Black Bean and Mango Salsa

I first heard of this recipe when Dave brought it home from a work party a couple of years ago. He didn't bring home the salsa....just the recipe. And he went on and on about how wonderful it was, so I thought I would give it a try. And it really is very wonderful. We like to either eat it with chips or grill chicken and make it an all out meal.

Black Bean and Mango Salsa

1 envelope Good Seasons Italian dressing mix
1 can black beans (not drained)
1 10 oz package frozen corn, thawed (we like to use sweet corn)
1 cup chopped ripe mango (to learn how to chop the mango, go here)
1/2 cup chopped red pepper
1/3 cup chopped red onion
1/3 cup chopped cilantro
1/4 cup lime juice

Mix all  ingredients together until well blended.  Cover. Refrigerate at least one hour (or best overnight). Serve with grilled chicken, chips or rice.

Happy Easter!!

Easter was really wonderful this year. They should really co-inside General Conference on Easter Sunday every year. It was so nice to not be in a hurry and to listen to such wonderful messages about our Savior.

We really dropped the ball when it came to pictures this year. We were both so tired Easter morning so we only got a few. Then, at the Easter egg hunt and get-together with Dave's family, we missed all pictures because our camera was at home sitting next to the back door (so we wouldn't forget it.). Yeah. But, we really had a wonderful time.

On a completely unrelated note. It snowed and snowed and snowed last night. So, on the first day back at school after spring break, school was canceled for snow. So, Bria got her first snow day of the school year. Yes....you heard right. A snow day in April. Dave's school district was also closed for the day, so we all got to be home together. But......the power was out ALL DAY! Literally. And, I don't think it was snow related because they were working right outside our subdivision. But, really. No power from first thing in the morning until just before dinner time. We escaped our lack of all things electronic by heading to Walmart. Doesn't Logan look cute in his new high chair? I cut up a banana and he had his first experience feeding himself. I think it mostly ended up all over his clothes and tray more than in his tummy. But, he had a wonderful time.

Destination: New York City

Last Fall, we did a trade for a gift certificate to the Destinations Inn in Idaho Falls. So, just for fun, we went last night. (Dave's brother and his wife very generously watched Bria and Max for us.) All the rooms are destination themed, so there are rooms from all over the world. We stayed in the New York City room. It was neat. The room was amazing!!! And, we've stayed at themed suites lots of times, so we have a pretty good point of reference to compare to. The rooms at Destinations Inn had a lot of really cool extras that we haven't seen in other theme hotels. The shower doubled as an aromatherapy steam room, the room had all kinds of pre-programmed lighting effects and the TV was a huge projector movie screen. Very cool. Our favorite part of this particular room was the New York skyline all lit up. It's hard to tell from the picture, but it is multidimensional.

It was so nice to have a night off and out together for a change!

April Foolery

In some ways I'm glad our kids are getting older. Of course I always tell them to stop growing up and that I want them to stay little. It's not that I don't mean that, but April Fool's Day is much more fun with kids who actually get the pranks you are pulling.

We really let them have it today.

First....We started by moving Bria to Max's bed and Max to Bria's bed in the middle of the night last night. That way when they woke up in the morning, they would be confused from the beginning. The trouble is, Bria is a very light sleeper. She had her eyes open the entire time Dave was carrying her. She seemed to go right back to sleep once in Max's bed and we thought we had pulled it off. Just in case, we came up with a back-up plan to include Bria in on the prank to at least surprise Max. About an hour after we moved them, Bria woke up saying she had a nightmare. Dave took her back downstairs and tucked a wide awake Bria into Max's bed. She didn't say a thing! It must be hard for her to pay attention to her surroundings when she is so tired. (Hmmm. Wonder where she gets that from.) She was very surprised this morning to wake up in Max's bed. She remembered having the nightmare, but was still confused as to how she ended up in a different bed than she started in. She talked and talked and talked about it. Max also thought it was very funny. Ad so it began.

Our next big prank is one I've wanted to do in years past, but always forgot. It takes a little bit of forethought. I poured their breakfast cereal before I went to bed - milk and all - and stuck it in the freezer. When they weren't watching this morning, I hurried and got it out and poured a little bit of fresh milk on top - it looks way more real that way.  Both of them were very confused and delighted to have a frozen breakfast. The rest of they day I got pranked several times from both Bria and Max giving me a cup of frozen water to drink (which they later learned is also called ICE - hmmmmm thought they knew that one before).

We ended the day with a fun dinner. They were both anticipating it all day because Dave told them we were having cupcakes for dinner. We did have cupcakes alright. Meatloaf cupcakes with mashed potato frosting. And, to drink....a tall glass of raspberry jello.

And, the biggest prank of all: Mother nature telling us it is SPRING in IDAHO!!!! I can't believe I fell for it! I can hear her laughing as I type (Hehehehehe!!!).