HAPPY BIRTHDAY MOM!

July 29th was my mom's 75th birthday. I have to say that I am so grateful to be able to have her in my life and to be able to be so close to this amazing woman. We have shared a special bond from the moment I was born, as my birthday is the same as hers! Not many people get to share that with a parent. Each year, she would sacrifice her own birthday desires to make sure mine were met. I remember all the amazing things she did for my birthday growing up. One year we had a princess party with pin the crown on the princess,which was hand drawn by her that was about 4 or 5 feet tall on butcher paper.(no computer clip art back then). She made me a princess cake as well. One year she hand made Lion invitations that said "no LION, its a party" or something to that effect...we went to the zoo. It was always a BIG deal and always memorable. As I grew, I began to appreciate sharing this day with her and making it our day, instead of just about me. One year we got up early on our birthdays to watch the wedding of Prince Charles and Princess Di. That was awesome!
And now, as a mom, I wish I could make all of her birthdays as special as mine had been. So this year, my sister, brothers and I decided to throw her a suprise party. We held in on the 27th to throw her off. We held it at Mueller Park in Bountiful and it was a magnificent day!

My mom..relaxing as the festivities unfold

Getting ready to open her presents




We even cooked dutch oven up there..this is one of the yummy cobblers

MEMORY GAME

1. Add a comment on my blog. Leave one memory that you have had with either Kris or I, or our kids or dogs! It doesn't matter if you knew us a little or a lot, anything you remember!

2. Next, re-post these instructions on your blog and see how many people leave a memory about you. It's actually pretty funny to see the responses. If you leave a memory about us, we'll assume you're playing the game and we'll come to your blog and leave one about you.

oh what do you do in the summertime...

Oh what do you do in the summertime when your neighbor brings you a box of apricots fresh off of her tree?



Do you make lemonade? NO, Do you sit in the shade? No!
Do you make Apricot freezer jam?? HECK YEAH!

First you Puree' the fruit




Then you stir in the sugar and lemon juice and pectin and pour into containers




Then you put all the yummy containers in the fridge to set up and then into the freezer!!! MMMMMMMMMMMMMMMM





So, yes, in the midst of packing up, I found enough tools to do the freezer jam. I could NOT let them go to waste! And freezer jam is SO easy to do. I have done raspberry freezer jam, strawberry/peach/banana freezer jam and now apricot freezer jam!!
So this being Pioneer day, I thought I would put all that good heritage to use and make and preserve some fruit. My kids eat it like it is candy! So good in the winter.
So let me know what you do in the summer time!!

Treasures

Yesterday, after rehearsal, We went down the Sandy house to continue project dejunk/restoration. We were packing up Grandma's bedroom and Kris was looking through piles and piles and boxes of bills and miscellaneous newspaper clipping and such. Well, he came to one box and upon opening it, found letters and pictures dating back to 1888. Isnt that amazing? He found one letter to "karoline" (we think this may have been to Kris' great grandmother)it was written in Danish. (if anyone knows how to read danish..let us know..we would love to know what the letter says) Anyway. Kris's grandma was adopted when she was a baby. Her mother died during child birth, or shortly there after. Her father, I guess, felt that he could not raise the children alone and adopted them out. We found a picture of her birth mother and father. It is amazing. We also found a picture of her adoptive mother, Caroline Pederson. If any of you have seen our temple plate we have, this is who it came from. Caroline Pederson was there at the dedication of the Salt Lake Temple and they obtained a bread plate that was made for the occasion of the Temple dedication. When Kris and I got married, his grandmother (who had received it from her adoptive mother) gave it to us. (acutally, it was his Aunt Betty who gave it to us) She said she wanted us to have it since Kris is the only grandchild on that side who has been through the temple. Pretty awesome, huh!!
So we found that and then many pictures of Kris's grandpa Henry in front of the house. We would like to take them and get them blown up a bit and frame them.
I will post pictures as soon I as take some, Caitlyn took my camera to girls camp and I didnt have it with me yesterday.
So after 5 hours down there yesterday, we have most of her room done, the kitchen packed and the pantry/laundry room packed. One more bedroom and the bath room and the hall cupboard and drawers. I have no idea where we will sleep or sit for a while. The floors are not finished yet and such.
We will be having a yard sale saturday..come on down!
Hooray for treasures that link us to the past and help us find a sense of who we are!!

