Yummy Salad...

Tomato Bread Salad

My Modified version...It was super yummy! I should have taken a picture sorry, it was really pretty!

Ingredients

• 4 medium roam tomatoes, cut in 1-inch chunks
• 1/2 of a medium red onion, cut in thin wedges (1/2 cup)
• 1 medium yellow sweet pepper, cut in 1-inch pieces
• 1/2 cup Robust Italian Dressing
• 8 oz. ciabatta or focaccia bread, cut in 1-inch pieces
• 1 Tbsp. olive oil
• 1 cup small fresh basil leaves
• White cheddar cheese shavings (optional)

Directions

1. In large serving bowl combine tomatoes, red onion, and yellow sweet pepper. Add 1/2 cup Robust Italian Dressing to tomato mixture and stir to coat. Cover and refrigerate overnight (up to 24 hours).

2. Preheat oven to 400 degrees F. In a shallow baking pan, toss bread cubes with 1 Tbsp. olive oil to coat. Bake about 10 minutes or until toasted, stirring once. Remove and cool on pan. Add bread cubes and basil to tomato mixture; toss to coat. Top with shaved white cheddar cheese. Makes 6 to 8 servings.

Future Pediatric Dentist

she is obssesed!

she sits there for like 10 minutes, but nothing happens... then she wipes and flushes! OY...She also tries to "pee" like Luke... Nope that ain't going to work!

pre summer fun.

Rainy day fun

Yesterday it was HOT then it rained. Hard! So the kids went out and played in it Phoebe was first out and last in! haha no fear! They are so funny.

I'm So glad when Daddy comes home.

Everyday when Adam gets home it looks something like this. All three kids Talking loving, and trying to get the Most Daddy time they can. Especially Phoebe.... She LOVES that Dad so much! She can't get enough!

Time out for women....

Chieko Okazaki was kinda the reason we ended up in Toronto for Time out for women...My friend really wanted to hear her talk and well let me say I thought she was well worth crossing the Canadian boarder for. Though Of course I made Heather drive. Sorry Heather...But thank you I have boarder Issues ever since the Jelly incident. But we won't talk about that. Plus as it turns out Heather has one of those innocent faces and Boarder people seem to just love her!
As for Time Out, I could have probably lived without the music. Honestly Micheal McLean kinda drives me nuts...Sorry Micheal loves... I think he can speak and tell good stories but some of his Hokey songs just push me over the edge of reason.

And Mark Mabry also wasn't really my favorite, his pictures kinda freak me out and he really wasn't that great of a "talker". So I checked out the books during his talk Sorry Fans of his.

The next day I had loosened up a bit and felt more able to laugh with a big group of Canadians, Even though Tim Hortons doesn't take anything but Master Card, which I still think is dumb...They take American currency though.. Go figure!
Mercy River, was the musical Talent for the day, and although they surely could sing better than Micheal, They still kinda annoyed me. Mostly the times when the tried Monologue-ing . Just stick to singing girls! Side note is that the Blonde chick lived next to Adam and his family and according to Julie she had a crush on Adam. But Alas it wasn't meant to be and Adam had no idea anyway! But I went up and met her and she was very nice and even claimed to have heard that Adam was now a dentist and was impressed at our having 3 children. I did like some of their song though Hello Sunshine is a favorite and I think it fits nicely here in Buffalo.
Brad Wilcox was my favorite speaker of the day, His talk was so powerful to me, I felt like it was equally enlightening, and uplifting. I just loved it! I can't even begin to summarize what he said but it was Lovely.

Mariama Kallon wasn't there in real life, but they had a taped talk from her, and I have to say I was so amazed by what this woman has been through, She made me remember how Very blessed we all are and how for the most part our trials are really not that bad, she was Raised in war-torn Sierra Leone, she witnessed the violent murders of parents and siblings and spending her youth fleeing from rebels, and I am talking her brothers hands were cut off and her sister raped and her arms and legs cut off...Seriously! Her happy face would never let on to the awful things she lived. Sure makes me want to do better!
And although the other speakers were good, the only other one that really stuck out to me was Emily Watts. She talked about Mother Hope, and one was Hope that our children will progress, and with small children that is a Hope I cling to like glue! She was a sweet lady and I enjoyed her talk a lot too!

