Ummm ... salsa

Brace yourselves, all you Chili's chips & salsa fans. Awhile back, I found this really yummy recipe off of copykat.com. Every time I make it, I am amazed how similar it tastes to the real thing. So here it is ... my absolute favorite recipe for salsa :

14.5 oz can whole peeled tomatoes with juice

14.5 oz can tomatoes with green chilies

1 T + 1 t jalapenos (canned, diced, not pickled)

1/4 cup yellow onion - diced

1/2 t cumin

1/2 - 3/4 t garlic salt

1/4 t sugar

**In food processor or blender, place jalapenos and onions. Process for a few seconds. Add both cans of tomatoes, salt, sugar, and cumin. Process all ingredients until blended to desired consistency. Place in covered container and chill Chilling will enrich the flavor.

Sky High

A few weeks ago we all headed up to Rocky Mountain National Park, to do a little fishing. As with most all day activities, we have to designate a little nap time for the ladies. So Chiki and I decided to go on a drive up Trail Ridge Road. For all you adventurous people out there, even this drive made Chiki's stomach a little uneasy. The road is only open 3 months out of the year because the weather can switch in a heartbeat up that high.

After many switchbacks, at times seeing nothing but a drop off on each side of the road, and dodging animals ... you reach the highest point which is 12,466 ft. By the time you reach the viewing area, you are so freaked out to look at the scenery because you know that you are going to have to drive back down.

It really was worth all of the anxiety and the loss of breath, because out of all the places we visited that day ... the top is where we saw all of the animals!

You can't tell but the road drops off after the rocks. That is what most of the road was like.

It really was pretty. Pictures don't do it justice.

These guys were hopping around all over the place at the top

Isn't nature great!

Who Are These Kids?

Where are the parents? My kiddos, wouldn't get dirty like that :)

Fishing Around

A couple of years ago, I picked up a new hobby (thanks to Chiki:)). The new hobby is fishing. For all of you who grew up with me ... I know, I know very shocking. The funny thing is I used to think fishing sounded like a punishment, and now I LOVE LOVE LOVE it! Makes the statement "don't knock it, til you try it" completely true.

Anyhow, Chiki surprised me with a new fly rod and reel and so fishing has been occupying most of our time. I don't have any pictures of me in action quite yet ... but just wait. I will be out fishing Chiki before you know it!

This is how Olivia passes time, while everyone else fishes. She LOVES dirt.

Miss Hannah catching her 1st fish. Look close ... it is there :) She was so excited!

Like Father, like Daughter

Fishing like an old pro

Funny thing ... out of all the nice rods that we have, Hannah's cheap little one was the one catching all of the fish.

Miss Livi Turns 2

It's official ... my baby is no longer a baby. Olivia turned 2 on July 4Th. So sad, but I cannot wait to see what this little lady grows up to be!

Funny story - when I first found out my due date with Olivia which was July 5Th, the first thing I said was that I didn't want to have a holiday baby. My younger sister Kim was born really close to Christmas, and it was so hard to get her friends together for a party. But so far that hasn't been the case with Olivia's birthday, and July 4Th is actually a fun day to have a birthday on. We can do birthday festivities during the day, and fireworks at night.

This year for the big day, we decided to head to the park for a little cookout, play some badminton, and to eat a whole lot of cake with friends and the famillia. Since we had been running around with my family the days before, it was really nice to be able to do some relaxing.

Olivia's Tinker Cake. She LOVES Tinkerbell

Sporting the new eye wear

Digging into the birthday gifts. She loved it all!

The ladies partying it up with their Nana

Olivia's HUGE birthday dessert she got, when we later went out for pizza

Our little lady has already changed so much, since she first entered the world. She has been walking since 9 months, talking and singing since she found her voice, loves to cook in her kitchen, and loves loves loves to eat. As for the birthday wish .... Olivia told me that she wishes to become potty trained. Ha ha. If only it were that easy!

We Love You Livi Liv

More To Come ...

Stay tuned for even more posts ...

A Little Vacation At The Casa

My entire famillia decided to come out at the beginning of July, for a mini vacation. They hadn't all been out here at the same time since Chiki & I got married in 2004, so we were excited to have them out here at the same time!

Since they chose the middle of summer to come out, we had an endless list of activities to choose from. Of course we had to hit up Waterworld. If you have never been, I highly recommend going. It is a water park for all ages, and you never run out of things to do while there. This was cousin Austin's first visit to a water park, and I think he thoroughly enjoyed it along with the rest of everyone else. It definitely gave us all the chance to relax and enjoy the sun (for the little while it was out).

Swimming & eating ... could life be any better

Hanging out eating some more "nummies"

Next on the agenda, was the Rockies baseball game. Chiki & I have made it a tradition to attend the July 3rd game when we are in town, because they have a magnificent fireworks show afterwards. This particular game always sales out which makes it that much more fun, and I can't think of a better way to start off the 4Th of July holiday then going to a professional baseball game! There was a down pour right before the game but during, the weather couldn't have been more perfect. And to make the night even better ... the Rockies won!!

All of the kiddos congregated to grandma & grandma. That was GREAT for the parents haha

Here is Uncle Jer catching his "air ball." Maybe one day Uncle Jer, you can catch a real one!

Olivia being her patriotic self

The entire crew

To my famillia ... thanks for coming out. We had so much fun with you all out here, and hope you ALL come back soon!