s'Mores the Nielsen Way

Monday for Family Night treats, we had S'Mores the Nielsen way. It has taken us years to perfect our technique. We didn't like the traditional way because the marshmallows squish out the sides and you end up with just unmelted Hershey's bar and dry graham crackers. My cousin's family taught us to make the with Fudge Striped cookies, and that was better. Then we had a friend show us how to make them with the marshmallows squished between two Deluxe Graham cookies. This was good, but you still ended up with chocolate all over your fingers and the marshmallows squished out the sides. So, Sean decided one time to roast his marshmallow (slow roasted so it gets big and brown) and then push the Deluxe Graham cookie up the middle. It is perfect! You hold on to the end of the cookie and eat it all at once. The hot marshmallow melts the chocolate and it is just perfect (according to us anyway!) We also like them with Grasshopper cookies in place of the deluxe grahams.

So sad

I just have to say that I am really bummed that Will got voted off "So You Think You Can Dance" last night. He was my favorite guy. It should have been Mark that got the boot. That's all I have to say.

Grandpa's Birthday

We were so excited to get to go to the new Payson Swimming Pool for Grandpa LaMarr's birthday party. All of the family including the cousins came to play. Trevin loved the Lazy River and Travis and Tyrel loved the slides. I loved all of it and especially that the bottom of the pool is kind of padded and squishy. Sean didn't come because his arm is still recovering but after all of the water fun, everyone came up to our house for a dutch oven cookoff. There was tons of good food and we had a lot of fun. Sean made Hawaiian Chicken and it was so yummy!!! We also had ribs, cheesy potatoes, melons, green salad, corn on the cob (yum), baked beans, and peach cobler and ice cream for dessert. It was fun to get to see everyone and be able to just visit out on the deck all evening.

Here is the recipe for the chicken for those of you who requested it

HAWAIIAN CHICKEN

Boneless/Skinless chicken thighs with salt, pepper, and paprika sprinkled on them

Mr. Yoshida's Teriyaki sauce

Chunked pineapple (drained)

Sear the chicken on the grill and put a layer in the bottom of dutch oven. Top layer with 1/2 can of pineapple. Drizzle with 1/4 of the bottle of teriyaki sauce. Keep repeating layers. We got four layers in the dutch oven. Put lid on dutch oven. Put coals on top and bottom of dutch oven. Let cook with coals for at least 1 to 1 1/2 hours.

In other news, Sean started his new job today with Plaza Home Mortgage and that's about all the news we have since the last entry.

Steadfast and Immovable, Abounding in Good Works

The YM/YW theme for 2008 was also our theme for Youth Conference . We started on Thursday by heading up to Welfare Square for a tour and a treat from them of cheese and chocolate milk. We then toured the Humanitarian center. I thought both places were very interesting. I am amazed how much the church gives to other countries, people, and other churches in need. We had lunch in the park and then watched the Joseph Smith movie. It was amazing! You should go see it if you haven't already. We then went back to the park for a short talk by Justin Haskell regarding the church Perpetual Education fund about the Best Buddy program he is involved with. He even brought his Buddy along. We then headed up to Heber for a Pizza dinner and relay races relating to people from the scriptures that were Steadfast and Immovable. We talked about Daniel and his friends in the Bible that refused to eat the kings food but ate vegetables and fruits and water instead and had a relay with dipping a carrot in a cup of water (way funny). Also had relays related to Ammon rescuing the sheep (running with a pillow between the knees and under each arm with a sword in hand, the pillows were the sheep) and the four sons of Mosiah in the Book of Mormon (4 people tied together kind of like a 3 legged race except it was 5 legged). Then we headed to Strawberry Reservoir where the girls stayed in Haskell's cabin and the boys set up tents in the campground. On Saturday morning we had breakfast and did a service project for the Forest Service chopping weeds that were too close to campsites for them to spray. After that we all went to the cabin where the Smith's from our ward came and talked about the school they run in Mexico 9 months a year with their own funds and funds donated by our ward. Ann Johnson then talked about her brief stay in Panama and Ghana where she took hygeine kits and taught them about good health. She had us bead bracelets (called Weenies) while she talked. She had learned about them in Panama. Then we had lunch and headed to the boats and the beach.
After all the fun we could stand in the cold water, the Badders' from our ward came up to make us dinner (tri-tip, corn on the cob, brownies, watermelon). Then we all headed over to the amphi-theater for a fire and testimony meeting. It was great and spiritual. On Saturday we had breakfast, broke camp, had a presentation where each of the kids were given some money to use how they wanted, but hopefully after the weekend, they will use it to serve others. Then we broke out the super soakers that Sean and I had brought along and gave one to everyone so they could all be sopping wet for the ride home. It was a fun weekend and I'm glad I could be there with Sean, Travis and Tyrel.

