Fall Leaves and Smiles

This is Halloween, This is Halloween!

Spooktacular Times!A little Halloween trivia for you: Did you know that Snickers is the most popular treat? And one of the first things parents swipe from their kids treat buckets!

Another one for you: Did you know that 99% of all pumpkins grown are used for Jack-O-Lanterns at Halloween time. And over 2 billion dollars worth of candy is sold every year! That's a lot of Trick or Treating treats!

It's that awesome time of year again when we get to dress up in costumes, have our friends over and throw a party. Our yearly Halloween party was tonight. We had a great time with fun friends, ate some yummy food, grooved to some awesome tunes and played some interesting games. Thanks to all of you who came and partied with us!

Julia Is 11!

For Julia's 11th Birthday we took a few of her friends to Wheeler Farm. We went through the corn maze, looked at all the fun farm animals, took a wagon ride and headed back home for some Arctic Circle "square pumpkin" kids meals and presents and cake. Julia and her friends; Mandy, Brooklyn, Bailee, Cordilia and sister Hannah all had a great time and loved celebrating with Julia.
Here they are on the wagon ride

going through the hay/corn maze

Going through the hay/corn maze
(I was a little disapointed with the maze

but the girls had a great time and didn't

seem to mind :))

All the cute girls smiling big one last

time for the camara.
Happy Birthday Julia, I can't believe

you are 11 already how

time has flown by.

FUN...FUN...FUN!!

http://www.eighteen25.blogspot.com/

http://www.thecraftingchicks.blogspot.com/

http://www.prettydubs.blogspot.com/

Some of my new favorite blogs to visit. SO FUN!! Can't wait to try some of their fun ideas

A New Hobbie

Jeremy has a new hobby! Yes canning, I know right..... REALLY, but yes. This has been a summer time past time for him which means me too. It's been kind of fun though. We visit a few farmers markets for our fresh veggies such as; carrots, beets, jalepenos, green beans, asparagus and eggs. I know their not veggies and we didn't get them at the farmers market but they are a favorite snack of Jeremy's so he wanted to give them a try too. When I was younger I remember having pickled beets, and green beans at my Grandma Greenhalgh's. So with a little help from my grandparents recipes and a few from on line we set out to try a few different recipes.

Eggs and jalepenos in the steamer I think they look kind of pretty

Below is the veggies sitting in their brine (salt water) for my grandmas famous mustard pickle. It's so very tasty. Red and green peppers, pearl onions, cucumbers and cauliflower are the veggies that go into this recipe.

After the veggies have sat overnight to soak, we added the ground mustard and other ingredients that give it that beautiful color. It taste so yummy with, maybe a Sunday dinner roast, grilled pork chops or even some chicken. It's a sweet mustard with a very mild tang. If you want to try it I would give you a bottle! :) My sister Heidi and I spent a few hours last week to bottle it up. We were pretty proud of ourselves that we were able to get it all done with no "grandma or mom help" Thanks for your help Heid.It's been fun trying new recipes and also some old family recipes that my Grandma Greenhalgh has passed down to me. Our absolutely, best of the best recipe that I grew up with and is now my little families favorite it's Grandma's pickled mustard. Just the smell brings back so many memories of being with my grandparents. It's delicious! And look how pretty it is.

I Fell In To A Burn' Ring Of Fire!!

This was the view from our backyard last night. Scary isn't it! We noticed the fire around 5:00 yesterday when Jeremy was out starting the fire in our firepit so we could cook our dinner. Jeremy came in and asked if I had noticed the fire? I said yes I've been watching it. I went into the back to help get the steaks on and I said, "Look the mountains on fire!" Jeremy said that's what I just asked if you had seen. Ha Ha Ha well I thought he was talking about the fire in the pit..... Dumb Me, I'm a little slow I guess. Not to make light of the serious fire Herriman had last night though. Three families lost their homes. And thousands of others had to leave their homes for the night to find another place to stay. How scary would that be to have to only take a few things and hope and pray that your home wasn't destroyed by fire.

We were headed home from visting with Jeremy's parents when the flames started to reach the top of the mountain and make their way down the other side. We just happened to be listening to Jonathan's favorite song; "Ring Of Fire" by Johnny Cash. Better known in our house as "Uncle Mikes song". So were watching the flames get bigger and bigger as we are headed home, singing at the top of our lungs "I feeellll in to a burning ring of fire, I went down down down and the flames went hire, and it burns burns burns the ring of fire, the ring of fire"

Once we got home the kids hurried to get their PJ's on and ready for bed. It was so addicting to watch we couldn't drag ourselves away from watching it. We had the camera, we had our lawn chairs and we had the binoculars. We have friends who live up on the hill and were hoping and praying that they were getting out safe and that their homes would be saved. With the binoculars we could see the fire truck lights and tons of helicopters and planes flying above the area.

