YAY for INTERNET!

Ok, we now have really good internet so I might start writing on my blog. It depends if I can pull myself away from our new Xbox Kinect! That thing is AWESOME! I also have a lot of catching up to do around my house (a lot of cleaning that is). We are starting to get all organized (if you don't look in the room that will soon be our office, I think that's hopeless). We have been living in this house for almost 2 months now. We are doing really well. The area is really quiet (if you ignore the freeway). Tyra really likes her school. We still don't know our neighbors, I guess that's ok. Our yard still needs a lot of work on it, but I think we will have to wait till spring and just work on the inside stuff. We are alive and doing well. We took a nice trip up to Northern Idaho to visit with Jeremy's family for Thanksgiving. It was pretty fun, we had our stressful moments. The girls really enjoyed it. We also got to go see my brother and his family in Sandpoint Idaho. It was good to spend a day with them. We then drove down to the Tri-Cities to see Jeremy's Uncle and Aunt. They have a really nice house, I want one just like it someday. We are glad we are home. We have a lot of stuff to catch up on so this week is pretty busy. I will try to blog more though.

We have moved

I just wanted to let everyone know that we are a live and moved into our new house. We moved our animals last night. They did not like it and I think they do not like our new house. They are country animals, so the big city (well semi big) scares them I think. I will have pictures up as soon as I get a little more organized. I will also be sending out address change cards as soon as I find some I like. I'm not brave enough to make them. We are happy here, it feels like we are staying in some kind of rental house. I'm sure that will all change when we start paying the bill. Tyra likes her new school so far. It is a lot bigger then Base Primary, but it looks really nice. Her teacher seemed nice too. We are looking forward to our new adventure, and hopefully meet new people. Haven't met the neighbors yet, but that's ok. I think we are going to like it here. Words from Shelby, "I Love This House"

Road of Life

We all know that life is a road, there is always twist and turns and objects in the way. Lately our lives have been doing a lot of twists and turns. And it has now brought another big turn.

As you all probably know, we are buying a house. The closing date should be coming up soon and we will be moving next month hopefully. We haven't signed the finally papers yet. It's a big decision one we have been waiting for for a long time now. We are looking forward to owning a house. I'm not looking forward to paying for it though.

This is the house that we are hoping to live in soon! The grass isn't this nice anymore though.

Well, I guess life decided we needed some more twist and turns. We have been waiting and waiting for Jeremy to get promoted with the Guard, he's been and E5 forever it seems like. Well he just found out yesterday that he got to be promoted to and E6! Yay!!! I am so proud of him. I am so glad he finally got it. The twist is, he has been moved to MOSCOW!!! Moscow Idaho that is! So once a month, 2 weeks a year he will making that long drive to Moscow. That's a long drive! He will still have his job at MATES, so that is a good reason for us to stay here. I just think he will get sick of driving up there. So I almost wonder if it would be better to move up there. I don't want to live in Moscow though. There is a place up there where Jeremy could work, it's kind of like MATES. We will probably stay here, but I hope we come to a decision before we sign on the house. I'm sure everything will be ok, with driving back and forth. It's just a lot of driving. Once and a while maybe the girls and I will be able to go with him and see some family that is close to Moscow. Wish us luck!

The Road of Life is always changing!

Back To School

So school started on Wednesday and my body was not ready for it. With the fire on Monday and having to stay the night in Boise, and getting the rest of the school stuff on Tuesday night, no water till Thursday night, and on top of all that my allergies are driving me crazy. So I am so thankful it is Friday today. My body needs a good rest, except we got a phone call that we are to help clean the church tomorrow morning at 8. So forget about sleeping in. Maybe I'll get a nice nap tomorrow, I doubt it. I'm just hoping that the weekend doesn't go by to fast.

WE SURVIVED THE FIRST WEEK OF SCHOOL THOUGH!!!

Out of Order

I just wanted to let everyone know that we are ok. My computer is out of order at the moment do to milk and water being spilled on it. Jeremy has taken it a part and has bought me a new keyboard. So I am using my mom's iPad at the moment to let everyone know that is the reason I haven't updated my blog. Hopefully I will have new keyboard soon and be able to blog away.

I also wanted to let you know that your summer is going well, feels like it's been way to short. It has also been fun and busy. We hope you all enjoyed your summer. This is so long until I can blog again.

What's for Dinner?

Well, you have those days that what's for dinner is a ham and cheese sandwich with a side of salad and if you're lucky you'll get some strawberries a long with it.

That was our day today.

BDU, ACU Quilt

I've been wanting to make Jeremy a BDU quilt for a long time now, but just hadn't had enough BDU's and ACU's to make him a quilt. I finally was able to get enough of them and I started on making him a quilt that he can take whenever he had drill weekends or his two weeks. I think it turned out pretty good for being my first quilt. My mom helped me out a lot though, so did my sister Katie. Thanks you guys, the help was much needed.

