To Catch Up on 2009

I have to admit that I haven't been the best at keeping an update on all the pictures I've been taking. I've made a slideshow...I thought it would be better than posting a bunch of pictures. So, enjoy, my friends. Here is what we've been up to so far this year, from Eli's birthday to Kyler's new suit to Liz's Dance Festival to the skirts I made myself for the Dance Festival to pictures of our land and the progress of our house. It's lots of fun!

Eli turns 1

Time sure does go fast when your getting fat, just ask Eli. We celebrated his first birthday February 26th along with his grandparents and aunts and uncles.
We found out two things: 1) Eli is a pro at opening presents, seriously you should watch him work, truly inspirational. 2) He loves chocolate cake. (see photo exhibit A)

Eli's FIRST Birthday!

To give you the rundown...Eli LOVED his party! He devoured his "little" piece of cake (I have no doubt that he could have eaten the entire thing.) I ordered a special cake just for him to match the big one. His reaction when I brought the "real" thing was priceless. I thought he was going to fall out of his high chair, he was bouncing so much from the excitement contained in his little body.
Then came the presents and he knew just what to do with them. He opened them up like a pro. Thanks to Aunt Bobbi and Aunt Michelle...he loves his new fire-truck-push bike. Everyone couldn't stop talking about how cute and smart he was with his reaction to the cake. He knew exactly what was going on and he loved every minute of it.

How do they grow so fast? A whole year has gone by since I held you for the first time, Eli. I will never forget that special moment when I looked into your eyes, Daddy was sitting on the couch right behind you and laughed, your little ears perked up and you turned your head to see who it was who made that familiar sound. I knew right then that you were special! I'd never seen a baby, only minutes old, react like that before! You are precious! Happy First Birthday, my son!

The Cutest Baby in the World is Named Eli

....Okay, so maybe I'm biased...I am his mother, for heaven's sake. But I honestly don't think that anyone would argue with me about him being even a little on the cute side.

These adorable pictures were taken fairly recently. I hope you enjoy them. My favorite is the one of him "talking" on the phone. Gotta love those baby blues! What do you think, should I enter him in that Baby Talk Contest coming up? I admit I have been thinking about it.

Thanks, Aunt Valerie for the cool phone! It was an early 1st Birthday present. Is he really almost a year?? Where does the time go?

We love you, Eli! It is so good to see you plump and healthy!

Cafe Rio's Sweet Pork

MmmmmmmmmMmmmmmmmm!
This was one of the best recipes I've ever made and it is super easy. I wish I had a picture to show you...maybe next time. I'm sure we'll make it again soon.
Kevin came home the other day with this recipe that his dear co-worker Kathleen gave him. Thank you, Kathleen, I hope she doesn't mind that I share the goodness with all of you. But what's the use of a good recipe if you can't share with everyone??

Cafe Rio's Sweet Pork

abt a 3 lb Pork Roast (any variety)
1 Cup Salsa
1 Cup Brown Sugar
1 Tbsp Garlic Powder
2 tsp Salt

Mix the ingredients together in the bottom of the crock pot. Sear the roast and then place it in the pot and roll it around in the mixture so it's covered. Cook on low for about 6-8 hours, until the pork is tender and falls apart. Then shred the pork and mix in with the sauce and cook for another 30-60 min.
Serve wrapped in warm tortillas with rice and beans.
*Optional- add a can of Coke to the sauce. (I hear that is what Cafe Rio does. We didn't use it and it was still amazing!)

Enjoy! It's so stink'n good!

Chess, Anyone?

Grandpa Farnsworth brought out his nice chess set he received as a Christmas present a couple of years ago, and proceeded to teach Elizabeth the classic strategic game. Given Elizabeth's attention span of about 10 minutes, I was surprised how well she picked up on it. She has proved to be a good competitor and almost beat Kevin once. Now, whenever we go to Grandpa's house there is sure to be a game going on in which Elizabeth has part. I'm hoping that one of these days I'll get a chance to play Kevin and to humble him a little bit.

I remember many years ago, I was a little older than Liz, when my father taught me the game. I was never really that good, but my dad made me think that I had the ability to keep up with the best of players. Chess will always remind me of my dad. I have fond memories of bonding with my father over a game of chess. If you've never played or it's been a while, you should! Pass along the knowledge, you may be surprised at how well your child can learn the game.

Happy Martin Luther KIng Day

I would like to take a minute to thank Elizabeth's teachers for their diligence in teaching my daughter History. I'm not too sure that when I was in 2nd Grade I even knew who Martin Luther King was, let alone understand his important role in Black History. But my 7, soon to be 8 -year-old daughter can tell me all about it. She amazes me! She led the FHE lesson tonight teaching us the importance of treating all people with kindness and respect. That we are all Heavenly Father's children, and we have no place or right to judge others, especially when the color of their skin is involved.

I am proud to be an American. We live in a beautiful land of opportunity! Nothing is impossible. May we all have gratitude for the rights and privileges we enjoy and work hard to protect them.