"Happy" Days

Saturday began the string of birthdays that will take place in our family for the next few months. Trevon felt like turning seventeen was really no big deal. He said that nothing of great significance happens when you turn seventeen. At 16 you can drive, and at 18 you're an adult...17 is just 17!!! Well, isn't going out to dinner with mom and dad pretty significant? I think so! Friday night we took him to the Olive Garden for dinner. He wanted to fill up on carbs as he had a cross country meet in the morning. His race went well and he improved his time by 10 seconds which made him very happy. It was a nice way to start "his" day.

 

Cameron had his first soccer game on Saturday. He is part of a team that is working towards being a great high school team one day. He really hustles on the field and will be an asset to his team. It was great to watch, though very hot out on Saturday (99 degrees)!

 

After lunch, we celebrated Trevon's birthday with an apple caramel cake and caramel carabou ice cream. Then, he opened up some presents. Among his gifts were a journal, bookmark, eagle statuette, pocket knives, and American history books. Trevon loves American history and has some strong opinions about politics. He opened cards from his grandparents and enjoyed receiving money from them too.

Monday was Elise's birthday. She had made a list for me a month ago (or more), titled "Elise's Birthday Breakfast." It read : "cornbread muffin, strawberries (in a bowl), waffle, 2 pieces of toast, orange juice, scrambled eggs." WOW!  Well, Monday morning she was awake before 7a.m. wondering where her breakfast was. She REALLY wanted to have her birthday breakfast in bed, so I had her go back to bed while I made her most of what was on the "list." She had the biggest smile on her face when I finally brought her breakfast to her!

Later that morning as she was running downstairs to get dressed, I heard her say, "I feel like a princess!"  We curled her hair and sent her to school with some frosted animal cracker cookies to share with her class.

That evening, we made taco salad for dinner and then headed over to the splash pad for some FUN!

When we returned home, Elise and Corban helped me decorate the cake (a white cake) with whipped cream and strawberries. We served it with strawberry ice cream.

Then, she opened her presents. She was happy with all she received (coloring and sticker book; crayons; bubble bath and shampoo; hair accessories; a pick up stix game; a LEGO creation; candy and crackers too), and also enjoyed opening cards from her grandparents.

Back to School Photos

I like taking pictures of the kids on the first day of school. They started school on Monday and I took these just before they left in the morning. Corban keeps me company during the day and wanted his picture taken as well!

Trevon is a senior and busy with Cross Country at the moment.

He plans on having a great [fun] year!

Sadie is at HHS with Trevon this year!

She has many challenging classes and the ability

to succeed at them as well.  

You may have noticed that Kristi straightened her hair

(just for the first day)

and she is wearing contacts instead of glasses.

Cameron is playing soccer again

and looks forward to this new school year.

Elise is wearing a necklace that her big sister,

Cari, gave to her. She LOVES her teacher

and took her an apple on the first day of school.

Corban is my BIG help at home. I made

some popcorn for him while the kids were at school.

He said to me, "I want to put the butter on, 'cause

I'm your helper...and you're my helper."

He is right about that!!!



TOMATOES!!!

Our garden has been full of tomatoes and I was beginning to feel guilty that I had not canned them or put any of them away yet. We have been busy, but Saturday proved to be the perfect day to show my girls how to blanch tomatoes (remove the skins) and preserve them. They were a BIG help. We used some of the jars Papa had given us and stewed some of our tomatoes, and then made salsa with the remainder tomatoes. It felt so good to teach my girls something new while working with them to prevent waste. I'm thankful for the crop we were given and hope that as more tomatoes grow, we "can" do our part to use them up! 

WOW! Look at all the garlic that goes into making salsa! The girls were a big help with peeling these too!

The salsa turned out GREAT! We used jalepeno peppers from our garden as well. (Now, if only we could grow our own chips! Chips and salsa are so yummy together!)

Goodbye Cari

Cari packed up her belongings and on Thursday, August 11, 2011 we moved her to her new home. She begins college next week and is both nervous and excited for all that lies ahead. We are going to miss her very much. She has four housemates, one of which she shares a room with. She knows all of them and should have a great year. One of the first things they did together was to buy fish. They have a fishbowl with four different kinds of fish swimming around together in it (seems pretty symbolic to me). 

Right after moving her, she came "home" for a visit as her roomates were gone. It is nice that she is not too far away. I think we will probably see her often enough that she won't get very homesick...and our family will have an easier time adjusting to her being away too...I THINK! We love Cari very much and are excited for the adventures she will have while attending Southern Utah University.

Our Favorite Company

Right after the Alaska trip, Papa and Grandma Beutler came for a visit (7/25-7/26). It was so good to see them. They brought us treasures as usual, including a rototiller and about 7 boxes of canning jars....both of which brought images of work to my mind! I appreciate their constant thoughtfulness and look forward to the "work" as well.

Papa and Corban decided to take a little nap together in the yard. They sang themselves to sleep...

Mike cooked up some of the fish he caught while in Alaska and Grandma Beutler made us her delicious "Apple Betty" dessert. Mmmmmm Mmmmmm GOOD!!!

We LOVE Papa and Grandma and love having them come!

Cari with Papa and Grandma:

Two weeks later, Grandma and Grandpa Ferrin came for a visit (8/8-8/10). We loved being with them too.

We played pickleball with Grandma at our city's BRAND NEW PICKLEBALL COURTS...

It was a fun way to get some good exercise! We're going to have to play this game more often.

On Tuesday we went to Zion National Park. We rode the shuttle bus through the park, stopping to have a picnic lunch. It was a beautiful day.

  That night we met Mike at Golden Corral for dinner (He had to work earlier in the day.). Then, some of us played pickleball again. We had a great time together. It was so good to have Grandpa and Grandma Ferrin visit just before our summer vacation from school ended. My mom cleaned my house the next morning before leaving. It was great! THANK YOU MOM!!! We love you Grandma and Grandpa Ferrin!