Wordless Wednesday: A Hair Raising Experience

(october 2011)

Heavenly Father and Halloween

Evelyn asked me today what Heavenly Father was goimg to be for Halloween.
I told herI didn't know, probably just Himself.
She very matter of factly told me, "Nu uh, He is probly gonna be a ghostes!"

Wordless Wednesday: Fashion Trend?

(august 2011)

No Jar Left Behind 2011

This years canning season is headin to a close. While I always enjoy it I am also always a little relieved to see it come to an end. Now I am ready to pull out the ol' steamer and attack the kitchen. Here is what I put up this year.

• 
  
  Blueberry Syrup


• Peaches


• Pears


• Spaghetti Sauce


• Sweet and Sour Sauce


• Tomatoes


• Peach Salsa


• Peach BBQ Sauce


• Tomato Jelly


• Autumn Cranberry Pear Jam

Peach Salsa

makes 4-5 pints

1/2 c. white vinegar

6 cups peeled, pitted and chopped peaches

1 1/4 c. chopped red onion (about 1 Large)

4 jalapeno peppers, seeded and finely chopped

1 red bell peppers, seeded and chopped

1 bunch chopped cilantro

2 T liquid honey

1 clove garlic, finely chopped

1 1/2 t ground cumin

Combine all ingredients in a large saucepan. Bring to boil over med hi heat, stirring constantly.

Reduce heat and boil gently, stirring frequently, for 5 minutes.

Remove from heat. Ladle into hot jars, leaving 1/2 inch headspace.

Wipe rim, adjust lid and ring. Process in a boiling water canner for 15 minutes. At my altitude (4500 ft) process for 25 minutes.

Photo Shoot Sunday: Grandma Hale

(october 2010)

"Those gasps of astonishment, those shrieks of pleasure, those sighs of delight, lost long ago when your children grew wise and worldly-are suddenly given back to you by your grandchildren. What seems to be the same small hands clutch yours, dragging you from one excitement to another." - Author Unknown

Cross Country

This Fall Ethan and I embarked on a new adVenture together.

He joined his first Cross Country team

and I coached my first Cross Country team.

I don't know who was more nervous!

We found out in July that the Charter school the kids attend was going to

roll out it's first ever athletics program. Seeing as we didn't have initial funds for gear

or coaches they were looking for some parent volunteers to step up.

I of course stepped up and said, "If you need some help with Cross Country or Track let me know." I figured lots of parents are runners, it will be fun to help out here and there. Well, at Back to School night I was informed that I was it, as in ONLY it, and oh yeah, practice starts in less than a week. By the way, the kids need to be ready to race in less than three weeks!
Good thing I run to alleviate stress! Because the day after school started, we were ALL running!

Because it is our first year with an athletics program all of the seasons are very short. Just to help ease us into the whole thing. We only had two meets, both with Mount Ogden, Highland and Mound Fort Jr. Highs. All of these photos were from our second meet. The first meet I was too busy getting the ropes of this coaching thing and helping the kids learn the course so I didn't lose any of them to be taking any pictures.

It was sure a lot of fun hanging with these kids. We had two other kids on the team but they weren't able to come to our second meet. They were all from 6th to 9th graders.


Of course I enjoyed running next to this kid day in and day out the most.
He did great! I really enjoyed sharing this whole experience with him. We loved hitting
Wal Mart almost every day after practice to grab a Chocolate Milk Refuel.

It was fun watching them all improve. From day one, barely being able to eek out a mile, to running 5 milers and doing hill sprints at the Weber County Fairgrounds. Some of them even got to experience their first trail run!

Ethan's race times:

September 15th at Mount Ogden Park 21:09
September 22nd at Big D Sports Park 17:56
Gotta love earning a Personal Record!
Both races were two miles long.

We are both looking forward to Track and Field in the Spring.
I am hoping the kids will
want me back next Fall for some more Cross Country action.
Gotta admit, I kinda like my new title: Coach.

Flashback Friday: Island Park October 2010

For Flashback Friday I thought I would share pictures from last October. We went up to Island Park, Idaho with my extended family. It was so fun! We loved it! We stayed at an awesome cabin. I was still recuperating from my Hysterectomy so I lounged a lot on the bed watching movies, sleeping, enjoying my family, hot chocolate and Fall! It was perfect!

There was hiking, hot tubbing, games, movies, a trek into Yellowstone, and a ton of great food!

nate, ally, julia, evelyn, ryland

nate and ronda

garrett, tyler and ethan

mom and bob

travis and heidi, nate and ronda, kim and louis, joe and shelley,

mom, travis and sarah, jen and ryan

ryland, ethan, tyler, garrett, ally
We didn't bring swimsuits for our kids so the boys hopped in in their undies,

ally just climbed in with her clothes on.

sydney, sawyer, ally and shaylen

ryland, carson, julia, ally, sydney, ethan, wyatt

ally and sawyer

On our way home we stopped in Rigby, Idaho to see my Grandma and Grandpa Burke's

old farm. It's been a few years seen we have seen the old place. It hasn't changed much. The new owners were kind enough to let us take some photos of it.

I loved that the old screen door was still on.