The Atwater Family

Tuesday, November 10, 2009

Wow it's been a long time! A lot has happened since I last posted but I will try to catch you up fast. Last month the boys both had birthday's. Cameron turned 7 and Wesley turned 5. We decided to let each of them invite one friend and we took them to pirate island. They had alot of fun! (I personally like Chuck E Cheese way better). We decided to be pretty cheap with gifts this year and stuck to a $25-$30 budget. The boys would have never known...they loved their gifts! The boys both got skateboards and have been busy learning how to ride them. Cameron is pretty good at it, and Wesley is learning. Wesley enjoys sitting and riding it down the driveway.

I started babysitting for a neighbor a couple of months ago. I babysit Mon-Thurs so most of the week I am home bound and busy. The kids are cute and I am able to make a little extra $.

I love Halloween! In my opinion you are never too old to dress up. We went to our ward's trunk or treat the night before Halloween. On Halloween we went to my parent's to have a little dinner and to make edible graves. Then went to Jon's brother Clint's house and had more fun, food, and a little trick or treating. We still have loads and loads of candy!!

Last Friday we let the kids ditch school and we all went to the zoo with Grandma and Grandpa Simons. I am usually not a very big fan of the zoo, but it was so much fun. The weather was perfect, my kids were good, there was not very many people there, the animals were all alert and active, we saw a baby elephant, baby giraffe, and baby monkey (all so cute). I could have watched the monkeys all day! The kids had fun riding the train and the merry go round, but riding on Grandpa Simons's motorized scooter was by far the kids favorite! I brought my camera along but the batteries died while trying to take the first picture....typical!

3 comments:

Becky said...: I love your Halloween costumes! You and Jon are so good to dress up. You both looked great. I'm glad you posted, I was just thinking about you the other day wondering how you were doing. Looks like your doing great.; November 10, 2009 at 2:59 PM
Leslie said...: The two of you look AWESOME! Love the Mary Poppins and Bert theme... Now did Jon say, "Why, Mary Poppins, you look BEEAAauutiful!" And then he did a goofy dance with little penguins, right? Hope so... or I'd ask for a refund! Ha ha! Your fam is just darling.; November 13, 2009 at 12:20 PM
Shelly said...: Oh my your family is ADORABLE!! I love your Halloween costumes...so fun! Great pictures....Love love the Mary Poppins and Bert!! How are you chicka....its been too long we need to catch up! Someday right????; November 21, 2009 at 10:31 PM

Post a Comment

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).