Up Up & Away

(This happened November 22, 2011) 

What a fun, relaxing evening with our friends in a HOT AIR BALLOON. We ALL surprised our husbands this year with a ride for their birthdays. The 1st flight was rescheduled due to visibility. It is quite the process to go these flights! The main office calls you a few hours before launch to let you know if it is a go. If it is, then they give you the location of pick up. We were told to meet at Del Mar Heights road Vons/Starbucks parking lots. We met up with the crew. They loaded us up into vans & off we went to the launch sight. Once at the launch site, it is still not a given that you will fly. The pilot has to set off dozens of helium filled balloons & watch how fast it takes off & the flight pattern. Everything depends on the wind....it is our fuel, so to speak. Luckily, the balloons looked good, so we watched them fill up the HUGE balloon, then we were told to QUICKLY jump in the basket. It was a beautiful flight over Rancho Santa Fe. We had nice dinner after with the Houk's, the McEwan's had to get back home :( We can now check this off our bucket list...if we had one!

Win, DaNae, Scott, Kim, Tracy & Mark

Music & the Spoken Word-Sept. 12, 2010

Cleaning out some old notebooks today & I found these notes I had written last year. Great reminder for me as my kids enter the TEEN years...

3 mothers were sitting together at a school ballgame. 2 of them were gushing over their children's talents & latest achievements. One son had just won an athletic scholarship. The other's daughter had just been chosen as the valedictorian. The 3rd mother's son had no such accomplishments but she seemed unruffled even happy for the success of the other 2. She almost sounded as proud of those children as their own mothers were. Later when asked why she didn't feel jealous, she simply explained--it is much EASIER TO CELEBRATE THAN TO COMPETE. She certainly wanted success for her own child, but she knew victories for others didn't mean failure for her. She felt confident that her son would excel in his OWN way & in his own time.

The ability to forget oneself & praise another's achievement is KEY to contented living. It's natural to feel pains of envy at another's success as if their success cancels out our own. But in reality, life is a roller coaster & we each have our own ups and downs. When we remember and cherish our own values & growth, we realize we wouldn't trade places with anyone else. When we are confident in the motives of our own hearts we can then reach out to commend others for a job well done or fortune that comes their way. This big hearted-ness is also easier when we adopt the stance of the mother at the ballgame. If we can look upon others with a parental sense of love, then we can rejoice in their achievements just as a gardener rejoices in his flower blooms. When we surround ourselves with winners, it encourages us to strive higher, rather than feel threatened.

Spring Break...Alta

We love our time up at Grandpa's Cabin...Alta Alps Chalet. We are having a very relaxing, enjoyable time. Just us, the Houk's, & Grandma & Grandpa. (Blakeley is in Washington DC) Looking forward to a few more days of snow & fun.

1 YEAR OLD!

Such a SWEET, Beautiful BOY. 

Love, Joy, Giggles, Smiles...{KISSES} 

 Ayoo' iinish' ni

Xander

My beautiful, sweet, energetic baby Xander turned 

{1 year old} today.

I really can't believe how FAST this year has flown by. 

I have enjoyed EVERY moment with him.

We had a whirlwind weekend with family in town. Grandma came on Wednesday. Thursday we hit DISNEYLAND. Friday we spent the afternoon with Uncle Denten, Aunt Amberly, Cooper, Seneca & Beckham at UNCLE DREW's basketball game in Anaheim. Later that evening, my cousin Connie & her 3 kids arrived at our house. Saturday Jace had 3 soccer games, which the entire crew watched the 10:30 game. All the Arizona people were boiling (hehehe). Then it was lunch at Harbor Fish & Chips. A quick dip in the OCEAN for some of the little kids, then home to play with the babysitter, while the adults & the 2 [pre]teen girls headed back to Anaheim for another basketball game. Sunday sacrament meeting for some, more playtime & then everyone headed their own way...Connie & Denten's crew back to Phoenix & the rest of us MORE wonderful BASKETBALL! Dinner at Johnny Rockets with Drew, Will & Gary to celebrate a WIN! It was a {GREAT} weekend. It was wonderful having grandma here. We sure MISSED Grandpa.

Grandpa & Grandma D via Skype

Tonight the Elton family came over to 

CELEBRATE lil' Xander's birthday.

I think the pictures speak for themselves. 

Grandpa Elton

Keira, Mackenna, Riley, Charles, Jace, Landon, Xander & Cheyanne

Review of What's for Dinner?

Well 3 days of cooking dinner was nice. I was prepped & prepared each day. I purchased all my ingredients on Monday. Amazing how easy things go when prepared. Imagine that!

