Cherry Tomato Summer Pizza

If you're like me,

you planted one too many cherry tomato plants!

We eat, and eat, and eat-

but still,

there's no catching up!

Here's where pizza comes in.

It's a huge surface area of delicious dough just

begging for toppings!

Using your favorite made-it-yourself dough-or courtesy of the store,
cover with gobs of tomatoes, shredded parm, fresh chives,
minced garlic, a crackling of black pepper,
and a drizzle of your best olive oil!

Done!

And all ready to pop into the oven!

425 degrees & 18 minutes later...

Bubbly,

Cheesy,

Crispy,

Crusty,

Crunchy,

Sweet goodness.

...

Now that's summer!

Nothing Better...

...then spending time in the kitchen with my kids!

These are magical moments:

{Teaching}

{Tasting}

{Togetherness}

(Is that a word?  It is now!)

Quissisential Summer

Need I say {or picture} more?

Crazy-delicious Homemade Sushi

So, it's no newsflash that I love to eat. 

And basically, it's so bad that I'm just like the person who gets distracted by something shiny.

If I see, hear, or read about it...

I want it!  

And unfortunatley,

the condition worsens the later it gets.

So once more, it's 9:40 at night and I think:

We can totally make sushi.

Right?

So I get to work (I say work but it's really "play")

preparing the rice and shrimp,

while Samual handles all the veggies,

and... 

Voila!

Sure, they were huge. 

But boy, were they good!

There was even some leftover that had "Olivia's lunch"
written all over it!

So get off the couch and make something!

And then eat...

and get back on the couch!

{smile}

Aughh! The Frustration!

One day my son, I promise, you won't have to make do with tidbits of food.  They'll be whole drumsticks to gnaw on, large carrots to crunch, and a whole mess of other non-baby-friendly food! 

Patience!

Chopsticks & Late Summer Suppers

So you know how it goes, right?

Spring segways into summer and the carefully crafted schedule of

dinner and bedtimes goes right out the window! 

There are so many things to do,

so much sun to soak in,

 it's all we can hardly do to drag ourselves to the table,

bedraggled,

starving,

and yes,

happy to try something

different and fun!

There's nothing simpler to prepare than an Asian noodle salad.

And this...

...paired with chopsticks...

...makes for an engaging meal everytime!

Happy Slurping!

Reading Rewards & Stomach Cramps!

Each of my beautiful daughters was awarded a dinner certificate for reading at a local restaurant.  They were super-proud of their accomplishment, and it was fun to take them out for a night on the town!

The upside:

We always have a great time together. 

Tonight was no different.

Also, the signature monster chocolate cake was a hit with the kids. 

Who wouldn't love 7-layers of incredible yummy goodness?

The downsides:

Owen decided that now was the time to

 launch crayons way high up in the sky during dinner.

Hello!

He never does that!

I was APPALLED!

And then, an hour after leaving, Samuel became super, super sick.

He vowed never to order fish from a restaurant again!

All in all, it was a typical night for the Samuel Elmers:

There's the good, the bad, and the UGLY!

And I wouldn't have it any other way.

Samuel might though.

{Smile}

Cinco de Mayo Fiesta!!!

In May our ward held their second annual

Mother & Daughter Relief Society Event

with a

Cinco de Mayo Fiesta!

It was a huge hit and we had the largest turnout ever!

We had incredible sisters serving on the board,

and together the event ROCKED

with authentic Mexican food, colorful decor, & fun!

My Grandma Irene was kind enough to allow us to borrow a number of her artifacts and they were beautifully displayed around the room.

Would you believe that a sister in our ward, Shana, MADE this? 

It looks AMAZING-and far and away better than anything you'd buy at the store!

What better way to conclude then whopping a pinta until candy spills to the floor?  These girls can power swing!

What a night! 

Our ward had just recently split the Sunday prior, and this evening gave the sisters from both sides of the new boundaries an opportunity to reminisce and cement friendships despite the changes.

Buenos Noches!

{Good Night!}

Ta-Da: A Mother's Day Tea!

This year we were so excited to create an elegant Mother's Day Tea for Clista, my mother-in-law. 

Together, the daugthers and daughters-in-law fussed in the kitchen to our hearts content, then donned our pearls, and arrayed the table with the fruits of our labors!

{Note how talented my sister-in-law Elizabeth is. 

