Dust Storm

Had our first dust storm of the season today, not our worst but these things always amaze me. Its been 67 days since it has rained, and this is what we get a bunch of wind and dust. Just a sign of the changing season.

Flagstaff Weekend!

This past weekend we drove up to Flagstaff for the weekend, JaKelle was there for Cheer Camp, we had to pick her up Sunday and stay to check her into EFY Monday morning. Our trip started off with our Hotel being evacuated because of a fire right behind it, we drove up the road to another hotel got checked in fine and watch them put the fire out by our other hotel, it was a scary sight but it was pretty cool watching the planes drop stuff on the fire. The next day we decided we needed more room once we pick Kell up so we checked in to a hotel by NAU called Drury's, very nice hotel that gives you free soda and popcorn in the afternoon, and Josh's favorite was the kickback and eat at 5:30 they had a lot of different finger foods. That day another fire stared North of us, which is now the biggest fire burning in AZ, its the Shultz fire, it looked like a volcano eruption on the mountain, at night we watched the fire burn and it looked like trees just exploding, so scary.

We picked Kell up on Sunday and had a relaxing day at the Hotel for Fathers Day, we gave him our gifts and he watched the US Open, very relaxing day for our family but very well enjoyed. Monday morning we checked JaKelle into EFY for a week, it was fun to see all the youth there so excited to be with each other and be spiritually uplifted (we hope). It was a great weekend and I get to drive up and this weekend to pick Kell up, cant wait to see her.

picture of fire from our Hotel

Mesa High Cheer Camp

Kell and Me

JaKelle at Cheer Camp

Varsity Cheer funny face

Varsity Cheer Mesa High

Stunt Group

The two Sophomores

To the BEST Dad's Ever!!!

I am very lucky to have a husband who is the BEST Dad to our four wonderful children, Im so grateful for Lynn who has always been such a great example to them and always made it top priority to be apart of their live!!

HAPPY FATHERS DAY!!!

...and to a Father who I think the world of, I miss him so much, he was always so concerned about us girls and we new he loved each of us. I miss Dad peeling apples for us at night from his apple trees, I miss the Mr. Goodbars he would have hidden and then bring them out for a snack, I miss watching him read his scriptures every morning, I miss his funny sense of humor and singing Rise and Shout the Cougars are Out, I miss watching him love to watch golf on fathers day. Till me meet again Dad, I love you!!!

...to Lynn's Dad and the best father-in-law, he has always been there for our family and supported our children by coming to Arizona for all their important events in their lives. Thank You Wayne for having raised such a wonderful son and who is such a great father to our children. We love you.

Happy Birthday Sis

I want to give a BIG shout out to my Sister Carol.

HAPPY HAPPY BIRTHDAY

CAROL DEAR,

HAPPY DAYS WILL COME

TO YOU ALL YEAR,

IF I HAD ONE WISH

THEN IT WOULD BE,

A HAPPY HAPPY BIRTHDAY

TO YOU FROM ME!!

I Love You Sis.

Great Summer Treat!

Here is a great summer treat if your needing something to snack on by the pool or for one of your summer parties, Fruit Salsa with Cinnamon Chips, something different from the usual chips and salsa.

Fruit Salsa with Baked Cinnamon Tortilla Chips

1 kiwi, peeled and diced

1 Golden Delicious apples – peeled, cored and diced

4 oz. raspberries

8 oz. of strawberries, diced

1 Tablespoons white sugar

1/2 Tablespoon brown sugar

1 1/2 Tablespoons fruit preserves, any flavor (I used my strawberry freezer jam)

10 small flour tortillas (the fajita size that’s about 7 inches)

4 Tablespoons melted butter (or butter flavored cooking spray)

2 cups cinnamon sugar

1. In a large bowl, thoroughly mix kiwis, apples, raspberries, strawberries, white sugar, brown sugar and fruit preserves. Cover and chill in the refrigerator at least 15 minutes.
2.Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
3.Coat one side of each flour tortilla with melted butter (or butter flavored cooking spray). Sprinkle tortillas with desired amount of cinnamon sugar. Using a pizza cutter, cut each tortilla in half and then cut each half into 4 wedges. Arrange in a single layer on a large baking sheet. (if using cooking spray, spray tortillas again with cooking spray).
4.Bake in the preheated oven 8 to 10 minutes. Repeat with any remaining tortilla wedges. Allow to cool approximately 15 minutes. Serve with chilled fruit mixture. Best when made and eaten the same day otherwise the fruit gives off so too much juice and it gets runny. Serves around 5-6.

Happy Birthday Mom!!

Happy Birthday to my Mom, I miss being able to call her up and having our long talks, she always had that way of making me feel like things would be OK when I was having a bad day. I miss being able to give her a call and see how to make a special recipe that she made. I miss her so much, Love you Mom!!

Girls Camp "2010"

The theme for this years camp was Boot Camp (Build Our Own Testimony). We went up to cooler temperatures at our YW President's cabin, we had planned to sleep in tents but there were bear sitings so we got to sleep in her beautiful cabin. We had 13 young women and 7 leaders and our priesthood helpers all up there, we did all kinds of Boot Camp activities, hiking, skits, movie under the stars, night scavenger hunt, rifle shooting, archery, log sawing, throwing hawks, certification, secret sisters, laughing a lot, eating a lot, arts and crafts, singing and my favorite, sharing testimonies around the fire. We truly have the best young women around, I was in charge of meals and every time it was their turn to help prepare or clean up they jumped right to it. They all got along and were just so fun to be around.

Poor JaKelle started not feeling well before camp but she came with a good attitude and she just got worse, she lost her voice and bad stuffy nose and head ache, but she was such a trooper and participated in everything and had the responsibility this year as being one of the youth leaders and doing certification, I am very proud of her. The last day we were there the girls did manage to stick a Rubber Snake into my sleeping bag, I told them I don't ever get mad but I get even.

Julie Stapley our Camp Director

Mary Lou and Ashlee Clifford

Cute silly girls

Our YW President Nancy Killian

Missy, Elizabeth and Serena, what cute smiles.

Katelynn reading scriptures

Serena and Elizabeth reading scriptures

Mary holding one of the cute puppies.

Beautiful girls, I love Tori's face

Cooking Dinner, all we did was eat!!

Big Screen for movie night.

JaKelle and Ashlee, two beautiful smiles.

Group picture before our Hike.

The shirts say Be Strong, part of our YW Theme.

Skit Night, this was the Beehives.

Skit Night - Mia Maids

Skit Night - Mia Maids

Sis. Jolley sneaking in front of the massage line.

JaKelle doing the Boot Camp games

JaKelle and Mary doing certification

JaKelle shooting rifles

Kell Bell

Me trying to shoot a rifle.

Me trying to load the rifle.

Kell throwing Hawks.

Me throwing Hawks

Knife throwing.

Kell and I trying to saw this log, it was hard and very tiring.

Kell doing Archery

Tom Smith, our instructor showing Kell how to aim at the target.

Tom Smith our professional Archery shooter.

Group Photo.

Silly Group Photo

President Killian made dutch oven cobbler for after testimony meeting.

We had three different kinds, peach, apple and 3 berry.

packing up to leave.

Me and my sweetie Kell.

Group picture, Boot Camp (Build Our Own Testimony)