Fourth of July

The fourth of July included driving up to Logan the night before.  We were able to go to the town's Fireworks show at the USU stadium.  While the events leading up to the fireworks were somewhat disappointing, the fireworks were amazing and lasted forever!  

The next morning we drove up to the North Odgen parade to see our cousins.  Fun times with family.

Our Pet Quail

One day this summer, the neighborhood kids found a baby quail that appeared to have been abandoned and hurt.  So the kids found a box, filled it will leaves, strawberries, sticks, a water dish, a plate of birdseed, and named the bird, "Limps." However, the bird didn't thrive, and it was left up to me (for some reason) to help this bird.  I made several calls to vets in the area and was told the only place we could take the bird was to a wildlife station near Ogden. 

And since I was not going to drive to Ogden, we called Grandpa Bond for some advise.  For as long as I can remember, he has always been the go-to person with an abandoned animal question..... And he told the girls what we had thought all along..... if the bird didn't get better and fly away, the bird would probably die.  

So, sadly after a day of watching and over-mothering the bird, the bird finally passed on.  A nice grave was prepared in the neighbor's backyard, and the girls were able to learn a valuable lesson about death and create great memories. 

I think right now, there is a container of grass-hoppers on my front porch.  On to the next adventure!

We are Gardners (Kind of)

When we bought our home, we were lucky enough to get a spot of land in the backyard for a garden.  The previous owners had had a very successful garden the previous summer, but because we bought the home right at the end of spring, no gardening (or clean-up from the previous year) had been done.  The spot was left with old corn husks, weeds, and old sprinkler pipes.  

Thanks to my parents and Brandon's parents, we finally were able to put in a few vegetables this year.  My dad cleaned out most of the old plants, and Brandon's parents actually bought a small rototiller that we could carry down into our backyard (our backyard is tiered into three sections by large boulders... not ideal).  His parents were in town one evening and we accomplished planting several tomato plants, a watermelon, zucchini, cucumber, and basil.

While it looks like slugs are enjoying the plants right now (beware, slug killer is on the way), we are excited to see if we can actually grow something this summer!

Crazy Weather

Most of June included sunny days with stormy nights.  Here was a fantastic, beautiful storm that passed through our neighborhood one evening:

There is no way that the pictures give it justice.  

Summer Activities

So far this summer, the girls have had fun playing with our new neighbors.  I would have to say that has been the highlight.  We have really moved to a wonderful neighborhood with kids all around.  And the kids are all great!  The hardest part for me is having the kids come in and out of the house all day.  I seriously have this flashback memory of my Mom saying the exact same words to me when I was little, "Shut the door!" of "Don't leave the door open, all of the hot air is coming inside!"  Also, I think this goes hand-in-hand, "Shut the refrigerator door, all of the cold air is escaping!"  Yes, in some ways I have turned into my mother.

We have a new family that moved into our cul-de-sac about a month after we moved here.  They just moved from Missouri where they finished their "Ear, Nose, & Throat" Residency.  So they are in a very similar situation to us.  They have four girls from 8yrs old to a 1 yr old.  More girls for my girls to have fun with!  

We have made weekly trips to the library for reading time, we have gone to a few matinee movies, purchased two water sprinklers for the girls to run through, and have had plenty of "Snow shack" ices.  I even splurged and bought our own small ice shaver to make our own.  It has been fun to have on hot days!

While the girls and I have been home playing or "cleaning house,"  Brandon has been hard at work.  His schedule has been just as long as ever.  It hasn't let up very much.  Therefore, we have not gone on a true summer vacation yet.  While he enjoys the surgeries; it is the paperwork, pre-operation and post-operation care is what takes most of his time.  He is working very hard for our family to enjoy our new life.

Brandon was able to get tickets to the Salt Lake Bees baseball team a few weeks ago. The girls had fun eating cotton candy and watching the mascot, Bumble.  

