Pure Joy!

Who knew my boys would be so happy with something as simple. We made a special trip to Smith's to replace their helium balloons from the Brick Oven. The boys had a great time running down the street with the neighborhood kids chasing them punching their balloons. However, the next morning Kade wasn't prepared for the disappointing sight of his helium balloon somewhat deflated and lying on the ground. He moped around until I remembered Darryl's Mom had given us some balloon sticks. They are the sticks florist use to add balloons to a bouquet. Instantly Kade was happy and Clint didn't want his healthy helium balloon, he wanted a stick balloon like Kade.

Working Woman

Well today was the beginning of a new crazier life. My teaching certificate will expire if I don't do a few things to gain 200 professional development points. SO. . . there was an opening for a math tutor at the UVU Wasatch Campus, I applied and got the job. I'm excited to get back into teaching others math, but nervous for the fact that it's been a long time since I've done so. The last major teaching/tutoring that I've done was over a year ago. : ( I was feeling okay about it until Darryl said something to the effect of, 'I would be so nervous about loosing all that knowledge. Especially something like math, it goes so quickly.' Not Helping! He wasn't trying to make me nervous but it did. I think he felt bad about that but after today all fear will be gone and I'll just be loving teaching math again! I'm not sure how long it will take for me to get over leaving my boys that often. It's only a couple hours a day Monday through Thursday, and they'll be with my neighbor Gina (whom they absolutely adore). I guess I'm just having flashbacks of leaving Kade when he was a newborn so I could finish teaching the last month of the school year. The best thing is that I know all this worry is senseless. So give me a few weeks and I'll be over it.

One of Those Days

Well I had 'one of those days' where I probably would have been better off keeping the boys and I in pajamas and playing at home. My parents had to come up to Provo for Dr. appointments so we planned on going to lunch. My sister would be joining us with her littlest boy Porter. I wanted the boys to get a nap in before our day in Provo began. However, when I have a plan life doesn't seem to always go that way. Kade wouldn't sleep and was being so loud so Clint wouldn't sleep solid. So, the nap was a wash. I had to go fill out some paper work at the UVU Wasatch campus and the boys were so crazy because they were tired. The secretary didn't seem impressed with their behavior-- nor was I. Frazzled, but finished with the paperwork, I loaded the boys in the car and headed to Provo. Clint crying from starvation and Kade was half awake crying that his stomach hurt and he thought he'd throw up. Frazzled more we finally arrived at the Brick Oven. We made it in and the food was GREAT as was it to see my family. Kade, wasn't being so great. All manners were out the window and so again I was frazzled more. We finished our lunch and headed to our cars. Digging through my purse, "Where on earth are my keys?" In the car that's where-- locked in the car that is! I call Provo police, they won't help. I call a locksmith and 30 min. and $48 dollars later I'm in my car. I SWEAR could I become more frazzled!?. Oh, yes.
I had to get a few things at Roberts, we're shopping Kade has to go to the bathroom. Clint starts going into the men's so I say, "No Clint. That is the boys we have to go in the girls." Honestly, did I really need to say that! Kade, being very irrational due to lack of sleep, starts crying hysterically. "I don't want to be a girl!" I try to calm him and tell him mom can't go in the boys, but he isn't consoling very well. Now he couldn't go potty because he was so upset. F. .r. . a. . z. .z. . l . .e. . D! I wasn't going out of that bathroom until he had because I planned on just heading back to Heber and I wasn't going to deal with that during the drive. After what seemed like and eternity I calmed him enough that he went, but as soon as we got out of the bathroom he started again. "Don't make me a girl Mom!" Well I calmed him again saying it's over, we can't change it, and Mom couldn't go in the other room anyway. He's still pouting a little and then we hit the tunnel up Provo Canyon. I have the perfect plan to get him happy again. The boys LOVE it when I roll down the windows and honk in the tunnel. I proceed with my plan and Kade responds with a frightening cry. "Kade, what's the matter? Calm down I can't understand you. What's wrong." Kade was not throwing a fit this time. It was a terrible something is really wrong cry. He sputters out in between sobs. "That wasn't very nice of you." He's always loved it in the past?!. I say I'm sorry and the he explains more but all I caught were 3 words: My, Balloon, and Hand. Putting it all together I realize Kade's helium balloon that he'd gotten at the Brick Oven was sucked out the window when I rolled it down ripping it right out of his hands. I just wanted to go to bed and be done with this day. I told Kade I'd take him to the store and we'd get him another. I needed him happy because our day was not over. We had to go to the youth softball games that night and watch the Young Women. Thankfully we made it through the ball game, and home without another mishap. I did however forget to finish some laundry and boil some eggs that Darryl needs for his trip tomorrow. At this point I'm not frazzled I'm just too tired, I just want to sleep-- my pillow felt so wonderful.

My Kind of Cake!

Looks like an ordinary birthday cake. . .







Darryl knows me too well-- he should by now. : )
I'm not a big fan of cake so Darryl made me my kind of cake for my birthday.
How sweet is that (no pun intended).










He and the boys also gave me a great bag for grocery shopping and the greatest card. It had a great inside joke and was topped off with the perfect message from Darryl. This birthday has been the best so far.

Jenny(my friend that is doing a Biggest Looser competition among friends), I've got an idea for this weeks challenge: See how much sugar you can consume in 24 hours. I'm sure I could win that one! : )

Yummy Cake!