20 min. Tostada Tuesday-- (maybe more like 30 minutes) but very fast!! I prepped my version of Homemade Salsa in the morning during baby's nap. The corn tortillas I served are made at a nearby Tortilleria. Just plain ole' corn, lime & water. YUMMY! The flour tortillias are amazing as well!
This recipe gets **** (stars) !!
Landon (6 yrs. old)--"THIS is SOOO Good! THIS is SOOO Good!" said about 5 times between bites.
Jace (10 yrs. old) Didn't say anything, because he was so busy gobbling it down.
Cheyanne (12 yrs. old) LOVE it!! Yummy! This is better than the tostadas at school. (that's good-right?) She ate 2 huge ones!
Xander (11 months old)--UH UH UH (which means GIVE ME MORE!!)

Tostada Tuesday will definitely be on the menu monthly. 

Crock Pot Lasagna--Easy to make. Threw it together real quick. However, I will omit the red crushed pepper flakes (only 1/4 tsp. I didn't think it would give it such a kick!!) A little on the soggy noodle side. My husband would really like to have sausage it in next time :)
Me & Winston gave it **1/2.
All the kids gave it *.

Roasted Chicken & veggies--YUM, easy. NEXT time will cook 2 chickens, since the 1 was kind of on the small side. Definitely not a PLUMPED up chick. Juicy & Tender. I added sweet potatoes, which everyone loved better than the carrots. This will be a new Sunday after church kind of meal.
The whole family gave this ****.

Now what's for dinner next week?

What's for Dinner??

I don't know {WHY} dinner is so taxing every night. Could it be that we are running around to everyone's activities? That it's arsenic hour & I can't think straight? Homework overload? Mostly I think it is poor planning on my part. I would much rather be doing so many other things. So this week I will be trying 3 of Jessica Seinfeld's recipes that she had on Oprah. Tonight...Turkey Tostada's. Tomorrow...Crockpot Lasagna. Thursday...Roasted Chicken. Friday...Pizza Party. Saturday...leftovers.

Halloween Treats

I made these YuMmY TrEaTs for the school {Bake Sale}. Thanks Our Best Bites! The caramel apples were heaven...gonna make some more this afternoon.

Halloween

"TAKE me back to Kansas"--Winston said when he saw Cheyanne's shoes. AHHH..."There's no place like home".

The Lion & the Lumberjack

Cad Bane-Clone Wars

-

BoBoa Fet-Star Wars VI

Ward Halloween Party

ROAR!!

My kids {LOVE} Halloween. So many festivities...Hannalei Halloween night, Chey dressed up at school, then attended the after school dance & Vista 10th Ward Trunk or Treat. Later tonight we are having a [Halloween Tween Party] for some school friends of the kids--Cheyanne invited 8 of her friends & ALL of them are coming. This HOUSE will be rockin' it out tonight!

Latest Quilts

Folk Art Flowers

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Folk Art Flowers is a pattern from a Buggy Barn Quilts Book.

French Avignon

 

 

 

I found the Avignon pattern at Moda Bake Shop. It's a Jelly Roll quilt...it was quick & easy, but I have been slow getting it finished.

I am so {HAPPY} to -almost- have these beauties finished. Just as I was at the end of the folk art flowers...major problem with the bobbin tension. NEED to [UNpick] and redo about 6 inches across...ahhhh SIGHHHHHH. Well someday I might finish it.

Laptop

I am mourning the loss of my laptop :( BOO Hoo HOO. Apparently the Mother Board is toast. Thank goodness there are genius people out there that come up with amazing products. Winston found a hard drive enclosure...pop it out, put in in the case, attach a USB cable, plug it into the home computer--VOILA--ALL MY STUFF!!! YIPPY.

I had my HP Pavillion for 3.5 years. Word of ADVICE....back up, back up & back up again.

Arrow of Light

Jace earned the highest award in [Cub Scouts] tonight! Lots of hard work over the summer, a super duper leader & aunt, a mom that was on top of it & a helpful dad...(it takes a village).

Congratulations, Jace...We are proud of you & we {LOVE} you soooo much.

More Awards for my mom to SEW :)

Cousin Riley & Jace

Pumpkin Seeds

DIVINE!! I don't think I will ever eat pumpkin seeds any other way!! I cheated & put everything together while they toasted. Next round of pumpkin cleaning, I will do it the right way & see if it is any different.

Sugar & Spice Pumpkin Seeds

I think my kids will gobble them up after church today :)

Pumpkin Muffins

Yummy chocolate chip [PUMPKIN] Muffins.

