Lynn Hoppie came over and taught us how to do Dutch Oven Cooking on Saturday.
We bought this dinner from the church auction to earn money for our youth activities. We had chicken stew with peas, carrots and potatoes.
He also made Peach Dump Cake where you pour 7-Up on it.
Looks Good!!! Mmmm....
Everybody couldn't wait to eat!
Thanks Brother Hoppie for the delicious meal!
For Mother's Day, Jeff got me tickets to see the country duo, Sugarland, in concert! It was the best concert I've ever seen in my life!!!
Maybe it was the limo ride?
Maybe it was the famous Japanese restaurant in the Hollywood Hills where we had dinner?
Maybe it was the second and third row seats we had?
Maybe it was hearing Michelle Branch sing, "The Game of Love" and "Everywhere"?
Maybe it was the Guitar Pick that Kristian Bush threw directly to Luke?
Maybe it was the nice couple in front of us who offered for Luke and Shera to come stand in front of them at the stage?
Maybe it was seeing Drew and Michael Klapp look so happy enjoying the music?
Noel had her church girl's camp last week. She thought she'd have to go late because of her cheer practice, and then it got canceled that morning! Cool the way things work out! They had crafts, swimming and canoeing, archery, hiking and just hanging out.
French toast in the cafeteria...
Kaitlyn Ramsey making french braids...
Carrissa and Caitlyn with "Kinked Out" Noel...
The first group to the top of the 5 mile hike...
Laying On A Bed Of Nails...
Test Your Strength...
Ever Been In a Wind Chamber???
We have two espaliered Gala Apple Trees and boy did they do great this year!
We had so many we didn't know what to do -
So Shera picked three pecks (or 3/4 of a bushel - about 42 apples are in a bushel. Wow! What we have learned!) and carried them to the kitchen.
Luke helped peel, core and slice the apples -
Then, using the outside gas burner, we blanched the apples for 1 minute - to help keep them white.
I made the sauce, filled the apples in hot just dishwashed jars and poured the sauce up to the top!
Then, we boiled them to seal the jars - only about 25 minutes for our elevation.
Ah... The look of summer...
Alligators in the pool...
Backyard BBQ's of hot dogs, corn and watermelon...
Eating poolside (literally)...
Basically just being a kid...
And loving it... :D
Yes, so it was my birthday last Sunday, I'm not saying any more details than that!!! I did get lots of cute gifts from my family too like: A Day of Scrapbooking with Noel, a special date of my choice with Drew, have a picnic in the park just Luke and me, and go to Build-A-Bear with Shera and then to Mexican for lunch and play "I Spy" together. I also got my favorite - Yankee Candles - they have the best scent ever!!!
Jeff got my favorite - birthday coconut meringue pie!
Then Jeff and the kids lit some smoke bombs in the backyard that even the O'Bryant's could smell five houses away - a week later we still have blue grass!!! Ha!
We laughed as we watched the kids have a good game of twister too. Then we all went around the corner and watched the MV city's fireworks! They were great!!!
Holly saying her "Goodbye's to Drew".
Here we are at LAX and Luke won't let go of Holly!
Holly is so excited to go to Italy for a month! Being in the Tuscia Opera Festival is a chance of a lifetime. We're so glad she's doing it!
We're gonna miss you Holly Berry Girl!!!
We went to our Ward Pancake Breakfast to celebrate the 4th of July. It was on the 3rd of July!
The scouts had a flag raising ceremony first.
Holly's best friend, Robyn had stayed the night before and joined us.
The pancake lineup...
Sasha and Heidi enjoying Drew's pancakes...
All the primary children sang patriotic songs together and at the end popped their poppers!
Afterward, all the kids paraded their decorated bikes around the church parking lot!
Luke and Shera were definitely one of the fastest that morning!!!