Brand New Nephew

Our new nephew/cousin is here! He had a rough start but is home and doing well now. Trevin is the only one who has seen him so far because we were at Youth Conference, but we hope to see him sometime this next week. His name is Jaron Michael Evers and belongs to my brother Brett and his wife Andrea. Congrats! You will make great parents.
We spent the 4th of July at Shar's place watching the Stadium of Fire fireworks, but I forgot my camera so maybe someone who was there will send me photos with my kids in them.
Indymac bank got taken over by the Fed's last week, so Sean is looking for a job. He actually had multiple offers from other lenders within about 15 minutes of the announcement, he just needs to decide where he wants to go now.
Sean, me, Travis, and Tyrel spent Thursday through Saturday at Youth Conference and had a great time. Miraculously I did remember my camera, so I will try to post some layouts later.
That's all for now.

Today's Your Birthday! Travis!

I can't believe my baby is 15 today! It just seems like yesterday they were handing you to me in the hospital. Your dad and I just want you to know how much we love you! Here are 15 things about Travis from dad and mom:
1 - I remember when they handed you to me in the hospital and I thought what a cute little nose you had and your skin was so pretty (I know cute and pretty aren't words you are supposed to say to a boy, but you were)
2 - We love your sense of humor and think you are funny although dad says that you are not as funny as the original (him of course)
3 - We love that you are very patient with all the little cousins
4 - It is great that you are a good example to your brothers, your friends, and your cousins
5 - We think you are a good swimmer
6 - We loved watching you play football and basketball this last year, it is fun to see how coordinated you have become
7 - We are proud of how well you do in school
8 - We think you have nice hair, although it needs cut
9 - We are proud of how far you have advanced in scouts (only needs to do his eagle project now)
10 - You are kind, obedient and respectful
11 - You get along well with others
12 - You are lots of fun to play board games with
13 - You have a good memory - unlike your father
14 - We love watching you learn new things and seeing the decisions you make, like when you were first learning to ride 4-wheelers, Mom hated to ride behind you because it made her nervous but Dad loved riding behind you and watching the decisions you made. He was proud of how well you did and that you were conscious of what was right and wrong and seemed to make the right choices and really thought about what you were doing.
15 - You are an all-around good kid and we love you!

15 things Travis says about himself

1 - I am scared of spiders

2 - I think I am the funniest guy I know (and he is humble about it too!)

3 - I am a very good swimmer (unlike my mom)

4 - I am tall

5 - I hate crunchy food like lettuce, celery, watermelon, and onions

6 - I am a cheese-a holic (like my mom)

7 - I love to play WOW (World of Warcraft) with my dad, I think I am the best player on my server (humility again)

8 - My friends think I am fun to be around

9 - I am really good at Guitar Hero

10 - I am excited to get my learner's permit

11 - I am girl crazy

12 - I like to watch movies

13 - I love ice cream and BTS cake

14 - I hate listening to Rush Limbaugh

15 - I love Italian Food (spaghetti, lasagne, pizza)

