we are the blair family

Our Fourth is Four

2011-10-16T14:33:00.002-06:00

5,475

2011-09-16T21:06:00.001-06:00

on wednesday, gene and i celebrated 15 years of marriage.

this weekend we're sneaking away for a little time together!
did you know there are 5,475 days in 15 years?

More Frozen Peaches

2011-09-01T17:15:00.001-06:00

(it is peach season around these parts. this is the second method for freezing peaches that i've done this year. the pictures are from last year. the first method is this one.)

Deon's Frozen Peaches Recipe

2 quarts peeled/skinned and diced peaches

1 cup sugar

3 teaspoons fruit fresh

1. place all the ingredients into a bowl

2. stir and mix them all up

3. divide the batch in half and place in two labeled quart freezer bags

4. press flat and lay in your freezer to freeze

Our Second is Ten

2011-08-20T18:56:00.001-06:00

Salad Bar

2011-05-14T16:14:00.000-06:00

salad bar for dinner is fun.
when the spinach and most of the lettuce comes from our own garden, it's even more fun!

and all but one tomato plant and one pepper plant survived. yippee! (take a peek.)

Pillow Nest

2011-04-27T15:33:00.000-06:00

gather all the pillows and cushions you can find and carry.

arrange them just so.

climb.

sit.

crawl.

oh, the joys of being three and one.

Our Middle is Seven

2011-04-21T23:35:00.000-06:00

April Snow

2011-04-08T11:54:00.001-06:00

snow.

i hope my over-anxiousness in planting the tomatoes and peppers doesn't prove fatal.

Our oldest is Twelve

2011-03-28T07:48:00.003-06:00

Our baby is One

2011-03-25T16:46:00.000-06:00

a quick visit

2011-03-16T23:54:00.000-06:00

it's spring break. we just got back from visiting my sister. and now what to do here for the rest of it...lots of outside time, i think. especially in the garden!

This Moment

2011-03-10T07:43:00.003-07:00

Planting Time

2011-03-01T16:29:00.005-07:00

planting times for hurricane valley courtesy of alison from alisorganics.com

FEBRUARY 15 - MARCH 15
radish
cabbage (plants)
kohlrabi (plants)
onions
peas
spinach
turnip
swiss chard

MARCH 1 - MARCH 15
carrots
cauliflower (plants)
endive
lettuce
parsnips
potato
beets

MARCH 25 - APRIL 1
bush beans
corn
cucumber
spinach

APRIL 10 - MAY 1
corn
cucumber
cantaloupe and melons
winter squash
summer squash
tomato (plants)
pepper (plants)
pole beans

JULY 15 - AUGUST 1 (FALL HARVEST)
beets
cabbage
carrots
corn
cucumbers
lettuce
onions
pole beans
spinach
turnips

LAST SPRING FROST - APRIL 15

FIRST FALL FROST - OCTOBER 20

i just wanted to get this out before it's too late...especially for new and beginning gardeners.
happy planting!

2011-02-27T16:32:00.001-07:00

it would appear that i have some updating to do...

i may just have to take a trip back in time before i get to anything current. i haven't decided yet.

Gingersnap Cookies

2010-12-24T23:34:00.053-07:00

we love to make gingersnap cookies this time of year.

and the house smells so delicious!

the recipe: ( i always seem to make these a little different every time, but here goes...)

1 cup packed brown sugar
3/4 cup shortening or oil
1/4 cup molasses
1 egg
1/2 teaspoon groundcloves
2 1/4 cups flour
2 teaspoons baking soda
1 teaspoon cinnamon
1 teaspoon ground ginger
1/4 teaspoon salt
small amount of white granulated sugar

Mix brown sugar, shortening, molasses, and egg in a bowl. Stir in flour, baking soda, ginger, cinnamon, cloves and salt. Form into a ball. Cover and refrigerate at least 1 hour.

Heat oven to 375 degrees. Grease cookie sheets lightly. Remove dough from the fridge and form into small balls about 1-2 inches. Dip the tops in white granulated sugar. Place on cookie sheets.
Bake 10-12 minutes. (makes 4 dozen)

(it's funny to me writing down recipes from my paper. there are always little nuances that aren't included. like the fact that i use a spoon to mix and stir everything up instead of an electric mixer. to me it makes a difference. or the fact that after i take the cookies out of the oven, i drop the cookie sheet on top of the stove or counter to flatten them out. is this the same for you? do you have little "tricks" you do when baking and cooking?)

HAPPY HOLIDAYS!

The Raging Virgin

2010-12-21T21:14:00.002-07:00

this is our view of the virgin river.

she is raging.

Two Dances

2010-12-19T22:13:00.002-07:00

the first dance is zoe's. she's in the back for the beginning, but then moves up to the front around the middle of the dance.

the gingersnaps

the second is aryn's dance. it's a long one.

the dance of the flowers

Nutcracker 2010

2010-12-18T23:51:00.000-07:00

the girls performed in The Nutcracker again this year.
i love to watch them dance.

Our Home Now

2010-12-14T09:50:00.001-07:00

i've been called a tease...so i'm finally posting some "after" pictures of the casa. (remember the before?)

we moved back into our home just before thanksgiving. honestly, it was good to be home, but it didn't feel like the home i was used to.

now that we've been here a little while, it's starting to feel like our home again. there are still a few things to be finished and we haven't moved into all the spaces yet, but we are making plans for them.

two of my favorites:

downstairs: we moved the fireplace to another wall and put a window in its place. this opened the entire room up and now we can see the whole backyard. we changed the color to a happy yellow called pale moon (benjamin moore).

upstairs: the family room. this space is especially appreciated when i am making dinner and everyone else is playing upstairs. and i love the color we used. it's called lively yellow (sherwin williams), but it's definitely more of a chartreuse green.

p.s. don't these pictures make it look like i keep a spotless house? well, you would be wrong to assume that. this home is certainly lived in by 7 people.
(this post is dedicated to you, mubeen. hehehe)

Calico Chili

2010-12-08T12:56:00.002-07:00

this past summer aryn took a cooking class from Nicole. she learned all sorts of valuable skills and brought home dinner for the family every tuesday. (what a wonderful relief for me.)

she loved the class. she felt like a chef. we decided to keep tuesday night as this amazing girl's night to cook. even while we stayed at my mom and dad's house, she cooked.

when i was her age, i never really learned how to cook meals. i am so happy that she is learning. it's a sure sign that my not.so.little girl is growing.

wonder what she cooked for us last night?

it's a recipe from Misti. you're gonna love it. shhh! it's a secret!

Here's the chili recipe:

1 lb hamburger (brown it of course)

1 or 2 cans chili beans

1 or 2 cans pork 'n beans

1 can stewed tomatoes (or go the extra mile and put a pint of bottled tomatoes instead)

1 pint salsa (the real recipe calls for half a bottle of picante sauce but I like my (that would be misti) salsa better)

chili powder to taste

1 tsp. sugar

Morse Code

2010-12-01T15:20:00.000-07:00

.--/. .-/.-./. -.../.-/-.-./-.- ../-. ..../-.-/..-/.../.

