Forbidden Caverns

This adventure was a bit of a birthday present to me. We went to the Forbidden Caverns! They had some really cool stalagmites and stalactites. It had been a long time since I'd been in a cave like this. I think it was actually Mt. Timpanogos when I was a kid. Trevor has been to the Carlsbad Caverns though which he says are pretty amazing. Anyway, I digress! Here are some great photos from our adventure!

 

Apparently these caves were used by Native Americans and also Moonshiners. It was a place hidden away with clean clear water where they could brew their Mooshine and keep it a secret.

 

It was a little cold down there!

 

 

Water Fountain Fun!

Before we left Knoxville things were slowing down and we got to do some things as a family. In downtown Knoxville there is a place called World Fair Park and there is a splash pad water fountain. I'd taken the kids a few weeks earlier, but this time Trevor got to go with us and we had a great time!

 

Impromptu Nauvoo Photo Shoot

I am so behind on my posting, I know. In the last month of our summer work program, we got moved to Grand Rapids, Michigan where we were in a 1 room (not bedroom, one room) apartment for nearly 3 weeks. We did not have our computer set up, and had very poor internet which was useless anyway. So though we had some great adventures before we left Knoxville, I could not post them, and then I just got bogged down. However, I am back at it now!! And I want to start with some brilliant photos from our adventure back.

We were lucky enough to have Nauvoo on our drive home. And even luckier, or perhaps it was provident, to chat with a photographer outside the temple waiting for a wedding party. As we were chatting the boys were being they silly-selves and he shot some great photos. I just got them yesterday and I am so happy to share. If you are ever in the Nauvoo area and need a photographer, Tom Simpson is amazing!!

 

 

 

 

Houses by Ijams

After going to Ijams Nature Center we had to drive through the neighborhood nearby.

There were so many cute, classic homes...followed by boring 70s homes. So we turned around and looked at them one more time.

Sometimes I just can't get enough of the classic styles, especially when they are coupled with well taken care of yards.

You'll have to tell me your favorite.

Although I like them all....I still think the first one is my favorite. Unfortunately it was hard to get a good picture, but the gardens with the house were just so quaint.

Building a fort

We don't always have some place planned to visit on Sundays. This was one of those days. Daddy felt in the mood to build his sons a fort. The colorful tube on the right is a tunnel that goes with a play tent which made for a perfect little person entry. I tried to go in that way before Trevor told me he had an "adult" entrance. I had to shimmy in on my belly. It was quite an effort, but it was worth it to see the proud look on my boy's face when I made it through!

My lnot-so-little baby

Sometimes I find myself trying to hold him like a baby...and then when it feels totally awkward because he is getting so big, I have to remind myself he's not such a little baby anymore. He's getting so big!!!!

Sunday at the park....a few weeks ago

Okay, so I realized I haven't posted enough family pictures. So here are a few from a recent outing.

Trevor passed this park a few times on his work route. He said every time he drove past it was littered with families and it just looked so inviting for kids. The playground area is huge. Instead of replacing areas it has just been added too. It even still had classic metal slides!! There aren't enough of those around these days...although I guess they are probably a little hot for the AZ sun. Enjoy!

July 4th

Finally Trevor got a day off, July 4th, though not as easily as we thought it would be. The sales guys still tried to talk him into working! We had a family day instead and we went to check out Ijams Nature Center. It was beautiful. We went for a fun little hike that met right up against the river a few places. Dashiel did great too. He was having a great time running and jumping.

There are so many trees here and these ones had great vines. They didn't look all that strong, but this one definitely held Trevor without a problem.

A view from the trail. Gorgeous!

We had a great time!

New project - Monogrammed Hand Towels

I enjoy making gifts for people's birthdays. It is so much more fun than just shopping, besides I never know where to start. So I started looking up some ideas on craft websites and got excited when I saw a tutorial on Martha Stewart for monogrammed hand towels.

                                             

It is such a classic look, but I couldn't just monogram, I had to do something to personalize it even more. The gift is for my sister-in-law and she loves toile. I got a cotton polyester blend of linen-look fabric (I didn't want to use linen because who wants to iron hand towels), and a small swatch of toile to sew on the end. Then to cover up the seam, I sewed the length of ribbon. The letter is from MS Word. I printed it and created a stencil. And ta-da! Tell me what you think!

