pretty easy, just took a lot of time. Of course, I had some great helpers. Jared didn't want to help, he was busy playing with his friend Hunter.These were really fun to make and eat!

Rachel is enjoying one of the yummy cupcakes!

Later, Kyle and Alysa came over to have corned beef, cabbage, carrots, potatoes, soda bread, and Kyle made a green drink. The drink was really yummy, it only had about 1,000 calories. He mixed ginger ale, lime jello, and orange juice.

Can I just say that I love being a mom!
I hope everyone had as much fun as we did.

Bows of Fun

As Rachel gets older, we have a lot of fun doing projects, crafts, and cooking together.I cherish this time we have just the two of us. I enjoy watching her grow and mature into a little young lady. It also gives us a great opportunity to talk about school, friends, and anything else she has on her mind.

The last couple of days we have been working on one of our favorite things...making hair bows. We made quite a few. Rachel does such a good job it is hard to tell who made which one. Sometimes, she is so creative, I like to steal her ideas! I don't know how I am going to keep up with her.