-./ --- ../-./-/./.-./-././- -.--/./-

.--/---/.../- .../---/---/-.

for a translating help, go here.

just kidding.

we are back in house
no internet yet
will post soon

A(nother) Haircut

2010-11-10T12:15:00.002-07:00

this morning on the way home from taking the kids to school, the above pictured boy told me he wanted a haircut. again.

..."so that people can see my eyes." (and maybe so that he can see their eyes, as well?)

yep. today was the morning for that very haircut...

remember the last time i cut this boy's hair?

well, i have learned a few things since then. namely, haircutting tips viewed at an enrichment night months ago. and an upgrade in scissors... from green kid scissors to red craft scissors. oh yeah.

after quite a few snips, drinks, door interruptions, buzzes, and "hold stills" this is the result:

oh, how i love those beautiful eyes!

p.s. maybe haircutting scissors should be on my christmas list. and i do still need LOTS of practice. especially on the back. and it does sort of look bowl-ish...baby steps, people, baby steps.

2010-10-30T16:23:00.004-06:00

The Hunt

2010-10-28T13:33:00.000-06:00

{all pictures by my daddy-o: the grandpa}

isaac got to go hunting with his grandpa this year.

they didn't get a deer.

he did bring home some antlers. he's pretty happy about that.

Our Pig

2010-10-25T07:40:00.000-06:00

meet our pig. he's the black one with the pink feet.

last sunday my grandpa asked us if we wanted a pig. we said yes.
we haven't come to a consensus on the name, so i don't know what to tell you. i, for one, like pig.

i'd just rather not turn him into too much of a pet. i'm thinking that won't be too difficult, since he will be staying at my grandpa's.

This Moment

2010-10-22T07:14:00.000-06:00

Blair Home Addition

2010-10-20T07:09:00.010-06:00

since we last met...

Green Beans

2010-10-18T21:11:00.008-06:00

Let me tell you a story...

Once upon a time there was a girl that loved to garden. She loved the planning, and the planting. The watching and the waiting.

But one year, the girl didn't grow a garden.

In the beginning, there were too many things happening all at once, and it just didn't seem quite possible. Then the spring came and went. And then the summer came and went too. And then the fall came.

The girl was sad. She missed her garden.

Luckily for her, she had a grandpa. A grandpa that loved to garden. Every year. Without fail.

This grandpa also loved to share. And so the girl was blessed.

(not) The End

This recipe is from a girl in my ward that was kind enough to share it with me. Her husband, our bugman, raves about these green beans. So I thought I'd better give them a try. My grandpa has more beans coming on, so I will most likely be bottling more later this week. Next time I'm doing pints.

Angelene's Green Bean Recipe

1. place washed green beans into quart jars

2. sprinkle 1 tsp. sugar then 1 tsp. salt

3. fill jars with water

4. put lids on jars

5. place jars in pressure cooker with appropriate amount of water (check the instruction booklet)

6. steam for 10 minutes

7. then cook for 25 minutes at 15 pounds pressure (depends on your elevation)

(the cooking time for pints is 20 minutes. halve the sugar and salt as well.)

This Moment

2010-10-15T08:19:00.000-06:00

Enter If You Dare

2010-10-11T11:01:00.000-06:00

keep in mind these pictures are dated...

This is the sign that greets the workers each and every day. (gene and i read it and chuckle every time we enter the house as well.) Made by Isaac.

Now that the roof is on the inside feels different than the above pictures.

Drywall this week sometime...

Moving Right Along

2010-10-06T09:16:00.000-06:00

things are moving really quickly on the house. you would be amazed. i am! the new ceiling to the downstairs and then outside walls were framed up not too long after that picture. and then the interior walls were framed. the roof was actually done over the weekend!!

i am at my sister's house the week working on some things for christmas (which i'll be sharing later). so it may be a minute before i get some current pictures of the house...

has anyone local done a drive by? if so, maybe you'd be willing to share your thoughts.

for those of you wondering...our contractor is Joel Timo.

This Moment

2010-10-01T07:25:00.000-06:00

A New Trick

2010-09-26T23:03:00.001-06:00

(i know. i know. more baby. but i just can't help it.)

So two days after she rolled from her back to her tummy, little miss g figured out how to balance! She also just turned six.months.old. This not-so-little baby is such a sweetie. Seriously. A little sweetie peetie.

In other news...we'll be moving in with my mom and dad this week for about a month. We've decided to build an upstairs addition to our home. The decision has not been an easy one or a quick one (like any BIG decision). It does feel right to us. And now that everything is signed I feel like I can breathe and talk about it. I am anxious and excited. All at the same time.

the end

This Moment

2010-09-24T07:01:00.001-06:00

The Real Deal

2010-09-20T10:10:00.012-06:00

This morning Zoe came along with me to take Aryn to the bus stop. During our conversation she mentioned that one of her friends had a REAL microphone headset.

Apparently, that is WAY better than toenail clippers and tape.

you know, for when you're pretending to be a rockstar? and you have to tape the clippers to your cheek? (gene didn't get it, so therefore the explanation.) i might want to remember this since christmas is coming!

This Moment

2010-09-16T13:21:00.002-06:00

it must be good to be this boy

How To Freeze Peaches

2010-09-14T08:02:00.003-06:00

This year, I learned two new ways to preserve peaches. TWO. (I just love to learn.) They are both easy to do.

I thank my friend Terra, for sharing this first one with me. She told me about it one night at a great Relief Society activity (put on by Maridee, who has her own peach recipe going on over there). Later, when I called Terra for specifics, she was so very helpful in her explanantions.

We love to make smoothies. These are perfect for them.

1. wash and peel the peaches.

2. cut into quarters, then eighths.

3. place on waxed paper baking sheets. sprinkle with fruit fresh.

4. place baking sheets in freezer. freeze.

5. label freezer bags with date and content, put peaches inside. (i use the gallon sized bags.) store in the freezer.

And that's how you do it! Oh so very sastisfying. Has anyone else given this a try?

On another note...I'd just like to tell my peachy husband that I love him and HAPPY ANNIVERSARY! Fourteen years. WHOA.

Another Family Vacation

2010-09-09T12:30:00.000-06:00

We LOVED the beach last year so much, we decided to make another trip this year!

This year we went a little further south... down to San Diego (or San Go-ego, as Asher likes to call it).

We got to spend time at Mission Beach playing in the sand and soaking up the sun.

Sort of. On a couple of counts... 1. In the morning it was really overcast and foggy, but later in the afternoon the sun would come out and shine. 2. When it's overcast, you can still get sunburned!

And so we all did.

We also spent a little time at Sea World. (Which I just saw this morning that my brother's family did as well.) We got to touch sea stars, sea urchins, and rays. We saw dolphins, whales, and all sorts of marine life.

