We did it!!!

For those of you who know me well, know that I'm deathly afraid of the ocean.

 I know.... I know.... it's not a big deal right? 

But for ME...... it's a HUGE deal. 

So, for me to actually get my butt in the ocean AND swim with dolphins was a huge feat.

I'm proud of myself and proud of my girlfriend too. 

Here are some killer pictures of our dolphin adventures..... (in the ocean)

Marie and I smiling after we are finished with our BIG friends

I look freaked out in this picture because the guide told me to leave this dolphin alone.

Apparently he was getting a little frisky with me....

He socked me in the shoulder pretty hard, it scared me bad!

Our cousin Anne was able to get one of the dolphins to roll over for a belly rub-down

Marie loved how smooth the dolphins were

I'm starting to feel a little bit brave....

How cool is this?

I'm amazed at the power these guys are capable of....

This is Marie taking a ride on the tips of her feet by 2 dolphins. She cruised to the other side of the water. It was soooooo awesome!

Here they come.... 

I'm mentally preparing myself for the ride I'm about to take..... SCARY, but cool!

I think we bonded

Ahhh..... sweet baby!

I'm smitten.....

I've never seen Marie so happy in her life. She loves dolphins and the ocean..... She was so brave!

another bonding moment....

This was definitely one of the coolest experiences I've EVER, EVER had in my life.

I guess I can safely check this off my bucket list and move on to the next adventure......

In the mood to BAKE.....

I'm in the mood to Bake....Bake....Bake....!

Yummy Banana Bread

1 Cup butter, melted

2 Cups white sugar

4 eggs

2 teaspoons Vanilla 

3 Cups flour

2 teaspoons baking soda

1 teaspoon salt

1 Cup sour cream

4 medium bananas, mashed

Preheat oven to 350. Grease 2 9x5 inch loaf pans.

In a large bowl, stir together the melted butter and sugar. Add the eggs and vanilla, mix well. Combine the flour, baking soda and salt, stir into the butter mixture until smooth. Finally, fold in the sour cream and bananas. Spread evenly into the prepared pans.

Bake at 350 for 1 hour, or until a toothpick inserted into the center of the loaf comes out clean. Cool loaves in the pans for 10 minutes before removing to a wire rack to cool completely.

ENJOY!

I love this roll recipe, although, I like to make cinnamon rolls out of the dough. They are to die for. Sometimes I like to split the dough in half and make half rolls, half cinnamon rolls.  If you decide to make cinnamon rolls, you'll need to follow these directions. Once you've punched down the dough for the second time, you'll roll out dough and spread 1/2 cup melted butter, 1 cup brown sugar and 2 tablespoons of cinnamon. Roll up, cut and lay on a sprayed baking sheet. Cover and let rise until doubled and bake. Spread your choice of icing over rolls when slightly cooled. Please feel free to call or email me with any questions you may have!

Crazy quilt rolls

2 Cups milk-scalded and cooled

1/4 cup sugar

1 rounded tablespoon SAF instant yeast

1/3 cup butter- cut into pieces and add to scalded milk when hot

4-5 cups flour to make soft dough

1 egg- room temperature

2 teaspoons fine sea salt

1. Scald milk and add butter and cool. 

2. Add yeast to 2 oz. warm water and stir to dissolve

3. Add 2 cups of flour into your Bosch mixer, then the milk mixture, sugar, yeast, egg; stir then add salt last.

4. Mix and combine all ingredients until wet and add enough flour for a sticky dough and mix on FIRST SPEED for 3 minutes then on SECOND SPEED for 3 1/2 minutes or until dough is soft and supple. Add only enough flour as needed. Scrap into a ball and place into a container that has been sprayed with cooking spray and cover with saran wrap. Let rise until almost doubled and punch down dough. Let rise again until doubled and then turn dough onto a floured surface and lightly roll out. Brush with butter and cut with pizza cutter. Place pieces on a cake pan that has been buttered well overlapping pieces of dough and drizzle with butter, cover with saran wrap until almost doubled.

5. Bake at 375 for 10-12 minutes.

Shabby Sister......

The moment we've all been waiting for.......

Marie's modeling debut!!! 

These pictures are enough to make me CRY. 

My little girl looks so grown up and I'm not sure if I'm prepared for this.

I wish I could freeze her forever, she's only 10 years old! 

Needless to say, check out the entire line HERE at shabbyapple.com. 

Click on preteen and go to Shabby Sister to see more. 

Meanwhile, I'm going to suck it up and enjoy it myself..... hope you do too!

I also want to thank my good friend Mary Braun for making this happen! She's a gem!

Love you girl.....

Bragging rights.....