And the Winner is.....

Clearfield Idol 2008, 6-12 year old winner is... CAITLYN POLSON.
We are very proud of Caitlyn this morning in her win yesterday with Clearfield Idol.
When asked how she felt, Caitlyn said " Happiness, Excited, Still a bit of nervousness". She won a trophy, a nice sports bag and $100.00 American Express Gift Card. Fabulous!!
The rest of our 4th of July was spent recovering from covering clearfield Idol. Kris was the Emcee and I was the run around girl. (meaning..I ran around getting contestants to their spots, and getting prized organized) It did feel a little odd to be the one presenting Caitlyn with the winning prize..I just didnt want audience members to think that she won because Kris and I were involved.
She sang with so much confidence and really was the strongest in her category. She really nailed her song.
Here are some pictures from our 4th of July
Nate and his friend Zac
Kris and Nick
Caitlyn on the Idol float




Next is Caitlyn Singing






And Last...Caitlyn and Mom and Some of the spectacular fireworks!!

Independance Day

What a beautiful July morning. The sky is clear, the air is somewhat cool and there is a covering of thin clouds. The sliding glass door is open enough that the dogs can go in and out of their own free will, thus enabling me to sit and type.
Cailtyn just wandered upstairs and is starting her routine of "getting ready" for the day. A bowl of cereal, a look in the mirror, a love on the dogs, a quick "hi" to dad and then she disappears behind her bedroom door. She will be riding on the Clearfield Idol Float today. I am sure it will take her longer than the hour and 15 minutes she has alotted herself to get ready. I could be suprised, it is a summer morning and anything is possible.
I must say it is wonderful to have EVERYONE home this morning. I loved days like this.
I thought I would take a minute and post some of the freedoms I am grateful for on this independance day.
1. Freedom of Religion- I can worship how or what I want. I am grateful for my testimony and the opportunities I have had to share it. I am grateful to have served a mission and to have been able to serve the Lord in other callings and capacities.
2. Freedom of Speech- Although I may not always like what others have to say, I respect the fact that they DO get to say it. Which means, I get to voice my opinion too. Sometimes this is a good thing and other times, it is not. Caitlyn has reminded me on occasion of the phrase we like to use "garnish thy thoughts uncessisingly"..simply put, what you think is what you speak.

I am grateful to live in the land of the Free. America. I am grateful to be able to celebrate the birth of our nation with family and friends.
I hope that none of us takes these freedoms for granted.



Enjoy your 4th!

STAGE I- Demolition

Well, if you have been reading our blog, you will know that we are in the beginning stages of renovation of Kris's grandma's home in Sandy. We will be moving in in August and have a great deal of work to do before we can move in or we will be homeless or pitching a tent in the back yard :)
Here are some of the beginning photos. We were pleased as punch to discover hard wood floors under the aging carpet. So enjoy!!



This is the smaller living room as you first come into the house. Notice the lovely yellow/orange shag and the purpleish 1940's couch and chair...




AHHH...no more yellow/orange shag! And look at that hardwood. Good thing Kris was wearing the mask...he found a decomposed mouse (skeleton) EEEWWWWWWWWWWWWW!!!!




Kris and Nate working hard. This carpet was probably 1950's sears brand. It was soooo heavy and had this plastic backing that was sooo thick. And then the lovely orange pad underneath!! NEATO!




One last picture from yesterday...we got a ton done in about 5 and a half hours! YAHOO. Next stop...removing the wood burning stove and tackling the kitchen!! SO MUCH STUFF!!!