First Day of Junior High

I'm way late in posting this, but Erin started Junior High on Monday!!! She was SOOOOOO excited and had a great day! She's loved it so far! She's taking the normal - Science, Math, Language Arts, and Social Studies - and then for electives she has Band and Art. She's also very excited to be able to wear shorts to school! The sun was so bright for the picture, so she's kind of squinting. And, she was incredibly LOADED!!! They don't have lockers at her school, and she had so much in her backpack!!! I think she's narrowed it down a little, now. Then, they'll add books!

Adenoids

Laura had surgery yesterday to take out her adenoids so she can breath better. As you can see, she wasn't very excited to go.

But, she was very lucky because her daddy is very special and got to go in and observe the surgery. I'm so glad he got to go with her and be with her the whole time - I really think it helped.
Then, she woke up pretty sore and afraid to talk ( her sister mentioned that she might talk different). But, she did awesome! and she finally got that cool ride in a wheelchair!

Candy Cane Ice Cream

We had a ward party the other night, and I promised I would put this on my blog:


Candy Cane Ice Cream (aka Peppermint Ice Cream)
(I think this makes 5qt.)

3 1/8 cups milk
2 1/2 cups sugar
1 1/8 t. salt
3 1/8 cups half and half
1 3/4 t. vanilla extract
7 1/2 cups whipping cream ( I substituted half and half for about half of the cream, and it was fine)
2 1/2 cup peppermint candy (candy canes)


Scald milk until bubbles form around edge of pan. Remove from heat. Add sugar and salt. Stir until dissolved. Stir in half and half, vanilla, and whipping cream. Cover and refrigerate 30 minutes. (I don't do that part and it still works) Place peppermint candy in a plastic bag. Break into large pieces (about 1/4-in.) with a mallet or rolling pin. Stir into chilled mixture. Freeze as directed.


This is our favorite one to make!

Memories

I got this from my friends blog - it looked so fun! If you want to play along:

1. As a comment on my blog, leave one memory that you and I had together. It doesn't matter if you knew me a little or a lot, anything you remember!

2. Next, re-post these instructions on your blog and see how many people leave a memory about you. If you leave a memory about me, I'll assume you're playing the game and I'll come to your blog and leave one about you. If you don't want to play on your blog, or if you don't have a blog, I'll leave my memory of you in my comments.

Sunday Afternoon

This was our fun Sunday afternoon:

Kelcie's pictures

We finally got Kelcie's 4yr. pictures today! She's been excited to go get them done, but we've been really busy, so we finally got to it today.

Directions

O.k., I've lured some of you in.... ha, ha, ha! Here's how I make them - straight from the Betty Crocker cookbook.
Cut off the stem and an inch off the top. Rinse them out good, and put them in a pot. Mostly cover with water and add some lemon juice and quartered garlic. (depends on how many - I just through it in) Boil for about 30-40 minutes. Peel off leaves and pull off the "meat" part with your teeth. Or, you can microwave them: Prepare the same, put it a microwavable container with a lid (or use plastic wrap) with about an inch of water, some lemon juice, and some garlic, and microwave for 20 minutes. Don't forget to eat the "heart" - after you get to the little tiny leaves, pull out the hairy stuff, and then cut up the heart and eat it - best part! You can also steam them, but I don't like the texture that way.

Dipping them in Hollandaise Sauce is the best:
3 egg yolks
1 T lemon juice
1/2 cup butter/margarine

Combine egg yolks and lemon juice in saucepan, mix together. Turn on low heat and then add half the butter. Stir constantly until melted and then add the other half. Keep stirring until melted, and enjoy!

Artichokes

I had to share with you the story of the artichoke... When I was about 8 years old, our home teacher and his wife brought me an artichoke from their garden as a thank-you for some stickers I gave them (I think). I had never seen one before, and wasn't sure what to do. I tried it and wasn't too sure, so that was the end of that. Later, somehow, I decided I loved them, and when we grew them in our garden, I invited Lafe over for a date with artichokes and hollandaise sauce - YUM! We've both LOVED them ever since and have gotten away with having them as a special treat just for the two of us because the kids were afraid of them. Then, Laura came along and decided to try it - and loved it - darn! So, then the other kids decided to try it - and loved it - DARN! So, now instead of buying 2, I have to buy 8 and Lafe had to give me a pot big enough to cook them! Since they were on sale at Sprouts this week, we had the special treat of artichokes for dinner tonight. All of us but Kelcie (it's the age, I think) loves them - even Talin loved his first experience. In case you didn't think our family was weird yet, here's something to hold against us - we love artichokes!!! (and spinach, and asparagus, and...)

It's Lafe's Birthday!

Today is Lafe's birthday, and because we just came back in town he doesn't get his presents yet AND he has to work today - I don't think he was too thrilled this morning. Lafe loves his job (yeah!), loves his kids (awesome Dad - the BEST!), and loves to read (sometimes to my dismay). He is the BEST husband and father, very caring and always making sure his kids are learning and making memories. I think his favorite things are Star Wars, Harry Potter, and Avatar -see? kid at heart. He was born the 7th of 8 children, came out upside down and blue, and has quirky nerves so that one thumb moves when the other does even without him knowing. He's also incredibly dedicated to the Gospel, whatever calling he has, and his family. I'm grateful for his strong testimony and his love for his wife and kids.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY, LAFE!!!

Avatar!

Yes, we're hooked - and we're so excited for the final episodes and Finale next week for Avatar, the Last Airbender! We gave the first season to Ethan for his birthday last year, and we ALL love watching them. We've seen the first, second, and all of the third that has been released. How rare it is to find a show that the WHOLE family likes and can enjoy together. Can't wait - 11 days and counting (finale)!

