Temple Dedication, Family & Quick Tamale Stew

Mom and Dad (Yes, DAD.  Shocker, I know!) came up and went to the Ogden Temple dedication with Matt and me.  It was a rainy day so we ate some Quick Tamale Stew and then we drove around Southern Davis County showing los padres our relatively new digs.  This recipe is perfect for fall time, and, dear reader, you know I only post recipes of my FAVORITE dishes, right?  So here is another:

I like to double this recipe then eat it with tortilla chips, sour cream, and cheese, but it's also really good w/o all the said embellishments.  :)

1 15 oz can chili with beans
1 15 oz can diced tomatoes, undrained
1 15 oz can corn, undrained
1 15 oz can tamales (Or better yet, use the fresh ones the little Hispanic lady is selling door to door.)

Peel paper from tamales, slice.  Put in saucepan.  Add remaining ingredients.  Heat thoroughly.  Serves 4.

"ALL ABOARD!" The S & S Shortline R.R.

**WARNING:  Picture Overload!

We had plans to go to Heber City this summer and ride the Heber Creeper.  However, since I was sick for the most part of the summer, that just didn't happen.  Then a ward member told me about the Farmington Train Park - less than 10 miles away!  Wahoo!  Perfect substitution.  We all loved it, and it made for a fun day.  The train park was started by a man named Steve Flanders whose hobby consisted of everything and anything about trains.  S&S stands for Steve and Susan, his wife.  He built 3 operating trains/tracks on his property around his house (he has a lot of property) and maintains them.  He has also collected TONS of train memorabilia and has several small museums set up around the park.  The park is open June-October on the first Saturday of each month from 10:00-4:00.

First we tried out the BIG train.  It was about a 10 minute ride around the park.

Ready to Ride!

 Making eyes at a fellow female passenger...

 All Aboard!

 Model Train Sets

 Took a break from all the trains and rode a helicopter instead.

 Then we tried out the LITTLE train.  It lasted about 20 minutes and went all over the park - through tunnels over bridges, etc.

 A little train centered play area

 (Gavin's fave)

 And lastly, we rode the MEDIUM sized train.

 Matt and I severely underestimated the G-Man.  We thought for sure he wouldn't be able to pedal the hand car, but he was a pro from the start and loved every minute of it.

 To end our fun day, we went to Pizza Pie Cafe.  That is the perfect place for Gavin because it has all of his favorite "P" foods:  pizza, pasta, peaches, pears, and pepperoni.  :)

Ogden Temple Open House

Today we went to the Ogden Temple Open House.  It was beautiful, of course, and the spirit was amazing.  Gavin noticed every single EXIT sign and when we got to the celestial room he said, "Oh, wow! This room is so COOL!"  And it was.

 Families are Forever!  

(Gavin smiling with his hands.)