Our Fabulous Family Trip!--Part 1

Wow.  I know Thanksgiving was in November and that it is almost March, but I still need to write about our family vacation to Phoenix and Disneyland.  It was so great.  The boys were really good during the drive and it was an all around good trip. 

Our friends, the Wilson's, live in Phoenix while Matt is doing his medical residency.  They invited us to spend Thanksgiving weekend with them, and I am so glad we took them up on their offer.  It was so nice to have Rob with us all the time, and it was fun to spend time with Matt and Heather, and now Paxton, again. 

SIDE NOTE!! Rob and Matt have been friends for a long time.  I know they were friends in high school, and maybe middle school too.  Rob and Matt used to play in volleyball tournaments together.  Here are a couple of pictures from the Park City Tournament the last summer they were able to play together (2003). 

Okay, back to our trip.  We arrived in Phoenix Thursday afternoon and had a wonderful Thanksgiving dinner, all prepared by Heather.  She did a great job, and the Pecan Pie was AWESOME.  Brody, Seth and Paxton became quick friends. 

 

Friday we went to a train park in Mesa.  Brody loved it, as right now he is a little obsessed with trains!  There is a carousel, quite a few playgrounds, and a train that goes around the park.  

The wait was a little long for the train, and the kids got a little restless.  Well, ours got a little restless, Paxton is quite the easygoing guy!

Brody and Paxton quickly became buddies.  Brody really enjoyed having a boy his age to play with all the time! 

While Brody and Paxton were walking nicely together, Seth was off by himself trying to catch the birds!

 

The kids had a great time on the playground.  It was quite warm though, and with the kids running all over the place, Brody's cheeks got quite flushed (we loved the Arizona weather over Thanksgiving!).  Here are our two little monkeys!

After the train park, Rob and Matt took the boys golfing at the putting green in their community.  Notice Brody doesn't understand the 'putting green' concept!

It was a really nice day, and we were all exhausted by the end.  Coming next post, the Phoenix Zoo and Mesa Temple pictures!

I DID IT!!!!

This past weekend I went with a group of about 35 ladies down to St. George and ran the Painter's Half Marathon. I can't believe I did something like this. And, what is even more unbelievable, is that I'm already planning on doing another one this year. I wasn't very happy with my time, so I have to do another one! Anyway, we had a fantastic time together, and it was great to accomplish something I had never thought possible--since I HATE running!!  Thanks to all those that encouraged me. If I can do this, anyone can!!

Okay, here are two pictures.  The first is most of the group in the Dixie Convention Center before the race. We did get matching shirts.  The front said, "South Jordan M.O.M.S--Miles of Marvelous Silence"  And the back had a line of stick people running and with arrows saying "She made me do it!" (Which is true, just see my post from Sept 28, 2009)

 
I really shouldn't post this next one, because it was terrible, but I will because you can see that I really was at the end with one of the blanket things.  I had met up with my friends who had finished before me, and we all started crying talking about how we finished.  Yep, cried.  That's what girls do!!

Remembering, once again.

2010 started out all right, and has gone downhill pretty quickly. Hopefully the rest of the year won't continue to be like the last week has gone.

My oldest brother called me last Thursday and told me that my Grandpa Kemp had passed away. I had just seen him the Sunday before, and he looked great--better than I had seen him in years. Unfortunately, he started having chest pains Thursday morning, and when they took him to the hospital for tests, he never made it out again.

Grandpa was always a dreamer. He always had an idea that was going to change the world. He loved farming and ranching and taking care of animals. He was proud of his family and his posterity, and always had the biggest smile when he talked to the great-grandchildren.  He never failed to bear his testimony when he had the chance.  We'll miss him, and the strength he was to our family. 



Norvin LaVell Kemp
September 18, 1931 ~ January 14, 2010
Our beloved husband, father, and grandfather passed away January 14, 2010 in Murray, Utah. Norvin was born September 18, 1931 in Price, Utah to LaVell and Thelma Ewell Kemp.

Norvin married Voris McKinley for time and all eternity in the Idaho Falls Temple October 11, 1950. Norvin was a lifelong active member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. He served diligently in many church callings. Norvin and his sweetheart served a thirty month service mission at Welfare Square. They also served as ordinance workers in the Salt Lake City Temple.

Norvin enjoyed farming, ranching and the hard work which this required. He also enjoyed fishing vacations with his children and grandchildren

Survived by his wife, Voris Kemp; Children: Larry LaVell (Adelina), Brent McKinley (Roseann), Jeannene (Joe) Williams, Norvin Kiel (Maurina), Roger Arthur (Debi), Annette (Raul) Gomez. Siblings: Gene J (Joy), Shana (Kent) Olson, Charlotte (Dennis) Jensen, 26 grandchildren and 35 great grandchildren

Norvin was preceded in death by his parents and 2 great grandchildren.

