What's in a name?

I saw this on some of my friend's blogs and thought I had to try it out!

1. YOUR ROCK STAR NAME: (first pet & current car): Sophie Pontiac

2.YOUR GANGSTA NAME: (fave ice cream flavor, favorite cookie): Chocolate Fudge Brownie Pumpkin Chocolate Chip

3. YOUR “FLY Guy/Girl” NAME: (first initial of first name, first three letters of your last name): K. Ell

4. YOUR DETECTIVE NAME: (favorite color, favorite animal): Turquoise Horse

5. YOUR SOAP OPERA NAME: (middle name, city where you were born): Anne Torrance

6. YOUR STAR WARS NAME: (the first 3 letters of your last name, first 2 letters of your first): Ellkr

7. SUPERHERO NAME: (”The” + 2nd favorite color, favorite drink): The Yellow Sprite

8. NASCAR NAME: (the first names of your grandfathers): Joe Reuben

9. WITNESS PROTECTION NAME: (first letter of mother’s maiden name & father’s middle name ): S. Louis

10. TV WEATHER ANCHOR NAME: (Your 5th grade teacher’s last name, a major city that starts with the same letter): Goodwin Grand Rapids

11. SPY NAME: (your favorite season/holiday, flower): Christmas Daisy

12. CARTOON NAME: (favorite fruit, article of clothing you’re wearing right now + “ie” or “y”): Strawberry Jeanie

13. HIPPY NAME: (What you ate for breakfast, your favorite tree): Special K Willow

14. YOUR ROCKSTAR TOUR NAME: (”The” + Your fave hobby/craft, favorite weather element + “Tour”): The Quilting Sunshine Tour

Sick Sunday

Reuben and Evie have pretty good colds going on, so we stayed home from church.  Reuben wanted to show me how he drew a picture yesterday, and then we each made one together.

Here is Reuben's piece of art.  He showed me that the technique he used to make the water was to make a lot of swirls and loops and then fill them in.  In his picture the wave is coming up over the boat.Here is my picture.  It was a lot of fun to color together.Here is Evie's.  Reuben helped out with the brown part but the rest is her original creation.

Patterson's Fruit Farm

On Wednesday this week we went to Patterson's Fruit Farm with our awesome neighbors.  First they take you on a wagon ride to the fun-fest area.  They had a huge hay play area, tire swings, slides, corn mazes, a tree house, and much more.  It was perfect to go during the week because there were only a handful of us there.  We packed our dinner and ate it there so we couple spend as long as possible there.

Bobbing for apples.  There were bins of apples to snack on for free there.

This is my favorite slide there.  Ryan and I of course had to race on it.  Lots of fun!

North Chagrin

We are so lucky to live near some awesome metro parks.  This week we had a playdate with some friends at North Chagrin Reservation.  The boys put this puzzle together in the nature center.  It was so nice to be out in the warm weather!  We have to take advantage of it while it lasts!

Actually!

One of my favorite things that Evie says is, "Actually".  It is just not something that I would expect a 3 year old to say all the time!  I just can't help but smile real big when she says it.  

Now that Kaitlyn and Reuben are at school all day Evie, Lincoln and I have some one on one time together during the day.  I love it when Eve decides to talk my ear off or sing a couple of random lines from a song.   

Lincoln is now 7 months!  I can't believe it!  He is rolling across the floor now and loves to try to reach for everything!  Linc loves sweet potatoes, carrots and applesauce.  He hates rice cereal and oatmeal!

Kaitlyn and Reuben are loving school!  They seem to like their teachers a lot and are making friends.  They both love recess.

Chinese Chicken Salad

Chinese Chicken Salad

3-4 pieces of marinated chicken breasts        

 5-6 Radishes, thinly sliced

2 cups head lettuce, shredded                       

1 small leaf lettuce (Romaine, 

butter or endive)

¾ celery, sliced diagonally                          

1 cup sliced almonds, toasted                      

1/3 lb. wonton skins cut into ¼ or 1/8 inch strips and deep fried*

Marinade for chicken:

¼ cup soy sauce (Japanese style shoyu)            

¼ cup sugar

1 Tablespoon freshly chopped ginger root       

1 clove garlic, crushed

1 Tablespoon water

Combine marinade and then marinade chicken for 1 hour.  Fry or bake chicken in sauce for 45 minutes.  Combine dressing ingredients and mix well.  Add shredded chicken to tossed salad, add dressing at last minute.  Serve immediately.

Dressing for Chinese Chicken Salad:

4 Tablespoon sugar                                      

½ cup salad oil

1 teaspoon salt                                             

6 Tablespoons red wine vinegar

1 teaspoon black pepper                               

1 clove garlic, crushed     

1 teaspoon soy sauce

*If you do not have time to deep fry the wonton skins, you can buy them from a Chinese restaurant.  Just ask for the crunchy noodles served with soup.

