We did it again & Adventures

Well we couldn't stay away long. This time we hit up San Clemente Beach. We picked up some bodyboards on the way and it was a good thing. It was great for us because of the big waves, less kid friendly though. I remembered the camera this time. Here is Kyle catching a little wave.

Breckyn doing a nice upward dog pose. She watches me do yoga in the morning.

Breckyn loved to play in the water with Daddy. Who by the way is looking quite nice, no?

Ryder chillaxed the whole day.

Kyra felt safe in her chair and seemed quite happy there.

ADVENTURES LAST WEEK:

Monday: Make Oreo Dirt Cups

Tuesday: Fun with craft foam

Wednesday: Swimming in the pool (okay, this was everyday)

Thursday: Fun with waterballoons and water guns

Friday: Shopping! (My favorite)

Love Birds - Tag from Johanna

1) Where did you and your husband meet? We grew up in the same town, opposite sides. We knew of eachothers families from the time of our childhood but didn't officially "meet" until a stake dance when we were 17.


2) First thing said? Kyle: Hey, you want to dance? Dana Lee: Sure


3) First date? We doubled with Darrin Case and Tamara Patterson. It was at Darrin's house and they made us macaroni and cheese. Afterwards we played games and really had a fun time.


4) First Kiss? In my driveway behind his old black truck. (We had to hide from my parents bedroom window.)


5) When "I Love You's" were first said: Kyle said it first. I said it a little while later.




6) Long or short courtship/engagement? hmm... SUPER long. Here is the short version of a long history. We always knew we were made for eachother, we just had to wait for the really right time to do this thang. 1st relationship: high school (I ended it), 2nd relationship: post Kyle's mission (Kyle fizzled out) 3rd relationship: pre DL mission (I left), 4th relationship: post DL mission (Kyle fizzled out), 5th relationship: started back up in November, engaged in April, married in June.




7) Where did you get engaged? On the banks of the Provo River. Kyle was fishing while I was painting my toenails. He "caught" a fish. He wanted to see if I was tough enough to gut it. I was and inside I found a ring! Don't worry it was carefully wrapped and had no fish guts on it. I was surpised to say the least.




8) Where did you get married? Manti Temple, June 7, 2002 It was a perfect day.





9) Where did you go on your honeymoon? Telluride, Colorado - Absolutely gorgous and completely empty at that time of year. Hiking, gondola rides, um, hanging out. It was delightful.


10)Where did you make your first home? Tiny, one bedroom, basement apartment of a house my parents owned and I managed in Provo, where Kyle finished up his last year of undergrad and I worked at Head Start.


Now I tag my old Iowa buddies, Katrina and Christina!

My old dollhouse

My Grandpa Brown. Isn't he so cute?



He made this dollhouse for me when I was probably 6 years old. I loved it and played with it everyday.



I broke it in some places. It used to have stairs off the porch and little doors with real tiny hinges.



It had little windows that all fell off. This wallpaper is the same that was in my room when I was a little girl.



The attic door is still there. Isn't it so cute?



I can't even imagine how long it took my Grandpa to make this. For me. I still feel special because he did that.



I've now passed it on to my girls'. I cringe a little when they play with it because it is so delicate and fragile, but I'd rather them play with it and beat it up a little more than have it sit in the closet gathering dust. I think my Grandpa would be pleased.

Adventure of the Day {2}

Monday: Treasure Hunt
Tuesday: Make Wierd Marshmellow Treats
Wednesday: Contact Paper Collages
Thursday: Trip to the beach
Friday: Play Hair Salon

Milk Allergy?

Okay so Breckyn thought it might be a great idea to put her hands into her milk and then style Ryder's hair the way I sometimes do with the hair putty. A few minutes later, welts raised all over his hands and face where the milk had touched. Then again yesterday she kindly gave Ryder some entertainment by pouring her unwanted milk into his high chair for him to splash in. She is just being helpful. A few minutes later I snapped this picture. So what does this mean? He's never had any other problems.

A Day at the Beach

Yesterday was Kyle's day off. Ever since we decided to move to California we have been imagining ourselves lounging on the beach. Finally we did it. Yesterday we spent the day at Laguna Beach. Breckyn was in heaven, chasing down waves and then running away from them, collecting sea shells and building sand castles. Kyra is still terrified of the waves, but still had fun. I LOVE the beach. It is my favorite place. I know I have a lot of those, but seriously, it is awesome. We can't wait to go back. Only problem, I forgot to take my camera, so you get this generic stock photo of Laguna Beach. Oh well, there is always next time.

Adventure of the Day!

I try to do something especially fun with my kids everyday. We call it our "adventure". I am not creative, but I am good at finding creative things from other people. We have so much fun. I am going to weekly document what we do, just so we can always remember. Some days we don't get to it, or our adventure may just be going to the grociery store. Either way the girls get so excited and and ask me each morning "what will our adventure be today??" So these were some of our adventures this week.

Monday: Start Muffin Tin Monday Tradition/Tea Party
Tuesday: Sidewalk Painting
Wednesday: Marble Painting
Thursday : Make Icecream in a baggie - surprisingly delicious and easy!
Friday: Sink/Float Experiments

Check it out!

My photog friend did a session with my kiddos! Check it out here.

Buster Bar Ice Cream Dessert

I took this dessert to a gathering of friends last night and everyone went nuts over it. I was pleasantly surprised because the previous 2 -3 times I have made this it went uneaten in our freezer. Kyle just isn't into ice cream so much I guess. I promised I'd put it up here to share. I found this recipe from allrecipes.com

INGREDIENTS
1 pound chocolate sandwich cookies, crushed
1/2 cup margarine, melted
1 3/4 cups confectioners' sugar
1 (12 fluid ounce) can evaporated milk
1 cup semisweet chocolate chips (I use milk chocolate)
1/2 cup margarine
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
1/2 gallon vanilla ice cream (I never use the full carton)
1 1/2 cups dry-roasted peanuts (I don't use that many)

DIRECTIONS
Combined crushed cookies and melted margarine and press into a 9x13 inch dish. Chill 1 hour in refrigerator. (Just put it in the freezer while you prepare sauce and ice cream)
In a saucepan over medium heat, combine confectioners' sugar, evaporated milk, chocolate chips and 1/2 cup margarine. Bring to a boil, stirring constantly, and boil 8 minutes. Remove from heat and stir in vanilla. Set aside to cool. (I put it in the fridge so it doesn't melt away the icecream when I put it on)
Slice vanilla ice cream into 3/4 inch slices, and place them in a single layer over the chilled crust. Smooth the seams. Sprinkle the peanuts over the ice cream. Top with the cooled chocolate sauce. Cover and freeze 8 hours or overnight. (I've just frozen it for 5 hours or so and it was fine)

Hope you enjoy it!!

Ragged Mountain

What a blast! We spent a full week in a cabin at Ragged Mountain in Colorado. The children loved it and I didn't have much to get done besides taking care of the children so I was able to really enjoy them. It was exactly what we all needed.