The boys love to make pretend birthday cakes. They top a roll of toilet paper with my wrapping ribbon, pieces of wrapping paper, or even one of their toy golf balls. They go in our spare room, create the masterpiece, and come out together singing, "Happy Birthday to you. . ." The song ends and they immediately begin coaxing, "Taste it. Taste it." So of course I pretend taste it and the whole ritual repeats a few times.
They do this all quite often but this is the first time I've thought to journal snap a quick picture and journal it.

OH Honey!

Well it is honey harvest time. Everything I touch seems to be sticky. Even as I sit here I rubbed my ear only to find a spot of stickiness. We didn't get as much honey as we expected but I'm still so amazed at what those little bees can make. We extracted honey from 18 of Darryl's frames, 18 of Rhett's frames, and 4 of Mike's frames. The process of getting the honey out of the honeycomb and getting it cleaned was an adventure. The boys were so cute. They were excited to help and loved to turn the crank on the extractor, and watch the honey pour out of the spigot. One of our friends, Chris, came to help Darryl. He's starting his own hive next year and wanted to see what he'll have to do next year. It's definitely nice to have it done. Now I'll just get to find sticky treasures all over all week. It's a good thing I just moped my floor Thursday. :{

Play Group at the Ocean

When we turned around the bend in the mountain and Deer Creek came into view Kade said, "Oh! There it is. There is the ocean!" I corrected him but the whole time we were playing there he kept referring to the water as the ocean. The kids had a great time playing in the sand and then they ventured to the water. It was a surprisingly hot day so it was nice to get wet. I was cracking up at our little friend Abby. She insisted she wear this ballerina leotard and it kept falling down and was soaked. It was too cute. I just love the funny things little kids do without a care in the world.


Kade had his jacket on with his shorts in the water. Once Tyler took his shirt off Kade decided he could loose the jacket and his shirt. Kendal and Clint were in their own happy little world.

Recipe

I had Bunco at my house last night and many people wanted me to post the recipe for them so here you go:

Veggie Tamale Casserole
A great recipe to use up a lot of zucchini! Freezes very well. You can also substitute fresh cut corn, and fresh tomatoes—even better!

2 T. oil
1 small onion chopped
3-4c. shredded zucchini my shredder makes small julienned pieces
1 can 15.2oz. corn (drained)
1 can 14.5 oz. diced tomatoes (drained)
1 can 15 oz. black beans (rinsed)
1 tsp. cumin
½ tsp. salt
13 corn tortillas (quartered)
19 oz. green enchilada sauce I like to use more so I use the 28 oz. You can use mild – hot.
1 ¼ c. cheddar cheese (grated)
½ - 1 c. chopped fresh cilantro

In a pan heat oil add onion then zucchini. Cook for 2 min. Add remaining veggies, beans, cumin, and salt. Let heat through while getting everything else ready. In 9 x 13 sprayed dish layer half of the tortillas, then half the veggie mixture, then half the enchilada sauce, then half the cheese. Repeat the layers. Cover with foil. Bake at 400 deg. for 15 min. then remove the foil and bake for another 10 min. Serve with chopped fresh cilantro on top. ENJOY!!!

Darryl's Rice (that's what I call it)
3 c. water
1 1/2 c. rice
2 T. butter
1 tsp. garlic powder
3 tsp. chicken bullion granules (or you can substitute 3 c. of chicken broth for the water and bullion)
3/4 c. frozen corn
dash of cayenne pepper

Place water, garlic powder, and bullion in a sauce pan and bring to a boil. While that is heating up place rice and butter in another pan (notice the translucent color of the rice) cook on medium heat stirring often. Once it become opaque it is done. Dump rice into boiling water, add cayenne pepper and corn. Cover, return to a boil and then reduce heat to a low simmer for about 15-20 min. or until rice is tender.

We're ready!

We're ready for winter. Let me rephrase that; Our pantry is ready for winter. I could use another month, maybe two, or even three of summer.
This week I've been staying at my parents helping get the garden canned and froze.

This was my crazy week:
Monday-- Beans
Tuesday-- Corn
Wednesday-- Salsa, and Tomato Soup
Thursday-- Beets, and Pickles

With nothing ripe left in the garden we had to stop processing. Give the tomatoes 1 more week and it will be time to make some V8. Gardens are a lot of work but it's SO nice to have them.

I have to add that one thing I regret from my youth is that I didn't realize what a great thing my mom was teaching me. Even though we helped her can throughout the summer I didn't really try to learn the art. I wish I would have. Now I'm attempting to remember everything and so it was SO great to have my mom's help. Dad and Jori helped pick the veggies and husk the corn. Thank you, thank you!

Lake Powell-- Ahh

I really think I could live playing on the beach and in the water at Lake Powell. Darryl and I were able to spend the past 6 days at Lake Powell on a company retreat. Many people ask how the company can afford to do it-- my response is they can afford to do it because they do it. The benefits are numerous. What better way to improve effective relationships with those you work with than to spend part of a week 'living' with them. The discussions and the sights give you perspective on life, and also on the company. What greater thing could a company invest in than their employees. It was just great week what more can I say! I rode the Sky Ski--(Yea!), and found a new fun toy-- tea cups! They're like a tube but in the shape of a cup and they are hooked together like a train. It is a riot! When I get pictures I'll post them!

Whatever Floats Your Boat

What do you do with over sized squash? You make boats and float them in the grandparent's pond.










What do you do when you get bored with that? You sit in the water, scoop it up and dump it on your head.










What do you do when you're drenched and freezing? You lay on the warm cement.














You've got to LOVE grandpa and grandma's house!