Mint Oreo truffles

This recipe is for mint oreo truffles. I think you could use other oreos, or other flavor chocolate to give it different flavors. I am going to try using the strawberry oreos one time with white chocolate, and then the regular oreos with white chocolate...anyway, get creative to find your fave flavor, but I followed this flavor combo and really like them! (So did my guests!)

1 pkg. mint oreos
1 pkg. cream cheese (8 oz.)
1 tsp. vanilla

Cream together ingredients and refrigerate for 1 hour. Scoop or roll into desired ball size then place onto a cookie sheet covered in wax paper and place in freezer. Freeze for at least 30 min. While it freezing, make chocolate dip.

1 pkg. chocolate chips
1 TBS. shortning

Melt together and stir. You can use a pan on the stove to slowly melt it, or use a glass bowl in the microwave. Heat in 1 min intervals, stirring in between, to melt chocolate. Place toothpick in each ball. Dip frozen ball into chocolate and place back onto wax covered cookie sheet. After each ball is completely covered in chocolate, place pan back in freezer until serving time. Leaving the toothpicks in make for easy serving.

These were easy and fun! Tylar helped me make them, and they were very tasty! I can't wait until I try another flavor combination. This recipe yielded 24 balls, but there were good sized. If you wanted to get more out of the dough, make your balls smaller.
Have fun making them. Let me know what you think! :)

The day my life changed forever.

This is my dad...he is the best dad ever. No this is not a late father's day post. On August 9th, 23 years ago my father had a brain aneurizm rupture. This even changed our little family forever. This is the story... (Sorry, sis, I borrowed your pic!)

August 9th, 1986. We were at a family reunion in St. George. That afternoon we had been playing in the pool and everything had been fine. The day was closing and we were getting ready for bed. My brother, sister and myself were in our sleeping bags on the floor of our hotel. My dad had gone into the bathroom to get ready for bed. A while had passed and he opened the door, dropped to the floor and screamed, "My head", and fell to the floor.

My mom called our family in and my mom took him to the hospital. He was then life flighted to Utah Valley Hospital, and then on to McKay Dee hoptial in Ogden for a few weeks. He stroked several times causing permanent short term memory loss, orientation to time and place, and loss of motor skills. He spent several weeks in the hospital.

I remember going to see him a few days after it had happened. He didn't know who I was; he called me "Grandma Brown". I was devastated. My own dad didn't know who I was. I was only six when this happened, and didn't understand what was happening. From what I gathered, they figured that he must have had a small stroke. I thought that I had done something to him while we werew swimming. I lived with that guilt for years and never told anyone. It was not until I was about 17 years old that I found out there I did not do anything to cause it, but it still did not change how I felt. For more than 11 years I thought I had caused my father to become disabled. It was so rough.

It was rough on our whole family. My dad couldn't go back to work bacuse of his new disabilities. My mom, luckily, had pursued her nursing degree and had to go back work full time as a nurse at Utah Valley hospital. It was a very different childhood.

My dad couldn't even leave the house by himself. If he did, he would forget which house was his. I had to be there to watch over him and my sister and brother. We had a lot of help from my mom's parents. There were there sooo much for us, although they lived so far away. The drive is about 3 hours. So if there was a big problem, they weren't closel Luckily, my mom's sister's (4 different ones) lived fairly close to help out too.

I became very responsible very quickly. I don't remember too much about this event or things that happened after, but I do remember learning how to ake soup or macaroni and cheese to feed to my brother and sister and dad. I remember helping with homework as I got older.

I remember having to know our schedules for sports, dance, piano, and extra activites and how to get there and the times so I could help my dad get us where we needed to be. Eventually he could drive again, but for a while he couldn't leave the house without someone with him. After a few years, the Relief Society in my mom's ward offered to take him to the Bishop's Storehouse in Lindon to volunteer for a few hours while I was in school. Someone woud pick him up and stay with him and then bring him home when I got home. That ward was so wonderful to help in the time of need. Truly, if all wards could be so giving, caring and selfless...

He is a lot better as far as things moving to his long-term memory. He knows how to get around the Orem, Provo area fairly well. He can make it out to our house and back. He can go to my grandparents house in Idaho. It is a constant struggle though. He carries a date/time book everywhere he goes. He writes everything down or he won't know what's going on. Several times a day he will ask what day it is. It can get very frustrating, especially after 23 years of being asked 10 times a day what day it is, or what you have going on that day, but we have learned to deal. I am not saying I always have a lot of patience, but I have learned tolerance.

My dad truly is amazing. He has overcome so much in his life, and is now dealing with Celiac's. As if he needed one more thing! He has an allergy to gluten/wheat. He is such a strong and positive person. He would do anything for anyone, and does it all the time. Anytime I need him, he is there...no matter what. What a truly beautiful person he is.

