DISNEYLAND!!!!!!!! FINALLY!!!!!!!

Well, we made it!!!!!!!!! Yipeeee!!!!! To the Happiest Place on Earth!!!!!!!!!

We're so happy we finally got to Disneyland as a family for the first time!!! It was awesome!! We went Thanksgiving week as a surprise for the kids. They had no clue. They didn't even know we were going to Cali. I had their bags packed & hidden away. They were wondering whose car was parked out front (the rental).....then, bam! Surpise, wake up!! We got them up at 3am & they were in shock & disbelief. When we told Jorma "We're going to California right now so wake up!" he said "Ya, right" then rolled over & tried to sleep. So we drove 13 hours straight to Ventura & stayed with our friends, Eric & Audrey & Stella & Laurel for 3 days. We played at the beach & had a great time seeing friends & Ruby. Then we headed for grandma Helen & grandpa Jerry's in Yucaipa. Then the next morning we woke them up at 6am "Let's go! We're going to our friends' house!" So when we ended up at Disneyland, they were shocked & thrilled. I think they still can't believe we did all that.

Allison got to dance with Mary Poppins & Bert & the band in front of Sleeping Beauty's Castle. She had a ball!!

The Castle at night was gorgeous & magical. We had such a great time!! DISNEYLAND ROCKS!!!

SuMmEr FuN

Like our garden tomatoes?? This is what Jay does when he's bored or feeling creative...cracks me up!! That's why we love him!
Here's the fam up on Timp at Sundance. Summer is winding down so we wanted to get up to the mountains before the snow comes. It was lovely & fun was had by all.
Jorma boy has been enjoying football this season. So far they are undefeated!! Go Lehi #41!!
My little lady Allison loves to ham it up & have her picture taken. This is at Thanksgiving Point here in Lehi. They have beautiful grounds with perfect photo ops.
Here's my little hummingbird friend on our front porch drinking from the feeder I got for mother's day. They are so amazing & graceful, love it!

Summer Cut

Well here's my latest cut, a bob. Whatdaya think? Just fast & easy for summer. But summer's over...boohoo. So back to growing it out..I know, such importantly major decesions!!

NEED THESE SOOOO BAD!!!

Just think these car eyelashes are soooo cute!! Need me a pair!! And I'd like the bug in this pic to go with..lol!

FOOTBALL!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Well, it's that time again, Football season!!! Yae!! We love it!! Jorma is excited to be playing tackle this year for the first time. He's so cute & says "I like it lots, all but the running the coach makes us do". He's definitely seeing the benefits though. He says he can run & play better at school which is a big plus. Can you tell we're so proud of him??
We got Allison the whole cheerleader outfit so she can show her support & she just loves in general. Such a girly girl!
The Team--Lehi Pioneers in their wild purple uniforms--Jojo is #41. Love the mean face?
Go Team!!~~~

Oh, Brad!

~Perfection....you know what I mean!

MoKiNgJaY

So excited!! Just got it!! Couldn't wait for the library copy or friends...now I can see how it all ends!! These have been great books so check em out if you like fast & exciting reads!!

Fond Memories

I am reminiscing lately. Thinking about all the great memories our family has thanks to my mom's creation. This picture cracks me up! Mainly the Micky head in back of me..sister Sara did it to block out my ex. She's so funny. That Disneyland trip was a blast. We were so young & my mom was so fun! Seems like yesterday, can you tell I totally miss her?! Everyday!! It's been rough, I cannot lie. I carry her in my heart so she's always with me. When I hear this poem I think of her. Here's to you mother~~~ Love you!!

~~I carry your heart with me

I carry your heart with me (I carry it in my heart)

I am never without it(anywhere I go you go, my dear;

and whatever is done by only me is your doing, my darling)

I fear no fate (for you are my fate, my sweet)

I want no world (for beautiful you are my world, my true)

and it's you are

whatever a moon has always meant

and whatever a sun will always sing is you

here is the deepest secret nobody knows

(here is the root of the root and the bud of the bud

and the sky of the sky of a tree called life;

which grows higher than the soul can hope or mind can hide)

and this is the wonder that's keeping the stars a part

I carry your heart (I carry it in my heart)

~Edward Estlin Cummings

LiFe

LAGOON!!

