Jello Popcorn Balls

I have always loved the gourmet candy popcorn. As I was digging through some recipes on Sunday trying to find something to make that I would have all of the ingredients for (because I had a serious sweet tooth) I came across this jello popcorn ball recipe and decided to try it. It is so simple and really good! We tried strawberry and today I made strawberry colada flavored popcorn balls. I would love to see what grape tastes like or black cherry. I love that I can make different colors for different holidays by choosing a different flavor. Maybe we'll try lime and cherry for Christmas...maybe they'd taste good with two flavors of popcorn mixed together. More experiments to come, I'm sure!
Here's the recipe:

Jello Popcorn Balls

Ingredients:

• 1 cup sugar
• 1 cup karo syrup
• 1 (3 oz.) pkg. of jello, any flavor
• 2 batches of popcorn

Pop the popcorn and get all of the un-popped kernels out. In a medium saucepan, mix sugar, karo syrup and jello until it comes to a boil and the sugar is dissolved. Pour over popcorn and fold the mixture over the popcorn until it is completely covered. Shape into popcorn balls or eat straight from the bowl.

Soccer Season

Hayden opted to play soccer this fall. I'm not sure we've found something he absolutely loves yet, but he did have a good time. Soccer in the fall, in Utah, is pretty much the craziest idea anyone has ever had. It was freezing and windy at more than half of the games. Our poor little players looked like little marshmallows out there with 5+ layers on to keep them warm. They still enjoyed it, though!

So proud of his trophy!

The "Red Ants"- Hayden came up with the team name, but every game he asked me if they'd let him change it to "Red Lava".

Center of attention...

Taking on #7!

He really did have such a good time. We went to my brother's soccer game the day after Hayden's last game. My brother, Rigby, plays soccer for UVU and he's pretty much the best soccer player that I've ever seen. Hayden thought it was so amazing to watch uncle Rigby. It inspired him to want to play next year. I think we'll have to hit Rig up for some soccer lessons!

Happy Birthday, Eric!

Today is your birthday, studly man! I have a few plans for today, but no matter what I do, you will out-do me on my birthday. You always do. You even tell me to not even try to top what you do for me on my birthday because it just can't be done. It's true. I can't give back to you as much as I feel you have given to me. I don't really know what redeeming qualities you saw in me when we got married. (I guess I was a smokin' hot babe back then...) I just feel like I don't deserve you most of the time.

This past summer, I had a list of things for you to do in the yard: fix and stain the deck, get rid of the "sandbox", fix the roof, on and on... Well, these things didn't get done and I am not upset one bit. Every spare day you had, you were helping other people in the neighborhood with their roofs and their fences. That's just the kind of man you are. You are very selfless with your time and you have a hard time saying, "no". Especially to me. I told you the other day that I don't think other husbands give in to their wife's every craving and go to the store at midnight. And you don't ask for anything in return. Well, most of the time you don't.

You are the best dad to our kids. I need a picture of their faces when they see you pull into the driveway. It's like Santa is here to bring presents! They want to be the first to give you a hug and that's why they race outside to see you. They also want to be the first in line to "fight" with you with the light sabers. It might bother other dads that want a minute's rest after a long day, but not you. Not that you don't want a minute's rest, (I know you do) but you want to make them feel special and loved. And you probably can't turn down those eager faces. You have a hard time telling them no, too.

Thank you so much for being by my side for the past 6 1/2 years. Thanks for holding my hand in the car when we're driving, thanks for telling me I look beautiful in a pony tail, thanks for making me feel like a wonderful mom, thanks for eating my burnt dinners with a smile, thanks for noticing that the house is vacuumed and the laundry is done, thanks for giving me our beautiful babies, thanks for loving me when I am unlovable, thanks for being the only person I ever want to be with, thanks for kissing me every night, thanks for marrying me, thank you. I love you more than ever. Happy Birthday! I hope you'll feel as special as you always make me feel.

On His Way!

Eric finally graduated from the police academy on Thursday. As you can see, he was pretty stoked! No more brutal workouts of carrying other officers up a steep hill or 1000000000000000 push ups, no more being thrown to the ground and having his wrists twisted in ways they shouldn't be in defensive tactics, no more sore muscles every day... But, reality does start now.
The academy did an orientation for the spouses of the graduating police officers. It was a lot of what to expect from their attitude changes, how to deal with certain situations, etc. I was surprised to hear other wives say different ways that their husbands have changed. I couldn't think of ANY negative changes in my husband. Other wives were saying that their husbands had lost their sense of humor, or that they had become very authoritative. I was happy to think that my husband has had more energy, he's been happier, he's more excited about life....the list goes on... I guess I have a great husband and this is what he should be doing. While they were talking about all of the scariness of being a police officer's wife, I felt very calm and confident. I can handle this. We can handle this.

The graduating class

Eric and his mother

Me, Hayden, Eric, my mom, Roy, and Maya

One thing that was very neat about the ceremony was that the Dad's of many of the cadets were also in law enforcement and were able to present their sons with their diplomas. Hayden always talks about how he's going to be a police officer with his Dad. They're going to be partners. While that doesn't sit well with me (Judy, I can imagine how you feel having your son do this) I am so glad that Hayden has such a great role model to look up to.
Eric with his future partner in crime!

Trying out his "don't mess with me!" face... needs some work, I think. :)

It has taken me awhile to process the feelings that I felt during the graduation. I guess what I am feeling most is pride. I'm proud that my husband wants to make a difference. He talks about that all of the time. He doesn't want to be a stereo-typical police officer. He wants to be better. I am proud that he has followed his heart and instincts to do what he's always wanted to do, and that he made sure that I was completely on board with it before he went ahead and did it. I am proud that he has worked so hard. It's an overwhelming feeling to me right now. There are a lot of things that I am sure I am not prepared for dealing with in his line of work. I just know that this is what he is supposed to do right now.

