Wonderfully Busy Weekend!

A common comment among people in our community it that there is NOTHING to do in Sierra Vista! Our family doesn't seem to have that problem. We ran most of the weekend.

Friday I made french bread to take to Cami's extended family birthday dinner and to use as part of a breakfast casserole for our Sunday brunch. Morgan came home from school with a PLAN. She and her friend would make two "capes" for the Senior sports trainers. It was senior recognition night at the football game. I also helped her make two 9" chocolate chip cookies to give to these girls. While waiting up for Morgan that night I made two apple pies for the Stake Family Fun Festival (FFF).

Saturday morning after my bike ride I mailed packages to Alison and Bethany (I LOVE flat rate boxes!). Then I went to the Stake Center and helped with one of our assignments for the FFF. Morgan started preping ingredients for potato salads for our family dinner that night. After Randy and I returned from our various projects and activities we joined forces with Morgan and made two potato salads, one traditional the other German. Then on to the Stake Center and the FFF!

Saturday afternoon we went to Mark and Rachel's. We played and had dinner to celebrate Cami's first birthday. My favorite part was watching Randy and Cami play. Cami was crawling around and traveled along the back side of a recliner. Randy did a little 'peek a boo' at her and she turned and went the other way. He did this with her a couple of times and then she realized that it was a game! What fun. Upon returning home from Mark's we started prepping the house for our monthly Home Teaching potluck. It was our month to host. Extend the dining room table,bring in an additional table and chairs and make Apple-sausage French Toast casserole (using some of the french bread from friday)

Sunday morning I put the casserole in the oven, along with oven roasted potatoes, Randy made punch and I made hot chocolate. Brunch was a success. I think that we have been doing Home teaching potluck for about eight years now. We have three families (at one time it was four) and each month a different family hosts. We have brunch or dinner (depending on our meeting schedule) and the father of the host family shares the Home teaching message for the month. I takes about an hour.

Enjoyed the weekend! As always there is plenty to do in Sierra Vista.

Visiting Papa and Gramma Maroney

As if there wasn't enough happening the weekend of September 25! Randy, Morgan and I traveled to Gilbert that weekend to visit with Papa and Gramma Maroney. We had a wonderful visit! (Morgan spent most of her time resting on the couch.)

BHS Homecoming Dance

September 25 Randy dropped Morgan off at Bethany's house in Tucson. The plan was for the girls to go shopping for a dress that Morgan could wear to the homecoming dance. The plan was sabotaged when a man driving beside them suddenly decided that he wanted in the space that Bethany's car occupied. The damage to the car exceeded the vehicles value. Damage to daughters is being treated by chiropractors. Morgan and Bethany never made it to the mall. Morgan had borrowed a dress from a friend in case she couldn't find a dress. The dress has a stain on the cream trim. We went to the fabric store where Morgan found a cream and black flocked fabric that she used to trim the top, make straps and a belt. She also added a black jacket.

Morgan and Sam before the dance. Morgan had a "fabulous" time.

Cooking Capers

This week I taught my daycare children the song "MY FLAG" from the Children's Songbook. Today we make graham cracker flags for dessert. The blue sprinkles left their months a blue-green. After lunch we did a tricycle ride around the block and counted American Flags. Fifteen flags on poles, and eight painted house numbers with American Flags painted on them. This months Visiting Teaching message is about Nuturing the Rising Generation. I took Cookie in a Jar mixes along with the story Cookie Sunday (The Friend, November 1989) to the sisters with children that I visit teach.

Where's the Camera?

A few weeks ago Grant and Grandpa were out working in the backyard. Grant run into the house and then back outside again. I followed him. Grant had the camera and was "taking pictures" of Grandpa. Last Friday Grant and Cami came to play while their parents were on a date. Grant climbs onto the desk chair and starts going through all the desk drawers. I asked, "Grant what do you need?" His reply, "WHERE'S THE CAMERA?" Grant has realized that when we are together, we often take pictures! I love my little guy! (Yes, Rachel he's mine too!)

Earlier Friday Grant and Cami came to our Daycare Water Day. The daycare children tired of playing in the sprinklers after about 20 minutes. Not so with Grant and Cami! They loved the water. I knew that Grant has a passion for water, but feared that Cami would panic when the water sprayed her. Not to fear, she LOVES water too and could not get enough! I was also water soaked. Probably should have put on a swimsuit.
Much to my grandchildren's dismay we brought them into the house when they started turning blue. It is Sierra Vista and was only in the upper 70's low 80's that morning. Next time we do a water day it will be in the afternoon.

Labor Day with Family

We had a wonderful Labor Day with family. Each of our children living away from home called. (That puts a smile on a mother's face.) Mid morning Grant and Cami came to play. When Grant and Papa get together there is ALWAYS water involved! Learning the fine art of water guns.
Practicing newly learned skills.

