{Family Fun}

Recently my parents had decided that we don't get together enough as a family so we are starting a new tradition, every first Monday of the month we'll get together for a good ol' fashion Family Night.  This Monday was our first, Mom wanted to go to This is The Place Park in SLC to see the Christmas lights, but after the snow and wind we decided that it was going to be too cold.  Instead we decided to stay in and make gingerbread houses.  It was tons of fun watching 6 grown adults make these houses and munching on candy that none of us had had in years!

Thanksgiving

I have finally found the time to write about my Thanksgiving now that it's the official Christmas season.  This Thanksgiving i was given the assignment to bring an appetizer and a dessert.  Now i haven't quite perfected this cooking thing but for this Thanksgiving i decided to go all out and try things that i had never done before and cross my fingers that everything turned out okay so i didn't have to run to the store last minute to buy something pre-made,  I found a quick and easy recipe for a spinach artichoke dip which turned out so good i thought id share it:

1-Stick Butter (melt in pan)

1- small onion (mince and saute in pan of butter)

1- pkg frozen chopped spinach (thaw and drain excess water, add to mixture, keep heat on the whole time)

1- 8oz pkg Cream Cheese (add to mixture, stir until melted)

1- Cup Sour Cream (add to mixture)

1- Can marinated artichoke hearts (chop & Add to mixture)
3/4 C, Shredded Parmesan cheese (add to micture, stir until melted)

1- cup shredded Monterrey Jack cheese (add to mixture, save a little to melt on top)

crushed red pepper flake (to taste, optional)

crushed garlic (to taste, optional)

Serve with a toasted baguette slice, corn chips, or french bread.

I also decided i would try my hand at making a homemade cheesecake since my sister is the pie queen in the family.  I discovered that cooking those just right is a little hard, the middle stays wiggly the whole time so i didn't know it was done until it had cracked.  It tasted delicious though. 

The day after thanksgiving Erin and i went shopping, but not too early with all those nutty's,  I was actually very disappointed with myself, we shopped for like 6 hours and i only got three presents done.  Oh, well i guess that just means i have to go again and again.

I'm grateful for all my blessings, for my wonderful husband who is always so thoughtful and willing to help anyone with anything, for my parents for raising me to become the woman i am today, and for our jobs and all the comforts they provide us.  This year im especially thankful for my grandpa Burton; who recently passed away, for all the stories, lessons, and love that he shared with me.

Happy holidays everyone! 

 

ALOHA...

Kyle and I have reluctantly returned home from our island paradise. I tell you I could get used to the island life. We visited the beautiful island Oahu for 7 blissful days and 6 relaxing nights, in which we crammed in as much fun and relaxing as possible.

We visited many beaches along Oahu's beautiful coast line including the ever famous North Shore where Kyle and Matt enjoyed attempting boogie boarding with the big boys; as well as Waikiki Beach. We visited the Stadium Swap Meet and bought a few trinkets. Took a hike up Diamond Head, visited the Hawaii Temple (closed for renovations), and furthered our knowledge of the Polynesian Island at the Cultural Center, and visited Pear Harbor.

Needless to say we're sad to be home.

Quote of the Trip:

"Augh, there's sand everywhere!"-Erin Read @ Waikiki Beach

{Tropical Dreams & Home Suite Home}

Kyle and I are patiently counting down the days to our vacation. We were lucky enough to be able to afford a vacation to tropical Honolulu, HI. Were looking forward to a relaxing week of fun and adventure with our friends Matt & Erin.
Kyle and I have also put our home on the market. We decided it's just time to find something that we could grown into, not out of. We have listed with Lori W. Lee, so far we have had 3 showings in 3 days. Were hopeful that the phone will ring soon with an offer.

If you know anyone that's in the market for a starter home, let us know!

East Canyon

This weekend Kyle and I headed up to East Canyon for a relaxing weekend away from home with our friend Matt and Erin. We wanted to enjoy the changing leaves and the outdoors.

