Fiesta: Battle of the Flowers Parade

Every spring, San Antonio has a 10-day long Fiesta.  There are many things to see and do.  This year there was a lot of rain.  I didn't want to brave the elements so we missed out on most of it.  On Friday, it was nice and sunny, so I decided to take the boys the the Battle of the Flowers Parade.

Landon left on a camp out with the Boy Scouts, and I loaded up the boys and drove to a park-and-ride near our old house.  We were bussed into the city which took a lot of stress out of trying to find parking.

 Above is one set of local "royalty" that was featured in the parade.  Every beauty queen would periodically lift up her dress to show off her fancy footwear--usually a decorated boot.

It was so fun watching the floats go by, eating a snow cone with the boys and enjoying the hot weather.

                                      

There were many high school bands that marched in the parade.  It was interesting to note the differences in the costumes.  Some were elaborate and others were quite simple.  The Navy band also sang some county songs as they floated on by.  Before I could see who it was, I thought it was a recording because it sounded so much like the original.  I was impressed!

      

It's hard to get these little boys to look at the camera and smile at the same time.  Maybe near impossible!

We had a lot of fun and everyone was SOOO nice to us.  Maybe because I was alone with two little kids in a stroller.  Who knows, but I liked it.  It's still kind of a culture shock coming from Germany.

Landon Turns 30

Yesterday was Landon's thirtieth birthday.  

The boys were so excited to give him presents.

He got swim trunks, a hat, a shirt, flip flops, and a beach towel for our upcoming trip to Padre Island.

He also got a pair of gymnastic rings to do some new workouts on.  He's really excited about those.

We had a special dinner including steak and shrimp (his favorite) and Gooey Chocolate Cake.

He also had a great day at work.  He gave a presentation to his bosses', bosses', bosses' boss and did a really good job.  Then he got to go to a work party they were having to celebrate the completion of a certain project.  This party was at a place that had arcades.  He was alloted a certain amount on a card from the company to play games.  Can you believe it?  Legitimately playing arcade games during work?  What next!  They also brought a cake and sang, "Happy Birthday" to him.

This morning, Jonathan asked me where Daddy was.  He ALWAYS asks me this.  I think he secretly hopes that I'll say something like, "He's outside waiting for you to come play with him."  Anyway, I told him he was at work.  The next thing I know, Jonathan comes out dressed like this:

"Daddy" had come to distribute birthday presents!  It was cute.

We love you Landon. HAPPY BIRTHDAY!

Tuesday's with Dorie: Chockablock Cookies

How come I couldn't get a good picture of these cookies?

Was it my camera?

Was it was the lighting?

No, and no again.  The real reason I could not get a good picture of these cookies is I was too busy eating them to have the patience to take a good picture!  These little cookies are what I like to call granola-bar cookies because that's what they taste like: a soft, chewy, granola bar.

Dorie gives you some leeway as to what you can add: dried fruit and nuts of your choice.  I suppose you could even leave out an ingredient and it wouldn't matter.  You can make these little cookies your own.

So if you'd like to try these cookies (or even if you just want to see a good picture of them) head on over to Mary's blog, Popsicles and Sandy Feet, the week's recipe.  Thanks, Mary, for a great choice!

Papacitos Cantina

Last night, Landon and I decided to skip our salsa dancing class and go out to eat instead.  I found a mexican place on the Internet that was close to Landon's work called Papacitos Cantina.  I wasn't sure what to expect since some of the reviews online made the place sound fantastic, and others made it sound awful.  Someone complained that it wasn't authentic Mexican food.  All I can say is, OF COURSE IT'S NOT!  We live in AMERICA.  Do you think most Chinese restaurants serve authentic Chinese food?  No.  It has been Americanized to fit our likes and dislikes.

When Landon and I were engaged, we went to Mexico with my Mom's family to celebrate my aunt and uncle's 50th wedding anniversary.  They wanted to renew their vows at a cathedral there.  During our trip, we went to a Mexican restaurant.  Landon and I ordered the specialty (which could also bee seen hanging in the window): gabrito.  For any gringos (and I say that in the most loving way--afterall, I am a gringa) who don't speak Spanish, here's the translation: baby goat.  Yes, one big plate of baby goat with the tiniest bit of veggies on the side.  I just don't see that becoming really popular here, but I could be wrong.

Anyway, back to Papacitos.  When I got there, I was pleasantly surprised at the look of the restaurant.  The outside was designed to look rustic and festive.  From the architecture of the building to the landscaping, I was already impressed.  The atmosphere inside the restaurant was equally as interesting with the painting and decor on the walls and colored lights strung from the ceiling.

