Iron Chef Melissa

Did you know that I'm an Iron Chef winner! O.k. so not from the show Iron Chef. Our Branch had a ward activity and there was an Iron Chef competition. We had 3 different secret ingredients to choose from and then it was either side, main or dessert. Our choices were apples, cranberries or pumpkin. I chose to do an apple side dish. I made Salpicao, it's a Brazilian dish. It is shredded chicken with ham strips, peas, carrots, palm hearts and apples mixed with mayo and topped with potato sticks. It is probably my favorite Brazilian dish. It is typically eaten as a side at bbq's but can be for any time. Well, there were several other dishes in my category, but I was the Iron Chef winner for apple side dish! I was so proud! Everyone loved it and I had none left over to bring home. Yeah me! Just thought I'd share.

She didn't even care!

Today was a big day at church for our family. Samuel had the Primary Program and he actually went up and did his part this year! That was a big step for him. Last year he refused to go and do it. He was a little reluctant to go and Juanpablo had to walk with him up to the front. But he stayed up there and didn't cry. He almost cried, but then he was with the other kids in his class and his teacher and he was fine. He did a really good job! He sang the songs and did his part which he had memorized. He didn't get up and play around, he just sat there and did so good! We are very proud of him!

Today was also Bella's first time at Nursery! I was a little worried because Sam didn't want anything to do with Nursery! We took her in and she was grabbing hold of my leg and I had flashbacks to Sam's entire Nursery experience. I was worried! Then Juanpablo got her a puzzle, she wouldn't go get any toys on her own. And she started playing with the puzzle and Juanpablo left. Then as she was still looking to see if I was there I stayed a little longer. I started backing for the door and was worried how she would do when I left. She turned around and looked at me as I was backing out the door. She didn't cry. She just watched me leave and then I waited outside the door to see if she would start crying and after a few minutes someone opened the door and I peeked in and she was still happily playing with the puzzle. I left and went to class happy but strangely sad at the same time. I was happy because she didn't have a melt down, but part of me was sad that she didn't have a melt down! Do you know what I mean? Well, I was in the hall between classes and one of the nursery workers was carrying Arabella to take the older nursery kids to their other class and I thought oh no she's gonna see me and that's it. Well, I tried to not let her see me, but it didn't work. She looked right at me and said Mama! But the nursery worker kept walking and Bella watched me but didn't cry at all. So, I went on to Relief Society and it was so weird to not have Bella in there with me. I'm used to having her sleeping on my lap throughout Relief Society or trying to get her to stay quiet so I can hear the lesson. It was nice to be able to pay attention to the lesson without having to worry about a little one. So, it was a great day! Everyone is happy and everything worked out great!

For all you Austen fans....

There is a great book that I kinda just finished, but actually I can keep going back and reading it again and it's a whole different story. Do you remember the Choose Your Own Adventure books that they had when we were little? It's a book like that but it takes you through all of Jane Austen's most popular books, Pride and Prejudice, Emma, Northanger Abbey, Mansfield Park, and Sense and Sensibility. You are Elizabeth Bennett and it starts out in Pride and Prejudice. But then you have to make choices as you are going about the story. And you might just end up with Mr. Knightly from Emma instead of Mr. Darcy. Or maybe you believe Mr. Wickham and never learn the truth about him and end up with him. Or what if you said yes to Mr. Collins! Or maybe you meet Edward Ferrars or Henry Tilney. It's so much fun! If you don't like Jane Austen or have never read her novels, then you just won't get it. But, if you are like me and love them, it's a must read! It's just a fun adventure in Jane Austen's make believe world. You may even get to run into Mr. Lefroy from Jane's own life. I highly recommend it! I got it at Amazon.com and it was only $3.99! So, go get it and enjoy! It's called Lost in Austen: Create Your Own Jane Austen Adventure by Emma Campbell Webster.

Crazy Day...but fun....

On Saturday we had a fun crazy day! We went to a baptism at the beach in the morning. Sam is excited about the fact that we will be here when he turns 8 so he can be baptised at the beach. Then we came home and got ready to head out to another beach to try snorkeling for the first time. It was so much fun! Bella wasn't as unhappy at the beach this time. She hated standing in the sand and she wouldn't let go of Juanpablo or I when in the water. We found this really cool swimsuit for her. It has was looks like a tire attached to it! So, she floats in the water. But it's kinda hard holding her and stuff. We had to blow it up with a bicycle pump, like a real tire.

She even played in the sand a little, but only as long as it didn't get on her feet! She didn't mind it on her hands, she just couldn't stand it if it was on her feet! She is so funny! Sam really enjoyed the snorkeling! He has a superman swimsuit with a built in life jacket. So, that helped him to float and he would kick his feet and hold our hand so that he could follow us. Juanpablo and I took turns snorkeling with Sam or trying to help Bella enjoy the water and sand. She has changed her complete hatred for the beach, so that's good! I think she really did enjoy it some this time!

Here Sam and Juanpablo are snorkeling. You can see Sam the best in the picture. Juanpablo is behind Sam and you can pretty much just see the top of his head and his snorkel.
Bella and I enjoyed playing on the beach while Juanpablo and Samuel were snorkeling.

The water here is so beautiful! It's so clear! We decided that we are gonna have to get an underwater camera!

After spending a couple of hours at the beach we went to the Air Force Base and went to the Chilli's Festival. Sam had fun playing games and winning stuff. It was a long but fun day! We'll definitely be going snorkeling again!