Church Chili Cookoff

Our Chruch Ward (Congregation) held their annual chili cook-off so I decided to throw together a pot of my green chili. Growing up in Arizona I never realized there was any other kind of chili, of course until I left and realized that most had never even heard of green chili. So I made it just to see how it would be recieved. It was basically my green chili burrito recipe but with more pinto beans than normal. I only added a few fresh (as fresh as Missouri can offer anyway)jalapenos and had no real intention of it being very spicy. When the judges were done however, mine claimed the prize as Hottest Chili. Good thing I didn't use habaneros.

Trying Out the New Camera

After many frustrations with our very broken Canon camera I decided to check out Ebay for a replacement. Our first Canon point and shoot was purchased new for around $250 about three years ago. I am very confident that we got our moneys worth. However, losing our camera at this point and time places us in a very tight spot, hence Ebay here we come. We could only budget about $100 but I wasn't willing to compromise on quality of the camera. So I did a search and found the perfect camera, in fact I found the Canon camera that I have wanted even before we purchased our original Canon. The s400 Elph series is so compact but delivers the quality you can always expect from Canon. Although it is an older model it was well within our budget. I dropped a bid and won an auction from a guy living in Alaska. Ebay is just too cool, I'm living in Missouri and needed a S400 Elph for $100 and found one from a guy in Alaska. A done deal! So I decided to test the camera on the most gorgeous person I know.... My sweetheart was a wonderful model to test out our new camera. Beautiful............the camera works great too.

Neleha's Third Zoo Class

Neleha's third zoo class went like the previous, she had a great time learning and exploring and Kristy had a fun time watching her do it. Neleha has grown so fond of these classes that it is now officially her school, or "zoo school" as she puts it.

This time the kids got to interact with desert animals including a lizard. Neleha has loved lizards and snakes ever since our little encounter with that lizard in Arizona. This was an especially fun class for her.

Neleha was really become an artist as each zoo class she gets to paint another animal. Our little lizard lovin' painter. I must say these classes are priceless for our little Neleha.

Molly's 50's Sock Hop

Molly's school PTA hosted their biggest event of the year, a 50's Sock Hop. Molly asked Kristy if she could get a poodle dress for the occasion but finding something like that this far from Halloween or Foy's Halloween store isn't the easiest task in the world. So Kristy used her awesome sewing skills and made one for her. The skirt was so awesome and Molly was so happy and proud to wear it. All the kids had decided that they would wear their 50's costume at school the day of the dance and so Kristy dolled up Molly most beautifully.

Even Neleha got to take advantage of her Mommy's sewing skills.

Molly and Aleia were both dolled up and ready for a sock-hop of a day.

The PTA did a fabulous job of decorating and really putting on a great dance. They even had a raffle for a life size cut out of the "The King". Molly and Neleha just had to have a photo with Elvis.

Kristy volunteered to work in the root beer float stand and the girls wanted to visit their Mommy before they did anything else. After a smooth float they were ready for some dancing.

Molly & Neleha danced their little hearts out throughout the dance.

This even was a big hit with all the kids, a genuinely great time for all.

Molly was so cute dancing with her little friends and just enjoying the freedom and joy of childhood.

Molly & Neleha also got to participate in the Hula-Hoop contest and had a good time doing their best and wrapping that hoop around them for as long as they could.

Neleha didn't quite get the idea but she had fun all the same.

Good times were certainly had by all.

They did some serious dancing, from the chicken dance to the macerena, they danced em' all.

Kristy and Aleia's mom, Angie, had such a fun time watching the girls dance the night away.

On a side note our trusty Canon point and shoot camera suffered a devastating blow towards the end of the dance. The camera has taken many beatings over the last three years but tonight this kid ran by me and inadvertently got snagged on my camera and ripped it right of my hands. It hit the floor hard and now it only focuses properly for 1 out of ever 6 shots or so. Not good!

Asleep at the Desk

Ever since Neleha was crawling around we have often found her sleeping in the most unusual places. Kristy caught this photo of her asleep at her desk. She was playing music and switching out different cds when all of a sudden she drifted off to sleep. She is so cute.