1 1/2 c. flour

1 tsp. baking soda

1 tsp. baking powder

1/2 tsp. cinnamon

1/2 tsp. salt

2 eggs

1 c. sugar

1 c. pumpkin puree 

 1/3 c. oil & 1/3 c. applesauce (or 3/4 c. oil) 

1 c. chocolate chips

Mix together. Overflowing 1/4 c. scoop in muffin tins.

400` 15-20 minutes

12 muffins

*This is my friend Dayna Woolley's recipe. Many years ago when we were VT companions, we visit taught 3 ladies. One was a full time working mom, one was a part-time working mom & the other a stay at home like us. All of us had little kids from elementary age on down to lil' babes. We decided to get together once a month and cook dinner. We would take turns picking a recipe, split up the ingredients (bringing enough for 5 families), bring our own pan, then meet at someone's home & cook. We each had dinner for the evening, a new recipe, time with friends, sign off on Visiting teaching & our working mom sister had dinner when she got home. We did this for a little over a year. It was so much fun to chit chat while we cooked. This pumpkin recipe was one that we made with some kind of casserole. It is now a staple muffin at our house. My kids & hubby gobble them up.

September...

Time is flying by so quickly. Each day is busy!! I feel like I can't catch my breath! Carpool Monday, Wednesday morning & Friday to Hannalei. My boys, my nephew & niece and my friend's little girl. I rush back home, pick up Cheyanne, drop her off at school, then hit my Personal Touch training class by 8:40. Jazzercise has taken a backseat the past few weeks. I find that Xander's naps are essential for my sanity. Xander is ready for his nap by 9:30 and {THANK GOODNESS} he sleeps for about 3 hours. This is my chance to shower, do laundry, clean up the house, then do something fun for myself--quilt, read, water the garden or just catch up on email. After nap, we play, eat & play some more. Once the kids are out of school...it's go go go until bedtime.

Monday...all kids have PIANO. I drop off the boys, bring Aleta's kids home, pick up Cheyanne, bring Jace back home for scouts, go back & pick up Cheyanne & Landon, then take Cheyanne to soccer practice. Mondays...CRAZY. Somehow we have to fit in homework, dinner & FHE.

**Landon's comment before piano-BORING. After, "I LOVE IT!" He is even happy to practice. Hopefully his excitement will continue when he learns to play more than 4 notes.

Tuesday...NO DRIVING for me :) except Chey to school, but since that is down the street, it is a 5 minute round trip drive if we hit the light. Soccer for Jace & Riley. Winston takes Landon to soccer. Cheyanne has BALLET then Young Woman's at 7 pm.

Wedneday...AHHHH back to the STUDIO. I love teaching all my clogging kids. This year is really low key. I only have 30 students & teach 3.5 hours. It is ideal for our busy family & my cloggers that love to clog, still get a team class. My wonderful husband takes care of the kids at home. Cheyanne & Jace have their clogging classes back to back. I get home in time for Winston to go to church meetings. This week he attended Ward Temple night.

Thursday...repeat of Tuesday, but instead of Ballet...she has JAZZ. And no YW.

Friday...Chey has Irish dance & Winston plays hockey at 10 PM.

Saturday...3 kids...3 soccer games at 3 different fields!! You do the math.

Boy, I am tired just reading that! I haven't even commented on my calling as Personal Progress leader. Soccer goes until the end of October. After that, then our life really slows down. Then maybe I will be able to catch my breath. 

School....

I love the 1st day of school. The kids were all excited & anxious last night. They each received a beautiful father's blessing. Landon said, "What did you put on my head, daddy?" After Jace had his blessing, Landon tenderly said, "Did you feel it too, Jace". I love those moments when they feel the Spirit of God so strong. We tapped in that feeling and talked more about the Holy Ghost & how nice it feels to have him with us all the time.

This morning was nice & calm as the kids got their lunches ready, morning chores done & out the door. Now what will me & the baby do....don't worry, I've already got a LONG list of things I want to accomplish.

7th grader

5th grader

Mrs. Ireland! We are so excited to have you again. She was Jace's 1st grade teacher.

1st grader

The shoes got loads of attention today!

Summer Recap

Summer has come & gone in a flash! We had such mild...even down right COLD...summer weather that our family really only wanted to hang out at home. We spend our time playing the Wii, playing with cousins, SEWING, playing with the BABY, watering our garden, prepping & pouring a patio & READING. OHHHH the joys of a relaxed summer day. Now let the games begin....

Julie Dawn Photography: {MOSQUITOS}....10,000 feet in the mountains...BEAU...

Julie Dawn Photography: {MOSQUITOS}....10,000 feet in the mountains...BEAU...

Sandy Xandy

Beach Baby

We had a fun night at a beach party tonight. Xander had his first beach experience. He {LOVED} it. Jace called him "Sandy Xandy".