sending them off!

I really wish someone could come take a picture of me doing cartwheels, and backflips, and jumping up and down for joy!!! Like the Staples commercial. I love school!

"My life is good - really good!" ... (we're on a Nacho-Libre kick can you tell?)

IT WAS ALL WE HOPED IT WOULD BE! Nick: about three rounds into the ride said, "Mom, my hands hurt!" ???? I looked down and they were totally white and clenched... so being the good mom that I am I immediately pried them from the bar and made him hold them in the air for the whole next round... him screaming all the way! :)
DID A LITTLE CANNING YESTERDAY... ONE JAR HAD PEACHES AND RASPBERRIES

DECIDED TO FREEZE A FEW BLUEBERRIES... ANDY EATS THEM BY THE HANDFUL

OH AND AT THE PRODUCE STAND "pettinggill" THERE WERE THESE TOTALLY AWESOME FRUITS... DON'T THEY LOOK DELICIOUS

I BOUGHT 2 BOXES OF PEACHES FOR $24 AND GOT 24 BOTTLES AND A FEW PEACHES TO SPARE... YOU CAN'T BUY PEACHES THAT TASTE NEARLY AS GOOD AS THESE FOR $1 AT THE STORE. (well, the bottles and sugar... but still)

oh and lest you think I am a canner extrodinare... this was my first time bottling fruit. I was quite proud of myself that I could recall what I had only watched my mom do 27 years ago.

she was proud of me too... thanks mom!

Hey everybody have you heard?

it's the BOX ELDER COUNTY FAIR!!!!!!

yeee haw!

we were going to enter Sadie's sunflower's, but ended up sending other items instead. They are something to see however! And if you're driving by, it's hard to miss them. Tonight is the parade which the kids will be riding in, and the plan is to ride the big ferris-wheel at some point. None of them ever have before and think it will be the greatest moment in their lives! Here's hoping. Nick said to me this morning at breakfast, "mom, what happens if the ferris-wheel breaks down while people are on top of it?" ... he's thinking! Not sure we are going to participate on the whole "carni-food" however... we've had our feel of greese! (doughnuts...sortof regretting it!) I need go and pack up my camera for the rest of the week's festivities. see you soon!

What do you do with leftover mashed potatoes?

1st comes DOUGH then comes ..... NUTS!!! We are nuts! They are SPUDNUTS!!!
SERIOUSLY... doughnut holes are the BEEEST>>> (say it "Nacho-Libre" style, it's funnier)

we should just strap them on to the thigh's from here...

GOTTA have a DOWEL to drip

or some SUGAR to SHAKE...

and then LINE EM UP.... and SLIRP EM DOWN!

SPUDNUTS:

2 c. warm water

4 Tbsp yeast

1/2 c. dry milk

1/2 c. butter

1 c. sugar

3 tsp salt

1 c. mashed potatoes

5 - 6 c. flour

nutmeg

vanilla

mix together and add enough flour to make a soft dough. Let rise until double in bulk. turn out on floured surface and roll to 1/2 inch thickness. cut with doughnut cutter and let stand on oiled surface until light, about 20 minutes, or about the time it takes to cut all the doughnuts. fry in hot oil, 375 until golden brown. glaze, shake, dip, or sugar.

Nick's summer harvest

SUMMER TOMATOES ARE THE BEST... WE GREW OUR FIRST EVER! AND THERE IS ALWAYS THE INEVITABLE... "BUM-CRACK" ONE! (OR AT LEAST THAT'S HOW NICK DESCRIBED IT!)
THOSE ARE SOME REALLY NICE ROUND CHEECKS!

ENJOY SUMMER... IT'S ALMOST GONE!
P.S., DO YOU THINK THE BOX ELDER COUNTY FAIR WOULD LIKE A "BUM-CRACK" TOMATOE ENTRY? :)

I'm OUT!!!

Well, Primary is a thing of the past for me. I served for 2 1/2 years as the 2nd couselor. It was interesting, fun, and sometimes a little different. I loved spending time with my kids at church. It was something I hadn't done before and so at first I really wasn't sure what I thought. But the more I was in there the more I realized that I loved being in there with them. I liked teaching sharing time and learning the songs. I loved watching them and listening to them share their ideas and testimonies. I learned to love the kids in my ward and through them, their parents. I learned some valuable lessons about how to function as a counselor. It's funny how when these things are over and you have time to reflect on them, you realize all that you really did learn, both from mistakes and sucesses. The only really bad part is that now... I'm just dangeling out there... if you know what I mean. There's always something to be done. YIKES! We will see what the future brings... but for now, I'm OUT!!!

What a load of kids....

9 kids between 2 mom's

and don't they look happy to have their picture taken....

I spent the day with my favorite cousin in the whole world last Wednesday.... Jennalee

we met way back when at the FORD REUNION. Her family lived in Seattle and us in Utah and so her coming to the reunion was so much fun for me. We went to college together after that I moved to Seattle and lived on her old stomping grounds for a while. My Cousin Jennalee has been more than just a cousin to me. She and I have something special... it's a bond that is hard to explain. She helps me be a better person, she inspires me in lots of ways, she was, is, and always will be a ROCK in the gospel & her heart is PURE GOLD.

LOVE YA!

Family TREE

This summer has been filled with REUNIONS for our family.

We have realized the true meaning of a family tree.

we are lucky to have so many cousins and aunts and uncles and grandparents who love us and want to spend time together.