Dinnertime!

So this is random, but thought I'd share some yummy, easy recipes that I've found. I know that I am always on the look-out for new recipes, especially for something besides chicken (I have lots of chicken), that both Kirk and I like. Soooo, here are some that I thought everyone might want to try:)

French dip sandwiches

Ingredients

• 4 pound boneless beef roast
• 1/2 cup soy sauce
• 2 beef bouillon cubes
• 1 bay leaf
• 3 whole black peppercorns (I just used good 'ole pepper)
• 1 teaspoon dried rosemary, crushed
• 1 teaspoon dried thyme
• 1 teaspoon garlic powder
• 20 slices French bread

Directions

1. Remove and discard all visible fat from the roast. Place trimmed roast in a slow cooker.
2. In a medium bowl, combine soy sauce, bouillon, bay leaf, peppercorns, rosemary, thyme, and garlic powder.
3. Pour mixture over roast, and add enough water to cover roast.
4. Cover, and cook on Low heat for 10 to 12 hours, or until meat is very tender.
5. Remove meat from broth, reserving broth. Shred meat with a fork, and distribute on bread for sandwiches. Used reserved broth for dipping

I halved the recipe and used a 2 pound rump roast. I also served on whole-wheat sub rolls. Mmmm-mm, Kirk and I both loved this. It made a ton of meat for the 2 of us so I froze some, used some for baked taquitos, and used the rest for some delicious beef enchiladas. Three meals for one- not too shabby!

Kirk loves Cafe Rio, but they don't have any here... so sad! This next one is a copy-cat of their sweet pork used for burritos, salads, or tacos.

Café Rio Sweet Pork

• 2 pounds pork (boneless pork rib meat is good)

• 3 cans Coke -NOT diet (I actually used a small bottle of Dr. Pepper instead)
• 1/4 c. brown sugar

• Dash garlic salt

• 1/4 c. water

• 1 can sliced green chilies

• 3/4 can red enchilada sauce 

• 1 c. brown sugar



1. Put the pork in a heavy duty Ziploc bag to marinade. Add about a can and a half of coke and about 1/4 c. of brown sugar. Marinade for a few hours or overnight.



2. Drain marinade and put pork, 1/2 can of coke, water, and garlic salt in crock pot on high for about 3-4 hours (or until it shreds easily, but don't let it get TOO dry) or on low for 8 hours.

3. Remove pork from crock-pot and drain any liquid left in the pot. Shred pork.



4. In a food processor or blender, blend 1/2 can Coke, chilies, enchilada sauce and remaining brown sugar (about a cup, you can add a little more or less to taste). If it looks too thick, add more Coke little by little. Put shredded pork and sauce in crock-pot and cook on low for 2 hours.

I also halved this recipe and used a very lean cut of pork that was already cut into slices. I served it with pinto beans and cilantro lime rice. Kirk approved. Anyways, you should try them- I think you'll approve too!

1st Day of Kindergarten

Kaemon's Kindergarten do...before we buzzed it all off. He said he wanted his haircut like daddy's. Here is both of us in our uniforms.

Walking/riding to school. The fuzziness of the photo is actually fog on the lens. Every time we take any camera from inside to outside to take pictures, the lens fogs up due to the heat and humidity.
It was actually pretty cool. I had the morning off, so we all went together to take Kaemon to his class. They had the Navy band playing songs and "the red carpet" that the kids walked on and then got their picture taken.
Kaemon all ready on his bike, with his school uniform and backpack. He is going to a private school on base (a short walk from our house) called Belle Chasse Academy. Milea keeps asking when she gets to go to school. We tell her when she's 5. She says, "that's taking a long, long time".

First Things First.....

Even though Rivers is now a month old and you have probably seen him on Kari's blog, I too must post about him on our family blog! Yes, I know that it seems a little late, but nevertheless, here it finally is!! Rivers Mikkel Kinsey was born July 19th, 2010 in Stafford, VA! We were just finishing our 2 weeks volunteering at the Hill Cumorah Pageant when we got the call that he was coming! I missed being there for his birth by about 8 hours, but it was almost perfect planning! Here he is just hours old, he was perfect in every way, lots of hair, all of his fingers and toes, adorable little features and looking just like Kirk! He weighed 7lbs-7oz and was 20-1/2 inches long I think.

Very proud Daddy, holding his little boy, of course bundled in his camo blanket!

Look at all his short, fine hair, he had lots of it!

He even had side-burns!

So cute, we just couldn't stop staring at him!

He did have a little trouble with his bili rubin count because he had a different blood type than Kari, so.......

.....under the lights he went. The nurses put very sticky Velcro onto his face to attach his little protective mask, then wrapped more stuff around that and then wrapped him in a light blanket. He looked just like a little glow worm, tail and all. He had to stay like that for 12 hours, then if his count went down, we could take him home!

He was such a good sport about the whole ordeal, he hardly fussed at all, except when they had to poke his heel for a blood sample! I was so glad that I could be there with them, even if we did have to spend the first three days at the hospital!

What was interesting to me was that out of all seven babies I had, only Kari had to go through this same experience! She had to wear a little mask and we put her under lights too, only I got to do this at home under my fluorescent lights!

Finally, taking baby Rivers home! The Happy Family!!

He adjusted to home life pretty fast! He had all of our undivided attention at all times!

Every little move, expression, and sound was noted and applauded!

