Our First Recipe Swap Party!

Hello hello beloved fam and friends! Our first recipe swap party was a delicious success and oh so much fun! Thanks Julie, Brandi, Kristen, and Ami for lots of fun and some great food! (Mama P we missed you so and hope that your bug passes quickly!)It was so much fun to get together and enjoy some incredible creations and see your cute kids! The contributed recipes can be found here The Open Pantry. I can't wait for the next one! We need to do it every 2 months! Anyone have any ideas for a theme or foods to make? Lets plan it early!

First time Golfing!

Today Toph and I hit the golf course for my first official time golfing and I have to say it was a lot of fun! Chris got to show off his skills with his new clubs and I was very impressed and proud of my hubbies golfing skills! I used his old clubs but tried out his new ones on the last hole, if I had known whata HUGE difference it made I would have taken up his offer of sharing. He now thinks that I need to get some . . . (we will see) I felt so bad every time I took a nick out of the grass! (I was probably the only one on the course filling everything in with grass seed) I was so embarrassed with my first hit but after that I got a few good ones in. (I learned that I was using the wrong clubs for some of my shots too). We will definately go again sometime. I am glad that Chris likes it so much and that he has so many buddies who he goes with. I don't know if I will go pro anytime soon though! I got a bit carsick on the golf cart too whenever Toph would chase the prairie dogs, but other than that it was a ton of fun and a great date with my hot hubby! Tonight we are having some friends from our ward over for dinner . . . so I have to get dinner prepped . . . if anyone is hungry we will have leftovers for sure . . the menu is Apricot Chicken, rice pilaf, steamed carrots and chocolate chip cheesecake. I have worked 7 days this week and only cooked twice . . . so we I am in the mood to try out something new! Check out The Open Pantry to see the results!

Home alone . . . bummin' around . . .

So my sweet hubby headed off to work right as I was on my way outta work to go home . . . we are sometimes two ships passing in the night/afternoon/morning . . . so here I am home alone . . . thinking of a load of things that need my attention at home . . . but I haven't painted in quite a while . . . and I have a million doodling ideas that I want to paint . . so I guess tonight is Monet/Picasso/Rene night at the Liechty home! I am bummed that all of the series that I have been reading are waiting on 1 more book to finish up! Hey if you haven't read the Gideon Trilogy . . . do! I really liked the first two . . . and will have to be patient until the third comes out next year! Speaking of reading . . Breaking Dawn is just around the corner! It is kinda bittersweet when a series ends! Remember what a bummer it was to finish Harry Potter? Now what? Mensch! All I can say is that Bella is on my clueless/spoiled and "what is she thinking" list! Enough said! Okay now I feel inclined to go and browse at the bookstore! I love reading the classics too, although "The Three Musketeers" is nothing like the movie (heads up). I need to get what reading I can in before school starts! The end of August my life will be Math, Economics, Geography and Psychology again. (Yee-haw)

The Gideon Trilogy

I have been reading a new book trilogy called "The Gideon Trilogy." The first book "The Time Travelers" was really good and I have eagerly started book two "The Time Thief." I just discovered that book 3 has not yet been published so that is a bit annoying, but still they have been fun to read and I highly recommend them! They are so up my alley as a history buff too! I have learned quite a few new things about merry old England and some of its history. (European History is my emphasis of study.) We only have a little over a week and a half until Breaking Dawn comes out so I will be ready to read it once I finish "The Time Thief" this week. Hey we so need to have a recipe swap before school starts. I tried out the ham and pasta salad that I was talking about with sweetened condensed milk in the sauce for supper. It was yummy! Oh my house smells like rain right now! Yum-o!

Morning at the cannery

Well I spent a wonderful morning in a hairnet and apron at the cannery in SG on Friday morning! My sister-in-law Brandi signed us up and we canned dried milk, spaghetti, rice, potato flakes, refried beans (I craved these while on my mission! So yummy!), and dried apples. The last 20 minutes I felt like Lucille Ball on the "I Love Lucy" episode where they are hurrying and shoving chocolates in their mouths! We had a few things that we didn't get done but will next time we go in February! (Yes they are completely booked until then!) Thanks Bran for booking it and thanks Mom, Jules, Bran, and Dad for including me and focusing on being prepared and heeding the prophets words!

Day off . . .

I had the day off today so my handsome husband took me out to lunch and ran some errands with me! I hit the library and grabbed some books, one of which is a series that I have never heard of called "The Time Travelers" . . . it said on the cover that if you liked Harry Potter that you would love these books . . . so I will let you know if I "love these books." I have joined the Utah Hive, which is a group of Utah bloggers that do food blogs (yes I am doing a food blog for fun . . . I can hear you Dan & Jules!) When school starts it will probably die off . . . but until then I will just have some fun with it! I am making falafels for dinner tonight . . . they are really easy and were a favorite on my mission! (So now Toph GETS to enjoy them). We are going to round out our night by watching 10,000 BC! Toph went with the Lowry's when I was working and said it was pretty good . . . does anyone know if it is scary? (Lucky Toph, sleeping with the lights on again!!!) For those of you who know me know full well that I major freak out with movies! Our esciting week continues tomorrow with a trip to the driving range! Toph is eager to get the feel of his new clubs and he really wants me to get into golfing! (We went on our first date, and that was the last time I have gone . . . or had a great desire to go!) But I love my hubs . . . so off we go! Maybe I'll remember to photograph the event! (Stay tuned)

Congrats Mom!

