Home Decor Overload!

So, while I was in Utah visiting family, I called up my Aunt Cecelia (who is a great resource for anything fun and decorative). I told her I was looking for a wreath for my front door and asked her where I might find one in Logan. She gave me several good ideas, then said... 'You know - we should get a group of girls together and head down to Tai Pan Trading. They'll have exactly what you need'. I had never heard of Tai Pan Trading but, several days later, I found myself lost in a sea of home decor.

If they don't have it, you probably don't need it. The store is about the size of a Costco and filled to the top with everything home decor - lamps, candle holders, vases, platters, clocks, baskets, etc. I was overwhelmed immediately after walking through the front doors. It is really a sight to see. Needless to say, I found several great things to buy - including this great metal basket. I have already used it to gather my vegetables from the garden.

Thanks Aunt Cecelia for the great shopping excursion. Thanks Betsy for taking us to your favorite Thai restaurant. Thanks Mom for driving and Elizabeth for the company and morale shopping support . And a BIG thank you to Bret for watching my girls so I could enjoy an outing diaper and car seat free!

The Clark Fork

A great time was had by all as we spent last weekend rafting and camping with some of my family, most of Kirk's family and our good friends, the Riddles, on the Clark Fork river northwest of Missoula, Montana. Kirk guided as many trips as we could fit into two and a half days. The adults and kids all got their share of whitewater. The water was perfect, the weather gave us warm days and cool nights, the camping was convenient and perfect for a big group, and the food was delicious. Yes, there are 21 children and adults - a record for our large raft. A great time was had by all as the little kids rode the 'rapids' and swam down a gentle section of the river. Giggles were in abundance. The older boys had a great time on the smaller paddle boat with Aunt Kelli guiding. Jaxs was the only one lucky enough to get a piggy back ride on the kayak thanks to Aunt Jenny. I loved to see my kids having so much fun with cousins from the Davidson side and the Johnson side as well as a few Riddles mixed in. Pictured: Hannah, Megan Riddle, Halli Whitby, Paige, Natalie Johnson, Katie Riddle.

Lots of the kids became fast friends over the weekend. Sadie and Katie didn't seem to care that they had never met before.

Tent camping with cousin Natalie was heaven for Paige and Hannah.

I loved being with my brothers, sister and Kirk's siblings and parents. I feel lucky that we all get along so well and have so many neat people in our family. I can't wait for next year's 2nd annual Clark Fork Rafting adventure!

Allowance dollars at work

Here is Paige. Proud owner of her own electric quad with trailer. She purchased it for $68 (bargained down from $70) from a neighborhood garage sale with allowance and birthday money she has been saving for months. This is a big accomplishment - considering she only gets $2.00/week.

We started giving the kids allowance several years ago. It has been a great way to teach them some realities about money - like how much it buys, how to pay tithing, how to save, etc. We help them divide their money: 10% to tithing, 10% to savings, 10% to college/mission, 70% for spending. The only stipulation is that they can't buy candy with it (healthy food is OK). I have cringed more than once as allowance money was spent on dollar store toys that break in the car on the way home. I have wondered when they would figure out that they could buy something they really wanted if they could control the urge to impulse buy. Paige has been diligently saving and had the money ready when something she really wanted came along. I am so proud of her.

Blogging

I started this blog several months ago with great intentions. But, for some reason, it took me a while to get rolling with it. Recently I have enjoyed reading blogs from my friends and family... Cassi, Jenny, Lindsey, Mike & Molly, etc. With inspiration from my friends, I have started to add a little more all the time. Since I am horrible at keeping a journal, I figure this is a great way to keep a little bit of my life preserved. Stay tuned for a little about me, my family, my hobbies and our adventures...

Windy Weekend

Here are a few shots from last weekend. Grandma Rosemary was kind enough to take the girls for a few days while Kirk and I enjoyed a little Kite boarding get-a-way. Lots of our friends were in the park for the weekend and we had great wind. The girls were in heaven with Grandma. A great time was had by all!

