Diamond Hunting

 When we met the Fuller Clan we had no idea what we were in for and Thing3 actually asked if we were getting killed in the desert while driving on the dirt roads.  Glitter Mountain is actually an old mineral deposit of Gypsum that locals have cherished for years and year.  It was a fun place to go that was near by and we will definitely be returning for another adventure. It was well worth the much needed carwash afterwards.

It was a little cloudy, but the mountain shimmered from miles away.

Mr. Independence, did his own thing and trailed behind everyone else!

Grayson was all about business at the mountain with his Pop pops.

Thing1 and Thing2 were loving banging their hammers and mass destruction.

First Day of School 2016

 Can you believe that school is already in full swing again? These kids are back at it and already loosing lunch boxes and water bottles! Happy that nothing has really changed except their grades!

Thing3 is already in 1st grade! Good luck Mrs. Gubler!

This kid is already taking names in Mrs. McCoy's class.  I can't believe Thing2 is already in the 3rd grade. 

Thing1 is in his last year at Elementary school.  5th grade is going to bring a lot of changes and Mrs. Wall is going to be in for a big surprise.

Life is an Adventure!

 On a whim we headed to the west coast! It was a terrible weekend to be in San Diego with ComicCon the same weekend, but we sure did make the best of it! I have always wanted to go to the San Diego Zoo and I am so grateful I got to share the experience with my kids! After a long drive in the car and heat the fun didn't last long, but it was good while it lasted!

We started Football!

At the end of the school year Thing 1 asked if he could start football this fall.  Football has been one of those spots that I just haven't gotten into.  Maybe its the years of being forced to play in pep band in the cold while lugging a sousaphone around.  It took some convincing to get his father on board, but today we went to the weigh in and signed out gear...let the madness begin! We also lucked out and although my older two are in the 3rd and 5th grade they will be on the same team, so they'll practice at the same time and have the same games.  Thing 2 was reluctant to join in, but I'm not sure I gave him much of choice.  Gotta try at least once kid!

Finally our turn to find our gear!

Learning how the helmet is supposed to feel.

I'm not sure he's sold yet!

We packed some watermelon to help cool down in this 100 degree heat! Thing 3 said he needed to drink the juices so that the boys don't make a mess.

Such patient couches these boys have.  

Learning how to tackle the right way.

I am sure I am going to learn a lot this season.  Like tonight, I learned that we won't have all of our games in St. George...that was fun! We will see our state and learn a new sport!

It's Party Time!

  A few years ago Thing 1 went to a birthday party for a neighborhood friend at Barefoot Gymnastics so when it came time to have have his party this was the first place he thought of.  It was an hour and a half of smiles and laughing with playful competitions and a little bit of dancing.  He has such an entertainer personality and watching him with school mates and hearing how he is at school was a crack up! He has some stories to tell his mama!

Playing musical obstacles

The birthday crew.

Kite Festival

 Every year Dixie Power supports a Kite Festival to support local reading programs.  The kids are given a calendar at school and if they do their daily reading they can exchange the calendar for a free kite.  This year it was at Dixie State University so we could just walk over.  The boys had so much fun with all the kites and seeing friends.  

 

Rolo Stuffed Snickerdooles

I recently signed up for the meal plans through The Six Sisters and we have loved everything we have tried, but I wanted to share these and add them to the family cookbook! I had the day off today and I had an echocardiogram this morning, so I thought I would have the boys go to daycare for half of the day and meal prep.  Before my appointment I got the Chicken Cordon Bleu started in the crock pot and made the Chocolate Sugar Cookie Bars.  When I got home the house smelled wonderful with the chicken cooking and since our lives have been so busy I thought I would start the snickerdoodles.  I used to have cookie dough pre-shaped in the freezer so that we could take out a few, because fresh cookies are the best!

Rolo Stuffed Snickerdoodles

by: The Six Sisters

Ingredients:

• 1/2 c. Butter
• 1/2 c. Shortening
• 2 Eggs
• 3 c. all-purpose Flour
• 2 t. Baking Powder
• 1 t. Baking Soda
• 1/2 t. Salt
• 48 Rolo Candies
• 2 T Sugar
• 2 t. Cinnamon

Instructions:

Preheat oven to 400 degrees.  In a large bowl cream together butter, shortening, sugar and eggs.  Mix in flour, baking powder, baking soda and salt.  Use a cookie scooper or roll a 1 inch ball and place a Rolo in the middle and shapes around.  Mix together remaining sugar and cinnamon and roll each cookie ball into the sugar mixture and place on an ungreased cookie sheet.  Bake for 7-9 minutes or until golden brown, but still soft.

Note: If you want to freeze them into dough balls do everything the same, but put the tray in the freezer for 6 hours to overnight and then place into a gallon sized Ziploc bag.  Keeps in the freezer for up to 3 months.

 This kid loves Rolo's so these were a score!

Kayenta Chalk Festival

 Every year Kayenta opens its gates to the world and the results are amazing.  The chalk festival lasts 2 days and artists from all over create one of a kind pieces of work.  The kids weren't really in the mood to stand by each piece and watch the art be created, but what I was allowed to take in was remarkable!

Kayenta is set in a tranquil setting.  I love the color of the red rock with the blue skies!

I wish I would have written down more about this piece, but I do remember it is a local high school group that was working on it.  They had a teacher there to advise from a different perspective. 

 Thing 2 is standing by the waterfall of this permanent piece in Kayenta.

Asian Mother's Day 2016

 When I moved to Coupeville in 2011 I never realized the boud that this boy would have with one special lady.  Dr. Chinn used to pick him up and go on ice cream dates and check out the the local pet store.  Carson walked past this coffee mug and told me that he wanted to make it for his Asian Mommy.  He worked tirelessly on this project and was so excited to get it shipped out to her and see it on her desk when we visited her office in May.