Happy 4th of July!

Well I just wanted to wish everyone a Happy 4th of July! We are truly blessed to live in such a great nation and have the freedoms that we have. I was going through my pics, trying to find one to post that fit the holiday and the best I could come up with is one Lex took at Yankee stadium when he was in New York. I mean come on what's more American than the New York Yankees.

These pics were taken a couple of years ago when Lisa was pregnant with Tess!

HAPPY 4TH OF JULY!!!!

Charlee's Antics

I wanted to post a few pics of Ben and I and our dog Charlee. She has been so fun to have. She just keeps growing - every time I look at her I swear she grows 2 more inches. Ben's mom Melinda says she has size Large paws but we love her anyway. Every morning she is Ben's companion to go feed and although her and the goats still don't love each other, they are starting to feel mutual respect. This might be because she is almost big enough to look them straight in the eye.

She continually makes us laugh. Last weekend we bought her a pool because it has started to get pretty hot. Well you should see her jump in! It's like a polar bear doing a belly flop. There is no fear. I tried to sneak and take a couple of pics so you could enjoy.

This spring I always plant flowers and since this spring we put in an actual garden I couldn't wait to fill the flower beds around our house with various flowers. Well I forgot I have a puppy and what a Digger Dog she is. So needless to say I gave up on most of the flowers and my dog has a great time digging holes. Hopefully by next year she will have outgrown this phase!

Now isn't that the face of a little angel...more like trouble. I will keep you posted on more of Charlee's stories - I am sure she will just keep on entertaining us!

Destination - Destin, Florida

Well it was that time of year again and Ben and I were off to the Florida Panhandle Championships (Team Roping) in Marianna. Again this year we went a couple of days early to enjoy the beach and just hang out. We had a great time.

Ben - On the phone as usual...

We flew in early Wed. morning to Pensacola and then headed down the beach to our favorite place - Destin Beach and the Holiday Inn. This is our favorite hotel there - it has beach access along with a great pool, sauna's, hot tubs ect. As soon as we got there we put on our bathing suits and headed down to the guy that rents the beach umbrellas and chairs and claimed our spot on the white sandy beach. It was so nice to just chill - we basically swam in the ocean, took a nap, read a book and swam some more! It was AWESOME! That night we went to a restaurant a friend suggested - AJ's! It was great! Ben of course had fried shrimp and I had some kind of amazing white fish stuffed with crab - yes I could have foundered on it!

Enjoying the Umbrella Chairs!

AJ's - What a place!

Look close and you can see the dolphin fin - no it isn't a shark!

As some of you know since you got our text messages - outside the restaurant was a air brush tatoo place and so we decided to see how we would look with tats - I don't think they are me but it was fun to see and they were gone by Thurs night.

My Tat!

The next day we hit the beach again and then that afternoon headed to Marianna. We stopped by our favorite place in Panama City - Sharky's for a little salad and to watch the sun set. The same singer was there from last year and he was still fun to listen to.

On to the roping - we finally made it to Marianna late Thurs night and enjoyed working with Jeff and Gwen Motes and family for the Florida Panhandle Classic. It was a great roping - Ben even roped a little but didn't end up getting anything done. Sunday afternoon rolled around and the roping was over so we headed back to Destin Beach for one last swim before flying out the next morning.

Ben Soaking up the last of the Sun and Sand before we head home!

All in all it was a great trip - Ben and I definetly have plans for someday having a condo on Destin Beach (if we ever hit the lottery :)). Thanks so much for everyone taking care of our animals we appreciate it so much! It was a much needed mini-vacation!

Memorial Day

I wanted to post the rest of my trip to Utah. On Saturday my Grandma Helen, my dad, mom and I loaded up the flowers to go decorate the graves. I never go up to the Randolph cemetary so it was nice to see the headstones. We also ran into several people that I hadn't seen in awhile. If you can believe it the wind even wasn't blowing that bad.

After we finished in Randolph we dropped my dad off at the house and my grandma, my mom and I went on to Woodruff to decorate my great grandpa and grandma cornia's graves. After we did that we drove around the town and my mom showed my grandma and I where everyone lives. There are several new homes that have been built in Woodruff that neither of us had seen so we really enjoyed the tour.

Even though it is sad to decorate the graves of those we have lost - it was a great day spending time with my parents and my grandma. It was one of those days that I will always remember - so thanks family!

He Made It!

