Jimbo's Birthday Salsa

Jimbo is my dad. And man oh man, do I LOVE my dad. Last year I gave my dad a tribute on his birthday... or around it, which he wasn't too excited about and told me that it made him seem crazy. Then I thought... "I totally nailed it then" because in a way my dad is crazy and that is what I love most about him. Normal is too boring. I love to tell Jimbo stories to my Young Women, they can not get enough.

I have a Christmas Salsa tradition, where I make a big batch of salsa and deliver it. I got my recipe from my dad, who started this tradition when I was real young. I have fond memories of squashing tomatoes and not so fond memories of pulling cilantro leaves. But we loved delivering it. This year for my dads birthday we bought all the ingredients and all helped make it.

Other presents from my mom

Why not use a knife to slice through that pesky tape?

Discovering the Salsa ingredients

Happy Boy

The crappiest part of the salsa is plucking all the cilantro leaves. Ben wears clothes because he "claims" to get an allergic reaction from the cilantro leaves.

We use lots of these #10 cans of tomatoes

This year my dad flavored the salsa, so this salsa is as close to perfection as it's going to get.

More ingredients and Kerr Jars

We make a lot! But it still never seems to be enough.

Lulu in training.

I did miss doing the salsa with Cody and Jessica... Just wasn't the same to not fight over who would get to squash and who would have to pluck.

Everyone cleaning up, except for the birthday boy and...

me

I was dead to the world I heard about birthday spankings and singing that I slept right through. Happy Birthday to my dad, the best dad in the whole world.

Ben's Ward Christmas Party

Ben just got called to be in charge of Activities in our ward right before the Halloween Trunk or Treat. He has had to dive right into this job. For the Ward Christmas Party Ben has been stressing big time. He does not have it in him to throw an average party. He just can't. He Held a Christmas Ball. Everyone Dressed up and the lighting was low and elegant and he hired a very good DJ, and rented red table cloth linens.

It was pot luck. He had these umbrella lights to light the food area.
He had the perfect committee (Jill, Sarah, and Ruth) They just whipped up 24 center pieces, by wrapping lace around glass jars and adding little electric tea lights, on a paper mat, with ornaments and kisses.
There was a hot apple cider and hot chocolate station also with an umbrella light.
Rubes and Lulu
Family Photo
Everyone was getting down. It was seriously like a reception with the DJ's laser lights going and the dance floor. The kids had a blast.
Then we sang Christmas Songs while waiting for Santa to arrive.
Then Ruby got to meet Santa. I love the Sweet look on her face, like she is really thinking about what she wants to tell him. Unfortunately it was a computer, which was actually a little more manageable than what she had mentioned in her letter we mailed off. In her letter she said she wanted a christmas tree (Check) and candy canes (Check) and a new room for Lulu (Uh Oh)

The Letter to Santa:

Santa and Cousin Piper

Santa with Cousins Ollie and Rocky (They discovered that this Santa Claus really is the REAL Santa Claus because he didn't have a pillow in his tummy and they tugged a little on his beard and it didn't come off.
Santa with Ruby and Lulu.
Then we put on a movie and all the kids watched the classic Frosty the Snowman, While the Adults were dancing.
Way to go Ben. You did it. I kept trying to ease his stress by reminding him it was just a ward party and that 4 years from now no one would even remember it... but I don't know about that, it was a pretty epic ward party.

Thanksgiving in Ida...HOLY BLIZZARD

Our itinerary was to arrive in Boise the Monday before Thanksgiving and then travel to Pocatello the night before thanksgiving and travel home sunday. Unfortunately we got stuck in a Blizzard. The storm was so severe that we saw a couple dozen flipped over cars and decided we needed to hold up in a hotel. So we called the Holiday Inn and slept there monday night in Idaho Falls.

Pulling up to the Hotel

And then we decided to brave the storm the next morning. We put chains on the tires and inched along to Meridian where Amber was ANXIOUSLY awaiting our arrival. She told us the longer it took us to get there the cleaner her house got and the more she baked, lucky for us. We had a delicious Thanksgiving Dinner with the Buhrley Family (Ben's Sister).

Porter and Ruby in the Snow it was about 10 degrees

Eliza's snow angel

Lulu did not like the Snow or the cold

"I can't put my arms down"

And then the roads were too icy to travel Wed night so we arrived Thursday afternoon (Thanksgiving) to my Grandma and Grandpas in Pocatello. Ruby's #1 item of business this trip was to build a snowman

Which we were finally able to do.

Preparations for the Feast. These guys were peeling Potatoes

My Papa and my cousin Jimmy K

Ginger Bread House Preparations, The frosting mortar wasn't drying fast enough so Cody came ups with a quick dry solution. He is in College and is smart.

Building Gingerbread Houses

For Fun we taped Each other up with Masking Tape... But you know how the saying goes. It's all fun and games until....

Someone gets hurt.

It was such a fun trip. And it was cool to see those Hill Relatives (My dad's side). I would totally do it again, However next time lets all do it in sunny warm California, and we can play flag football.

Ruby is 4

So Ruby had her 4th birthday. She was very excited to have a butterfly theme birthday party and a pinata.

What Ruby Loves at 4:

1. She loves to joke around.

2. She loves doing crafts

3. She loves being in charge, but can get a little power hungry.

4. A lot like ben... likes to sleep in, likes to make up rules and usually it's in the middle of the game

5. Tall for her age.

6. A total Goof Ball-

7. Laughs out loud to Daffy Duck and Bugs Bunny

8. Loves to help me cook and when ben and I want to sleep in she will set the table and set out the eggs and bread for us to make breakfast when we wake up.

9. She thinks Finn is the funniest kid ever and he is her favorite.

10. She loves to compete but doesn't do so well when she loses.

11. She like to spit and burp (she can burp whenever she wants)

12. Snooky-do... her baby einstein lady bug. It is her pet, she takes very good care of him.

13. Playing with Cousins

14. Anything water, swimming, sprinklers, balloons filled with water, spit, jumping in puddles, baths, washing dishes with me.

15. Tense up and shakes when she is excited

Ruby does not Love:

1. Nurturing Baby dolls.

2. When I count to get her to do things.

3. When I don't wait for her.

4. Getting bumped by people.

5. Brushing her hair out.

6. James and the Giant Peach- the movie

7. Loud noises like balloons popping, or fireworks, yelling boys, horns.

8. Wearing Pants... only likes to wear skirts and dresses.

9. Being Rushed. (Another similarity between her and Ben)

10. When I start the car when she is not belted up yet.

Pics from her birthday party:

Finn

The pinata we bought was impossible to break open. Ben ended up having to have a swing at it and unfortunately it was with our broom handle, which broke, so we got him a metal bar, which ended up doing the job.