Sunday, March 11, 2012

St. Patrick's Day Oreo Pops!

 I give up sugar for Lent, so what do I do?  I think I'm crazy.....
 ...but I saw these on Pinterest- which is so full of ideas that I want to try!  And they looked so easy.
 They were for the most part, you just had to separate the Oreos - like when you eat the filling first, and carefully insert the lollipop stick, or the cookie part would crack.  Then you had to be careful when dipping in the candy coating or the whole thing would fall apart.
 I poked holes in a cereal box so the sprinkles wouldn't get messed up.
 They ARE super cute.
 Even cuter packaged- up.  I don't even know what I'm going to do with them!

All done!

Sunday, February 26, 2012

Harvest Time!

 This is the time of year when the Pitchford's have oranges coming out of our ears....
 One of our favorite things to do with them is juice them- 
fresh-squeezed orange juice is like drinking sunshine!
 Cole picked all of the oranges this year!  Thanks Cole :)
They really are pretty.

Sunday, February 5, 2012

Julianne's Third Year Confirmation Retreat

 She got there on Friday afternoon and got home on Sunday evening- she had a wonderful and very meaningful time and feels prepared to make her Confirmation this May.  I am so thankful for everyone that has guided her along the way for the past three years.  The youth ministry team at St. Catherine's is fantastic and very dedicated to teens.  Thanks also to all that sent her love letters for this past weekend and those that kept her in prayer.  We love you.   This is Julianne with Chris - who was her Table Leader at the Retreat this past weekend.  Love to all.

Tuesday, January 31, 2012

I love this picture...

Really proud of Cole - getting high B's - might even pull off A's in the two classes he's taking right now at RCC- doing well as Site Supervisor for Family Service Association and the RUSD HEARTS program at Emerson.  He loves his job and is thinking about trying to get another one so he can take on a car payment.  He's working toward some good goals right now. I'm really proud of him.  Plus, he's awfully handsome. :)

Saturday, January 28, 2012

Us

 1988- Phil's Parents' Front Porch
1999- Phil's Parents' Front Porch

Monday, January 23, 2012

Welcome to the World, Julianne

Well, this is my girl on the day she was born.  Perfect.  She was born in the morning on September 12 in 1995- it was only 100 degrees that day- miserable.  Phil and I were greeted at the hospital by my Dad- he was the only one there.  And brave too- because he couldn't even stand to look at a wiggly tooth, let alone the stuff he was about to see.  I was already in labor- contractions and all that because I started the night before, but they sent me home on meds to put it off since I already had a C-section scheduled for the morning.  Nice.  Glad to accommodate them.  So, I was hurting and they took me in and there was Dad on one side of me and Phil on the other while they did all kinds of things to the lower part of my body to prep me for surgery while also trying to get a stupid IV in at least 3 different times- again- NICE.  I think Dad was probably pretending he was somewhere else just to get through it.  But as soon as they finally got me all ready, they wheeled me in, did the spinal and she was here minutes later.  Wow.  And she was folded completely in half- her feet on either side of her head, legs perfectly straight- she came out that way.  What an entrance.

Sunday, January 22, 2012

A Little Over a Year Before We Got Married... 1988

Man, this seems like a long time ago!  Look at us!  We were so young and oblivious!  We had no idea what we were headed into!  And now 22 years later we are still chugging along :) Marriage is hard and takes work, but it's a blessing and this man has been very, very good to me.  I guess I've done all right by him so far too.  :)

Saturday, January 21, 2012

We Got a New Scanner!

I am really excited that Phil went and got a new printer with a scanner today- and got it all hooked up- because this means I can start scanning old pics again- I have so many cool stories to tell!

This is Julianne, who just nonchalantly walked into the kitchen one day with these sock'em boppers on her hands like it was nothing.  She was so funny about it.  She had an attitude even at this age! :)

Monday, January 16, 2012

Quiet Day



Phil and I spent the day together yesterday- quiet, walking, eating, no real agenda.  Just hanging out. 
 We haven't done that in ages.  It was really, really nice.

Saturday, January 14, 2012

The Problem is, I Cook When I'm Bored....

 I really do love to cook, and Cole said he was hungry, so I whipped up these burgers- whole wheat buns, avocado, tomato, grilled onions, melted swiss cheese- two for him- one for me.
And while I was at it, I made these Pumpkin Cake Batter muffins.  
De-lish. Sprinkled powdered sugar on top. 

