The Atwater Family: Sand, Sand and more Sand

Sunday, September 21, 2008

Sand, Sand and more Sand

This weekend we took the kids and went camping at the Sand Dunes. I bought a new tent for Jon for his birthday so this was the first time testing it out. It is huge! We had an air mattress for Jon and I, Brooklyn in her portacrib, and wesley and cameron on foam mats, and we still had plenty of room. The tent is 16 ft in length. We had alot of fun...well except for only getting about an hour of sleep! We camped next to a group of boyscouts and we will just say that they never went to sleep. The kids had alot of fun...Cameron only got off his 4-wheeler to eat, sleep, or to play in the sand. He was in heaven right along with his dad. Wesley enjoyed playing with our friends kids and getting rides. I had alot of fun riding my 4-wheeler and I am finally getting used to riding it. We did have kind of a scare though.....I took Wesley for a long ride and on our way back we were riding over some whoopdidoos kind of fast and so we got some air Wesley grabbed ahold of the throttle cable to keep from falling off and it came apart so we went full throttle. We started going out of control and going full speed, we headed into the brush and up a hill and started to tip over. I was able to catch Wesley as we fell off by the helmet with my arm and with my leg I was able to keep us from rolling. I pushed the brakes hard and I was able to kill the engine. Neither of us really got hurt just a little shaken up.
Saturday we had a pretty good rain storm, and a wind storm that would never let up...thank goodness for some friends that came with us who allowed us to sit in their toy hauler instead of fighting the elements. Jon wants our next big purchase to be a camp trailer/ or toy hauler (yeah right). It would be a little easier to camp in a trailer with kids instead of in a tent that is for sure. But camping in a trailer just doesn't seem like camping to me.

5 comments:

Rickie said...: Sounds like one of those "fun" camping trips. I remember those growing up. Fighting the elements and almost getting hurt. We had lots of those. But hey what would you be without getting hurt or ruining something. That's the Alicia I know. The tent looks/sounds aweome. Where'd you get it? We're looking for a new one.; September 21, 2008 at 8:21 PM
Brook said...: I am all for the tent trailer, I never thought I'd say that, but after packing up what feels like your entire house, well I dream about the day that I will own one, it will make camping so much easier; September 22, 2008 at 2:47 PM
The Wacky Wilkins said...: Good grief . . . glad all turned out well!! Good job catching, Mom. How scary! I believe in camping using a hotel room close to something outdoorsy . . . I know. I've turned soft :); September 27, 2008 at 1:43 PM
Jenn Allphin said...: I love the pictures. What a great family trip! We will have to get together soon. Hope to see you around Halloween as well.; September 27, 2008 at 7:37 PM
Anonymous said...: Looks like Wesley was having a good time. Getting dirty is so much fun.; October 7, 2008 at 8:49 PM

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Salsa Recipe

Salsa Recipe--by Alicia Atwater

3-4 (14.5 ounce) cans of stewed/or diced tomatoes.
1/4 onion (I like to use red onion).
1 green bell pepper
1 lime, juiced (or you can use 1Tbsp lime/or lemon juice from concentrate).
1 tsp salt
1 tsp pepper
1 tsp garlic salt (or one fresh garlic clove minced).
2 Tbsp white vinegar
sliced jalepenos from a jar to taste (I use about 10-15 slices...this will be pretty hot). (I also make sure I buy the hot jalepenos in a jar not the tamed ones).
3 Tbsp chopped fresh cilantro (or you can use dried cilantro same amount).

Mix all ingredients into blender or food processor. Blend on low to desired smoothness. Best if you refrigerate for a couple of hours before eating.

Eclair Recipe----by Stephanie Stephens

Elair Recipe

Filling
1-5 ounce instant vanilla pudding mix
2 cup. milk
1 sm. container cool whip
4 ounces cream cheese--softened

Mix pudding, milk and cream cheese with an electric mixer at least 2 minutes and until smooth. Fold in cool whip. Refrigerate 2 hours. (For smoothest results--without lumps--mix milk and pudding together, in seperate bowl mix softened cream cheese, then mix the pudding milk mixture with the mixed cream cheese)

Shells:
1 cup water
1/2 cup butter
1 cup sifted flour
1/4 tsp. Salt
4 eggs

Preheat oven to 400 degrees. Heat water, butter and salt in a medium saucepan over medium-high heat to a full rolling boil. Add sifted flour all at once and stir until a dough forms and pulls away from the pan. Remove from heat and transfer dough to a mixing bowl. Allow to cool slightly. Then add eggs 1 at a time mixing until well combined after each addition. Spoon dough into 16 strips on an ungreased cookie sheet (I will grease cookie sheet slightly). Bake for 30-35 minutes. Cool on wire rack.

Satiny Chocolate Glaze (from allrecipes.com)
3/4 cup semisweet chocolate chips
3 Tbsp. butter
1 Tbsp. light corn syrup
1/4 tsp vanilla extract

In a double boiler combine chocolate chips, butter and corn syrup. Stir until chips are melted and mixture is smooth, then add vanilla. (I don't have a double boiler so I just microwave all ingredients in a glass container for about 1 and 1/2 minutes).

Assembly: Fill shells by either cutting tops off of shells and filling with a spoon or making a hole in top or side of shell and fill with a pastry bag. Then dip tops of eclairs into warm chocolate glaze. Refrigerate until chocolate is set (about 30 minutes). Cover and keep refrigerated until ready to serve. (also good out of the freezer).