Our first egg

FINALLY - the chickens have started to earn their keep.  We got our first egg.  Ok I know that may not sound exciting to everyone but to us it is (yes we get excited over little things).  Alexis just about stepped on it when she went to put the chickens away for the night.

They haven't quite got it figured out to use the nesting boxes yet.

 

 



 

 

They've grown haven't they?  They are actually pretty friendly, they even let us pet them.  They love this barrel that they are sitting on.

A busy summer.....

I'm not sure where June went and I'm still trying to figure out how July got here so fast.  This summer just seems to be flying by.  We have kept a lot busier this summer than any other summers that I remember.  June started off with Jake and Alexis taking a trip to Yellowstone with the youth from our stake - all 150+ of them.  They had a great time. 

They were then home for a week before heading out to church girl's camp and football camp.  You would think that we would get a break - oh no- it was time to get Jake ready for the National Scout Jamboree for two weeks.  He will have lots to share when he gets back so stick around.

Alexis headed off to Cheerleading camp this last week for four days and will be gone again next week to EFY.  Hoping by the end of the month we can get back to some type of normal routine.  Oh wait, we just might. School starts the 19th of August.

Alexis was also in the 4th of July parade with the cheerleaders - They got to take the easy way out and ride:

Off to High School

On Tuesday night, the middle school had their closing ceremony for the 8th graders.  Jake and Alexis both completed all the requirements to be able to move on to high school.  It has been a challenging year for both.  They had to read alot more than they ever had to in their old school.  But on the positive side, they both have made some new friends and seemed to adjust pretty well to a new school this last year.  Because of their accomplishments this year, they were able to go on the 8th grade trip to Lagoon for a fun filled day.

The principal, Mr. Strate - met with him a few times this year.

Alexis receiving her certificate of promotion

Jake receiving his certificate of promotion

All said and done, it was a pretty good year.

Our new cheerleader

Two weeks ago, the high school here had tryouts for cheerleaders for next year.  Alexis thought that would be something she would like to do.  She went to the clinic and learned the cheer and a short dance.
After the tryouts, she came home and wasn't sure how she felt about it.  About two hours later she received a text that said:

"Congratulations you made the 2013-2014 cheer team"

Now she wasn't sure how she felt about it.  I think she really thought that she wouldn't make it- but she did.

We had to go to the high school the next night where they introduced her as a member of next years team:

Way to go.. I am so proud of you for having the courage to tryout:

Time for some Spring Cleaning....and a few chicks

Living in New Mexico, I could never really work in the yard because the wind blew so much that it was just miserable to be out in it.  We used to say that we had two seasons 1) Windy and 2) not so Windy.

 So since we have been having some great weather here in Utah lately, I have been anxious to get out in the yard. It first started with pulling out all the old dead stuff to make room for the new growth that will soon be coming. Things are starting to come together quite well.  We have torn out the old fence in the back yard and cleaned up the leaves and dead plants from last year.

(That wood fence back there is now gone)

 

 

 

 

Yes, we even called in the big guns to help burn the pile of debris



On a different note:

Alexis has wanted to have chickens ever since moving here.  Well her wish has come true.  We have the chicks:

We have all been helping with converting the old shed into a chicken coop with a chicken run attached:

 



 

Jake was a good sport about laying on his back to help finish off the roosting nests

 



 

Maybe one day these chickens will pay off... I think I've spent way more money on this coop than eggs can equal.



Swimming Lessons

We've spent the last two weeks enjoying the swimming pool down at the college.  Alexis decided it was finally time to learn some better swimming techniques.  She did really well.  She passed 4 levels in just 8 lessons.


Learning to dive better:

 

 

In she goes:

Yikes, the high dive:

Can't forget the girls

The girls have been playing church ball as well, so it's only right that I give them some air time.
These girls have a great time, but I think they do more giggling and laughing than playing.

 

It sure is fun to see these girls having a great time.  Takes me back to my young women days.

The Queen is in the house

The Queen of Hearts that is.  I told Alexis this was the last year I was making a Halloween costume so she better make it a good one. This was what she came up with:

 

I think it turned out pretty good - if you don't mind me bragging for a quick second. 

 

I also have a confession to make-- I love making Halloween costumes so I can't really say for sure if this will really be the last or not.  I'm sure if I'm caught at the right minute I would say yes.

 

 

HAPPY HALLOWEEN !!

Fall colors

The fall colors around here have been so pretty this year.  Alexis and I decided to ride up the canyon and take advantage of them.  She is always good for a picture or two.  The last post was so long I will just leave you with a few pictures:

Where did August go !!

So I'm not sure where August went and I would like to say that we have done something wonderful but that's not the case.  Jake and Alexis got registered at their new school and started back on the 22nd.