I am now three months away from having a baby.... and have to admit I'm not enjoying being pregnant.  I never have.  BUT I hope to have a beautiful healthy baby soon, so this will be worth it.  I feel very large!

Good news

Good news!  We closed on our new house yesterday, and I got the keys TODAY.  Now I need to decide about whether or not to replace the carpet.  And how much of the home do I need to reclean.... to really make sure they did a CLEAN job?  I know.  I will have to reclean.  This is my first wiff of how big this house is compared to where we have been recently.  BUT I'm NOT complaining.  Oh, there is so much to do.  Furniture to buy....  I wish I had an interior designer degree.  Pictures to come.

And I'll try to blog more often, I promise.

Happy Valentines Day

On Thursday, I was responsible for a service project at Lauren's elementary school.   I was responsible for the project for the first graders.  It was decided back in November that the 65 first graders would decorate valentine cards for the residents at an area retirement home.  My grandma is actually living at this particular facility, so I was more than willing to organize and help out!

During the months following November, we held monthly meetings ensuring that all necessary planning was taking place.  I had to write letters to the teachers and parents explaining the service project, ask for donations, and purchase the supplies.  I then had to organize the supplies so that the six and seven year olds could quickly complete a "meaningful" Valentine in the 15 minutes allotted for the project.  I have to admit that I am SOOOOO tired of seeing Valentine hearts and pink and red paper.  

Thursday came and went!  We had a great day.  I had three groups of approx 22 kids at different times during the day.  And I definitely learned through the process.  The most important lesson that I learned was:  Do not give first graders free-reign over the glitter glue.  By the third group, the glitter glue was securely packed away in my supply bag.  They didn't even know what they were missing. 

Another important lesson that I learned, was that when explaining to the kids about what the service project was about, I should have only given them a brief explanation.  I can't decide if mentioning that the Valentines where going to older people at a retirement home was necessary.  You would definitely think so..... but.... here was an example that made me think twice.   

I actually saved this valentine for the director of the retirement home.  He loved it.

First graders are the best!  They are so honest and they "say it the way it is!"

Here are a few fun examples:

Interpretation:  "Happy Valentines Some One.  Be My Valentine.  Cutie Patutie."

Interpretation (the second line is hard to read):  "Be My Valentine.  If you were my mom or dad or Grandma or Grandpa, you would be perfect."  

Lauren and her friend Kate helped deliver the cards yesterday during lunch.  The residents seemed genuinely happy to receive the valentines.   

Guacamole

Yummy! Thanks Paul and Jordan for sharing this recipe. B made it over Christmas at the Bonds and then I made it over New Years for the Ferneys. It's a great party treat..... or just because.

1/3 cup white onions, finely chopped

5 cloves garlic, minced

1 teaspoon coarse salt

2 pounds ripe California avocados (about 4 large)

2 to 3 tablespoons fresh lime juice

3/4 cup pear, peeled and finely diced

3/4 cup seedless grapes, halved

3/4 cup pomegranate seeds

Special equipment: molcajete y tojolote (mexican mortar and pestle) or food processor

In a molcajete or food processor, grind onion, garlic, and salt into a rough paste. Gradually add the avocado, coarsely mashing it (you'll want it to be chunky). Stir in the lemon juice. Fold in the pear, grapes, and 1/2 cup of the pomegranate seeds. Sprinkle remaining 1/4 cup pomegranate seeds over the guacamole and serve.

Makes 8 servings.

That's a "Wrap"

Christmas and New Years are over, and boy were they busy!  We had recitals, shopping, sing-a-longs, shopping, family to visit, and shopping to do!

Lauren had her first piano recital.  We got all dressed up and drove out to her piano teacher's parents home in Sandy.  She played "Away in a Manger," with no mistakes.  Hurray!  Her piano teacher has about 12 students that are all in the beginning stage, so the recital was over before we knew it.  It was a fun night.  I remembered back to my recitals and how scared I always was to play in front of people.  I guess Lauren didn't inherit the "nervous" gene because she wasn't scared at all.  In fact, I think she loved performing.