I think I have failed to make mention how the fire started. The army artillary men were out firing their machine guns their routine monthly practice. And I heard on the news that they name the fires so name "Machine Gun Fire" Seems fitting. Needless to say the army had many of their men helping to detain the fire. As it should be if you ask me.

I am happy to report that our friends homes were saved, thank heavens. They have expressed their love and thank for all the well wishes and prayers that were sent their way. But we continue to pray for those three families who lost thier homes and so many memories. Love to them!

Kneaders Three Cheese Cauliflower Soup

My very nice neighbor called me today to let me know that "Good Things Utah" was featuring one of Kneaders soup recipes. It just so happens that it is made with ShirleyJ White Cheddar Sauce. I was so excited to see that, and that they shared the recipe with us. So I thought I would share it with you. But maybe I need to back up a little and tell You that for about 4 months now I have been an Executive Chef for ShirleyJ. I do in-home cooking demos to help introduce their products to home chefs, and change the way we cook. Make it easier, healthier and more economical. They really are amazing. And incase you've never heard of ShirleyJ. Read about it here or on http://www.myshirleyj.blogspot.com/. Or www.shirleyj.com/4316. It makes fixing dinner for our families fun again.

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Kneaders Three Cheese Cauliflower Soup

A Farewell To Summer Vacation

So as you will see our summer has been filled to the brim with fun activities. Below are just a small part of the things we have done. Because Southland Elementary School is changing from year-round to traditional we have had an extra long summer break. While most morning while I was at work Jeremy would get the kids ready and make sure the chores and reading got done. When I returned home for the day it was nap time for Jonathan and usually play time for the Girls. Which meant that Jeremy could get his work done and I could have some quiet time/chore and house keeping time; such as ironing, folding laundry, working out, etc. Anything that was quiet to keep our extremely lite sleeper asleep! One of the things we did was

head off to the movie. Yep you guessed it we saw Toy Story 3 and LOVED it. Woody and Buzz are Jonathan's favorite. Boy did he giggle :)



We also did lots of backyard marshmellow roasting, hot dog grilling, tag, and Duck Duck Goose playing.









Jonathan roasted his first marshmellow and liked roasting them but doesn't really like to eat them cooked.









"1 little monkey jumping on the bed".....

Jonathan also had a big milestone happen this week. He moved into his "Big Boy Bed" I can't believe how well he has been doing and he is SO very excited to have his own bed.










Look at that smile!








I am the champion!!
So last week while Grandma Greenhalgh was in town, Heidi and I decided that on my day off of work (Monday) we would meet and take the kids swimming. As you can see in the pictures we are NOT swimming but bowling. Just as we were headed to the pool the craziest thunder and lightening storm hit and hit hard. It was raining cat's and dog's. Do you remember where you were when it hit?? We do, just getting in the car we got more wet than we would have at the pool. So because of that we headed back home to changed out of our suits and we went bowling instead. "All Star Lanes" offer free bowling for the kids during the summer. Jonathan was the big winner that day. He bowled a 160+ game.


Aren't those the cutest, and littlest bowling shoes ever!











Julia and Hannah, with cousin Brielle in the background.











One of the first activities we did as a family was to head to "Tracy Aviary" Jeremy and I hadn't been there since grade school. It was fun, and the kids had fun reading the info about the birds and seeing some really cool birds up close and personal. Here are the Girls in front of one of the rides that they have just outside the park. None of them had ever been on the big "Yo-Yo Swing" So with A LOT of encouragement from Jeremy and I they hoped on, and strapped themselves in. They were afraid of falling out :) I have lots of fond memories riding on a few rides just like this one. It was fun, and fun to look out and see the world from a different point of view. But the

were less than excited. You can almost see how white their knuckles are from holding on SO tight. So if you remember the ride starts out nice and slow working it's way up and the swings move out. Lets just say that neither of the Girls relaxed at all and their knuckles were just as white at the end of the ride as they were at the begining! I must be a mean mom because I took great pleasure in watching them on this ride and the looks on their faces were priceless. Boy I laughed and laughed..... MWAH HA HA HA (that was my evil laugh). They were scared but they concured a fear and ended up having a good time.

This is a big Emu. We saw this at the bird show. It was a great time with some very strange and interesting birds up close and personal again some flying right over our heads.