Over all it was Super fun, and uplifting. I enjoyed getting away, and probably could have used one more day, but it was an awesome experience. I am thankful for Adam watching the kids and for Heather driving up with me. And making me go for that matter! I can't wait till next year, I am planning to go again, just Not to Canada, and making one more day of it! haha

Adam and the kids visited with Grandma and Grandpa...

Adam and the kids went up to Palmyra the 7th and 8th while I was in Toronto at Time out for women. They had a lot of fun visiting. The look on Luke's face is so Shepherd... looks just like his daddy and grandpa in the lower picture..

Fun Family Home Evening....

Last night we had Family Home Evening with some good friends and this is what I did... We talked about Faith being like a Seed, and how it can grow over time with help just like a real seed. We read in the scriptures about Faith the size of a seed... and we planted some seeds and talked about water soil and sun being so important for the seeds, then I had printed out pictures of all the kids and made Trees for the boys and flowers for my girls... They Loved the easy craft and they are pretty cute if I do say so myself!

My New Life

This is a beautiful video...I have followed this woman's blog since her plane crash. I feel like I know her, she has shared her whole life with the world and it has been an inspiration... not only to me, but to thousands of others. I have great respect for her and her family, and I Love that they did this video, it is so touching. We all have hard times, and these guys have had some of the worst. I feel like if Nie can do it so can I. I hope you also enjoy this video... I especially love the part about the girls getting to ride to school with there Dad and her saying that they felt like they were the Luckiest girls in the world and her too, and they are....So Sweet!

Things boys teach you...like how to dial 911

Friday, I put Phoebe down for her nap and was going to go take a shower. I told Luke that I was going to do this and to watch his show and stay put...But I did have a feeling he was going to try to go outside I guess I should have listened...Anyway I closed and locked the screen door and the inside door... and the kitchen door. Half way through my shower I had the feeling Luke is gone...I didn't listen. I did finish quickly and put my contacts in. Opened the door the house was Silent! Luke had turned off the TV. I ran downstairs...He was not on the couch. The doors were all open. I ran up and got dressed super fast and looked out my windows to see if I could see Luke from there... Nothing. I go out and at first I thought all Luke's bikes were here, so I went and figured he was in the garage... No, but as I look back at the bikes I realize that Luke's new bike was gone. Panic sets in! I talk to the neighbor she checks her yard and her next yard over... I got in the Van and drove down the cul-de-sac...I didn't see him anywhere...So I start thinking about where he would have gone, I couldn't imagine him going on the main road. But I didn't know what he would have done....I checked one more place our other neighbors backyard, No not there....My neighbor said she would drive up to the park and check there... OH I was hoping he was there... I called and called Adam over and over till he finally called me back I told him what was up and he told me to call the police....OK... So I called 911

I have had reoccurring dreams about getting put on hold when I had to call 911...But thankfully they didn't...I gave them my information over and over...Then after several minutes I look up and see Luke pedaling down the lane at me with a big smile on his face...OY... I tell the lady that I see him, then the first of 3 police cars pull in...
Disaster averted! The police were really nice and the guy gave me a big hug and asked me if I was Ok, I was crying like crazy. I ask Luke where you? He just points behind him down the lane.... he hands me a hand full of petals, 'These are for you Mom" Thanks Luke! Adam came home shortly afterward and thanked the Police for their help...And I checked my phone yesterday when I took the picture to see how long I had talked to them, It was about 5 minutes. So the Good news is that in about 4 minutes the police will be at my house if I ever have to call them again... But lets just hope we don't~!