Solar ovens and such

Jared rocked the sun oven project at school last Friday!  He was so worried about it.  He said he was going to get an "epic fail."  After three so-so attempts over the last couple of weeks at cooking his marshmallow in under 30 minutes, he ran out of sunlight for testing before his big project was due.  As a last minute ditch effort (that he didn't even test), we threw in one final key element that ended up making all of the difference!  A lid to a miniture roasting pan (he was allowed to use items that he found around the house)!  Black and metal--perfect for absorbing heat!  And the handle was perfect for tilting the marshmallow just right to get maximum sun exposure!  A++++++  My boy came home filling all proud of himself and like the superstar of the day!  I was so thrilled for him!

Jared did a demo for me when when he got home from school :-)

Got an email today stating that registration is open for EFY next Summer.  Hanna is already super duper excited!  She wants to go to Arizona to be with Emma, one of her besties.  Did I mention she's excited!?!

Hanna's efy group from Cedar City this last Summer.

theme poster for efy 2012

Hanna didn't have school on monday this week, so we made up for all the time we didn't have together while the boys were at the annual shoot-out a couple of weeks ago (Hanna had band stuff every night while they were gone!).  I taught Hanna how to can peaches and then we went to the fabric store to get fabric for her Young Woman in Excellence project.  She is going to make a duvet cover and decorate her room.  She picked out some very fun fabric!  I can't wait to see the finished product!  I love home improvement projects!  Pictures to come!

Owen, John (cousin) and Josh (cousin) at the shoot-out

Hanna in the percussion pit on parent's day

Hanna first attempt at canning! 

The fabric Hanna chose with a teal blue contrast.

I am still provided with a Cub Scout fix once in a while! Yesterday, I got to help the boys with carpentry projects. The wolves made Birdhouses and the Bears made toolboxes. I got gorilla glue all over my hands, but thankfully managed to keep my fingers safe from hammers! The boys were all so proud of their projects.

Yesterday, I also went on a hike to the "Y" with the youth.  We had daylight on our way up, but it was completely dark by the time we got down.  The twinkling city is so pretty in the dark from the mountain!  I really enjoyed it, even though I was dreading it all day--I thought we would have the full heat of the sun and that I would poop out!  I guess I'm not in such bad shape (nevermind that I was in the slow group!).

Eleven years ago today

Eleven years ago today, I got the call. It was a call I was expecting. My dad had passed away.

My tears were full of relief for the end of suffering. Full of sorrow for my mother's loss of her husband. Full of my own selfish sorrows that I would never see him again. Full of gratitude for my testimony of our Heavenly Father's plan of happiness.

We had gone to Oklahoma for my brother Alen's wedding in April of 2000. When we got home, my mom called to tell me that they had gotten the test results back -- it was Metastatic Melanoma Skin cancer.

I saw my dad for the last time in July of that year. My family came to Utah for an emergency family reunion. He was going downhill fast. He was in a wheelchair and had an oxygen tank. Not easy to see him like that--he was only 51. I was able to do one last wonderful thing with him while he was here. I had the priveledge of taking him to the Stadium of Fire to see one of his all time favs perform--Alabama! I loved watching him sing along to the songs he knew so well. I remember running down the street back to the car to get him out of the smoke from the fireworks. We had a great night! He was smiling and happy. I think he might have even forgotten about the pain he was in for a little bit.

My handsome dad when he was young.

Before he left, I asked him on the video recorder what he wanted his grandkids to know. Do you know what he said? Three simple words filled with emotion. "the gospel's true." Thanks for your legacy of faith, daddy! I love you and miss you so much! But, I know it's true, too! So, it's not really goodbye, but till we meet again!

Ready for Halloween!

Costumes are ordered. I am off the hook!
Originally, Jared wanted to be a banana for Halloween. A BANANA!?! Today, I told him that I need to know FOR SURE what he wants to be because I need to get sewing! We have been looking through the Costume Express magazine and online for ideas for weeks now. I came accross the glowing stick man costume and knew Jared would love it! He did! Happy day! Actually, Owen wants to be a glowing stick man, too! So, I ordered them and now I have two less costumes to sew! When Hanna gets home from band, I'm hoping she has decided what she wants to be.

I have always loved sewing the kids costumes. They always turn out so cute! They always get a ton of compliments and feel really special. And, I save a ton of money! Last year, Jared was Mario and Owen was Luigi. I didn't even use a pattern and I made them for about $10 each! Gloves, hats and all! (I found the hats in the clearance section at walmart for 50 cents each!) Hanna was a hippi. All that I made for her was a vest, a peace necklace and a head band thing. And since I didn't post last year, here you go!




I am going to have a pretty awesome costume this year, too! Generally, I throw something together last minute before we head out for the evenings festivities. I am always too busy helping the kids with their costumes and such. But this year, I inherited a super cool shawl and some jewelry from Spencer's grandma when she passed away. The other day I found the perfect skirt at DI to go with it. I am going to be a gypsi type witchy woman! I think it will turn out cool! Pictures to come!

Spencer just got home, I need to help him with Pack meeting prep and pull something together for dinner. Um, maybe I should have started that sooner... But guess what I did get done today! I bottle some peaches! Yum!

The blog slacker is back!

I have been gone for awhile! I can't believe I actually remembered my password!

I don't have time to post anything wonderful right now, I just thought I'd check in and see if I even had a blog anymore. It's time to get dinner going...

When I get back on here (hopefully in the near future), I plan on changing out my retro green background. I plan to post fun and exciting pictures of our goings on. I plan to have lots of clever things to say. Ambitious, I know.

We'll see how it goes! You know I have so much time on my hands these days! hahaha