Currant Jam

A couple of years ago Randy decided to plant several currant bushes out in the garden.  I have heard of currant jam, but until this year I have never made it.  There are all these tiny little berries on these bushes and I kept thinking to myself "if I have to pick all those little berries to make jam will it really be worth the time??"  Since I've never made currant jam I spent a little time on google trying to find some recipes.  The one I decided to use made the process so simple and in no time at all the berries were picked and I was looking at seven beautiful jars of homemade currant jam.  YUMMY!!!!!  I hope next year there are more berries so there will be more jars of jam!

The finished product

Happy Birthday America

There is nothing like a parade to start off a day of celebrations and there's nothing like the small town parades here in Sanpete.  I love how each parade starts off with the American Flag being carried by someone in the military and how everyone puts their hands over their hearts to pay respect for this great country and those brave men and women who have fought to preserve the freedom we celebrate this day. God bless America!!!  As you can see in this picture, Gavin was in the North Sanpete marching band and did an awesome job.  The rest of the family was gathered on the sidewalk to watch the parade and the kids stood by with their bags patiently waiting for all the candy that would be thrown from the floats and trucks.

Logan, Haylee and Taite waiting for the parade to begin

Holly and Aaron

TaNeal, Wyatt and Kenzie (looking pretty good after her surgery on her shoulder last month)

Later in the afternoon we gathered to celebrate the birthdays and the kids enjoyed eating peas and fresh strawberries from Grandpa's garden

A Week of Birthdays

While I was busy attending girls camp, two of my beautiful daughters were celebrating their birthdays...which was the first time I have missed their celebrations...EVER!!!  I got a chance to text both of them before we headed up on the mountain, but it just wasn't the same.  I remember when I was pregnant with TaNeal I would ask her what she wanted for her birthday and she would answer "the baby!"  Well...she got her wish.  Holly arrived on TaNeals 2nd birthday!  Over the years it was always interesting the way the celebrations went so that each of them could feel like it was there special day.  I'm not sure I always accomplished that.  Then nine years ago they were pregnant at the same time and we wondered if their babies would be born on June 28th also.  It wasn't meant to be, but they did end up in the hospital together and Logan and Haylee shared space in the Sanpete Valley nursery together.  Logan was born on the evening of July 2nd and Haylee was born a few hours later on July 3rd.  We went to the Hoopers to celebrate Logan's birthday on the 2nd and we decorated cookies for Haylee's birthday on the 3rd. Then we got together and celebrated all four birthdays on the 4th of July with cupcakes, cake and homemade ice cream...YUMMMMMM! 

Logan with his arena birthday cake Holly made for him

Haylee testing the frosting for her cookie we decorated

Homemade raspberry and peach ice cream...always at hit at our family get-togethers!

Girls Camp 2011

It has been a very busy week and a half!  Last Thursday I was watching grandkids in Salt Lake, Friday we headed to Cedar City and Tuesday morning I left for girls camp!!  WOW...talk about marathons!!!  It's been a while since I went to girls camp.  When my girls were growing up I vowed that I would go to girls camp with them each year...and I did.  Either as a ward camp leader or as a stake leader and I have some very fond memories of my time with them.  But camp has changed a little since those years.  I remember lip syncing to Poison's "Ain't lookin for nothin but a good time" and I must say I do a pretty good CC DeVille impression with my air guitar!!!  Not to mention a little Def Leppard but now I would be banned if I did any of that...no ipods or cell phones (which won't work even if you could take them). There are some other things that have changed and definately for the good!  No more tents and there are more flushing toilets!!   So I turned off the cell phone and left the ipod at home...along with my computer, packed my truck and headed up Fairview canyon for 4 fun filled days of dirt, mosquitoes, rain and the beauty of nature.  This was our first year in our newly formed Cedar Creek ward and we had an awesome time.  Things are more spirtual than in years past...which is as it should be.  Our theme for this year was D.O.T.S which stood for Depend On The Savior.  There were lots of fun things to do that were centered around the theme.  I can't speak for anyone else, but I really enjoyed myself.

Cooking over an open campfire

The girls lovingly call these cabins "chicken coops" but they sure beat the tents we use to sleep in...especially when it rains!!

