HMMM Breadsticks

A few weeks ago, well I guess it's been just about a week, Iolana took a cooking class at a place called Young Chef's Academy. It was a free try-it class to entice you to sign up for more classes. After the class we got to take home the recipe they made...Cheesy Breadsticks!

So we made them at home. Or I should say Iolana made them. I helped her get out all the items we needed, but I let her measure, pour stir, kneed (i did help a little with this and rolling), rolling, cutting, the egg wash, cheese and herbs. She really enjoyed it, and probably liked the food that much more. Below are the pictures of her labors.

Can't you just smell the garlic, rosemary and oregano?

Family Portraits

It's been a long time since we've had family portraits done. In fact the last time we had them taken K was 3 days old. The kids are getting so big so fast. 

5 and 2 years old these two are a pair when they are together. But they never cease to show their love for each other. 

In kindergarden already, she's becoming a young lady and I just hope she doesn't grow up too fast. I'll miss the times she wants to pretend. Usually it's princess or some sort of animal but it's always fun while it lasts.

This little one is a handful. And we are still wondering where her blue eyes and blonde hair came from. She is constantly into anything she can get her hands on. Very curious about everything but she is also very sweet; your heart just melts when she runs up and gives you a hug.

And of course where would our family be without "us". We've had 6 years together now, almost 7. I can't say it's been paradise the whole ride but I wouldn't change it for anything. 

Families are Forever

This year for Halloween we made some new decorations to hang in the entry way. It looks neat during the day, I just need to get some glow in the dark paint or some luminescent paint so it'll glow under a black light at night. It's hard to see at night and I was afraid that people would walk right into it. Perhaps next year I'll add some dry ice to make it a bit scarier.

One weekend weekend we took a trip to one of the local farms and bought some pumpkins. I was on my own this particular weekend while Adam was sweating away down in Phoenix. I had heard that one of the farms had a corn maze which I've been wanting to experience for myself. This farm however wasn't the one, I was out of luck. But they still had a good time picking out their pumpkins.

The girls both knew what they wanted to dress up as for halloween. Iolana of course wanted to be a princess. Kaylin decided she was going to be Dora. I'm a bit disappointed I didn't get pictures of their costumes. I bought a plain purple backpack and drew Backpack's face on it. Then went to the thrift store and picked up a plain pink shirt and orange shorts. We already had yellow socks and the pink and white shoes, and that was that! 

For Iolana's costume we was a peach fairy princess. We already had the peach colored princess dress, but we added some wings, a pretty tiara, and lots of sparkles! They had a great time at the trunk or treat the church sponsored, though we didn't bring nearly as much candy as we should have. We took a few blocks around our neighborhood as well. We strategically skipped over certain houses because of the scary lights and decorations.

Thumb Butte

On separate occasions we have climbed up Thumb Butte in Prescott's National Forest. Here are pictures from a few of those trips. 

This is what it looks like from the base, no problem right? It's steeper than it looks. And be prepared to carry your 2-4 year old with you if you take them along. On the bright side of things that means a better workout for you.

Iolana, Kaylin and our friend Lindy playing around before we head up the mountain.

We made it to the top. Luckily they have benches at the top. And look at the view! Breath taking to see all the mountains everywhere. 

Despite all the hard work all the kids didn't seem too tired. But of course we had to hike back down the mountain.

On a separate trip Adam and I got to the top and then we went a little bit further. The very top of the Butte has no trail, it's all rock. Very popular for rock climbers. We didn't have gear but I wanted to climb up as far as we could thinking we could make it to the top. Adam humored me and followed along. 

We got pretty far up but without gear we weren't able to get to the top. If I didn't have the kids and a family I probably would have tried to get further, but I have more than myself to think about now. It was still fun to do.

And finally here are the kids as we head back from the mountain. They made it but deserve a rest and some food! Next stop is home.

These two are rearing to go seeing as they were carried up most of the way. 

Kids and Plants

The kids brought home some seed packets from school and so we decided to plant them. They are a flower assortment, we're not really sure what type of flower they are so it'll be a surprise when they bloom.

