Sierra

Summer

Fun in Fairview

So last week when we were in the mountains for a few days we decided we needed a change of scenery and did the "over the top" drive.  that means we left Scofield and headed west, up to Skyline drive and down into Fairview.  Then South through Sanpete County.  Since I already seem to be in a sentimental mood, I'll tell you how it makes me feel when I take that drive.  It reminds me of my dad.  He had a cabin near Fairview at Skyline Mountain Resort.  Every time we come down out of Fairview canyon, it just reminds me of him.  One time (I think I was pregnant with Sierra, so that would be 9 years ago)  I helped my dad at his cabin one week.  We were tiling the bathroom.  He was cutting tile with my mom and I was laying the tile in the bathroom.  We only had one little mess up but it was behind the toilet.  I was quite proud of our little bathroom.  It was fun to hang out and work side by side with my dad.  I spent 13 years working side by side with him at Arctic Circle and it was fun to do that under different circumstances.  When we were done with the job, Dad drove "over the top" back to Scofield to drop me off where Rick and Summer were waiting for me.  I remember that drive and just chit chatting with my dad.  One specific thing that I remember is that we heard on the radio that Ricks College in Rexburg would become BYU-Idaho.  I have no idea why I remember that little detail.  But you know how you remember things like "Where I was when I heard Michael Jackson died...(dropping off a load of grass at the compost place in Provo)...?  Well, I will always remember where I was when I found out the great news about BYU-Idaho.  I was in Fairview with my dad.  hum, funny, the little details, how they stick out in my mind...

Back to the real story.  Last week we stopped at a few little antique stores and gift shops on our drive.  The last stop was this place in Fairview:

It's called the Corner Station.  They have been open for 10 months and business is doing well.  It is similar to Funfunity in Springville, the Imagination Station in Flint, or that other cool store at Dogwood Festival Market by Old Navy in Flowood.  But we all decided that this one tops them all.  The kids loved it.  We let them each pick out one little thing for being good kids on the drive and for getting their jobs done during the week.  I got a couple of little things, too. And the best thing of all was one of those mobiles of the planets that was marked 50% off.  I'm all about bribery so we told the kids that if they get their jobs done for the next month or so, we'll take them back to the Corner Station in Fairview to choose another item.  They have tons of EEBOO brand games and toys, Melissa & Doug stuff, books, jewelry, antiques, homemade gifts and much more.  I'm sure it will help the jobs get done around here, and I'm always happy to help out the little guy and spend my money at the small town, mom and pop businesses.  I think you all should bribe your kids and visit the Corner Station in Fairview. 

See that cardboard box in the bottom picture?  It had a little had written note on it that said, "Take me, I'm free and your kids will have hours of fun with this free box."

Saturday in Richfield

So, my cousin, Alexia, got married yesterday in Annabella at my Aunt Connie's house.  At the last minute my mom and I loaded up the car with my kids, some diet coke, and a donut and headed south.  I was very glad we went.  I think my dad would have been pleased with us for being there.  Speaking of my dad...when we parked and headed up the walkway to the yard, I spotted my Uncle Dell.  He is the youngest of the 6 kids, my dad being the oldest.  Anyway, I never thought my dad and his brother looked alike, but for about 5 seconds I thought my dad was standing there.  I started to cry.  All I could think of was my dad and how much I missed him.  Especially when family events like this come up.  

For some reason, Cole took an instant liking to Uncle Dell and engaged him in several water bottle sword fights.  I thought it was so sweet to see the Father of the Bride take a few minutes to entertain my little blonde boy. 

Dell went to sit in the shade and take a drink.  Cole leaned over to me and said, "Mom, who is that man?"  I said, "He is Papa Kent's brother.  His name is Uncle Dell."  He said, "I'm going to go tell that man that I love him."  My aunt Connie was standing there and she heard him tell Dell that he loved her.  They both started to cry.  

Me and Uncle Dell

Shirley (dad's sister) , Kelli, Lori (cousin), Connie (dad's other sister), and Nan (my mom)

Summer

Photo shoot preview.  

Sierra and Hooee

Just one more picture before I clean the kitchen.

Cole

My "to-do" list just keeps getting longer and longer, but I couldn't resist this cute picture of Cole.  We put the training wheels on his little "hand me down" 2 wheeler bike and he hasn't stopped.  I think he is about to wear right through those little tires.  He doesn't like to pose much (he leaves that to this sisters and believe me, I've got a million pictures of them over the last week).  but he did stop and smile for Dad while he we trying to climb this gate.  I love it.  He's all boy.  The scar on his chin and the purple nail on his big toe prove it! 

