Books I have read so far....

MaryAnn gave me this set of books for Christmas. All I can say, it is good thing I was still not up to par and could sit around without feeling to quilty and read. I love to read. These books were really good. The story starts out in the pre-mortal world, and the war in heaven. The story continues on with the people on earth and the battle they face each day with the evil one trying to get them to do wrong things. You know that Satan is here with all his followers, it just makes you think about life a little different. To listen to the promptings that you get. To choose the right. To make good choices.

Good books! Thanks MaryAnn...

Shooting guns with Grandkids, January 15, 2011

Mark went with Jesse, Gwyn, Megan and Jeramiah to shoot their guns that they got for Christmas. It looks like they had lots of fun. And may be hooked. Gwyn got a 'pink' 22 and Jeramiah got a black 22.

Jeramiah with his safety goggles on, ready to shoot. Megan and Gwyn with theres. Jesse gave them all a safety lesson before they got to load up the guns.

the targets, they are all pretty good shots!

Megan & Gwyn...Setting up and ready to start shooting. Daddy (Jesse), Jeramiah

Daddy (Jesse) Jeramiah, Megan.

Mesquite Dutch Oven Cook-off, Jan. 6-7, 2011

What a fun adventure. We went to Mesquite, Nevada for a Dutch Oven cook-off. It was a $60. entry fee. The Hotel was really cheap to stay at, the food was very reasonable to buy for dinners and breakfast. The company was great. And MaryAnn and her family happened to be in town to take care of their bees...so it was even better. They stayed at the same hotel as us, The CasaBlanca. And their room was just across the hall for us. So, the boys Jake & Clay stayed in our room at night time, so everyone got a bed to sleep in.
We got there, the parking guy came up to Mark and asked him about the rope hanging out the back of the truck. You can only imagine what Mark said, "Oh, my gosh! Buffy!" And then he started to laugh. You know the movie about National Lapoon Vacation?
Then when Addie got to the hotel, she came in our room and with a huge smile on her face, and eyes wide with excitement, she said, "I love hotels!!!!" What a hoot.

Friday morning we got up early and headed down to the cooking area to get setup. Everyone was so excited to get set up. We were set up for about 2 1/2 hours before we could start to cook. We went around and talked to everyone and introduced ourselfs. Lots of new people at this one. There was 16 teams, the top 8 would go onto the next day.

Landscape pictures Mark took while we were there. It looks cool to see the palm trees against the mountains with snow on them. The temp. during the day was about 56 - 59 degrees. Compare that to 20 back in Salt Lake. Ya, we loved the weather! Didn't have to wear a coat or anything. Didn't have to worry about the bread rising. It was warm.

Our table menu for one of the days. We were lucky to be able to go onto the 2nd day and cook in the finals. For the 1st day we made, Beef Wellington, Lemon Tart, Garlic Herb rolls.

Second day menu, Herb Roast, Ambrosia Cake, Onion Braid.

We have problems making the meat every time. It seems like I don't give it enough time to cook, I think it should only take what the recipe says, and it always takes longer...so at the last second we are cramming the coals on to make it cook faster, and that is not good for the meat. Every cook-off we learn something new. We need to work on cooking our meat better and garnishes. They really make your dish look good. Like the quilting on a quilt...it just finishes off the dish.

These are from the 2nd day cooking, I think Mark forgot to take pictures of everything from both days. Ambrosia Cake and the roast. That cake is pretty plain, really needs something else to make it look good. And the roast, they put a comment on the score sheet that the parsley was wilted and didn't look good. It looked good for a little while. Need to work are garnishes....

This is the cake that took 1st place. Now that is garnished pretty. When they walked by us with that cake, I just went WOW, that is beautiful.

We came in 8th from the 2nd day cooking, we won $100 dollars. That was pretty cool, that we went onto the 2nd day of cooking. We had fun together cooking. And the best part is that I started walking around in our cooking area without crutches. And it has only progressed from there. We had lots of fun cooking with friends and in the evenings spending time with MaryAnn, Bryant and the kids. Fun, Fun times!

