What a good weekend!

Thanks to my cousins Jono and Anneli, we got to meet Brooke White!  It was so fun.  She had a benefit concert in mesa and we got to go backstage to meet her.  She was super nice, but she was really tired so we just got to take our picture then we had to go.   

On our way out her husband was standing by the door, so I snuck in a picture with him!  He is quite the cutie, I couldn't pass it up!  (Don't worry Babe... I only have a crush on you!!!)That morning we went to Maddy's Soccerfest.  The kids played in bouncy castles and played in the splash pad.  Talan and Kahlia were really enjoying the food!

Thanks for coming to visit us Nielsen family!  We had such a fun weekend!

Look who's 3!!!!

Our little Talan turned 3 yesterday! It was such a fun day.  He woke up at 6:30 am with Spencer and Maddy to go watch our friend Mike do a triathlon.  He was such a trooper sitting outside in the heat.  He just played with his little spiderman guy the whole time.  Then those 3 were so tuckered out that they ditched church and stayed home and watched movies.  That night he had some of his most favorite people over for his birthday party!

He scored some pretty sweet presents!  Thanks guys!

Spence and I joined in on the fun.  He was Mikey and I was Leo (I think).

We let Talan pick his own bike.  Do you think he likes Spiderman?  Check out all that gear.  I think he's ready to go!  

It was also Mike's birthday...  so even after his triathlon he and the fam came over for some birthday festivities.  Happy Birthday Mike!  

Go Soaring Eagles!!

Here are the three musketeers.  I don't know what Maddy would do without her 2 best friends Sydney and Paris.  They are all on the same soccer team and today was their second game.  Maddy scored 2 goals!  She had a good break-away goal.  She ran almost the entire length of the field and nobody could catch her.  I must say we were pretty proud of our Maddy Paddy.

She had a little pep talk with coach (dad) and then she was on fire!

Yearbook Yourself....

I did this awhile ago and Summer inspired me to post them.   If you need a good laugh, then you must try it.  Go to Yearbookyourself.com.  I am sure Spencer thought I was crazy.  I was sitting at the computer for about an hour cracking up!  (Mostly because Spencer's pictures turned out so sweet!)

Here is a little recap of our month.....This is me trying to be a photographer with my non-professional camera.  I think my super cute kids make it kind of easy!  :)
I  got Ryan to do Blue Steel and a bubble for me at the same time.  He is talented.
This is our SWEET friend Boston at his birthday party.  Thanks for the invite!  We had lots of fun!
This is Talan's bowling stance.  
Every morning Maddy looks so cute for school, so I have her pose and I take lots of pictures.
We went to The Melting Pot for Kurt's birthday.  SOOOO YUMMY!  It's always fun to go out with the Palmer's! (Especially without all our little cutie's!)
So our husbands are a little gay.... so what!

A wonderful discovery!

I found this blog about a month ago and I find myself looking for any extra time I can find to get new recipes from this lady.  She is amazing!  So I've been making a list of all the things I am going to make and I have FINALLY made some!  This one looked really easy so I thought I'd try it first.  It was easy and so yummy!  (I did add some mozzarella cheese to it).  My kids even loved this dinner which is really rare for both of them! I think they loved the shape of the pasta the most.  It is amazing that the shape of pasta can make or break a dinner at our house!  Anyway the second recipe I was making for a party our friends were having.  I made it right before so it would be nice and hot and gooey.   Not a good idea.  I was so disappointed!  Nobody really ate them.  So I took them home and put them in the fridge and tried them the next day..... AMAZING!  So if you are going to make them, I suggest make them the day before!  Her blog is pickypalate.blogspot.com  you all must check it out and let me know if you try out any of her recipes and how they turned out!!! 

Ditalini Pasta In Beef and Fennel Ragu

8 oz Ditalini Barilla Pasta

2 Tablespoons extra virgin olive oil

1 medium onion, finely chopped
1 bulb of fennel, thinly sliced

Pinch of salt

1 lb lean ground beef
Pinch of salt, pepper, garlic seasoning

26 oz favorite homemade or store bought pasta sauce

8 fresh basil leaves, chopped into chiffonade, thin ribbons

1. Prepare pasta according to package directions. Drain and set aside.Heat the oil in a large sauté pan over medium heat.  Saute onion, fennel and salt for 3-5 minutes or until softened. Stir in beef , salt, pepper and garlic seasoning; cook until browned. Stir in pasta sauce, basil leaves and cooked pasta. Season to taste. Simmer on low until ready to serve.

8 Peanut Butter Cup Cheesecake Bars

1 box devils food cake mix
1 egg
1 stick softened butter

8 oz softened cream cheese
1 egg
1/3 Cup sugar
10 regular size Reeses Peanut Butter Cups, cut into little pieces

1 Cup semi sweet chocolate chips
4 Tablespoons heavy cream

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. Line a 9x13 inch baking dish with tin foil. Spray with non stick cooking spray. Mix cake mix, egg and butter together then press into baking dish.

2. Mix cream cheese and sugar until smooth. Stir in egg until well combined then stir in peanut butter cups. Pour over cake layer and bake for 30-40 minutes or until cheesecake is cooked through (it only took 30 minutes in my oven). Remove and let cool completely.

3. Carefully lift bars out of dish using ends of foil. Melt chocolate chips in a microwave safe bowl in 30 second intervals until melted through.Stir in heavy cream and stir until glossy smooth. Spread chocolate over cheesecake layer, cut into squares and serve.

Kindergarten Time!!

I was so worried that after the first day of kindergarten Maddy would say that she didn't want to go back.  She has been telling me that she really liked her pre-school teacher and she just wanted to do pre-school again.  She was a little nervous to start her first day but she had so much fun and she is so excited to go again tomorrow!  HOORAY!!
These are her two friends Sydney and Ewa, and they are all in the same class together!  So much fun!!
This was after school.  She was soooo thirsty.  She said the kid behind her in the drinking fountain line counted to 5 way to fast so she didn't get very much water.