Be Prepared

Today was a day of preparation at our home. Taylor spent 11 hours in the yard working on the garden. He took out the sod, hauled dirt, and built a step garden (similar to this, but with three sections and for only $60 with wood and dirt). The boys and I even took five loads of dirt from the front yard to the back. I will get a picture of the garden in the morning and also next week after I transfer our young plants.

Kroger has an awesome deal on strawberries ($0.99 per pound), so we have been collecting them (you can only buy 4 at a time). I made three more batches of freezer jam today and we still have 5 lbs left!! Guess we'll just freeze 'em for smoothies. Yum.

The boys had a ton of fun out in the yard ALL day. James is sunburned on his nose and right side of his face only. Me and Matthias of course avoided any burning of the skin. Taylor has pretty bad burns on his arms and neck, but his face isn't too bad.

Can't wait to eat all our fresh vegetables and yummy jam!

(As a side note, I just found out that President Spencer W. Kimball was born in 1899. Who knew I was old enough to actually know (remember) someone born in the 1800s? Shocking.)

Museum and Buckets

We did make it to the Church museum exhibit titled, I am A Child of God. The boys LOVED it!! Both grandmas and grandpa Urie were able to come with. If you are in Utah during 2008 I would take your kids to this if you can. There are several different stations with scripture stories, dress ups, blocks to build a temple, books (James' favorite), a stain glass window to build (Matthias' favorite), a baby nursery, etc. Then we headed over to see the Christus at Temple Square. It was a lot of fun.

Also while in Utah Matthias became obsessed with this pot at my parent's house. He kept putting it on his head and being really silly. Here is a pic and a short video. My mom took a hecka long and funny video, but I have been unsuccessful in downloading it.

Snow and Sun

We left Utah with soft flakes falling through the air. We spent 2 hours outside this morning...walking and then working in the yard. Snow is fun to visit. February is perfect in Texas. I know it's March now, so I guess the first week of March is perfect in Texas. Next week the humidity and heat start. We are coming up on our fourth summer here...we know the drill. Pool time every day!!

We have our vegetables growing on the counter and will make our garden bed on Saturday. I will put pics of how cute it turns out. Last night Taylor and I whipped up some Strawberry Freezer Jam. Contrary to popular belief this is not very hard or domestic in any way (it only creates the illusion of being domestic). It takes a total of 20 minutes. You crush strawberries and mix them with sugar and pectin. Not difficult in the least, takes no talent what so ever. James could have done it. Having said that I did ruin a peach batch last year, so don't feel bad if yours doesn't turn out the first or even second time.

Here are some pics of the snow we had. Pics of the sun will come Saturday or Sunday. Enjoy!

Quilt

I pieced together this quilt last fall and then sent it to Utah to be quilted. We picked it up on our trip. Thanks Scott and Mindy for drop off and pick up!! Here it is on our bed. It will replace the comforter when it gets warmer at night.

We're home!

After stopping at the new Kroger to grab the essentials (ice cream and milk) we made it home!! Taylor was a wonderful, thoughtful, and kind husband who took Matthias on his plane. James and I rode home on a little 57 passenger plane. It was a blast! Many posts to come of the great adventure in Utah!

Books and more books

Just joined Good Reads and you should to. Tell me about all the great books you are reading. I am attempting to at least add the books I have read in the past 6 months (if I can remember them all). Hope to hear about all your favs!

We visited the museum today and I will post some pics when we return to the great state of Texas, because as James puts it "We are going home because it is too dry here?" Can't wait to get back to that warm, humid weather!

Finally some SNOW!!

This, folks, is why we came to Utah!




(And to see my mommy.)