The Helper Train Museum

Ok, we have been spoiled for the last few days.  We left on June 29 to go to Scofield and we just got back today.  I have 600 pictures to upload and sort but, I thought I'd give you an idea of what is to come.  Activities included Rhino rides, museums, toy store, temples, treasure hunts, talent competitions, treats, parades, fireworks,  cleaning projects, photo shoots, and  much more. 

We asked Cole what he wanted to do on Tuesday and he wanted to go to the Helper Train Museum.  I figured that was OK, because there is an antique store that I love right across the street.  Well, at least there used to be.  It is no longer open.  I was bummed, but Cole was thrilled.  I cashed in some ones and gave him a stack of quarters.  He kept the trains running for an hour while the rest of used checked out the museum.  I asked Cole what he wanted to do the next day and he said he wanted to go to the train museum.  boy, he's so predictable.  We went to Fairview instead.

As soon as I get some groceries in the fridge and the laundry caught up I'll get some pictures on here.  Have a good day.

PS, my lawn in burning up, weeds are taking over, garden looks terrible, and my house needs to be dusted.  I thought I had all these things taken care of when I left the house.

spring garden

These are my irises.  i think that they are beautiful.  well, at least for a few weeks in the spring. 

They all came from my mom's yard.  she gave them to me because they weren't blooming very well.   When she saw them in my yard this spring, she wanted them back.

I will be thinning them out soon.  They are getting too thick.  They are also starting to crowd out the tomatoes, tomatillos and squash that are planted in front of them.  If you want any of them (and you know who you are, Amara) come and get them.  I tried to include these pictures so that kind of, maybe you can tell which colors you are getting.  If we're home, great.  If not, dig in, just be nice to the tomatillos.  And speaking of tomatillos...I was so careful to plant tomatillos seeds in the basement window this spring so that I could get a head start.  I so LOVE the tomatillo salsa I made last year.  I babied my little seedlings all spring.  They looked so pathetic when it was time to move them to the garden.  And what do you know, tomatillos are coming up like weeds out in the garden where I had them growing last year.  I am actually pulling them out to thin them and make room for the things I actually planted out there.  that figures.   

And I have lots of tomato blossoms.  I'm really pleased with the way my tomatoes are looking at this point.  I have about 20 plants.  I hope we get lots and lots of tomatoes, especially the yellow, white and stripey ones.  I probably have about 10 different varieties of tomatoes.  whaahoo. 

Scofield

Heber Valley Camp

Summer and I just got home from girls camp.  The theme was "Sent to Succeed".  It rained about 90% of the time and when it wasn't raining the wind was blowing.  I was pretty irritated with the weather, but now that I'm warm and dry I realize what a great week we had.  I was a cabin leader for the first year girls.  there was one other leader and 12 adorable girls.  some quiet and some not so quiet. 

Utah Valley Marathon

Today was the big day...Rick ran his first official marathon.  His time was about 4:18, I don't know for sure.  that comes out to about a 10 minute mile.  He is a little sore and it looks like he'll lose a toe nail, but besides that he feels great.  (tomorrow might be a different story!)

Hobble Creek Canyon

We went on a little Sunday afternoon bike ride and found ourselves up Hobble Creek Canyon at a campground called jolley's ranch.  It was fun.  The ride down was great.  There is one really big hill going down.  Rick was pulling Cole in the bike trailer.  He always makes sure that he is far enough in the lead that I cannot see how fast he goes down the hill.  He did tell me that when they got down with the hill, Cole said, "wow, I did not like that."  

YW GIRLS CAMP

We had our second meeting for the leaders for Stake girls camp this week.  (so different from last year when I just showed up on Monday morning with no agenda, schedule, or map and had to put the peddle to metal to keep up with the ward camp leader who was the only one who knew what was happening or where we were heading...I'll leave the rest of that story for another day...)

Anyway, at our meeting I found out that I am a level leader for the Beehives.  there are 50 of them and I am in charge of crafts.  4 of them.  Budget $3.75 per girl and we narrowed down what the leaders want to do for the crafts:  prayer rocks, friendship bracelets, a poem and craft stick frame, and a scrapbook style book for using as a journal/record/autograph book for the week.  The other leader from our ward who is in with the Level 1 girls has access to unlimited amounts of free 12x12 scrapbook paper, so that should be good.  Another lady's husband works for a office supply co and will be providing cute pens for our autograph books.  That should help the budget as well.

Our camp will be at Heber Valley which apparently is nothing like Shalom.   The ladies in charge asked me to round up as many glue guns as I could find and I said, "they require power, will we have access to power?"  and everyone laughed at me.  Oh well.  Good news for me.

