BRENDA'S BLOG

Signs of Spring!!

2010-03-16T22:42:00.000-07:00

One of my favorites - I love to see the crocus starting to bloom everywhere I look! Yeah - spring is on it's way!

More Hawaii Pictures

2009-10-04T20:16:00.000-07:00

HAWAII

2009-09-27T22:04:00.001-07:00

Here are a few pictures from my trip to Oahu and Hawaii in August! SO MUCH FUN - and so so beautiful - words can't describe.... =)

Dad's 70th Celebration!

2009-03-15T22:55:00.000-07:00

Here is a picture we took just before heading to church on Sunday. That was fun too - to all be there again on the same pew (almost -we didn't quite fit) in the ward we grew up in.

HANGING OUT AT HOME

2009-03-15T22:51:00.000-07:00

What fun to spend a few days at home with all my brothers and sisters. It was fun to reminisce about what it was like when we were all there in the same house - oh so long ago.

Dad's 70th Celebration!

2009-03-15T19:55:00.000-07:00

We hadn't planned to get together for my dad's 70th birthday - we were all just going to send something to my brother in ID to put in a nice book for him. I had hoped to be able to get away and drive up and I'm sure a few other siblings had thought about going, but as it turned out - through various emails and discussions - ALL 7 OF US decided to go and surprise him!! My oldest brother drove to Vegas from CA and met my sister and they flew up together.

Here are a few pictures of us just after we'd come out from hiding behind the wall at a Chinese place in Rexburg.

DRAPER TEMPLE OPEN HOUSE

2009-02-12T22:47:00.000-08:00

I have been anxious to get to see the new Draper Temple so I was excited when I found out my parents were coming down to go. It was fun to be able to join them. They even took me out to a yummy birthday dinner afterward.

The temple was neat to see. It was a silent tour, which was different than at the Rexburg Temple, due to the number of people coming through I'm sure..... so it made it nice at the end they had us all sit in one of the large sealing rooms and an older couple explained the sealing ordinance and expressed their gratitude for their temple marriage. It ended it with a great spirit there.

FAT CATS

2009-02-12T22:18:00.000-08:00

I had so much fun on my birthday hanging out at Becky's with her family all day. They spoiled me with so many fun gifts! We went bowling at Fat Cat's! It was fun to watch the kids bowl. We ate at Costa Vida when we were all done. What a party!!

2009-01-21T22:19:00.000-08:00

I think I'm finally done with this blogging thing for the night - but just had to post the fun recipe I tried out on my sister and her family the other night. It turned out good and reminded me of summer - you'll have to try it!! =)

Chicken with Peach and Melon Salsa

1 (15-ounce) can peach halves, drained and rinsed
4 boneless, skinless chicken breasts
4 teaspoons Jamaican Jerk seasoning
1 cup pre-cut melon medley, diced
1 tablespoon diced pimientos
1 tablespoon freshly chopped cilantro leaves
1 tablespoon lime juice
1/2 teaspoon salt

Directions

Heat a grill pan over medium-high heat.

Place peaches halves on grill pan and grill 2 to 3 minutes per side. Set aside to cool and then dice into small pieces.

Season both sides of each chicken breast with 1 teaspoon Jamaican jerk seasoning. Place chicken breasts in pan and grill for 6 minutes per side, or until cooked through.

Meanwhile, in a medium bowl, combine grilled peaches and remaining ingredients. Stir thoroughly.

Serve chicken topped with peach and melon salsa.

2009-01-21T22:13:00.000-08:00

Ok - so call me totally cheesy - I have no idea who these happy people are - I just saw this picture on a photography website and had to snag it.... this is my DREAM wedding bouquet! I love calla lilies - isn't it beautiful?!?

2009-01-21T21:32:00.000-08:00

What fun boys! I got to watch Collin's basketball practice and his first game while I was in Vegas. Way to go Cols! Grant climbed up and over the climbing wall at the park! Very impressive. I had so much fun doing puzzles and reading books and just hanging out with these guys.

2009-01-21T21:29:00.000-08:00

Katelyn tried this hat on while we were bargain shopping at Target. There were a bunch of toys for 75% off... Chad got a fun skeet ball game that everyone loved for such a great deal! Kates is so cute and fun to chat with - we had a few moments to ourselves where I got a full glimpse of her personality. Some very cute things come out of her mouth.... =)

2009-01-21T21:24:00.000-08:00

What a happy kid! It was so much fun to hop on I-15 and head down to Vegas for a few days to see my sister. Ben smiles with his mouth WIDE open and never stops. He is always smiling! I miss him already. He even smiled while he was sick and throwing up.

