Let's catch up!

It was recently brought to my attention by the one person who probably reads this that I haven't blogged....in a long time. So, I guess I should get to it. Plus, it's like a journal I can look back on anyway so I might as try to keep it up. We were so busy this summer which is why I haven't had the time to update. Trent was playing All Star baseball right up until the beginning of July. I really thought it would never end. The heat was unbearable at times. Then there were other issues that I was sick and tired of hearing about so I was done and couldn't wait for it to be done. In fact, I'd often hope for a loss. Sad right? Yeah, it was that bad at times and I'm not talking about the heat of the sun here.

Anyway, on July 5th I headed to Vegas to meet up with my cousins from back east. I was so excited! We walked the strip a few times and the kids were troopers about it. Well, Kaela was. Trent whined but that's a given. It's usually what he does...still...at age 11! During the day we would spend the time at the MGM where my cousins were staying. They had a lazy river pool which the kids LOVED! They had a blast hanging out there. Kaela made friends with my cousins boyfriend and told me, "This is my horse. His name is Oreo McMuffin." Nice. He'll forever be known as Oreo McMuffin to her now. We were supposed to leave Vegas on July 10th but some friends talked me into staying and going to the NKOTB concert with them (I promise I'm not obsessed). Since I was there, I ended up staying til the 12th and attended the show with them on the 11th. It was a fun girls weekend. We met a couple soap opera celebs and saw the Maveriks basketball team walking around the Palms. The concert was, of course, a blast! We always have so much fun at them. I don't know what it is. I think it's just reminiscing about when we were young and hoped that one of them would be our boyfriend. Just memories of our childhood I guess. I didn't sleep for two days straight that weekend. I was running on pure adrenaline. Insane. I really don't know how I made the drive home on the 12th, but I made it home safely.

After Vegas, we were home for about a week and then left on our 2 week road trip. We went to Glacier National Park and then headed over to Washington and Oregon. I really have no desire to go back to GNP ever again...unless I have someone that's willing to hike with me. Unless you are into hiking, GNP has nothing to really offer except for the scenery you see from your car. You have to hike to all the things that are worth seeing and we just weren't into it at the time. We did see a bear on our way out, so that was pretty exciting. From there we headed over to Washington. We saw the Space Needle and ate at the Crab Pot. We like to watch the show Man vs Food. Whenever we go somewhere, we check out that site to see if he has visited any of the restaurants in the state we are heading to. The Crab Pot was one of them. It was delish! While in WA, we also went to see Mt St. Helens. Very interesting spot. I would recommend visiting if you are ever up that way. From WA we went to Oregon. I honestly don't remember what we did there. Oh, Crater Lake! Wow! That's an amazing lake. Something else that is a must see. It's beautiful up there. Just amazing. I have pics on my Facebook page, so if we're Facebook friends, you can check them out. If not, add me :o)

When we got back from the road trip Kaela and I had to pack up and get ready to leave for Girl Scout camp 2 or 3 days later. I know, I told you we were really busy. We had a blast at GS Camp. I often joke with her that the hike was her favorite but it wasn't anyones favorite. It was 2 hours of walking. A lot of it uphill. I'm surprised the girls made it back and was so proud of all of them for being such troopers. When we got back, all the girls just sat in their tents and rested. We also had our lakefront day that day, so it was good for them to be able to go canoe and swim in the lake to cool off.

Let's see....Trent turned 11 on August 13th. WOW! He's growing.....taller :o) Instead of a party, I took him and a friend to 7 peaks. I figured that was easier and he would have more fun doing that. They loved it and had a blast.

The kids went back to school on the 19th I think. Trent is in the Middle School and thinks it's the coolest thing ever. He LOVES having his own locker. So far, he's doing really well. Thank God! I'm hoping that the rest of the school year will be just like this, but we are only a week into it. Kaela is still at the elementary and has Dalan's aunt as her teacher. Kaela was hoping to get her. Since they combined the two elementary schools into one, they both ride the bus now. It's so strange to me. They leave here at 7:15 and I'm left with about 30 minutes where I don't have to worry about taking the kids to school. The same goes for picking them up. They get dropped off at around 3:15. It's extra time in the day that I can use to clean....or play Farmville on Facebook...whichever.