Landon had arrived about 20 minutes earlier, and even though it was packed, it was our turn to be seated  just as I arrived.  I was surprised since I've waited anywhere from 30 to 60 minutes at other popular restaurants!  I was quite impressed with the service that we got throughout the entire night.

The best part about our dining experience was the food.  I had a good friend of mine recommend another tex-mex place to visit for my birthday last September.  The environment was festive and the service was fine, but I was not at all impressed with the food.  I didn't have the desire to go back, and I wouldn't take anyone there either.  The food wasn't terrible it was just okay. I was glad that the same thing did not happen at this place.

I had read online that the table-side guacamole worth trying, so that was the first thing I ordered.  It.  was.  awesome!  The waiter brought over a portable table with several ingredients, and asked us what we would like included.  I chose everything except the jalapenos.  It's the best guacamole I've ever had and the best part is now I know how to make it!

Here's what he put in it:

2 avacados
cilantro
diced tomatoes
diced red onions
kosher salt and white pepper (about 1tablespoon)
1/4 lime freshly squeezed into the mix

This was served, of course, with chips.  The chips were different from the ones we had for the salsa--which was also very good.  They were thicker as to handle the weight better.  I really liked that the chips for the salsa were light and thin chips.  It's just a small detail, but it made a big difference in taste.

For the main course we ordered the fajitas.  It just so happened that on Wednesday nights there was a special on fajitas, so our waiter upgraded our order.  We got twice as much food for the price.  Normally fajitas are one of my least favorite tex-mex-food dish to order, but I can honestly say that I loved these fajitas.  I wish I could say why they were better than others I've had, but I can't.  I can tell you though, that the tortillas were really good.  They were soft, warm and delicious.  You could tell that they were freshly made and not ordered from some other place.

I told the waiter that I loved the food and he asked if it was our first time at Papacitos.  I told him it was and that we were fairly new to San Antonio.  A little while later the manager came out to talk to us.  Before she left she offered dessert on her.  I couldn't believe it!  Already I was enjoying myself so much.  It was just the icing on the cake!

So of course we ordered dessert. Since there were so many good options, our waiter suggested we get a three-in-one combo.  Although all of the desserts were fantastic, I only want to talk about one: Tres Leches.  I had never even head of this before.  Tres meaning three and leches meaning milk, I asked what the three milks were.  The answer I got was heavy cream, condensed milk and evaporated milk.  I couldn't stop devouring it.  It was almost like a sweet bread pudding, or a milk cake.

It was such a good dining experience that I decided that will be the place I will take anyone who comes for a visit and is looking for some good tex-mex food.   The environment is even suitable for kids which is something I am always looking for.  So, if you are even it San Antonio, give Papacitos Cantina a try!

Youth Fireside

While I was in the Windcrest Ward, I was asked to be the accompanist for a fireside that the youth were putting on.  I was happy for the opportunity, and even though we were moving, I accepted.  Last Sunday they put on the final production.  The youth did a great job.  I was really impressed during the course of the practices with the testimony and talents of the participating youth.

They performed the songs Strong and Courageous, Armor of God, Be Not Afraid, Live Like You Believe, Valiant Faith and Be Strong.  It was so much fun to play for them.  This experience helped me realize how far I have come with controlling my nerves.  In fact, there wasn't much to control during this performance.  I knew things were getting better, but accompanying singers for six songs in front of a large audience and having it barely faze me is nothing short of a miracle.  For me, it reiterated the scripture, "weak things [can] become strong..."

Tuesday's with Dorie: Sweet Cream Biscuits

These delightful biscuits were chosen by Melissa of Love At First Bite.  What is the secret ingredient that makes these biscuits almost like a dessert?  Heavy cream.  Yes, you read that correctly, and that is why you will love these biscuits.  So head on over to Melissa's blog for the recipe!

Thanks, Melissa, for a sweet pick!

P.S.  These biscuits are dense and sweet.  So don't think you did anything wrong if that's how they turn out.  If your looking for light and flaky, I suggest trying the buttermilk version of the basic biscuit on page 21.  Can you say KFC?  Because they taste just like those biscuits AND they are easy to make!

Tuesday's with Dorie: Swedish Visiting Cake

Jag alsker dena kaka!  Just a little Swedish for I love this cake!  This recipe had caught my attention before because my husband lived in Sweden for two years as a missionary.  When we lived in Germany, we went on a cruise that included Stockholm.   It was a wonderful and beautiful city. 

The cake was super simple to make.  Just one bowl, a whisk and a spatula.  It doesn't get any simpler than that!  Slightly crispy on the outside and moist on the inside, this almond-flavored cake should please anyone who enjoys almond-flavored desserts.  Two thumbs up for this recipe.  Thanks to Nancy of The Dogs Eat the Crumbs for a great pick.  Be sure to check out her blog for the recipe.