Funeral services will be held Tuesday, January 19, 11:00 AM at the Spring Meadows Ward, 132 N. 570 E., Tooele, UT. A viewing will be held Monday from 6-8 PM at Larkin Sunset Gardens Mortuary, 1950 E. 10600 S., and on Tuesday from 9:45 to 10:45 AM at the Ward. Interment at Larkin Sunset Gardens. Online condolences may be made at www.larkincares.com

Better late than never?

I decided I needed to hurry and get our Halloween pictures up before the next holiday!  I don't have much to say, but here are our Halloween pictures.  Well, at least on this camera.  We got a new camera the day before Halloween so all of these pictures are at other Halloween parties.  I can't wait to see the difference in quality of pictures. 

Here is our completed Jack-o-Lantern.  I thought they did a good job!

Brody before his Halloween party at Preschool. 

Seth before we left for Grandpa Baumgartner's Halloween parade.

With Grandpa Baumgartner at Legacy Retirement Center.

And last, but not least.  Brody loves to run and slide on the floor like he is sliding into home plate.  He had his socks on, and was sliding all over the house.  I told him he needed to settle down.  He didn't, and he slid into our bookshelves.  When he first started crying I thought he was faking it, and just whining.  Nope.  He got himself good.  I've wondered since if he needed stitches, but he got band-aids and a kiss instead...and a bit of Children's Tylenol and Neosporin!

Conference Brunch Idea

In case anyone is having a difficult time deciding if they should prepare something for breakfast or brunch tomorrow that is extra special and delicious, you should, and Puffed French Toast is what you should make! We absolutely LOVE this them.

You basically make a pancake batter, dip your bread in it and fry it like a scone. Pancakes, french toast and scones all in one! And the best thing to have with it is the buttermilk syrup. You basically make caramel to go on top of them.

I know I have blogged about these recipes before, but last time I just linked to them and I have had a few requests again for the recipe, so I'll post the actual recipes this time. They are both from ourbestbites.com (still one of my favorite websites!). I am also posting the links. If you go to the links, they have pictures of each step so you know what it is supposed to look like--especially helpful for the first time you make these. Also, we haven't ever dipped them in the cinnamon and sugar. I'm sure it is good, but the first time I made them I forgot, and love the way it tastes without, but try it if you want! Hope you love this and let me know if you try it!

Puffed French Toast-ourbestbites.com
2 eggs
2 ½ Tbsp. sugar
½ tsp. salt
½ tsp. vanilla extract
2 c. milk
1 c. flour
2 ½ tsp. baking powder
12 slices Texas style toast, cut in half diagonally

In a large skillet or frying pan, heat about 1/4" of vegetable oil (not olive oil) over medium heat. In a shallow bowl or pie plate, whisk together eggs, sugar, salt, vanilla, milk, flour, and baking powder. Test oil heat by flicking some water into the frying pan. If it pops, reduce the heat. If hardly anything happens, turn up the heat. If it sizzles, it's just right.

Working quickly, take each 1/2 slice of bread and soak it both sides in the milk/egg/flour mixture. If you leave it in too long, it will get soggy, but you want to make sure enough of the egg mixture has soaked into the bread. Gently shake to remove excess batter and place in hot oil. Cook until puffed, golden brown, and a nice, crispy crust has formed on each side (probably 3-5 minutes per side; you really need to babysit them and make sure they're cooking correctly) and then remove from oil and drain on a paper towel. While cooking remaining French toast, keep cooked pieces warm in an oven set to the lowest temperature it will go.

When ready to serve, roll each piece in cinnamon sugar.

If you're feeling extra naughty, go ahead and drizzle a little maple syrup, buttermilk syrup, strawberry syrup or scoop some honey butter on there.

Slice the bread into strips for great french toast dippers. Kiddos love these- or talk about killer party food! You could pile them high on a platter and then serve next to ramekins filled with different dipping sauces. Ie: Maple syrup, Buttermilk Syrup, Strawberry Sauce, etc.

Buttermilk Syrup-ourbestbites.com
3/4 c. buttermilk
1 1/2 c. sugar
1 stick real butter
2 Tbsp. corn syrup
1 tsp. baking soda
1 tsp. vanilla

Combine buttermilk, sugar, butter, corn syrup, and baking soda in a LARGE pot. Like one you'd make soup in. Yes, you'll have way more pot than ingredients (and I'm not referring to the green leafy stuff), but this will boil all over your newly-cleaned stove if you put it in a smaller saucepan.

Bring ingredients to a boil and reduce heat to low (as long as it's still bubbling, you're okay). Cook, stirring very frequently, for 8-9 minutes. You're basically making candy here and candy-making requires constant vigilance.

When it's done, it should take on this luscious golden-brown color. Remove from heat and add vanilla.

There will be foam on top. It tastes just as good, but it's not super pretty. If you're into aesthetics, you can skim it off; otherwise, just give it a good stir.