Deep Sea Fishing

Last Thursday Dustin had the opportunity to go deep sea fishing! He used to work for a construction company and his old boss goes fishing every year with some of his crew workers. Dustin has gone a couple times with them and always has a great time. He said this year was he favorite so far! He invited my dad and brother to go along with him this time. They left Thursday afternoon on a charter bus with twenty other people and drove to San Diego, California. When they arrived in San Diego they loaded up on an 85' fishing boat and headed out to sea.

Dustin said there were so many dolphins. This is one of my favorite pictures he took. I love that he caught a few of the dolphins jumping. And the ocean looks so blue and beautiful!

Here are some of the fish they caught. The fish are huge and to catch them you real them up to the boat but not out of the water. When the fish is close enough you yell to a "shipmate" and he comes and gaffs (stabs) the fish with a hook and pulls it up out of the water. Ocean fish are different from a bass or striper you would catch at a lake. They are bigger and they bleed a lot! In another picture I didn't post there is blood everywhere! I asked Dustin if someone got murdered with the fish hook. It was too gross - blood everywhere. He laughed at me and assured me that only the fish bled and that no one died. They have people on the boat who's job is to clean the deck after - yuck, talk about a "Dirty Job" -(love that show!)

Anyway the weather was beautiful but the fish weren't biting an awful lot. Total there were 14 fish caught. These fish are yellow fin and albacore tuna.

My dad, Stan and my brother, Justin with his huge fish.

The fishermen - Justin, Stan and Dus

The boat was called Ocean Odyssey

Dus had so much fun and was so happy that he was able to go. Maybe next year I'll be brave enough to try out my sea legs. But I'd probably be sick the whole time, so maybe not. But I'm glad he had a good time and I'm glad he survived driving through California and made it home safely.

After church today my dad grilled up some of the tuna steaks. I had some but it is hard for me to get passed the smell of fish. I plugged my nose and took a few bites but I prefered the chicken. Dustin thought is was good and Allie ate a bunch. So more for them!

Splash Pad

I went to the splash pad in Moapa this morning with Jill and Wendy. Their boys loved splashing and running through the sprinklers. But Allie was a little bit less excited about the whole idea. She's not a fan of getting water in her face. She loves swimming but not splashing. I held her and ran under a few sprinklers and she said, "Mom, this is like a shower! I don't like it!"

So instead she, Mark and I sat on the benches in the shade and watched everybody play. I had fun and turned it into an impromptu photo shoot.

It was a beautiful morning. Not too hot and a little breeze - couldn't have asked for nicer weather just to sit outside and enjoy the day..

For Jill and Wendy

Here are some pictures of your cute boys!

Isaac and Ty

1st Day of School

Today was Estefan's first day of kindergarten! We walked from his mom's house to the elementary school. Luckily for us it wasn't too hot!

Estefan and his teacher Mrs. (Aunt) Hardy as he called her.

Mommy Lauren and Bud playing play-dough

Estefan and Caleb. They get to sit at the same table and they're in the same work group. I think that Estefan was sick of having his picture taken at this point!

It was so fun to go with him on his first day. He looked so hansome and grown up!

I was so glad to see so many other moms that I knew. There were lots of kids from our ward there. So I'm sure that Estefan will have no trouble finding lots of friends. I'm excited to have my son grow up with such good kids.

Camping with the Kids

Dustin took Allie and Estefan on a little camping trip Friday afternoon. They wanted to celebrate Estefan's last school free weekend. Their plan was to go up Bunkerville mountain and camp at Wiregrass spring. But they blew a tire on the Riverside exit!

Estefan and the flat tire

The flat tire didn't stop them. They unloaded the fourwheeler and kept on going up to Nicklecreek and set up camp.

Allie and the tent. She loves spending time with daddy and Bud!

A beautiful evening

We love the desert.

Kids Say The Darndest Things...

Oh! This kid is too funny! Just when I think I've got him figured out, he throws me a curve ball!

He and Allie where playing in his room and then he comes walking into the kitchen where I was cooking dinner and looks up at me and says,

Estefan - "Sometime's Allie really gets on my nerds"

Me - "What? You mean nerves?"

E - "No, my nerds"

Me - "You mean ner-VES"

E - "No, she gets on my n-ERDS!"

Me - "Um... ok, sometimes she gets on my nerds too, hehehe!"

Ohhh, gee. What to say? I just love Estefan!

Little Cheerleader

Yesterday, Aunt Heather took Allie to the MVHS junior cheer camp.

She had lots of fun playing with the other little girls and watching Heather.

Allie said, "Mommy, mommy, Heather throws girls up high!"

Heather is a base for the vasity squad and really does throw girls up high.

She 's a great cheerleader and we love her.

Go Pirates!

He's a KINDERGARTENER!

Yesterday was Estefan's last day of preschool.

He had a great teacher, Mrs. Parker at Kids Kids Kids.

In preschool he has learned...

how to read

how to count to 14

shapes

colors

and of course he has perfected the art of playing.

