Looking forward

It has been a while and I'm due for an update I guess. I've been thinking about what I have coming up these next two weeks. Outside of volleyball practice/games and the day to day happenings of a stay at home mom, the next two weekends should be fun.

Last year, Spencer's Sergeant challenged him to run a 1/2 marathon in Payson with him. He did and really enjoyed it. I didn't participate in it or the 5K due to being about 7 months pregnant, so I watched the kids and I got Caden ready to run in a 1/4 mile kid race. Here are a few pictures from last year.

OCTOBER 2007



Next weekend is the 1/2 M. and 5K again. I had originally thought I would do the 1/2with Spencer, but will only be doing the 5K. I think I'll be lucky just to get through that!

The following weekend is the Cochise Classic (a bike race in Douglas, Az.). I'll be doing the 45 mile race along with my Mother in law, a friend from Globe and last but certainly not least, my sister in law Erin. She rode last year and was the first female finisher! So Spencer being just a tad bit competitive, started me on an intense training schedule. Then Erin had to go and up me by riding for a week straight with our brother in law Kimball. (He has been riding now for 7 weeks. Started on the east coast in Maine and on his way to the west coast. They're currently in Nebraska.) So if I can even hang with her, we might be sprinting it out in the end because of our competitive natures! Or is that the brothers competitive nature I'm referring to? Spencer is constantly telling me "You cant let her beat you, she was a cheerleader!"

Sunday conversation

I was just in the kitchen making Spencer a grilled turkey and cheese. The kids already had theirs and were sitting at the table with juice boxes. Apparently Paxie had had a juice box last night and was teasing Caden that she was now having a second one. Here is what I hear (Caden,Spencer & Paxton)...

C : That isn't fair.
S : What?
C : Paxie got two.
S : That's because she is our favorite. (teasing of course)
P : Yeah.
C : No, I am the favorite.
S : Who said?
C : Simon! (simon says)

Weekend fun

I thought that before this weekend gets past me, I should post our last weekends outing. We decided to go camping at Rose Creek and left last Saturday. First we stopped off to see G-pa Steve and G-ma Vicki at their home away from home, their spacious RV spot near Roosevelt. They recently put up a pool and the kids had a blast trying it out for the first time. My nephews, Ethan and Hunter were also there enjoying the pool.








Here's Daisy with G-pa and Uncle Rusty.












Then up the mountain we went. The kids had a great time, but did have one major complaint to voice. "No marshmellows? When you camp, you have to have marshmellows." How does a parent forget marshmellows when going camping? It is usually at the top of the list with 'Tent' right? Somehow we overlooked that, but our sweet kids are so forgiving and they managed to make it through.









We also spent a little time up at the pools by workman creek.

Are you Jellen?

This last week I've been busy learning from the ladies here in the ward again. That pot full is full of prickly pears. Yes, I've learned to make prickly pear jelly. And I loved doing it. The process was so much easier than I had thought it would be. Maybe because I was learning from someone who experimented for 20 years in different ways to do it and has now for the last 20 years perfected the process. Of the 18 pints I made, I came through the whole thing with only 3 stickers. Not bad I thought for a first timer!

It all came about like this one Sunday...
I was approached and told that we have some beautiful prickly pears growing on our land next to our yard/house. And wanted to know if I was going to be making some jelly. After letting them know I had no knowledge of how to even start, I was invited over the next morning for a lesson in jelly making and then I had no excuse.


Caden was excited to start picking the pears with me. We went out with our tongs and buckets.


Once they were all boiled and strained we had our juice.


Next we were on to the actual process of making the jelly. Boiling, mixing, adding ingredients, and filling the jars.


We all enjoyed hearing the lids seal with a pop here and a pop there. More than anything else though, we all love the flavor of it. Here, Paxton shows the finished product. One morning while making some, I also mixed up some fresh baked bread. Between the two scents, oohhh how my house smelled so good!


Look at the vibrant color out in the sun. And Jana, because you were so kind to let everyone play the guessing game without giving it away, your reward will be a pint the next time I see you.

What's brewing?

Now tell me, what have I been up to here in little ol' Kearny? The picture above is a peak into it. Can you figure it out?

Birthday boys

Today is Spencer's (31) birthday as well as his nephew Braden's (4). We decided late Sunday morning that we would try to do a little family gathering and celebrate. Little it was, but all that could make it at short notice had a good time. We threw together some mexican food, chips & fresh salsa, made cupcakes and a cheese cake.
Paxton went ahead and rubbed cupcake all over her face so Uncle Talmage wouldn't be embarrassed (she's thoughtful like that).

After cupcakes, the kids moved on to M&M's and suckers and whatever other sugar they could find. The rest of us moved on to a good ole game of Cranium with Talmage and Rachel finishing as the winners.


It was a fun Sunday afternoon, glad you guys could come up for a spur of the moment plan!