A beautiful Peacock. We waited and waited hoping he would spread his tail feathers. We decided to move on he was not cooperating. But he was pretty to look at.

Maia hanging out in the front yard enjoying the evening.

Jonathan loves riding in his "tiny car" with just his toes (that's his way of saying he doesn't want his shoes or sandals on) He makes me laugh. We enjoyed a lot of our summer evenings hanging out in the front yard with our kids. Watching them play and trying to teach tem how to do cart wheels, head stands, back bends and rollerskating. We also played a good old fashioned game of 4 square (mine and Jeremy's rules that we remembered from grade school). And woopn' their tushies!! :) he he he

Hannah loves riding her bike all around the neighborhood. She only biffed it twice. The first time she went off the neighbors ramp and jumped off it ok but didn't quit stick the landing. She was "triple dog dared" by her oldest sister and with out much thought of what might happen she went for it! Way to be brave Hannah!! Now that I've bored you with some of the few things we did together this summer, I just want to thank the kids for such a fun summer. I had a great time with them and had a relaxing time when they went to visit Grandma and Grandpa Greenhalgh in St. George. I'm so proud to be their mom and couldn't be more blessed to have such an amazing family that I enjoy hanging out with and doing so many fun things together. I hope they will remember them and have lots of fun memories of their childhood. They grow up so fast and before Jeremy and I know it and are ready for it we will be the uncool parents who just don't understand and they wont want to spend time with us. I hope they prove me wrong though! Here is to many more fun filled happy summer vacations! Cheers...... til next year :)

Hannah And The Removal Of Her Tonsils

As you can see by the date on these pictures this is long over due. After many of her years and numerous ear infections and 10 cases of Strep throat we have finally won the battle of getting her tonsils removed. So early Tuesday morning of July 6th (her 1st offical day of summer break) with her bag o' things to do and her favorite can't live without animals, we were off to the Primary Childrens at Riverton Hospital to start our long day. I have to say that she was very calm despite her semi worried face in the first picture. Once at the hospital we were quickly escorted to a room where the nurse informed us that the anesthesiologist was running late because he went to the wrong hospital. We were scheduled for 7:30 am.
























So while we waited she changed into her cute little scrubs/gown they gave her and her awesome rubber bottomed socks and we read her books, and we blew bubbles, and we watched "G-Force, and we created a fish craft, and than we colored a puzzle picture. She was getting very bored and very anxious to get this all over with. We had to try to keep her busy to keep her from remembering how hungry she was and that they would be cutting thing from her body! :)











































Two hours later.................. we finally meet with the surgeon and anesthesiologist who gave us the low down of what would go down and what would be coming out. About 20 minutes later she was recoverying in the "wake up" room. Everything went really well and she even lost a tooth during surgery! Funny thing was it wasn't even a loose tooth.... sounds fishy to me too, even though they all insisted it just fell out :) but what do you do when it's out and in a cup taped to her bed.

finally awake enough to watch a little tv, the meds they gave her must be wearing off cuz that is just like her to want to watch tv. Over all our tonsil removal experience was a good one. The doctors and nurses of the Out Patient Primary Childrens Hospital were amazing, kind and very good at keeping us informed and in the loop. They took amazing care of Hannah and helped to keep a worried, nervous mommy, calm and reassured that all will be well. Needless to say the recovery was quick. A few days of a popcycles, jell-o and ice cream diet she was asking to ride her bike and play with her friends. She can now sleep through the night with out snoring, coughing and/or choking. She wakes up refreshed and with no dark circles under her eyes from the lack of a restful, deep sleep. I couldn't have been more proud of her for being so brave!

More Wedding Pictures

My brother Mike was married in May. Jonathan and I were able to go to Las Vegas to be with him and be apart of His and Kimmy's happy day. Jonathan was apart of the wedding party. Jonathan even got to be in the pictures. Here he is posing in his favorite "chilln' " pose. And with the big boys of the wedding party; Uncle Joe, Uncle Mike and his friend Mike. So stinkin cute!

Here is Jonathan and cousin Brielle pushing their bubble mowers down the isle. They were all decorated with ribbons and flowers, and looking so pretty. Jonathan and Brielle stole the show. (At least until Kimmy walked down the isle.)Everyone ooohhed and aaawwed, laughed and coxed them down the isle. They were a bit shy of all the eyes and attention. But they made it and were quit proud of themselves too.

My brother Mike and his new wife Kimmy. They are such a cute couple and we are so glad to have Kimmy apart of our family.