I'm usually not one to brag, but I'm going to make an exception today.

I have to send "props" to the coolest, best mom in the world. 

She ALWAYS goes above and beyond what most mom's would do for their children. She truly is the BEST example of unconditional love and the most generous person I've ever met. 

So.... with that said----- check it out!

My mom and dad have made it a point to spend as much time with my kids as possible.

 (I know, pretty cool huh?) Each year they takes Joseph and a bunch of his friends on a 4-5 day trip for Joseph's birthday. This year was no different. They packed up the car and headed to Bear Lake and stayed in their new cabin. They had an absolute BALL. 

My mom called me the day they were suppose to come home and asked if she could keep them an extra day because they were having soooooooo much fun.

Honestly, who does that?????? 

Here are a few great pics my mom took.....

Zach, Kaden, Joseph, Miles, Nate
Great friends....


All five boys on one tube????

My mom said these were some fine young men.

Very well behaved and thankful for the fun trip. 

Hopefully, if they're lucky enough... She'll do it again next year. 

Thanks MOM and DAD!!!!

Happy 24th of July!

I thought it would be appropriate to share my

  "Honey Candy" 

recipe with you because this is what the Pioneer children would make while traveling across the plains from Illinois to Utah.

 I made it for the primary children on Sunday and they really enjoyed it. 

It's super easy to make and your little ones can get involved by pulling the candy after it cools.

Plus, it's a great opportunity to explain our Mormon heritage and why we live in Utah!

1 Cup granulated sugar

1 Cup heavy cream

2 Cups honey

Mix ingredients together in a large pot and bring to a boil over medium-high heat until you reach a 

HARD BALL stage. 

Grease a jelly roll pan with cooking spray. Pour candy onto cooking sheet and let cool. When the candy is cool enough to handle, START PULLING. The candy should turn from a dark caramel color to a light tan. Lastly, cut into bite size pieces and wrap in wax paper. Enjoy!

P.S. If the candy starts to harden too much while you're pulling it, stick it in the microwave for 20 seconds and continue pulling.

Joseph Muniz Pia July 21, 1994

I'm amazed at how fast time flies. I still fondly remember when Joseph was 3 and singing the song "A child's prayer" at our wedding. A lot has happened in the past 15 years. I'm almost always impressed with this kid. He is an absolute joy to behold and I'm so proud of his accomplishments and the amount of love he has to offer. I've never met a more affectionate kid and I hope he continues to love life and people. 

HAPPY

"15th" 

BIRTHDAY 

BUD!!!!!!

WE LOVE YOU!

Here are a few pictures of Joseph throughout the years!

This picture was taken right after our wedding luncheon. He has always been a little heart throb.

 What a handsome little guy!

He's always had a love for anything FAST. I think this is Grandma Gladean in the background

What?!?!

Just chillin'

Joseph has worked so hard over the past 7 years to become a fantastic football player. He has a lot of family support.....

He takes football very seriously.....

He loves his hats.... always has....always will!

He adores little kids.....

Joseph and I ran a 5k together.

 It was awesome..... Joseph kicked my can!

Handsome boys at Jer-Jer's wedding

All my kids love CC. She is such a wonderful grandma....

Joseph with his little cuz Asher

Joseph and his best friend Zacharia

another hat day....

Dane Pearson teaching Joseph a few things on the guitar

ahhh....... I know deep down he loves his sis...

Friends....

More friends.....

new phone for getting awesome grades...

We're always proud of Joseph and his unique ability to work hard and challenge himself to the limit!

Joseph with his football coaches

Even more friends...... 

Joseph will always be my baby boy.... luv u

good-looking kid...

Joseph and Grandma Karen. She has been the best grandma a boy could ask for. She has basically raised him like a son..... we love her dearly!

Uncle Jer and Joseph 

Joseph and his daddy.... Great friends

Ahhh...... CC and Joseph. 

Visiting Grandpa LeRoy a few weeks before his passing.

Laughing like crazy is one of our specialties

Hanging with the family at the cemetary.... always a good time!

Best buddies....

Joseph with one of his best friends...... uncle Max

Always happy when wearing his Brighton jerzy....

Steady.... steady.....

Hmmm.....grumpy face......

Always showing off those MUSCLES!

Doing the same thing 7 years later....

Buddies!

another grumpy face....

This is what a happy, healthy 8 year old looks like!

Joseph's always been a good looking kid..... it's those piercing eyes!

Joseph and Nate finishing up 6th grade!

hmmm...... not sure why he's wearing those gloves, but I'm sure he has a purpose!

Hope you have a great Birthday bud...... you deserve it!

 Thanks for being such a thoughtful guy. 

We are so proud of you!