Planetarium Field Trip - March 10th

Jaxon’s first grade class went to the Planetarium. The purpose was to help the kids learn about the Solar System and Transportation. I took the day off work and went to help out. I was so glad that I did. I had a blast! Mrs. Soelberg split the class up and I had Jaxon and three of his buddies. We all rode the UTA bus to the TRAX station, and then took TRAX to the Gateway. All of the class wore matching shirts that Mrs. Soelberg had specially ordered. They all looked so cute! I saw Sterling Poulson of Channel 2 News in front of the Weather Map upstairs. I asked him if he would take a picture with our group. He was so nice, and it was fun for the kids to get a picture with him!

Nate, Jaxon & Sean on the UTA Bus.

Jaxon & a few of his buddies on Trax.

All of the kids wanted to stand up, because "it is cool!" After standing a few minutes, they soon realized that the coolness was in sitting down! LOL.

A few of the other first graders.

Jaxaroonies.

Jaxon's Best Friend Sean.

The class in front of the Science on a Sphere.

Our Mini Group.

Mrs Soelberg showing the class some of the exhibits.

Jaxon in front of the Space Shuttle Demo.

Watching the movie.

Our mini group on Mars.

More Mars shots.

Here they are on the moon!

They all want to be Astronauts!

The boys goofing around in front of the Fresh Air Forecast.

Sterling Poulson took a picture with our Mini Group and Mrs. Soelbergs Mini Group.

The boys in front of the hubble telescope.

The Class Shots...

Everyone LOVED the Planetarium!

Jaxon & Sean on the way home... Time to go back to school!

Baptism Preview- March 14 2010

Our ward held a “Baptism Preview” for all of the children turning 8! I can’t believe my baby is going to turn 8! The preview was great! We heard talks from some of the kids who were baptized last year, from their primary teacher, and a talk from the Bishop. The Primary opened the baptismal font and took the kids on a tour of the changing rooms. Jaxon was pretty excited. I still can’t believe that he’s going to be 8!

Jaxon with his special invitation.

Trying to get him to hold still after church...aahh.

My little Man is going to be 8!

Can you tell that he's pretty excited?

Enough said!

They had yummy treats as refreshments. These cookies were a hit, and made all the kids feel pretty cool about turning 8! I still need to get this recipe...they were delicious!

After the Preview the Primary gave each child a packet containing a pair of white socks, some bubble gum (that said "chews the right" or something like that), a picture of the Savior, and the Faith in God pamphlet for Boys. The Primary also printed a booklet for the parents with information on what to expect. It was so organized, and I'm glad my ward is so awesome!

My smiling little man! Gotta Love him!

A Saturday in the life of Jaxon…

Wake Up, Brush teeth, Get dressed / Shower (etc), Chores (clean bedroom, pick up living room, mop the kitchen floor), Read, & then playtime (wii, toys, outside, etc)…

Of course, once all the chores are done, and all the toys put away...it's time to get them all out again!

Jaxon & Buddy Chillin' on the floor.

A few toys...

More toys...

Aunt Amy comes over to play Super Mario Brothers... Mom & Dad stink at that game! Aunt Amy ROCKS!

Look at em...they know I'm there taking a picture, where are their eye's? On Super Mario!

John - PS.. .Hang up that mirror!

Jaxon wearing his "Mario" mustache. He's really falling asleep in this picture!

This is Jaxon, I mean, Mario... Faking it!

Happy St. Patty's Day 2010!

Happy St. Patty’s Day!

In celebration of today, I have some pictures from Darby O'Gill and the Little People- A Walt Disney Movie that was released in the 50’s. We ate our corned beef and cabbage for Sunday dinner, so this is about it as far as our celebration goes!

I can’t find Darby O'Gill and the Little People to rent anywhere- Oh, Shucks be darn!
Nothing has scared the pants off of me so bad as the Banshee in this movie!

A Promotion? No, just a new position!

The Good News is they say that any career movement in a severe recession is a tremendous thing, so I am very grateful to announce that I have been offered a new position. I will be working as a tobacco prevention specialist. I'm truly excited for the new opportunity and can't wait to get started. I will miss my position as a Contract Coordinator, but am excited to move more towards my new career and education goals. I hope my new position offers lots and lots of project management! Last summer I decided that I am going to utilize my experience/background in Human Resources into the medical field. I hope to be able to secure a future in Hospital Administration. You'd think it would be easy with an HR, contract management, and auditing background but the market is so competitive that it now requires a Masters Degree in Health Administration - which is what I hope to attain. One Challenge - being a FT working Mom. Being a mom is of course the best job I have ever had!

An update on my little man...

Jaxon has homework every night. He reads storybooks and takes them to class to pass off the next day. I went to Jaxons school to volunteer and was able to listen to Jaxon read and pass off one of his books. It was so fun! I love my little man so much, and he has learned so much this year. It's so fascinating watching him grow up. He is constantly reminding me that he's not a "little kid" anymore!

