Saturday Night at AZ Mills

Syssa and Daddy

Kate-Kate!!

Kara loves Zebras!

Our first time at Rainforest Cafe!


Last Saturday we went on a family outing to Arizona Mills Mall. I have lots of memories at this mall. The girls ate at the Rainforest Cafe for the first time and loved it!! We also took them on the carousel, which they want to ride over and over! This will probably be a frequent event this summer.

More May Happenings

Grateful to be back in PHX for Barro's Chicago style pizza. I am NOT a St. Louis style pizza fan, sorry. Love the city and the people but not your pizza. St. Louis style is unique for its Provel cheese (a blend of provolone, Swiss, and white cheddar), thin crust, and cut into squares. The girls liked it though.

My first Sunday as Primary chorister in Lakewood ward. Thrilled I could accessorize with my red flower clip I with help from my amazingly artistic and creative friend Emily Southerland.

Kare Bear

Alyssa is now getting into the dress up action.

Roasted mallows and S'mores over Memorial Day weekend

Summer's Here!

Friday pizza night at Barro's. They have a small but nice kids area.

Espee Splash Park with Zobell cousins

Alyssa, Syssa, Lyssie, Missa Moo

Katers!

Feels Like Home

We have been back in AZ for a month now and it feels good to be home. Logan's job is going well, we love our new home, and ward. My heart aches for St. Louis at times; I miss all the green and flowers and rain. It is more in my thoughts lately with the tornado tragedy in Joplin, MO which we drove through on Interstate 44 on our way home.

The girls also seem happy to be back although Alyssa has no memory of what we left and Kate very vague memories of our West Valley home. Kara is in heaven being back with cousins although she continues to talk about her preschool friends in St. Louis. We have had many adventures around the neighborhood. We even rescued a family of ducks and were able to corral them back to the lake. Now that is finally warming up we have been getting in the pool every afternoon. Alyssa even as the youngest is the bravest and most daring swimmer of the three.

We are still down to 1 car so I am home all day with the girls. This is a good thing for me most of the time, not taking daily Cherry Limeade runs to Sonic or taking all 3 girls shopping only to get frustrated and someone always ending up screaming and running through the store. I miss the luxury of just escaping the house now and then.

I have been walking (with some interval jogging) around our new neighborhood and surrounding communities, learning the lay of the land and where to shop. I love the loop around the lake which takes me 45 minutes and then I come home to do 15 min of Jillian Michaels circuits and stretching. I have also revisited my ballroom dancing workouts, which I greatly missed for a month while we were moving and unpacking.

For now we will brace for the blazing hot summer trying to find lots of indoor activities and keeping as cool as we can while outdoors.

Chili-Rubbed Grilled Pork Tenderloin and Grilled Peach Salsa

Kicking off my search for sizzling summer salads and great grills

From USA Weekend 5/15/11

Chili-Rubbed Grilled Pork Tenderloin
1 tsp. ancho chili powder
1/4 tsp. salt
1/2 tsp. ground cumin
1/4 tsp. garlic powder
1/4 tsp. salt
Pinch cayenne pepper
1 pork tenderloin (about 1 1/4 pound)

In a small bowl, combine the ancho chili powder, cumin, garlic powder, salt, and cayenne. Rub the spice mixture all over the pork tenderloin. Allow the tenderloin to come to room temperature.

Preheat grill over medium high heat. Oil the grill's cooking surface. Grill tenderloin, turning once or twice, until a meat thermometer inserted into the thickets part reads 155 degrees, 15-20 minutes. Remove from heat and let to rest 5 minutes before slicing into 1/2 inch thick slices. Serve with Grilled Peach Salsa.

Grilled Peach Salsa

2 firm, ripe yellow peaches or nectarines
1/2 small red onion, finely diced
1/3 cup chopped fresh cilantro leaves
1 jalapeno, seeded and finely diced
2 Tbs. fresh lime juice
1/4 tsp. salt
1/4 tsp. freshly ground black pepper

Preheat grill over medium high heat. Oil the grill's surface. Cut each peach in half and remove the pits. Place the peaches cut side down on the grill and cook until the peaches soften slightly and grill marks are formed, about 3 minutes. Allow to cool for 5 minutes, then chop.

In a medium bowl, toss to combine the peaches, onion, cilantro, jalapeno, lime juice, salt and pepper. Set aside at room temperature.

Saying Good-bye

Kara on the way into preschool, in a church building about 80 years old.

Kara's own backpack/jacket hook

The Green Room!

Lindell Joy School (& a couple of friends/siblings) at the Zoo!

Swim teacher Ms. Liz

This week we said good bye to some of our St. Louis Friends

Swim teacher Ms. Liz. K & K have been in Ms. Liz's beginner preschool class since Feb. They have mastered some skills and finally graduated to Intermediate Preschool! Look out Arizona, these girls are going to rock the pool!

Lindell Joy School. Kate and I have been a part of the Lindell Joy School, with a group of other 2-3 year olds and their moms. We celebrated our last day, letter 'Z,' at the zoo!

First Congregational Preschool. Kara said her good byes to a fantastic preschool, wonderful teachers, and a great group of preschool friends.

Gearing Up for Summer

Gearing up for a long hot summer and living in the pool! And for those who are wondering, Ms. Liz's hair is now platinum (going from blue to pink to green to rainbow to plat). We are going to miss her!

Rio!

Great movie! I LOVE the soundtrack!

St. Louis

We are going to miss this place! It is really, really hard to leave right now with the incredible weather we've had.

Popsicles

We love Popsicles!

Pink and Purple

View from the family room front window

Hop on Over to IHOP

Our favorite restaurant....IHOP!

Spring!

A glimpse of our St. Louis spring: lots of bubble blowing, swinging, and gorgeous flowers everywhere! My flower knowledge is very limited-does anyone know what the 2 flowers and the flowering tree (one from next door, down the street, and the other in our yard) above are? I think the tree is magnolia (?)