I wish I could remember how he was before. I hear he was such a terrific guy, although I don't know how he could get any better. It is still hard for him sometimes, and he struggles. There are times he gets depressed, but he is so positive. We are all at the table eating hamburgers and hot dogs on buns and he just smiles and wraps his in lettuce. If you ever want to meet and amazing person, just meet my dad.

A funny story...when JD and I were dating I hadn't told him everything about my dad and the full story of his disability. My dad doesn't remember names well so he calls people "friend". So if you ever meet and I you say your name to him, and then 30 seconds calls you friend, you know why. :) Anyway, so he kept calling JD friend and JD would reply, "My name is JD." My dad would just "ok". So my dad went up to JD and said, "Hey friend, would you like a MT. Dew?" JD said he would so dad walked out to the garage. A few minutes laterhe walked back in, empty handed, and just started going about business aorund the kitchen. A few minutes later my dad went up to JD again and asked him if me wanted a Mt. Dew. JD said he did and my dad walked out to the garage again. A few minutes later and returned empty handed. JD was baffled but didn't say anything. So a few minutes later my dad went up to him again and asked him if he wanted a Mt Dew. JD this time said, "Sure, show me where they are!" That night I explained fully about his illness.

Another funny story...this happens a LOT!...When you give my dad a choice he will usually say, "I don't care, whatever." Well, at Lake Powell last week we were fixing lunch on the boat. We bring our food out and just have lunch on the lake. My sister was was going around asking everyone what kind of chips they wanted. She got to dad and said "What chips do you want dad? We've got fritos, cook ranch or classic?" (It seems like an easy list to choose from, right?) Dad replied, "Whatever." Katrina said, "No dad, not whatever, what kind do you want." WIthout hesitation he replied, "What were my choices again?" Just a few seconds and he had forgotten his options. Poor guy.

It was hard growing up, knowing my mom wouldn't be home when I got home from school, and that I would just have to go home to "babysit" my dad and brother and sister. I felt cheated, I felt shorted. I look back and realize that I would not be the person I am today had it not been for my experience.

I also know my mom did what she could to give us the most "normal" life she could. We did not go without. We may not have had what other kids had, but we had so much love. My mom is such a strong person. She taught me strength, determination, love, kindness, to never give up. She could have walked away and left my dad in a home, or with his parents, but she didn't. When it would have been easy, and probably easier on us kids, she didn't. I thank her for that. We have not had it easy, but we have had each other! When the rest of the people you know walk out on you, your family walks in.

My grandparents, my momn's parents, are wonderful people too. There were many times when we were adjusting, and even after we had "adjusted", that we just needed a break. My mom would call her dad in Idaho and let them know we were struggling. They would then call my dad and ask him if he would be willing to come and help them on the farm. He always felt sooo important, like his help mattered. And really, he is such a hard worker. They just don't make 'em like him anymore.

I look back over my life and am grateful that I have endured this challenge. I am the person I am today, and everyday I am shaped, by the events of my childhood. Dad, I love you so much, you are my hero! Mom, you are my hero and my best friend. Kevin, Katrina, I know I put you through a LOT growing up, but becoming the one to take care of you was an adjustment. Please forgive me. I love you all very much!

Vegas, Baby!

So I have officially taken my first "girls only" trip. My sister wanted to get away so we (my mom, sister and I) planned a trip to..where else do people like to get away...VEGAS!

So, on Saturday, July 11th, we hopped a flight and went to warmer weather. (115 degrees!) I am not one to complain about heat...I love being hot. It was almost unbearable for my mom and sister, I enjoyed it.

We stayed in the Trump Tower. It was so very beautiful! I will forever stay there when I go to Vegas. We had a little room issue when we got there, but they were very willing to help us and work it out. The room was actually more of an aparement than an hotel. It was exquisite! (There was a $100 per per room "insurance" fee per night in case of any "oops". Luckily we didn't get charged!) Below is the pool from our room. My sister and I only visited is once, for about 2 hours. We were too busy otherwise.

The first actual day we were there was did A LOT of walking. We walked from one end of the strip to almost the other end. It was Katrina's first time ever being, so we were there just for her. We did a little shopping, a lot of people watching, and more walking. That night we had tickets to see Cirque Du Soleil's "O" show at the Bellagio. I have been to see a few other Cirque shows, but this takes the cake! It was incredible. It was a water show. They had a huge stage of water and peole would dive into it, and suddenly liek 15 people would just appear out of no where in the water, and then a few moments later the water stage would just dissappear and a regualr stage was in its place. I deinitely recommend seeing this show!

