90's not old

July 16th was Grandma Leavitts 90th
birthday. At the end of her party she
decided it would be fun to go down the
slide, and not the straight slide, the twisty one.

Diane helped her up and then grandma
said "WOW, I think I'm good for another 90 years"
HAPPY BIRTHDAY

Family

Grandma Leavitt on her 90th Birthday
holding her newest great grandchild,
Sophia Olive Anderson
(and my newest niece)

Tyler, Christain and Issac.
Issac is thier only boy cousin on my
side of the family.
Issac adores Tyler and D, he ran up to
Christain and gave him the biggest
hug when he saw him.
(Thier visiting from Arizona)

And here is Nanerz with most of
her grand daughters.

This is why we love summer, lots of fun with family.

Grandma Chomers B-day party

HAPPY
BIRTHDAY
CRAZY GRANDMA CHOMER
(she says she never wants
her family to stop calling her crazy)

WE LOVE YOU!!!
She loved the ice cream cone.

All the girl cousins had ablast playing
and being silly

and flipping down the lawn

They all love to come to Aunt Carols home.

'tis the season

This week I was looking for something and came across a paper I used
in my Ethics class. It's "The Open Space for Democracy" by
Terry Tempest Williams. She is one of my favorite writters, her writting
is like poetry, it just flows. Anyway I thought it went well
with this month of celebrating our freedom and our country.
(and you don't have to agree)
"In the open space of democracy, we engage the qualities of
inquiry, intuition, and love as we become a dynamic citizenry,
unafraid to exercise our shared knowledge and power. We can dissent.
We can vote. We can step forward in times of terror with a confounding
calm that will shatter fear and complacency.
It is time to ask, when will our national culture of self-interest
stop cutting the bonds of community to shore up individual gain and
instead begin to nourish communal life through acts of giving, not taking.
The human heart is the first home of democracy. It is where we embrace
our questions. Can we be equitable? Can we be generous? Can we listen
with our whole beings, not just our minds, and offer our attention rather
than our opinions? And do we have enough resolve in our hearts
to act courageously, relentlessly, without ever giving up, ever. To trust
our fellow citizens."

This is just a blurb from the paper, but if you ever have the chance to
read any of her books or papers, it will be worth your time.
HAPPY FOURTH TO YOU ALL!
(And by the way Miley Cyrus was great, we all came home deaf from
high pitched little girls screaming!!)

time at the beach

Snorkling

sandcastles

bodysurfing

It was amazing, all of it.
(ok, mostly the beach and the food
and the weather and the trees and
the people and the beach.)

Hawaii

Tyler and I got to go to Hawaii with his soccer team.
They played in the western regionals.
They won 1 out of 3 games, not to bad.
Those California teams were amazing.

Here we are at the PCC, this was Tylers favorite
activity we did there, it was way cool.

Here are Tanner, Austin and Tyler showing
off their ink!

And Tyler tying to fit in..........

The night show was so cool.
Wow! can they move their hips.
And the fire danceing was amazing.

Cafe Rio

(someone emailed these to Greg a few years ago. I tried
them and their not exact, but their good, so I thought I would share)
Title: Café Rio Lime Rice

Ingredients:
1 c white rice
2 T chicken broth, + broth to cook rice in
1 T fresh lime juice
1 T garlic powder
1 T dried minced onion
Pinch of salt

Directions:
Cook all ingredients for rice directions, substituting chicken broth
for water. When rice is done, add.
1/2-1 c chopped cilantro
1 T fresh lime juice
1 c green enchilada sauce

Title: Café Rio Pork

Ingredients:
3# Pork roast (butt or shoulder)
1 c Worcestershire sauce
1 t dried oregano
1 t powdered ginger
1 t salt
1 t chili powder
1 t garlic powder
2 T dried minced onions

Directions:
Cook all ingredients in a crock pot all day. One hour before serving,
remove roast and shred it, dump out cooking juices. Put shredded pork
back into crock pot and add.
1 c dark brown sugar
1 c red enchilada sauce

Title: Cafe Rio black beans

You might want to double this if your family loves black beans
Ingredients:
1 can black beans
1/3 cup tomato juice
2 cloves garlic, minced
1 tsp. cumin
2 tbsp. oil
1/2 tsp salt
2 tbsp. chopped cilantro
Directions:
Heat oil, cumin, and garlic. Throw in the rest until warm.

Title: Creamy Tomatillo Dressing
Ingredients:
Place the following in a blender:

3 tomatillos, peeled and cut in 1/4's
Juice of 1/2 lime
1/2 c buttermilk
1/2 c mayo
1/2 c sour cream
1 pkg dry ranch buttermilk dressing
1 c fresh chopped cilantro
6 green onions, with ends
2 cloves crushed garlic
3 t sugar
1 jalapeno, sliced thin, and added to taste
Directions:
Mix well, refrigerate 1 hour.