January 1, 2011...ironing

I know, people still iron? Yes I love to iron...I am from the old school. Mark had been doing all the ironing, and I finally talked him into bringing the iron upstairs and let me iron. Sometimes you just need to do what you can to feel useful. Sheri could not believe that I was ironing the other day when I was talking to her. I like that crease in the sleeve. I don't iron levis anymore, so I guess I am slacking off. LOL

Christmas 2010, MaryAnn's house

We got to MaryAnn's house about 10 pm. And the kids where waiting for us to get there. And then they are wanting to help you bring in all your stuff. Good kids!


As soon as their Dad got home, they opened up their presents. Jake & Clay got a Wii game and the head lamps. They are really into the gaming stuff.

Cora and Addie each got a kit to make some jewlery. Not sure why this picture of MaryAnn was taken like that...but, it is cute of her. And she wonders where her kids get that forced smile from...LOL

Clay and Jake playing the Wii game. It was a hoot to watch them play, they really get into it. At times Clay would say, "I hate this part", then he would get through it, and like it again. They are so intense when they are playing.

Addie and Cora making jewlery. And Cora is holding onto her Bubble bath she got. She would open the end and just smell it. She thought that was pretty neat stuff.

It snowed Wednesday. And MaryAnn told the kids to go out and play. And play they did, they built a fort in the back yard, used up all the snow and waited for it to snow some more so they could build it up more. They would come in and be soaking wet, get dry and go out again. Oh, to be a kid again, and not worry about getting cold...just go out and have fun in the snow!

Addie rolling up a snow ball. Jake & Clay working on the fort.

Cora trying to catch a snow flake on her tongue.

Silly Mark, he took the boys head lamps and put them on him. He had fun...

Addie got a perm today. (Thursday). She was so excited, the neighbor does hair and did it for her. She love curly hair. And now her hair was all done for the performance that she was going at the basketball game that night. You can see how happy she was with her hair. What a sweet little girl! Love ya Addie!

I tell you, just give a kid some crutches and they will play with them for hours. Cora was playing with them here. They all took their turns. They are only fun, if you really don't need to use them.

The basketball game that Addie was doing a gymastic perforance at, at half time. Grandpa got Cora and me. Cora told me that the boys playing basketball 'had gross armpits'. That girl is a hoot!

Addie is center front. Look at those legs...so straight. And look at the back bend. I think she is amazing.

Addie loves to do this, and she is really good at it.

I think this could be Friday morning, getting ready to go home. Jake, Clay, Cora and Addie.

Jake standing in front of the fireplace.

This is the project that MaryAnn got out for me to finish. We sewed on the leafs and flowers and then bound it. It is one that she started at her Mother-in-laws. I love to sew...

Addie and Cora playing on my iPad. I have a few kid games for the little ones to play. They all love to play games on it.

As we are headed out of town to go home, we stopped in Colorado City to get some cheese and yogert drink at the dairy. And Mark took a picture of the mountains there. They are so beautiful with red rock and snow on them.

We so enjoyed our time in Southern Utah with our kids and grandkids. Can hardly wait to get back down there!

Chiristmas 2010, Scott's house

We left for Scott's house around noon on the 28th, so we would get to his house about the time he got off work. Raquel fixed a really nice dinner for us all that night also. I haven't seen Jaden, Dakota, Skyler or Tajia for ever, so it was nice that they were all there that night to see them. Man have they all grown up. Tajia invited us into her room, and she sang a couple of songs for us, she has a very beautiful voice.

Scott, Blajyn, me (Cindy) and Skyler. Getting ready for dinner. Blajyn is showing off the root beer that I decorated for everyone. They are supposed to be raindeers. I had fun making them.

Daddy (Scott) & Blajyn. Raquel, Skyler, Tajia and Jaden.

Tajia, Blajyn, me, Scott. Me and Scott...he is looking at the old hunting knife that Jesse cleaned up and gave to him for Christmas.

Skyler and Tajia. Scott showing off his bullets he got. Are the boys surprised they get bullets every year...I don't think so.

Blajyn showing me his gun that we gave him for Christmas. And Grandpa putting all the head lamps on Blajyn all at once. He tried to do that Jermamiah and Blajyn. He could hardly wait to do that and then get a picture of them.

Blajyn with all the head lamps on. Grandpa had fun putting them all on him.

We had a fun visit with Scott and his family. Love them lots! Scott had to work all week, so we headed to MaryAnn's house when we left Scott's house.