Canada, Canada, Canada...and a bit of New York

So I've felt sad about moving so far from family...but alas! It's been nice having my big brother and his family only 8 hours away. :D We went back for another week of Canadian fun and will go back AGAIN at the end of this week! :D HA! We just can't get enough. It's been really fun to hang with them because we hadn't really been able to before and we just love them so. :) Here are some pictures from our latest adventure...

They loved feeding animals at a free petting zoo. :) Ontario, Canada.

The boys playing in the pool with their cousins in their huge backyard. :D King, ON

Niagra Falls, ON...we stopped there on our way to Palmyra, NY

The falls were sooo beautiful!

Christian and Darren playing on the logs at the Smith Family farm.

My love handles taking the boys for a walk in the Sacred Grove. :) Palmyra, NY July 2010.

In front of Joseph Smith's first family home (rebuilt) in Palmyra, NY.

Hill Cumorah Pageant. NY, July 2010. BEAUTIFUL production.

Miles LOVES uncle Robert. Soooo precious. :)

Canada!...Oh, and Happy Birthday to me. :D

SO, I've wanted to check out Canada ever since 1997 when I met a hot guy who was FROM there. He showed me pictures of his green, lush homeland with horses and lots of open space to boot. :) Well, a couple weeks ago I finally got me wish! :D Saturday June 26 I drove to visit my big bro and his family--they're there for a few years for his work--and I went ALONE. :) Alan had been gone for the month before for Officer Training for the Air Force and couldn't leave the country until July 8. And my nephew was baptized Sunday July 27...so I went alone. It was a NICE break. :D I loved it! I've always loved my older brother and he's grown up to be a wonderful husband and father. :)
The following Thursday I dragged my bro and his family down to Washington D.C. :) We had a blast there--saw the Museum of Natural History, the Air and Space Museum, saw the Declaration of Independence and Constitution, Lincoln Memorial, WW II Memorial, Vietnam Memorial, National Monument and saw the fireworks show on the fourth--and we just got back today. They drove their trailer and we camped. Trailer camping is nice, very nice. ;)

Alan and I in front of the White House. Fun times!

Walking around D.C. ~ Christian and Darren holding hands. So precious.
Christian LOVED his cousin, Darren--they're the same age--and everyone gets along really well. SO! tomorrow we're driving up to Canada...again. HA! My brother has a kayak and wants to take it out this weekend. Fun times. ;)
On a side note it's my birthday today. I'm 32. Alan took me to Medieval Times on Monday to celebrate and my sis-in-law took me shopping as a gift. A VERY nice gift, indeed. :) I wanted to cry it was so sweet! :D I just love them. Aaaawwwwwwww....

Ode to Fireflies

I love walking around the apartment complex at dusk because it's when the fireflies come out. There's something so magical about their little lights flashing over the bright bright grass in the dimming light. I love it! I saw a lot in Bermejo, Bolivia, but I can't get enough of them. :D One floated lazily by me--four inches from my face--this evening as I pulled out a few weeds that had popped up in my garden. :D So unabashed and unafraid...such cute little guys, I blew it a kiss. ;)

I'm so grateful for the fireflies in our life. Their light is so small yet can brighten even the darkest, dustiest corners of our hearts.

Thank you, fireflies. :)

Being Prepared

So it never hurts to be prepared...right?

So here's Alan's Father's Day present...I know it's not for over a week, but I had to get it today. I couldn't wait. ;) He's wanted a Blu-ray player for sooooo long.

And what good wife wouldn't set it up for him...early...and watch her "New Moon" Blu-ray disc on it? Aren't I so wonderful?
heheheeeeee...Don't tell Alan, I want it to be a surprise. He can't see our blog on the Air Force computers (not like he looks anyway, I'm sure) but if you communicate with Alan keep it on the DL. :D
I know he'll love it. ;)

It's here...THE couch. :D

My couch was delivered today. :D I love it! I'm so excited to sit and enjoy it! :D HA!
(Sitting is not a common thing for this mother of two very active boys. HA!)

Here it is! :D Loooovely. Mmmmmm...Smells like....leather! :D

Here it is with only one side reclined (the other side reclines as well).

Work it, baby work it. Let's get all the angles. ;D
I hope for many a night snuggling with my honey on it. :D

Black or green thumb?

I planted my very first garden yesterday. Whoopie! :D I'm nervous about it's safety, however...the other three or so plants I've had (in pots...inside) have died! Despite all my best efforts to keep them alive. ;) SO, I hope I can keep this garden alive. There's petunias and a few marigolds and (other flowers I can't remember) and a watermelon plant and two strawberry plants. :D I hope they all work out. Christian's really excited.

