New Tabletop

One project completed, a million more to do.....

When we bought our dining set I didn't think about what a pain the grooves, that make the table look like a wood plank table, would be to clean. Nor did I realize that it would be a hinderance in doing writing exercise or homework. I don't like throwing things away or getting something new because of a minor detail, so I came up with a solution- make a removeable tabletop.

I had The Doc cut me a tabletop from 1/4 inch Medium Density Fiberboard (MDF) which I lined with non-slip drawer liner to protect the table and then I covered it with oil cloth.

This is a before picture of our tabletop, or the best that I could find

http://docfamily.blogspot.com/2008/11/our-little-peanut.html

Here are the after pictures.

The Model A

The Doc's grandfather, whom Brigham's middle name is after, owned a Model A. I can't remember the entire story behind this piece of history, but if memory serves me correctly, The Doc's Grandpa Casey restored the Model A. During our visit this past summer we took a few fun photos, and these were my favorites.

I can tell that we're gonna be friends

Enjoy the pictures from the kids' first day of school. Brigham has the same 1st grade teacher that Emma had last year, and we are thrilled. Emma has a teacher new to the school. Because of the craziness of the day, I didn't snap a photo of Emma with her 2nd grade teacher. I will make a point at some time in the year to do so.

This year Emma is in class with her best friends, and she could not be happier. We are still in the early weeks of school, and having to challenge Emma at home with her reading. I am sure once her teacher gets her bearings teaching with the Harbor Method, Emma will be coming home with homework at her level. For reading log this month Emma chose to read "Harry Potter and the Sorcer's Stone." When she turns her reading log in at the end of the month she will have clocked close to 700 minutes in reading, well beyond the required 150. She begs to read, and I frequently threaten to take away reading time as punishment. Very much like her dad, she has her next book already picked out- The Book of Three by Lloyd Alexander, which was given to her by dad as a present from a recent adventure, Cycle Oregon (that's for another post).

Brigham is so excited to have this cute teacher for 1st grade. I think that is all he talked about leading up to school. He definitely keeps Mrs. B very entertained with his witty & funny comments. Mrs. B said "He must be related to Emma, because he is brilliant." I have a good chuckle whenever I run into parents, teachers or other adults at the school who have come across Brigham. I will mention his name in a conversation, and a passerby will stop and gush "I love Brigham. He is so cute, and so smart."

We're Going to be Friends by Jack Johnson
Fall is here, hear the yell

Back to school, ring the bell

Brand new shoes, walking blues

Climb the fence, books and pens

I can tell that we are going to be friends

Yes I can tell that we are going to be friends

Walk with me Suzy Lee

Through the park and by the tree

We can rest upon the ground

And look at all the bugs we've found

Safely walk to school without a sound

We safely walk to school without a sound

Well here we are no one else

We walk to school all by ourselves

There's dirt on our uniforms

From chasing all the ants and worms

We clean up and now it's time to learn

We clean up and now it's time to learn

Numbers letters learn to spell

Nouns and books and show and tell

Play time we will throw the ball

Then back to class through the hall

The teacher marks our height against the wall

The teacher marks our height against the wall

And we don't notice any time pass

Because we don't notice anything

And we sit side by side in every class

The teacher thinks that I sound funny

But she likes it when you sing

Tonight I'll dream in my bed

While silly thoughts run through my head

Of the bugs and alphabet

And when I wake tomorrow I'll bet

That you and I will walk together again

Because I can tell that we are going to be friends

I can tell that we are going to be friends

Smidge behind the 8-ball

"I fear we are too often wishing for something other than what we currently have- living in survival mode and just getting by instead of seizing the moment and deciding to thrive." ~DeAnne Flynn

Life has really taken off. I can't say that I am "busy." Just the priorities have shifted for the time being. I am reading an awesome book "The Time-Starved Family" by DeAnne Flynn. I decided that I don't want to merely "survive" but rather "thrive" in my life.