Estefan starts kindergarten Monday. He says he's kind of nervous but a little excited too.

His kindergarten teacher is my great aunt and when I told him that he said

"You mean I have more aunts?"

I said, "Yeah, Aunt Ann is Grandpa Glen's sister in law."

He looked at me with wide eyes and said, "What's a sister in law."

That's when I gave up.

He's so funny.

He's in the same class as his cousin, Caleb.

We're excited for them.

Good luck Monday! Love ya Bud!

Cowboy Casserole

I've been riding my new horse, Gus, almost everyday and he's doing very well. Yesterday we had a little miscommunication and I ended up in the dirt but we're over that and today was much better. He's only two years old and still has a lot of training to do - but we are learning together.

So in honor of my cowboy antics I made Cowboy Casserole. I found the recipe in Parenting magazine and my whole family loved it! So of course I have to share it with ya'll.

The magazine called it Cowboy Bake but I think the alliteration of Cowboy Casserole makes it sound that much more yummy!

Cowboy Casserole

Cooking spray
1 medium onion
1 clove garlic, chopped
2 Tbs olive oil
1 lb boneless chicken breast, cubed
1 (10oz) can tomatoes
1 cup frozen corn kernels
pinch chili powder
1/2 tsp salt
pinch of cayenne pepper
1 cup grated Monterrey jack cheese
Topping: 1 (8.5oz) package corn bread mix

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Coat a 9 inch pie pan with cooking spray. In a large skillet, saute onion and garlic in oil for 2 minutes.
2. Add chicken and brown, then add tomatoes, corn, chili powder, salt, and pepper to skillet and cook 10 minutes, stirring occasionally. Pour into pie pan and top with grated cheese.
3. In a mixing bowl, prepare corn bread mix according to the package. Spread evenly over chicken mixture and bake for 30 minutes or until corn bread topping is lightly browned and the filling is bubbling!


Its super yummy! Happy cooking!

5 Random Facts

Rules: Name 5 random things about yourself, then tag 5 people. Make sure you comment on their blog to let them know they have been tagged!

Plus - If you want, add a random picture.. kinda makes it more fun!

*My Random Picture

Dus and Me at Virginia City. We're riding a camel!

* 5 Random Facts

1. I don't like the movies Snow White or Pinocchio. Dustin has informed me that I am odd because they are classics. I however think they are scary.

2. I hate doing my hair and make up. If I were rich I'd hire someone (probably Ashley) to get me ready every morning.

3. I also don't like dressing fancy - white cotton t-shirts and blue jeans are all I need.

4. I love, love, love cake and homemade icecream!

5. I love having babies and I secretly want to have ten more!

I tag - Heather, Amy, Vicki, Lisa and Roby

Cherries, Cherries and more Cherries

Saturday my mother in law, Gaye was so excited to have a box of cherries to bottle! Little did she know what she was really getting herself into. She came home with 20 boxes of cherries! She gave 4 boxes away but we still had a ton left. And they were about to go bad so we had to act fast and do something with them ASAP! So I spent about 5 hours with her and my sister in law, Jill Saturday pitting and bottling cherries! When we were done there were around 40 quart jars full and lots and lots more in ziplock bags to freeze. We worked our little tails off but I think It'll be worth it when we make cherry jam and cherry crisps!

Slave labor

Jill and I pitting cherries

Who's gonna clean this up?

Gaye, the Queen of bottling

Some of the fruits of our labor

My hands and finger nails will be stained purple for quite a while!

Although it was lots of work and time consuming. I had lots of fun talking and giggling with Jill and Gaye. It was good girl bonding time. And I got some cherries out of the deal!

Rollie Pollie

Mark did it! He rolled over for real! He's had a few lucky rolls but this time was definitely intentional. He dropped his shoulder and leaned over and then bam - he was on his back.

So I ran to get the camera, set it to the video setting, flipped him back over to his tummy and waited. No deal. He just stared at me and smiled.

So I changed the setting back to pictures and what does he do?

He rolls over!

I was so lucky to get these pictures.

So then of course I flip him back over and set the camera to video again.

Nothing!

Silly boy! I guys he really doesn't want to be filmed.

At least I got some still shots.

Hey There! I like to drool!

Here I go! Are you watching?

Almost over!

I did it! YEAY!

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Now some random thoughts...

They postponed Harry Potter and the Half Blood Prince!!! Instead of releasing it in November the stinking movie people are waiting til next JULY!!! That means we have to wait another year to see it! There reason: MONEY! They want to wait til the same weekend that The Dark Knight opened this summer to release it next year cuz they think they can make more money that way. The President of Warmer Brothers said that the movie was completely done and he's seen it but they just want to wait. What a huge bummer. That's like giving me a wrapped present and then taking it back! Dang guys.

Good news... Twilight is still on for its December release.

More good news... My teeth, or lack of teeth, are healing. I didn't even take medicine yesterday and my face has almost completely lost the chipmunk look!

Thankful Thursday

I've been bitten by the Thankful Bug.

