March Madness

Actually, I don't really know what March Madness is--I have just heard some people say it lately. And, yeah, lots has been going on so it seemed fitting. Again, we have two weeks off for our breaks so more time to enjoy all this great weather. All these pictures are not in the right order, but they have all happened fairly recently.





These are from our little "Welcome Spring" party at the park. We do it on the first day of Spring and play fun games like wheelbarrow races and whatnot. We had a great time with our fun friends!


Hey--wait a minute--what kind of three legged race is THIS???

Ella and Dallin are fast becoming friends...we are SO happy to have them close by!

A fun day with friends--and kids making blackberry scones with a tea party out front. They actually turned out pretty well--this was independant cooking mind you.

St. Patrick's Day is a special day to us because it is also our adoption anniversary of Angie, Sunny, and Logan. We went to the Riparian Preserve behind the library on Greenfield and had a picnic --it is such a pretty place and they have so many neat birds there.

This year Angie and Sunny also decided to set a Leprechaun trap--it was in our tree in the backyard and it had a potato and a gold bow--well, belive it or not, it worked! The little guy couldn't resist the trap--and sent a few pieces of gold and a note for each "little laddie and lassie"--even one for the "wee lass."

Much of Spring Break has been spent riding bikes and reading books.

Tyler has married a beautiful girl named Whitney--now she's Whitney Whiting--how cute is that! I think she looked like Snow White on their special day--and Tyler looked like one lucky guy.:) It was very nice ceremony and beautiful reception--and Logan sure loved that awesome vest!

Gold shoes--what more could a baby want????? (Maybe a sandwhich.)

I love this one of all the matching relatives hanging out.

Aaaahhhhh.........

WHEW! That was definitely enough for now huh? So there's a few highlights from our break so far. And tomorrow we are off to Oak Creek Canyon to camp....

And the Oscar Goes To......

Well, I guess it would have to be a Tony Award considering this was live theater. Angie had her first taste of live performance and she is definitely hooked on it...like mother.....yeah, you get the idea! It was a very cute performance of "Once Upon a Dream," or more commonly known as Cinderella. Angie was not Cinderella, she got her part of choice--one of the stepsisters! She was pretty funny I must say and had a great time with her fellow stepsister. They did this great song together called, "It's All About Me!" where they sweetly continued to push each other around the stage and try to get the attention of the audience.

Grandma came for support and love.:)

The really did a great job on the set I thought--it was put on at her school so some very talented parents helped out making it.

Curtain call--but I have a feeling this won't be her last bow. What a ham--where on earth did she get it from?????????

Okay, my next post WILL have pictures...

But this is a "per request" post. our annual Blue and Gold Cubscout banquet was a hit! We celebrated America and Cubscouts with patriotic decor, watching adorable boys attempt to sing "Fifty Nifty," listening to some special visitors from the past, and even watching a FABULOUS patriotic slide show where pictures of our cute boys were displayed to the background sounds of Lee Greenwood's "God Bless the U.S.A" Man, could it have been any better????? Actually, it was! Because, in keeping with true American tradtion, we had to have for our feast.............
AMERICAN MEXICAN FOOD!

We did a mock up of Cafe Rio's Pork Barbacoa Salad, and many a person asked for the recipe that night. So, here it is for all of you to make and impress your friends with at your next big get together--or Blue and Gold Banquet for that matter! Anyway, it's a yummy salad and not too much work to throw together--especially when you have such an AWESOME committe of Cubscout leaders to help you with it like we have in our ward. Well, here's the recipe:

Marinade for Pork:

4 lbs. pork roast - I've used pork shoulder or pork loin. They both work as long as you cook it all day.
2 to 3 cans tomato sauce
8 oz.1 tsp. pressed garlic cloves
1 1/2 to 2 cups brown sugar (packed)
2 tsp. cumin
2 cups Dr. Pepper
2 TBSP. molasses
1/2 tsp. salt (ummmm…I used more salt…like a TBSP and ½….. Your call of course, but my opinion is that it needed more salt to go with the sweet.)
pepper to taste (yeah, I use a lot of pepper too...don’t know how much, probably about ½ a TBSP.)

You can cook this pork in a crock pot or roaster all day or night—until it shred easily. Then, you take out the pork, making sure to save the juices, and shred it. Then put it back in. Depending on the type of meat you have, you may have to skim some fat off the top as well.

Cilantro/Lime Rice
2 TBSP. butter1
1/4 cup rice
2 1/4 cup chicken broth (can use boullion)
3/4 tsp. saltpepperJuice and zest of
1 large or 2 small limes
2 TBSP cilantro
1/4 tsp. cumin. You can add extra lime juice and cilantro if you want.
In a skillet, melt buttter with rice. Brown. Add the rest of the ingredients and bring to a boil. Reduce heat, cover, and cook for 20 minutes. This recipe makes about 4 cups of cooked rice.

Creamy Cilantro Dressing
16 oz. La Victoria green salsa or any other tomatillo green salsa
1 package dry buttermilk ranch dressing
1/2 cup sour cream
1/2 cup buttermilk1 cup fresh cilantro (just use leaves and really pack cup)
1/2 tsp. minced garlic
1/4 tsp. cayenne pepper (makes it very spicy)
1/2 tsp. salt2 TBSP. lime juice
1/2 tsp. cumin
1/4 to 1/2 cup sugar
Blend all ingredients in a blender until smooth. Refrigerate.
Makes about 1 quart dressing.


So, other than these three recipes which are kind of like the “stars” of your salad, the rest is pretty normal taco salad stuff:
Chips and tortillas
Refried beans or black beans
Sour Cream
Salsa
Cheese
Tomatoes
Onions
Whatever you like with it!
Pile it all on and top with the dressing--oh yeah! It really is a great twist to the "normal" taco salad idea and great for groups with many ages because everyone just puts on what they want. Enjoy!