Saturday #16--June 27, 2009

Max, Brityn & baby Madeline are moving!!! I helped them load up the moving truck on Saturday. I'm not sure it counts as a Saturday o' Fun since I wanted to pull every box off the truck and insist they stay in Utah--specifically Orem. Oh well! New adventures await them in hot, Hot, HOT Las Vegas.

SATURDAY OF FUN CONTINUED--Brian and I helped Max drive down to Las Vegas on Monday and unload the truck. For five+ hours, this is pretty much all I saw...I got pretty sick of seeing the back end of this U-Haul truck.



Somewhere between Orem & St. George

We were in Arizona for about 20 miles. Angela jokingly gave me a hard time for not coming to visit her since I was in the state. Hmmm...sounds like a guilt tactic!


Crossing into Nevada.











My baby brother...I know he's all grown up with a wife and kid and a bright future ahead of him...but I had a really hard time saying goodbye and leaving him all on his own.





Of course, Brian and I had a fun drive back home. We made a 10 mile out-of-our-way pit stop to the Home of the Pirates...totally worth it for the photo op!

Saturday #15, June 20, 2009

My mom is home for a few weeks, clearing up some immigration issues with her green card. We're not sure how long she'll be home, but in the mean time, we're filling up every moment with family time and family favorites--Saturday #15 epitomized both!

My Saturday o' Fun started with a field trip with my grandmother, Aunt Laura & Uncle Chuck to Heber. We checked out the campground site for our 2010 Smith/Easter Family Reunion. I took lots and lots and lots of photos...but none really interesting enough for this blog.

I spent Saturday afternoon and evening with my mom and siblings. Angela, Tim & Athena came up to see my mom, so Saturday definitely included time with my nieces! Dinner on Saturday was Lemon Chicken (see recipe below), which is definitely a favorite family! Since my folks have been on a mission, Brian has become the expert Lemon Chicken chef.

And, just before the strike of midnight, my brother Joseph flew in to town for a visit too. So, definitely Saturday #15 was all about family.


Brian "hamming" it up for the camera!

Janelle and my mom putting the finishing touches on dinner.

The Nieces! Athena and Lauren taking turns holding Madeline.

RECIPE: Lemon Chicken

Marinate 1 pound chicken (de-boned/cubed) for ten minutes in:

1 1/4 tsp Rice Wine

1 1/4 tsp Soy Sauce

1/4 tsp. Salt

1/4 tsp. Pepper

1 egg yoke

1 1/2 tbs. Starch

Coat marinated chicken in:

4 tbs. Starch

2 tbs. Flour

Fry in 3 cups of oil until crispy and thoroughly cooked.

Lemon Sauce (we double it & take out the salt)

Bring to boil:

1/4 tsp. Salt

3 tsp. Sugar

2 Tbs. Lemon Juice

3 Tbs. Water

1/2 tsp. Starch

Pour slightly cooled/thickened Lemon Sauce over chicken and serve warm with rice and stir-fry vegetables.

Saturday #14--June 13, 2009

A Day With My Nieces!

My brother Brian invited me to go with him and my niece Lauren to the zoo. It was fun--especially to see Lauren's reactions to some of the animals.


I tried to introduce Lauren to cotton candy...she wasn't all that interested and didn't really like it. Luckily she handed her slimy cotton candy remains to her dad and not me.


After the zoo I headed to Orem where SummerFest 2009 was in progress. Max & Brityn entered baby Madeline in the Baby Contest. I arrived just as they announced her as the 1st Place in her age category 0-4 months! Madeline got a certificate, a t-shirt, a medal and an invitation to ride on a float in the parade. She slept pretty much through the whole thing!

So, of course, as a proud aunt I stayed for the parade. A summer parade on a Saturday evening (even if there are threatening rain clouds) is a great Saturday o' Fun activity. Look! There's my elementary school represented! And while these kids are not from Orem High's marching band, I took their photo because it always cracks me up to see kids playing instruments which are bigger than they are!

