2009 -- New Year's Day

As I have done for the past several years, I spent New Year's Day at Mesquite Wash. My family has a tradition of spending the day riding ATVs, eating, playing games, and just having fun together on New Year's Day for many years. I have old memories of all six of us kids in our blue Astro van (we named it "Farley") bouncing around in the back as my dad drove the very rough rode into our favorite spot in the Mesquite Wash. We are still going to the same area today. Now the roads are much worse (they've washed out over the past years) and much more frequently traveled by others, and we've got much better toys to play with (my dad has 2 ATVs which I LOVE).

So this year, my dad, jeff, ellie and i joined other family and friends for some fun. The weather was PERFECT and we had a blast (except for a plethora of bees which seemed to plague our site, yuck!). We spent some time eating, playing games, and visiting with family.

My cousin Brigett was there with her husband Brad and their adorable kids. The little ones loved digging through the mucky sand in the nearby wash. There was enough water flowing through most of the washes that there was plenty of mud to be splashed around.

We had a blast with all of the ATVs and Rhino's. There was more than enought fun to go around. Here I am on Dad's red bike.

And our outing would not be complete with out some shooting of guns. Jeff brought out his small .22 pistol and then another bigger gun (I don't know what it was called but it looked like one of those old fashion gun slinger guns). I did shoot the .22 pistol, though I wasn't very good. But there was no way Jeff would let me touch his other gun, even if I wanted to.

Our good friends/family the Browns joined us this year. In fact it was a rather momentous occasion as all 5 of the Brown girls were there. It was been YEARS since all 5 of them have been at the same place at the same time. I just had to capture the even on film.

Tricia, Melissa, Katie, Callie, and Lindsey

All in all it was a great way to begin 2009.

Merry Christmas and Happy New Year

First off...Merry (Be-lated) Christmas and Happy New Year!!!! I was able to spend a wonderful, albeit very busy, Christmas week with my family. Kiki and her family came down from Idaho and spent the whole week with us. I was fortunate to have the whole week off from work so I was able to spend time with them. We tried to cram as much fun in as possible....

The Annual Arthur Schaub Family Christmas Party was held on the Monday before Christmas. The turn out was a little disappointing; probably because it was held at an earlier time and my aunt and uncle who live out in way west Phoenix hosted it and most of us live out in way East Valley. Anyways, those of us who did go had great Mexican food, and a visit from Santa.My cousins Kristal & Adam Tieman sitting on Santa's lap.

My cousin-in-law Beth, cousin Kandice, cousin Kristal, Uncle Ken, Aunt Kelly holding Beth's baby Cadence, Aunt Jan, and Aunt Donna.

On Tuesday we went to the Desert Botanical Gardens to see the Chihuly exhibit. I thought it was just as spectacular the second time around.

Wednesday night we had our Schaub Family Christmas Eve activities. My family always celebrates Christmas Eve together and there are 2 things that we ALWAYS do...

1) Eat pizza
Kara is eating her first Christmas pizza.

Kiki is enjoying some of Papa John's best.

2.) Read/Act out the story of the birth of Christ.

Here is the cast of this years production. After watching the "live" version acted out, we usually watch the Luke 2 video put out by the Church.

Here are a few other shots I took Christmas Eve while the kids were anxiously crowded around the Christmas tree waiting for "PRESENTS"!

Kate, Enoch, Kaylie, and Jacob
Jacob, Ellie, Audrey, and Zack.

Again, I hope each of you has a wonderful and safe New Year's Eve and I wish you a coming year full of blessings, laughter, strength, and beautiful memories.

Love - Megan

Hummus -- The Most Delicious I've Ever Tasted

I just came up with the most delicious Hummus that I've ever tasted. It is soooooo yummy! I just had to share

Hummus
1 (15oz) can of garbanzo beans, drained
2 TBS lemon juice
1 1/2 TBS tahini (my roommate found it at Walmart -- it's sesame seed puree/oil and looks like runny peanut butter)
1/2 a head of roasted garlic**
1/2 tsp. ground cumin
1/2 tsp. cayenne pepper
1/2 tsp. salt
1/4 to 1/3 C. olive oil

In a blender or food processor, puree all of the above ingredients. If you want it really creamy, blend longer and add more olive oil.

**roasted garlic -- cut a whole head of garlic in half (cut it horizontal to the counter - you should have a top half and a bottom half). Put the garlic halves on a sheet of tin foil with the garlic cloves facing up, drizzle olive oil all over the garlic and add a dash of salt. Seal up the tin foil so that you make sealed packages. Put the packets on a cookie sheet and bake in a 350 degree oven for 45 minutes. When done the garlic will be toasted and squishy. Use a fork to pop out all of the little cloves.

Enjoy!

Sweet things in life

On Saturday my mom made gingerbread houses with some of the grandkids. It's something she tries to do every year. She carries on the tradition she started when my brothers, sister and I were young. Every Christmas she would make (from scratch) the COOLEST gingerbread house you ever saw. Every kid in the neighborhood would come over to see our gingerbread house. Now, because of shear number, she buys a couple of kits, but puts just as much love and attention into assembling them with the munchkins.

Saturday was also the day for sewing. I've decided to make all the Christmas presents I giving out this year (ambition with a touch of lunacy). Saturday I sewed adorable pillow cases and 2 aprons. I'm now seamstress, but I think they all turned out adorable. Now I just have to finish all the others gifts on my list.

Some hiking and some Chihuly

Sorry, I haven't posted in a while...I've been busy. So I thought I would at least put something new up tonight. Here are some photos of a few things I've done in the past couple weeks.

Went hiking with my parents up the Barnhardt Trail, which is south of Rye, AZ.Went and saw the Chihuly exhibit at the Desert Botanical Garden with a friend. Chihuly is one of my very favorite artists. In fact, one of my goals in life it own a small piece of Chihuly art -- mind you it would have to be VERY small for me to be able to afford it. The exhibit was MAGNIFICENT and I would highly recommend those who live in AZ go see it. It will be at the DBG until about March.

Happy Thanksgiving!

We celebrated Thanksgiving this year with the larger Schaub Clan...which we haven't done for YEARS! Uncle Ken and Aunt Donna hosted everyone in their beautiful new home. There was plenty of room for the 50 or so people and the 2 tons worth of food. Here are a few of my favorite shots of the occasion. To see ALL of the pictures, check out my Picasa Album.

My Uncle Ken and cousin Natalie, carving up the turkey...we went through 2 turkeys and a ham.


My sister-in-law Rachel, her daughter Kara, my cousin-in-law Tomena and her baby girl, Claire.
My cousin Melanie, cousin-in-law Kyle, Melanie's husband Kevin, Aunt Jan, and dad.
Hudson Suman, my cousin Melanie's son, trying to decide if he wants gravy with his turkey.
This is my cousin Natalie's absolutely adorable little boy Dallin.
The Thanksgiving afternoon ended with some trampoline time...Avery, Tyler, Jacob, and Tatum.
I am thankful this day for so many things. My Heavenly father has richly blessed my life with family, friends, memories, freedom, and the Gospel of Jesus Christ.

It's raining

It rained off and on today. What a nice change and look what I found out side of my apartment just now.