JCC Shabbat Family Dinner

The JCC had a Shabbat family dinner a few weeks ago and it was really cute. All the pre-school classes made the centerpieces for the table and we walked around until we found the one Jordy's class made. They were adorable flower pot centerpieces that had his picture in the center. It's really funny how my kids take pictures when I am not around vs. when I am there. Sometimes I don't think the child they photograph is actually mine. Especially my busy, yelling, singing Jordy....

We brought J & J's favorite Nic n' Toni's pizza and called it a night. It was lots of fun... Oh and we couldn't end the night without stopping at BR for some ice cream....

Crockpot Chocolate Fondue

As you know, I LOVE to cook and also love finding new recipes. I think my love for new recipes has taken over my love for shopping. I don't know which is worse. I made this yummy Chocolate Fondue recipe to take over to some friends and I had to share. I made two platters for dipping - one sweet and one refreshing. Take a peak and here is the recipe too.

Crockpot Chocolate Fondue
•18 oz. semisweet chocolate, chopped
•1 oz. unsweetened chocolate, chopped
•6 oz. milk chocolate, chopped
•13 oz. can evaporated milk
•1/4 cup powdered sugar
•1 tsp. vanilla
•Fruit, cookies, and cake pieces for dipping

3rd Annual J-Crew Labor Day...

I am going to go back to the beginning of September because I don't want to miss posting some fun pictures. This year we spent Labor Day at the JW Marriott with some great friends. The J-crew has become extended family to us and we all had a great weekend with lots of sun and fun. We ate lots of food, played in the pool for hours, ate great street tacos (by the pool), drank yummy drinks and just had an awesome time on a weekend staycation.... Here's to many more J-crew memories....

Camping With The Callison.....

So last month we finally went camping with some great friends at Canyon Woods, which is a little past Payson. I know this is shocking to many of you, since I am not the most spontaneous, outdoors person in the world, but I took one for the team and went camping with my crew for the weekend. There were four families in all and we had a great weekend filled with S'mores, fishing, boating, campfires and experiencing no bathrooms ANYWHERE in sight.... I thought I was clear with my request for needing a bathroom before the trip but when I realized what my options were, well let's just say the woods were a much better alternative.

J & J thought the weekend was awesome and can't wait to go again. I still think camping on the San Diego beaches is more my speed, but I did agree to go again - BUT there must be a functioning bathroom in sight!!!!

First Day of School...

I am SO far behind again, but I need to get these first day of school pictures up for the memory book. Jayden started 2nd grade at Islands Elementary this year and Jordy started his Pre-K class at the JCC. Can you believe I will have a Kindergartner next year??? Wow! Time is flying by.

Summer Colds, Sunshine and Lifetime Fitness...

Well as I mentioned in my previous post, summer is here.... I think I forget every year how the heat starts and hits you like a ton of bricks. I got home from work the other day and couldn't wait to get my Chase attire off and put on my thinnest sun dress I have. I literally fell on to my bed and laid under the fan until I had not more than a minute to spare to pick up the boys from camp. Every day I remind J & J to drink water and then their smart Momma forgets to drink hers.... Well I paid the price that afternoon as I felt sick all day.

We have been staying busy this summer with camp, play dates and swimming. Jordy started with a runny nose and I told him he had a "Summer cold" and he looked at me like I was talking another language, it was pretty cute. "He said, what's that, Momma". I remember being a kid in New Jersey and getting a cold that didn't last long, but my Mom always told me it was from going in and out of the air conditioning. I guess it's one of those childhood stories I remember. As quick as Jordy got his "Summer cold" it was gone. I am SO grateful that we are four months past his Tonsillectomy and the surgery seems to have been a great decision.

After six years of being in our house I am finally wishing we had a pool in our backyard. It was really great when J & J were little and I didn't have to worry about the backyard, but now the thought of opening my back door to my own backyard paradise sounds very appealing. So, one day last week after I picked J&J up from camp I had enough of sweating and decided it was time to renew our Lifetime Fitness membership. It's been great and the boys love it. Jayden goes up and down the slide over and over and Jordy loves that he can play in the zero depth entrance that they have. Any friends out there want to join us at the pool????

That's the latest over here. Will be back with pictures soon. Looking forward to a fun Fourth of July weekend filled with BBQ's, friends and lots of yummy foods. Maybe I will post a few recipes that I am making this weekend....

Summer Is Here In AZ.....

I'm looking forward to spending lots of quality time with three of my favorite people this summer.. The heat has started and it won't be going anywhere until October, so we just get used to it and take advantage of all our good friends and their pools :) It's crazy when 100 plus degrees are the norms and just part of your everyday.

We have some fun things planned over the next few months. My Jordy will be turning four (is that really possible) on July 9th, so Mommy is getting busy preparing a "magical" party at our house. We will have a fun July 4th weekend and a few birthdays to celebrate in between. Then Mike and I have a week off and are trying to decide how we want to spend it. We might just stay local and enjoy some family time close to home. Then we will look forward to our Annual Labor Day weekend with some great friends. In AZ a list comes out every year of Summer deals at the resorts and this year we will be staying at the JW Marriott. We can't wait to have some fun and make new memories!

Stay tuned.... There will definitely be lots of pictures to share.