Trip to Utah...

Here are the photos from our trip to Utah last weekend...

This was a strange sight... it looked like he was going to take her down on the interstate. I was ready for the action with my camera... the budding journalist in me saw a story here.Darn, is that an airport? Oh, well I better keep my day job.
Jim's sis Patsy and Brett... so sweet and let us bring Taylor to their house and disrupt their dogs and the whole routine. It went way faster than we had time to really catch up.

On the way to the Temple... Ikea! I LOVE this place, I can't believe I was this close and didn't go in.

We made it to the Temple... it was so pretty, I wanted to capture the first moment, I knew it would be a memorable day ahead.


Some of the boys... I really wanted a picture with all of them together... we wanted to show Brian (the missionary) just how much taller the kids were getting over the old men.

Jim's sis Ruthie and her family... such a cute family.

Yep, he passed Uncle Clyde too.

The groom and the groom's mom and dad. Jim's sister did so well, I was so proud of her all day. I very happy occasion, but I am sure I will be bawling like a baby. I will have to remember her example, holding your composure is much more attractive... note to self!

Mom and Dad...

And all their kids and spouses in the Temple together for the very 1st time ever! (photo is missing Clyde, he was in the Temple with Marcus).

Patsy and her family... it's important to document each time and season huh... two out of the nest and Jack off to BYU in the fall.

Debbie and Pat... looking good you two!

And all the siblings together; 1st time for this in like 12 years!

Okay, that is way too long you guys!!!

These guys look like they are up to something...

Well that mischievous look must run in the family... and the boys get it down pretty young don't they.

I think he passed up Jack too...

And grandma has to get on her very tippy toes, just to get a hug.

The pretty girls, no mischief going on over here...

Speaking of mischief... after the Temple we went by the mall to kill some time before the luncheon and the girls went to See's to get chocolate... and then I found the boys here... Toyopia! So funny!

Ahhhh Chic fil a! This is my sis's favorite place... I couldn't even stop and get a sammy, it was right before the luncheon... sorry sis, you know I would have done it just for you!

The spaghetti factory! Yum!

Great food, good company... the perfect day!

Why didn't we think of the sucker earlier? I think this was the 1st time I saw this little guy slow down long enough to give Mom and Dad a break. They must be exhausted at the end of every day, he will definitely be a runner.

The girls!

We didn't get to stay for the reception. We went back to Patsy's and picked up Taylor, who had gotten sick out both ends in her kennel... so after an hour of hosing down, cleaning out and fumigating we were on the road. We went through Burley on the way home and saw Jim's grandma's old house. That was fun for him, he hadn't been there for 30 years or more. He was pretty proud he could find it again.

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I hope we don't go this long without getting to see his family again. It was soo great to be with them. And especially a beautiful wonderful day to be with Marcus and Brittany.

It's Hot Hot Hot...

You know it's hot at our house, when the teenager can't stand the heat on the golf course. Doesn't look like an end in sight just yet.

I am NOT loving this at all.

Even the dogs are hanging low.

I guess summer as arrived!

Good news... bad news...

Good News... NEW HAIR! It will be so easy to scrunch and run at girls camp!

Bad News... I forgot (haven't had a perm for over 17 years) I can't wash it for 48 hours! Ugggg!

Thanks Katie! I love it!

The love and joy of canning...

Way back, a long time ago... I was working in Seattle for a logging company and the owners girlfriend at the time was a very nice lady who grew up in Buckley, WA but spent her adult life in the mountains of Idaho.

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She was one of the "once in a lifetime" mentors for me, and taught me all kinds of things about nutrition, being frugal, saving money, playing fair, patience in motherhood (even though she has never been a mom), organizing, color coding, strength in womanhood, loving and caring for animals, hunting, respect, integrity, gardening and canning... I could go on and on and on.... we became life long friends even after I left that job.

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I remember one summer Mary Ann had me come to their house and go over some of the books and we would talk while she was picking green beans in the garden, the next day I would meet with her again to go over some more work, and she had the beans ready to go in jars and can... so I would help her (I use the term "help" very loosely, I knew NOTHING). And when I left that day, she sent me with a couple of jars of green beans.