The girls didn't go hungry!  Here they are getting their lunches ready for the hikes.

Here we are in front of the "big yellow bus" that hauled the girls to camp.  One of the members of our ward had just purchased it and offered to drive them up.  Two of our girls aren't in the pix.  One was taking a little hike and the other had to leave camp early that morning., but as you can see, there were quite a few from the Cedar Creek ward.  What a motley crew! There were close to a 150 girls and leaders up there in our Mt. Pleasant Utah stake.  Good times!!!

Utah Summer Games with the Nunley's

I have written several blogs about Wyatt and his archery shooting but Randy and I have never been to see one in person.  Wayne and TaNeal entered Wyatt in the Utah summer games that are held in Cedar City each summer and invited us to go down with their family.  So, we made reservations at the Cedar City KOA, loaded up our trailers and headed south to watch the games.  Wyatt participated in 3 events - The 30 meter, the V formation and the team shoot.  While he and one other boy shot awesome in their part of the team shoot, the two older kids had a hard time hitting the target!  But in the individual events, he was unbeatable!!! 

 His first event was the 30 meter.  He shot 690 out of 700 points and took the gold!! He also had the best score of the day including all those younger and older than him.

       
His second individual event was the V formation.  There are 10 targets set up at different distances that form the shape of a V.  It's awesome to stand there with a pair of bincoulars and watch where the arrows end up. His score was 587 out of 600 which also earned him the gold metal.  Way to go Wyatt!!!

The two gentlemen that were presenting the awards were both return veterans who had lost a leg in the war.

Check out all those bullseye hits.  People couldn't believe it.  There were lots of people out on the field with cameras taking a picture of it because they had never seen anything like it!

Taite, Wyatt, Kenzie and Haylee

We had a shady spot up on a hill overlooking the shoot where we watched the whole thing with binoculars.  It was AWESOME!!!

Soccer Granny

It's that time of the month again :-).  Morgan was named "Employee of the Month" and got a day off so he invited Brandi to spend a night with him in Wendover...which means that the granny nanny was invited to spend the night with these three handsome boys!!  As usual, our night began with a trip to Sizzler for dinner.  I really do let the boys pick where they want to eat, but the two little fellers like Sizzler...however...Damon would have gone to Burger King for some stackers if everyone else would have agreed!  Our next stop was Jonas' soccer game.  Morgan is the coach and with him out of town, Ian stepped up and took charge.  He did an awesome job!

Now I don't know how many of you have had the opportunity of going to little people sports events, but they are very amusing.  They are just learning to basics of the game and they look like little sheep following each other all over the field and it is so cute.  Look for Jonas, he is #5.

Our star soccer player

A coaching moment with Ian and Jonas

After a trip to Bath and Body Works and Harmons, we headed home to just hang out and spend time together.  Friday began with our traditional belgian waffles and then Ian joined us for Uno.  Our time got cut a little short because I had to get home to head to Cedar City so we didn't get much time to take an adventure...we will have to save that for next time.

And then it was time for the family send off :-(...saying goodbye is always the hard part!

39 Years

It's really hard to believe it's been 39 years since that special day.  I know they say that times flies when you are having fun.  Don't get me wrong...I am a realist and I will be the first to admit that there have been some not so fun times, but I love how the two of us have been able to work through those hard times and feel blessed with so many good times.  I can truly say that I love Randy more today than I did that magical day 39 years ago and each day with him is an adventure.  I also am truly blessed because of what our marriage has brought into my life.  Our five beautiful, wonderful and awesome children...Brandi Sue, TaNeal, Holly, Amy and Jason.  And then add our son-in-laws Morgan, Wayne, Aaron and Daniel and our sweet daughter-in-law Krysten...and just when you think that you couldn't possibly add any more to make your life complete...along come the grandchildren...which are definitely your gift for not killing your kids when they were younger!!  Ian, Kenzie, Gavin, Wyatt, Logan, Haylee, Dominic, Damon,Taite, Tailar and Jonas...Granny loves you with all her heart.  And Randy...thank you for putting up with me for all these years, for making me laugh, for loving me, for taking care of me and for allowing me to be me. I love you!!