Pineaple Sheet Cake from cooks.com

2 c. flour
2 c. sugar
2 eggs
1 (20 oz) can crushed pineapple with juice
2 tsp. baking soda
1 c. chopped walnuts
1 c. coconut (optional)

Mix all ingredients well and pour into greased jelly roll pan. Bake at 350 degrees for 30 minutes. Cool. Frost.

Frosting
1 pkg. cream cheese
1 lb. powdered sugar
1 tsp. vanilla

Mix and spread on cake

August Birthday Celebration

Three birthdays in August: Morgan, Nano, and Grace. We were given a Honey Baked Ham Gift Card. So it seemed natural to celebrate with ham and cake!

We invited Wade and Liz Wallin...giftors of said ham...to share our meal and fun. Mom made rolls (who knew there were sooo many Lion House Roll recipes...perhaps each of Brigham Young's wives (27) had their own recipe), Nano made "Ed's Beans", Grandma made Potatoes and Cheese, and Cauliflower and Cheese Sauce, Cameo made Shells and Cheese, and Liz brought the most yummy watermelon!

Dinner was great.

Then, it was cake time. I made a pineapple sheet cake for Nano and Grace.

Note: there are not 76 candles, but the number 76 on the left side of the cake. The right side of the cake has five candles, not a number one. Come on, people, a guy can be creative in candle placement. Work with me!

Morgan had carrot cake. Costco has shrunk their carrot cake. No more sheet cake. No more sliced almonds on the sides. Morgan loved the sheet cake with the almonds on the sides. Costco now has some walnuts and crumbly stuff on the sides and top. Next year, mom will imitate the OLD Costco cake.

Morgan had "blowing issues" thus blowing out his AND Nano's candles. Fortunately, Grace was too far away to blow out hers, so Nano helped. She said she was really thankful Morgan took care of hers...asthma makes it harder for her to blow out 17 candles. Five was really more manageable for her.

We sang to all three. Morgan blew out his candles, and helped Nano...and Nano blew out candles for Grace. We didn't call her...thought she would be confused about her crazy insane Phoenix Rice relatives singing to her way before her birthday. Did want her to realize that we really ARE crazy Phoenix Rice relatives. She will come to that conclusion soon enough.

Ethan got my camera...again.

Happy National S'Mores Day

Not much of a celebratin' group.
Mom bought the stuff and made s'mores kits.

When they came, they microwaved and then they ate.

Doran came...transported Ethan, Cam and Morgan Kits for them to eat at home.

Nate was gone...at his on Friday.

Anyway...it was fun...brought back camping memories

Dad is ALWAYS a good sport and humors my crazy whims!

Pizza Sunday

We have found that we CAN light the pizza oven before church and have pizza when we come home, without hourly trips home to refill. So, we made pizza, and invited the kids.

Morgan created a star shaped pizza...tasted awesome!

Nathan created a corn dog pizza, with slices of corn dog and garlic. I had a taste...and it was pretty darned good!

This was Ethan's creation: A Green Chili Pizza. Dad had to have just one more slice so he could taste this one!

Close up of Green Chili Pizza.

Since Morgan's 25th Birthday is tomorrow (August 8), Ethan and Cam got him a cake and we sang (don't worry family, we are still having a ham dinner and August Birthday celebration next Sunday)

Rice Boys LOVE matches and fire!

Ethan demonstrated a Jack O Lantern imitation, though I missed the match in the mouth portion.

He really was happy...I promise.

I love it when my camera is grabbed and pics are taken...It makes transferring photos to my hard drive truly an adventure! Kayty is showing Mom and Cameo someone photo on Facebook...and we were trying to determine whether the person in the photo had put on a little weight...or was expecting. Truly catty!

Cameo and I determined NO weight gain was evident.

Apparantly, Rice Boys light fires IN the house when MOM is NOT looking!

And the photographer THOUGHT this would be a lovely holiday decoration...Notice the red, green and white motif. (Thanks, Ethan, but I don't think so...)

National Root Beer Float Day August 6, 2011

Who knew that my dad was born on National Root Beer Float Day. Well, the Rices try not to miss an opportunity for celebrating root beer and ice cream, so family stopped by.

Nathan had been responsible for a terrible kitchen pipe mess (no explanation...suffice it to say potting soil should NEVER be put down a kitchen sink!) so he went to the store and got the goodies: two gallons of vanilla ice cream, and some root beer, both diet and regular.

Nathan had been responsible for a terrible kitchen pipe mess (no explanation...suffice it to say potting soil should NEVER be put down a kitchen sink!) so he went to the store and got the goodies: two gallons of vanilla ice cream, and some root beer, both diet and regular.

Kayty was even home from Party City workday and participated with us!

This is not a happy smile, contrary to how it appears. She is actually threatening the photographer!

I had NO idea there was an appropriate method in Root Beer Float preparation! Ethan demonstrates the "liquid first, then solid" method. Apparantly it creates greater creaminess, less foam. And to think I have lived on this earth 51 years and was totally unaware! My children have many reasons to find me backwards!

We had a difficult time keeping lactose intolerant Nathan away from the Bluebell Ice Cream. Apparantly, son in law, Mike, it totally right about it being the best brand of ice cream!

Happy Birthday, Dad.

My children have no grandfathers...I mean no living grandfathers. My dad died during my senior year in high school...when he was 45...a life of high blood pressure finally did him in. So, when a special day comes, I try to bring a memory. This year, my plan worked.

I used the dishes my parents got for their wedding...in 1957. I used to hate these dishes. My dad picked them out...and I thought they were awful! But, as the years have passed, I realized their unique beauty...especially on this tablecloth!

I made my dad's favorite dish...I used to hate it. It was typical 50's fare that his mom used to make for him...Meatballs, mushroom soup, rice, though I used MY homemade seasoned meatballs. I did break down and use the mushroom soup, but I jazzed it up a bit. The rice I grew up with: minute rice. The rice I used: jasmine rice.

They liked it!

Happy Birthday, Dad. August 6th would have been your 79th birthday. You have 6 amazing grandchildren, and a grandson and granddaughter in law that are second to none. You have 4 great grandchildren, though I know you have given Charles a big hug for us already. They bring me happiness and joy that cannot be measured...I'm sure you have been a witness to their successes, and even their not so successes, holding them up, and loving them. Thanks for being my dad!