Hallelujah!

While we were in California at the beach Cade broke his hearing aid while being a little too rambunctious.  Luckily his audiologist works on Saturdays so as we drove into town we went directly to her office to drop it off.  Thank heavens it is still under warranty.  I thought we would get it back in a week but no...  Let me tell you, it makes a huge difference if Cade has only one hearing aid.  Today we got the call that it was ready to be picked up.  Thus the Hallelujah!  Cade immediately wanted to put it in and when he did he said, "Whoa... that's loud!"  Now I don't have to shout at him to get his attention and I can speak to him in a normal voice.  And hopefully no more, "What? What? What did you say?"  Poor thing...

Frozen Ice Cream Delight

Delight is the perfect word to describe this creation.  It has oreos, ice cream, chocolate and cool whip, all food groups that we enjoy separately and together.  I mean it really doesn't get any better than this.  This is the dessert that Casey requests, even on Christmas Eve (it's not THAT cold in Las Vegas!)  We even had a neighbor that didn't eat sweets but had a Sixth Sense for when I made this and always had an excuse to come over every night for a few days.  Beware, a little can go a long way which makes it last that much longer!!!

2 1/2 cups Oreo crumbs, divided

1/2 cup butter, melted

1/2 cup sugar

1/2 gallon of ice cream, softened, we use vanilla but I'm sure chocolate chip or chocolate would be great!

2 cups powdered sugar

2/3 cups semi sweet chocolate chips

1/2 cup butter, cubed

1 can (12 oz) evaporated milk

1 tsp vanilla 

1 1/2 cups salted peanuts (We don't included these)

1 carton (8 oz) cool whip, thawed

Combine 2 cups of cookie crumbs with sugar and melted butter.  Press onto the bottom of a 9x13 pan.  (I usually combine everything in the pan so I don't have to dirty a bowl) Freeze for 15 minutes.  

Spread ice cream over crumbs.  Freeze until firm, about 3 hours.  Begin fudge sauce as it needs to cool to room temperature. 

In a small saucepan, combine the sugar, chocolate chips, evaporated milk and butter.  Bring to a boil and boil for 8 minutes.  I always stir the whole time so it doesn't burn, learned from experience.  Remove from heat and stir in vanilla.  Cool to room temperature.

Spoon sauce over ice cream layer; sprinkle with peanuts (optional).  Freeze until firm.  Spread cool whip on top and sprinkle with remaining crumbs.  Freeze at least 3 hours before serving.  ENJOY!!

Our week at the beach

          

         

About 2 weeks ago we were able to spend a week at the beach with my sister in law, Courtney and her family.  Betsy, Mandy and her girls came over for a few days too and we had a blast.  5 of the 7 days that we were there were spent at the beach.  The weather wasn't really sunny but that didn't stop us.  I was nervous driving out there by myself since Casey had Church obligations.  It's one thing to drive to Phoenix, which I am totally comfortable doing since there are only a few freeways you get on.  California has toll roads and huge freeways!  Yeah, I can be a wimp if I am out of my comfort zone.  The kids were great going to and coming back, we didn't even have to stop!  

It was so fun to spend time with them as they are now living in New Jersey.  My kids love playing with their cousins and still don't understand why they had to move far away! 

She's movin' on up!

Chloe thinks she is big and if you don't believe me, just ask her.  We finally gave into her pleads and made her crib into a big girl bed.  Usually we have had to move our other two out because we had another one coming that needed the crib.  She was so excited and is doing really well, just waking up a little earlier than normal sometimes.  Much better than the other two.  She is actually still napping which has never happened before. (knock on wood!)  She has been falling out of it so we have been putting her in the full size bed that is in her room.  Next step, potty training!  I'm actually ready, we just need to stop going out of town every other week.  So hopefully at the beginning of August we can begin that fun adventure!

It doesn't get much better than this!

I came in to check on them before I went to bed and found this.

Some things never change

      

Cade and his Uncle John have always had a great relationship, it could be that they are kindred spirits who look exactly like one another.  A few weeks ago, John came up to Vegas and they assumed the natural position.

Swim lessons

This year Cade and Claire had 2 weeks of swim lessons.  They have the most patient and caring swim instructor and her goal was to have them both swimming.  It was frustrating because they both can do it, but they aren't confidant enough.  By the end of the week, they both were swimming!  We were so excited.  The only downfall is that last week I took Cade swimming and the fear returned.

     

Gilroy wrap up!

That pretty much sums up our many adventures in Gilroy.  Friday we just stayed at the house and went swimming most of the day.  My kids love being in the pool and we were in between swim lessons so they were pretty comfortable in the water.  

That night I was able to see a good friend that I haven't got to spend much time with in a long time.  She is going through something right now that I can't even imagine.  She and her husband, Barrett, lost their daughter, Trinity, last September.  (Click HERE to read her story).  She was only 2 months older than Cade.  We talked for 4 hours until we realized that we had to go to bed.  (She had an hour drive ahead of her and I had to wake up in four hours to drive home)  We laughed and cried and talked about her daughter and how she is doing.  I know she probably doesn't know this, but I have learned so much from her and not only now but throughout Trinity's life.  So, thank you Mindy for letting me be a friend and helping me to be a better person. 

Gilroy Gardens

    

   

Thursday we took the kids to Gilroy Gardens, a fun amusement park for little kids.  Most of the rides had a height limit as opposed to a requirement.  The kids loved it!  They are so funny because they love to put their arms up on every ride!  It was SO hot the day we went.  Luckily there was a water play area for the kids and I got to enjoy it a little bit as I tried to keep an eye on where they were.  My mom and Richard were nice enough to watch the kids that evening so I could go out with my friends!

Beach Day!

      

   

Wednesday we went to the beach with Nicole and the kids.  They had a lot of fun playing in the sand, the water was COLD and there were some rip currents that Cade experienced first hand.  My kids loved the beach and wanted to go more than one day but we had more things planned!

California trip part 3

The next day we decided to give my mom and Richard a break so we went up to San Jose to spend the day with my friends from high school and then to the park!  It seems like yesterday we were writing notes, going to stake dances in the big brown station wagon, and talking about boys non stop.  Now between the four of us we have 14 kids!  See Michelle's post for more pictures!