We watched a few shows including Blue Horizons, but the day we were there the Shamu show got cancelled. We still got a good look at one of the orcas in the viewing area. Sadly, we later learned that the one of the whales had died.

Since the show was cancelled, Sea World offered reimbursement tickets to use within a year, so...we'll most likely be planning another trip to San Diego next summer...any takers?

Pioneer Day Weekend

2010-07-25T13:34:00.076-06:00

We LOVE to camp!

Especially with FRIENDS!

(this camping experience was at a Pine Valley campground. just on the other side of the mountain, as opposed to where we normally go.)

House of Cards

2010-07-14T15:41:00.002-06:00

What do one of these...

Plus some of these... Equal?

One very "pleased with himself" boy!

Isaac: "Can't you believe I made this?"

Me: "Yes, I can!"

With this boy I can believe anything. Especially when it has to do with him making something.

Sidenote: It didn't take too long before his little brother came along and knocked this house of cards right down! And as I post, that same little brother is in the bathtub for "washing" his belly with butter.

New Family Picture

2010-06-22T14:53:00.000-06:00

It is extremely difficult to get 7 people to look at the camera AND smile all at the same time!

This is ONE that pretty much turned out!

Sing it with me now, "We are a Happy Family!"

(Thanks to my sister for taking the picture.)

So Long...Farewell

2010-06-14T14:54:00.001-06:00

We're going to miss this place...

While cleaning out the house, Gene's sister found this little note. Written in his mother's hand, it says:

I Love a messy house with my children at home more than I love a clean house when they are at their own homes.

Two Graduates

2010-05-27T15:38:00.000-06:00

We have two graduates in the family this year.

Zippy Z graduates from Kindergarten...

and Amazing A heads off to the Intermediate School.

I am feeling a bit overwhelmed. Where does the time go? It seems like both these beautful girls were only just babes in my arms.

Rosie Meets Daisy (and other introductions)

2010-05-24T22:09:00.001-06:00

Wondering who Rosie and Daisy are? They are the names that Zoe and her cousin Dryden wanted to name their new baby sisters!

We went up north this last weekend, and had the chance to meet our new little cousin. In all actuality, little Adrie is just about as big as little Genevieve! But that isn't such a surprise since her parents are much taller than miss g-veous' parents.

While the two little ones were getting to know one another, the bigger children were meeting some other new little ones...

Dryden and Emory got two bunnies before Adrie arrived, and I have not heard about much else. Zoe in particular has been talking nonstop about the bunnies. And about getting some for our own family.

I must say...they are super cute...and Rosie and Daisy would make good bunny names.

(kasey, my sister, called me this morning to tell me that one of the bunnies died during the night. they got a new brown one just this evening to replace it.)

A Blessing

2010-05-12T17:52:00.004-06:00

Sunday was a special day for our family... my brother reporting his mission, Mother's Day, and Genevieve's blessing...

Already this little girl has been a blessing to our lives. Her arrival into our family was no coincidence or accident. She came precisely when she was supposed to...a blessed and happy event after the passing of our grammy.

For me, her birth has been another affirmation and testimony of the plan and purpose of Life. For her dad, maybe a tender mercy from a loving, Heavenly Father.

Genevieve Kristien is named for both her father and her mother. And our hope is that she will have the very best qualities from both of us. This world is made fresh and new again because she was born. And we hope that she will continue to bless it as she lives and grows.

p.s. my sister had her baby girl very early tuesday morning. her name is aidry vivien. we are looking forward to meeting this new little cousin.

The Elder Returns

2010-05-07T09:46:00.003-06:00

My little brother Tyler just returned from his mission to North Carolina!

{pictures taken by my dad}
For those unable to attend...(Kasey & Co.)... Here you go:

Paper Airplane

2010-05-03T14:43:00.004-06:00

When Isaac was little I checked a book out from the library on how to make paper airplanes. I never imagined that those ariplanes would become a such a part of our lives! Isaac still likes paper airplanes. Although now he can make his own. Right now, it's Asher's turn.

I know how to make two basic airplanes. I'm going to share my favorite one.

See that last picture? He crumpled it up in the time it took me to change a load of laundry from the washer to the dryer.

Six

2010-04-21T13:03:00.000-06:00

It must be good to turn six.

Especially for this little girl!

She is so full of energy and Life. (i can't say as much for the worm...reminds me of this picture.)

We are so happy to have her in OUR lives! Happy Birthday, my sweet.

Three Weeks Old

2010-04-14T21:36:00.001-06:00

It's been a little while since the last post. I thought it would be fun to show a picture of how our little baby looks with her eyes open.

We are loving this new baby girl. Every.single.one.of.us.

Our Newest Little Blair

2010-03-28T11:57:00.004-06:00

Genevieve Kristien

March 25, 2010

9:27pm

7 lbs 19 inches

38.5 Weeks

2010-03-24T23:03:00.001-06:00

I wanted some pictures of my baby belly before I no longer have it.

{pictures by the daddy}

The Pioneer

2010-03-23T23:04:00.001-06:00

(this is the talk i gave at grammy blair's funeral, saturday march 20, 2010.)

To our family, Bertha is known as Grammy Blair or Grammy. And our children always look forward to going to her house for a visit, especially when cousins are involved.

Grammy had the habit of going to the store not long after we would all arrive. She would go to get a much needed item, and return sometime later. I often wondered whether she would go just so she could have a break, a bit of peace, from all the chaos that we brought.

In this Church, we talk a lot about pioneers. We talk about how they lived a long time ago and about all the sacrifices they made to come to Utah. To me, Bertha was a great example of a pioneer. And I want my children to think of her this way. Their Grammy was a modern-day pioneer.

She left her home and family back east because she wanted something different for her life. And because she left and made this sacrifice, she had opportunities that she otherwise may not have had. One of these opportunities was becoming a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. This opportunity was very important because it led to other opportunities like meeting her husband Brad, having her own children, raising them in the gospel, and eventually having the blessing of grandchildren.

Bertha's conversion came about because she heard the truth in the message some missionaries were teaching her. She told us that when they taught about the Plan of Salvation, she knew what they were saying was true.

This plan explains how we lived in heaven with our Heavenly Father before we were born. It explains that our spirits came to earth to receive a body and to be tested with lots of experiences, some easy and some very, very hard. It also explains that one day we would die, and that our spirits would return to heaven. Now because Heavenly Father loves us so much, He sent His son Jesus, to live and atone for our sins. To die, and then be resurrected, so that we could live with Him and our families again. Our family is happy to know that because of this plan, we will see our Grammy again.

When we came to Grammy's house this time, it was understandably different. It still doesn't seem quite real. I told Gene, it feels like she's just on one of her extended trips to the store. Maybe she just needs a break, a bit of peace, from all the chaos...and then she'll be back. But really I know that she's just being a pioneer. She's pioneering the way for her children and grandchildren that she loves so very much. Because that's what a Grammy does.