The whole family went to Lagoon on Sunday - the only amusement park in Utah. I remember when I lived in Wyoming & we couldn't wait to go the Lagoon!!! So we went with our friends the Colledges & had a great time but it was soo hot! Thank goodness for the water park, Laguna Beach. Nice & cool. I loved that part best!! It's just too hot to go anywhere in Utah in August & be outside for 10 hours straight. The kids loved the rides, especially Allison who got off every roller coaster saying "Man, that was the best ride of my life!!" Cute little 6 year old girl!! This was the first time daddy had ever been there & he loved the roller coasters too. SUCCESS!! FUN TIMES!!!

Summertime Recipe with your Garden Veggies

We love this homemade treat, well I should say the grown ups do! It's rich & time consuming but worth it!! Try it out!!


Zucchini Casserole
1 lb. country sausage
1 box chicken stuffing mix like Stove Top
1 can cream of mushroom or chicken soup
1 can cream of celery or asparagus soup
3 cups sliced zucchini
2 cups grated carrots
½ cup sliced mushroom
½ cup chopped onion
3 tbls butter
1 cup sour cream
1 cup shredded swiss or cheddar cheese
Parmesan cheese for topping

Brown sausage & drain grease. Make stuffing by box directions. Mix sausage & stuffing together & set aside. Sautee onion in butter until clear, then add other veggies & a little water. Cover & cook veggies until tender, usually about 10 minutes. Remove from heat & carefully fold in soups, sour cream & cheese. In a sprayed casserole (9x13 works best), pat ¾ of stuffing/sausage mixture into the bottom of pan then spoon the soup/veggie mixture on top. Sprinkle the remaining stuffing/sausage mixture over top. Bake at 350 for 45 mins or until golden & bubbly. Sprinkle parmesan cheese the last 10 mins of baking.

Easter 2010

Spring time here in the hills!! Well, near spring I should say....still getting snow, WHATEVER!! But the moisture will do us good here in this desert. Getting ready to plant our garden once more & enjoy fresh salsa all summer. Easter was a fun filled day for our little chickadees as you can see. Woke up to lots of snow that morning so the wacky wabbit had to get creative!



Allison got her first real haircut! Brushing her hair has been such a battle in past couple years because she just had sooooo much thick, long hair. We knew the day would come when we would chop it so I asked her if she wanted short hair for the summer & she's been tempted for a while so we just took the plunge. She had so much hair so we're gonna donate it to Locks of Love! Good job Allison!!

MOM

So, this is the hardest thing to write about. My sweet mother has passed on. She's gone home, onto a new adventure or whatever you want to call it. I like to think of her as a new life energy that's not really gone, just changed. Looking back, I'm glad I told her I loved her all the time and she did too. Never held back my love & appreciation. I wonder if that's why this is so hard, among other reasons...

I recently heard that this sadness is just "my crap" & to let go of it but it is still the hardest thing I've ever done. I've always had her to lean on or to raise up but either way she was there with me. I know she's everywhere still so I hold that close to my heart when I'm totally down. The simplest things throw me off like hearing someone who sounds just like her or have her name, Leslie....

I know it will take a while to get back to "normal" whatever that is & I'm looking forward to it. I also know I will never be the same, changed forever....My emotions run the gamut from sadness to anger to joy...just all over the place. Her service was lovely & very healing for us all. Glad.

Mother, I love you. Thank you. God bless.

Valentines Day & other fun stuff!

Wow, it's been a while since I've written. I mostly use this as a journal or record of events but the facebook bug bit so I've been slacking but no more! My cute kiddies always love getting lots of loot for any holiday so why not Valentines day since they are my sweeties! Here they have some stuffed animals & candy of course. They were so excited "Oh mommy, thank you, Allison says"
Allison has been losing teeth left & right (no not from all the candy) and now she has no front teeth at all. A very cute stage! They went to the dentist & have great teeth. Jorma is playing basketball at the local rec center & his team is jamin with his help. He loves it & I'm glad! He just got his report card & did so well, straight A's!! You go Jojo or Chaka as we call him lately....watch Land of the Lost with Will Ferrell to understand this!
Flowers from the hubby. Isn't he the greatest? I think so. I'm so lucky!!!!
Us oldies! but goodies!! Just kickin around in the mountains. We love to get out & about even in the freezing cold. We've been busy with work & kids & family. My mom is not doing well with her cancer bout but we just spend time together & give lots of love! She's the greatest & we just wish her the best.