 

I made this salad yesterday!  My Mom would make it when I was at home and it was always a favorite!  

My friend made these sushi rolls and I thought they were too cute!  They are made of rice crispy treats, fruit by the foot and gummy worms.

Kaitlyn's Baptism

So I am finally entering a post about Kaitlyn's Baptism. 

 (Pictures of Kaitlyn were taken in front of the Kirtland Temple door, N.K. Whitney store and on the Kirtland Temple grounds.)

When we first moved to the Kirtland area we took a tour, as a family, of the Kirtland historic sites. On the tour the missionary related to us that many early saints were baptized in the Chagrin river near historic Kirtland. We all thought that was so neat and thought it would be pretty cool if Kaitlyn was baptized in the river.

Two years later with proper permission obtained we did infact perform the ordinance in the Chagrin River as near we could to the actual probable location where the early saints were baptized.



The big concern was the level of water. It is a small river which is not very deep. "Mr. Bill" our neighbor who grew up in Kirtland, about 30 years ago, volunteered to meet us after church with his swim trunks on and wade in the river to see where the deep spots were. He waded out while we stood on shore. We were very hopeful after this exploration as he found some spots that went just above his knee. We would just need to practice with Kaitlyn to get very low, which we did the night before. We practiced a bunch and realized the water would be running from head to toe. I worried that the water would kick her feet out so I simply, very lightly, stepped on her feet with one of my feet.


With the river level sufficient and plenty of practice, Kaitlyn was baptized on Saturday, August 31, 2008, by Me (her dad). What a neat experience it was. We found an adequate location in the water. As we got set up in the spot we stood for a moment. I wanted Kaitlyn to just kind of take it all in. We discovered a small audience, other than our family and friends on the banks of the river, in very small fish swimming about our legs. The fish seemed to love and flock to our white clothing. Kaitlyn and I got a little kick out of it.


Kaitlyn, Mom and I love you and are very proud of you. I know that your Heavenly Father is very proud of your decision to be baptized. Thank you for being such a wonderful daughter and kind sister to your siblings.

Bike Ride

This Monday night we packed our dinner and went on a bike ride.  We headed over to North Chagrin Reservation.  It is a beautiful Metropark, which we are so lucky to live close to.

Here are the kiddos ready for a fun ride!

Reuben had so much fun ringing his bell during our ride. 

 

After Lincoln crying a little, both kids were totally out.  The trailer seems to always put them to sleep.  They even stayed asleep while the rest of us ate dinner at a picnic table next to the trail.

Kaitlyn rode next to me the whole time.  It is amazing how good Kaitlyn and Reuben can ride for just learning the beginning of the summer!

Ryan took about a dozen of these shots.  There was just no way to capture how beautiful it was!

Some Things I'd Like to Remember

Today Kaitlyn fasted for the first time.  She was so awesome, she went all day without complaining once that she was hungry!  When she broke her fast in the late afternoon, she asked me "Does it still count?  Did I fast all day?"  It broke my heart!  She is trying her best to do what is right!  It is such a blessing to have her as a daughter!

On another note... The other day I came home and said "Hi Gorgeous!" to Evie and she quickly replied "NO I'm Evie!"  

Happy Birthday Evie

For Evie's birthday we brought the cake to the lake and watched the sunset at the same time.  Evie was so excited to blow out her candles!  It was special that both sets of grandparents were here for her birthday this year!  

Things I love about Evie are her cute smile, all of her fun facial expressions and her overall general happiness.

We were lucky to have Grandpa and Grandma Massaglia, Grandpa and Grandma Ellsworth, Aunt Melanie and Cousin Eric come for Kaitlyn's baptism.  I am awaiting photos so stay tuned for a post on the baptism.

After the baptism we headed over to the Kirtland visitor's center to see some paintings which were on display.  It was kind of fun that there was a painting of someone being baptized in the Chagrin River just like Kaitlyn had been that day!

Kaitlyn Turns Eight

Kaitlyn picked hamburgers this year to have for dinner on her birthday, so we fired up the BBQ.  She doesn't eat the meat so I was a little surprised by her request.  After dinner we were able to have cake and ice cream with some close friends.  

I feel so blessed to have Kaitlyn as one of my daughters!  She is such a giving, compassionate, happy, and talented little girl.  Kaitlyn I love you! 

First Day of School

This year school started on Kaitlyn's birthday.  She thought that it was the best birthday present ever!  We are lucky enough to have neighbors who are the same ages as our kids and same gender!  They are all waiting for the bus in this picture.  

Reuben is looking forward to eating lunch at school this year and being there all day.  Kaitlyn is looking forward to learning how to multiply and learn to play the recorder.  It should be a great year!

These photos are of Evie and Lily on the first day.  We are so lucky to have the Gaskin family staying with us!  They are awaiting the closing on their house and we are so happy to have them here!  In this photo Evie and Lily are sporting their fruit loop necklaces they just made.