Which reminds me of HOW much fun I had at camp when I was young.  Brother and Sister Crapo were in charge every year I went and talk about magnifying their calling.  They were awesome. 

Anyways, I am so excited (times 10) for camp and because they are letting Summer go to camp this year since her birthday is 6 weeks after camp but before school starts.  She is the very last one of about 15 girls that age to turn 12.  She has been feeling very left out lately since all of her friends have been going to our awesomely awesome Beehive activities and she's not old enough.  But, camp will be fun for her.

Another thing... I just found out a few weeks ago that the Beehives are invited to Youth Conference which will be the week after girls camp.  Is that weird?  I have never heard of the 12-13 year olds going to Youth Conference.  But then again, I'm new to YW's.  And that reminds me, we are having a big meeting (aka PPI) on sunday and I think I'm going to be fired. 

Another good book...

I just finished reading this book, too.  At first I didn't think I would like it, but I stuck with it and it was fun, quick, and easy.  I like to read books like this so I can have some books to recommend to my kids.  Summer finished the book she was reading yesterday, so she started this one last night.  

This book is by Shannon Hale (Goose Girl fame).  I had a friend when I lived in Michigan named Katie.  Katie's sister is Shannon.  Katie had a copy of Goose Girl, Chapter 1 printed from her computer when I was at her house one day.  So, I read it.  At the time Shannon was a poor struggling writer trying to get her book published.  It was a few years later when she finally got it published and I got to read the rest of the book.  I have read some of her other books as well:

Enna Burning

Princess Academy

River Secrets

Austenland

So, I recommend any of these books.  They are pretty easy reading, fairy tale type stories.

rated G.

good book

This is the book that I am reading right now.  I am on about chapter 7, but I only read just a few pages each day because it is so jam packed full of good stuff.  It's typical Sheri Dew, she doesn't sugar coat anything, she just tells it like it is and tells you to get busy and get to work because you are blessed and lucky and God expects a lot of each of us.  I think when I'm done reading this I will go back and read it again and mark some of my favorite parts.  

race for the cure

there were about 18,000 people at the Gateway Saturday morning for the race.  The pink balloon arch was the starting point.  I think we walked for about 10 minutes before we went under the arch and officially started the race.  Running pretty much wasn't an option.  It was clearly a walking event.  After the first mile, it was at a slight incline and all you could see up the street was pink and white and then when we turned around behind us all we could see was pink and white. It was fun.  I guess.  The end was the best.  The route was lined with volunteers handing out bananas, oranges, water bottles, and Great Harvest Bread!  I never did see the timer at the finish line so I don't know what our time was, but I guess that it was about 1 hour and 15 minutes.  Awesome.

Happy Mother's Day

this is what happens when you magnify your calling...

our lesson today was about covenants, specifically the temple.  So, I went and got some of those long pretzel sticks and dipped them in chocolate.  The way I was going to tie it into the lesson is that life is like the pretzel.  You don't want the little ones that are tied in "knots" you want the long and straight ones--like staying on the straight and narrow path--it's sweeter that way.  OK.  Whatever, I figured the girls would like them even if it was a little corny.  Too bad the dog ate all of the chocolate dipped pretzels during the night.   

YW activity Update

Thanks for the ideas everyone.  I appreciate it.  

3 girls from our class were on the committee to plan out the details of this activity.  The girls had a daddy-daughter activity in Feb. that the miamaids were in charge of (I didn't attend because of my foot) so they didn't want to go that route again.  Also, in March, right before conference we had a "Preparing for conference" activity where we played a matching game with pictures and clues about each of the First Presidency and the 12 apostles.  It turned out perfect because we had 16 girls at that activity and there were 15 profiles that we matched up with pictures.  

so, I helped the girls look on Sugardoodle (there is a link on my sidebar) for ideas for a Priesthood Activity.  The girls said,  (moan, grown, eye roll) "We're tired of learning about the Priesthood".  So, they came up with this idea:

We kind of  tricked the class and made them think we were having ANOTHER serious discussion about the priesthood.  We started with one of the girls listing off a bunch of facts about the Aaronic Priesthood.  The beehives really weren't too thrilled, so after a few minutes of listing facts on the board,  one of the girls held up a sign that said, Celebration.  And explained that the only way they could think of too incorporate priesthood and party was to celebrate the Restoration of the Priesthood by having a cake decoration challenge.  We divided into 2 groups.  I had made cakes and frosting all day.  I had all sorts of candy and foods that they used to decorate their cakes.  The girls wanted it to be like a food network cake challenge show that I was unfamiliar with, so the committee just took over and made sure it all worked and flowed.  They did a great job.  They only had 20 minutes to decorate their cakes from start to finish.  Then the deacons came into judge the cakes and help eat.  The girls had a blast.  Their cakes had to fit the theme of the Restoration of the Priesthood.  They did a really good job of interpreting the theme with their cakes.  I forgot my camera (darn).

to learn more, look  here 

ps, I think I am going to be fired, oops, I mean released soon.  We'll see what happens...

lettuce wraps, Part II

recipe...

