Whipped Cream Challenge

 Shake up the can of whipped cream.

Spray a good amount on the back of your hand.

One, two, three.....smack your whipped cream loaded forearm with your other hand flying the dollop in the air.

Try and catch it in your mouth.

Get ready and do it all over again.

This is what the lacrosse team does when they aren't practicing or conditioning.

Yep.  Cute teenage girls.

Daily Q

Question:  What one thing are you most thankful for today?

Answer:  The washing machine and dryer.  I don't know if I'd survive if I had to do laundry by hand and hang everything up to dry.  I remember those days when I was young.  My mom standing outside in the backyard hanging up all the clothes.  You could look across the neighborhood fences and see everyone's laundry.  That's just how it was.  It was so dependent on the weather.  On foggy and rainy and cloudy days, everything got moved inside the house and was hanging on folding wooden racks and on hangers on every door jam of every room in our house and you could feel and smell the dampness.  I don't even know how people in wintry states did laundry in the snowy months. Plus it took SO MUCH time.  We don't even realize the amount of time doing laundry took back then.  We are spoiled.

Daily Q

Question:  If you could call any famous person and talk for five minutes, who would you call and what would you say?

Answer:  This might change depending on the day, but my very first thought was George Washington.  I would ask him what it was like at Valley Forge.  I would want to know how he felt the promptings of God during the revolutionary war.  I would thank him for this wonderful country and his involvement in it's formation.

Amber's Wedding

dance with dad

Amber got married this afternoon. It was down the canyon at Parker Ranch.  It was a beautiful day and the weather cooperated nicely.  Not too hot, not too cool.  June can be tricky here in socal.  Byron performed the ceremony and it was upbeat and fun without being silly.  Amber was gorgeous.  It was an all evening/night event.  We left finally about 8pm though.  We weren't up for dancing until 11.  When we all moved here 18 years ago, she was this little red-headed kindergartner and now she is all grown up.  Her husband is darling and they are perfect for each other.

Congratulations to Amber and Justin!

DVD My Memories

During our spring cleaning, I have accumulated a box of cassette tapes, slides, 8mm film, vhs tapes that I can't find online in dvd form.

I found a company that converts these things to cd's and dvd's.  Duff and I had to drop off Christine's camera in Irvine at the Canon shop for a repair, so we took the box to have it's contents converted over.  I didn't realize how many options there are.  I just went middle of the road on them all.  I think the slides and film are from Duff's mission.  One of the vhs tapes is of when our family was on The Family Feud in 1983.  Another is of the stage play of Peter Pan with Mary Martin.  I have looked everywhere to find a dvd version, so the grandkids can watch it.  It was my kids favorite version of the story.  They would watch it over and over again.  I was happy to know they would convert it for me.  I have a favorite cassette of a Christmas performance done by Michael Ballam.  It is OLD, and they don't even make it anymore.  I start listening to it every October.  It's titled Searching For The Star Of Bethlehem.  They are putting it on cd for me! Hurray!

We got lunch at SuperMex.  It was soooooo delicious.  The manager came over to our table and talked with us.  We told him--again!--that they need to bring a restaurant down our way.  Hopefully. :-)

Jammin'--Part 2

Tonight was our RS Activity Night.
I taught how to make strawberry freezer jam.

When they first asked me to do this class, I thought it would be one of a few classes offered that evening.  When they passed out the flyer a week ago, I realized I was the class.  That put a little different spin on how I would carry it out.

Adrianne came and was my sous chef.  I couldn't have done it without her.  She kept everything behind the scenes going--washing dishes, mashing berries for the next batch, etc.-- while I was talking, demonstrating, and teaching. 

I set the alarm on my cell phone for every 15 minutes and when it went off, we had a name drawn for a prize.  Canning funnel, rubber spatula, pectin, etc.  The ladies loved it and we had a fun time.

We made 5 double batches of jam.  Enough for everyone to take home a half-pint and enough to have on some homemade wheat bread or ice cream. 

The gals had a nice time.  We had so many people want to try and make it on their own and they found it wasn't as hard as it seems.

I talked about gardening and canning and brought bottles of some of the other things we put up.  They were very interested.  We'll get freezer jam down, and then move on to peaches or pickles which are so easy as well.

I have to admit, I kind of like this interest in a return to some home food preparations and storage.  It feels good in this economy to walk out to your storage shelves and see your efforts.

Not Her Mama!

Erik received his mission call to the Dominican Republic.  He went to the temple tonight.  Josh and Meredith went with the family for this very special occasion.  It was the first time they have left Ainsley for a long period of time. 

We had Tyler too.  Everything was going well until after Ainsley's bath.  All of a sudden she realized her mommy wasn't the one lotioning and putting on her pajamas!  Her little face registered the fact and she just cried and cried.  The tears rolled down her cheeks and her eyes got splotchy.  Poor baby.  Shaun couldn't take it anymore and he scooped her up and walked her around singing softly till she calmed down.  She only had on her diaper.  I took her back and got her dressed. 

She took a bottle from me really well.  Mere thinks it will be a good idea to keep some of her milk in the freezer and a bottle here at our house.  For those times when we have the baby and they are gone for a little while.

They hurried home and all was well.  Tyler was out on the couch and Ainsley and I were on the other.  She was sound asleep in my arms, and her mama couldn't wait to have her in her own.  I remember leaving each of my babies for the first time.  I don't think it matters how many children you have--that first time is a heart tugger.

Ainsley's Blessing Day

Today Ainsley was given a name and a blessing by her father.

It was a beautiful day. 

Getting ready in the Mother's Room at the church.

The blessing gown was made by Patti.  It is an vintage heirloom dress that she sewed when her first daughter was born.  All of the Peterson children and grandchildren have been blessed in it.

On the inside lining the names and birthdates of each child is embroidered.

 Josh, Meredith, and Ainsley.

 Mother and Daughter.

 Duffy Family

 Peterson Family.

 Four Generations.

 With Oma and Opa.

 My dad, Ward, Duff, Mike, Josh, Shaun.

 Josh, Mike, Christine, Shaun.

 Priceless!

 By the time church was over, we were famished.

Meredith planned a great menu.

Hamburgers, hot dogs, with all the fixings, potato salad, fruit platters, and strawberry shortcakes for dessert.

Peonies, tuberose, and baby roses.

Peonies are some of my most favorite flowers.

 Her booties are made from the silk from Meredith's wedding gown.

The bracelet is freshwater pearls.  There is an extension for it so Ainsley can wear it on her baptism and wedding days.

 Oma made the blessing shawl.

I made the receiving blanket.

Duff carried up the blanket and shawl and Josh placed Ainsley in them.



Home From Morro Bay

Christine had a GREAT time in Morro Bay!

She learned a lot and had even more fun.

And she stayed pretty warm.  It was really cold there.  She slept in layers of clothing, but it worked.

They camped and cooked all their meals every day.

She threw away her clothes and shoes from the mud hike.  The teacher prepared us for that.  We sent the oldest and worst she had for that day.  And picked up a pair of $4.99 water shoes at Wal-mart specifically for that event.

Tide pools, kayaking, swimming, laying out, aquarium, papers, worksheets, pictures, examinations, soil, analysis, cold weather, sunburn, camping showers every other day.

Let's add a great big FUN to it as well.

btw:  the boys camped on the other side of the park.