Reunions!

Tis the season for Family Reunions!!! We're back, after living in a trailer for a week and a half! First, we drove to Cedar City for my Allan Family Reunion. It was so fun to see cousins and their families and get to know them again. Then we drove down to Strawberry, AZ to Lafe's parents' cabin to hang out until the next reunion - LeBaron Family Reunion. The kids had a BLAST just constantly running around outside in the woods and playing with cousins. We wouldn't see them for hours on end! Talin, however, was a little more difficult - CONSTANT supervision, which gets a little tiring. But, he loved it, too. I even learned how to crochet while I was there - I mad a hot-pad - woo-hoo! I was pretty excited when I could make something right away. The reunion there was a great time, too. Most everyone there lives here in the Valley, but it's still fun to get to know them. We had to do "Wayne's Breakfast", of course - cooked on a #10 can. We made the funniest videos for each family - I'll have to get ours' and post it. They made marshmallow guns and had a "war". It was pretty funny to watch - somebody started to idea of putting them in their mouth and then blowing them out - GROSS!!! And, then they stuck! YUCK! There was a drawing at the end, and each of the kids' won something, except Talin and Erin, and we were feeling all bad for Erin until the very end and she won the Mystery Bag - LOADED! She carried it around for the rest of the afternoon - no joke! We got a few really great rain storms - AWESOME! We got hail two days in a row and looked like it had snowed. We were so lucky this year that storms blew in each day and kept it relatively cool. Fun time - glad to be home.

Swim Team

We had three in swim team this year - Ethan, Jamie, and Laura!

Laura qualified for every relay this year! And, tonight, their relay won first place in butterfly!!! She was very excited to win her first "first place" ribbon! They miss their last meet next week, which is their favorite - breast stroke - because we have to go out of town. But, they sure did great this year - I can't believe they do it!!!

Dive Team

Ethan did Dive Team this summer, and I finally remembered my camera last night and this morning to get some pictures. It was his first year and I think he did really well. I think his best (and favorite, I think) is the back dive. He also faced some fear and accomplished the high dive - jump and dive - woohoo! His neat one last night was a forward somersault, but, of course, my camera won't snap that fast so I didn't catch it last night and all I caught this morning was the splash. Good Job, Ethan!

Well Checks

O.k., yesterday I took Kelcie and Talin in for well-checks, and I just had to share their stats:

Talin: 15 mo.; 26lb. 14oz. (80%); 34 1/4 in. (97%)

Kelcie: 4 yr.; 29 1/2 lb. (8%); 38 1/4 in. (15%)

Could they be more extreme on the scale? People are going to wonder if they're twins pretty soon, and they're 3 years apart!!! Funny. My baby boy is going to be my tall one, I think :)

Summer Orchestra

As one of the Summer activities, Jamie started playing the Viola in Summer Orchestra! She's wanted to play strings since she was 5 and she's finally old enough to take at school! I think she enjoyed it and today was their little "concert". She's done well and I hope she continues to enjoy it - Good Job, Jamie!

Ethan's Birthday!

Today is Ethan's Birthday - 11 years old!!!!!!!!!!! Wow, can you believe that? He's so excited because he knows that Grandma gives a sleeping bag for the 11th birthday! Ethan is such a great kid! He loves playing the alto sax, the Wii, reading, and anything on the computer. He is so thoughtful and really smart. He tries hard at everything he does, and has decided this year to be Mr. Positive - it's wonderful! Of course, this also means he goes in to the New Boy Scouts - I can't believe my little boy is in a Scout Uniform!

Happy Birthday, Ethan!!!

I'm a Princess?

You Are Cinderella!

Dignified and hard working. With a gentle and soft-spoken manner you have something many people don't. Patience. Even through the moments of heartbreak you're still able to hold onto all of your hopes and dreams. Bide your time; your dream will come true.

Which Disney Princess Are You?">

My sister-in-law had this one her blog, and I couldn't help but be curious!

Fit City - Month 5

It's that time again - Fit City Challenge! This month they partnered with Cartoon Network and had a bunch of activities out at a Recreation Center. We had a lot of fun as a family - the kids were most excited about the Rock Wall, and they all did great! Ethan made it to the top for his first time ever, and then came down still shaking :) They all did really well.

San Diego

So, we took off for San Diego! We left Saturday afternoon, and camped in our trailer at the KOA in southern San Diego (almost to Mexico). Sunday, we found a Sacrament Meeting that was really good, and then we went to visit the San Diego Temple, La Jolla Beaches, and the Mormon Battalion.

I caught this sweet picture of Ethan and Laura holding hands - I can't believe I caught it and I didn't tell them.

Monday, we took the ferry over to Coronado Island for fun, and then went to Imperial Beach for the afternoon. It was cold, but we still had fun. Talin was so funny - I took him into the waves, and when the first wave hit him he started to cry and by the time it left he was laughing! He laughed and laughed at those waves! The kids loved burying themselves. Tuesday we decided to try a different (cleaner) beach and we drove over to Coronado (apparently not really an island :) ), and we LOVED their beach! So clean and we had a blast. Then, Lafe wanted to take the bridge back over (YIKES!) - I'm NEVER doing that again - as I've mentioned in a previous post, I have a strange fear of driving over bridges!!! And, there was NO shoulder, and we were driving in the far right lane so we could "see" - AHHHHHHHHH! I was seriously SO SCARED! Never again. Anyways, we had a great time - very, very, very tiring for the parents - now we need a vacation! The kids found some snails while we were loading up the trailer, and Ethan was very creative. Now, on to summer activities!