Going, Going & Gone

South Jordan Elementary School is officially gone. Knocked down, scooped up and hauled off. The spot awaits a new building, park or business. Who knows what it will be.

The city father's decided it was time for the demise of something old. We await the possibility of new and great things.

The same goes for this year, 2010. You brought us happiness by letting us experience or giving us:

Baptisms: Hunter
Moving & New homes: Jory & Sarah, Alicia and Dave & Breann & Jed
Sites Visited: Timpanogos Cave, Goblin Valley, Mystic River Seaport, Savannah, Hoover Dam's new bridge & points in between.
Firsts: Caught sharks/rays, Blue ribbons @Fair, Christmas tree hunting, Temple Volunteering, YW &/or Scout Leader, & more.
States Visited: Collectively we went to: New Jersey, Nevada, Conneticut, Florida, Georgia, Arizona, California, Montana, Idaho, Oregon, Minnesota, Utah, Texas, Wyoming & Washington and returned safely. Did I miss any?
New Jobs: Jed
Just glad to have work: Allan & Aaron
Finally Started School: Kade
Finally Potty Trained: Jacob
Played Sports: Hunter, Brayle, Noah, Kade & Jory
Hosted Guests: 50 more or less

After 365 days of 24/7 living, mostly good, some mediocre and a few bad hours thrown in for making us eat humble pie, we are ready to trade it in for a nice clean piece of 2011. Yes, new year, give us your best shot.

Proof is in the Picture

After twisting Allan's arm weekly for six straight Sunday practices of two hours each, we finally had our performance at the Salt Lake Tabernacle. Suits were required. He took the news like a white collared worker, wearing it all day and blended in nicely. You could mistake him for a real Tab Choir singer sitting in the seats looking smug and smart.

The stage was bigger than I imagined. Each seat had a vent beneath it on the floor, blowing fresh air. The organ pipes looked larger than life, and they were. The famous organ sits on a large round turn-table that rotates to whatever position needed. Facing the audience one had to sit still, not wiggle,fall alseep or goof off. Learning the many nuances of conductors and to follow them instead of the music, was a challenge.

Back stage we viewed the official office of the Tabernacle Choir, walked the halls and tried to imagine rubbing shoulders with them. It was a once in a lifetime experience, since Allan said, "Once is enough for him." Well the proof is in the picture.

Christmas Lists

Wow! It's going to be here before you all know it! Here's the low down on who has who for Christmas:

The Kids:
Jenn & Mike have Alicia & Dave
Mauri & Aaron have Breann & Jed
Alicia & Dave have Jory & Sarah
Breann & Jed have Jenn & Mike
Jory & Sarah have Mauri & Aaron

The Grandkids:
Noah & Zach give to each other
Kade & Brayle give to each other
Jacob & Sarah give to each other
Emma & Hunter give to each other

Sound Good?
Good.

Cleaner & Cleared Out

The middle garage door opener is retiring after twenty years on the job at my beck and call several times a day. Basically it broke when Dad tore into it for not closing all the way one time. How many times has that happened.

I am too cheap to buy another one, so we changed things around in the garage. The junk we didn't throw away we moved to the center bay, such as the 1930 car, lawn mower etc. I am now parking in the south spot. Take a look at the cleaned and cleared part of the garage. It may not last long.

I hope we can toss more stuff next spring to get the place ready for the big "sale". Wish us luck or see if you can help get rid of our junk.

Masterpiece Classics

Mom and dad told of their pumpkin carving (new) skills - which mom got from Martha Stewart. These are the results of our awesome carving capabilities! Check those pumpkins out! We all got together at mom and dads house last Saturday and we carved, ate pizza, and chatted a bit. We all had a good time! What do you think of our masterpieces?

Welcome to FOOTBALL!!!

Hunter joined the Grantsville Cowboys Little League football team this year. They are a strong group of young men learning the grownup sport of team work, practice makes perfect, the value of exercise and being hollered at alot.

He loved it! His dad did, too. What is it about this contact sport that gets a man's adrenaline going like no 'shopping at the mall' ever could? Is it the "Push em", 'Shove em', "Knock 'em down" football terms drilled into them they relate to or the comraderie with other guys? Maybe it's learning to 'tough up' and 'beat up' while being cheered on by your fans. Perhaps running your legs off while getting all that pent up energy expelled is it.

