Tuesday, November 9, 2010

Birthday Season

Cameron and Wesley both had birthdays. Cameron turned 8 yrs old...man I can't believe I am getting that old! We let each boy invite one friend and we went to Chuck E Cheeses to celebrate and to Liberty Land.

Cameron got a rip stick for his birthday and is really good at riding it.

Cameron got baptized this Saturday. We are so proud of him for making the decision to be baptized. He is a great kid!

Fun Facts about Cameron:
  • Loves Thai Food and Cup of Noodles
  • Loves Fishing, could go everyday if we would take him.
  • He is very social..has an easy time making friends. Wants to spend most of his time outside with his friends.
  • His favorite movie is Diary of a Wimpy Kid.
  • Cameron loves chocolate...chocolate cake, chocolate candy, chocolate ice cream, etc..
  • He is very coordinated and catches on to things quickly. He started riding a 2 wheeled bike when he was just 3.
  • He is excited to play basketball this winter.
  • Is SO EXCITED to start cub scouts, he has been counting down the days, hours, minutes.
  • He loves and looks up to his dad and wants to be just like him.
  • Cameron is a good kid, good brother, good friend, and good student! We love you Cameron!

For his birthday Wesley got a Trick Trike, a bike that you can do 360's and tricks on, he spends his afternoons riding his new bike.

Fun Facts about Wesley:
  • Wesley loves to laugh and to make others laugh. He is quite the goof ball sometimes!
  • Loves cereal, he could eat it for every meal of the day.
  • Favorite candy is gum!
  • Wesley loves to be in the water and to swim. He learned to swim without a life jacket this summer.
  • Loves to be active...jumping on the tramp, riding his bike, swinging at the park, and just playing with his friends.
  • Loves his mom...always gives me hugs and kisses and tells me he loves me.
  • Wesley has sucked his thumb since he was a baby...he just got a thumb sucking retainer put in to help him stop.
  • Wesley loves, loves babies! He is looking forward to a new baby brother or sister
We feel lucky to have Wesley as part of our family!...We love you Wes!


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).