We were invited to have dinner with Mark and family. Morgan is putting the finishing touches on a Red, white and blue trifle. After our preparations for dinner we loaded up the car and drove to Carr Canyon. (It's only a 15 minute drive to the first trail) The stream runs through the trail and we always enjoy getting to play on the rocks.

We took the trail to the Carr House ruins

On the way back we got rained. Shelby was prepared!!

We cut our hike short and headed to Mark's. Rachel made Rootbeer. Grant loved playing in the dry ice steam!

Dinner was delicious. Grilled Turkey burgers, salads, chips and Rootbeer. The company was even better!!!!!

Great Saturday w/ Family

I had a great day Saturday with the family, BBQ 2 rack of ribs and made a new German potatoe salad recipe (yum) fresh squash from the garden, what a meal.

The Grandkids came over an we taught Grant how to play Mario cart on the Wii, he perfected going in circles and going the wrong way, later he wanted to use the hose and water, he was suppose to water the garden, I think the trikes and Grant got thte wetest.

Looking forward to Monday, house and yard chores and maybe hike in the mountains, then out to Mark and Rachel's for Dinner

Girls Weekend

It was a Girl's Weekend. Friday, Shelby and I headed to Bethany's for dinner.She had prepared a fabulous dinner for the three of us. Chili served in homemade bread bowls, fresh cantaloupe and sauteed spinach with garlic, almonds and a raspberry balsamic vinegar.
Next we went to Mothers house for a visit with her and Aunt Betty.

Part of our visit included attending Callie's Bridal Shower. We had a great time visiting with family. We also feasted an incredible salad bar. Dessert included:

Randi's Lemon Cake decorated with fresh roses

and a Fudge Swirl cake surrounded by Kit Kat's prepared by one of Tim's sisters.

GRUBS! :(

A couple of weeks ago I looked out the kitchen and saw that one of the tomato plants looked thirsty. A bit odd since its our rainy season. I checked the soil and it was moist. Then the pepper plants next to it also started wilting. Randy checked the soil. It was moist. He then did a little digging and found GRUBS!!!! The creepy critters are eating the roots of my garden plants. Randy did some research and ordered beneficial nematodes. Microscopic organisms that eat the grubs. Sadly it takes two weeks for them to get here.

The destruction continues. Hopefully we will be able to save the summer garden. If not, we will treat the soil and get an early start on our winter garden.

It's a good thing that we enjoy Fried Green Tomatoes!

"Life will sometimes hand you a magical moment. Savor it."

(Life's Little Instruction Book #639)

One of those magical moments for me is music. I love the sound of live music. It's is so much better than listening to music on a stereo system. Morgan knows that music calms the "savage mom" and indulges my desire of calming music. Recently I watched the remake of Ice Castles. I asked Morgan if she would learn to play some of the music from the movie if I bought it. Thankfully she said, "YES".

Morgan is currently learning/playing Ice Castles by Hamlish, Pravane by Faure (both from the movie). Hymn 22-We Listen to a Prophet's Voice for ward choir (she is an accompanist) and February Song by Ondrasik, Groban & DeVries from one of her current favorite DVD's Awake Live.

Thanks for the music Morgan, I savor every magical moment!!!!!!!!

1000 words

If a picture is worth a thousand words, then Cami's smile says it all!!!"The words could never show the you I've come to know"

Garden Play

We are truly enjoying our garden this year. Every Sunday I visit (check on) a homebound sister in our ward. The first time that I visited she asked me if I made soup. Good Soup? I responded that I did and she promptly asked if I would bring her some the next week. Sunday rolled around and I realized that I had promised to bring soup when I visited my new friend. Randy run out to the garden and pulled up a few carrots. I sauted some onion in butter, added diced carrots, simmered them in chicken stock. When the carrots were tender I pureed them in a blender and added milk. She LOVED the soup! Every Sunday I make another small batch of soup and go visiting. My friend is nearly ninety. She always tells me, "This is the best soup ever, grins, scrapes the bowl clean and licks the spoon clean! Our plum tree produced well this year. This week I made a plum pie. It was so good that I made another today! I also made jam.
A first for our garden this year is potatoes. Randy built a raised bed area and planted the potatoes.
Yesterday Randy dug up a few of the plants. The potatoes underneath were beautiful.
Last night for dinner Randy grilled chicken, summer squash (some from the garden and some from the store) and I made garden fresh buttered potatoes. What a feast!!!!!

Hey Grampa!!!