A woman may never know, but for some reason we let them play and try with all our might, to enjoy letting someone else teach them all those bad manners. After years of doing it, this hard work helps make them a more resilient MAN. It is impossible to get the love of it out of their system even when they should be the spectator instead of the pulverized participant. Right, Jory?

Fall Ball & Brayle

Brayle is on the Fall softball team playing girls from all over Salt Lake, Davis and Tooele counties. Every competition she is one step closer to learning the ins and outs of the game. The catchy chants shouted when their group is up to bat, is often started by Brayle. The pitchers throw a pretty wicked fast ball.

Last week when one of the players got hit in the nose, she gladly substituted in center field and caught a long fly ball to get two players out. Yeah! Keep doing the best you can because every time your team is a winner.

First Day of School

Everyone has now had their first day of school - even Jacob in preschool. Yea - only Emma and I at home 2 days a week ;)
Noah in 2nd grade has Mrs. Carlton.
Kade in all day, every day Kindergarten has Miss Elizalde and Miss Ochoa (assistant).
Jacob in presachool has Miss Cheryl.
What a dream! Is it bad to be counted down when Jacob will be in school?

Noah's Testimony

Noah has bore his testimony twice now in sacrament. He gets so excited about the idea as soon as I tell him it is coming. He is also very nervous about speaking in front of all those people so he has to write it down and then just read it from the pulpit.
This is his notes from this months testimony (with his spellings): I want to bary miy testimony. I know everybody should be kind and good. Jesus loves everybody (all written by me with his words.) and wen we er 8 we git batised. I wont to do that. In the name, amen.
All of the boys had suit jackets on and looked so handsome. I am also posting photos of all three. They were little pills about the photos!
I was also called to be in the RS pres! UGH! Scary!

Cinnamon Rolls

I just found a new cinnamon roll recipe that I just had to try. I know - you are shocked that I bake/cook. Sometimes I am too! Here it is:

Cake Mix Cinnamon Rolls
1 box yellow cake mix
5 cups bread flour (I used whole wheat flour)
4t yeast
2 1/2 cups warm water
Mix all together and knead until soft (& sticky.) Cover and let rise until double. Punch down and roll into rectangle. Cover with butter and sprinkle brown sugar, cinnamon, sugar, raisins - whatever you like. Roll and slice every 1 1/2 inches. Place on greased pan and let raise again. Bake at 375 degrees until golden brown. Very cakey and yummy with cream cheese frosting.

Time Together at Timpanogos Cave

The majority vote for our summer family outing was to climb the 1.5 mile trail to Timpanogos Cave. Many had never been to the cave or hadn't been there for almost 20 years.

Of course we're all smiles at the first tunnel barely 1000 feet into the hike. We have the fastest (Noah) and slowest (Allan) hikers pictured at the top. The cave itself cooled us down from the 90+ hot air outside. The quiet unique beauty of the natural formations with our tour guide, Mark, kept us interested to the very end. Alicia's wedding ring sparkled like a mirrored dancing ball when the lights were turned out and it was spotlighted This will definitely be hiked again in five years or so.

Pizza, fishing at Tibble Creek, Mom's homemade cinnamon rolls, slip'n sliding, and a barbeque at Jor & Sari's ended the fun day together. Start planning what you want to do next year. Breann's vote is Bear Lake. How about you?

The Shepherds and Their Sheep

We snapped a few pictures of the Crosman family minutes before their sheep, Salt and Pepper headed into the auction block of 4-H history books at noon Saturday, August 7th.

After two months of being surrogate parents to a couple of lambs along with their 4-H group, the kids learned alot. Brayle and Hunter were kept busy feeding, chasing, checking on, caring for, protecting from danger and more. With judging time hours away, the two charges were bathed and their coats sheared to a plush carpet finish.

Weighing in at 107 and 111 pounds, both animals proved their owners worth down to the last minute detail. Grossing $575 at the auction the kids has money left over after paying off their debts. Who wouldn't look forward to another year of shepherding the sheep.