Anyway, that's what has been going on in the last few months. Nothing too spectacular. We've just been pretty busy. Life is just wonderful out here in Utah.

The end.

(Finally)

Why, hello. It's been awhile.

I don't know that the reason for not blogging is because A) There isn't much to tell B) I've been so busy that I haven't had time to blog C) I've found other sites that I waste my life on or D) All of the above. I'm here now, so I guess that's all that matters.

The last month has consisted of the kids finishing up school, Trent having baseball everyday whether it be practice or a game (the coach is very...um...dedicated. And oh yeah, it's Dalan.), Kaela finishing up dance and trying to figure out what is planned as far as Girl Scouts this summer. School ended well for the most part. Kaela of course got all A's, no problem. Trent got some of his best grades of the year. Keyword here being some. He got A's and one F. When I questioned how that happened, he had no clue. After talking, he said that there were three assignments and he only handed in one which he got full credit on. To him that meant he should've gotten an A. This was in reading. He said he read the books but just didn't do the assignment. To me, the hard part is reading the book. Why not just do the assignment and be done with it. I don't know. Whatever. He's going onto 6th grade and I told him he better get his crap together and be more responsible because this is just ridiculous. I wish he would just write things down so we could all see when it is all due. So, Kaela earned her 7 peaks pass and Trent will have to work for his. I haven't even bought them yet because I just haven't.

As for Girl Scouts, I sent out a letter stating that I would like to start a troop here in Delta in August or Septemeber. Guess how many calls I got.........ZERO! I haven't gotten one call to say that they are interested. I guess I'm going to have to get aggressive with this. First I have to figure out how to do this. Maybe I should just start the troop with Kaela and my nieces and see if I can get two more girls. My only problem is getting an assistant leader. Who in the world can I possibly con into doing this with me? My sister isn't falling for it. Aside from the Delta troop I want to get going, we will be doing so many fun things with the troop we are involved in over in Fillmore. We are going to the Tuachan in June to see Annie and we have Girl Scout camp in August. I'm pretty excited. It's going to be so much fun for the girls. They always have a blast when we do stuff and they are all really cute and fun girls.

Baseball is going really well for Trent. He plays first base and sometimes will pitch. It's amazing how well he hits. He's gotten so much better. I love to watch baseball and it's one of my favorite sports. I always get so excited for it to get here and then when it gets here it's stressful because it just throws everything off as far as dinner and homework.

Everything else is same as usual. We are planning another road trip this year and are going to Glacier National Park. Dalan is looking forward to it and I guess I am too. We are also meeting up with my cousin in Vegas in July. I can't wait to see her. Our summer is pretty packed this year and you know what, that's okay. It's going to go by fast which really isn't that great but there will be a ton of memories made.

HAPPY SUMMER!!!!!

Long time, no blog

Sorry about the huge gaps in blogs lately. There just isn't much of anything to talk about. The kids had a pretty good Spring Break. Dalan has been working crazy hours, so the kids and I had Easter without him. Easter morning started with being woken up at 6:30 AM to find baskets. The kids had a set of clues that led them from room to room and then eventually to their baskets. After that, we went to Dalan's grandparents for Easter dinner. My mom was sick, so we stayed away from my parents house. Below are a few pictures from Easter. There's one of the clues and then one of Trent and one of Kaela. You should be able to click on the picture of the clues to make it larger so you can read them. Please excuse the boxes in the pictures. I'm going through all our crap and getting rid of a bunch of stuff.




















