Caramel apples

Saturday afternoon my mom, my sister Jeni, and I went to Lynzi's (sister-in-law) baby shower for her twins. Scot was left with my kids and 2 of Jeni's little kids. He took them all shopping for ingredients to make caramel apples (crazy). I have no idea how he handled it, I can barely handle my girls in Wal-mart without buying 20 extra things we didn't need. Needless to say that I was pretty amazed when I saw their creations that night. He is such a fun dad!

Biking fun

While the girls were all at the photo shoot Saturday morning, Scot and my brother were in charge of watching Tucker (my nephew). They decided to take him on a bike ride up to Bridal Veil Falls. He rode behind Scot on Emma's tandem bike the whole way up, even in the rain.

Mmm....Salsa!

The very best thing about growing a garden is making homemade fresh salsa. For the past 10 years I collect baskets of tomatoes and follow my favorite salsa recipe by my friend, Rachele Foushee Beck. I have tweaked it to make it my own, but here it is:

2 large white onions, chopped
2 jalapeno, chopped and seeded (add to taste)
1 large bowl of fresh tomatoes, blanched and peeled
1/4 cup fresh cilantro, chopped (I use about 1/2 cup)
2 Tbs Italian seasoning
2 Tbs. lime juice, fresh squeezed
1 Tbs salt (to taste)
1/4 tsp pepper (to taste)

You can use a food processor or chop veggies by hand. I seriously put this on everything, eggs, chips, salad, fish (tilapia is the best), any Mexican dish, or I just eat it plain... I love it!

SCARIEST MOMENTS

My sister is calling out for scariest moments (they are kinda fun to read), so here are mine.

1. Scuba diving in Fiji with circling sharks... Yes they were stalking me, even though Scot to this day tries to convince me that they were just curious!
2. Caught in a Lake Powell downpour - if you've ever experienced this you'll know what I mean!!
3. Losing a child - This has unfortunately happened more than once!
4. Trying to raise teenagers - Wouldn't it be nice if we could just skip to when they are adults?
5. Stock market crash in 2000 - We lost a lot of money that year:(
6. Watching both of my Grandfathers die - One died of a heart attack at a BYU football game and the other died of Alzheimer's in his home this summer.
7. Being a teenager and pregnant!


Through all these scary and hard times, isn't it amazing that we pull through and become a little stronger?

So confess your scary moments for all to read!

Lagoon - Saturday, September 6, 2008

This is right after we rode "Wicked"

Emma, Macyn, & Haili riding "The rocket"

Alex P, Macyn, & Emma waiting in line

Holding on so tight!

Mark P, Scot, Macyn, & Emma



We decided on Friday that we would bump up our Lagoon day. It was a perfect day, with not to many crowds and nice 80 degree weather. Emma was just the right height for all the rides and we especially loved WICKED!

Labor Day Getaway to the Homestead in Midway, UT

This is why we don't do more quick planned getaways!

My journal - so it is not forgotten next Labor Day when I think, "Scot, we need to get away for at least a night?".

Sunday, August 31 - Today we are headed up to the Homestead in Midway for a relaxing getaway this Labor Day weekend. In the past, we've ventured to Starvation for our annual camping trip with the Parratts, but this weekend predicted rain so we thought it wise to shake up our traditions last minute and try another adventure.

1:50 P.M.ten minutes before departure
1. Car packed and girls in the car, excited and ready to go.
2. Tugzi sitting in the car excited to be going anywhere -packed and ready for Grandma's.
3. Sean sulking, wondering why he is committed to this torturous weekend away from friends.
4. Alex, Alex, Alex
Oh
"Alex, wake up we're ready to go", I call.
"Nooooo, where are we going?", replies Alex.

3:00 P.M. arrive at the Homestead
1. Haili and Emma so excited to check the place out!
2. Sean explores a little, but still not happy about coming.
3. Alex complaining about not having car privileges right now - Did you know that if you have an extra car, you are obligated to share with your 17 year old no matter what? I didn't know this, therefor I am stupid!

4:00 P.M. swimming in the indoor pools (raining outside)
1. Haili and Emma having so much fun with little Alex and Macyn Parratt.
2. Alex, Sean, and Jake P. wandering around, refusing to go swimming. We point out all the bikini girls, but they are just not hot enough! I give up and go back to watching my little kids have fun in the pool.

