Chicken & Cheese Enchiladas

If you're looking for something yummy to make for dinner that is really easy to make...look no further!  These are delicious and you probably won't have to go out and buy extra ingredients to make them.  One secret...when I make dishes that call for cooked chicken is to use rotisserie chicken, it's moist and has good flavour.

1 can  (10 3/4oz.)  Cream of Chicken Soup
1/2 cup sour cream
1 cup Pace Picante Sauce (mild)
2 tsp. chilli powder
2 cups chopped cooked chicken
1/2 cup shredded Monterey Jack cheese
6 flour tortillas (6") warmed (I used the uncooked flour tortillas that you can buy at either Sam's or Costco.  Be sure to cook them up first.

1.  Stir the soup, sour cream, picante sauce and chilli powder in a medium bowl.
2.  Stir 1 cup picante sauce mixture, chicken and cheese in large bowl.
3.  Divide chicken mixture among tortillas.  Roll up the tortillas and place in a 9x13" pan.  Pour remaining picante sauce mixture and some grated cheese over filled tortillas.  Cover, and bake @ 350 degrees for 40 minutes or until enchiladas are hot and bubbling.  Top with tomato and onion.

Ensign Peak

The only way to reach the view

Is to make the climb.

On Saturday my hubby and I did our 2nd hike.  This is a hike for wimps...yes, anyone can summit this peak!  The thing about this hike is that you get such a beautiful view of the valley without much effort!  What a beautiful way to start the day.   When we got home, we were refreshed and ready to listen to conference.  We loved the wonderful messages that were shared by our loving leaders, and feel so blessed to live in this wonderful valley.  P.S. It was fun hearing the talk about Ensign Peak just after we hiked it....and no, that wasn't planned, what a coincidence!

OK...don't laugh at my feeble attempt at putting this video together.  I was testing a new video maker program out!

Family Togetherness

I thought that this commercial was pretty cute!  The family is central to our Heavenly Fathers Plan.  Take some time to do something with your family today.  All too often, we take for granted that our family knows how much that we love them...we need to SHOW them our love by the things that we do and say.  I know...I'm not always the best example of this, but I'll try harder!  Take a minute to watch this cute video.

Elder Dallin H. Oaks of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles said:

“Families should pray together, kneeling night and morning to offer thanks for blessings and prayers for common concerns.

“Families should worship together, participating in church services and family devotionals.

“Families should study and learn together. …

“Families should work together. … Families should also play together, so that happy recreational experiences are associated with the activities of the family.

“Families should counsel together, treating all matters of concern to the family and its members.

“Families should eat together. Mealtime is a natural time for the family to assemble and communicate.”

Well, it's offical....I'm OLD!!!

As many of you know, I turned 50 this past week.  Oh man...this was a hard one for me!  It didn't help that I got all of this horrible mail, such as; Funeral Planning for Seniors, AARP, Retirement Seminar Info., etc.... . But my birthday was actually very wonderful!  Some friends took me out to lunch, at work I was spotlighted - and spoiled, my sister visited me (with black balloons + a bag full of goodies).  My hubby took me to dinner @ Red Lobster, and my boys cleaned my house so that the girls could throw me a surprise party!  Thanks to all of my friends and family for helping me to enjoy a birthday that I was absolutely dreading!  I love you all!

Spring in Utah

Ok...today the weather was typical for spring here in Salt Lake City, Utah.  When I went into the store this morning it was a little overcast, and fairly warm.  I was shocked when I went to my car nearly an hour later and there were huge snowflakes falling.  The white stuff fell until early afternoon...it laid down quite a bit of snow in a short time.   By the time that my daughter went home at around 5:00, nearly all of the snow had already melted!  This is also the time of year that if you go anywhere in your car, you turn on the heater in the morning, and the air-conditioner in the afternoon. 

You are Special

I'm Special

In all the world there is nobody like me.

Since the beginning of time, there has never been another person like me.

Nobody has my smile.  Nobody has my eyes.  Nobody has my hair, my hands, my voice.  I'm unique. No one can be found who has my handwriting. Nobody anywhere has my tastes - for food or music or art. No one sees things just as I do. In all of time there has been no one who laughs like me: and no one cries like me. What makes me laugh and cry will never provoke identical laughter and tears from anybody else, ever... No one reacts to any situation just as I would react.