Each year on the first day of school (and then the last day) I measure their height - it's fun to see how much they grow in just the short nine months of school.

This year on the first day:
  
     Jake is 5 ft 4 1/2 "                                  Alexis is an even 5 feet

The end of the month brought a surprise in the way of a bountiful garden.  I wish I could say that it was my garden but no such luck.  My sister's father and mother in-law has a large garden (haven't seen it but have heard about it).  They were very generous this year to us and gave me about 3 bushels of tomatoes, green beans, zucchini and yellow squash, carrots, cucumbers and other wonderful fruit and vegetables that I am sure I have missed.  We have thoroughly enjoyed his graciousness (is that a word?)  So after the kids would head off to school I got busy with my canning supplies.  Here's what I have been doing-

 



 

 

Here's the count to date:

 

27 pints of salsa

9 pints of beans

17 pints of tomato juice

6 quarts of tomatoes

26 pints of tomatoes

 

With our recent move I was actually pretty lucky to even find some of my canning supplies - I guess it was just meant to be, when I went to look for the bottles and canners they were on the tail end of the storage.

 

Thanks Mark & Ruth for the produce it has been greatly appreciated.



 

 





Little Miss Post-it note

I think Alexis has a fettish with paper.  She is always making lists and always doing something that involves paper.  Whether it is drawing, cutting or papercrafting.  Next to her bed is her dresser.  On the side of the dresser you will find this:

These are cute little reminders for her.  Here is a sample of what you will find:

- Don't forget to read
- Call Ally (her best friend who is currently living in Oregon)
- The mutual theme for this year- (Arise and shine forth that thy light may be a standard for the nations)
-Don't forget to pray

and lastly

-a list of things that she can do to help make herself a better person.

There are several more but I won't bore you with the details.  I love seeing these and knowing that she has a desire to do the right things.

Three Teenagers

It's official, as of today I have three teenagers in the house.  Thirteen years ago today, our family doubled in size.  Two of the cutest babies I had ever seen (ok so I'm a little partial), joined our family.  They have been such a joy and a challenge to have.  Never did I think that I would have twins one day but here I am and I wouldn't trade the experience for anything.  

I remember back to the day before they were born - it was a Tuesday.   I received a phone call from my doctor asking me when I would like to have these babies.  We had known for several months that it would be a scheduled delivery.  I asked him "when is a good day for you"?  He replied, Friday looks good".  Well, I was already one step ahead of him because I knew that Wednesday was also one of his surgery days so I replied back and said "tomorrow would even be better".  He said "let me call the hospital and check with them and call you back".  Within five minutes I received a call back saying that "tomorrow" was good to go - be at the hospital by 1:00.  And as they say, the rest is history.  

I am so glad that these two are a part of our family.  I am so proud to call them mine.  I thank my Father in Heaven each and every day for each of my children.

 

I love you guys - Happy Birthday !!!

My Budding photographers

This weekend, Jake and Alexis took over the camera for a bit and this is what we ended up with:

OK - so they may not be perfect but those two are mine - I guess I'm a little partial.

Jake and Alexis in the kitchen

After church today, Jake and Alexis decided they wanted to make something in the kitchen, so why not start with dessert? Even though it was a box mix it turned out pretty good. I guess a kid has to start somewhere right?


End result:

Lucky for me they both love to be in the kitchen creating.

A little Spring Cleaning

OK - well, maybe it's a lot of spring cleaning. I haven't really deep cleaned my house since we moved in three years ago, so I decided it was definitely time. We have gotten a good start but still have a ways to go. We started with Sierra's room and this is where I sent Alexis to clean - You got it above the closet. She's the only one small enough to get up there.

A Blue Ribbon Finish

Alexis had her first dance competition yesterday at the convention center. She placed 4th place in her age group. She was really scared because she ended up doing it by herself. The girl who was suppose to dance with her broke her leg about three weeks ago so that left her as a soloist. She did really well, however, she forgot some of her steps but like a real trooper just kept on dancing. Here are a couple pictures of her with her 4th place blue ribbon and during her dance- She danced to Happy Birthday Sweet 16

50's dance

Last month the activity day girls in our ward made poodle skirts at one of their activity nights - with lots of help from a couple moms- Last night they got to show off those skirts at their Daddy Daughter party - A 50's sock hop. Here is a picture of Alexis and Carl - don't worry Carl never smiles for pictures but I think he had a good time. I volunteered to be the "official" photographer. It was so much fun. Can't wait to see what the leader comes up with next year.

Dance, Dance, Dance

Alexis started taking dance lessons a few weeks ago and is having a great time. Here are a couple pictures of her today at dance practice. She's getting pretty good at those splits, doing better than I can.