PF Chang lettuce wrap recipe

or this one from Cheesecake factory that Amara recommended.  well, she recommended the restaurant not the recipe.  I haven't tried the recipe or the restaurant.  but I will hopefully try both soon!!

Whenever we want to make lettuce wraps we usually just google "lettuce wraps recipe"  and tons of recipes come up.  you can add other words like spicy, thai, asian, or the name of a restaurant chain.  Some websites are more reliable for good recipes, I usually just pick a recipe for which I have all of the ingredients!!

New Favorite Food:

LETTUCE WRAPS

We've done this about once a week for the last month.  Each time we use a little bit different recipe. 

I think we could have this once a week for a whole year and never use the same exact recipe.  We prefer the Asian style, but one of these days we might branch out.  Last night we made the PF Change Recipe we found on the internet.  So YUUUUMMMM.  I have only been to PF Chang's one time because Rick got a gift card from someone at work.  Now I guess I won't have to go back because we can make our own!!  Although at PF Chang's this is an appetizer, we eat it for our meal.  The kids love it, too.  Except Cole--he just eats it without the lettuce.  I don't think that kid can go a day without eating rice. 

April Wrap-Up

It's been a few days, so I thought I'd lay out some of the details of our last couple of weeks...

let see, we went to the zoo last week.  the weather was perfect.  Hogle zoo doesn't have very many animals.  but we still had a good time.

Cole said to Summer in the car the other day while driving home from piano:

"Summer, can you make your voice stop so I can talk?"  the funny thing is how much Cole and Summer are alike.  So, now any time anyone wants to say something we just announce, "Can you make your voice stop so I can talk?"

Foot update:  i went to the dr. last week.  Yes, the peace toes are still a problem.  Not getting any better.  The only solution is surgery to shorten/lengthen the tendons which will (hopefully) keep my foot aligned and reduce the pain and swelling.  It would require a 6 week recovery including pins in my toes to keep them from moving while the tendons heal ( the dr crossed. his fingers when he said that so whatever that means.  Nothing seems to be going smoothly with this darn foot)  so, that would be limited walking, No water/swimming, no running, no hiking, no yard work, etc.  I begged to have the surgery put off for a while.  The dr. said I could postpone it as long as I wanted to as long as I do certain things to keep the swelling down and I don't injure it any further.  So, I have to wear the elastic sock thing and keep some of my activities limited.  I was hoping that I would have to limit things like housework, laundry, cooking, and cleaning--but the dr. just laughed at that.  I can walk/run and exercise, I just have to keep my toes all taped together and be careful with swelling.  (all things that I have been doing for the last 2 months)  I will probably end up having the surgery in the fall when Rick has some time off, but before the end of the year--insurance.  Yippee.

So, speaking of exercise... I signed up for the Race for the Cure in SLC next weekend.  The girls are going to do it with me so I figure we'll just be walking.  I might be praying for rain.  So, if it rains AGAIN, you can blame me.  We got our t-shirts in the mail yesterday and the girls are wearing them today.  Summer and Sierra had the most hilarious conversation yesterday.  We have been talking about the "Race for the Cure" for a few weeks now.  And I had asked the girls if they would do it with me.  Sierra sort of missed the boat and thought she was racing to a "Cure" concert.  you know, Robert Smith?  anyways, she couldn't figure out why we were racing and we why we were all wearing the same t-shirt to the concert.  Summer had to explain the whole thing to her.  I think she's disappointed.  Oh well.  We'll make it up to her when we go to the U2 concert in the fall.  I won't make her race and she can wear whatever she wants.

And speaking of races.  A friend of mine called and asked if I wanted to do a local 5k with her.  I said yes, what was I thinking.  She knows my foot situation.  As a matter of fact, she's had the same surgeries as I have. So, she knew what she was getting into.  She said we could run/walk.  (This is where I run for 3 minutes and walk for 2.  It allows me to go further and longer and it lets my foot rest a little in between the running.  Jeff Galloway said it was a good idea and he's run 100+ marathons!!)  So, we might be walking; we might be run/walking.  yeah, right.  Sadie is a foot taller than I am.  her hips end at my shoulders.  She's totally athletic.  She'll be walking and I'll be sprinting.  I went to the gym yesterday to practice the run/walk on the treadmill just to see what my pace was.  a 14 minute mile.  AWESOME.  I could run faster than that when i was 7 months pregnant.  I might be praying for snow on the 23, too!