She made that incredible floral print dress!}

The Menu

Petite Turkey Crossaint Sandwiches

Sun-dried Tomato & Feta Puff Pastry Crisps

Classic Scones

Chocolate Orange Squares

Chocolate Truffles

Fresh Fruit

Parmesean Twists

Crackers & Fresh Herb Cheese

Herbal Teas

She arrived under the pretenses of helping Samuel with a Mother's Day Gift for me, and was delightfully surprised!

Clista and her beautiful daughters (from the left: Rachel, Leah, & Elizabeth).

We had such a great time, and it really was a wonderful opportunity to celebrate this great woman who has helped to influence us all for good.

We love you!

{Note:  Jessica, my sister-in-law wasn't able to attend but we sure missed her!}

A Grand Excuse to Play

We invited some families from our ward for dinner, and the kids could not have been happier!

{Note: Of course, we were happy too!}

It was a grand excuse to play, and it was fun watching their adventures!

{Can't you just hear them shouting?}

Count your lucky stars you didn't hear this!

Just kidding!

These girls put on a wonderful show...

And they were so pleased with themselves!

There was a roaring hot fire...

which was a perfect ending...

to a perfect night!

2010 Easter

Yes, it's embarrassingly late to post about Easter, but really, what's new!

Our annual Easter dinner was delicious!  We had all the usual suspects, and I couldn't have been happier!

What with our crazy weather patterns, our Easter Hunt was held indoors this year.  

The troops took it in stride!

Dessert was Chocolate Molten Lava Cakes inspired by my friend Angie.  One bite of hers and I knew what I'd serve at my Easter table.

No complaints!

Later, we joined Samuel family for a dessert bar of:

Mexican Wedding Cookies,

Congo Bars,

And

Mini Lemon Meringue Tarts

We are so blessed with:

Food
Family
Love
Life

And a testimony of
The Savior,
Jesus Christ!

Happy Easter!

S'more Science

I'm absolutely convinced
the best way to make a s'more is NOT over an open flame! 

I know! 

You die-hards will hate this post!

It's broiling them to perfection under 500 degrees of scorching heat.  

We used honey grahams,
 squares of Hazelnut Chocolate from IKEA
(TRY IT-YOU WILL LOVE IT!),
and baby mallows. 

Keep a real close eye on those babies,

but after a few minutes the mallows are golden,

the chocolate perfectly melty,

and the crackers crisp and crunchy!

Enjoy!

What Does Your Wii Face Look Like?

In reviewing my pictures for our families annual New Years Eve Party, that's the question you absolutely have to ask.

Take a peek below and you'll see some good ones...

 

Rachel & Houston

 

Joe & Rachel

 

Clista & Jacob

 

Bill & Ava

And then there was the non-Wii player, Jessica, who took a blessed night off thanks to the bun in her toasty oven!

The kids did their own Lord of the Flies thing that they usually do.

Sword-fighting and what-not is a must!

And of course then there's the midnight movie feature, complete with stadium seating.

 After the big countdown it's outside for some fireworks action!  Oddly enough, this year it wasn't too cold for being as late as it was.

  

 My beautiful Bella...

 

 My sweetheart Ava...

 

 Princess Iris...

  

 ...and of course, our Rascally Owen!

  

 And then, the biggest goober of the bunch, my heart, my love

...my Samuel.

  

 After all the hoopla everyone finally heads home for a few hours of sleep before we're back at it again with a hearty breakfast composed of everyone's favorites.

Here you see the kiddie table...

  

 ...and the adult table.

  

 The meal is always amazing!

  

 I think everything tastes better after a super-late night.

  

 Houston determined to make faces in EVERY photo...or is that just how he really looks all the time?

You judge!

  

  

Families are such a blessing.  And as I stand at the close of yet another year, poised to start a new one, I am grateful for new beginnings.  

Elder Holland, a member of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles, spoke to this effect in his talk entitled:  

The Best is Yet to Be

Regarding the past, he encourages us to:

"Dismiss the destructive, and keep dismissing it until the beauty of the Atonement of Christ has revealed to you your bright future and the bright future of your family, your friends, and your neighbors."

"This is an important matter to consider at the start of the a new year-and every day ought to be the start of a new year and a new life.  Such is the wonder of faith, repentance, and the miracle of the gospel of Jesus Christ."

"Faith is for the future.  Faith builds on the past but never longs to stay there.  Faith trusts that God has great things in store for each of us and that Christ truly is the "high priest of good things to come."

"Live to see the miracles of repentance and forgiveness, of trust and divine love that will transform your life today, tomorrow, and forever.  That is a New Year's resolution I ask you to keep."

Truly words to live by!

HAPPY NEW YEAR!