Our Grammy Blair

2010-03-19T15:19:00.000-06:00

Bertha Mae Blair

November 2, 1941- March 16, 2010

We love our Grammy and will miss her very much.

We are so happy to know that because of Jesus Christ, we will see her again.

You Say It's Your Birthday

2010-03-12T10:32:00.000-07:00

To my Husband that I love SO much, and to their Daddy that they love SO much:

HAPPY BIRTHDAY! You ARE so Wonderful!

Swear WORDS

2010-03-06T09:49:00.004-07:00

Little A knows how to say his name...

I have to say that after we'd named him, I began to wonder just how he would say his name. The other kids have had a hard time with the "R" sound, making it more of an "O" sound. Or the "SH" sounding like a plain "S" sound. So I wondered if his name would come out sounding more like a swear word...

Well, as you can see, we're safe so far.

Speaking of swear words...

I also have to say that I thought the words to the song I chose for Isaac's dance said, "Go out and smash it. Like all my cars..." I have since learned otherwise. So well, ummm... OOPS! My bad!

I will be the first to admit that I make mistakes. LOTS.OF.THEM. Every Day. Therefore I have taken his dance off the previous post until we can get a more edited version. PeACe.

{As of March 25, 2010...i've added the edited isaac video.}

Those Dancing Blair Kids

2010-03-04T12:52:00.009-07:00

"If you're five or eighty-two, this is something YOU can do!!" --Miley Cyrus (For all of you closet home dancers, here is the link to how we learned the dance. I'm sure Big A would be happy to give you all lessons as well! And here is proof that I can do the dance as well! One more thing...who recognizes that awesome gold shirt? Yeah, it was mine, back in my old clogging days.)
"And tonight's gonna be a good, good night."--Black Eyed Peas (He's at it again. He's added some new moves to some old moves. And he's even added a prop...the bathroom stool! Here is a fun link for inspiration. Gotta love, Jack Black.)
"Dreaming"--Amy Beach (This is a dance she made up all by herself. She's taken ballet since she was 6 years old, and now is becoming quite the choreographer. Her teacher is Tazia Murie of Adagio Dance Studio. Here is a link for more information on the composer. I think the music is beautiful. It reminds me of something from Jane Austen's Sense and Sensibility.) It has taken me the last few days to figure out how to get these videos on here. Sheesh! I wanted to make sure their Grammy had a chance to see them dance!

Soccer

2010-02-27T12:57:00.001-07:00

Soccer started Thursday and Friday.

Aryn and Isaac wanted to play. SO they are.

Zoe did NOT. Now that she's seen all her friends playing, I think she's changed her mind for next year!

Asher is just happy to play on the playground. (Wearing his much-loved river shirt.)

Using What I Have

2010-02-17T17:01:00.004-07:00

We do have a lot going on around here. Some things that are beyond our control. And when that happens, I need an escape... (or maybe an attempt at control).

So right now, we do not have a kitchen table. Well, we do... but, it is covered. Covered in fabric, felt, sewing machine, notions, etc. All necessesities for escape/control.
It all started because I wanted to find out exactly what materials I have in this house. An accounting, if you will. What I've wanted to be able to do is use the things I have in my house BEFORE I go out and buy new things. So, I started a project. A patchwork project.

I gathered together some patterned fabric squares, a bunch of old jeans, a cache of crochet thread, and some brushed twill remnants (that were supposed to be slipcovers). All of these materials were in my house, just not being used!

I've felt for awhile now that I need to use the materials I have. Not just store them. I NEED TO USE THEM. I need to turn them into new creations. Creations that my family can use and enjoy.

And I'm really looking forward to seeing what is hiding in this house, just waiting to be discovered!

Some Changes, and a Project!

2010-02-03T13:36:00.002-07:00

I'm making a few changes around here...

This blog is going to focus on our family. I have another blog that I'm going to use more for me as an individual.

So, if you're interested... you can check it out at onelittlerayndrop.blogspot.com !! (The project above is given more detail there.)

2009 in rewind

2009-12-30T10:53:00.042-07:00

Rappelling Adventure

2009-12-06T20:18:00.004-07:00

The two oldest kids went adventuring with their dad and some friends!

Oh, What Fun!

2009-12-06T19:37:00.006-07:00

A week ago, over the Thanksgiving holiday, we were able to do something we've never done before! We went with Gene's sister's family to Ashley National Forest and cut down our first REAL Christmas tree!
What an experience! I didn't know picking out a tree could be so difficult. Gene's sister and her husband had their tree picked out within the first twenty minutes. But not Gene and I.

I just assumed that there would be a light shining down with angelic voices singing pointing out OUR TREE. Not so. It never happened.

We did find our tree, however. It took us until the very end of the outing, of course. And we did get to strap it to the top of van and drive all the way home! AHHH... the memories.

I Can Make a Difference

2009-11-13T17:50:00.000-07:00

{this post is written by the girl herself!}

last year I drew a picture for the recycle contest. I didn't think I was going to win but I gave it a shot, and guess what I WON!!! I won 2nd place and got my picture in a 2010 calender.

Another Update

2009-11-12T12:26:00.006-07:00

For those of you who do not yet know AND are interested in knowing...

We had our ultrasound Tuesday early evening. Any guesses on what this fifth little Blair will be?

Friday November 13:

If you guessed a GIRL, then you are correct, sir!!

Family Update

2009-10-26T09:13:00.001-06:00

Numero Cinco is on the way!

(Due: April 5, that makes 17 weeks today!)

Family Vacation

2009-10-11T22:18:00.001-06:00

A week ago we returned from a fun-filled, memorable family vacation. We were lucky enough to go with some other families, Rebecca and Brandon and Katrina and Spencer. My mom and Aunt Maria also joined for a few days.

We went to the beach, Disneyland, and then back to the beach. In the end, it was hard to return back to our regular routine. Hopefully, we'll have good stories to share for a long time.

{not all the pictures were taken by me. a few were taken by aryn and gene.}

Before & After

2009-09-22T09:46:00.004-06:00

Goldilocks got his hair cut!

2 Befores

1 After
I still have some work to do on the sides.

This Boy

2009-09-10T17:10:00.002-06:00

This boy.

how do I begin? where do I start?

There are so many feelings, so many thoughts, so many dreams for this boy.

He turned eight years old in August. EIGHT. Even though I've been here for all of his life...it still seems almost impossible. I look into those eyes, and I see the baby he once was... I look into those same eyes, and I see the man he is going to become...

It's hard for me to describe all the feelings that go into loving a boy like this. Because there are so very many. But when you're a parent, you know.

And when you're a parent, you know about the many and varied thoughts that go into loving a boy like this... the anxious ones and the joyful ones.

And the dreams, well the dreams. They seem almost endless because there is so much potential and so much yet to know, when you are loving a boy like this. And being a parent sometimes means that you keep the dreams to yourself because what HE dreams for himself is so much more important.

