San Diego

Jared and I recently returned from San Diego, where we celebrated our 10th anniversary (which isn't for another couple weeks). It's our "magical" anniversary this year (10th anniversary on the 10th of August), so we had to do something special. Since Jared had some continuing ed. classes, we decided to make a vacation out of it. Just the two of us. {sigh} We haven't had a vacation - just the two of us - since Sept. of 2003! SIX YEARS!!! {sigh}

It wasn't as easy as I thought it would be!!

I didn't even make it out of the garage before I started crying!!

It's a lot harder to leave my kids than I ever thought it would be!!

But, I managed to enjoy myself, even if I missed them terribly! And I think Jared had a good

time too!

I spent my days scrapping, and got a lot accomplished. Head over to My Scrappy Heart to see some of the proof!

Jared learned more {if that's possible} about estates and trusts and all that stuff that he is so good at and absolutely loves.

We walked around little Italy (with one of Jared's bosses) and found a place to eat one night - a local place. I had a hard time knowing what to get because I didn't really know what stuff was,

even with a description! But the food was good, and it was nice to spend some time with Jared and his boss.

The next night we were going to have dinner and head to the Padres baseball game. We walked through the Gaslamp District, where there was restaurant after restaurant - mostly local places. Way too many choices for people who have a hard time making decisions! We ended up at a

mexican place, which was very tasty. Things took so long that we didn't make it to the baseball game. But we did get some ice cream at the Ghirardelli Chocolate Factory. YUMMMY!!!

We also went to the temple - the best part of the trip for me. Here's a picture of us (the tiny things at the bottom) and then the temple after our session. Beautiful!!

It was especially nice to be able to do something so familiar, even though we were in such unfamiliar surroundings! That's one thing I love about the gospel. You can always find that comfortable, peaceful feeling, no matter where you are!

We spent our last full day touring the Midway, a retired aircraft carrier. It was really neat, and quite enlightening. I don't know how anyone could actually live on that thing! I think I would have gone crazy! I am so thankful to the many people who have willingly served our country and protected the freedoms that we enjoy.

Here are a few pictures

This is a shot of the bridge (I think that's what it is called - where the captain and others who drive the ship are) from the flight deck. This picture really doesn't do it justice!

I can't remember what part of the ship this is, but it looks neat with all the gadgets and the "steering' wheels and everything!

Jared in the brig! Always knew there was a wild side to this guy!!

Sleeping area for enlisted men. Those are triple bunks there! Like I said, I don't know how anyone could have actually lived on this thing!

We had a really great time, and I'd love to go back again. But I think flying once every 5 or 6 years is PLENTY for me. I'm not getting back on a plane anytime soon if I have anything to say about it!! I'm sure Jared must really appreciate getting to go on his trips by himself now. He can enjoy his flight without having his arm squeezed off and being asked, "How much longer?" every 10 minutes for the entire flight!

Summer So Far

Here we are - half way through Summer break!! I can't believe we will be half way through July this week!

We've been trying to keep busy...well, maybe busy isn't the right word. With 4 kids, two of them a handful on their own, we don't really have to try to keep busy!! I guess we've been trying to get stuff done and keep entertained!

Emily and Josh just finished up Fun and Fitness camp at the school. Basically, it was supposed to keep them physically active but having fun. Goal accomplished! They both said they wished it lasted all summer long. They got to have two off-site activities - mini golf and swimming at the aquatic center - which they absolutely loved!! Who wouldn't, though??!?

Em and Josh are also finishing up their last session of swimming lessons. I don't know if either of them really LIKE swimming lessons, but they've been good sports to go and get it done. We've told them they have to go, but they don't have to like it! I think knowing how to swim is something they need to do (this from someone who doesn't swim very well)! Here they are on their performance day for the first session. Looks like they're having fun to me!

We have also been trying to keep up with the garden. If you looked from the house, you would wonder if there was anything out there besides weeds!! With all the rain we got throughout June, the weeds pretty much took over. We (mostly I) have been trying to get them back under control. Emily and Josh were loving the $$ they were earning at first, but even that isn't enough to entice them into the heat! I don't blame them though! It looks like we're going to have a bumper crop of tomatillos! Hope Jared can find a really good salsa recipe or we're going to turn into the tomatillo bandits and start leaving them in cars while we're at church!

We've had a few bike rides, but we can't seem to keep tires filled with air. The kids LOVE when we do get to go. We almost always end up at the park for a while too.

Last night we went to Providence Canyon for some dinner and shooting. Yes, you read that right! Jared did some repairs on a gun or two and had to make sure he did everything OK. He told us all we needed to stay in the van while he shot the first rounds, just in case. Um, yeah! That made me feel really good! I was concocting an emergency plan in my head, just in case! Thank goodness he did everything right and didn't have any problems! He even let Emily and Josh shoot his 22. Instant heaven, especially for Josh! Sidenote: I brought the camera to take some pictures, and what do you know - that battery was dead!! Dang thing!!

And, to top it all off, we've had another round of the sickies. I really can't believe it myself! You'd think we'd be safe in summer, but no. Coughs, throw ups, fevers, you name it!!

And all in the name of summer fun!!