It was good to be home after a week in Alpine at YW camp. Saturday Randy spent the morning delivering items we brought back from camp, washing a very dirty Suburban and working in the yard. Around noon we hear one of our favorite voices, Hey Grampa!!!!! Mark and his family had stopped by. Grant greeted us and headed to the backyard to help grampa. The watering system was on and I knew that it wouldn't be long before it switched from the garden to the lawn and suggested that Grant put on his swimsuit. He had a wonderful time playing in the sprinklers. Cami also crawled out and got in the water for a tiny bit. Grant always seems to enjoy helping in the garden.
Grampa and Cami

Grandma and Grant

It's always a treat when Grant and Cami come to visit. Grandparenthood is delightful!

PS: It was good to get home to fresh tomatoes, jalapenos, grapes, plums, chard, basil and onions. Randy tells me the potatoes are almost ready. I like having a garden.

Stake YW Camp 2010

I was called to serve as an assistant cook at our YW Camp this year. I had a great time serving with these wonderful women. We were usually up around 4:30am and didn't get back to our cabin until around 10pm. We cooked for 130 people. We arrived at camp on Saturday afternoon and didn't leave until the next friday. In addition to lots of food prep and tons of dishes, we shared songs, stories, book reviews and LOTS OF LAUGHS!!!!!!! In addition to being a cook Randy and I were assigned to be assistant 4th level hike advisors. Morgan was a YL over 4th level. Tuesday morning after helping prepare breakfast (up at 4:30 helping crack 12 dozen plus eggs for a breakfast casserole) I was temporarily released from the kitchen to go on the 4th level overnight hike. The horses met up with us about half way through our 4.4 mile hike (stroll). Randy got to help bring the horses out to us and assist YW as they took turns riding during the remainder of the hike.

Morgan loved riding and was thrilled when she was asked to ride with the leaders who rode the horses from our camp site back to the stables!!!

At our camp were various activities for the YW to do. In addition to riding horse. Randy assisted girls with shooting bb guns and archery. I was responsible for assisting girls who wanted to do the Zipline. Randy and Brother "H" did not have a ladder when they set the line up, so it was only 9 feet off the ground. This is me trying it out.

It got a little low near the end and I had to pick up my feet in order to not touch the ground.

We had a great time. Randy supervised the dutch oven cooking while the horses were being returned to the stables. For dinner we cooked three large dutch ovens of enchiladas and two dutch ovens of cobbler. Randy also grilled squash and onions that Bro & Sis "H" brought up from their garden. While the enchiladas and cobbler were cooking the girls made ice cream in baggies. I couldn't believe that the 30 girls and leaders ate all that food! It stormed during the night, but most of us stayed dry. Wednesday after we took down camp we headed to Luna lake for canoeing and paddle boats. Then back to camp and MORE COOKING AND DISHES for me!!!!! I had a great time but as OH SO GLAD to be back home on Friday night.

Our new pet

I opened the door this evening and met our newest pet. We already have lizards, birds and bats. This is the first time we have seen a toad, although Randy mentioned that there is a toad hole in the garden. Morgan wants to name him Theodore. Randy suggested Ribbit and I think I will call him Uncle Toad! I hope Uncle Toad enjoys the Bug Feast.

Abundant Blooms!

Plants sit in my bedroom window seat. The two peace lilies are happier than they have ever been. It is a bit hard to tell from the photo but the plant on the left has five blossoms and the one on the right six!

Thank You Kathy

Kathy's Cinnamon Raisin Bread

It's Delicious!!!!

4th times a charm? or Mt. Lemmon

4th times a charm? This is my fourth attempt to do this post! Let's see if I can get it right this time.

Mt. Lemmon

The summer of 2003 Randy was on Mt. Lemmon with the scout troop. I decided to head to Mt. Lemmon with the kids for a day hike, visit Summer Haven, buy some fudge and visit "Dad". That was the week the Aspen fire started. Randy and the scouts evacuated camp and headed home earlier. The kids and I never made it up the mountain :(

Yesterday Randy and I drove up Catalina Highway to the top of Mt. Lemmon. It was a beautiful drive.

We went to Sky Valley for a ride on the lift.

The weather was cool, slightly overcast and we even got a few sprinkles. We walked around for a little bit when we got to the top. Much of the view of the top showed the damage done by the 2003 fire. I was grateful to see many small pines growing.

Beautiful view on the trip down. Many of the trees had burn marks on the trunks.

We went to Summer Haven and had pizza at the Cookie Cabin.

This is the Ice Cream Cookie. We didn't get one. I believe that it would take as least four if not more people to eat it. It starts with a plate sized cookie of your choice top with ice cream, whipped cream and chocolate sauce.

Yes, after our dinner at the Cookie Cabin, we went to the Mt. Lemmon General Store and bought Chocolate Pecan, Butter Pecan, Vanilla Walnut and Heath Toffee fudge. Yum!