I LOVE this boy. I'm happy and humbled to have him in my life. (that's where I begin. that's where I start.)

This boy.

Isaac's Birthday

2009-08-20T17:18:00.008-06:00

YUM!

Lining up!Thanks to my Aunt Claudia, the boys had some serious fun.

We sang "Five. Five Dollar. Five Dollar foot long..." every time he got a Five Dollar bill.

The long-haired birthday boy!

The Spanking Machine!

HAPPY BIRTHDAY ISAAC!

Our Own Backyard

2009-08-17T10:10:00.001-06:00

A week ago last Saturday The Manziones, Jensens, and Calls came into town. We spent the day hiking in Zion National Park...Our very own backyard!

Squirrels aplenty
Gene and Asher

ZoeLorenzo
Ella

Esperanza
Claire
Lauren

The Narrows Weeping Rock
Aryn

Isabelle
Elyse

Handprint rock...that our family made the week before
Zane

Isaac

Swimming stop in the Virgin River via the Pa 'Rus trail.
Me. Well, at least my shoes.

Last of the Sparkly Bread

2009-07-10T17:09:00.004-06:00

The other morning my little kiddies woke up to a surprise for breakfast. Sparkly Bread. Zoe words were, "Finally. Mom made some more sparkly bread." Actually, I didn't make more, I just took a loaf out of the freezer and let it thaw overnight.

You may be thinking, "Sparkly Bread?" Let me explain. You probably know this delicious treat by another name...Amish Friendship Bread. My little kiddies like to call it Sparkly Bread because of the lovely, glistening, sparkly sugar on top.

A while back, my friend Misti, gave me a zippered plastic bag and a note. The zippered bag contained a mixture and the note contained directions for the mixture. Little did I know how much we all would fall in love with this bread. But, fall we did.

The note tells you to keep a "starter" for yourself, and then give the rest away to friends. At the end of the note, it also explains that if you give away all your "starters," you'll have to wait until someone else gives you another back.

Well, I've got to tell you...I cheated. I saved one of the "starters," instead of giving it away, and made more bread for my family. Then I froze it. So we could have some for later. Guess what? I also found out you don't have to wait for it to come around again. I found a recipe for the "starter" and some for the bread. This one is most like the one I received. It uses pudding.

Give it a try and give some away!

Tadpole Transformation

2009-07-01T22:51:00.005-06:00

Remember when we got the polliwogs? And they died... And then we got some more... And then they died too?

Well, my friend Shannon wanted to get some. A few weeks ago, on an overcast Friday, she took us to a new spot.

She collected some tadpoles and we collected some tadpoles. Shannon kept hers, but I told the kids we had to let ours go...You see, I didn't want to cause anymore unnecessary deaths...

Well, the transformation happened. One of her little polliwogs grew some legs. She called me this morning to tell me about it, and asked if my little froggies wanted to come over and take a look.

Shannon also was kind enough to let us take the little frog, and a few friendly tadpoles, back to their original habitat. Oh, what fun!

Stake Youth Hike

2009-07-01T22:34:00.002-06:00

Yesterday, Gene and I were lucky enough to slip away from our little goats (kids) to go on a hike with some of the youth and leaders in our stake. The hike was up a slot canyon in Kannarraville. It was a bit strenuous going up, but very worth the trip. I thought I'd share a few snippets.

This hike is definitely NOT for little ones. Gene thinks it may be okay for the two older ones if we take our time and go slow. It is on the TO DO AGAIN list.

Around the Garden

2009-06-29T07:35:00.002-06:00

Just a few pictures to get the week started.

Garden Sanctuary

2009-06-27T14:28:00.002-06:00

Enter...

I love this spot of the garden. It's lies just behind the squash and pumpkins. To me, it's a small sanctuary. Hidden behind green, growing things... with small bursts of color and texture on the inside... looking out onto the world of our own backyard. I could stay here for awhile.

Market Bag GIVEAWAY

2009-06-24T17:13:00.004-06:00

A few years ago, when we moved into this house I would watch decorating shows on HGTV. FREQUENTLY. I think it partly comes from a secret dream to be a Home Decorator. That, or boredom. Gene still gives me hard time about it because I still have some of them saved on the DVR. One of the shows was Room Service. The designer's name: Sarah Richardson. She's the one that taught me to make these cute bags. AND BOY! have I made some bags.

They're so SO handy. I've made them to carry library books, knitting/crochet supplies, laundry, ballet shoes, etc. A few years ago, I even made them into scripture bags for Aryn's friends. I'm telling you this bag is VER.SA.TILE.

Anyway, I needed a new bag and figured this would be a great GIVEAWAY. I went to the DVR and guess what? Gene had erased THE episode with the instructions! Since I've made so many bags, I can make them on my own, but I wanted to share the instructions with all of you...Would any of you be interested in a HOW TO?

So. Without further ado... I present the MARKET BAG. I wish I could say it in French. I think it would sound fancier. But alas, No, and Gene's not here to translate... Speaking of french, I did construct it using french seams. Does that count?

This is one side of the bag. The fabric is Country Life from Waverly.

And this is the other side of the bag. The fabric is Ballad Bouquet from Waverly.

I had to just sneak in a picture of one of the squashes. (Can you see it below the bags?) I came home and found a few of them, and pumpkins too. It was almost like they just appeared. Crazy, I tell you.

So, here's how it works:

Leave a comment on this post and you'll be entered to win.

Like last month, here's the twist...Since June is Father's Day month, if your last name or your maiden name matches my dad's or gene's dad's, you get an extra vote. The names are GUBLER and BLAIR.

The giveaway closes on Saturday @ 2:30 pm MST. Good Luck!

p.s. On Sunday while, perusing the internet, I found this blog. It's near Chateau Beynac, along the Dordogne River, a place Gene and I visited 11 years ago. It brought back some great memories. It also reminded me about another secret dream I have... I guess I'll just get to live this one vicariously.

=========================================

the giveaway is now closed. i will be posting the winner in just a second. i have to draw the name:)

and the winner is...(drum roll)... THE GUBLER FAM. Congratulations! I'll bring it over soon.

Another Reason We Love Cousins

2009-06-22T08:07:00.005-06:00

The children are home. I picked them up from their Grammy on Thursday. They'd had a fun filled week with their paternal aunts, uncles, and cousins. After I picked them up, we went to my sister Kasey's house, where we spent time with maternal aunts, uncles, and cousins.

The above pictures were all taken by my wonderful sister. She just got her backyard fenced in, and we were enjoying it. As you can see, all our children are easily amused with small, plastic pools, play structures, and popsicles. AHHH, childhood...

Just A Couple of Things...

2009-06-17T17:54:00.003-06:00

The three older kids have been away for the week. They've been visiting their Grammy. I get to go pick them up tomorrow. I am really excited to see them. They each have had their moments, but Isaac has definitely had the hardest time... Other than the homesick phone calls, I have to say, the quiet around the house has been nice. It's been peaceful.

