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)

Tasty Tuesday!

Today's Tasty Tuesday is for Katie, she's been wanting me to email her this recipe.

Homemade Granola
makes 15 breakfasts

5 C. jumbo rolled oats
1 C. slivered almonds
1 C. sunflower seeds
1 tsp. cinnamon
1/4 tsp. salt
1/4 C. runny honey, change to 1 C honey if too dry
1/4 C. dried cherries
1/4 dried cranberries
1 C. barley flakes/rye flakes (optional)
1/2 C. flaxseed (optional)

1. Preheat the oven to 350 degrees. Line baking sheet with parchment paper cut to size.

2. Place the oats, almonds, sunflower seeds, and salt onto the baking sheet and place in the oven for 10 minutes to heat it up.

3. Dip your measuring cup into hot water, discard water, and measure the honey. Run the warm honey over the hot granola and give a good stir to coat honey.

4. Return pan to the oven for the final 30 minutes. Toss the ingredients halfway through their cooking time in order to cook evenly.

5. Remove from oven and add the dried berries, flaxseed, cinnamon, and the barley or rye flakes(if using). Cool well before storing or it will lose its crunch.

6. Store in an airtight container. Serve with yogurt and fruit for breakfast, or with milk.

Class of 2001, 10 years later

Wow has it already been 10 years!

It doesn't seem like it's been that long ago, but it has. I start asking myself, "what have I done in those years?" Not sure how to answer that, I can barely remember a lot of the stuff. I just remember the stuff that is really important to me, like my family. I have a wonderful husband and two very beautiful little girls.

I honestly don't know why I am writing a blog about this, it might be because I need to get some things off my chest and writing about it seems more easy then talk to to someone about it. This might end up to be a long blog (just warning you guys).

So 2001 graduated 10 years ago, and now it's time for a reunion. Well I don't know if Mountain Home is having a reunion or not, I haven't heard anything. Which my class of 2001 in MHHS didn't really make a big impact in my life. I wasn't friends with much of them maybe a handful. I always hung out with the class above me or below me. So it doesn't hurt my feelings if they don't have a reunion. I probably wouldn't even go. I also went to another school, before MHHS. I went to Rimrock jr/sr high school for 4 years. They are having a reunion (this is where I get a little emotional).
Ok, looking back I did think I would care that much about Rimrock's class of 2001 reunion, I was glad to get out of that school (and I'm still very glad that I went to MHHS). But for some reason today seeing a couple of kids I went to school with that I wasn't really even friends with got me thinking. I honestly don't like being reminded of going to school at Rimrock or even seeing people that I wasn't even friends with in my class. When they graduated with out me, I didn't even care. SO WHY AM I GETTING SO EMOTIONAL!

As I think about it I think I've know a lot of those kids since grade school. We grew up together. We might have not all got a long, but we knew each other back then. I felt like I had some really horrible times going to school at Grand View and Rimrock, but it's still part of who I am. They are the reason I went to MHHS and became a stronger person. When I went to Rimrock I would let people walk all over me, but when I left for MHHS my Junior year I got tough and was a whole new person. Oh there are times that I wished I could forget my Rimrock years but I do have some good memories too (not a whole lot). My best friend went to Rimrock and I don't think I could call any of the people I met at MHHS my best friend. After all these years she has stayed my best friend even when I was being a jerk. That's one thing I regret a lot is dissing my best friend when I went to school at Rimrock. She didn't even graduate in 2001, she was a grade above me. I do have friends in my class, but not ones I've kept in good contact with. I think that's what makes me a little upset about not going to the reunion because I wouldn't mind seeing some of my friends (I don't know if they will even be there). Oh well, I guess I don't really need a reunion to see my old friends, we have the internet now. I can just look them up on facebook (which I think most are already my friend) and see if they want to get together sometime. But I don't do that.
Any way, I am so glad I went to MHHS though. Me and my little sister got closer and hung out a lot more, I met some really cool people that I still talk to ever once and a while. And the most important this is, I met my husband at MHHS. If I never went to school there my life would have been totally different. I usually leave high school in the past, but for some reason I got emotional today. So all of you that are going to your class of 2001 reunion have fun, but I think I'm going to leave high school in the past and not worry about it. I do want to say, thank you Rimrock for being a part of who I am today. I'm so glad I don't have to do high school over again! (I don't know if this blog even makes sense, but I feel a lot better now)

Me 10 years ago~Class of 2001 (I wish I was still that skinny)

Tasty Tuesday!

I found this recipe off of a blog, it sound pretty interesting to me, but I probably wont be able to make it until next week.