5:30 P.M. Adults go to dinner
1. Alex and Sean upset that they have to babysit girls while we go to dinner.
2. Haili and Emma upset that they have to stay with the boys while we go to dinner.

7:30 P.M.
1. Dads feel guilty about boys having to babysit, so they offer to take them to a movie in Park City.
2. Girls happy about having the evening without teenage boys, so they agree!

Monday, Sept. 1 - Things don't start off any better. It rains hard and is extremely cold (we didn't prepare for 40 degree weather)!

8:00 A.M.
1. I take the little girls down to the pool where they swim and I exercise doing my laps.

10:00 A.M.
1. I head back to the room to rouse the boys up - Alex jumps up while pulling his pants on and hits his head on the ceiling fan (Hello, you're tall). Many bleep, bleep, bleep words are expressed! 2. Sean and I hold laughter in until after Alex leaves the room, then we explode.

12:00 P.M.
1. We check out of hotel and head to Park City
2. We are starved and looking for a fun place to go to lunch.

2:00 P.M.
1. Still looking for a fun place to go to lunch - it is so crowded.
2. Scot needs an anxiety pill!
3. We are ready to give up and just go to McDonald's

2:30 P.M.
1. Ruby Tuesdays it is - not too crowded and closer to the outlets!
2. Everyone Happy!!!!!!

4:00 P.M.
1. $100 later, but everyone still happy!!!!
2. Leaving the restaurant we run into the Cook family - I sure miss Kayman, Milan, & Ashtyn.

4:30 P.M. Boys & I shopping / Scot & girls shopping - strange!!
1. Alex happy about finding an awesome backpack and shirt at Zumiez!
2. Sean happy about finding an awesome sweatshirt ($11) at Zumiez and wallet at Vans!
3. I'm happy that boys are happy and that we got such a sweet deal on the sweatshirt!
3. Girls are happy about picking out outfits at Old Navy with Dad!
4. Scot is happy because his anxiety pill has taken effect and he is in la-la-land!

6:00 P.M. On our way home
1. Alex says, "Thanks mom and dad for the fun weekend, backpack, and sick shirt."
2. Sean says, "Thanks mom and dad for the sweet sweatshirt and wasn't I kind on your wallets?" 3. Haili and Emma say, "Thanks mom and dad for the cute outfits at Old Navy - all six of them!"
4. I say, "I didn't know that we bought you six outfits?"
5. Scot chilling in the passenger seat still in la-la-land!

So, in the end we discovered that we should of just gone shopping in Park City and ditched the rest of the weekend! Oh well, maybe next year!

Homestead bunk house - Haili and Emma loved their closet, bunk bed space in our room.

Story Telling Festival Die Hard

Emma & Ashli riding the bus to Timpanogos Story Telling Festival.
Ciara & Haili

Making a tea cup at the Festival
Ciara, Haili, Emma, Ashli molding their clay.


I love the Festival and seriously look forward to it more than Christmas! My family has been very supportive in pretending to be as excited as I am, yet I know they long for someone to come along and relieve some of the burden from having to tag along to so many of the events.


Friday afternoon, my girls and I headed up to Timpanogos Park and caught my favorite teller, Bill Harley. We also listened to Jay O'Callahan before heading back home to get ready for "My Favorite Stories" at the Scera shell, which was awesome.

Saturday, I took my girls and my nieces (Ashli & Ciara) to Kevin Kling, Linda Gorham, Megan Hicks, Victoria Burnett, and of course Bill Harley. They loved it and can't wait for next year.


We had fun making pots at the pottery, but Emma's and Ciara's broke on the the way home - imagine that?


Laughin' Night was unbelievably crowded!!! I got there a half hour early to save a spot, yet we still ended up on the down-side of the hill. We were literally shoulder to shoulder with strangers - yet the stories were fabulous and we had a great time.


So any of you Story Telling fans, I need you!!! My family needs you!!! I would camp, well maybe not, but I don't want to miss out in any of the events or stories next year. I'm searching for mom's like me who just can't get enough and want to spend extra time while the kids are in school. I can only drag my family around to so many before they begin to complain that they are tired or need to eat (you can go all day living on protein bars and water bottles, right?)!