Sunday's visitors

...were not invited. They were not our home teachers nor my visiting teachers. They were free-loaders checking out our delicious willows and berries! I know it's hard to see, but there are three moose in this picture.

Tired from all the grazing, these two decide to take a load off!

Who...me?

You got that right buddy...hit the road!

the color of the day is.....

ORANGE!!! I got home from taking Lea to work and these gorgeous nasturtiums caught my eye. There isn't much color left in our garden, but these were so brilliant, they were hard to miss.


Then there was this very orange" cinderella" pumpkin...

and then more pumpkins...

..and then there's this orange thing stuck in my yard! Go Maya, my volleyball player!

every morning

Kirk has a shot of wheatgrass...yes, we grow organic wheatgrass and I juice it EVERY morning for him. I can't drink it...it makes me hurl.

Then I make a "green" smoothie that we share. It's actually a really pretty drink before you blend it...then it looks like poop! So, I don't look at it when I drink it..kinda grosses me out.

Harvest time

It's that time of year when we gather the "harvest" and prepare it so it can be used in the future. Since I can't grow a garden here in Jackson...we only have 45 days a year that doesn't freeze at night...I have to rely on my neighbors in Utah and Idaho for my harvest. I always plant tomatoes each year and this year I was smart enough to bring them inside before the first freeze killed them. So, I am now enjoying tomatoes because they are ripening in my house. I used tomatoes from Utah to make a batch of salsa.

We have a great farmer's market that is open Thursday thru Saturday during the summer. I picked up enough fruit to make a frozen fruit cocktail.

Idaho provided me with peaches and pears. Usually, my friend goes to Brigham City and brings me back peaches each year. This year was no exception....except, she went the weekend I was in Arizona, and Ty and his friends were here, and well....when I got home, there were 10 peaches left! They were that good. So, had to get them in Idaho and I canned up a bunch of them.

As I was canning my pears, I didn't have enough to fill the canner, so I thought I'd just dry them. I completely filled a quart baggie with dried pears and my kids devoured them in an evening. Guess I'm getting more pears...
What kinds of things do you like "putting up" from the harvest?

catch up...

Seems like I am always playing "catch up" with everything. I always have to catch up writing in my journal....catch up with the ironing....catch up with the cleaning. So, guess that goes the same for blogging. Life has certainly been busy in our home as I'm sure it has been in all of yours. Hopefully this will "catch you up" with our lives! Mari is gone (B00 HOO!!!!), gone to college at BYU. Yes, she's an official "zoobie" and is LOVING going to everything and doing everything! She's been called as the Activities Person in her ward...pretty appropriate huh? These little guys miss her terribly, they remind me that I'm driving "her car" on Sundays when I pick them up for church!

This is my pride and joy. About 5 years ago, Kirk bought me four hydrangea plants one summer. The first summer, one plant was incredibly gorgeous, full of blooms! The next few years brought NOTHING. Last year, we decided they needed to be moved to a different location in the yard and this summer two of the four plants bloomed! I love hydrangeas...I just wish I could grow them year round!

This is Carson. WE LOVE THIS BOY! He is my neighbor's son and we have babysat him quite a bit this summer. We even go and get him from his Mom because we need a Carson fix. He calls Kirk, "Dad" and me "Mono". Maya is his favorite though.

Here's Lea participating in Jackson Hole Therapeutic Riding Association's Horse Show this summer. She's ridden all summer long and is even starting another session today. She's looking forward to going to Special Olympics in Casper, Wyoming with all her friends.

What do you do when it's raining outside? Well, jump on the trampoline...silly. Sky and Sage and friends, Morgan and Matt just messing around one afternoon. I'm sure this activity ended in the hot tub!

I attended my nephew's wedding in Mesa, Arizona over Labor Day Weekend. Mental note: it is HOT, let me repeat, HOT, HOT, HOT in Mesa this time of year! Congratulations Kyle and Leah! Love ya!

Got to reconnect with most of my family at the wedding. It was my brother, Keith's son who was married. They flew out from Virginia and we had a fun weekend. We were only missing my younger brother, Wade. Maybe next time!

"Sweet Sixteen"

Star and Sky turned "Sweet Sixteen" on August 11th! Happy Birthday twinners, WE LOVE YOU!

Cake Boss

Our household is a BIG fan of Food Network and basically ALL cooking shows dealing with cake! We started with Ace of Cakes and now we really enjoy Cake Boss. For Star and Sky's birthday, they decided to "play" Cake Boss and make a stunning creation for them. I made a couple of batches of marshmellow fondant to cover the cakes. The girls got a work-out rolling it out nice and thin.

Maya, Sage and Mary Katharine (our favorite friend from San Francisco!) all pull together to get the fondant smooth.

Kara came home and decided that she was going to decorate the fondant covered cakes...much to the chagrin of some hard-working girls!

Ta-da....the finished project!

Family Fun in Cayman

Our family reunion in Cayman was a BLAST! With a plane full of ONLY family members, it's a great time for all. Playing games and visiting with one another is high on the list.

The cousins playing games on the floor of the plane...good thing there was a BIG area, cuz there are tons of cousins!

This little guy was not invited to the family reunion, but came anyway! We found him between the slats in our walkway....and we saw him all week long!

Another new addition to our family is this moray eel, who took up residence under our boat dock.

This was the FUNNEST thing ever....thanks Derek and Becky...the RELAXATION STATION!

The girls went back to their "stash" and found this beauty.

Sage had a scuba diving lesson with Andy Croft.

I grabbed this photo with all the kids as we were leaving the island.

One night there was this MAGNIFICENT sunset that only kept getting better and better.
Bye Bye Cayman....till next summer....

It was only yesterday...

when he was celebrating his 1st birthday!!

Now, celebrating his 24th birthday (and still sitting on his Daddy's lap!) on an airplane on it's way to Cayman.

Here is my son...handsome fella, don't you think? Hope your birthday was fabulous...just like you! Love you.

Miss Lea

...was given The President's Volunteer Service Award for giving 8 years of service to St. John's Hospital in Jackson, WY!! She was invited to a volunteer luncheon last week and she invited her provider for the day, Katharine to attend with her. When Katharine brought her home, Katharine went on and on about how Lea was honored. (along with 4 others as well) We had not realized that she'd volunteered for 8 years! Way to go Lea Bo Bea!!

ANNOUNCING..... the new

SKY!!!! She decided to get her hair cut and this is what she got...

...the opinions in our house range from one extreme to the other!

...what do I think? I say...as long as she likes it, I'm happy. And yes...she loves it.

Yellowstone

Teralyn came for a visit this past week and we had a great time showing her around the area. Tuesday was slated for visiting Grand Teton National Park and Yellowstone. Here's a picture of the lineup taken from Jackson Lake Lodge.

Kirk and Mel at Jenny Lake in GTNP.

Kirk and Teralyn cooling their feet in the water at Lewis Falls in Yellowstone.

Bison...one BIG BOY...he's crossing the road in front of our car!

Probably the most spectacular view of all in Yellowstone...Upper Falls.

This elk was just grazing on the side of the road!

Old Faithful...we drove into the parking lot and it started to blow...we walked towards it as it was spewing. We didn't have to wait at all...next blow time was @85 minutes later!

Naturally have to go inside the Old Faithful Lodge and take a peek. It's an AMAZING structure.