There were two things I wanted to get done while the kids were away: mopping the floor, and cleaning out the van. I got them done right at the first, so I could enjoy them for the whole week. Those two things probably sound a little silly because I DO mop and I DO clean out the van while the kids are at home, but the thing is I wanted to enjoy them for a whole week, not just one day. There you have it.

So everything else I got accomplished this wonderful week was just icing on the cake. Yippee! A few things I've been meaning to do are pictured below.

The trellises and netting with fence posts. These trellises should have been put up weeks, MONTHS ago! Squash to the left. Pumpkins to the right. (I like these two pictures a lot for some reason. The orange with the green, maybe?)

Bunk bed painting. Glorious day. I started painting these things in March over Spring Break. First with my sister, then with my mom. Now they're finally, FINALLY getting finished. You know, we only got them for Christmas. It's now June. I'm telling you, we move at a slow pace sometimes around here.

More pictures of the netting and trellises Gene and I installed. This is part of the Square Foot Gardening method. Plants and vines are supposed to grow UP, rather than OUT. I sure I hope it works. Our soil in the North garden is really sandy, so I'm not quite sure whether the rebar and posts are going to stand up to the weight once the plants start getting heavy with fruit. (Okay, I like the top picture because it shows Isaac's fort. And the beautiful lavender. Those babies are humming with bees. I'm loving it.)

I just want to say one more thing. No, two things. hehe

1. I am enjoying talking with so many of you about gardening. I love running into you and talking about how things are going in your garden. I am LEARNING so much.

2. I'm hoping for a GIVEAWAY next week sometime. So stayed tuned...

Rich in Blessings

2009-06-12T15:25:00.000-06:00

The other day I was going to the metropolis south of our town. I was waiting for a minivan as I was getting ready to pull out onto the highway. As the minivan passed, I noticed something was written on the back window. What I read brought a smile to my face...it said, "$Rich in Family$."

Part of the reason I smiled was because of the message. But mostly I smiled because it brought back a memory from my childhood that still manifests itself today.
I remember being a little girl and asking my mom if we were rich. Her response was always the same... "We are rich in blessings."

I think it kind of comforted my little girl self even though I probably didn't get the entirety of what she was saying. When we are little we don't fully grasp the concept of money. I think little kids need to know that they're going to be taken care of. They need to know that their needs are going to be met.

At the same time, my mom didn't want to lie to me... because in the monetary sense we weren't rich.

It's after we get a little older and have more experience with the world that we start to understand money and what it entails. We have more experience with "having" and "not having," and comparing it to others.

As I got older, during the teenage and early adult years, I remember laughing and joking about my mom's answer with my brothers and sister. We knew darn well we weren't rich.

I focused on the financial aspect. I think I was young, and had grand visions of making a better and different life for myself and my family. A life where there were lots of "things." Because "things" would make it different and better. Maybe "things" would make me different and better.
Now that I'm in my thirties, and have had a little bit more experience, I see things a little more clearly. I'm not naive, and I know I have a lot more to learn, but I try to put the priority on people more than money or things. I'm beginning to understand the real meaning behind being "rich in blessings."
Our life is extremely rich. We have all of our needs met, and a lot of our wants. We have many wonderful relationships with people that enrich our lives every day. Specifically the relationships we have with family. They truly are treasures. Real treasure.

It's funny, because now I have my own kids, they ask me that same question, "Are we rich, mom?" I answer them the same way my mom did: "Yes, we are. We are rich in blessings."

Here's how my grandma told me to bottle cherries:

Put 1/2 cup sugar in the bottom of a quart jar :: Fill the jar about a quarter way full with warm water :: Mix with the sugar to make a syrup :: Add washed and stemmed cherries whole, to the jar :: Pack them in as good as you can, leaving an inch of head space (This is usually to the bottom of the neck of the jar.) :: Wash around the neck of the bottle to remove any syrup :: Put a new lid on and tighten :: Place in a cold pack canner :: Bring to a boil :: Process for 25 to 30 minutes :: Remove the jars from the canner and let cool.

Note: the pits are left in the cherries and taken out when you use them after bottling. The top few pictures are of plum jelly. Rich indeed.

Thank You

2009-06-08T21:23:00.000-06:00

Thank you, bees...

For so many things. Especially these...

...for the wonderful experience my children have of being able to go outside and eat them. They've been picking them for a few weeks now, even though they've only just started to taste good....most importanly thank you to our Heavenly Father, for the bees and the cherries and the wonderful memories I get to make and the pictures I hope to always keep in my head when my children are grown.

Paper Peonies

2009-06-01T20:17:00.002-06:00

The birthday decorations have finally, FINALLY come down. They've been up since the end of March. MARCH. First for Aryn and then for Zoe. I have to admit though, I liked having them up. They're so pretty and added fun color to the kitchen.

I got the idea from Keri, who made some for her daughter's birthday. Heather made some cute polka dot ones for her sister-in-laws baby shower, and I saw some over on Autumn's blog for a bridal shower. So they're pretty versatile decorations, easy to make, and look beautiful hanging from the ceiling!!

My mom has made them a lot for different things, so she came over and showed me how to make them. Let me show YOU how it's done...

You will need: tissue paper, scissors, garbage ties or wire, yarn.

You can use 6 or 8 sheets of tissue paper.
Decide on the size of flower you want. Small-cut the tissue paper in half. Medium-cut some of the top off. Large-use the full size.
Fold the paper back and forth into an accordion fan.
Cut the ends on both sides into either a rounded shape or a point (like the white).

Twist the garbage tie or wire around the middle of the accordion fan.

Very carefully, pull the sheets of tissue paper apart individually toward the wired center. Go slowly because the paper rips VERY easily. Make sure to do this to both sides.

Voila! A beautiful paper peony.
Make a bunch of different colors and sizes, tie on some yarn, and hang them from your ceiling. (I'm thinking of hanging ours back up in the girls' room.)

What is Hiding in the Rocks?

2009-05-28T11:14:00.000-06:00

Last week, a visiting neighbor found something in the rocks down the street. He showed Zoe, who in turn, has shown each one of us.

Follow along...

Can you see them? Look closely... Baby birds.

We thought it was pretty cool and just wanted to add to the posts following a theme with Alex & Nicole and Levi & Saddie before they flew away.

A Garden Lesson

2009-05-27T13:31:00.005-06:00

My Grandpa Heaton's garden last week.

For some reason at the beginning of the season, I always seem to compare my garden to my grandpa's (particularly the onions). His vegetables always seem to be bigger, healthier, and more abundant.

In comparison, mine are smaller, more insect eaten, and the seeds don't always sprout. I begin to question myself and all the time and work I've put into this garden.

Our north garden a few weeks ago.

Our south garden today.

Then, I go out into our garden, and I start to work. I water, and weed, and watch the plants. And something happens. I change my mind and my thinking.