I also have to mention some great TWD news.   I went to a get-together at my church that was a adult dessert night.  I was SO excited thinking about all the wonderful Dorie recipes I could choose from.  Finally they announced that there would be a prize for the best desserts.  I instantly knew what recipe I had to make: The Most Extraordinary French Tart.  It's one of my all-time favorites.  It's also not chocolate which I figured there would be plenty of at the get-together.  I went all out and even made Raspberry Coulis and Faux Creme Frache.  It was a hit!  It was the only dessert that was completely gone by the end of the night.  I ended up winning one of the prizes.  The other prize went to a caramel cheesecake (it was really good).  Come to find out the cheesecake was store bought, but the caramel part was homemade and added by the person who brought it. 

I never thought I'd be someone who could win a dessert contest.  In the past I probably would have done one of two things: 1) bought something at the store or 2) used a mix.  I love being a part of this group.  I have learned so much by reading other people's comments, blogs, and--of course--by baking along almost every week for more than a year and a half now.  Thank you to all you TWDers and to Laurie for creating this group!

A Few Pictures

Even though there is still much to be done to our house inside and out, my Mom wants to see some pictures.  So, Mom, these are for you.

Front Yard (Before)

Front Yard (After)

I got the white rocks from the backyard.  

Front Room

Tuesday's with Dorie: Coconut Tea Cake

This week I made the Coconut Tea Cake.  I chose to make mine with lime.  It was delicious!  It wasn't dry like Dorie described, but maybe that's because I look my cake out a little earlier than directed.

Instead of using a bundt pan, I used two Easter-egg shaped pans.  I decorated one of them just for fun.  The other one tasted better though because there was no frosting to mask the wonderful lime and coconut flavors.

Thank you, Carmen of Carmen Cooks for choosing this recipe!

Easter 2010

This year we had three Easter-egg hunts: one at home, one at the neighborhood pool, and one at the next-door neighbor's house!

The first one we did in our backyard on Saturday morning because the boys were just SO excited about it.  (Don't pay any attention to the field of wild flowers and weeds in our backyard.  Our lawn mower broke, and although we purchased a new one, we still have to assemble it.)

At Home

 

At the Pool

On the way to the pool, we stopped at our neighbor's house to ask if they had been flooded.  Turned out they had.  The damage was so bad that she and her kids have to move into a hotel for three months.  Because we were busy talking to our neighbor, we were a couple of minutes late to the Easter-egg hunt.  It was practically over by the time we got there!  It was still fun though.  Erik and Jonathan each got an egg or two.

Sunday morning the boys decorated eggs and I made a cake while we listened to conference.  It was a good way to keep the boys engaged during conference!

At the Tidwells, we ate lunch together and afterward hid about 300 eggs.  It was a blast!

Thinking about the resurrection this year really hit home with the recent death of my brother-in-law.  Although I still feel sad about it, I cannot imagine how I would feel without the knowledge of the gospel.  Knowing that his spirit lives on, that some day he too will be resurrected, and that he is sealed for all eternity to his family gives me great comfort.  

During conference, I there were two themes that really jumped out at me: how to raise children (I always need advice in that area), and single mothers.  Whenever I hear a talk like that, I think about Paige, my sister-in-law, who is so strong in the gospel and who is raising her five little children alone.  I think some of those words spoken in this conference would have given me a lot of strength if I were in her situation.  I loved conference and really enjoyed listening to the inspirational talks that were given.

It was such a wonderful weekend between conference and celebrating the resurrection of the Lord.  HAPPY EASTER EVERYONE!

I Heard the Primary Calling My Name...

Two Sundays ago, the bishopric released someone from the YW organization and also the primary secretary.  They immediately read a name for the YW calling to be sustained, but did not read a name for the primary secretary position.  I knew right then and there that I would be the new primary secretary.

A week later the primary presidency was released and guess who was called as the secretary?  Yep--me. This will be the second time that I'll be the secretary and it makes me really nervous.  I just don't feel the the organized, secretarial type.  On top of that, there are 120 kids in this primary, so organizational skills are going to be vital to this calling.  I guess I'd better learn fast!

Unless you do not count the six months I spent in nursery--which within the primary organization--all of my callings have been in the primary for the entire time I have been in a family ward except for two months as the choir pianist.  That's almost four and a half years, four different wards, and one branch!

So far my favorite callings have been (in no particular order): nursery, primary chorister, and primary pianist.  I especially loved being the primary pianist in my last ward since I was asked to play at many of the children's baptisms as well as convert baptisms.  I enjoyed being an integral part of the new ward member's special day.