Arizona Annual ALOHA Festival!

ALOHA!!!

Mom and Dad Rosenhan

Baby Bryce

I thought I was taking a candid picture of him, but apparently not. He looked right at the camera, but no smile.

Me in my "Aloha" garb

John in his casual aloha style

My sweet daddy, He wanted an "After" picture of just him. He has lost almost 100 pounds so far. GREAT job DAD! Keep up the good health!

Sweet smiling boy. He looks REALLY big in this picture.

Aren't these pictures so sweet of Grandma Katy and the baby.

The Barlow O'hana

Yes... this is what happens when you eat flavored snow cones

I don't know how to rotate the video, sorry! It's like your on the Tea Cup ride at Disneyland when you watch it. But anyway, moments after this video the baby did wake up. John said it was the bumpy roads and sidewalk not the spinning in circles =D ha ha ha. We will never know.

So, in March we went to the Arizona ALOHA Festival. This has become an annual event for us since we found out about it in 2008. It is really a fun event. They have a bunch of vendors with products from the islands. They also have local Hawaiian food vendors, both meals and treats. Plus there is Hawaiian entertainment going on all day. This year they had workshops. One of them was for the Ukulele, but I didn't figure that out in time to participate =(. Next year I'm all over that. So FUN! It is super reminiscent for me since I served my mission in Hawaii. So I encourage you all to go next year. Oh! and while we were there, we saw my good friend Brad. YAY!! I love seeing old friends. ALOooooooooooHA!

Mary Poppins the Broadway Musical

The "Mary Poppins" Going Gang

Heather and I

Heather, Amanda, Suzie

John and I

My mom and dad (cutest pic ever of these two love birds)

VIDEO of "Supercalifragilisticexpialidocious"

--enter site below--

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=K4Mn5ANWTyQ&feature=player_embedded

I'm having a lot of trouble getting this video on this post. Hopefully it will work, if not enter the link and view this beauty. My favorite part starts at 1 min. and 45 seconds.

Well anyway, so when two of my cousins from Vegas came down to visit, Heather and Suzie, we went to the Gammage theater and saw the Broadway version of Mary Poppins. They had a lot of wonderful special effects! Mary Poppins flew over the audience. Kites flew on the stage. The Bank's home opened up like a pop-up book page, kind of. The kitchen and the childrens nursery in the Bank's home had special effects too! It was definitely a "Broadway" version. Had a couple things that I think it could have done without, or changed. But overall it was fabulous, heart warming and extremely entertaining. My most favorite was the "Supercalifragilisticexpialidocious" number. Watch the video if you can, if not, follow the link on youtube. My favorite part starts at 1:45 (1 min. and 45 sec.)into the video. Too bad the quality isn't more clear, but it gives a pretty good idea. We all had a great time. My sister Mary and brother-in-law Philip were kind enough to watch Heather and I's babies while we went. Thank you to them! I just love going to the theater though. It is really enoyable to support the arts and enjoy the interaction. Of course, if you know me, the whole time I watch a play or musical or any kind of high caliber musical performance, the whole time I'm wishing that I could be up there performing. I LOVE PERFORMING!!!! Seriously, it brings me SO much joy! Awe...the good ol' days when I used to be a performer ;-) Maybe I should really consider joining something again. Of course, I don't want to have to leave my baby so I couldn't do anything too demanding of my time. Yes, I'm just thinking out loud--processing through the idea. Alas, until I make a decision I will go and enjoy the theater as a part of an appreciative audience! =D

A Blissful weekend with my Cousins from Vegas!

Heather, Felicity, and Bryce

Our two beautiful babes

Sweet smiling babies: Felicity and Bryce

Suzie the beauty!

WOW! Aren't they just the cutest! My cousins are so much fun. Heather and I have been bosom buddies since I was born ;-) We are just over two months apart. She just had her third baby, Felicity, that cute long girl in those pictures with Bryce. She was born about 7 weeks before Bryce. SO much fun. They were so sweet together. Suzanna just got engaged and she is the youngest in their family. We love you Suzie!
Anyway, the three of them came down two weekends ago from Las Vegas to spend time with us. I like to think they just came down to see me and the baby =) We had the most exquisite time. It was exactly what Heather and I always wanted for ourselves when we "grew up". We just sat in our rocking chairs and talked and talked and laughed and laughed, but no crying...nope nope nope. Just good times bonding and discussing our thoughts and opinions. We analyzed everything about life and our lives and everyone's lives...HA HA HA!!! Oh man.......COME BACK I miss you too much!!!! So now we are starting a new tradition (because I'm all about traditions or else it just doesn't happen for me). The NEW TRADITION is: visit once a year. I know I really built that up =] So every year we will go visit each other for the very purpose of visiting. No working, no weddings, no funerals, no reunions, no big events, no big fancy meals...just visit. We are going to switch off every year too. So, 2011 is my year. Vegas here we come!!! I'm already dreaming about it. Awe.....sweet relaxation with the best of kin. So, I just want to say that the weekend was totally inspiring because of their great examples!! I left wanting to be a better mother, wife, daughter, sister, friend, and most importantly I think---a better daughter of our Heavenly Father. Yes, I have much work to do, but I have a great support system and examples. We talked about what we see works for other families and how we can incorporate that into our own lives. We talked about our futures, our pasts, our children, but we didn't ever go into our children's children. We had to save something for next year =D So Thank You for coming down and making the sacrifice and effort. And give our deepest gratitude to all those who stayed home and made it possible for you to come => Love you! Looking forward to seeing you guys for the wedding in May!