The link to my inspiration:
http://www.marthastewart.com/273499/monogrammed-hand-towel?czone=holiday/santas-workshop/santas-handmade-gifts&czone=holiday/santas-workshop/santas-handmade-gifts&center=307035&gallery=275134&slide=273499

Sunday Drive

I remember my mother telling me when she was young her parents would take the family for a drive on Sundays. We did it occassionally when I was a kid, but it just got too expensive in the family van. Well, being in a new place for just a short time there is so much to see. Trevor ends up driving all over tarnation and gets to see lots and I'm pretty stuck in my route between grocery or craft store, park and library. So Sunday drives have been reinstated for our family. One of the things Trevor and I really enjoy admiring is architecture, and Knoxville is a traditional town of the East with plenty to offer. There are some beautiful brick homes with shutters, porches, and verandas and so so many bungalows! Oh how I love. Well, this last Sunday I took a picture of one of my favorites. It's not a bungalow, and it's not a brick, but it's beautiful and definitely not something one would easily find in Phoenix's East Valley. Let me know what you think!

Just simple and quaint with that swoop roof line over the door.

Look at that lawn! I bet they don't even have sprinklers!!!

It is a good day to be in Tennessee.

The kids and I took a little road trip today. Trevor forgot some equipment at the shop today and was an hour away. The kids and I were all loaded up with a fresh full tank, and were ready to head to the store to pick up a photo to send to Grandma and Grandpa when he called. So what did we do?  We headed way out to rescue Daddy, of course! I had to take a highway from the freeway after passing through downtown and could not believe my eyes when I saw the gas prices-- $2.99/gallon!!! I was suddenly disappointed at my $3.03 a gallon from Sam's Club. I know you are all jealous, but all I can say is WOOHOO!!

New Family Recipe - Southwest Wontons

Last month Trevor's brother hosted a Christmas party for his cousins and we were asked to bring an appetizer. We don't cook appetizers very often so I found a recipe for a Mexican style wonton. It was just cheese in a won ton wrapper. Sounds pretty good, but I had to up the anty a bit. One of my favorite smells in the world is garlic and onion sauteeing in olive oil, and of course a good addition to that winning combo is bacon. After that, I added a few drops of lime essential oil (you can use lime juice too) and then I added cheese on top of the mixter on the wonton wrapper. Yum! Not to be out done, Trevor had to get involved too and he created a yummy sauce of sour cream, salsa, cilantro....

It was so yummy! If you want to try it, the recipe is below. Enjoy!


1 sm red onion, chopped small
3 lg cloves garlic, chopped small
3 slices bacon, chopped
3 drops lime essential oil
1/4 tsp cumin
3 Tbsp chopped cilantro
1/2 cup cheese, shredded
wonton wrappers

Saute first three ingredients then transfer to a bowl. Add lime essential oil or 1 tsp lime juice, cumin and cilantro. Spoon 1 tsp of mixture onto center of wonton wrapper, add about 1 tsp shredded cheese. Wet all four edges of wonton wrapper with water, fold into triangle and then fold side corners into the center. Gently slide wonton into hot oil to cook. These cook fast when the oil is hot so don't leave them unattended.

Sauce
1/2 cup sour cream
1/4 c salsa
2 Tbsp cilantro, chopped
1 tsp cumin
...

Cute Baby Hat

I've been on a crocheting kick lately and found this adorable baby beanie on one of my crafty tutorial searches.

It is very girly and I have only boys, so the flower wouldn't really work on anything for them. I have a friend who is having a baby girl at the end of the month and I thought it would be just perfect for her. It was such an easy and quick pattern. I loved it! Tell me what you think!

Pattern:

http://thedaintydaisyblog.blogspot.com/2010/04/shell-stitch-beanie.html

New Teeth!

We are all getting over colds the last week. Poor Ryker almost made it by without getting the bug, but decided to not be left out on top of his teething. A week and a half ago he popped out his first two teeth--one bottom one in the middle, where one would expect, and the other tooth was an incisor. I suppose it is appropriate given that his daddy's joke is that he is a vampire. Well, as it turns out, the fever that was worrying me the last few days turned out to be teething after all. He now has a complete set on bottom...and on top! My little baby boy is a vampire!!! haha He certainly has beat his big brother to the punch. Dashiel didn't get a tooth until he was almost 9 months. Ryker has popped out four teeth in 10 days!! I'm excited to see those sweet little smiles with tiny little fangs. Oh what a joy! Well, I'm off to get creative before the boys wake up from naps! Hopefully I will end up with something that I can share. =)

New Start

With the new year I have decided to start a new blog. I have been indulging a creative itch lately and I want to record my creations whether they be from the kitchen, the sewing machine, or with my glue gun. And of course my life revolves around my family. All of these things are what happiness is all about for me. So I needed a place where I can record it all to share...and in those slow moments, to motivate me. Enjoy!