Frozen Summer Treat

Recipe of the day:

Fruit Skewers...

[YUMMMMM!]

• skewers
• red grapes
• green grapes
• thick sliced bananas
• blueberries
• chocolate (milk, or white or a combo)
• real fine coconut

Slide fruit on, lay on parchment.  Melt chocolate, drizzle and sprinkle coconut on top.  Place in your freezer until frozen. you could use any variety of fruit. [ex... pineapple, strawberries] 

A super fun activity to do with your kids. 

final step: put a lock on your freezer for about an hour!

Our New Home

This is our new home.... It didn't quite look like this when we drove up to it.  It was all white, it needed a little TLC.... So that's where Big Al comes in.... We arranged to switch payment for Fix-ups on the house.  Which really helps both of us, He has a long list.  Inside there is a little parlor, dining, living, kitchen on main floor.  Upstairs there is three bedrooms and a bath. An added bonus, there is an upstairs covered porch.  I haven't dug into fixing that up yet, but the ideas are rolling.  I love the porches they are fun and easy to make beautiful.  I spend a lot of time on the front porch watching the kids play. 

 

The Big Move!

One of the biggest changes in our lives, happened, May 25, 2012... It was scary, fun, exciting, crazy, - me and Alan, pulled out of the U-Haul place, thinking to ourselves [what are we doing....]  We are uprooting our children, ourselves, and everything we've ever known-we are leaving behind.  We were both a bundle of nerves on the verge of tears, and anticipation at every turn...  Alans parents came along for the adventure- we loaded up the kids and off we went, into unknown territory... (a little nervous) Along the way we experienced, a "white out" in Montana....Other than that it was uneventful. We spent the night in Missoula. The kiddo's had lots of fun swimming, and riding on the slides.  We arrived the next day around noon in Moscow. 
We made it!!!  We had previously not seen any pics of our new home-to-be.... We only had a sketch and a note from the previous renter.  Alan was a little skeptical about the whole thing... he said, "What if we get up there, and the whole thing is a scam...."  Yeah!!! that would of been awful.... but we pulled into Moscow, and drove to the address, and guess what?  The house was actually there, and it was vacant... waiting for us to fill it up with all of our many, many, many possessions..... ha ha ha!!!  We saw a lot of moving vans on the way up, and all of those U-hauls were a LOT smaller than ours.... WHAT WERE WE THINKING.... We had to downsize once again.  The house was a bit smaller than I had anticipated. 

The Elders Quorum showed up and had the U-haul unloaded in about a half an hour.  By this time, I was frazzled.... The Relief Society, (may I emphasize 'Relief") came to my aid with a home cooked dinner that night (yummm....)   All I could do was sit and stare at the mounds and mounds of boxes sitting in the little living room.  Thanks goodness for Larry and Mar, or I think I would still be sitting in the middle of my living room with boxes all around me.  Not the funnest experience I've had... Yet it was an 'experience'

A couple of days later mom, Kerry, Kandi, and her kids came up to help out.  Thanks goodness for family.  They helped get things in working order, and helped me get things a little more organized. 

Three weeks later, here we are, I finally know which direction I need to point my car in- to make it to town.  ha ha ha (I still have to really think about it!)

Spokane, Washington

We got to Spokane on Monday, and we just checked in to the hotel, and Alan went to his meetings.  We dropped him off, and than went back and went swimming... On Tuesday, we went to the Riverfront Park.  It was a lot of fun, They had water kids could run through, but it was not warm enough that day.  They rode the carousel and some other rides.  Sid wanted to ride a ride, but Ad and Brit did not fit the height requirement, and so she rode all by herself.  She was the only one on the ride, and it was a little dragon ride.  Around the first bend, we thought we saw tears... It scared her just a bit-she came out of it with smiles....

Spokane Falls were beautiful.  There is a pedestrian bridge you walk over, it made me a little nervous... walking over those roaring falls.  But it was breathtaking...We ate at the Mustard Seed- Super good!

 

 The Spokane Temple, is a micro temple.  It was beautiful.  When we got out of the car, and walking up to the temple, there was a different feeling there than there was anywhere else in the city.  I asked the kids if they felt a difference between yesterday and today.  There was such a feeling of peace, beauty and a feeling of security.  They had a stake center on the left side of the temple and then they had a park on the right hand side that was church owned.... with a picnic area and swings that kids could play on.

