Granola

Stepping into my good friends Megan's pantry, I knew I would be sure to find her mom's homemade granola.  I looked forward to a bowl of its goodness every time I went over there.  This recipe is super easy and is a tasty way to start your morning.  I store mine in a Tupperware and love how it keeps for a long time.  Tyson gets giddy every time I make this.

Homemade Granola Recipe

10 cups oats

1 cup brown sugar

1 tsp salt

A couple handfuls of whole Almonds or any other kind of nuts

1 tablespoons butter

3 tsp. Vanilla 

1 cup honey

 

Combine honey, butter, and vanilla into a bowl and microwave for 2 minutes.

While honey mixture is cooking in the microwave, combine oats, brown sugar, salt and nuts into a separate bowl.

Combine the wet and dry ingredients until oats are well coated.

Spread granola onto two separate cookie sheets.

Bake at 350 degrees for 15 minutes....turn mixture on pan and bake for an additional 15 minutes.

Let granola cool and break into small pieces.  

Almond Milk and fresh berries compliment this granola perfectly.

Bon Appetite!

Little Moments

As I was getting Penelope's back packed for Utah, I sat her down with some toys to keep her occupied.  I decided it was time to pull out Tyson's matryoshka dolls from Russia.  They were a hit!  Penelope would have played with them for hours, if I had let her.

It hit me as I saw her playing with her toys.....  she is getting so BIG, like grown up BIG!

She has the perfect posture and the most curious hands I have ever seen.  I want to bottle her up and keep her this way forever.  I love her perfectly squishy arms and her thighs that hang over her knee caps.  She gives the best kisses and nuzzles into me, making me feel like the most important person in the world.  

There are days where I am exhausted and I run out of ideas to keep her entertained, but I would't trade being her mom for anything.  Motherhood test my patients and is sure to bring out all my flaws, but it also has a way of making me more selfless than I have ever been before.  I am constantly thinking about her and wondering what I can do to make her happy, to make her smile, to make her laugh.  I want to give her every opportunity to grow and thrive in this big world.  I pray every night that she will feel loved, that she will know her worth, and that she can accomplish anything she puts her mind to.  I hope as her mom I can always teach her to see the good in others and to push out the bad.  I am learning all too quickly, how fast the time goes.  I am really trying to soak up every moment with her as my baby.  

My love grows deeper every day!

Farewell Josh

Thursday night Tyson and I left for Utah.  It was a quick trip, but well worth it.  We were able to squeeze in Cafe Rio, Swig, Tarahumara, meeting my best friends baby Max, City Creek, and Dairy Keen.  The overall highlight was being there for my baby brother Josh's farewell.  We wouldn't have missed it for the world.

^^^ My mom lives right across from these gorgeous trees. ^^^

^^^ When did she get so big. ^^^

^^^ Heber/Midway is one of the most beautiful places to me.  I can't believe I lived there all of those years and didn't take in all of its glory.  Each time we go back to visit I am in awe. ^^^

My whole family was there to support Josh on his big day.

^^^ Sisters ^^^

Josh's talk was remarkable.  The spirit was so strong and I know that everyone in the congregation was touched.  Arcadia, California is lucky to have Elder Joshua Ervin Brown.  I can't wait to see how much he grows and changes over the next two years.   

 

Opposites Do Attract

photo credit: Sunnydays Photography
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he saves our money i spend our money
he is an optimist i am a realist
he drinks water i prefer diet coke
he is an early bird i like to sleep in
he talks slow i talk fast
he is tall i am a short
he enjoys the movies i love a good book
he has a passion for sports/basketball i am passionate about dance
he is laid back i am a perfectionist
he enjoys the beach i enjoy the mountains
he is quite i am loud
he is mellow i am feisty
he is a planner i am spontaneous
he is good with numbers i am good with letters
he listens to r&b and hip-hop i listen to alternative & country
he likes the sun i like the rain
he is very patient i am impatient
he likes milk chocolate i like dark chocolate
he is cautious i am adventurous
he clips his nails i bite mine
he is good at brushing things off i internalize everything
he enjoys summer i enjoy winter
he loves steak i prefer seafood
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somehow it is the perfect combination!  
he is the calm after the storm, the bread to my butter and truly my better half.
together we made a sweet yet sassy little girl, whom we couldn't adore more!

