Final Fling

Our summer vacation is quickly drawing to a close. We decided to have a final fun adventure before we are back to the daily grind.  We landed in Seattle for our end of the summer blast.

Here we are on the top of the Space Needle. It was JR and the girls first time on top.  I haven't been up there since I was about 8.  It's amazing to think that it will be 50 years old  in 2012.

The day was so beautiful and clear we could see forever!

(Including Mt Adams that JR climbed this summer)

Then we headed to Pike Street to eat our way through the market. We had hot mini doughnuts, chocolate dipped macaroons, pot stickers on a stick, bulgogi (a beef Korean BBQ), white nectarines, chocolate covered blueberries....So yummy! [I don't like seafood. So, though there is tons of it available we didn't eat any, yuck]

If you look in the background you can see a wedding party there for their pictures.

To end our trip we headed to the Seattle temple.  The girls love to go to the temple on our trips because their Primary has any child that has visited the temple that week come up and put a "fuzzy" in the jar.  My girls love to be able to go up.

Currently the temple is closed for cleaning. We were glad because we had the grounds all to ourselves. The Seattle temple has beautiful and extensive grounds. We didn't have time to walk all of it. The girls loved the bronze statues. Here they are playing Ring Around the Rosy. These statues remind me of the ones at the Nauvoo Visitor Center I always played on when I was a kid. 

Here are JR and E, R, and H on the back side of the temple

Here are JR and R. They were the only ones patient enough to wait while I tried to get closer. 

Here are all 4 of the girls. This is still on the temple grounds. We wanted to include S who was trapped in the stroller the whole time. Hopefully, soon she will be out running around with the rest.

We also were able to have dinner with JR's cousin and family. It was a great end to our summer vacation!

Life is Better at the Beach

So as the summer is winding down we decided it would be fun to head to the beach. FYI, the beach is one of my favorite places to go. I love warm beaches and cold beaches (I prefer warm). There is just something magical about looking out at the waves rolling in as the sand squishes between your toes.

I took this picture out the car window because I liked the view.

JR and S enjoying the day. It was sunny, but windy. We had to stay bundled up. 

Unless of course you are young. Then you play in the water for hours until you realize you are freezing! Thank goodness for a sister to cuddle with. 

 E is smiling because she has a dry towel and the sun. 

Here the girls are enjoying the sand and sun. I think they are discussing how to dig a hole to China. 

It was a lovely way to spend the day at the beach.

Summer 2011

Zucchini Chocolate Cake

Here is a great recipe if you have zucchini you need to use. My friend Leanne C. shared this recipe with me a few years ago.

1/2 C softened butter
1/2 C oil
1 3/4 C sugar
2 eggs
1 t vanilla
1/2 C buttermilk (if you don't have buttermilk, add 1/2 T of vinegar to 1/2 C of normal milk. Thanks to Grandma Z for that cooking trick)
2 1/2 C flour
4 T unsweetened cocoa
1/2 t baking powder
1/4 t salt
1 t baking soda
1/2 t cinnamon
1/2 t cloves
2 C finely chopped zucchini
1 1/2 C chocolate chips

Add butter, oil, and sugar. Cream together. Add eggs and beat in.  Mix in vanilla and buttermilk. in a Separate bowl combine flour, cocoa, baking powder, salt, baking soda, cinnamon, and cloves.  Gradually mix into other bowl. Fold the zucchini and 1 C of chocolate chips to the batter. Pour into a greased 9x13 pan. Sprinkle the remaining 1/2 C of chocolate chips on top. Bake at 350 degrees for 40-45 minutes.

Enjoy!

A Piece of My Heart

Yesterday, a friend held Sarah during Sacrament Meeting. Then I had to teach in Primary. So JR took her for the next two hours. After church I was ready to hold my baby. I don't think I have ever been awhile from her for 3 hours while she is awake.

That experience made me think back to the first day of school, specifically to each of the girls first day of kindergarten.  It is a day of mixed emotions. You are happy that your child is old enough to have this great growing experience, but sad because they won't be home with you all the time. That is a good thing too. I soon learned that even after the kids were away they came home with hugs, kisses and wanting to snuggle with me.

Gradually, kids grow. They become more independent.  They aren't rushing home to be with you.  Then one day it is time for them to be out on their own. This is the goal. We want to raise competent, independent adults.  Sometimes that comes at a price.This weekend, a couple of friends took their oldest to start summer term at college.  I heard through the grape vine that one dad said is like they left a piece of them behind as they are traveling home.  Here I am at the beginning stage with one child and further down the road with others. I am scared, dreading, hopefully and happy for the day I leave a piece of my heart and they start their own journey. BUT for now, I will hug them even tighter and rush to see them when I have been away and treasure the time I have with them!

Yes we are still here

We are busy,

 but life is GOOD!

(someday I will get caught up)

A Royal Faux Pas

When we were discussing a name for our latest, little bundle we strongly considered Katherine Middleton. I decided that people might think the name sounded odd, and it was axed. I nearly fell out of my chair when within two weeks of our littlest's birth, Prince William announced he was engaged to Catherine Middleton. Better known to the world as Kate. I am so glad that we avoided that Royal faux pas! It would have been hard to convince some that it was coincidence with how close the two events occurred.

Easter 2011

I have totally given up on my blog having any order.  Since my sister just put the pictures online from Easter I figured I would just do this post. This year Easter was at my house (which is why I have no pictures of my own). My brother and his family, and sister and her family were able to come. Here are some pictures, I hope you enjoy.

Uncle Randy with S, ET, and G

 ET is really shy. I sometimes call him Brick, like the kid in "The Middle". ET puts his head down, but doesn't talk to himself. ET did like S though. Hopefully, he will like his future brother as well.

 Uncle David and SB

Auntie Reva, V, JR and me working in the kitchen

 A helping too

 Brick riding Wilbur (that is what we call the horse)

 N showing off her haul from the egg hunt. Her birthday was Friday, so we celebrated her birthday with Easter.

SB, Uncle David, H (front and center), and RC

 The kids yelling "Hi" to Grandma and Grandpa

 The bunny cake. My girls did a great job decorating it.

 S hanging out with Uncle David and Auntie Reva as they look at Grandma and Grandpa's 40th Anniversary book.

Unfortunately, I didn't get a picture of the girls all together on Easter, maybe I can get one later.