Kaitlin's Pie

Our ward had a Fair, similar to the county fair.  One of the events was a pie contest.  Kaitlin decided she wanted to make a pie for this contest.  We aren't really a pie family - I don't like them, so I don't make them.  We cheat at Thanksgiving and Christmas and have fabulous frozen pies.  So I wasn't really encouraging of this activity.  And then when she said she wanted to make a peanut butter pie, I began thinking, "YUCK!" 

So we talked about it and figured out some yummy ideas using her ideas about peanut butter and a chocolate cookie crumb crust.  And lo and behold - it was voted first place.  I actually got to eat only a tiny sliver that was left in the pan as it was the first pie to go.  Not bad for Kaitlin who basically made up the recipe and and never made it until this event. 

Here is the recipe as we did it.  Mind you, we didn't measure as we weren't sure what we were doing and were basing everything on taste - so taste often until you like it.

Crust - crunch up chocolate sandwich cookies, add some granulated suger and a small bit of melted margarine.  Press into a pie crust.  If you don't have enough margarine, it won't stick to the sides of the pan.

Peanut butter layer - Mix peanut butter with powdered sugar.  We didn't use a whole lot of peanut butter as peanut butter has a strong flavor.  It should taste like the inside of a Reeses Peanut Butter Cup.  Spread on the crust.

Chocolate layer - Follow the package directions for instant chocolate pudding.  Add half a package of cream cheese and beat well.  Add some cool whip until it tastes great.  Spread on top of the peanut butter mixture.

Top with cool whip and grated sweet chocolate (like a Hershey's bar).  Refrigerate until ready to serve.

Erin and David Wilcox - Who Are They?

On August 15, 2009, Erin married David Wilcox in the Columbia River Temple.  It was a beautiful wedding and it was great to have Michael, Courtney and Will all present, as well as two of my sisters and my mom.  I always love family get-togethers.  It is my most favorite thing in the world.  Erin's new sister-in-laws took care of the cupcakes and the flowers so it was nice to have some help.  I know Brad and I were leary about having cupcakes instead of a traditional wedding cake, but there were so many nice comments about that and others have copied that idea (and even borrowed the cupcake tiers that David's dad made for the event.)  We were also kind of concerned about the reception as Erin and David planned games to play.  Not really games for the attendees, but for them to watch.  One of the games was like the Newlywed game with David's parents, Brad and I, and Erin and David as the three couples competing.  Wouldn't you know it - the newlwed's won the game.  Perhaps they were in cahoots with the host of the game - Michael.  Everyone that attended later told me that it was probably one of the funnest receptions they have ever been too. 



We met Michael's fiancee for the first time.  We put her to work and she didn't even complain about being stuck working hard for a family she didn't even know.  She had been room mates at BYU with Erin and that is how Michael met her. 



Some more pictures to catch up on.

Pasco High School has been giving out golden bulldogs as part of their awards program.  This began the year that Courtney was a Senior.  The students are nominated by their teachers in each department and then the teachers decide which student they should give the bulldog to for that year.  So for each subject there is one bulldog per grade.  This is Zach's junior year and he is receiving a bulldog for math.  Mr. Shimek likes to tease the families that have a lot of bulldogs about needing some dog food and a pooper scooper.  More about this in a later post (one that is more current - not current, mind you, but more current than Zach's junior year.)

Kylee and Kaitlin's piano recital.  They sounded really good.

You will have to trust me on that as I haven't figured out

how to add video to my blog yet.  I guess if I played around

enough I would learn a few things.

Kylee and Kaitlin and their young women's group climbed Badger Mountain.  They could see the temple from the top of the mountain.  What a fun activity!


Kylee's graduation from McLoughlin Middle School.

 Kylee's favorite occupations - talking on the phone and eating junk food.!

 Girl's Camp for Kylee and Kaitlin!



When these girls were quite a bit younger they called themselves the KKK.
Had to explain to Kaitlin, and Kaytlin, and Kylee why they couldn't call
themselves that, even if they thought it sounded cute.



    Summer Band 2009 - Kaitlin did flags and loved it.  This is the annual 4th of July Parade in Pasco.

WE LIVE IN THE COUNTRY! OH MY!

When we first moved to our new home, Kylee and Kaitlin informed me that we live "out in the country," and Zach declared we have become rednecks.  I kept reassuring the kids that we don't live "out in the country" (didn't tell Zach he was wrong though) since Walmart is just around the corner and up the street.  Well, I have been proven wrong.  Soon after moving here we watched all of the new little babies around the neighborhood.  Our favorite was across the way: 

There are other baby calves too, mostly black ones, but the little black and white one was by far the cutest.  Then we watched all of the baby chicks and the goats and the sheep.  Just a few weeks ago (this part is truly just a few weeks ago) as we were driving up the street to school there was a Mama sheep and a brand new baby sheep just inside the fence.  No one else was around and the mom was just standing there looking at this wobbly little sheep.  On the return trip home a few minutes later, other sheep were gathered around one side and the people who owned the sheep were all leaning against the fence looking at the newborn baby.  We figure we were probably one of the first to see this new baby. 

Well, just because there are lots of animals where we live doesn't necessarily mean we live out in the country.  But one Sunday I was in the living room after church and Kylee came running down the hall yelling, "There's cows in our front yard!"  I just kind of ignored her at first but when she quickly jammed her feet into her shoes and ran outside and followed behind.  Sure enought, there were six or seven cows in our front yard.  They had gotten out of the neighbor's yard and had wandered over to our place.  The neighbor boys were trying to get the cows to go home but they were too busy grazing in all of the weeds.  Finally they went and got a wagon with a bale of hay in it and the cows followed that home. 