  Later that day we went to the Mobius Kids Museum downtown Spokane.  It was a lot of fun.  The kids had a blast here.  They had Plasma carts, art, bubbles, how electricity works, backhoe operating, a mini playground for kids, a stage, dress-up... Brit is sitting in a Tiki Hut, right next to the hut, it was a little hut you could trade your goods in (all make believe) ... We ate at the Onion a couple of blocks away, it was really good also, They had giant onion rings the size of a donut.... Kids loved those. Another fun day.  

Addy at the kids museum!

Two Looth Tooths

Our first loose tooths, it was kind of exciting when we first found out she had 4 loose teeth.  She kept telling me she had loose teeth, and I didin't believe her.  and so finally one day I felt them and I said wow Sid, you are going to loose them all pretty soon.  So far we have pulled two bottom teeth.  when we were pulling them, she cried, and than she laughed, and cried, and laughed.  Finally we did it, and she was so excited.  She had triumphed over the pain of her first tooth.

My Passions in Life

1.  MY FAMILY- I love to cook healthy meals for them, create with them, see my girls playing and having fun together.  Have a loving and warm atmosphere for them.

2.  SERVICE- I have loved every calling I have ever had.  which happens to be a big chunk of service that I do.   I cannot say that one calling has been better than the other, and yes, I have been in nursery.  I think their is a time and a season for callings in the church.  I also love to take something fresh from "mama's kitchen"  and deliver it to someones door.  On Sundays we bake with our kids: pies, cookies, brownies, banana bread, you name it, we have tried it.  It is a tradition we have with our kids.  We always take something and deliver it to a family in our community.  I just love it, it's a feel good moment!!!

3.  GENEALOGY-  before I had kids I took a class up to Ricks College, and I really got interested in our ancestors.  Since, having children I have let it slide.  But I have a thirst and a drive for it.  I will pick it up again down the road when things are a little quieter and I don't have so many helpers...

4.  LAWN AND GARDENING- I love a manicured lawn, and a nicely watered, and weeded garden.  This last summer I was pregnant and could not do much.  I was never so grouchy in my life and I think it was due to the horrible looking lawn and garden.  Can't wait to dig my hands into God's earth next summer... you have to keep me out of the nurseries, I can really rack up a bill... Yikes

5.  MY HOME-  Our home is around 70 yrs old.  I love to create and do things with it.  Yes, I get the occassionaly, "what the crap, Dari??" But I forge ahead and it usually turns out, I have had some learning lessons, or course.  Alan is about to strangle me cuz my "honey do list"  is ten miles long, but really it is getting a little bit shorter.  If I only was a man and could measure better, I would take care of that list...

6.  CREATING- home, cakes, food, clothes, theme rooms, old windows, doors, hair, costumes, parties, wood, painting, hair color ( I have had some doosies), holidays, invitations, posters, the list goes on and on....

7.  MUSIC- I love to play the piano, sing parts, and just get together wtih family on a Sunday and pluck out the hymns and have a sing-a-long. I love having my kids hear good music, instrumental, kids music, opera, whatever they love that is wholesome - Love it...

8.  COOKING- I love to cook - only one exception.  I "hate" cooking when I am pregnant.  In fact it is almost absolete!!! I tell Alan, when I am pregnant, you just have to give me 9 mos.  and baby I will make it up to you- I will make the most fab meals (I think their fab anyway) he is more of a steak and potatoes guy ughh) We rate the meals on a nightly basis, well me and my oldest daughter do.  Each meal gets a 1-5 star rating- usually my suppers are off the charts... (only she thinks they are :))- Addy is catching on...  Sidnee is so generous!!!

Life is going good, alan is getting through with flying colors, I have to say, all but Econ.... Which he is still giving me the evil eye for, cuz I registered him for class.   What??? what can I say, their was not much available... Baby Britton is going and starting to laugh.  So cute... Addy is all over him constantly with her hair brushing over his face, and lots of kisses.  Sidnee favorite part of her day is coming home.  Love that.  can't wait for summer!! I know we are just beginning the school year yuck!!! The holidays are quickly coming upon us... Usually I have ideas brainstorming in my head there is nothing coming... Maybe it has something to do with the lack of money .. ha ha  It was be a great Christmas and Thanksgiving.. I love this time of year. So Excited...