Let's see, I have also caught the exercise bug. I don't know what it is but I have this motivation from somewhere all of a sudden to get my butt in shape. It's odd that I'm sticking with it and have no explanation as to why I am. Well, yes I do. My abs, butt, arms and legs are all getting toned and firm. Results=Wanting more. I get on my elliptical just about everyday and will do Pilates. As soon as it gets nice outside, and it seems like it never will, I will start going on bike rides. Trent and I rode 3 miles on Monday! We had so much fun and we were both sore afterwards. Three miles probably isn't that far on a bike, but that's a start for me and awesome for him since he is only 10.

Well, that's about it. Nothing else really exciting is going on. It's pretty much the same old stuff as usual. I do have to say this, I do hope the damn wind stops blowing. I'm so sick of it!

Hasta peeps!

It's that time of year again.

Girl Scout registration is coming up again and that means that I am being approached again to get a troop going here in Delta. I was a Girl Scout when I was younger, so they really, really want me to step up and do this since I know the program and what it is all about. I've tried to get one going once and failed...miserably. I guess if I put forth more effort maybe I would've gotten more of a response. I pretty much just sent letters to school with Kaela to hand out to the girls in her class. I never put a set day or time for when we would do meetings and left it to be workable with the parents. I did not hear back from anyone who was interested in this program. It is sad really. We drive 30 minutes to Fillmore just so Kaela can be involved in a troop. Kaela loves Girl Scouts. I know she would love it even more if she were in a troop with friends she goes to school with. They do so many fun things. It's a shame that we can't get something going here in Delta when Fillmore has at least three troops and they are possibly adding one or two more. When it is cookie time, I am constantly hearing how people miss having Girl Scouts here in Delta. They are so excited to see us going door to door or sitting in front of Quality selling cookies at our little booth. All I need is five girls to get a troop going. I think I could get the five girls pretty easily. Kaela and my two nieces takes care of more than half of that number. What I am lacking and can't seem to get anyone to step up to do is be an assistant leader. I have to have that or there's no troop. Again, I have put forth little effort into looking or talking to anyone about it. I really wish my sister would do this with me. I think it would be so fun to do the activities and go to camp with her and our troop. She works and has a baby, so I understand why she can't. It is a really fun program for girls and they learn a lot from it. If you have a daughter, this is a program that they should be involved in if possible. We have gone to camp, we have made a float for the light parade, we sell cookies and Kaela gets credits from that and earns her way to camp, we've gone to the zoo and have made and learned so many other things. Kaela will be going to camp again this summer and her troop is currently trying to decide whether or not we want to go to the Zoo Snooze or to the Tuachan to see Annie. I'm going to try to get something sent to school with Kaela again to hand out and see if I can get a response this time around. If I can't, I'm going to have to get aggressive with this. This needs to be done. We need to get a troop here in Delta. That's it! I cannot fail at this. No, really, I can't because the Girl Services Director at Girl Scouts of Utah will not let me.

RECIPES!!!

Okay, here they are. These both turned out really good, so if you're bored, give them a try. They are both really easy to make.

Buffalo Chicken Stromboli
Rachael Ray

1 Bread Loaf (found in the frozen foods with the Rhodes Rolls)
3-4 Chicken Breasts or a Rotisserie Chicken or Leftover Chicken
1/2 Cup Frank's Buffalo Wing Sauce or Hot Sauce (They both taste the same)
1 Cup Monterey Jack Cheese
1 Egg

Set out frozen bread loaf to unthaw and raise. Cook chicken in a skillet coated with cooking spray. When cooked, pull apart with a fork so it's shredded. Pour in a 1/2 cup of the Frank's sauce and stir til chicken is coated. Roll out bread dough into a rectangular shape. Put chicken on bread dough and top with cheese. Roll up starting with the long side and seal. Brush entire loaf with the egg. Bake at 350 degrees for about 40 minutes. Cut into slices.