Fully Dressed & Shake Shake Shake

Rachel loves loves LOVES to dance. Somehow it turned into "shake your booty" and is completely hilarious to watch. Anyone who has seen it knows exactly what I'm talking about! Emily and Josh were running around with the camera the other day and managed to coax it out of her. For your enjoyment, I present "Shake Shake Shake!"

Here she is on the kitchen floor...

...and workin' it on the piano bench!

Shake what your momma gave ya!

On a different note, Rachel is so compassionate and completely obsessed with dolls - big, small, girl, boy - doesn't matter. But, it seems that if they're fully clothed she wants their clothes off, and if they're naked, she wants to get them dressed. Go figure! I guess she wanted to make sure her naked little doll was all taken care of during nap time. This is what I found when Rachel woke up from her nap one day...

The doll is wearing a pair of Rachel's pants - with both legs stuck into one leg of the pants! Which is the way Rachel frequently dresses herself! Consequently, this was a day that Rachel took her pants and pull-up off and changed into a different pair of pants (with no undies on) because she knew she shouldn't poop in her pull-up! Yeah, that was a fun one! Sheesh!

Recipe Stuff

Here is a link to some really great cookies, Chocolate Chip Treasure Cookies. They're like Hello Dollies, but in cookie form.

Also, I promised my mom several months ago that I would send her this recipe that she tried out with the kids while she was visiting. Sorry it has taken so long for me to get to this!!

Chocolate Drop Cookies

from Betty Crocker

1 cup sugar

1/2 cup margarine or butter

1/3 cup buttermilk

1 tsp. vanilla

1 large egg

2 oz. unsweetened baking chocolate, melted and cooled

1 3/4 cups flour

1/2 tsp. baking soda

1/2 tsp. salt

1 cup chopped nuts

Chocolate frosting

1. Heat oven to 400 degrees. Grease cookie sheet with shortening.

2. Mix sugar, margarine, buttermilk, vanilla, egg and chocolate in large bowl. Stir in flour, baking soda, salt and nuts.

3. Drop dough by rounded tablespoonfuls about 2 inches apart onto cookie sheet.

4. Bake 9 to 11 minutes or until almost no indentation remains when touched in center. Immediately remove from cookie sheet. Cool completely on wire rack. Frost with chocolate frosting.

Walk a Mile in His Shoes

Caleb is finally taking some steps!!! Can it really be??? This boy, who we thought would walk so early (he started pulling up to furniture at 7 mos, and cruising a couple weeks later), has turned out to be very reluctant to let go and take the plunge.

But he's finally doing it!! And here is some proof, albeit blurry!

Way to go Caleb!!

Happy Fathers Day!

To my wonderful husband,

Happy Fathers Day to you! Thank you for being the father of our beautiful children. I could not have asked for anyone better! In you they have a great example of faith, obedience, and love. They love you and look up to you, because in their eyes you're a giant. I love you and hope you have a great day!

Love, Heather

To my own Dad, I wish I could tell you Happy Fathers Day. I wish I could tell you that I love you.

New Blog!!

I have started a new blog, just for my scrapbooking.

You can find it here: http://scrappyheart.blogspot.com

I am on the Creative Team for a designer, so I will be posting all my scrapbooking stuff there.

If you come check it out, you'll get to see who the designer is, info about her kits, and any other fun stuff I can think of!

Scrapper's Heaven

One of my recent scrapbooking layouts was featured on the Stuff to Scrap blog!!

I completed this layout for a challenge (complete the challenge, earn points, get free stuff), and it has become one of my favorites.

Go see it here!!

It's the very first one, called "Grandpas make the best friends."

Happy Birthday Caleb!!

Caleb is one year old today!! How can it be that a whole year has already passed?!?!?

We are so blessed to have Caleb in our family. He is a smiley, bright-eyed, curious, and loveable little boy. He watches everything and everyone like a hawk, picking up on everything that is going on. He is one of the fastest babies we have ever seen. I like to call him Spider Man because he gets to a new destination in the blink of an eye. He has been cruising around the furniture

since he was about 8 months old, so we thought he was going to walk way too early. But he is very comfortable with his mode of transportation, so he hasn't braved the new skill of walking - YET! He has a very unique way of greeting people too. He gets close, then bangs his head, as softly as he can, into the head of the other person!

Here is a look back at an amazing year!

We love you Caleb!! And we're so glad you're part of our family! We hope you have a wonderful year, and we look forward to all the new things you'll be doing in the coming year!

Love,

Mom, Dad, Emily, Josh, and Rachel

Potty Training

I swore to myself that I wouldn't even try potty training Rachel until she was a little older. I started too early with Emily, and it was NOT a pleasant experience. We waited a while with Josh and it was pretty much a piece of cake.

Well, I went back on my promise and started potty training Rachel. She has shown quite a bit of interest, and we've been having some "defective" diapers that somehow have ended up around her knee on several occasions! We started just "trying it out" last week, and she did OK - but we weren't real serious about it since we had so many places we needed to be. So this week we hit it hard core. And she is doing really well!! The best was yesterday, though - we had a successful #2 in the potty, completely initiated by her!! It only took one accident for that one to stick!

To spare her the embarassment of a potty picture that could haunt her as a teenager, here is a picture of one of the sweetest girls I know! (She's trying to sit on one of Caleb's toys)