So I guess we do live "out in the country."  I don't know too many people who live in the city who can say they have cows in their front yard.



LONG TIME NO HEAR FROM ME

I have been chastized by my children that I haven't kept up my blog.  Actually, I have, just not published it as I needed to put pictures with my posts.  So that is what I will be doing the next few days - going back in time to get all caught up on my life.  I figured I would post some pictures that went with what I had written a long while back and didn't post pictures because it takes me a long time to get my film developed....  Allison who didn't know Michael at the time might appreciate the first few pictures.

Michael at the Marriot Center for his graduation.

Michael getting his diploma.

 
   

Michael, Brad and Kaitllin

Brad, after our all-night drive to Provo, then graduation, staying up
visiting with family, and now finally getting a break!  (He has done
this at every single wedding of our kids, as well as on our RV trip
afterwe spent all day pushing and pulling a heavy handcart.  So
this is a familiar site for our family!)













NATIONAL HONOR SOCIETY
Zach was inducted into the National Honor Society.  He is
very modest and doesn't think it is all that big of a deal, but
it really is.  One must have good grades, be involved in
various clubs and organizations in and outside of school,
 and you need recommendations from teachers and others. 

We are really proud of his good work and accomplishments.

Now I know why I don't blog very often.  That took me nearly an hour just to do that little bit and I am not even close to being done, so stay tuned as I continue to catch up by combining my pictures to my posts.

Christmas 2009

Merry Christmas to All –

            I’m Zoey and I’m the lovable, give-me-some-more-attention, favorite, 3 year old, Collie Mix in the family.  It’s my year to write the family Christmas letter.  It was my turn last year but I was so busy exploring our new neighborhood, chasing geese and the wandering occasional goat off our new property, that really, I just didn’t have time.  Mom and Dad say this is my last chance to write the letter or it will be someone else’s turn.

            At the end of last year Mom and Dad had a new house built.  It’s bigger than the last one and there is lots of room for me to run and run.  I got new friends to chase tails with and all is good, but they only let me sleep in the garage.  Through the windows, it seems like it would be nicer to be inside.

            Based on how often I’m chasing the car away from, or back towards, the house, Mom and Dad are still really busy.  In November they were gone too long and a neighbor girl took care of me.  Something about a wedding at the Provo Temple and now I’m going to have to get use to a new big girl stopping by to visit.  Her name is apparently Allison and some people say she is really cute and nice.  Michael is a lucky guy; they showed me her picture.  They live in Provo where Allison goes to BYU and Michael works.

            Courtney and her husband Will live in Cheney, WA.  It’s about 2 hours away.  He is getting his Master’s degree to become a social worker and she is working.  I think I heard they are expecting a little girl puppy around March 3^rd.  They plan to name the puppy Whitney Anne.  Personally, I think “Zoey” or “Zoette” would be a better name.  She is getting pretty big, must be eating too many dog biscuits. 

            Erin and her husband David were married this year in the Columbia River Temple.  Lots of extra food; I just love big parties.  The house was packed and people were running all around like a bunch of wild dogs.  Man it must be tough to put together a wedding!  David is working on his Master’s degree in some computer field in Provo and Erin is working on her Bachelor’s degree in History (I think of Dogs).

            Zach is the big guy at home; bigger than Dad.  He is a senior in high school and recently earned his Black Belt in Taekwondo; whatever that is.  He pretends he doesn’t love me, but I’m sure he does.  He’s writing essays and filling out forms.  He wants to get a scholarship or two and go to BYU (look at that, I’m a poet and didn’t even know it).  He’s really good at school; I hear he got a 5 on the AP Calculus test.  He also just did his Eagle project at a city park.  Lots and lots of work but now the neighborhood dogs will have a place to go play.

            Kylee is now a freshman at the new high school in Pasco. No wonder that car of ours never stops moving.  She is involved in Key club, Buddy club, has piano lessons every week and studies all the time, and loves going to church dances.  No wonder she rarely comes outside to just roll around in the dirt with me.  Dad says all the boys like her and I’m supposed to bite their legs if they get too close.

            Kaitlin is my owner, or at least I let her think she is.  She’s awesome.  She feeds me and gives me water, and buys me treats, and plays with me, and makes sure I’m warm and clean.  She’s a great owner.  She’s very busy with Taekwondo and piano. It’s her first year in public school (or obedience school, or something). She gets good grades and studies really hard.  She loves to cook with Mom and does a great job.  She earned 1^st place in a pie making competition at the church fair.  I was so proud. 

            Conner is 7 now and keeps Mom really busy.  Conner doesn’t go away for school most days but instead stays home with Mom and she teaches him all sorts of math and reading and science. I’m so smart that I can roll over and play dead and fetch, but Conner must be really smart!  He has lots of fun playing with the neighborhood kids and looks forward to being baptized.  He likes video games and can crush Dad.

            Mom and Dad are busy taking care of the whole family.  Mom’s in the Relief Society presidency at church and Dad teaches Zach’s Sunday School class – bet Zach loves that.  Dad still works for Lockheed Martian or something like that.  May this season be one of love and happiness and appreciation of the Savior for you and yours. 

            Since my family was so lax and didn’t send out cards last year –  They would love to hear from you and I am interested in chasing off the mailman, so…  

 

And what a bummer - they didn't even include me in the family picture!  How rude is that?

The End of An Era

Well today is the end of an era in our family. We have been delivering the Tri-City Herald for at least the past 15 years, perhaps longer. But today was our last day. We have decided it is too much of a hassle and they are making it harder to be a "kid job." So we are done. All five of us went today whereas it is usually just two of us at a time, but we all wanted to do it the Last Day. Here is a picture of the kids with the very last paper at the very last house.