I'm Special

I'm the only one in all of creation who has my set of abilities. Oh, there will always be somebody who is better at one of the things I'm good at, but no one in the universe can reach the quality of my combination of talents, ideas, abilities, and feelings. Like a room full of musical instruments, some may excel alone, but none can make the symphony sound when all are played together.

Author Unknown

I'm one of the lucky ones who had a mother that always said, "You are Special"!  Look for and bring out the best in others around you.  We're all made from different molds...thankfully, because the world would be a pretty boring place if we were all the same.  I think that we all need balance in our lives.  A little bit of craziness is ok on occasion, but I must admit that some of the people in this video are just downright CRAZY!!!

Determination

“Success is not final, failure is not fatal: it is the courage to continue that counts.”

Today was my first planned hike for the Hiking Club..."Project Get in Shape". When I woke up this morning it was overcast and looked like it might rain. I could think of a million reasons not to go, but I knew that I HAVE to be consistent...I was DeTeRmiNeD to do it! Liberty Park was our first scheduled hike, and I have to tell you that it felt SO good, yes, it was windy, and overcast, but it was still beautiful. I loved it...I look forward to the other planned hikes.

I thought that this video was such a great example of determination. I'll have to remember this next time I don't feel like doing my scheduled hike.

company,

New Things are Kind of Scary

This cute little video really hit home for me at this time of my life. (job hunting, new employment, etc.) To this baby, the simple act of his mother blowing her nose, was pretty scary, because it was new to him...unfamiliar! Look at his great example of how he dealt with it...you can either laugh or cry about it. As Marjorie Pay Hinckley said, "The only way to get through life is to laugh your way through it, you either have to laugh or cry. I prefer to laugh, crying gives me a headache." That's pretty good advice for us all! 
Sorry....I guess that this video is no longer available.  It makes me sad, it was SO funny!

Operation Get in Shape Revised

I decided that my goal for hiking Lone Peak on June 4th was a little too ambitious, so I've come up with a better plan. I'm very excited about it, but....at the same time, I'm a little nervous of how well this badly abused body will handle the torture that I plan on putting it through. Please plan on joining me on my adventures, RSVP, by leaving comments in my comment box. I plan on being prompt and starting my hikes at the designated times. ( I know, it's not really one of my stregnths, but that's the plan). Here's my schedule:

March 19, @ 10:00am - Liberty Park Loop
Meet at the Southeast Side
589 East 1300 SouthSalt Lake City, UT 84105

April 2, @ 8:30am – Ensign Peak
(Meet at trailhead). I know that this is conference weekend, but what better to wake us up and prepare us for conference?
Directions-Trailhead: Make your way to the State Capitol Building. Do this by traveling State Street from downtown, which will take you past the Capitol on the west side. Take the cross street either in front of or behind the Capitol complex until you reach East Capitol Blvd. Turn left and drive north through the residential area until you reach North Sandrun Drive (940 N) and turn left on that road. Drive about 1 block and the road "forks". In the middle of the fork is an LDS meetinghouse. Take the right fork, which runs behind the church. The trailhead is about 1/2 block further on the right hand side and is a developed, easily identifiable trailhead. (Lat:40.79185 Lon:-111.88825)

April 16, @ 4:00pm - Donut Falls
Directions-The turn off to the Donut Falls Hiking Trail is located approx 9 miles up Big Cottonwood Canyon. Take a right and drive past the Jordan Pines Picnic Area and some private property to the trailhead parking lot.
The parking lot offers parking for several cars, however due to the popularity of this hike this lot fills up fast especially on the weekends. The trail starts to south of the parking lot by the restrooms.
I’m thinking that we should do dinner close by, (details to come)


April 30 @ 10:00am - Silver Lake Boardwalk/Twin Lakes
After driving 14.2 miles from the mouth of the canyon (Big Cottonwood), the road will fork into a one way loop. Follow the loop to the right, and drive 50 yards to the signed Silver Lake Trailhead on the right side of the road. The trailhead is designated with a large paved parking lot. Meet at the trees to the right of the visitors center.
If it’s dry enough I’d like to continue up to Twin Lakes, If not, I guess that we will make as many trips around the lake as we can.
If we can go on to Twin Lakes, it’s 2.5 miles round trip.