Chicken Cordon Bleu Casserole

1 lb baby red potatoes, cut into 1-inch chunks
1 lb boneless skinless chicken breast cut into 1-inch cubes
2-3 broccoli crowns, cut into florets
8 oz (1/2 lb) cooked ham, cut into 1/2-inch cubes
2 C shredded Swiss cheese
1 Can (10.75 oz) cream of chicken soup
1/2 C milk
1 Tbsp dried parsley
1 garlic clove, minced
1/2 tsp black pepper

Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
In a large bowl, whisk together soup, milk, parsley, garlic, and pepper until smooth.
Add potatoes, chicken, broccoli, ham and cheese and stir to evenly coat.
Pour mixture into a 9x13 baking dish.
Bake, covered, for 50-55 minutes or until chicken is no longer pink and cheese begins to brown.

MY GOAL!

Ok, I started a goal this week and I am hoping I can stick to it.

My Goal is....(drum role please)

To lose 45 lbs in 6 months!

Do you think it can be done? I will have to to lose 7.5 lbs a month. I would like to weight at 120 lbs by November (I'm not telling you my weight, if you really want to know you can do the math and figure it out).

So this week I started going to the gym, well I've only gone 2 times this week, due to things happening. But I do feel pretty good even though my legs hurt. I ran a couple of laps the second day. Though I was going to die!!! I did it though. My by the time my six months roles by I can run 3 miles (doubt it). I really would like to stick to this goal. I just need to get ride of junk food and soda pop, but I think that's considered junk food. Any way, I did find a new love of cucumbers and ranch dressing, guess I'm going to have to buy light ranch(why even eat ranch if it's light). I also got some lettuce out of my garden yesterday and it is super good. Now I just need my carrots, peas, onions and potatoes to be ready to pick (I had broccoli, but they seemed to not want to grow, so boo on them). I would like to start getting my hot summer stuff planted, but I need to move some more boxes.
Anyway, back to losing 45lbs. I am going to do it!!! You guys will see me in November some what skinny, hopefully 45 lbs skinny. Well, that is my goal and I'm stickin' to it!

Tasty Tuesday!

Ok here is my Tasty Tuesday, it is so easy to make (Melyni even you can make this) and I don't think you can mess it up. Ok, so here it is,

3-Ingredient Pulled Pork

1 (2 lb) Pork tenderloin or pork shoulder or butt (I got a shoulder butt roast, it worked great is was also over 3 lbs so I don't think the lbs matter as long as it fits in your crock pot)
1 (12 oz) Can Root Beer (I guess any soda would work, I used the root beer)
1 (18 oz) bottle of BBQ sauce (I used bullseye)
8 hamburger buns

1. Place the pork in a slow cooker and pour the can of root beer over the meat. Cover and cook on low for 6 hours or until pork shreds easily with a fork.
2. After pork has cooked, drain and discard the root beer. Shred the pork and place it back in the slow cooker. Pour the BBQ sauce over the pork and stir to combine. Serve immediately or keep warm in slow cooker until ready to serve.

Twin Falls has hecocks!

Shelby comes running out of her room saying,

"I want to go to Twin Falls, I want to go to Twin Falls. Twin Falls has Hecocks! I want to see them! Let's see the Hecocks at Twin Falls!"

I had know idea what she was saying or where she got that idea. But finally Tyra comes out and says,

"It's Peacocks mom, and Idaho Falls has Peacocks at their Zoo."

Thanks for clearing that up Tyra. I love how Shelby hears things and then try's to pronounce them.

That silly Shelby!

I'M GOING CRAZZZZZZY!!!!

Ok, so we have been out of school for a little over a week now, and I am already going crazy. My kids have been, Mom, Mom, Mooooom! MAM! MOM! ever since school has been out. It wouldn't be so bad if the weather around here was nice and they could go outside and play or we can go to the park where I can ignore them for hours. Ok, I wouldn't ignore them completely. They need to get out an burn some energy, especially Shelby. But it's been rainy and windy and just plan nasty. Sometimes I really dislike Idaho weather. I am ready to get out of here. I might have to pack up and make a trip to Texas to get some nice weather, except it's like super hot down there. They have Shelby on Tylenol codeine and instead of making her sleepy it does the opposite, it makes her crazy hyper. I have finally stopped giving it to her and will just be giving her Ibuprofen. Maybe that will help with my sanity.

On an up note, dinner turned out great today! I made pulled pork with root beer and bbq sauce. It was really yummy, Shelby and Jeremy really liked it. We didn't get Tyra to eat it, but she doesn't eat anything. We also had corn on the cob, watermelon, and acorn squash. So I am very proud of dinner today. So that was the up for the day, because the rest of the day has been crazy. Let's hope we get some nice weather soon, I am in need of some sunshine and warm weather.