Checked Out...

The boys and I got sick of the cold... We packed up and headed to St. George for a week! But, we are having so much fun and enjoying the warm weather so much that we decided to stay another week! We'll catch up with you later!

Breakfast Texas Muffins

I seriously can't remember where I saw this recipe... but, I had been wanting to try it for quite some time. A couple weeks ago our friend Ilona Ence was visiting from St. George and it seemed like the perfect time to try it out... or maybe it's not the perfect time to try out a new recipe when you have company! I've had good and bad experiences there! But, this one seemed pretty harmless!

You need the "Texas" sized muffin tins. You simply press an English Muffin into the bottom of the mold, put shredded cheddar cheeses on top of the muffin, line the edges with pre-cooked bacon to form a mold for the egg. You bake at 350 until the egg is done and not jiggly - about 25 minutes. I actually scrambled eggs to put on McKay and Carters... and they loved them!

That Hat...

McKay never gets to wear his baseball hat... because Cannon starts screaming for it! He LOVES it! McKay always just gives it to him and I have to admit that I think he looks adorable with it on! Especially when he pulls it down so far that he can barely see out from under it!

Cupcakes Anyone?

As many of you know I really don't care for sweets... actually it is quite rare for me to find food that I really like... I'm not a picky eater... I just really don't care that much about food! Strange I know! It drives James and my family crazy! But, I do love the way that cupcakes look! I think that they are so dang cute! So, I usually just make them and give them all away! But, I have to admit that I even thought that these cupcakes tasted good!

Recipe:

*Favorite chocolate cake mix (follow instructions on box)

*Frosting - Homemade or store bought - I bought cream cheese frosting but used powdered sugar to thicken it up.

* 1 Box cream cheese

* 1 egg

* 1/2 bag mini semi-sweet chocolate chips (be sure to get the mini)

* 1/4 cup sugar

First make the cake mix per the box instructions. Once the batter is mixed set aside while you make the cream cheese filling.

Filling: Add 1/4 cup of sugar to 1 box softened cream cheese. Cream. Add 1 egg & 1/2 package of chocolate chips. Mix all ingredients well.

Next fill all the cupcake liners about 3/4 the way full with cake batter. After all liners are filled add the cream cheese mixture to the batter. Just take 1 rounded teaspoon of the cream cheese mixture and drop it into the center of each cupcake. Push the center down with the spoon to make sure the mixture is centered. Bake as directed with cake mix.

FYI: sometimes the cream cheese filling will show up on top. Don't worry they are fully cooked and the frosting will cover it! Enjoy!!!

Here is a recipe tutorial at Blue Cricket Design: http://www.bluecricketdesign.net/2010/05/cupcakes-by-through-grins-and-giggles.html

McKay

McKay has been looking forward to his "Very Special Me" week at school since school started! Since he had all year to think about it he had it all planned out! He took his deer antlers, bear hide and bobcat hide to show all the kids & had Grandpa come along to tell the story of when they killed the deer! He also took his cd of songs and showed the kids how he could "break dance"! He was so proud & excited to have his family with him! We each got our turn to say a few things about him & what we love about him! It melted my heart when Carter just went off about how much he loves his big brother! Telling the class how they are best friends and how McKay always takes care of him and looks out for him! But, the killer came when it was my turn...... after listening to Carter I was already a little emotional! So I was standing in front of 28 Kindergartner's all staring at me and I totally started to bawl!!!! And I couldn't pull it together! I put my arms around McKay and knelt down to tell him I was sorry if I was embarrassing him... When he said "Mom, you never embarrass me... I just know that it means you love me a lot"! Then he turned to the class and said "My Mom prayed really hard for me"! Explaining to his class why I was crying! How grateful I am that he knows and understands what that means!

The Reason...

Over Memorial Day weekend my family (the Wall's) gathered together here in Logan to celebrate my Grandfather's 80Th Birthday! I took pictures the whole weekend... trying to document it all... But, as I got ready to upload them to this post it really only came down to these three pictures... I am so lucky for what this man has given me. He has showed me unconditional love and support throughout my entire life, he has given me his time and his attention & now gives it so freely to James and the boys. But, above all else he has given me my family. He and my Grandmother of course are the reason we (my family) are all here. He gave me my father & in turn gave me my mom, my brothers, my uncle, my aunts and my cousins... He gave me the people who have stood beside me through the roughest and most difficult times of my life. The people who have prayed for me and my little family, who have fasted with us for our children. The people who I call for advice or when I am upset and need a little understanding. The people who do not judge me. The people who bring me balance and peace and joy in my life. The people who have taught me to be able to laugh at myself. The people who when there is an accident... are the first people you call because you know they will drop everything to be there. I have learned to love, appreciate & cherish these people more the older I get. I have learned to not take them for granted.

I cherish the memories I have of my Grandpa. Of him taking me for donuts and chocolate milk when I was young and would visit during the summer, how he would take me around to deliver sewing machines, the time he bought me Lee Press on Nails and blue eyeshadow! His smile when he would see you and the hug that always followed. Summer nights on the back patio with root beer floats & ice cream at the lodge at Redfish... He gave me his time & he gave me my family. What a wonderful man he is!

This would be my brother... Travis... And as you can see he is feeling much better! Thank you for all of your thoughts, prayers, and well wishes on his behalf. We feel extremely blessed - beyond words to still have him here with us! He has truly taught me not to take anyone for granted & that life is what you make of it.

Carter was really frustrated the other day... he was trying to climb the tree and was upset he couldn't get as high as McKay. When he turned to me and said "Mom, if Uncle Travis can walk again I can climb this tree"... How grateful I am for the example my brother is to my boys... They now know at such a young age that there are no excuses to why they can't do something... all they have to do is look at their uncle!

Finally!

Cannon is FINALLY walking! While my family was here this weekend they took it upon themselves to get him going! He really didn't have any desire to before... a mother who carries him everywhere and two brothers that get him anything he wants - why would he!

As I look at these pictures I get a little emotional! Not just because my baby is walking! But, because I look at Jason and my Mom hovering around him... guiding him... picking him up when he would fall... cheering him on and encouraging him! But, most of all protecting him. It made me think that that is how they have been for me my whole life. My Mom has always been there for me for everything... But, my brother has always been my constant, my quiet supporter, always doing it in his own ways... which makes him who he is. I remember last summer as we spent hours together... days together... at the hospital with Travis - it was Jason and I who could sit together by ourselves away from the mayhem and be comfortable in our silence. Needing and wanting to be with each other - but not needing to say a word. Thank you Jason. And Yes, I know that they only way he will see this is when Amy checks my blog and reads it to him! That's how he checks in on me - doing it in his own way!!!