I've also taken some pictures of our place here in Hershey, PA (mainly for Alan, since he's been gone and hasn't seen it).

Here's the office/toy room. I LOVE having the toys out of the living room!

Dining room...that's Miles' chair covered in plastic. He's MESS-Y. ;)

Kitchen...I still need to arrange a lot in here. One thing at a time...

One wall of our huge living room...love our Poang chairs (from Ikea) and our new bookcase.

Another corner of our living room...the one we love. ;)

The fourth Living Room wall...patiently awaiting the new couch. Five more days! :D
(Don't mind the shelves on the left...they're one of the many things I need to organize still.) :D

And here's the new yellow towel (and matching bath mat) I picked out and the toothbrush holder Christian picked out for the second bathroom. I sure love that kid.

Did I mention we got a new bookcase? ;) I'm pretty much in love with it.
SO! There's the gist of it! :D Hope you enjoyed the show! :D

Couch Snob

I am such a couch snob...we have sat on, slept on, cuddled on old, nasty hand-me-down couches for the past five-and-a-half years of marriage and now I'm putting my foot down! ;) I feel I've earned my right to be a couch snob! :D
So today I bought our first new couch...and it's not just any couch. A leather reclining sofa. NICE. The last couch (THIS one) we borrowed from Alan 's aunt and uncle for a total of about five months...and in that five months Christian had barfed on it and Miles had pooped on it. Sooooo, to say the least, I'm quite excited for the leather.
It looks kind of like THIS:

I'll used burgundy and other colored pillows, though...not pink and lime green. ;) It will be delivered June 9th...I can't wait. :D I can't stand seeing a blank wall where the couch will go. Whoopie!

Our newest adventure...

SO we've moved to Hershey, PA. So fun. ;) I was dreading the move, to tell you the truth. BUT (and a big butt it is) Pennsylvania is soooo pretty! I loooove green rolling hills and trees and this place is full of just that! I was also dreading the move back into apartments, but these aren't so bad! They're spacious (3 beds/2 full baths) and utilities and Internet are included in the price of rent...and there's a huge play area out front! AND, the biggest bonus, the ladies around here are really coolio. :) I can tell we're going to be good friends.
I happened upon the chocolate factory the other day and took the boys in for a tour. They LOVED it. :D Christian's been asking to go again. ;)
And so our newest adventure begins....

Recipe: Whipped Cream Frosting

So there are a lot of different recipes for whipped cream, but I've used those to make my own. I can't stand frosting, it's normally tooooooo sweet! But I love this frosting because it's light and delicious!
I LOOOOVE to make this with double-layered cakes...with pudding in between the layers! To use pudding, add only half the milk that it calls for.
Try it out!

Whipped Cream Frosting

4 Tbsp flour
1 c milk
1 c shortening
1 c sugar (or less, you can use as little as 1/2 cup)
1 tsp vanilla

Cook milk and flour in small saucepan on low heat until it turns into a thick paste. Stick pan in refrigerator to cool. Beat shortening and sugar about 4 minutes or until it looks like whipped butter. Gradually add flour paste mixture. Continue beating 5 minutes. Add vanilla and beat 1 minute more. Will frost two 8 inch cakes or sheet cake.
Yum.

Tip: To get the smooth look with any frosting, get the knife wet. It works! :D

Recipe: Honey Popcorn

My mom used make this yummy popcorn for us for family night (Monday night). We'd beg for it every time because it was our favorite treat!
I made it for girl's night last night and it's still delish. :D
It's good (much better than caramel corn, I think) and super easy!

Honey Popcorn
1 c sugar
1/2 c honey
1/2 c butter

Pop 1 1/2 c popcorn kernels and place in large bowl. (I don't have a popcorn popper so I use two bags of light microwave popcorn.) Make sure no unpopped kernels get inside of bowl.
Place ingredients in medium saucepan. Stir constantly over medium heat. It will eventually begin to boil...boil to hard ball stage on candy thermometer (260 degrees) or for about 5-6 minutes. Pour over popcorn. Stir until popcorn is well coated (AVOID getting on your skin! It sticks and is very, very hot!). Form into balls or any other shape you want (or leave in the bowl, but it's harder to grab some and you'll end up with a huge mound of rock hard yumminess at the bottom). It will become very hard when cooled. Serve warm (which is my favorite) or cool. ENJOY the yumminess!