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Jacob was about 4 years old and Jim was just as picky about his food back then and didn't eat veggies, but they both ate the green beans and LOVED them and RAVED on and on about how good they were.

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At that stage of my life, I was not interested in gardening, I knew nothing about it... but she planted a seed about canning and putting food up for the winter, that would later be nourished in and sprout into a great love for me in my life.

This week, I was able to go pick some green beans from a local garden. And from just one Walmart grocery bag I was able to get 9 quarts of green beans canned and used that yummy recipe from long long ago! I hope they taste as good, I can't wait to try them.

It has bacon bits and caramelized onion bits.... sooo yummy!

I love canning! And I really love all the joy it brings into my heart! Thanks MaryAnn, you will never know what a great blessing you have been to me over the years, and all the beautiful life lessons I have learned from you and your example!

Laughing to keep from crying...

When people ask me about why I stay home... I usually tell them that I believe as a teenager my son needs me home way more than he did even as a little toddler....

Tonight pretty much firmed any doubts in my mind, that this statement is soooo true!

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While working all these crazy hours away from home, today I actually had the mind to take out some chicken to thaw and during a quick break I figured out something I thought Jacob could throw together for dinner and if we timed it just right, it would be coming out of the oven just in time for when Jim and I got home from work.

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It looked like a good plan on paper anyway...

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The meal... chicken broccoli rice casserole.

You can make it without even having to cook the rice ahead of time... pretty simple directions in a 9x14 pan put 1 cup of rice, mix together a cup of water and a can of cream of chicken soup, pour the mixture over the rice, add cubed chicken, broccoli, top with shredded cheese and bake covered for 45min-hour on 350 degrees.

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I talked him through the directions over the phone to make sure he didn't have any questions... just one question, what do I cover it with? not too bad... he sounded good to go after that.

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When I got home, I opened the oven 4 min. before the timer went off... he forgot to cover it... I don't know what that means... but it was a small minor detail and there was no fire or anything...

From the top it even looked pretty good...

When I pulled it out, it was NOT in a casserole dish, but it was on a cookie sheet!!! WHAT???????

It was 9x14... yes I will give him that... but at not any point did it dawn on him that it was a casserole, NOT A COOKIE!!!!!

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It actually turned out, a little dry because it was pretty thin, and didn't need to cook for AN HOUR. But I am just grateful I didn't have to cook, it turned out okay, and he didn't catch the house on fire.

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But I have to say, I really had to laugh to keep from crying.... I have failed somewhere as a mother. He started to really get into cooking and loved to be in the kitchen and now it's like his brain is disconnected and I am afraid if I send him out into the world he will either starve to death or have to lie, cheat and steal to support a Taco Bell habit... either way, not good.

work, work, work and no play...

I am still working full time at one of my clients offices this week, so finding time to do laundry, clean house, fix meals, follow up on phone calls, mailing birthday cards (ahhhh!!!) buying groceries, girls camp plans, it's all pretty much falling to the side, and posting to my blog is way down on the list. But I do have some really great family pictures from the trip to Utah to post when I get back on board.

Needless to say, with Jacob holding down the fort at home... it's even crazier. He does a good job and I am grateful, but his perspective of what "clean the kitchen before you go golfing" is and mine, I am finding are quite different.

Wow! how am I ever going to learn to let go enough for him to leave for 2 years on a mission without me around to boss him? This will definitely be harder on me than it ever will be on him.

I don't know how I ever survived working away from home... 9 hours a day is torture!

And it's not just me... they pups are feeling the pain too.

They are a big mushy mess climbing all over me when I get home. I can't wait until Friday!

Marcus gets married...

Our nephew Marcus got married in the Draper Ut Temple yesterday and we made a super quick trip down to be with them.

It was fast and furious, but so worth it to be with him on their special day! Here are some quick pictures of them, and I will post more about the trip later.