CHRISTMAS MEMORIES

2009-01-08T02:20:00.000-08:00

I had such a fun day spending Christmas with my sister Becky and her family. They made me feel so welcome! I was able to spend a few days in Rexburg too and got some pictures of my brother's cute kids!

Lunch with the girls

2008-12-30T23:21:00.000-08:00

Suzette was in town after having spent Christmas with her parent's in Oklahoma where they are serving as Mission Presidents. I was glad to get to join her and Wendy and Annie for lunch at Olive Garden after a busy morning at work.

Festival of Lights

2008-12-16T01:47:00.000-08:00

I was so glad to get a quick break from work and go see Festival of Lights in Spanish Fork with my sister and her cute family for FHE. I love it - even after going year after year. I love how all the displays are nestled down among the trees - it was snowing lightly and was just a perfect night out. = )

HAPPY HOLIDAYS!!

2008-12-07T23:25:00.001-08:00

Happy Holidays! I love this time of year. I just spent the evening at my sister's house with her family and enjoyed so much being in their warm house with the beautifully lit tree.... sitting around it listening to a Christmas story.

I can't wait for SNOW!

To continue the job update - I work at Salt City Candles right now - until January. A gal that I know from back in the college days is married to the owner - so it just kinda fell into place nicely and has been such a blessing to have good work for the last couple of months. I am managing the kiosks in the mall and have had to hire and train and maintain the schedules for our 15 or so employees. It's been fun so far and is likely to get a lot busier here in the next few weeks.

JOB UPDATE

2008-12-07T22:43:00.001-08:00

The latest in my life - since I haven't updated this blog since July - is that I now no longer work at Thanksgiving Point - they made some changes and no longer have a public events dept. which I was part of. I have had lots of fun exploring different job options. I substitute taught for a month and worked at a spook alley for my old boss.... I'm posting a picture here of my boyfriend that I met while working there. =)

My current pride and joy

2008-07-17T12:48:00.000-07:00

I am SO excited that my garden is actually growing - I had to take pictures to post here. I got a late start when I found out our town house complex had a place we could plant a small garden, and then the weeds took over while I was in ID. BUT - I've been working hard all week to weed and get it back in shape and I think there is hope that I might actually get some vegetables from it this summer. I planted, spaghetti squash, cucumbers, carrots, onions, peppers, honeydew melon, beans and TOMATOES! So, many tomatoes I may have to have my own farmer's market! I just wanted to try a few of every kind and have enough for salsa and spaghetti sauce etc.... I think the 12 plants I have ought to be plenty! I have been mocked about it - people saying 1 plant alone would have been plenty for just me. Oh well - I'm sure I can find many people willing to help me eat them!

The pictures I'm attaching are a few shots for you to see the progress so far. I have one squash plant that I didn't plant, that just started sprouting right in the middle of one of my rows..... no idea what kind of squash it is - but it's doing alot better than my plants..... so I added a picture of it. I also had to take a picture for you to see the garden next door. The gal's dad owns the Highland nursery - and their garden is beautiful. It's a bit intimidating to be right next to them. Although - it's fun when people have come to visit and see my place to pretend their garden is mine when showing it off...... = ) It fools people temporarily at least.

Darling Girls

2008-07-17T12:43:00.000-07:00

I went to visit Beck and kids the other day - just after the girls all got their hair cut by Melissa, their nice neighbor. They all looked so cute. I even got in on the deal and she trimmed mine while I was there as well. I had to post these cute pictures of them. Auriana hadn't gotten hers cut yet at this point - neither had Beck, so I don't have pictures here of them.

TWENTY YEAR CLASS REUNION!!

2008-07-17T11:24:00.000-07:00

So hard to believe it's been 20 years - really! I drove up to Rexburg Saturday morning to be able to get to Porter Park in time to still find some of my classmates and their families there. It was so much fun to walk into the group and be greeted by so many familiar faces. I have to say I was surprised that they were ALL so familiar! No one looked much different at all to me - it was so much fun to see people like Robin Erickson and Ronette Woodskow, who I don't think I've seen since graduation..... at least Rick's College graduation. I especially loved getting to see everyone's kids. It had been fun over the last month or so to get to see pictures everyone had posted to the group website. http://groups.google.com/group/madison88

I enjoyed the day and it was so much fun to have more time to chat with more fun friends that night. I am so impressed with everyone and what they have accomplished in the last twenty years and the great families they are raising.

Fun Family Times

2008-05-07T16:30:00.000-07:00