Us three girls getting ready for the "O" show. Truly magical!

The fountains at the Bellagio after the "O" show. They are very beautiful. We stuck around to see two different shows.

The second full day we were there we did more "attration hopping". We visited the mall and shopped and then we went to Mandalay Bay to the aquarium; Treasure Island to the other aquarium; Mirage to the animal sanctuary. It is a fuper fun day. By this time, our feet hurt sooo very bad from all the walking that we started getting taxis if we were going very far. My mom had to go home tonight, too. So we were packing everything in we could before she had to go.

The three of us at Mandalay Bay. (Above)

The tigers at the Mirage. (Below)

After we wished her a safe trip back, we decided to go out and play some more. So...off to the mall to do more shopping. :) We had also decided that since this was our last night that we wanted to see another show. We had gotten tickets to the Blue Man Group. So, we hurried to the Venetian to the show.

My sister Katrina and me at the Blue Man group show, waiting for it to start...The show was super funny!

After the show we caught a taxi back to our hotel to drop off our bags and get ready to go back out and "play" ona few blackjack switch tables. Our cab driver was super nice and we had a nice ride back. We had arrived back at our hotel and started to walk up to our room when Katrina realized she had lost her phone! She dumped out her purse to make sure it wasn't in the bottom and it was no where! So we walked to the taxi area to see if the taxi was still there and ...it wasn't! So now what? I immediately called her phone and she informed me it was on vibrate! Are you serious?!? I just kept dialing hoping that someone might pick up. No luck. So we went to the concierge desk to ask what we should do. The nice bellman said that security may be able to pull the security video and get any info they could off the cab. The nice man at the desk called their security dept. and we talked them into it. While we waited, we were gived a list of all the cab companies in Las Vegas. We started at the top and called each one that had the colors of cab that we could remember we were in. Between calling cab companies, I texted her phone to call my phone if found...no luck. I also called again, several times. After many calls to the cab companies with no responces, we thought her phone was a gonner. Security called back and said all they could get off the cab was that it was red and white with a "W" in the name of the cab company. So we went to the end of the list in the W names and was about ready to dial when my phone rang with an unlisted number. I answered it and it was the cab driver! He had her phone! There was a catch though...he was across town by now and there were two options: he could take it to the office when his shift was over in the morning and we could pick it up then; or he could delver it to us, for the cost of the fare of course! My sister decided to pay the fare and he delivered it to us! This is proof that even in a city like LV, there are still good people out there. :) After retrieving her phone, we went out to play around.

The next morning, we decided to hit the Stratosphere. We caught a cab, with my sister's phone securly in her purse, and headed out. She wanted to ride the rides on the Stratosphere. We first rode the Big Shot (pictured below.) They have two newer rides: X-scream and Insanity. X-scream is like a giant teeter-totter that shoots you out over the edge of the needle and then while you are dangling, it lowers you so you are looking almost straight down! It was quite the ride. Then we rode Insanity. After seeing what it did, I didn't want to ride. Not because I was scared, but becuase I get sick on spinning rides. breaved it because my sister really wanted to go. You sit in a seat and then a giant robotic are swings you out over the edge of the needle and then you start spinning! You get spinning so fast that your seat lays forward and you are looking directly down over the seat. YIKES! I felt my face turning green. I couldn't wait for this ride to be over, and was very glad we had saved it until last. We got off the ride and both felt a little queasy. So, after riding the elevator down, getting each a Sprite to settle our stomache's, we hailed a cab and headed to lunch. We went to the Rainforest Cafe and chowed down! We headed back to the hotel after finishing our shopping. We packed our goods and headed to the airport.

We got to the airport and had made it through security when my sister received a call on her phone letting us know our plane had been delayed! That would have been nice to know BEFORE we arrived at the airport. So we slowly made our way to our terminal. We sat there and made observations to each other to pass the time. (We are both people watchers.) We grabbed a bite to eat when they announced our plane was about 30 minutes from boarding. We were one of the first ones to board and we settled into our seats. It wasn't bad enough that our plane was delayed 45 minutes before, now we sat on the plane at the gate for another 60 MINUTES! It was really frustrating. I let me husband know that he didn't need to be on time and then it was time for take off. We landed more than 2 hours later that orginally scheduled, but made it home safe.

It was a fun trip and I am glad that I could go with my sister, and would like to thank my fabulous husband for funding this trip and taking care of the kids so I could go. When's the next trip?