Well I know it is a little bit after graduation but I have been busy. I was able to go home for a few days and watch my baby brother graduate high school. It was so fun to be able to see everyone. I was so proud of him and what he has accomplished. He looked so studly in his black cap and gown. Here are a few pics of the big day!

My proud parents!

Jade and Grandma Helen

Jade and Tess

Jade and I

Chelsey, Jade and Amy

Jade and Oliver

Doing the Walk!

Getting a Congrats Hug from Pete

He Did It!

Rich High Graduating Class of 2009

Way to go Jader - Ben and I are so proud of you and I am so glad I was able to come home for your graduation. Hope you enjoy these pics. Remember Always Keep Reaching for the Stars and Your Dreams Will Come True!

Wow! It's been a year!

Well yesterday was our one year wedding anniversary! It is crazy that it has only been a year but it also seems like it was just yesterday! Looking back it has been a great year for Ben and I. He is a great guy and a wonderful husband! I couldn't ask for better. I thought since it is our one year anniversary I will post some of our wedding pictures for everyone to see. I really didn't have a blog started when we got married so I never really posted any pics. Here are some from the Texas wedding. Hope you enjoy!

Me and my bridesmaids (from top to bottom) Stephanie Jones, Laurel Oakeson, me, Carolee Rex and Brandi Clements

The Groomsmen (left to right) Lex Cornia, Al Martinez, Ben Clements, Coy Irwin, and Jade Cornia

Saying I do!

The Vows

We did it!


Me and my Dad!

Ben and I

The Cake!

Our First Dance...

Throwing the bouqet.

The trucks - What a MESS!

Thanks Ben for a wonderful and happy year and I look forward to many, many more!

The Best Mexican Casserole!

Everyone seems to post recipes on their blog so I decided to join in the fun. My mother-in-law, Melinda, gave me this recipe (Thanks Melinda!) and it is absolutely awesome but not for those of you dieting (for some reason I have never found a diet that uses Velvetta Cheese). If you love casseroles and you love Mexican food this is the recipe for you. I even took it to Utah and tried it out for my family and they loved it.

Sharon Casserole
(Melinda Clements)

2 lbs Hamburger Meat
1 Can Campbell’s Cream of Mushroom Soup
2 Cans of Old El Paso Red Enchilada Sauce—small cans (I think they are 10 oz cans)
1 Small Can of Diced Green Chilies (4 oz.—you can get hot or mild depending on how hot spicy you want)
Velvetta Cheese (Cheese can be added to taste—I use about a half package of Velvetta-sometimes more—the more cheese the more creamy and juicy.
6 0r 8 Yellow Corn Tortillas
½ Cup Diced Onions (This can be added or left out—Your preference)

Brown Hamburger Meat. Add seasonings such as salt and pepper to taste before cooking. Drain the grease.

While the Hamburger Meat is browning---Put Cream of Mushroom soup, Diced Chilies and one can of water in a bowl. I usually pour in the soup, clean the can with the water, and add the chilies. Heat this in the microwave for about two minutes or until it is hot but not boiling. It can also be heated on the stove if you don’t want to use the microwave. Just heat it on the stove until it begins to simmer, stirring occasionally.

After the meat is cooked and drained add one can of enchilada sauce and let it simmer for just enough time to warm the enchilada sauce. Your mushroom soup and chilies should be warmed by this time also.

In a deep dish casserole bowl (My bowl is glass--8 inch deep and about 6 or 8 inches across and you will need a lid) put a layer of meat on the bottom, pour a little of the mushroom soup mixture, then some grated velvetta cheese, then a corn tortilla, next add meat mixture, soup mixture, cheese and corn tortilla—layer this repeatedly until you run out of ingredients. On the very top put more cheese and then pour the other small can of enchilada sauce over the cheese so it will filter down into the mixture as it cooks.

Cover with a lid and put in the oven. If you want to eat soon put the oven on about 350 degrees and let it cook until the cheese is melted and bubbly but not burned. It usually takes about twenty minutes but check it periodically. If it is going to be a couple of hours before you eat put the oven on 200 degrees and let hit heat slowly. If you are in a big hurry you can put it in the microwave and heat it until the cheese is melted and bubbly.

Serve with tortilla chips, ranch style beans and or pinto beans with jalapenos, salad with lettuce, tomatoes, hot sauce, etc.

This is a great recipe and you should try it sometime. It is extremely easy and you can't screw it up - I promise!!