Last night we went to go see Alice in Wonderland. I love that movie!

After the movie I told Jaxon that I was going to give him some magic potion he could drink, so he would shrink like Alice! I told him I would put him in my pocket and take him to work with me all day long! For a minute he thought I was serious, and then he laughed and laughed.

Jaxon constantly reminds me that he doesn't need my help, and that he can do things himself. Last summer I came home from work and laid out his PJ's on the sofa. I started helping him get dressed, and then I saw this! LOL, it was hilarious! I joke with him about this all the time because he doesn't need my help! He of course, laughs it off and says "that's just what six year olds do, but I'm seven now!"

Tahmina's Sinful (and I mean Sinful) Double Chocolate Rum Cake

Double Chocolate Rum Cake
1 3/4 cups all-purpose flour
2 cups sugar
3/4 cups good quality cocoa powder (not hersheys)
2 teaspoons baking soda
1 teaspoon baking powder
1 teaspoon salt
1 cup buttermilk, shaken well
1/2 cup vegetable oil
3 extra-large eggs, at room temperature
1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
1/2 cup freshly brewed hot coffee
(Non Cafinated Coffee or Use Coffee Substitute:Can be made with Dandelion and Chicory. Roast the chicory the same way as coffee beans. Add 1 part dandelion root to 1/2 part roasted chicory root to a coffee grinder. Grind the mixture up and use this powder the same as you would some store bought coffee. This mixture brings the aroma, smell, and color your used to, but the taste is a bit different, but surprisingly close)
1/2 cup dark rum
(can you order that Alcohol Free? LOL - YES - Rum is distilled from molasses or cane syrup, so your best bet could be a mixture of molasses thinned with pineapple juice or white grape juice. I use 1/4Cup PERO, and 2tbspoons Rum Extract)
6 oz chocolate chips

Sift together dry ingredients, add eggs, oil, buttermilk, rum and mix with mixer. Add vanilla and slowly add in freshly brewed coffee, it intensifies the chocolate flavor but doesn't really taste like coffee. Make sure it's freshly brewed and hot and not some old stuff. Hand stir in chocolate chips, pour into bundt pan or two 9" round pans and bake at 350 degrees. If in the bundt pan then bake for 55 minutes, if in the two 9" pans then bake for 40 minutes and check and then check with toothpick in the middle.

Glaze:
1/4 cup good quality cocoa
2 tbsp butter
1/4 cup heavy cream
1 cup sifted powdered sugar
1 tsp pure vanilla

Melt butter in pan and add heavy cream, add in cocoa mix and take off heat. Add sifted powdered sugar (or you'll get serious lumps) and vanilla, pour over cake.

If making 9" cakes then here's the frosting:
3 ounces unsweetened chocolate (the bar kind)
3 tablespoons butter
3 cups powdered sugar
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
3 to 8 tablespoons milk

Melt chocolate and butter in microwave safe dish for about 45 seconds and stir (each microwave is different so be careful and do not overheat and burn the chocolate), using electric mixer, mix in powdered sugar and vanilla, slowly add milk until you get the consistency you desire. Makes enough frosting for the whole cake!

I went private for a little while...

I decided to make my blog private for a month or so. I've been wanting to do a major re-model, but just haven't had time. I'm slowly adding things, but not in order. I'm planning to go back and add lots of past pictures, and put them in chronological order, so watch for that coming soon.

Additionally, I put a ticker on my blog and in less than a week I had over 140 hits. I thought that was strange, since I rarely have anyone leave comments. Thank you for those that do, but It started me wondering who was looking at my blog. It's good to know that I have very supportive friends who care about me and what I'm up to.

On that note, this may sound ridiculous, but it's my blog. I've been criticized by friends and family, and that being said, I just don't care anymore. I've had a crazy year, and so here I am, take it or leave it. I might go private again if things get crazy so make sure I have your email address and I'll include you. I've said many times, I'm not a scrapbook person, and I never have time to journal (I used to journal every day...), so on top of sharing news, this is for me and my family. It's good, bad, happy, sad and sometimes mad.

Love to all!
~Angie

How To Train Your Dragon

I had free tickets to the viewing of the movie "How to train your dragon", and so John, Jaxon and I took off to see the movie! This movie is soooo cute! We've seen it two times at the theater already! I highly recommend it!

We stopped at the Mayan for some yummy Mexican Food.

I just can't stop Jaxon from being so silly all the time!

We had our yummy dinner and then headed over to the show!

Jaxon was pretty excited. See what I mean about the "silly" thing!

John gets annoyed when I take pictures, so I posted this one to show him his own "silly" face!

The 3-D version of this movie is AMAZING! We loved it! It's one of the best kids movies that I've seen!