I begin to see that the plants are growing a little bit everyday. I start to notice the beneficial insects, like ladybugs, that are crawling on the plant leaves. And then Asher and Zoe notice them. So I get to watch their wonder and fascination.

The pomegranate flowering.

Tomato blossoms.

I get to see little miracles happening, blossoms here and tiny new fruits there. And I begin to know that this little garden is such a blessing to our family. And for a brief moment, I realize that I no longer need to compare. And that feels good.

Get Ready for Summer GIVEAWAY

2009-05-22T09:09:00.011-06:00

So, today is the last day of school. Aryn and Isaac have really liked their classes and their teachers. They've learned so much. One of the best things is that they both really love to read! I can't tell you how happy I am about that. We decided to make a little Thank You gift for their teachers. I found the instructions to make these cute bookmarks here.

Aryn and Isaac drew the pictures, and picked the colors for the fabric on the back. Pink for Isaac because he said that was his teacher's favorite. And green for Aryn because she said that was her teacher's favorite. I did the stitching for Isaac, but Aryn did hers on her own!

We thought it would be fun to get this summer started with a GIVEAWAY. So here you go... This time around, there's going to be a few twists...Just to add to the excitement!

1. I'll draw TWO winners. One for "Martian Man" and one for "Les Fleurs." (Original artwork by my children.)

2. Since it's mother's day month, if one of your names or one of your mother's names matches either of Gene or I's mother's MAIDEN name (does that make sense?), you get an extra entry. Their maiden names are: HEATON and EDWARDS.

3. We're going out of town, so the contest will close Tuesday @ 12:00 noon. Just leave a comment to enter.

4. Good Luck! And have FUN with the kiddos this summer!
I have to share one more piece of excitement. While Aryn and I were stitch, stitch, stitching away, Zoe wanted to try. I got her a little yellow hoop (her favorite color), she drew the picture on the fabric, and off she went! Now she's stitch, stitch, stitching away! She can even thread the needle! She's getting so big. She's so happy with herself too. And that makes me so happy.

+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

The contest is now closed!!! I will draw the winners and post them soon!

The winner for "les fleurs" is... the TONIOLI'S

And the winner for "martian man" is... the MOORE FAMILY

CONGRATULATIONS! I'll get these sent off!

Spinach Poppy Seed Salad Recipe

2009-05-20T19:50:00.004-06:00

What do you do when you've got a bunch of spinach? Make Spinach Poppy Seed Salad, of course!

Luckily, we had the opportunity to use a lot of our spinach last Saturday evening. My cousin Ryan came home from his mission and we were invited to a Homecoming dinner. I love when Family gets together. And I LOVE being able to go out into the garden and gather some of what we've grown.

My cousin Maresa gave me this recipe. (I've printed my adaptations.) It is SO good!
The Recipe:

Spinach Poppy Seed Salad
1 bag fresh spinach... (or from the garden!)

1 head iceburg lettuce

1 small onion, slivered

grated cheese (I use cheddar)

1/2 bottle real bacon pieces

grape tomatoes

Dressing:

2 1/4 tsp. poppyseeds

1/4 tsp. dry mustard

3/4 tsp. dry onion

1/2 c. sugar

1/2 c. rice vinegar

1/2 c. oil

1.Wash and tear the spinach and lettuce. Mix together.

2. Whip together or shake in a pint bottle the dressing ingredients. Add onions and marinate for 8 hours or overnight. (Maresa says she only marinates for a few hours. Me too, usually.)

3. Layer cheese, bacon, and tomatoes on top of spinah mixture. Pour the dressing over this right before serving and toss.

GuessWhat

2009-05-19T15:01:00.002-06:00

...I've been doing for the past few days?

Passing this bad boy!

Tadpole Update

2009-05-18T14:49:00.004-06:00

Well. Instead of getting to watch the transformation from tadpole to frog, we got to experience another of life's little lessons: death. Yes, all of the tadpoles in the aforementioned post have all died. Sorry to say.

And just for your information...Isaac bought them from a classmate for 1 penny each. They also talked their dad into taking them to the Toquerville park/stream to catch more on Saturday. Hopefully, some of these little guys will make it to maturity!!

That Boy! has a Secret

2009-05-14T10:50:00.013-06:00

polliwogs.

tadpoles.

So. When I took the kids to school this morning they were whispering in the back of the van. All three of them. Aryn, Zoe, and Isaac. I dropped the two older ones off, and when they left I said, "Zoe, what were you guys whispering about?" She said, " I can't tell you. It's a secret and if I tell, Isaac won't let me play with them."

Them?Well, that sure got my curiosity a-going.

When we got home I asked her about it again. In a round-of-about way, I learned that Isaac has taken into his possession a small amount of polliwogs. POLLIWOGS. I don't even know where he could have gotten them! She said he bought them from someone. What?! That boy has definitely got some explaining to do.

I looked up some information, here, on how to take care of them. Which as soon as Isaac gets home he going to read. Let me tell you.

Actually though, now that the initial shock has worn off, I think this could be a fun learning experience for all of them. The transformation from a tadpole into a frog could be an amazing thing to watch. As long as nothing dies.

A Wonderful Time

2009-05-12T22:02:00.007-06:00

My brother and his wife came down for a visit. They decided to go camping. (Her sister and two children came along as well.) We decided to join them Monday night for dinner. It only took a little more than 30 minutes to get to our destination. Gene and I were so happy we decided to go. So were the kids!

We cooked hot dogs and tin foil dinners.

We all enjoyed the fire. (especially Isaac)

We played a game of Skipbo. (Nicole, Alex, and Gene)

We had so much fun that I decided to take the kids back for lunch and the afternoon today! It was so nice to be in the outdoors, away from our regular schedules and lives. It was calming and grounding, to stretch our bodies and our imaginations... to do something a little different and out of the ordinary.

We built and added to the woodland fairy houses we'd started the night before.

We scrambled up rocks and crowed like roosters. (He thinks he's king of the world!)

We ran through the trees and picked up bits of nature. Most of all, we enjoyed ourselves and each other.

It was a wonderful night and a wonderful day.

Spinach, Anyone?

2009-05-10T18:53:00.001-06:00

We had our first harvest from the garden last Tuesday. SPINACH.

I made Lasagna Roll-ups. I learned how to make these while in college. I lived with some girls that wanted to share food and cook with everyone instead of cooking our own food for ourselves. It was fun, and I got to try a bunch of new things!

Aryn loved, LOVED them. Isaac picked out the filling. (He is one picky kid.) Zoe sort of ate them. Gene and I both enjoy them.

Lasagna Roll-ups

Cheese Filling:

2 cups ricotta cheese

freshly chopped spinach (or 10 oz. frozen spinach)

1/4 cup parmesan cheese

1 tsp. salt

1/4 tsp. pepper

Additionally:

12 uncooked lasagna noodles

1 jar spaghetti sauce

grated mozzarella cheese for topping

1. pour 1/2 of the spaghetti sauce into a 13x9x2 baking dish.

