Introducing Parker Holland Storer

It really is a miracle and a blessing!!!

That our family get's this little baby to love!
It took about 30 seconds for her to wrap her daddy around her finger.

I would like you to meet my newest grandchild (our 11th). Parker Holland Storer. Born on Monday night September 20, 2010 at 8:25. She is 20 1/2" long and weighed 6 lbs. 13 oz.

She came home from the hospital on Wednesday and it didn't take long for Auntie Skye to claim her.
Of course Grandma didn't want to let her go.

Grandpa and Gideon shared toys with her.

Cali is just in Heaven with her new little princess.

Today Parker came to grandma and grandpa's and spent the day.

Gideon was trying to show me her eye. "Don't poke her eye Gideon!"

"Don't let him do that again Grandma!!!"

Okay.... That's better.

Oh she is such a sweetie! We are so lucky to have her.

If you would like to see more pictures you can click on the link to Cali and Travis' blog.

A Heritage of Chili and Losing the Cat

This past Saturday was Menan Heritage Days. A day full of old fashioned fun and games, parades and booths, baked goods auction and, of course, a chili cook-off!. Thanks to Cami and her AMAZING White Chicken Chili recipe (with which she won 1st place at a church chili cook-off in Florida) I won this year's Chili Cook-Off!

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I received this cute apron...

And a participation certificate for "The Dad-Gum Bestest Chili".
Like Cami I 'tweeked' the recipe a little by increasing the chicken and beans, reducing the broth, and I marinated the chicken in a little 'Liquid Smoke'. All in all it turned out fantastic! Thanks Cami for sharing!

Here is the recipe as given to Cami from Sister Steel.

White Chicken Chili
1 pound boneless skinless chicken breasts, cut into 1/2 in. cubes
1 medium onion, chopped
1 1/2 teaspoons garlic powder
1 tablespoon Canola Oil
2 cans (15 1/2 oz each) great northern beans, rinsed and drained
1 can chicken broth
2 cans chopped green chilies
1 teaspoon salt
1 teaspoon ground cumin
1 teaspoon oregano
1/2 teaspoon black pepper
1/4 teaspoon cayenne pepper
1 cup (8 oz) sour cream
1/2 cup whipping cream

In a large saucepan sauté the chicken, onion, and garlic powder in oil until chicken is no longer pink. Add the beans, broth, chilies, and seasonings. Bring to a boil. Reduce heat; simmer uncovered for 30 minutes.
Remove from heat and stir in sour cream and whipping cream.

*hint* - I used 'fire roasted' chopped green chilis.

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On a more serious note... I would like you to meet Skye's Cat, Toulouse, or Lucy as we call her. She joined our family in 1999 as a kitten.

From the day we brought her home she has been an inside cat. She ventured outside once as a kitten 13 years ago and was mauled pretty bad. She rarely steps foot over the threshold. But on the Thursday we were having the carpet laid she decided to go outside and explore. We didn't see her for 4 days. We honestly had given her up for Cougar food and had decided to wait an extra day to call Skye and tell her (we didn't want to give her the bad news on her anniversary).

But on that very night who should come strolling up to the porch... Lucy. It was then I realized that I didn't have any 'handy' photos of Lucy to post. (they are some in a box up in storage) I decided I should get a couple of recent pictures of the real Lady of the house in case she wanders off again.

Labor Day Weekend - by Gideon... Really.

Hi Everyone! Grandma said I could tell you what the family did over Labor-day weekend.
On Saturday we drove about a million miles (okay, just 2 hours) to Grays Lake, Idaho to go to a real rodeo. First they had a dutch oven dinner. All the tables and chairs were full so we just sat in the grass.
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Behind me is Michael Egloff from Missouri, Hillary Crawford from Colorado, Hillary and her foreign exchange student, Ricky, who is from Venezuela and Mommy and Daddy.

They had these pretty quilts up for raffle. I think that I saw grandma eying them pretty close.

After the great lunch the rodeo started. This was Ricky's very first Rodeo!

Jesse is always happy at The Rodeo. That's cause she knows everyone here. Kelly's family has been putting on this rodeo for years.

What's everyone looking at. It must have been a good ride or a bad wreck!

Hey Mom! Down in front.

The man on the horse is a REAL cowboy. He is Randy Crystal and he and his family own Crystal Brothers Rodeo. He is a real good friend of mine, kind of like another Grandpa. He lets me go to his house to ride horses and pet the animals sometimes.

Let me take you for a walk around the rodeo grounds. They have pens in the back where they keep the animals they use in the rodeo.
These are the calves they use for the calf roping.

Yep..... when your good pards with the guy who runs the whole shebang they let you come behind the chutes and let help.

This is Jolene Crystal. I am pretty sure that she could be the real boss of this rodeo outfit. I just came by to see if she needed any help loading the stock in the chutes. I love Jolene, she gives the best hugs!

When you work behind the scenes at a rodeo you should always climb up on the fences. This is because it looks so cool to the ladies!

Aunt Jesse!!!! What in the world could that be?

Dang, she didn't fall for it. This girl has brains and looks!

Another cool thing about hanging with Aunt Jesse at the rodeo....

She lets me take ChiChi for a walk and she takes short cuts through the animal pens.
Come on ChiChi!!

Aunt Jesse thought I was getting a little rambunctious, so she tried to contain me...

But I was too fast for her and soon got away and hid under the bleachers.

Well, the rodeo's over and I gotta run..... before the grown-ups get me.

Oh.. I almost forgot, On Sunday Aunt Hillary made this lovely trifle mountain creation!
After church someone bumped it and the whole top of fell off.
Hey.....It wasn't me... Honest!

And finally.... Mom says that a fish aquarium is no place for a boy.

Hope you all had a fun Labor-Day too!

Look at the Above Picture!

Yes, When you open my blog you see a wonderful picture of our family in Laie, Hawaii outside of the Temple. It was Skye and Ryan's wedding day exactly 3 years ago Today!

HAPPY ANNIVERSARY SKYE AND RYAN!!

I now propose that we go to Hawaii and celebrate their Anniversary with them next year.

Any Takers?

The New Living Room

New paint, new carpet, new blinds and a little furniture rearranging and Shazaam! Another new room for us!