Homade Salsa

Yesterday I went over to my friend Kari's house to can salsa. Unfortunately my tomatoes in my garden didn't do too good so I had to buy tomatoes. But we had so much fun we started at 10:30 and ended at 3:10 and Kari was still having to boil hers when I left. I loved seeing the results after we were done. We even kept some out for fresh salsa and it is so good. So if you are in need of a recipe for salsa let me know. What a way to spend a day with kids in school all day!

Hard work payed off!!!

All summer long I made the kids do homework for about 30 minutes a day. Aspen did a Summer Bridge Book and never complained. Britain on the other hand did the Summer Bridge Book and did a lesson a day from the book called "How to teach your child to read in 100 easy lessons, he complained every day and towards the last few day of vacation I was ready to quit but we plowed through it. I am so glad we did. Britain's teacher came up to me when I picked him up from school and said she tested him on reading and that he is going to be able to skip 30 lessons and jump up a reading level. I am so proud of him and to be honest I am a little proud of me!

They both had great days! Aspen said the best thing was her teacher Mrs. Johnson and Britain said his best thing was playing soccer at recess because he won! Maybe all my prayers for a good year have been heard!

First Day of School

My 4th and 1st grader in their school uniform

Britain's New Tennis Shoes
(He had to have Sketchers)

Aspen's New Tennis Shoes
(She had to have Sketcher Twinkletoes)

New Backpacks
(Aspen wanted one that looked like a purse & Britain had to have an Army one)

So last night the kids probably fell asleep between 9p.m. and 10p.m.. I think all of the excitement and nerves does that to you on the first night before school. We got up at 6a.m. so we could leave the house by 7:30a.m. so we could get to school before the bell rings at 8a.m.. The kids took lunch today and of course they both had to have ramen noodles. When we got to school we parked in front of the 3rd and 4th grade building and I asked Britain if he was o.k. to walk next door to his building and he said " Yea, of course and off he went no problem". Aspen is a little nervous because her best friend is not in her class and she is still getting to know everyone, since it is only her 2nd year at this school. So I walked her to the gym and before entering she gave me a kiss and she said " Come in with me until I find my friends, when we got in Abby waved to her and Aspen said "I am o.k. now" so off she went. Then I went to find Britain and he was at his desk all business and ready to go, he even let me kiss him goodbye and then I left them to their day. No tears this time just prayers that they have a great day!

Last day of SUMMER VACATION

We had a great last day of summer vacation. My wonderful friend Kari took us out to Windsor lake to play and we had soooo much fun. Then we came home and topped the day off with a Father's Blessing from Daddy which the kids love to have. A fantastic day but sorry to see the lazy days of summer gone!

Our Little Taste of Malaysia

Aspen couldn't even stand the smell of this fish on a stick, but Grandma dared her so she tried!

This had peanuts and little fish body parts including a little fish head!

It tasted good with the peanuts!

This was another kind of fish, not our favorite thing!

These were the things most of liked, probably some of them Aspen didn't like!

Fish on a stick, YUCK!

Gifts from Grandpa and Grandma!

We probably have the sarung on wrong!

Ryan's parents are in Malaysia on a mission and they sent us an early Christmas gift. So we had a taste of different Malaysian foods and got to dress up like them and Britain got a cool ball to play with. We had so much fun! I will say some of us enjoyed the taste testing more than others. Aspen had a really hard time trying anything and the rest of us were willing to try it all. Here are some pictures! Thanks Gardell and Leann for the experience!

Aspen's Primary Party

Aspen has a wonderful church primary teacher Sister McDonald. She is in Valiant 10 and has her best friends in this class. Sister McDonald said if they do good deeds she will write their name on a piece of paper and put it in a jar and when it is full they will have a party. The girls filled the jar and so it was party time. Some how Aspen volunteered our house so we had the pleasure of having six little girls at our house. I had to do nothing but provide the home. The girls planned the activities which included: a white elephant gift exchange, bobbing for apples, limbo, twister and murder in the dark. I took some pictures of the activity, in it you will see Britain and his friend Wesley who were kindly allowed to participate by their sisters!

Swim lessons and Internet

Today Aspen ended her swim lessons. She is in level 5 and she did really well. They really focused on the techniques of each swim stroke and how to do a roll in the water and kick off the wall to turn yourself around. Her favorite thing was at first the thing she dreaded, it was diving for a 10 lbs. block in the deep end. It took her a couple of tries but when she got it she loved it. I am sad I have no pictures but for some reason both of our camera cards were full and I left my phone at my mom's. I think we will do some more lessons this fall and sign Aspen up for a swim team next summer. I had signed Britain up this session also but his level didn't have enough people so we will have to try again next time.

We also joined the 20th century and got internet at home I am so excited now we won't have to depend on Ryan's work computer. Yea!!!

The Paul & Richardson Shoot Out

We got a 12 gauge shotgun a few months back. We hadn't loaded it or anything so our friends The Richardsons who are gun gurus invited us out to do some target shooting. Bill taught us how to load it and shoot. I was so scared at first but eventually I got use to it, but I still don't like the kick back. We had so much fun and want to go again. We are so glad for friends who have knowledge in things we don't.

Ryan's Climb of Longs Peak

Ryan's Uncle Jeff invited him to climb Longs Peak. So Ryan jumped on the idea. They stayed at his grandma's house in Lyons on Thursday and got up on Friday July 24th early and got to Longs Peak at 3:10a.m.. They reached the summit at 10:00a.m.. Ryan said after they reached The Keyhole it became very technical. It was 15 miles round trip and they got back to the car at 3:oo p.m.. Ryan was wiped when he got home and said that he wouldn't be doing that again for a long time if ever, but yesterday he told me a friend of his wants to hike it next year and he wants to go. So I guess enough time has passed that he has forgotten all the hard work! These are some of the pictures he took!

How Does Your Garden Grow?

These pictures were taken on July 18th. The carrot Ryan pulled was just to thin them out so they can get bigger. But you can see some of our harvest. Today we went out and it seems that our squash has been trampled. So we are not sure what happened. So we will see if it is worth it next year. We have some people next to us that hasn't weeded at all so it is really running into ours. All in all its been fun to see what comes up and for the kids to see how a garden works!