The pictures on the left were taken on july 31st, that is probably about day 3 after planting them. The picture above is day 6. We'll keep you posted on how our little guys are doing throughout the process.

Independence Day

I am thankful for my freedom and the freedom's my family enjoys by living in America. May we always remember the costs that were paid by our ancestors all those years ago to keep our nation from rule. It was a divine plan and by diving means that the founding fathers were inspired to create a nation such as ours. In remembrance of this historic event our girls decorated their bikes and rode them in a parade.

Walnut Canyon

On the same weekend we visited Montezuma's Well we also stopped by Walnut Canyon.  This is a Canyon carved out by water, and because of the water supply it became popular for the Hopi indians. They  built houses in the cliff walls of the canyons. It's beyond me why they would build a house in a wall, I mean talk about waking up on the wrong side of the bed. But it is definitely a neat and beautiful site. 

In this picture you can see the stairs that take you on the island trail on the right side of the picture.

Because of the time that we arrived at the park the island trail was closed. This trail leads down into the canyon where you can see up close some of the cliff dwellings. Some of them you can even walk into. 

So instead of being able to get up close and personal with the dwellings we walked the outer rim trail which took us up above the canyon so we were able to see the dwellings from up above.

There are dwellings all along these cliffs, keep looking for some closer shots.

Along the lighter colored rock you can see a gap in the cliff. This is one of the dwellings. How would you leave and get home every day if you lived here?

I wouldn't mind seeing the view every morning though.

In this picture you can see another one of the dwellings. And that rim of trees that connects the canyon is part of the island trail that we didn't get go on.

We were all a bit disappointed that we couldn't get closer to the dwellings. I guess it's motivation for us to  head out for an adventure again so we can see them.

Montezuma's Well

We decided to take a weekend and do some sight seeing before the school year started. One place we saw was Montezuma's Well. This is a sink hole in the middle of a dessert with an underground spring feeding it about a thousand gallons a minute. Two different settlements of indians lived here, both leaving and we don't really know why.  But it still flows, and the irrigation ditches that were built by the settlers is still in use today. Because of the underwater limestone the well is rich with carbon dioxide and as such no fish live in the water.

We weren't able to go down to the well itself but we were able to get pretty close. Off to the right there's a walk way that leads down to the base of the well. This is where the pit houses are. On the other side of the well you can see the cliff dwellings in the side of the cliff; very cool I thought.

Being June, we all got a little hot.

Even though it was hot, we were all having a good time.

Since we were all so hot, everyone took advantage of the irrigation ditches to cool ourselves off. There is a trail that leads you around the well to the "exit" point where the irrigation canals were built. Down in here it was very shady from the vegetation that grew all around the canal. 

Here's the path that leads down to the base of the well where the irrigation canal begins.

It was very pretty along the walkway, and it was a definite needed break from the sun beating down at full blast.

Happy Easter

For Easter our ward had a Primary activity, I don't remember everything they did but I'm sure the kids remember the easter egg hunt. Here is Iolana coloring a picture and Kaylin is of course eating her candies off to the side. 

Iolana is getting very good at coloring, she brings home pictures from school everyday. I don't have enough wall space to put them all up! She is very excited to start school in the fall. However, she will miss the friends she's made at the day care.

Here's the evidence, written all over her face. 

 I have not been a big fan of presents on Easter so you won't see a whole lot in the way of easter baskets, candy etc. I do like to make treats with the kids that remind them of why we celebrate Easter though. One of my favorites I often bring in for the kids in primary; I call them Resurrection Biscuits. I take some Pillsbury biscuit mix and wrap the dough around a big marshmallow. Then bake as usual. When they are done there is a hole in the middle of the biscuit representing the empty tomb. 

Easter morning the kids got to open up there packages from GG and Gma Pulsipher. Kaylin and Iolana each got a handmade jacket from GG and a necklace from Gma. They were both pretty excited. They also got a t-shirt from GG from the trip they went on but for the life of me I can't remember where they went. 

Happy Easter everyone! Lets not forget why we celebrate it, for without the Savior's sacrifice our lives would be pointless. We would not have a way to return back to our Father in Heaven.