I will have to post my favorite quotes when I get done. I have been making notes in the margins just as I did in college when reading. I had gotten away with that practice, thinking for some unknown reason that I had to keep my books pristine. It has been extremely helpful, especially when I want to recall a favorite quote, or jot down a personal thought. *gasp* I am even thinking about passing books onto friends or family, (well maybe not family, that feels wierd, and some members of The Doc's family get riled up and offended if a book is passed onto them). So family if you are reading this, and want a book I have read, just ask. I don't want to make any tension more icky and awkward than is already present.

It's been awhile since I have taken time to write. I have about 6 posts that I have waiting in my queue, yet I have 4 adorable kids who are changing, growing, evolving every day into these incredible human beings. Needless to say watching my children, and enraptured by them have taken precendence over writing to you, my beloved friends and family, about their and my happenings. I have also been in complete awe of my husband, the father that he has become, the man that he has developed into, and all that he has set before himself to accomplish.

Thank you for understanding.

This turned into this

So I planted these.......

And got these.......

To make this......

I made homemade tomato sauce, and from the little tastes I have taken it is divine. I am going to freeze it in batches, as I don't have enough to can. I modified a recipe I found in Cook's Illustrated, one of my favorite cooking magazines, and that can be found at Half Dozen Family Favorites: Homemade Tomato Sauce.

I feel like the Little Red Hen, but I had help, alot of help. I get such a high from growing, tending, producing all with God's help, and then turning the end product into something delish. It is a definite that we will be having spaghetti this week as part of meal plan.

Gaagoon!

Gaagoon! is what Reed fondly calls Lagoon. We had the amazing opportunity to hang out at Lagoon for a day during the family reunion that we organized in July for The Doc's siblings and parents. Thank you to Josh's sister in-law who works at Deseret Books for getting us the discounted tickets, that we had left at our home.

It was by far the most fun-filled day out of the week. The highlights of the day: The Doc's youngest sister went on a rollercoaster for the first time. Brigham went on the "old white" rollercoaster, train rides, and may other rides. Reed wasn't fond of the water ride he accompanied Matt on, as seen in the pictures below. Lorien loved the boat ride. Reed and Marina seemed inseparable, as was Camryn, Alexis and Emma. The happiest memory of the day was hanging out with family that we haven't seen in a year. It is something we will cherish for the rest of our lives.





I took close to 200 photos, and chose my favorites. Enjoy the pictures! (a note to family: if there is a photo you want, let me know).

Getting together with old friends

(a long series of posts documenting our fun in Utah & Wyoming in July)

We have friends who are now living in Salt Lake City. The husband, Rich, attended medical school with The Doc, and the wife, Jayna and I became good friends after they married. Completely unplanned, we have four kids each that are the same ages, give or take a few months. Emma and Sydney are just a week apart. It's fun to get together with them. Although gone are the weekly game nights or Friends/Survivor viewing parties, when we do have the chance to enjoy each other's company once again, it's as though we picked up where we left off, and no time has passed other than that we have aged. I wished there had been more time to spend with Rich, Jayna and their four beautiful children.

This picture was taken when Emma and Sydney were two months old.

This is them now, seven years later.

The two of them got along so well. I hope that I can take Emma down to Salt Lake City for a girl's weekend some time soon to hang out with Jayna and Sydney, or even better yet schedule another trip to Utah and hang out with the entire family.

Brigham and Spencer also hit it off. The two of them are close in age, and share a LOVE of all things Star Wars and Legos.

Boating with Josh & Nat

I know I am behind in posting stuff that happened a month ago. During our trip in July to Wyoming and Utah we took an afternoon to go boating with two of The Doc's siblings and his brother's wife (Josh, Natalie, and Heidi), our nieces (Alexis, Camryn, Marina) and our nephews (Preston, Dallin, and Logan). Of course our brood was there as well.

Reed who is our little daredevil, was apprehensive about going out on the innertube, but once he got out he loved it. Reed has a phobia of water, and thankfully through the help of swim lessons this summer, we have gotten him to actually get into the water without screaming.

The kids had fun hanging out together. They are all close in age, and it's always fun to see them together. Of course the favorite activity was taking rides in the innertube.

The Doc and his brother, Josh, busted some moves out on the water. About the time that they went out on the water to wakeboard the wind picked up and white caps started appearing, making it hard to wakeboard. It ended up taking an hour to get the boat docked. After some cuts and bruises the guys managed to get the boat in.