Eric, I really am so proud of you. You are really amazing and I could never go through what you have gone through in the academy. I am so proud to be married to you, Officer Salway.

A Simple Night

Joy is found in simple things and that is never more apparent than when it's just my kiddos and me. Eric has worked a couple of late nights this week and I have found myself not cooking good meals because, frankly, the kids don't care if it's steak or mac and cheese. In fact, they prefer macaroni! So, tonight we made a true delicacy. (if you're under the age of 6) I grew up making these weekly (you know all about these, Heidi!) and my children love them.

There's something about making a smaller version of a favorite food that makes it more appealing. And my kids made this meal all by themselves!

Take Pillsbury biscuits, pizza sauce, and cheese. That's it.


Smash the biscuits until they are flat and the dough is spread out and place them on a cookie sheet sprayed with non-stick cooking spray.

Spread the sauce over each biscuit. (They got a little carried away and ate a few spoonfuls of sauce.)

And licked the sauce right off of the biscuits. See those finger marks. Um, those ones are yours Maya!

Cover them in cheese. They got a little carried away on this task, too! I didn't care. They were having too much fun with it.

Cook them at 350 for 10 minutes or so and eat 'em!
No complaints about the menu tonight. Not a one.

Halfway!

Today I am officially halfway through my pregnancy and I am finally feeling GREAT! I am having such a hard time not knowing if we are having a boy or a girl. I keep changing my mind about whether or not I'm going to find out. The only reason that I want to wait is because this one has to be a C-section because my other two were. I hate the whole cesarean experience. I feel so disconnected and out of it. I've thrown up both times either during or after the c-section and I don't get to hold the baby until I'm all stitched up. In my mind, waiting to know the sex of the baby will give me something to take my mind off of everything else that is going on. Maybe...

In two weeks when I have the main ultrasound, I'll decide. But...HOORAY for being halfway done! Can't wait to hold this little one!

Just a Quick Fall Recipe

I have been craving pumpkin for weeks! These pumpkin cookies are easy, inexpensive, delicious, and gone very quickly. Enjoy!

Pumpkin Chocolate Chip Cookies

Ingredients:

• Spice Cake Mix
• 1 can (small) of Libby's pumpkin
• 1 bag of milk chocolate chips

Mix all together and spoon out onto a greased cookie sheet. Bake at 350 degrees for 10-12 minutes.

Spooky Halloween Ideas!

We could not find a babysitter for Friday night. I was so bummed because Eric and I haven't been out together just by ourselves in a long time. Because it was a Friday, we decided to do something fun anyway and bring the kids along. We decided to go to Gardner Village and go for a "Witch Hunt". Gardner Village put together a scavenger hunt for the kids to find every witch. When you have found them all, you go to the bakery and get a cookie for 25 cents. Click HERE for the Scavenger Hunt.

Maya would not get in any of the pictures. She just kept saying, "Scary!"

The finished Hunt!

I totally love Gardner Village! It's especially fun this time of year. The kids were good the entire time, until I decided I wanted to peak into Pine Needles. Then they all (including Eric) complained! It was such a great night, though. They have carriage rides with witches telling stories, but my kids didn't think that would be a good idea. Go try the Witch Hunt and let me know what you thought. (or invite me to come along! I will probably go do it again)

For Family Home Evening last night, we did a little Halloween craft after the lesson. This idea is from Family Fun magazine again and it's a winner!

We bought mini pumpkins and painted them black.

When the paint is dry, you attach spooky eyes (you can use craft foam or paper) to the pumpkins.
Then you cut wings and bat ears out of black craft foam, tape wooden skewers to the wings and toothpicks to the ears and stick them into the pumpkin.

And there you have the spooky bat pumpkins! They only took about 45 minutes, even with drying time for the paint. Hayden's HAD to have a mouth and nose! Click HERE for complete instructions.

Hayden turns 5!

We celebrated Hayden's birthday last week with a Jedi party. All the kids were instructed to bring their lights sabers to help them fight the dark side. As they each arrived, they chose a mask to decorate and that was the character they would be for the day. We have Yoda, Anakin, C3PO, Darth Vader, A storm trooper, and Darth Sidious.
This was a Jedi Training camp, so the first thing they had to do was to prove their abilities. They had an obstacle course where they had to stomp the storm troopers on the stairs, jump over lava, hit an apple out of the tree with their light saber, jump through some ladder rungs, fight the master Jedi (Eric), and do their best trick on the trampoline. Every boy did this at least twice. They loved it!
Then we divided them up into two teams and gave them water balloons to blow up the other team's Death Star, which was drawn on the driveway with sidewalk chalk. This was hilarious!

Here they are trying to keep the balloons in the air with their light sabers.

Then they had to rescue Padme and Princess Leia from the dark side. They each were hidden in balloons that they had to try and pop in order to save them! (I just had pictures of them rolled up in the balloon) The boy that found the princess acted like he had won the lottery. He was screaming and jumping up and down. It was so funny.
Here's my attempt at Hayden's cake. Can you tell which scene this is? It's the lava scene with Obi Wan and Anakin before Anakin goes to the dark side. I tried...At least it tasted good!

Happy Birthday to my favorite boy!

I have to mention that he got a pogo stick from my Dad for his birthday. It is the coolest present! It's a smaller one that only holds up to 80 lbs, so it's just right for him! He is now pogo-ing with the best of them. I'll get a video of him doing that.

This is Hayden demonstrating the Training Course.