Lauren's school also had a sing-a-long.  The parents filled the multi-purpose room to the brim to get a chance to see their kids sing familiar Christmas songs.  It was fun to hear familiar holiday tunes.... unlike last year while we were in Boston.  The school Lauren attended and the community in general where we lived was predominately Jewish.  So there were no "Away in a Manger" performances there.  This year, one of the songs the kids sang was "Up on the House Top."  Someone added a verse with "Go Utes!" in the Chorus.  Of course that entertained the parents.... there is ALWAYS a Utah vs. BYU jab even in the most unlikely places (like a first grade sing-a-long for example). 

I was also happy to attend Elle's sing-a-long at her preschool during December.  She really did such a cute job.  I rarely see the kids or parents at this preschool since the teachers pick up the kids from our cars (love it!), so it was nice to mingle with Elle's friends (the boy on the bottom left is Elle's very good friend Trenton who I hear about all the time from Elle.   Trenton's mom say they play dinosaurs together at school).  After the kids finished singing Santa came to visit. Elle loved Santa this year.... so she was overwhelmed.  

For Christmas we travelled to Rexburg to spend time with my parents.  We also got to see my brothers Mike and Scott and sister Kristen... and their families.  For Christmas Eve we had 23 family members.  It was a crowded house but fun to be able to spend the best holiday of the year at home doing the things I did growing up.  However, one not so fun thing happened.... my Mom woke up Christmas Eve with the flu.  So not only did we miss having her around, but Kristen, Mike's wife Melissa and I spent the day cooking for the night's party.  Mom is an excellent cook, so it was very intimidating knowing that we had to make her recipes.  It all turned out delicious though.  Even Kristen's version of Mom's Christmas salad tasted great (ha ha!)

But I have to mention that of all the food we cooked that day, the favorite dish was made by Brandon.  We got the BEST recipe for a guacamole dip (from his bro in San Fran... thanks Paul) and decided to mix it up on Christmas Eve for the crowd.  The best.... with pears, grapes, and pomegranate seeds and all.  Seriously.

While the cooks were cooking and the men were (I'm not sure what they were doing).... the cousins were having a great time playing together.  Lauren and Kylie are showing off their newly painted nails.  
Cute Morgan played with Elle all day.

Parker and Carson played outside making a snow fort... and Ian watched from inside.  

Christmas Eve included subs from Subway (it's a funny tradition, but its a tradition!) salads, dips, and treats.  We listened to the story of Christ's birth, played the White Elephant game, listened to a long-family tradition of "The Littlest Angel," and got ready for Santa's visit.  The kids wrote notes to Santa and left him a plate of goodies.  

Christmas morning came.  Santa found the kids even though they weren't at their usual homes.  Thank goodness!  Lauren was ecstatic over the American Girl doll she received from Santa.  She kept saying over and over how surprised that Santa gave her the doll AND all of the extra things.   The extra things included clothes, books, and hair accessories.  Man, Santa is so good! 

Many of you have seen this pic, but Elle was also happy with the dolls she received from Santa.  She got the American Girl Bitty Twins.  I love this picture Brandon took Christmas morning.

My cute family Christmas morning......

The weather in Rexburg during our stay was typical "Rexburg" winter weather.  It was COLD with A LOT of SNOW and WIND.   My Dad spent literally hours outside with the snow blower.

We made it back to Salt Lake before another storm was supposed to hit.  However, the flu made its way to me.  Fun times!

Christmas has been packed away, and the kids are back in school.  Back to the routine.

Jesus Wants Me for a Sunbeam

Today was a big day in Elle's three-year-old life.  She was finally promoted to Primary!  She is now a Sunbeam!  AND she is out of Nursery!  She was super excited.  

We were all able to welcome her to Primary since Brandon & I are Valiant 9 teachers and Lauren is in the CTR 7 class.  We just know she is going to thrive... no more baby toys!