Food Storage and Gardening

I am getting so excited because I'm finally seeing some real progress in our food storage. And I'm not just talking about pounds of wheat. Ellen has got me working on several different areas of "provident living" and I am proud to say that I almost have my 3-month menu complete and that I am into purchasing all of the needed items. Granted, it's not food that could be prepared without modern appliances, but I figure I have to start somewhere. I've also got some long term storage beginning to pile-up (under beds and in closets). And best of all Matt has a wonderful garden growing. So at least I'm on my way.

Matt and Emily planting potatoes this spring.


Potatoes growing.


Wow! Four different kinds of potatoes for dinner.


Twenty-four pounds of honey.

The Final Game of the Season

This year, Thomas was the last one to lose a game and thus ends the baseball season for our family. I love sitting outdoors watching my boys play ball. I love the competition and I love watching them be tough in hard situations and I really love it when they make a good play. But I must be honest, I'm also glad the season is over and now our nights are free for other things, like summer walks, reading, visiting friends, and getting caught up around the house. Now we'll have to watch the Giants. Hmmm Baby!

My Daily Life

Today I took Emily and Camille to the public library for a teddy bear check-up. Nurses from the hospital came to take their temperature, listen to their heart, and bandage up any wounds. Of course, the girls could also have their heart listened to or their blood pressure taken. It was pretty cute.

This is How Rumors Get Started

So to understand this post you'll have to read Karins' post about babysitting her siblings. After she posted her blog, one of her former young women's leaders read it and left a comment for her on facebook telling her what a great mommy she is. Before we knew it, a friend (formerly in our ward now residing in Utah), commented back, "are you talking about Karin Rowan, I didn't know she was a mommy." So if you hear anything.....

Anyway, we had a great get away, I'm reading Gone With the Wind and loved reading uninterrupted.


Here is what I did today...laundry. Can you believe I washed everything the day we left and I was only gone 3 days. I need a maid.

Make a Smilebox slideshow

"Come On Blue"

Oh Boy, How many times have I yelled that phrase? Of course, I've never cursed or thrown anything at an ump but when he has made a bad call against my boy, I've never hesitated to let him know he was WRONG! Things have changed. Scott is now an umpire for the little league games and I think he does a great job!! I'm glad he has enough confidence to eject a coach from the game when necessary. Did you know that a coach can walk out to the mound only once per inning? If he returns to the mound a second time, he must replace the pitcher. If you argue with Scott about it and act like a jerk, he'll throw you outa the game. So beware. Actually, I think we're going to be OK, because when I asked Scott how he felt about doing that, he said he felt empowered but hopes he never has to do it again.

100 Things You Should Do In Your Lifetime

Number 1

Go Tide Pooling With Matt

This is one of my favorite things to do. I highly recommend everyone spend some time with him in the tide pools. The only thing is, it's not like he'll sit down and teach you about them, or try to show you how much he knows about invertebrates, he just enjoys tide pooling himself and it's just fun to follow along or search for little critters yourself. I love that my kids now look in the pools and easily spot chitons, anemones, limpets, sea stars and urchins. It's amazing that they even know the Latin names for some of the them. Every time we go, Matt just shares a little insight with them and the kids are hooked. Last time we went tide pooling, he showed the feeding frenzy of the hermit crabs by cutting open a limpet and placing it in a pool, now every time we go back to the beach Doug performs the same experiment. Matt and I have caught an octopus, seen a nudibranch the color of pink bubblegum, walked among thousands of jellyfish called Vellela vellela and really enjoyed time in the pools. He and Doug found small eels right off the bluff by the beach house. Every year he teaches a class for girls camp, explaining how the tides work, and the different tidal zones; for many of the girls this is the only time they've been to the ocean or seen ocean life and he makes it so interesting and fun.

Yes, this is a definite must do in your lifetime.