Our Thing

This may sound silly, but ever since GiGi had her first litter of puppies, she hasn't been the same.  If you don't remember she had to go on meds.  I didn't even know they had that kind of things for animals.  We have finally been able to start weening her off of her medication.  It has been so nice to watch her get back to her old self.  It was killing us to watch her be down.  I don't know if it's the meds or our daily walks, but our GiGi is back.  She plays better with other dogs and cuddles all the time.  She even braves the water.  I am a sucker for nature and I think she is too.

The other day Cara and I took the pups for a walk.  We were walking along the trail and came across the most lovely hidden creek.  I gasped at how beautiful it was.  GiGi walked straight for the water and cooled herself off. 

Getting outside is a place where I can think, gather my thoughts and just breathe.  I have always said that Fresno wasn't pretty and that's what I missed most about Utah.  Lately, I have started to think there might be something to this place.  There is beauty all around, sometimes it is just tucked away, waiting to be discovered.  I can't wait to see what else we find.

9 Month Stats

As much as I hate that Nellie has to get her shots, I always look forward to seeing how much she has grown.  While we patiently awaited for the doctor to come in, she decided she would wait comfortably in the splits.  I don't know how she does it, but she is one flexible baby.  

Weight - 19.85 pounds - 75% Height - 26 inches - 25% Head - 17 1/2 inches - 55%

This little chunk of ours is short and stout, just the way we like them!  I can't help but want to gobble her up.  She is getting so close to crawling.  I am really going to miss all that yummy goodness, once she starts becoming mobile.  

Shaver Lake Getaway

Tyson first brought me to Camp Edison back when we were newly married.  I was overwhelmingly homesick and getting out into nature, was the best medicine.  Since that summer three years ago, Tyson and I have been back four different times.  We had such a great time, we decided to invite our family and friends to join in the fun.  I think everyone is hooked.  We have all decided to make this weekend trip a tradition.  It really is perfect.  Camp Edison is only forty five minutes away from our house and if you don't get that car sick, it's a beautiful drive.  Every time we get up into the mountains I feel like I am back home in Utah.  The smell of the tress and campfire take me to my happy place.  This year was my favorite yet.  We got to take Penelope on her first camping trip.  This girl is one after my own heart.  She loved every second and even slept great.

The campsite is super clean and even allows dogs, plus, plus.

Gigi has been coming with us for three years now.  Each year she has gotten better and better.  This year we decided to let her off her leash and see how she would do.  She stayed right by our side and enjoyed camping every bit as much as we did.

^^^Our cute nieces dancing the night away.^^^

^^^ I don't think there is ever a moment, this little girl is not making me smile.  Whoever invented the pack n play, is a pure genius. ^^^

^^^ I still remember camping with my siblings so vividly.  Some of the best memories I have with them. ^^^

^^^ Tin foil dinners are always a highlight of the evening.  My mouth is watering by the time they are out of the fire. ^^^

Penelope was wide awake at six o'clock the next morning.  All of our tents were side by side, so we decided to take a walk down to the lake in order to not wake up the others.  It ended up being the best idea.  We made it just in time to watch the sun rise over the mountains.  

^^^ One day will have ourselves one of those boats. ^^^

My mama heart about overflowed when we took GiGi off of her leash.  She was in heaven.  I have never seen her run so freely and in essence, enjoy being a dog.  She ran wildly and even surprised us by getting into the water.

^^^ Could these two seriously get any cuter. ^^^

^^^ Nellie's first sunrise.  It was breath taking. ^^^

^^^Pardon my no make-up face. ^^^

^^^ Nellie's slippers, I die. ^^^

^^^ Check out the beastly fire Tyson and I made.  I think we make a pretty good team. ^^^

^^^ No mother, I didn't let her drink the Diet Coke. ^^^

^^^ We got back just in time for the most delicious pancakes.  Our brother-in-law Brandon has a gift with that griddle. ^^^

After breakfast we decided to head back down to the lake.  We were kicking ourselves, that we didn't bring our swim suits.  The water was so refreshing.  GiGi had even more fun this time.

^^^ All Penelope wanted to do, was to munch on the sand. ^^^

After spending the morning in the water we headed back to camp to finish loading up the cars.  We decided to stop for snow cones and nachos, before the ride back down the mountain.  Turns out, it was the best decision we made.  These snow cones were comparable to the ones we enjoy so much in Hawaii.  

Camping is one of my all time favorite things to do as a family.  I love the quality time that is spent and even if just for a weekend, no cell phones were used.  I always look forward to staying up way too late talking around the campfire.  Being out in nature, always makes me appreciate God's creations.  I hope Penelope will love camping as much as I do.  This weekend was perfect and the best way to wrap up summer.