Kyle and Matt decided to enjoy a man's man activity and went fly fishing. They didn't have much luck with the fly fishing but did catch a few with a regular ol' pole.

While the boys were out fishing us girl stayed in and did a few crafts. Now anyone that knows me knows i am a bit of a craft virgin, which is surprising considering who my mother is. Erin introduced me to the exciting world of decoupaging. I needed some Fall/Thanksgiving decorations and got them all in one weekend!

First we made these cute picture frames.

Then these cute letters that I'll attach to a 2x4 later.

My proudest craft were these two wall hanging vases. I have been looking for something to go on either side of my mirror that i have hanging in our living room for ever. Earlier last week Erin and I headed to Gardner Village which is were i found my inspiration, they were just a little too pricey.

The inspiration:

The Home Made Version:

2-Upside Down Wreath Hooks, 2-Vases & Some Old Wire is all it Takes

We also decorated these vases with some ribbon and went out to collect a little nature to liven them up. With how wet and rainy this weekend was the trails we decided to drive on to get our leaves were a little muddy and slippery. We managed to four wheel it up a few, and only made the Read's slightly uncomfortable in the back seat while the truck was slip and sliding up and down the hills with a steep decline on one side.

Erin and I decided we should participate in a little activity with our spouses at some point during the weekend and of course the boys made it the most manly activity of all, shooting guns.

We didn't forget it was conference weekend though. We watched it while we were finishing up the crafts. The boys almost made it through the whole thing with out falling asleep. They tried so hard, but some of those speakers were just too monotone to make it.
All in all it was an awesome weekend! Thanks to Matt and Erin for sharing the condo with us, can't wait to do it again!
Next on the Blanchard Blog... the new room.

Summer Update

With the ofical first day of Autumn fast approaching next week I thought I should give a final update on my summer doings.

This summer Kyle and I enjoyed eachothers company, friends, the outdoors, food and fun! One of our families favorite summer activities as you have noticed is both waverunning, and four wheeling. Kyle somehow mannaged to convience me to purchase another four wheeler reciently. We decided to take it out on its innogural ride a few days after we got it and headed up to Avon, just the two of us.

Please pardon the dirty faces; just one of the perks of riding. Nothing like the taste dirt in your mouth to give you a real appreciation for the outdoors.

We also managed to convince our friend Erin, who had never ridden a four wheeler, to take her and her husband out for a ride. No pics for this one, but we all headed up to East Canyon where Matt and Erin have access to all 150,000 acres of land to ride on. It was a perfect day for riding and the trails were beautiful, we're looking forward to going again sometime.

I also got the decorating bug over the summer. Our house is a little on the small side and when ever we have people over there just doesn't to seem to be enough room. So i decided that i needed to purchase a new sectional for additional seating. Well after a full day of searching from here to point of the mountain with the help of my friend Erin, we came to the conclusion that I just wasnt going to find something that i was in love with and afford; so i just settled with redecorating. The room is not quite complete but here it is.

It's brighter and more colorful

Next... onto the bedroom!

On a side note; for some reason the decorating bug always seems to hit me when Kyle is gone hunting. Every year he comes home to something new.

Kyle did go bow hunting this year with is Dad and Grandpa but was unsuccessful. For some reason it's alot harder to kill and animal with a stick than a bullet. I do have to say that im relieved that he didn't get anything.

So that's it for now. While the weather last a little longer well soak up as much as we can, maybe go waveruning a few more times, and possibly go camping? I am excited to fall to be here though, it's my favorite season. I just hope we dont skip it and move straight onto winter.

Flowers

I know I've already blogged about this before but my flowers are getting so big and pretty! We are now frequented with random strangers stopping outside our house to stare at the flowers. Lots of old folks, we've even had people walk up and knock on our door to see what our secret is to getting them so big... p.s. the secret is that there is no secret, we water and fertilize every 2-3 weeks.