The quilt was going to be a Father's day present for Jeremy, but it didn't get finished in time for Father's day. I worked on it during his Guard two weeks in June, hoping to be done in time for Father's day. I think cutting the squares took longer then sewing the squares together and putting everything together.


Getting the rows together, making sure I didn't mess up.


Putting the quilt with the batting and the bottom. (Jeremy actually help with this part)


The quilt all pinned and tied ready to be sewn together. (that doesn't happen until July, busy schedule)


I sewed the patches on all by myself. (they are a little crooked though)


I put pockets on the quilt so Jeremy could put his stuff in it, like his phone, keys or whatever he wants. My mom sewed the pockets on.



Finished project! (finally) We got the quilt done before Jeremy left on his 4 day Guard duty in Prairie Idaho. He was able to use his blanket. I think he likes it, but I don't think he would tell me if he didn't.

Well now that I am done with that project, onto the next one. Planning on making some quilts for my 2 little girls. Let's see how long it will take me to make those.

Tasty Tuesday!

I am hoping to make these sometime this week, along with some other goodies. I'm in a baking mood.

Lemon Coconut Squares
48 servings

1 1/2 C. Flour
1/2 C. confectioner's sugar (powder sugar)
3/4 C. cold butter or margarine
4 eggs
1 1/2 C. sugar
1/2 C. lemon juice
1 tsp. baking powder
3/4 C. flaked coconut

In a bowl, combine flour and powder sugar; cut in the butter until crumbly. Press onto the bottom of a lightly greased 13-in. x 9-in. x 2-in. baking pan. Bake at 350 degrees for 15 minutes. Meanwhile, in a mixing bowl, beat the eggs, sugar, lemon juice and baking powder until well mixed. Pour over crust; sprinkle coconut evenly over the top. Bake for 20-25 minutes or until golden brown. Cool and cut into bars.

Tasty Tuesday!

This recipe I am going to share today was really good and pretty simple. We ate it on top of garlic butter noodles. I do suggest that you buy the shrimp with out tails, kind of a pain to take the tails off while you are eating.

Caramelized Chili Shrimp
makes 12 servings

1/2 C. sugar
1 Tbsp. flour
1 tsp. salt
1 tsp. chili powder
1/8 tsp. chipotle chili powder or ground red pepper (cayenne)
1 clove garlic, finely chopped
1 lb uncooked large shrimp (21 to 30 shrimp), peeled with tails left on, deveined (I made it simple and bought the already peeled ones)
1/4 medium fresh lime ( I used lime juice from the bottle)

1. Heat oven to 500 degrees. Line a pan with foil; spray with cooking spray.
2. In resealable 1-gallon food storage plastic bag, mix all the ingredients except shrimp and lime. Add shrimp; seal bag and shake to coat with sugar mixture. Arrange shrimp with sugar mixture in single layer in pan.
3. Bake 7 to 9 minutes or until sugar is caramelized. Remove from oven. Using pancake turner, turn shrimp; squeeze juice from lime over shrimp. Place on serving platter.

Tasty Tuesday!

I'm in a cookie mood (which doesn't help my weight lose) so I think I might make these cookies.

Secret Recipe Chocolate Chip Cookies
makes 2 dozen

1/2 C. rolled oats, regular or quick
2 1/4 C. flour
1 1/2 tsp. baking soda
1/2 tsp. salt
1/4 tsp. cinnamon
1 C. butter, softened
3/4 C. brown sugar
3/4 C. sugar
2 tsp. vanilla
1 tsp. lemon juice
2 eggs
3 C. chocolate chips
1 1/2 C. chopped walnuts (optional)

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Place rolled oats in a blender or food processor and process until finely ground. Combine ground oats, flour, baking soda, salt and cinnamon in a mixing bowl.

2. In another bowl, cream butter, sugars, vanilla and lemon juice together using an electric mixer. Add eggs and beat until fluffy.

3. Stir the flour mixture, blending well. Add the chocolate chips and nuts to the dough and mix well. Using 1/4 cup of dough for each cookie, scoop round balls and place 2 1/2 inches apart on prepared baking sheets.

4. Bake until cookies are lightly browned, 16-18 minutes. Transfer to a wire rack to cool completely. Store in a sealed container to keep them soft and chewy.

4th of July

Happy Independence day!


I am so grateful for your founding four fathers so put this country together 235 years ago. I am grateful to have the rights I have today. I am proud be from the United States of America, I am proud to be an American! I am grateful for the men and women who serve or have served this country in our military. We owe a lot to them, past and present. I am so grateful for the freedom of religion, that was a very important role in us getting our independence. The freedom to worship anyway we please. I am so grateful for freedom!