Stadium of Fire 2009

Once again, I did Stadium of Fire. I did not dissapoint! We had three days of practices. Thursday the 2nd we had just 6 hours of practice for the girls and then an hour and half directors meeting after! I didn't get home until almost midnight that night. It was stormy so it really wasn't too bad of a practice. We even got rained on a little. Friday the 3rd I had to be up by 5:30 am to get ready for practice that day. We had practice from 6:45 am until 10 p.m. that night. We did have a few lunch/dinner breaks and little drink and potty breaks during the day. It was hot thought. I really could have gone for more of the weather we had the night before, but it wasn't happening. Although it was hot, about 90 degrees, it wasn't as hot as last year. (It reached 105 last year!) The morning of the 4th I got up again around 5:30 am to get ready to go. We had practice again from 6:45 am until about noon. We went home, rested and then got ready for the show. It truly was a beautiful show. They had a ceremonial flag burning. I sobbed like a baby! I am a very patriotic person, so things like that get me. Ok, let me be honest...I cry during the national anthem...
The Jonas Brothers were not bad either. I would have to say that they were better than Miley Cyrus the year before. The show in whole was one of the best I have seen/been a part of. I am truly blessed to be part of this wonderful show! Can't wait for next year!


The girls in their practice uniform on Friday. These girls are such cheesers! XO


The girls in their practice uniforms Saturday.


Main dancers during dress rehearsal on Friday night. Kenadee, Kortney and Katei. (The KKK) :)


Junior dancers during dress rehearsal on Friday. Payton, Megan, Lauren, Shakota, Kelsi, and Casey. These cuties had so much energy.


The whole group ready for the show...just waiting to get lined up!


The part of the show where they burned the flag. One of my cute little ones look up at me and asked, "Miss Andrea, are you all right?" I was crying and she was concerned. How adorable!

The whole group after the show. Way to go ladies!!!

Tooth update!

Tylar lost her SECOND TOOTH on Friday the 10th! Right next to the other one she lost. She now has a gaping hole inthe bottom of her mouth. Its kinda funny, it has given her a slight lisp and makes it harder to eat. She also makes this sucking noise when she sleeps. Its super cute! The tooth that she lost on July 2nd is already coming in! YIKES! We were at Jd's and my softball game and she had been bugging me that it was loose. I had been kinda working on it a little every day to wiggle it out, but it just wasn't coming. I had a little zip-loc baggie with me just in case...
So at the game, I got a piece of floss, which I also carry with me, and worked on it. Suddenly it bent forward and was barely hanging on. So I grabbed it with my fingers, after using hand sanitizer, which I also carry with me, and pulled it out! YEAH!
The tooth fairy came to visit again. If she doesn't stop losing teeth, the tooth fairy might go broke!

Tylar's first tooth

She was a ripe 6 1/2 years when it happened, and frankly I thought it would be much longer, but Tylar has finally lost her first tooth! She has been saying her teeth were loose for MONTHS now, but we would wiggle it with our fingers and it would hardly move. So we just kept telling her its not ready. Then on Thursday she kept complaining, so my mom told her to get the floss so she could prove to Ty that it wasn't loose. She put the floss around the tooth and gave it a little tug and the tooth came flying out of her mouth and right down my mom's shirt! I guess it was loose. I was sad because I wasn't there when she lost her first tooth. I was at Stadium of Fire practice that night. When I got the picture on my phone, it got teary-eyed. There are just milestones you want to be around for, and this was one of them. (Let's be honest here, as a mom you want to be around for ALL milestones!) I did get to play "tooth-fairy" that night though.

We had visited the dentist only a few weeks earlier and he said it would proabably be a while. Well, I guess she was right. It was ready to come out. So, we have been working a little on the tooth next to it, but it is being a bit more subborn. So, soon enough, she will have a mile-wide gap on her bottom gums. Can't wait for that one to happen. She is already complaining that it is hard to eat....girl, you've got a surprise after you lose that next one!

Andrea, think before you speak!

Sometimes, acutally many times, words just fly out of my mouth before my brain has had time to process what my mouth is about to say. Such an even happened at Wal-Mart on Monday. I was walking through picking up a few things when I ran into (not literally) a friend from the neighborhood. (Names will be omitted to protect the innocent)We engaged in conversation which led to the participation of my children in primary. Now, our participation has been nothing to brag about and I made this known. This dear friend then shared a little fact that a few positions in our ward had been changed. (This is where my mouth got a head of me...) I responded (actual statment will be revised slightly) oh I know...and I am not happy...that's one reason... Well, I will leave you to use your imagination and your knowledge of me to fill in the rest. (Now, try to be nice:) ) I could tell that she was really surprised and probably offended by what I had said. I meant no offense, and should not have said what I did. I am sorry, unnamed friend, if I offended you. I didn't mean to be so......outspoken.