First Place at the Fair

The family did well at county fairs this summer with half a dozen first place awards.
Free craft classes kept the kiddies happy all afternoon preventing them from begging us to blow $25 on the midway rides.

Brayle got blue ribbons on her sheep, Salt and Pepper at the Tooele County Fair. They won first and second place spots out of her category. A small miracle after one of them was attacked and bitten on the face by a hound dog at home. It helps to have seasoned sheep friends that know what to do in these cases. Who knew that white flour did such damage control.

Brayle looked like a natural standing in the auction ring first with Pepper, then with Salt, as the auctioneer called out the buyer bids. The arena was surrounded with families, ranchers and lookie-loos like us. Cattle, sheep and pigs marched through one gate and out the other all afternoon. That nagging voice saying "50-50, who'll give me 75" was repeated over and over. The magic sound of "SOLD" completed each animals future.

Allan entered numerous wood carvings into the Salt Lake County Fair. His maple leaf candy dish set won High Blue and was found in the coveted glass display case. His sister, Marion, received Honorable Mention for a quilt block contest. What fun to be a part of the best talent in the county. May we all have a hobby to show next year.

Sew Happy

As you may know, since I bought this new sewing machine, I've been a sewing mad-woman. I've been working on many things but one of which I am very proud are the new pillows for my couches. Mom's wanted to see them for a while, so check them out. (They look pretty professional, don't you think?)

Fast Approaching Adolescence

After a lifetime of tending, Brayle & Hunter are entering their adolecent years. It's time to do the neighborhood fun things going to the movies, park & such with friends. Fixing lunch, chores and checking in with Mom & Dad keep them happy.

They've outgrown the free entertainment I've hauled them to & it's boring. An excursion to the Museum of Natural History and Liberty Park was our latest outing.
What can I say, I'm out of ideas. Perhaps our visiting grand children will have more fun than a barrel of freebies. Maybe moving to another state will change all that. Time will tell.

Peas Picking Pot

Miraculously we planted peas at the perfect time this year out in our park strip sometime between March and April 15. Cool weather lovers, they were blooming by May 3rd. We began picking the green pods both sugar snap & sweet peas by June 12th.

They provided a healthy treat for three straight weeks both at work and home. Snack food move over for a little organic Vitamin A. I pulled the vines out on July 5th. Just in time for the neighbor's plants to start yielding. Thanks for the spring rains I rarely had to water them. They are just a pile of rabbit food now.

How are your gardens growing?

New to Us

After the search of a lifetime, I finally bought a sewing machine. I'm "sew" excited about it! It's a Pfaff expression 3.0 and I got some pretty great savings because I bought it on ebay, new rather than from the dealer. It is quite the machine though, and I feel like I have a LOT to learn. I have many projects in the works. Check out this super cute apron that I made. (It's reversible!)

Also, Jed and I have been looking for a four-wheeler for a little while. Well, we finally found the right one! We got a Honda Recon (it's a smaller 4-wheeler) for me to ride. Jed found a 1972 Honda SR-125 bike. (We'll see how that goes - I'm a bit afraid of riding bikes. I fell over on Jed's brothers bike last spring - because I can't figure out the buisness of shifting. It was a bit embarrassing!) There are a LOT of trails around Twin Falls too, so it shoud be a great weekend activity for us. After looking at these, I just can't believe how much money people will spend on a hobby like this! CRAZY! Come visit and let's go for a ride!

What's New In the Neighborhood?

After our clothes washer spewed oil all over the walls and floor, I had had it with the tempermental queen of clean. A week later we ran out of clean clothes and were forced to buy a new one.

Although we were 'just looking', the first place we stopped at resulted in our buying a front load Whirlpool Epic. The price was right. The numerous rebates helped us make the choice. It took a week before we could use it due to the 'HE' high efficiency rating. A low sudsing detergent is needed. It's pretty fun to watch it work & see how little water it uses.

Jenn needed new shoes. With summer on our heels, a fancy green designer pair suited her just fine. They will go many miles in her feet.

Dishwashers don't last forever (25 years). When the door fell off of Jenn & Mike's, they knew it was time to replace it. This new Fridgidair with all chrome interior and big family capacity, promises to keep them in clean dishes until the baby is a Young Woman. We hope!

What have you bought lately that you dare show us?