Congrats to my mom on graduating with her Masters of Education! She has been very dedicated and worked very hard to continue her education all while teaching and managing her home life! Way to go! I guess we now get to call you Master! (you've earned it!) You have always been such a great and positive example and support to all of us and have always emphasized the importance of education! I'm proud of you Mutti! (Chris thinks that you should keep going and get your doctorate!)

Recipe Swap Party

Okay ladies, I do believe that we desperately need a recipe swap party! Each gal brings a favorite food and the recipe and we chow down and swap recipes! I already have some cute ideas (decorations, favors etc) for our little gathering so I am willing to head up the planning . . . I just need to know when a good time is! We are doing our food storage stock up this coming Friday . . . so is that a good day? Let me know ASAP! It will be fun!

My little day maker!

I was doing some major house cleaning today (as in red raw knuckles, major calorie burning, sweaty get in every nook and cranny cleaning!) and I got a text message that made my day! My little nephew Austin wanted to say hi to Auntie Em! He is too cute and growing so fast! We went down to SG this past weekend for his blessing. Dan did such a good job! It was fun chillin' with the family and having a movie night with the Demas'! Lauren just melts my heart! We just love our nieces and nephews!

Congrats Lowry's!!! It's a boy!

Congrats Dan and Luisana on your wonderful news that you are expecting a baby boy! We are SOOOOO excited for you and the new little life that you are bringing into the world! We miss you guys and hope that you aren't freezing in Alaska! We haven't had a game night since you left :( ...! Wa-hoo though! You are going to be great parents! Stay warm and watch out for grizzlies!

Happy Independence Day!

I can't believe that today is the 4th of July! It seemed to sneak up on us this year! We celebrated with take out after work and watched Independence day (this is the 2nd time Chris has stayed awake while I fell asleep during a movie) and the Macy's fireworks on TV. We were just excited to get to spend some time together! Our schedules keep us pretty busy! I had to work until 4:00 and Chris takes off for work at 4:00 so sometimes we just get to say good morning and good night but today he got to stay home a bit longer and didn't have to work until 10:00. So now I am home watching "The Office" episodes and laughing my head off just chillin' after a LONG day at work! We hope that everyone had a great 4th!

Fishing with Dad

This poem is for my dad, who braved taking his kids fishing while knowing what was in store for him!

Fishing with Dad

By Emily Liechty

The ground is soggy around the rim of the lake.
We trudge through the brush in search of the perfect spot to cast our lines.
My hook gets caught on a tree and tangled in the brush.
Dad sets down the cooler, tackle box and fishing poles he is carrying to deal with my mangled mess.
I wait patiently, swatting at dragon flies and nearly fall into the water as a big one turns back on me.
My little sister throws sticks into the water while we wait.
The sound of a splash up ahead and the yelp of my older sister around the bend causes my dad to look up.
After a minute she comes around the corner sniffling with one muddy leg and a soggy shoe.
Another victim of the narrow rocky lake trail.
Dad tells her to wipe her leg off on the grass and that the sun will dry her off soon.
He finally gets my line clear of the branches and we trek on,
we pass the point of impact on the lake shore and the muddy foot indents left behind.
My brother has already settled down and cast out by the time we get to our spot.
Dad situates each child, finding boulders and coolers for each of us to sit on,
grabbing arms as we teeter near the water in our eager search for our positions,
each face anxious to make the catch of the day, . . . . or get a bite.
He pulls out a Styrofoam cup with a lid on it and digs his fingers into dark dirt,
searching for worms to bait the three hooks hanging from our lines.
My little sister finds a rock and tosses it into the lake, clapping as the rings in the water grow.
My brother scowls while saying something under his breath, he reels in his line, grabs his gear and moves farther down the shore line.
Dad tears a worm in half and we all squeal and wrinkle our noses
as he tries to pass a half to my older sister and I to bait our own hooks with,
we back up to the edge of the water in protest.
Better to go for a swim than touch that squirmy, slimy thing.
He shakes his head as he baits our hooks.
My little sister throws another rock in the water . . .
managing to move more fisherman away from our little entourage.
We finally cast out, the farthest making five feet.
I start to reel in again not happy with the distance of my cast.
My next cast gets my line caught in the trees again.
It is a long day for dad . . . .
Grape soda stained faces greet my brother in the afternoon as he comes around the bend,
we toss our tuna sandwich crusts into the water and admire the 3 nice fish on his line.
The girls catch of a rotten stick, a pile of seaweed
and a few minnows, that we voted to release, are all that we have to show for our efforts.
But at the end of our day we leave happy, with my little sister covered in mud, my older sisters shoe no longer squishing,
and me managing to get my hook caught in one more bush as we make our way back to the car.
Dad just cuts my line this time, he is ready to go home.