Update on Sean- went to the Orthopedic specialist today. They still don't know if he will need surgery or not but are thinking not. He has to go back next week again to see. Tyrel is spending the week in Leamington with Grandma and Grandpa Evers and his cousins Tyler and Kaitlyn. Lori was surprised on Friday evening with dinner at the Sauce Place with the Nielsen's. Thanks to all of those that helped with the planning. They gave me a plant (love it) and letters from each family which she cried when she read (thanks everyone). On Saturday we had a combined party for me and Travis with my parents. We went and saw Kung Fu Panda and then went out to eat. Mom is making me curtains for downstairs as soon as I figure out what fabric I want. Thanks to everyone for making it a great birthday!

The big 4-0!

I really dislike saying that! It is my birthday today and the facts are what they are. I can't really say I am excited about it though. I'd just rather not celebrate getting older, but as Sean says, "It's better than the alternative." I'm copying my SIL and making a list of 40 things you may or may not know about me, so here goes.

1 - I absolutely love being married to my best friend, Sean

2 - I have 3 boys that I adore

3 - I was born in Germany but don't remember being there. I would love to go back someday
4 - I am a reality show junkie (my fav's are Survivor, The Amazing Race, and American Idol) I love to watch "So You Think You Can Dance" but I detest "Dancing With the Stars"

5 - I like to play board games and cards

6 - I have a degree in business management

7 - I went to SUSC (now SUU) in Cedar City, Utah for college

8 - My high school mascot was a rabbit (don't laugh). I was on the track team and the drill team in high school

9 - I graduated with honors from both High school and College

10 - If I were to go back to college, I would either get a degree in accounting or go in to something medical (I almost changed my major to Physiology at one time)

11 - I love Travis' sense of humor and love watching him play football

12 - I love watching movies and taking walks with Tyrel, I also love watching him play soccer

13 - I love Trevin's giggle and love that he likes to sing when he thinks no one is listening

14 - I love to dance with my hubby

15 - I have been happily married to my sweetheart for almost 17 years

16 - I love mexican food

17 - I am a cheese-a-holic

18 - I love to go out to dinner to Ruby River and Tepanyaki's

19 - I love to curl up with a good book

20 - I love driving my 4-wheeler but don't like riding behind Sean. I especially like to ride in the fall when leaves are changing and in the spring when it is really muddy

21 - I love the waverunners but hate to ride in the boat (can you tell I'm a control freak)

22 - I don't think teenagers are all that bad (so far anyway)

23 - I love to watch professional football (and BYU football) but don't get in to watching any other sports except I do like to watch the Olympics.

24 - I love to eat popcorn with lots of butter

25 - I like to cook but I don't like to follow recipes unless I am baking (which means we get in ruts of eating the same thing all the time)

26 - I like to camp

27 - I don't mind spiders and snakes, but I really hate mice because they move too fast

28 - I love the smell of newly mowed grass and rain, I hate the smell of gas (fuel) I guess I don't like the smell of the other kind of gas either LOL

29 - I am not a morning person or a night owl, in other words I need my 8-10 hours of sleep

30 - I don't like pine nuts, black licorice, or pistacios but the rest of my family love all 3

31 - I'd rather get a house plant than flowers

32 - I like to golf even though I'm not very good at it, but think it is very boring to watch

33 - I love sitting out on the deck in the evenings in the summertime

34 - I'm not a very good swimmer

35 - My favorite day is Friday because Sean always takes me out on a date, my kids love it because they always get pizza

36 - I wouldn't make a very good sales person because I CAN take NO for an answer and I don't like to be on the phone so don't feel bad if I don't ever call you to catch up on things. If you call me, though, I will talk to you

37 - I was very shy in high school

38 - I like to have a plan (menu, shopping list, calendar, agenda etc) I am not really good at being spontaneous although I am better than I used to be

39 - I'm scared that Travis is almost old enough to get his driver's license and date

40 - I have been working in the banking/lending industry since 1990 and love that I can work from home and be a mom at the same time