I'm not sure what Jennifer did on Saturday. But I bet it was FUN!!!

The effects of playing too hard...

and.. a follow-up post from "Amy's Fantastic Disneyland Birthday Extravaganza." The day we were scheduled to leave, unfortunately, Amy E. tweaked her back from playing too hard and landed in a wheelchair at the airport.
The perks of accompanying someone in a wheelchair at the airport:
1. Instant "first in line access" at security check point.
2. Special treatment and kind words from all airport officials.
3. No random security checks.
4. Front of the line to board the plane.
5. First pick of any airplane seat (I wondered if sitting next to the pilot was an option).
6. Golf cart ride from terminal to baggage claim.

Disney's # 1 Fan! Amy's Fantastic Disneyland Birthday Extravaganza

HAPPY BIRTHDAY AMY! I've discovered that Amy is Disneyland's # 1 Fan. These Birthday pictures say it all...

Before her Mickey Mouse ears...




.. and the magic that happens after she puts on her Mickey Mouse ears....






I'm sending the last photo of Amy to the marketing department at Disneyland.

Thanks for the fun, fantastic day Amy! We enjoyed spending time with you on your Birthday, in your favorite place... or what you call, the Happiest Place on Earth. I have to agree, it is the "Happiest Place on Earth" after laughing uncontrollably on your favorite ride Splash Mountain! Even after a wave of water completely soaked us (I'm glad your Mickey Mouse Ears were safely hidden in your Disneyland bag). Thanks for being such a fun, fantastic friend and sharing your Birthday with us!







Random Photo's of Amy and Terri... I was too terrified to enter the "Tower of Terror."

As Promised...Splash Mountain at Disneyland

Do you see Jen's look of complete TERROR?

Here's a close up!

Saturday #13--June 6, 2009

And that, my friends, pretty much sums up our Saturday o' Fun #13! Jen and I, along with our friend Terri, spent the day at Disneyland and California Adventure, riding all our favorite rides. It was a perfectly lovely day.

We Fast Passed Jen's favorite ride...Soarin' Over California...first thing when the park opened. It's a great ride that engages almost all of your senses.

Tower of Terror has been replaced as my favorite ride with this "Root 'em out, Shoot 'em up" Toy Story Mania ride at Disney's California Adventure. It has 3D glasses too.

We met Tinker Bell! Here's our best fun fairy pose!

And who doesn't love this ride? I just have one tip...Do NOT look into the idol's eyes!!!

The Adventureland walkway from the Tiki Room to the Pirates ride is almost as crowded as the Primary hallway at church on Sunday. Luckily, with some crafty maneuvering, you can avoid it all together!

I've decided I like this ride better when it's decorated up for the holidays as the Nightmare Before Christmas. But, it's definitely a classic!

Jen and Terri satisfied a two-day craving for Mickey Mouse shaped ice-cream sandwiches. Yum!I enjoyed a refreshing Mint Julep. Anyone have a good recipe? I'd like to make them at home.

After dropping Terri off at the airport, Jen and I returned to the parks where we "invested" in some rain ponchos and rode the wet rides we had been avoiding...Grizzly Bear Rapids and Splash Mountain. Guess what? The poncho was absolutely no good on Splash Mountain!

I have a lovely picture of Jen and I on Splash Mountain, which I will scan and post soon. I haven't laughed so long or so hard in a very long time! By the look on Jen's face in the picture (coming soon) I'm not so sure she enjoyed it as much as I did.

And here is Jen, flagrantly breaking the rules of "keep your arms and legs inside the vehicle at all times." Luckily, she didn't get caught, otherwise she may have made the "no entry allowed" list, with her mug shot posted on the Disney police wall.

Thanks girls! I had a FABULOUS birthday vacation at Disneyland. It was great to have you there celebrating with me.

BONUS!!!
If you can guess where these pictures were taken, you get 100 extra bonus points for the day!