I don't know what I'd do without some of these things and I just want to let everybody know how thankful I am for them!

Here goes

I'm thankful for...

*Anesthesia - wouldn't have been brave enough to get my teeth pulled without it!

*Instant Mashed Potatoes - a life saver when you can't eat much else

*Instant Pudding - same reason

*Stretch Denim Capris - they give the impression I'm dressed, but I still feel like I'm wearing my jamies... and I feel like I've lost weight by the end of the day.

*Binkies

*Bottles

*Baby Wipes

*Blankets

*Bathtubs

*Bouncy Chairs

*Oxy Deep Clean, floor cleaner - for those potty training accidents. POOF! Their gone!

*6 Minute Abs - my way to get rid of the baby fat

*Dustin My Love - thanks for being Mr. Mom the last few days. I love you sa much - you really are the best!

Breaking Down the Dawn

I finished the forth book in the Twilight series, Breaking Dawn.
I almost quit half way through because it was getting pretty crazy... but I forged to the end and I'm glad I did. The ending was perfect. I couldn't imagine a better close to Bella's crazy journey.

Dustin called me a zombie, because all's that I've been doing has been reading. I thought - cool a zombie, I'll fit right in this crazy supernatural world. But really my wisdom teeth ordeal was my true excuse for doing nothing but read. So I don't feel too guilty.

I'm a little torn as to what I think that picture on the cover means. Any ideas?
Stephenie Meyer said that she purposely chose the apple on the cover of Twilight (which I get) but the Tulip on New Moon wasn't significant in any way. I'm not sure of the picture on the cover of Eclipse either... again ideas?

Also I'd like to hear what other people thought of the series. Let's hear it.. let's Break down the dawn!

Yesterday, Today and Tomorrow

Dustin took both the big kids to Cannonville! I can't believe how quiet the house is. Just me and Mark and my book. I can honestly say I've been reading Eclipse since they left and I my mind has me wondering... I half expect a vampire to jump out at me when I turn a corner. Its crazy that the chaos of a noisy home brings me comfort. Part of me wishes I would've gone. But I've got a date with the tooth fairy Monday morning, bright and early. I don't know how I'll be next week so I decided to get some cleaning done and relax before I loose all my wisdom. I know I won't do too much til this book is read. But Mark is a great distraction from the quiet!

Wednesday night it rained harder than I've seen it in a long time - like golf balls were dropping on our roof. The power went out for a while and we enjoyed it by reading "bed night" stories by candle light. It got a little warm without the air conditioner but I'll admit I love it when the power goes off and our family sits in the soft glow of the candles surrounding us. Then after Allie and Mark were asleep - Estefan was wide awake! - Me, Dus and Estefan sat outside on the porch swing watching the town light up with each burst of lightning. We sat outside until the rain started coming at us sideways, when the wind picked up. I love a good rain storm. I love it so much because it doesn't rain here very much and when we get it - its such a blessing. I'll even take the dang, sticky humidity if it means rain!!

Yesterday evening we went crusin' on the wheeler. Mostly we played at the dam. Also Dustin planted the fall garden! Let me think - we've got corn, bush beans, carrots, onions, watermelon, pumpkins, I think some squash, there's more I know... anyway Dustin planted a lot of stuff. Enough to keep me busy canning this winter.

Views from our four wheeler ride...

Playing at the dam...

Workin' in the garden...

Good night Dus, Bud and Allie! Love you guys - don't stay up all night!

Midnight Sun

I was looking at the Stephenie Meyer's website and ran into this!
I thought I'd share it with all you Twilight lovers out there! Its Edward's side of the Twilight book - told from his eyes instead of Bella's! Its only the first chapter. The book will be coming out sometime. I'm not sure when. Anyway happy reading!!!

http://www.stepheniemeyer.com/pdf/midnightsun_chapter1.pdf

I'm in The Zone

The Twilight zone that is.

I know its been a well blogged about topic with the forth book coming out only a few days ago but I have to put in my two cents.

I love it.

The sparkling essence of Edward drew me in from the first introduction of his character.

Bella has been a little bit harder for me to accept, maybe because I'm just jealous of her - I'm not sure. But I think it may be how she's played as the a typical damsel in distress.

But really, what is a good romance without the D.I.D.?

Jacob is a sweetheart but I do believe I'm still secretly routing for Edward and Bella to end up together. Its because of the way Edward can act human around her. How his human instincts are resurfacing with every touch of Bella's hand. I haven't got to the next two books yet but for some reason I think their love can transform him back to the man he once was.

Laundry, dishes, cooking, cleaning, blogging... everything really has been put on hold! I can't put this book down.

Twilight gets two thumbs way up from me!

Yummy!

Friday I fed Mark solid foods for the first time! He loved the rice ceral.
He's such a little oinker that bottles weren't doing it for him. I started Allie on rice cereal when she was four months so I thought I'd give it a shot. And sure enough he's loving it.

What is this stuff Mom? OH I kinda like it!

Mom, do you have to take pictures of everything I do?

Yummy Yummy in his Tummy!!