Response Requested

So, I have a question for you... it's part of an on going dilemma at our house.  At first it I thought I was just having a moment, but then it seems that Colby is feeling this way too...so here it is...

What do you cook in the summertime?

When all the world is hot...

Do you eat cold things outside or eat only things fried?

Or throw it all in a crock pot?

I'm sorry!!!  Truly, but as I started typing a song came to mind and well, now that that's out of my system...I'm serious - do you cook differently in the summer?

My motivation to turn on my oven (for dinner) or stand over a hot stove is pretty much nill, so trying to think of something to cook for dinner that sounds appetizing is getting pretty difficult.

Do you want to know a secret?  You do?  Okay - I have a hard time cooking.  Now I realize that that seems funny, but there is a difference between cooking and baking.  I LOVE to bake, and I like to cook.
At any given moment I have at least 5-10 dessert recipes floating in my brain. 
When it comes to making a meal plan for the week - I fail.  I'm lucky if I can come up with 2 or 3.

I want to make this...

Not, this...

So, do a girl a favor and give me some ideas on what you love to cook for your crew when you'd rather be laying in a pool. Or maybe you cook the same way year round and I just need to get over it.

Thanks! (I'll share what I find out.)

I made a cake...

a cake for my sweet friend that got married today.

It looked like this...

Congrats Debbie and DJ!

Sluffing Work

Jaxon had a doctor's appointment at Primary's this morning and since I didn't feel like driving 2 hours back and forth to work today, Jax stayed with me at work for a half day and then home we went.

Colby and I had a sluff day with the kids and this is how it went...

BOONDOCKS - our first stop.

This kids ran around like crazies playhing games and getting tickets.

Then out to the bumper boats where they all got SOAKED!

Notice the kids ducking their heads and hiding from the water?

Next stop - DUCK POND.

This kids love to go to the Layton park and feed the ducks.

Aren't we a roudy looking bunch?

After the park we went to the kids favorite spot for dinner - BRICK OVEN, where they ate more than I did. And finally home for popcorn and a movie.

Everyone is exhausted!  But, it was a great day.  I love getting to spend time with my little family.

Garden Update - Week 2

The Corn

The Broccoli

Cucumbers

Peppers..yes that is a mini pepper growing

The carrots... they are not doing so hot... I'm considering digging them up and planting something else... I guess we'll give them another week.

Update on the strawberry patch... I HATE birds!  (Not really, but for the sake of my strawberries)  The strawberries are growing, but as soon as one turns pink and gets even slightly close to red the birds come and eat them off the plants before I can pick them.  So, I think we are going to try putting up some nets. 

Any suggestions are welcome!

Summer Party

Colby works for the Jazz so his summer work party is attended by some very fun guests.  Kyah had her picture taken with Buzz the Bee.

We were served our dinner by Gail Miller and Randy Rigby.

At shot at (with confetti) by the Jazz Bear.

They had face painting and balloons for the kids. There were activities and then of course the baseball game.

We were given bags of goodies as we came in the gates so the kids would have enough to snack on.

 This was both Jaxon and Kyah's first time to a baseball game.  They both did great.  The weather was perfect and we all had a nice time together as a family.

Thanks LHM Group for an awesome night out with the fam!

Garden Update #1

One week photos...

This is the corn... can you believe it??  I can't believe it sprouted in one week.

And the beets too. 

And the brocolli - actually the brocolli was the first to come up and then the beets and corn.

Here's the cucumbers - we did have one die, but the rest have held on so far.

A RED strawberry!!  The kids are already clamoring to eat them.  I am probably the most excited about my little strawberry patch.  What a fun and happy little spot of earth.

We have some kind of bug that's trying hard to eat our little plants so unfortunately we had to bug spray them this week, but it looks like the watermelon and carrot seeds are starting to poke through.

Birthday Boy

This kid turned six.  Sometimes I can hardly believe how fast the time has flown by.

Jaxon's very own Angry Bird.

I love the above picture...he's still a little boy to me and he's still excited to blow out candles. 

 Opening presents - he has so many people that love him and are so generous.

 He got his first set of legos for Christmas and really liked them, so we got him more - he put the set in his hand together all by himself one night after dinner - he was SO PROUD of himself!

 Aren't these two cute? 

I love this face!  Happy Birthday Buddy!

Favorite Colors: Blue, Red and Green

Favorite toys: Legos, Transformers, Bakugans

Favorite Sport: Baseball

Favorite Food: Cheesecake

This Weekend

I made (with the help of my trusty assistant)...

a cake for my bosses son....

A German Chocolate Cake for the Chocolate Lovers at our house...

(I'll be posting the recipe for the frosting this week if you're interested)

Angry Birds and Pigs - For someone specials Birthday Cake.

Blueberry Muffins - Confession, until this weekend I had never made muffins from scratch - there, I said it!

(Recipe to come.) 

Debbie's Shower

One of my old college buddies is getting married at the end of the month so, we thought we'd have a bit of a party to celebrate in her excitement.

Debbie is practically part of the family so it was only fitting to bring them.

We had lunch at this great little spot called La-Cai Noodle House.  Seriously good food!  I will be going back.  I'm considering a lunch date with Colby there right now... Yum!

This was kind of a modern twist on the age old idea.  We went to a restaurant... had lunch, gabbed, opened presents and laughed hard.  No games, no awkwardness - just friends, food and fun.

I went to school with both Maghann and Debbie (above) aren't they the cutest. 

I just loved school with them.

Maghann brought some super cute centerpieces (Thank you!), you can see them here.

Debbie is such a sweetheart.  I'm so glad we all got to chat and catch up over lunch.

Good luck Debs!

These are the cookies I made as the treat/parting favor for each guest.

It was my first time trying to decorate sugar cookies with royal icing and I think it went pretty well all things considered.