Things You Do On a Three Hour Drive........

Adrian had my phone as we traveled to Conconully for our camping trip.. Thought he was playing games. This is what I found....

 

Colorado Springs, Colorado....

I'm so sad... This has been on  my bucket list for so long - to visit Colorado Springs, CO.   My dad was in the Army, stationed at Fort Carson, Colorado.   I was born in Colorado Springs-January 12, 1966.  Twelve days later my dad retired and my family packed up and moved to Soap Lake, Washington.   I have always heard how beautiful it is & I have always wanted to visit.   Today there is a terrible fire burning there out of control.  People have lost their houses, their business and are still being evacuated as I type.   I pray that they get this under control, I pray for the safety of the families, and for the safety of the firemen...

Where's Grandma's Monkey????

Kevin & Amanda are staying with me until they can move into the house that they bought.  Every morning I'm blessed with this little guy.. He comes into the bathroom and I put him in the sink and we have quite the conversation... (he's quite the jabberer)..   But we play the game where's Grandma & he looks at me with his big blue eyes and leans his head into me & when I ask  where's Grandma's Monkey... he hits the mirror on his image.. It is priceless!!!

Rain..Rain..Go Away!!!

I would never be able to leave in Seattle or a place where it rains all the time.. It's June..kids are out of school... .it's cold...it's windy... and it keeps raining.... & it's depressing!!!

Rain..Rain...Go Away.. Come again another day!!!!!

Have you tried this......

I am pretty finacky when it comes to trying new things.  Good thing my friend goes out of the box and gives me reports on what she thinks I would like.  I give these a two thumbs up.  The taste is fantastic.. It has a little energy boost but nothing that makes you shakey, or drops you hard when it wears off.  They are very refreshing and suggest you give them a try!!!

Chocolate Chip Toffee Bars

Chocolate Chip Toffee Bars 
recipe from Pillsbury Baking
makes 24 bars

2 1/2 cups all-purpose unbleached flour

2/3 cup brown sugar, firmly packed

3/4 cup butter

1 large egg, slightly beaten

2 cup (12 oz package) semi-sweet chocolate chips, divided (I used Milk Choc. Chips)

1 (14 oz) can sweetened condensed milk

1 (8 oz) package toffee baking bits, divided


Directions:

Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. Spray 9x13" baking dish with cooking spray. Set aside.

In large bowl, stir together flour and brown sugar. Cut in butter with pastry blender, two knives, or your fingers until the mixture resembles coarse crumbs. Add egg and mix well. This part seems like it's not going to work but just keep mixing until egg is evenly distributed.

Stir in 1 1/2 cups of chocolate chips. Reserve 1 1/2 cups of mixture and press remaining onto bottom of prepared pan. Bake in preheated oven for 10 minutes.
Once partially baked, pour can of sweetened condensed milk over crust. Reserve 1/4 cup of toffee bits and pour remaining toffee over milk layer in pan.
Sprinkle reserved crumb mixture and remaining 1/2 cup chocolate chips over top. Bake in preheated oven for 25-30 minutes, until golden brown. Sprinkle with remaining toffee bits and cool completely.


These got a 2 thumbs up from the guys at work.... They are extremely rich & sweet!! Bite size is about the right size for serving.....

May The Force Be With Me....

The last few months, I've really struggled in my bowling.   Thanks to one of my new team mates, I think I might be back on track.. and yes.. this is how I feel after I throw a few strikes *lol*

I'm Quite Certain I Might Shrivle Up & Blow Away!!!

Day 2 .......ARGHHHHH!!!!!

I think I can.. I think I can.... I think I can!!!!

Pinterest - Southwestern Chopped Chicken Salad

Southwestern Chopped Chicken Salad

Serves 4 for dinner salads

Salad:

2 cups shredded chicken  (I used Safway Rotissarie Chicken)

1 green bell pepper, diced (I used  Red & Yellow - Green sucks *lol*)

1 can black beans, rinsed ( I used very little)

1 can sweet yellow corn

2 roma tomatoes, diced (I used the cherry tomatoes-oh the flavor)

4 green onions, sliced

1 head ice berg lettuce, washed and chopped

1/4 cup cilantro, chopped

2 ripe avocados, diced

1 cup crushed tortilla chips ( I used the colored salad tortilla strips)

Dressing:

1/2 cup mayonnaise

2/3 cup Greek yogurt

1 tbsp ranch seasoning

1 tbsp taco seasoning

Directions:

In a large bowl, combine all salad ingredients together, excluding the tortilla chips.

In a small bowl stir all dressing ingredients together. Pour dressing over salad, starting with about half of the dressing. Toss to combine, then gradually add more dressing until it is dressed to your liking. Top with tortilla chips. Enjoy!

THIS SALAD IS A MUST!!  WE HAD IT HERE AT WORK SEVERAL DAYS IN A ROW.. SO FRESH, SO FLAVORFUL.....

Allison's Birthday

Yesterday, we celebrated my niece, Allison's 5th birthday..  Oh what a kid she is.. She's a princess that loves to go fishing. golfing  & I know that one day she will be carrying a gun hunting beside her dad & brother wearing pink camo.   They had her party at Aim Gymnastic's in Moses Lake.   They provided a room for the party and the kids were able to play on all the equipment.  Bouncing on the tramp into a foam pit was a hi-lite.  Watching the men trying to do the parrallel bars, the horse and swing from the rope was quite entertaining too.  Kevin was  a tad sore last night.  Happy Birthday Allison.. I love you!!!

 Riki Beamer was the boys babysitter.  She had Adrian from the time he was 4 and Elijah since he was 9 months or so.. It was so cool to see this...


PINTEREST- Dolly got most of her ideas from pinterest from the party... It was so cool how she deorated it..  The purses she made with her cricut.   The cake pops a friend made.  The skirting she made and the wreath too.. What a fun party..

Don't let that sweet smile and pose fool you.. This girl can hold her own.. Ask my boys *lol*

Pinata- The littlest ones go first..  

Carson - The wild one...

Kenzie she wanted to grab it instead of hit it..

This is a blurry picture but look at the determination on Allison's face *lol* This girl has done this before!!

The pinata didn't quite make it to the older boys but they were sure to get in on the candy!!

                      Opening Gifts!!

Elijah is all boy!!!

This is whyyou don't buy this boy white clothes.. He's all boy!!