May 14, @ 8:30am - Timpanogos Cave
This is 3 miles round trip with an elevation gain of 1,100 feet. Location The visitor center is located in American Fork Canyon on Highway 92 just 10 miles east from Interstate 15 and 17.2 miles from U.S. 189. Approximately 40 miles from Salt Lake City. Entrance into American Fork Canyon is necessary to reach Timpanogos Cave National Monument. The canyon is administered by the Uinta National Forest, and a fee of $6 per vehicle is required. To purchase advance cave tour tickets, call (801) 756-5238 during the hours of 8:00 AM to 5:00 PM.
Cave Tour FeesAdults
(age 16 and older) - $7.00Junior
(age 6-15) - $5.00 Child
(age 3-5) - $3.00 Infant
(age 0-2) - Free!
Cave tour tickets frequently sell out, especially on weekends and holidays. Tour tickets may be purchased up to 30 days in advance with a major credit card by calling the visitor center at 801-756-5238. A non-refundable .50 transaction fee is added to each ticket sold in advance over the phone.

May 28, @ 5:00am - Mt. Olympus
I know, that’s really early, but this hike is exposed to a lot of sunshine, so you want to start ASAP. Be sure to bring a lot of water. Our family almost died from dehydration on this hike (I’m being serious). This trail is 5.6 miles long (round trip), with an elevation gain of 4,096 feet. It’s a strenuous hike, with bouldering and loose rocks at the top. You may need head lamps or flashlights for the first part of the hike. Plan on this hike taking around 8 hours.
The trail departs from a new parking lot just above Wasatch Boulevard and immediately ascends a steep stair-like section. The big rock out-crop just to the north is a popular climbing spot (Pete’s Rock), about 6200 South.

June 11, @ 3:00pm - Cecret Lake/Sugarloaf Peak
This is a gorgeous hike with beautiful scenery and wildflowers. I know that this sounds funny, but meet at the first outhouse in the Albion Basin Campground. Bring your dinner with you on the trail.
Albion Basin CampgroundThe trail starts at the west side of the Albion Basin Campground, at the top of the Little Cottonwood Canyon Road. It is well-marked and easy to find
Little Cottonwood Canyon- Trail Head- Albion Basin Campground- AltaDistance to Cecret Lake- ¾ mileElevation Gain- 420 vertical feet to 9220 feetHiking Time- 33 minDistance to Sugarloaf Pass- 1 ¾ milesElevation Gain- 1100 feet to 10, 550 feetHiking Time- 2hrs 30minDistance to Sugarloaf Peak- 2.25 milesElevation Gain- 1651 feet to 11,051 feetHiking Time- 3 hrs 1 min


June 25, @ 8:30am - Lakes Mary and Martha, & Catherine
This trail is approximately 4 miles round trip, with an elevation gain of 1173 feet. Meet at the kiosk. Getting to the Trailhead:Follow the canyon road clear to the top. The road will lead you right into the Brighton Resort and into a huge parking lot. To the left, you will notice a large kiosk with a pitched roof. Park close to the kiosk as this is where the trailhead is. Read posted signs carefully for re-routes or other information about the trail.

July 9, @ 8:30am - Mt Aire
This trail is 3.5 miles round trip with an elevation gain of 1991 vertical feet. This hike is located up Mill Creek Canyon. The Forest Service charges $3.00 to access the canyon which you pay as you exit. Trail Head is at the Elbow Fork Trail Head- 6.4 miles up the canyon. Meet at the trail head.


July 23, @ 5:00am - Lone Peak
The grand-daddy hike. I’m thinking of making this a backpacking trip, (just an overnighter). More details to come.
Lone Peak Hiking/Backpacking Details
Summit:
11,253 feet (3,429.9 meters)
Estimated Starting Elevation:
5,200 feet
Average Total Distance:
9 miles round-trip
Time Needed:
1–2 days
Rating:
Difficult

Operation....Get in Shape!!!

Operation: Get in Shape! Goal be in shape enough to hike Lone Peak On June 4th, 2011. This hike is one of the tallest peaks in the Wasatch Range. It starts at 5,200 ft. the summit is 11,253 ft. It's 9 miles round trip and rated....DIFFICULT. Who's with me? No wimps allowed, me included! Let's do this thing!

I'm doing a horrible job at getting in shape.....I've decided that when I'm stressed, or upset, I eat! I'm going to continue to work on it though.

I came across this picture that I thought that I'd share to get everyone motivated, granted, I'll probably only make it to the cirque...if I even make it that far.