Wednesday, January 4, 2012

MAJOR Childhood Memories

School shoes. We had to get them every fall. Why didn't we just wear tennis shoes like kids do now? No, we had to wear these ugly things. I remember hating them. Ugh. No style at all. Sensible and durable.
Sun In! Every summer! I wonder if this stuff actually worked, or if we just got sun streaks naturally? We were outside constantly- I bet it was just our hair and the sun the whole time.
This was candy- no medicine at all. One time Annie Mesa and I were EATING these at recess in the 6th grade and I choked- literally choked- on one. She took me to the cafeteria and they gave me a piece of bread and told me to chew it really fast and swallow hard. OMG- it's a wonder I'm not dead.
Kissing Potion- I'm not sure I ever really kissed a boy while wearing this stuff- it was basically scented cooking oil on your lips- so greasy I'm not sure that kissing could really even occur. I loved all the different scents. Of course, you had to collect them. I remember I had a minty one that was my fav.
I think blank cassettes and the tape player were our ultimate toys growing up. We used to plant tape recorders in the house and secretly tape conversations. We TOTALLY used to do that! We were brats. It was so much fun. We also used to write our own plays and record them on audiotape. We even made sound effects. It was so much fun.
I remember this basket on my bike- but I don't really remember my bike- other than it had a banana seat. Of course- It was the 70's.
Every single one of us wore these in our hair.
I remember playing with this exact school bus- and the Fisher Price little people (that are now a choking hazard- that's why they're big and fat now) I loved how when you pulled the bus the little people in the seats would go up and down.
Every single one of us had a ballerina jewelry box.
But I can't remember the tune it played.
This is Grandma Shearer gum. She would always buy it for us and we loved it.
The flavor lasted 10 seconds.

Monday, January 2, 2012

85 Degrees on January 2nd!

It was so warm today that Julianne and Jairett decided to picnic at the park- shorts and t-shirts and all- they had a great time- and it definitely did not feel like a winter day!

Sunday, January 1, 2012

Happy New Year

We decided to have a bonfire in the backyard on New Year's Eve, so Phil and Cole chopped up a whole bunch of scrap wood, including a broken step ladder- that had been sitting on the side yard - and the Christmas tree.
The weather has been extremely warm- the oranges are ripe and ready- and really juicy!
We have a tradition of having broiled scallops wrapped in bacon every year- so these were Julianne's version- pan fried in garlic butter- sans bacon.
I made Auntie Pam's chicken wings this year. Phil said mine were better! Cole said - no way- Auntie Pam's are the best. Funny- same recipe!
This was the table before some of the other things were put out-
we also had shrimp cocktail- which disappeared pretty quickly.
Newman- also known as the Kitchen Manager- since he is ALWAYS underfoot while anyone is cooking anything- gets snuggles from his brother and sister - on the kitchen floor.
Beautiful (BIG) bonfire. Happy New Year- here's to 2012!

Saturday, December 31, 2011

Newman's Christmas Gift

Here is Newman in his adorable and super cute scarf that he got for Christmas. Can you tell how much he loves it? He is yawning in the second picture. SUCH enthusiasm.

Friday, December 30, 2011

All Her

Julianne's latest self-portait- in her room.

Tuesday, December 27, 2011

Auntie Pam's Christmas Gift

So, we draw names for Christmas each year and I got Auntie Pam. She asked for a popcorn popper. BOOOOOOORRRRRINNNNNG. I knew that Mike and Nicole would be down with Adler (who isn't even one yet) and I knew that it would be a really special time for her to be with her two grandsons this Christmas. Megan and Drew hosted, so we got to hang out at Jameson's house too. I started racking my brain about some sort of keepsake that I could make for her and then I found the PERFECT idea on Pinterest. We made the one with Mike and Adler's handprints at the Christmas party (two takes) and we actually made the one with Megan and Jameson's handprints Christmas morning before Pam got there! (Also two takes!) Baby handprints are difficult! I was really happy with the results and Auntie Pam loved her gifts. I got the result that I wanted. Yay!!!!!

Saturday, December 24, 2011

Christmas Eve Chili Lunch at the Petix's


We have had lunch with Mark and Tena and the Garcia's every Christmas Eve for at least ten years now, probably longer. This is Maggie, whose been around for nine years of it all.

This is Cole with their new puppy, Mollie.

Esther and I have been friends for a very long time. We were kindergarten teachers together and shared a classroom. Now she's an elementary school principal and you know where I am. She is a great friend.

Tena loves getting gifts for the kids from all over the world. She brought things back from Barcelona for the kids- and each kid got a dinner and movie time with Mark and Tena for later on in the year.

Julianne and Cole

Mark is such an easy guy to buy for! Olive oil, cheese - anything food- This year I got him Spanish olive oil. He was, of course, happy.

Julianne opening a beautiful bracelet.

Cole got a chocolate sampler.

We always laugh and talk constantly and tell tons of stories.

Phil and Mollie