Christmas Card

Vegetable Cheese Chowder

This cold, rainy day has me craving my sister Debbie's soup. I think I will make it tonight.

Vegetable Cheese Chowder
4 cups cubed potatoes
2 cups diced celery
2 cups diced carrots
1/2 c minced onion
1 t. salt
4 cups water
10 oz frozen broccoli (or 2 c fresh)
3 T. chicken base
3 1/2 c milk
1/2 c butter
1/2 c flour
1 T dry mustard
1 lb cheddar cheese

In large soup pot place potatoes, carrots, celery and onions (and fresh broccoli if using fresh). Add salt and water. Cook about 20 minutes, until tender. Add frozen broccoli (if using frozen), chicken base and milk. Simmer 5 minutes.

In saucepan melt butter, add flour and mustard. Stir to make sauce. Add to soup and stir until thick. Grate cheese and add to soup, stirring until melted. Keep hot, but do not boil.

Nine Is Fine

Just before Emily's birthday I hired my hairdresser to curl and braid her hair, gave her a new dress from Anthropologie and took her to the park to take a few pics. She's getting to be a good little model! We didn't fight at all!

Friday Night Bikes

We love cool evenings out in the street with our neighbor friends. We sure have some great families on our street!

School Pics

The girls started school mid August. It was rough coming home from vacation and having to get right into school. Emily is in 3rd grade and has Miss Parker. Avery is in 1st grade and has Mrs. Koller. I took these pics on school picture day, because I don't like to pay for theirs.

Refried Beans

The first night at the beach house was my turn for dinner. I made enchiladas and refried beans. They were yummy! The recipe came from a ward member after we had spoken about our favorite Mexican Food dishes.

Refried beans:
3 c dry pinto beans
1 diced onion
9 c water
1 3/4 tsp pepper...
5 tsp salt
2 T minced garlic
1/8 tsp ground cumin
 
Combine all ingredients in large crock pot and cook 8 hours on high. Drain and reserve liquid. Mash with potato masher. Add desired amount of liquid back, until slightly runny. Beans will thicken.

Beach House!

We had a great family vacation in Ventura! I was able to snag a reservation for the beach house when there was a cancellation. It was a little expensive, but beautiful and right on the beach. We spent the week eating lots, boogie boarding, playing the game Splendor, and watching the Olympics.

private sandbox

who knew my man loved boogie boarding?

silly boys

these bikes saved our outing to Ventura

harder than it looks

We got the Master bedroom. Loved it.

Kids spent most of their time in the hot tubs.

We rented this sea mat. It was a hit.