2. cook noodles as directed on package

3. mix the cheese filling ingredients. drain noodles.

4. spread 3 Tbs. of cheese filling down the length of 1 noodle. roll up. repeat for each noodle.

5. place rolls in baking dish. cover with remaining spaghetti sauce. top with mozzarella cheese.

6. cover with tin foil and bake in 375 degree oven for 30 minutes.

i LOVE pink

2009-05-10T18:01:00.001-06:00

A Peculiar Quirk

2009-05-08T11:22:00.004-06:00

This is going to sound a little silly, and I can't believe I'm actually going to publish this, but here goes...

I've been meaning to post something since it IS a new month, but I haven't been able to because I haven't changed my picture heading or my colors BECAUSE it is a new month. Does that sound strange? Yeah, it does, even to my own ears as I write this...

Anyway, HAPPY MOTHER'S DAY, on Sunday !!!

Better Late Than Never GIVEAWAY

2009-04-30T15:47:00.003-06:00

So. It's the last day of the month... This month has just flown. Remember a few weeks ago when I hinted at a giveaway? Well... are you ready?

Leave a comment on this post and you'll be entered to win one of these little bonnets. (Make sure to mention which color you like!) The Giveaway will close on Saturday night at 10:00pm MST.

When I decided to make these little bonnets, I had a plan for them. I still do. It's just taking me some time getting it put into action. I chose the colors for a reason.

Red (pink) is for Courage to do what is right.

Yellow for Service from morning till night.

Blue is for Truth in our thought and our deed.

And then I added Green because it's the color of the CTR shield, Choose The Right.

Now you little luckies are going to have Our Primary Colors, (Children's Songbook, page 258), running through your head for awhile. It's okay. It'll do you good.

Good Luck, everyone!

++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

And the winner is...

Cheryl!!! Congratulations! I'll bring it over soon!

Sweetmeats Squash

2009-04-28T13:26:00.003-06:00

This past Thanksgiving, Gene's mom had a different kind of squash for dinner. She said it was a Sweetmeats squash. It tasted so good. And so sweet. The color was unbelievable. So bright. She had an extra one, and gave it to our family to take home.

It was so unusual looking to me. I couldn't get over the blue/green/gray color. I sat it out on a shelf by the back door. It sat there until Christmas. It was easy to cook, and tasted just as wonderful as it had at Thanksgiving.

I saved some of the seeds, hoping that it was an heirloom squash. (Heirloom, meaning the squash would grow true to the parent plant. Rather than hybrid, meaning it might not). A little while ago I checked out a book called Heirloom Vegetables by Benjamin Watson from the library hoping to find the squash within it's pages. It wasn't. I looked up the name Sweetmeats Squash online, and found it. (Scroll down the page a little here for a picture and find more seeds here.) EUREKA! Heirloom, open-pollinated.

I planted the seeds in small pots a week or so ago. And they've decided to grow! I gave some seeds to my grandpa (and to some of you) just to be on the safe side. I'll be replanting them into the South garden sometime soon. Now we just get to wait and see...

Bunny Trouble

2009-04-27T13:08:00.005-06:00

This

and This

means THIS!!

There's another one too (shown here). They are the neighbor's bunnies. We noticed them coming into our yard a week or so ago. At first we all thought they were so cute. (We still do.)

Then I started to notice nibbled edges on my plants and flowers around the yard. And now they've eaten all the leaves off all the eggplants, and a pepper plant!

Bunnies and gardens do not mix well.

sO YoU THinK yOu CAn dANce!

2009-04-23T12:13:00.001-06:00

Not only can the baby boy dance, but so can his big brother!

Isaac decided he wanted to enter his break dance moves into the Imagine Contest. I'm not sure about his bow staff skills or his numb-chuck skills, but dance skills...I'm so happy I decided to go ahead and let him share his talents! (he does not take lessons, he comes up with this stuff on his own. a born choreographer. chuckle, chuckle.)

The first is his performance in front of the judge. Aryn filmed the second one in front of the school, but the battery was low, so only some of it recorded. It does show his cute strut though. (napoleon dynamite, eat your heart out. Enjoy!)

Life and Zoe

2009-04-21T13:31:00.008-06:00

Tiny hands.

Tiny toes.

Even a small,

Tiny nose.

Everything about her was and still is Tiny.

Except her Spirit.

This tiny little girl entered our lives five years ago. Her name means Life. Knowing what we know now, we couldn't have picked a better name.

She was born in the spring.

The time of year when Life is beginning.

Strong, powerful and beautiful.

This is Life. This is Zoe.

Dangerous Things

2009-04-18T16:41:00.000-06:00

I've had the sewing machine out on the kitchen table for the passed few days. This can be a dangerous thing for me. It stays there and takes up a lot of space and time, with it's accompanying chaos. I stay up late at night and during the day everyone gets to fend for themselves, until the project is complete...

Anyway, I've been busy making some things. I can hardly wait to share what this mess is to become. But not until they are all finished. (Then maybe a giveaway...wink, wink?)

And I've got a little helper. Whenever he sees the pincushion, he says, "My ball." He loves taking out the pins. Dangerous, I know. I keep taking it away from him. Somehow, I don't think this is the end of dangerous things for this boy. Only the beginning. Speaking of dangerous, have any of you read The Dangerous Book for Boys by Conn and Hal Iggulden? I liked it. I think maybe enough to purchase it.

Dans le Jardin

2009-04-14T22:54:00.001-06:00

The north garden is now mostly planted. There are four squares left to plant.

We've been busy the last few days planting all sorts of tomatoes, peppers, and eggplants. We've also needed to replant some turnip, leek, beet, and spinach seeds. (Our Littlest seems to think that the garden boxes are his personal playground. This is rather frustrating, but more importantly, I feel our family needs this gardening/learning experience.)

Last time I wrote about the garden, I mentioned that the leeks had sprouted. I was wrong! It was actually these lovely little plants. I forgot where I had planted things, I've since remedied that mistake by writing it down on the garden map. When the leaves started to show, I realized it was actually the spinach!

A few creatures have come to visit the garden. Most recently the ladybug. The lizard runs back and forth between the garden boxes in the north garden and the pomegranate bush. One time he ran himself into a plastic bag of soil. When we dumped him out onto the tarp he got buried in the soil. I started panicking a little bit because I didn't want him to suffocate! Luckily we found him.

One more little anecdote...

Yesterday when Zoe, Ashy, and I went back to the nursery, we saw my grandpa there. He was getting some more tomato plants for his garden. I told him a few varieties we were trying. One in particular caught his attention. The Wilford Tomato. I told him I got it because on the tag it said it was a local variety developed in Kanab. He then proceeded to tell me that it was his dad's brother, Wilford Heaton, who developed it. Pretty cool, eh? Ahh, the things we're learning...

Rice Krispy Easter Eggs

2009-04-13T21:08:00.012-06:00

My mom decided to have some fun with all the grandkids. And boy! Was it FUN!