Rick ran 20 miles again last week.  he's hoping his first race ever is a marathon.  I think it's the Utah Valley Marathon in June.

We went to Summer's debate tournament in West Valley last week.  It was interesting.  Summer and her partner did quite well--until we saw the judges sheet and then we discovered that the judges thought the exact opposite as the parents did.  Oh well.  They had fun and we were proud of them.  (I never would have dared to get up in front of people and debate at that age--I wouldn't dare at any age)     

Summer's debate coach was informed that a major speaking part in a play that she is directing has to move before the play is performed and after observing Summer debate, has asked Summer to step in and be the narrator for a play that will be performed next month.  Horray.  More practices.  That's OK, Summer is thrilled.  

Play practices.

Choir practices and performances.

Gymnastics classes.

Piano classes and recitals.

I'm ready for SUMMER to get here.

  

   

YW help request

OK, all of my smart friends.  I am in charge of a YW Activity in 2 weeks.  Our Sunday lessons for the next few weeks are about the Priesthood.  So, back in Jan. when we planned out the 6 month calendar we assigned one of our activities to be a "Priesthood Night". 

Can you think of something that the girls could do?  It can be a game, a guest speaker, an activity of any kind really.

The Beehives have really been rockin' with our activities the past few months.  everyone wants to be a Beehive.  It's so awesome.  So, I just wanted to keep up the momentum and do something really cool.  I asked a member of the bishopric who is over the YW program if he had any inspiration for us and he recommended using the Joseph Smith book (RS & Priesthood Lessons) for our resource.   

So, if you have any great ideas, send them my way.  Also, if you want to hike the "Y" on Tuesday at 5:30 let me know.

Sierra's Turn in the Spotlight

I figured it was time for Sierra's to enjoy the spotlight.  Sierra is just a good, easy kid to have around.  On the rare occasion when she and I are the only ones home, it's so easy to just forget that she's around.  She is so easy going.  She'll do anything, eat anything, wear anything.  She'll even wear unmatching socks, just so that the socks don't feel bad for not being worn because they don't have a match. Unlike her sister, she is so easy to take to the store.  Once I get her there anyway.  Summer is always begging to go shopping.  "I want this....Gimme that...Can I have.."  But, not Sierra.  She keeps her mouth shut and just wanders around, day dreaming and humming to herself.  some times I can even do her Christmas shopping when she is right there with me.  It's so easy.  I remember when  my dad died and we came to Utah.  It was a crazy, hectic time.  Stuff to be done, decisions to be made, people to talk to.  On and on.  It's the one time that I actually forgot to eat and therefore, forgot to feed my kids.  Crazy.  Anyway, I remember Sierra sitting at the counter at my mom's house with one of those mini boxes of raisins just playing with those little shriveled grapes.  She talked and laughed and played with them and every once in a while would pop a raisin in her mouth.  Afterwards we realized that she sat there at the counter for about 3 hours and never bothered another person.  I would buy raisins by the ton if I thought it would keep Cole occupied!!

My favorite thing about SIerra is that I can be doing something in the kitchen or reading in the evenings or whatever and she'll just come up and give me a hug or play with my hair or rub my back.  She snuggles pretty good at night when Rick's at work.    

Progress...

OK, so I figured that the only way to get Cole to use the potty was to fight him about it.  For about 3 days I talked to him about using the potty "tomorrow".  Well, tomorrow ended up being last Sunday morning.  I told him that it was time to use the potty.  He refused.  so, I refused to put a diaper on him.  He laid on his bedroom floor and yelled and screamed and cried for at least an hour.  I finally gave in and told him that I would put a diaper on him if he would just try to use the potty.  He was fighting me the entire time.  I'm sure the whole neighborhood could hear the commotion coming from our house.  Somehow when he got on the toilet, he managed to pee.  Only a couple of minor accidents this week.  He wants to wear a diaper most of the time, but he's always dry when I remind him to potty.  He's been dry every morning this week as well.  Now I just have to ween him from the diaper during the day.  It's amazing how successful this has been once he finally realized what to do.  

(he's going to really hate me somewhere down the line when he discovers this photo.  I was just so darn happy, I had to record the moment.)