The Star Spangled Banner
By Francis Scott Key 1814

Oh, say can you see by the dawn's early light
What so proudly we hailed at the twilight's last gleaming?
Whose broad stripes and bright stars thru the perilous fight,
O'er the ramparts we watched were so gallantly streaming?
And the rocket's red glare, the bombs bursting in air,
Gave proof through the night that our flag was still there.
Oh, say does that star-spangled banner yet wave
O'er the land of the free and the home of the brave?

On the shore, dimly seen through the mists of the deep,
Where the foe's haughty host in dread silence reposes,
What is that which the breeze, o'er the towering steep,
As it fitfully blows, half conceals, half discloses?
Now it catches the gleam of the morning's first beam,
In full glory reflected now shines in the stream:
'Tis the star-spangled banner! Oh long may it wave
O'er the land of the free and the home of the brave!

And where is that band who so vauntingly swore
That the havoc of war and the battle's confusion,
A home and a country should leave us no more!
Their blood has washed out their foul footsteps' pollution.
No refuge could save the hireling and slave
From the terror of flight, or the gloom of the grave:
And the star-spangled banner in triumph doth wave
O'er the land of the free and the home of the brave!

Oh! thus be it ever, when freemen shall stand
Between their loved home and the war's desolation!
Blest with victory and peace, may the heav'n rescued land
Praise the Power that hath made and preserved us a nation.
Then conquer we must, when our cause it is just,
And this be our motto: "In God is our trust."
And the star-spangled banner in triumph shall wave
O'er the land of the free and the home of the brave!


GOD BLESS THE USA

Snowman

Today at church I taught the sunbeams. I only had one little girl in my class so I let Shelby go with me. I brought some snacks which included ritz crackers, nilla waffers and marshmallows.

My lesson was pretty short so they had plenty of time for snacks. The girls started playing with their snacks. So I said,

"why don't you guys make a snowman"

Shelby says,

"with marshmallows! Mom you're a genius!"

I had to laugh. That made me feel pretty good. At least my 4 year old thinks I'm a genius. So here's to Marshmallow snowmen that have made me a genius to a 4 year old.

John Vasso's Memorial

I know not very many of you know him, I barely knew him. He passed away last Sunday and we went to his memorial today. It wasn't a big thing, it was only about a hour long with very little speakers and a song. It was very nice (I just wished my kids acted better). We heard some stories and talk about the good stuff and there was even a few laughs and nods from heads. After words there was a lunch that we stayed for. We got to talk to his wife, daughter and grandson. It was good see them. I haven't talk to his grandson Ryan in a long time. I met his wife and seen his two little kids. They are cute. I also seen a old friend that I haven't seen in a long time, Jason (I still can't remember is last name). He is a tall guy still, of course he wouldn't shrink, but I felt super short talking to him. It was nice seeing everyone.

Anyways, I don't really know John Vasso's life story, I barely know anything about them. I met his family when we moved to 3rd ward when I was probably around 15 years old. We went to school with his grandson. Then we grew up and had our lives to deal with. But when Tyra was born and was able to go trick or treating we always took her and then Shelby when Shelby came a long trick or treating over there. The Vasso family always looked forward to us showing up to trick or treat. They told us we were the only ones to trick or treat there. I was always so good to stop there and trick or treat. I always made sure we had time to do that. So this coming Halloween will be different, with the possibility of us moving this summer and then John passing away. Jeremy and I have talked about still coming down to do our trick or treating. I will feel so bad if we can't stop in there to go trick or treating. I really like the Vasso family. Ever since I knew John his health hasn't been well, he was lucky to live to see his grandson go on a mission, get married in the temple and have two beautiful children. From what I've heard, he was a great man and his family loved him very much. I barely knew John, but he will be missed.

Oh Shelby!

I love this picture of Shelby!

More Pics from the Family Reunion

Family Reunion 2011

This years family reunion we had it at Nat-Soo-Pah again. Nat-Soo-Pah is a hot spring by Hollister Idaho on the way to Jackpot Nevada. It was a lot of fun. The kids really enjoyed all the swimming they got to do. By the time we left though I was so tired of swimming. So we had a lot of fun as a family, even though we were missing some. Melyni and Alma couldn't make it because they live in England and it's a lot of money to travel back to the USA. Levi and Kadie couldn't make it because of their busy schedule, I sometimes know how that is. And Keaton left early Saturday morning to get home to go to work. It was good to spend sometime with him though.

This is what we did at our family reunion, play cards, eat food, swim, sleep in tents, read books, play on computers and played lots of horseshoes. Here are some pictures.


Winston's excited that we are having a family reunion!


Lot's of playing in the dirt.










Yep, lots of horseshoe playing.



The Poland's Tent. Yes, those are flamingos.




There was a lot of computer and video game playing.








Lot of swimming in the near by creek.









Family Pictures!
(sorry I didn't get everyone, I wished I did)