Kirsten

Kirk

Todd with some hang time

James - King of big air and splash landings

The boys coming in after a session

Scott

Garden Delights

When I was growing up, my parents always had a HUGE garden. I remember spending plenty of time weeding and working (I'm sure my parents did most of the work) in the garden - not to mention moving sprinkler pipe. But what I remember most is eating from the garden. We spent all summer eating whatever was in season and all winter eating whatever my Mom had preserved. Fresh peas (eaten as fast as you can pick them) are still one of my favorite vegetables.

I am not as ambitious as my parents were. I have little time to spend weeding, watering and caring for a garden and little space in our yard to devote to a big garden. But I have found some gardening techniques that work for me.

Shortly after we moved into our house, Kirk built me four garden boxes. He was all for having a garden and I think he figured that putting in garden boxes over existing lawn would only make less mowing for him. Because we have such poor, clay soil, we filled the garden boxes up with this amazing, beautiful black dirt - bought from a man down the road who digs it out of an old pond - chuck full of organic material. I have always used soaker hoses to water the garden, but this year I switched to a drip system from Orbit. I have it attached to timers that water it automatically and, so far, it works great.

Over the past few years I've been perfecting how and what I plant to suit my space limitations and our food preferences. My garden is shaping up to be a great one this summer. I order my seeds from Territorial Seed Company - a favorite local supplier from our days in Portland. I plant what we love to eat - lettuce, peas, beans, carrots, tomatoes, zucchini, beets, radish, onions, etc. My new 'experimental' vegetables this year are Broccoli and Edaname. I am excited to see how they both turn out.

My favorite part of having a garden is watching my kids spend the afternoon 'grazing'. Always asking 'what can we pick now Mom?'. I love to see them enjoying the fresh and nutritious vegetables.

I also love deciding what we are having for dinner based on what is ready in the garden. For example, tonight we had one of my favorite dinner salads - Applebee's Oriental Chicken Salad (see recipe below). It included lettuce, radish and sugar peas picked fresh from the garden this afternoon. It was delicious.

Applebee’s Oriental Salad Dressing: ½ c. honey ¼ c. white vinegar 1/3 c. mayonnaise 1/3 c. Dijon mustard ½ tsp. sesame oil Salad: Tyson Breast of Chicken – bake and cut into strips. One per person. 3 c. romaine lettuce 1 c. chopped red cabbage 1 c. chopped Napa cabbage ½ carrot shredded 1 green onion 1 T. sliced almonds – per person 1/3 c. chow mein noodles – per person

Horse Crazy

Hannah is wild about horses. She is at that age when everything revolves around them (I remember it well). She is constantly talking about horses. She is always involving her sisters in some make-believe game involving horses. She spots horses in every pasture and field we pass. She wants to own an Equestrian center when she grows up.

Here is a typical conversation... Hannah: 'Can I have a horse?' Mom: 'Sure, when you live on your own, you can have as many horses as you want.' Hannah: 'Why can't I have a horse now.' Mom: 'Because they are very expensive, take a lot of time and space. Plus, I am allergic to horses.' Hannah: 'But we have a big yard and I'd take really good care of it.' Mom: 'I know you would take really good care of a horse. Our yard is kind of big - but not big enough for horses. Where would your horse sleep?' You get the idea.

In order to satisfy some of her horse cravings, she was given cowboy boots last Christmas. And for her birthday in April, we gave her horse riding lessons - which she started this summer. She loves learning all about taking care of and riding horses. She has spent time on Big Mama and Comet (seen below). She is really looking forward to visiting Grandma Johnson's in July where she will spend 4 days in horse camp at the Schiess farm with Paige and cousin Natalie. Kirk and I will most likely never own a horse. But Hannah is enjoying the time she gets with them now and, who knows, maybe someday she will have a horse of her own.