He was wonderful about sleeping during the day, but he liked to keep Kari (and Kirk) awake alot at night during those first few days at home. Somehow I managed to sleep and didn't hear a peep!

Kari and her little son! I was there for 2 weeks and watched him change a little every day! Now he is a month old and is still so adorable! Its just not fair that they are so far away and we won't get to see him until Christmas!!!

This was the last picture I took of him, sleeping in his little boppy, so cute!! I Miss HIM!!
Sorry this post is a month late, I have just been so overwhelmed since I've been home and have had no time!!!

Welcome to the world BLAKE

Dr. Tindall

Blake Shawn Peters Born to Tami and Ryne Peters after 23 hours of labor, 8-15-10 @ 7:02 am 21 inches long

First moments. The cord was around Blakes neck for a brief time but Dr Tindall was a quick responder.

Bouncing through some contractions

It was a crazy fun party in room 406 at Summit Health care as we anticipated the birth of baby Blake. Ryne, Mom and I had some great first time experiences with Tami as she learned the joys of long labor, dealing with pain,  and exhaustion.   To start there was Monopoly deal playing, smiles, then lots of hall walking,  then ball bouncing ,now pain, jacuzzi baths , deep tissue back rubs, more intense pain, breathing and word of encouragement. We watched the clock tic tock away- Blake just wanted to take his sweet time.  But into the world he came. A perfect life.  He is precious. Those first moments of new life are etched on my heart and it truly was an unforgettable memory I will forever cherish with my baby sister.   Congratulations to the new Mommy and Daddy TAMI and RYNE!!


MORE PICS TO COME

Our Hill Cumorah Experience--part 4

This is our group of volunteers that we worked with for the 10 days we worked at the Hill Cumorah Visitors Center. The ones on the far right are the Presidency over us. What a wonderful, nice bunch of people, all outgoing, friendly, and willing to serve! It was sure fun getting to know all of them.
This is Elder & Sister Kukahiko, our supervisors over us. Really wonderful. They made us feel needed and helpful and gave us some special experiences we wouldn't have had. You may notice something different about the Christus statue? Its the only one with a picture of the Sacred Grove behind it.

The Sister Missionaries were wonderful and serve at all the Church historic sites. They rotate around to all of them. This is just a few of them we met over the 10 days we were there.

From on top the Hill Cumorah, looking down at the stage and all 7000 chairs that are set up.
The Moroni Monument was dedicated July 21, 1935. "In the audience was a young Elder returning from his mission to England. He writes of his experience, "On the summit of the hill was a canvas-draped monument. At the appointed signal four trumpeters raised their gleaming instruments. In sharp clear tones 'An Angel From On High' echoed across the placid countryside. The Flag-the Stars and Stripes- fluttered in the wind, and it never looked more beautiful than it did over that hill sacred and important to the history of America. Then the canvas shroud fell from the monument, and the figure of Moroni looked out across the quiet fields which in his day of life had been scenes of carnage and sorrow."

That young Elder later becomes the fifteenth prophet and president of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, Gordon B. Hinckley."
We had an awesome experience at the monument. While we were there, spending some time reading about and enjoying the Monument, another family was there and they were listening to me read about the sculptor and the miracles that took place. One of the ladies looked over and saw Dads' name tag and said, "LaVerl Crosby, I know you!!" Come to find out, she was a neighbor from Yuma and Gma & Gpa Crosby taught her the lessons and baptized her! She married in the temple, raised 7 children, all wonderful members of the church. It was a very special reunion for her and her family who were all there together!

Dad also recognized another old friend! He worked with Jack Cosley? in the pineapple over in Hawaii in 1974! He has helped with the pageant for many years and this year was helping with the costumes. His family has been in the pageant many times too!
The costumes were amazing, lots of detail and just beautiful when seen up close!

This is father Lehi!

Uncle Denny, Dustin & 2 kids and Kristen and her 3 kids all came for the last Sat night performance. They loved it and had never seen it before. Its pretty awesome seeing it for the first time. There are over 700 performers, all with wonderful costumes acting out 10 different scenes from the Bible and Book of Mormon. My favorite scene was when the Resurrected Christ appears "to His other sheep" in Ancient America! It looks as though He is descending from the clouds, its pretty impressive!

Here's Nicolas, Abigail, Madeline, Cole and Adelaide and One of the Wise Men.

The overall message of the pageant is the love Jesus Christ has for ALL people.

Watkins Glen part 3

We went to a State Park called Watkins Glen and it was so AWESOME, I thought it deserved a post all of its own! I thought that Niagara Falls couldn't be beat, and it can't as far as majesty and power go, but this little gorge was so serene and beautiful, I just loved it!
We crossed over lots of these stone bridges and climbed over 800 steps!
Around every bend was another breathtaking view! Another waterfall or another beautiful pool of crystal clear water!
Look at this amazing 'heart shaped' one!

We went under waterfalls and through tunnels!


Of course, now there is no swimming allowed, but can you imagine the fun kids used to have in this glen before all the rules and regulations were put into force!

I thought every pool was the perfect swimming hole! It was hot and I wanted to jump in!











It was a good little hike up, but worth every step! J'net & Bryan rode the bus back down, but Dad & I wanted to see it all again, so we hiked down. There was lots of other trails to take besides the main one, which would've been fun had we had more time! Its a must see if you're ever in New York and are at the bottom end of Seneca Lake, one of the scenic 'Finger Lakes'!