A Blissful time with the Johnsons

About 2 or 3 weeks ago we had our cousins, Holly and Steven, over for dinner and a Family Home Evening. They usually live in Utah, but lucky for us they are living here for the semester! It was so wonderful to visit with them and catch up on what their life plans are. They have the cutest, sweetest little girl. She is SO strong. She could hang on the chin up bar all by herself! Wow! Go Emma. She is about 6 months older than Bryce. BUT since Bryce is so big they are about the same size. So it would really throw me off when she would respond so much differently, so much more advanced rather, than Bryce. I couldn't quite get it in my head that she was 6 months older so I kept thinking things like, "Oh no! Bryce can't do that. Oh Bryce doesn't do that yet! Should Bryce be doing that? How come Bryce doesn't recognize that." etc. I was all worried and had to keep reminding myself that she is older.
The night was great like I said all except for one thing. ME! I was over an hour late with dinner!!!! Yikes! I felt so so bad. Luckily it was pretty yummy, but still! Geesh Sara, you gotta get your act together when you invite people over. They even brought a side dish and dessert! Which were both amazing and I'm dying to set the recipe for both. They were so patient and helped out a lot. THANK YOU JOHNSONS for your help and endurance!
My half of the menu:

CHICKEN PICCATA (taken from Ina on Food Network)

Ingredients

nocoupons

• 2 split (1 whole) boneless, skinless chicken breasts
• Kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper
• 1/2 cup all-purpose flour
• 1 extra-large egg
• 1/2 tablespoon water
• 3/4 cup seasoned dry bread crumbs
• Good olive oil

Directions

Preheat the oven to 400 degrees F. Line a sheet pan with parchment paper.

Place each chicken breast between 2 sheets of parchment paper or plastic wrap and pound out to 1/4-inch thick. Sprinkle both sides with salt and pepper.

Mix the flour, 1/2 teaspoon salt, and 1/4 teaspoon of pepper in a shallow plate. In a second plate, beat the egg and 1/2 tablespoon of water together. Place the bread crumbs on a third plate. Dip each chicken breast first in the flour, shake off the excess, and then dip in the egg and bread crumb mixtures.

Heat 1 tablespoon of olive oil in a large saute pan over medium to medium-low heat. Add the chicken breasts and cook for 2 minutes on each side, until browned. Place them on the sheet pan and allow them to bake for 5 to 10 minutes while you make the sauce.

Alfredo Sauce (My Aunt Lizzy's recipe)

2 cups whipping cream
1 1/2 cups sour cream
2/3 cups grated parmesan cheese
1/2 tsp salt
1/4 tsp white pepper (can use black pepper as well)

Just barely bring to a light boil in a saucepan and serve. Yum.

...and Fruit salad with yogurt mixed in.

See... that is not even very much. Is that really all I made? Wow, pathetic really. Was there something else? Hmmm....However, I figured out later why I was so off on my time. When I make the recipe for John and I we double it. But I had to quadruple it for all of us. I just didn't realize how much extra time that would take. Now I know at the expense of the Johnsons =(

But in the end it was a marvelous meal and night. Love you Johnsons!

P.S.

I REMEMBER!!! I also made YUMMY SALAD

~Yummy Salad Recipe

1/3 c. sliced almonds (toasted)

1/3 c. chow mein noodles (toasted)

2 tsp. sesame seeds (toasted)

8 c. torn romaine lettuce or spring mix (I've always used romaine)

4 green onions w/ tops (diced)

1 c. cooked wheat berries

5 (or more) bacon slices (cooked and crumbled)

Dressing

1/2 c. vegetable oil

1/4 c. sugar

2 tbl. white wine vinegar (I have always used Distilled White Vinegar because that's what I have in my pantry and I don't know what white wine vinegar is all about=)

1/2 tsp. salt

1/4 tsp. pepper

Directions:

In a baking pan, combine almonds, noodles, and seeds. Bake, uncovered, at 350 degrees for 7-10 minutes, or until lightly toasted. Set aside.

In a jar with a tight fitting lid-- combine oil, sugar, vinegar, salt and pepper. Shake well. If left to sit, this will seperate--shake again.

In a large bowl toss lettuce, onions, and wheat berries. Just before serving add the toasted almond mixture, bacon, dressing and TOSS!

AND here is the recipes from the food the Johnsons brought---super good!

Pecan Pie Bars

Crust:

3C flour

1/2 C. sugar

1 C. soft butter

1/2 tsp. salt

Mix dry ingredients. Cut in the butter. Should become crumbly. Mix and press into a greased cookie sheet 15*10. Bake at 350 for 20 min.

Topping:

4 eggs

1 1/2 C light corn syrup

1 1/2 C. sugar

3 T melted butter

1 1/2 tsp vanilla

2 1/2 C. chopped pecans

Spread evenly over hot crust. Cook entire sheet at 350 for 20-35 minutes or until edges are done.

Oven Fried Taters

6 large potatoes

1/4 C. of oil

2 T. grated Parmesan Cheese

1 tsp. salt

1/2 tsp. garlic powder

1 tsp. paprika

1/2 tsp. pepper

Cut potatoes as desired (wedges, fries etc). Put all ingredients in bag & mix. Then add potatoes and mush and mix. Spray pan or lay foil and spray. Spread out on in single layer on cookie sheet 400 for 20-30min. or longer if crisp. Golden & Tender. Possibly stir once during cook.