**This originally calls for celery, carrot and bleu cheese and I took it out. I also served the sandwiches with ranch dressing. YUM! Here is the link to the original recipe.

http://www.rachaelray.com/recipe.php?recipe_id=2652



Polynesian Chicken
Uncle Ben's Rice Box

1 Cup Uncle Ben's Converted Brand Rice cooked according to package directions
4 Skinless boneless Chicken Breasts
1 Can (8 oz) Pineapple Chunks and Juice
1 Cup Apricot Pineapple Marmalade or Jam
2 Tablespoons Low Sodium Soy Sauce (regular soy sauce works fine, too)

Apply coating spray to large non-stick skillet. (I put the skillet over medium heat.) Add chicken breast and cook for 3 to 4 minutes on each side. Add juice from pineapple to chicken in skillet just before chicken has finished cooking.

Mix pineapple chunks, marmalade and soy sauce. After pineapple juice has evaporated from skillet, add marmalade mixture to chicken. Cook until sauce is a glaze. Remove from heat and serve with rice.

**I also made broccoli to serve as a veggie. Both of these recipes were really easy and pretty quick to make. Both of them were really good. Give them a try and ENJOY!

Life's been boring....

No wait! I shouldn't start out like that. I am going to try to start thinking positively from now on. Ya know, have a better attitude about life and all that great stuff. It all started with this quote that I found not even 1/2 an hour ago.



"Our lives are not determined by what happens to us but by how we react to what happens, not by what life brings to us, but by the attitude we bring to life. A positive attitude causes a chain reaction of positive thoughts, events, and outcomes. It is a catalyst, a spark that creates extraordinary results." ~Anon



It hasn't even been 1/2 an hour since I came upon this new revelation (that word doesn't sound right) so I will let ya know how it goes later on.



Anyway, I really am just at a loss as to what to talk about here. It doesn't seem like much has been going on, but I've been busy. Dalan was out of town, again, for two weeks. While gone, a few furry, disease carrying friends found their way into the house. I was serious when I said the mice are trying to kill me. One morning while making breakfast, one ran right in front of my feet. Yeah, my reaction was awesome! I freaked, screamed, jumped up and down and couldn't move. Kaela is watching me from the other side of the counter wondering what in the world is going on. So, my dad comes over and sets some traps and I set out a glue trap. We ended up catching three mice. UGH! Me, being the paranoid person I am, would not sleep in our room while Dalan was gone. I chose to sleep on the couch downstairs with the lights on. When Dalan got back, he sealed up the problem area and we found a stash of plastic bags and socks under one of our drawers in the kitchen. Not from me and I'm assuming the mice couldn't have drug it there. No possible way. I'm thinking the previous owners must of done it and when we cleaned out this place, we somehow missed it. So, as of now I haven't seen any other signs of the stupid things and I'm hoping it stays that way. Dalan seems to think they will just find another way.



Hmm...Kaela had a dance competition on the 21st. All the girls from the dance company Kaela goes to did very well. It was so much fun watching her dance. It was a long day but a pretty exciting one. I, unfortunately, wore the wrong shoes. I really wasn't going for comfort when I wore them. I just thought they were cute. I paid for it every time I got up and walked somewhere.



Anyway, that's about it for now. I have made a couple really good things for dinner the last couple nights. I know I said I would try to post recipes and I've totally slacked. So, I will post them tomorrow.



Hopefully :o)

Girl Scout Cookies!

On Saturday, I will be so lucky to get to sit outside of the local grocery store and sell Girl Scout cookies. Is there really anything more fun than that? I think I can think of a few things. Last year was horrible. The wind blew (which isn't uncommon here) and it was freezing. I sold cookies while Kaela hid under a blanket. This year should be better as we won't have to deal with the third obstacle we encountered last year. Ten cent hot dogs! UGH! Everyone would walk by us to get those damn things. People here go crazy for them. I eat one and feel like throwing up. Unfortuately, my husband is one of those who has to buy 20 of the stupid things just like almost everyone else here. Anyway, back to cookies. So, if ya'll are in town and hungy, skip McDonalds and Leos and come by the store and buy some Girl Scout cookies. I promise they are delicious. It's for a good cause and the quicker I get rid of these things the quicker I get to go home.