Summer Highlight-Missoula Children's Theater

The last week in July, MaKady and Meggan had the opportunity to participate in the Missoula Children's Theater Camp at our local performing arts center. The company sends two people in their "little red truck" with all the props, costumes, make-up and accessories and within a week they pull off a production with 50-60 local kids. They auditions were on Monday and Meggan was chosen to be a River Runner. MaKady was a Snow and Sleet Smoother and a Phony Princess. After practice each day they all did workshops and MaKady got to participate in the make-up one. Notice the fake bloody wound in the first two pictures. They had a great time and I'm sure they will want to do it again next summer. *The MCT company has a documentary titled "The little red truck" that talks about this incredible program. Check it out if you get a chance.

BACK TO SCHOOL!

I still have pictures to post from the summer but I thought I would skip ahead and post about yesterday. It was the first day of school. Brock started kindergarten, Meggan is in 3rd grade, and MaKady started 6th grade. It was a great day! They all enjoyed spending the day at school and the homework wasn't too bad the first night. Hopefully they all stay just as excited through out the year. Gracie gets to stay home with Mom this year she's to little for preschool just yet but that's OK. We'll just have to find some fun things to do with out the other kids. Going to lunch, shopping, making cookies and all those fun things like cleaning the house, dishes and laundry. Here's to a great year.

Summer Highlight-Baseball & Softball

I thought I would blog a couple of times about some of the fun we did enjoy this summer. First off the camera baseball. Brock played tee-ball, Meggan coach-pitch, Mom was the town rep again, MaKady & Gracie the cheerleaders and snack servers. Dad was also Brocks coach. Last but not least Dad got to play softball. It's been 12 years since he played on an official team and he got his chance this year. It was great and it was a lot of fun to go and support each of them.

Happy Birthday Brock!!!

Yesterday was Brock's 6Th birthday! It was a great day with lots of playing and cake making. He wanted a baseball field cake and he was very specific on what was on the cake, the number of players, a back stop and what the score was, he even knew which player he was and who everyone else on the team was. He wanted a big pillow from Costco and "boy stuff". He got a batman costume with mask, an army set with walkie talkies, handcuffs, plastic animals with a little farm set. And Grandpa and Grandma Young surprised him with his first real gun a Red rider BB gun. Could it get anymore "boy stuff" then that. We are so grateful Brock is an amazing part of our family and look forward to many more boy adventures with him. We love you Brock!

Can you see the bat?

The Pitcher with glove and ball.

I've had a little conversation going on my facebook wall about the benefits of a kitchenaid mixer and a Bosch mixer...The results are in I am the new owner of a kitchenaid. Actually during the back and forth debate my aunt mentioned to my mom that there was a kitchenaid sitting at grandmas that no on was using and I was welcome to give it a go. Here are the results. I have a recipe I learned from a great lady at church that makes 2 loaves from grinding the wheat to coming out of the oven in about and hour and a half. We've made bread twice this week and my kids love it. Who am I kidding I love it. There is nothing like the smell of fresh baked bread. Forgive the pictures I haven't figured out how to make pretty bread, but boy is it yummy and that's all that matters right. Now, to see what else I can create.


The half and half wheat bread recipe
3 C. Whole wheat flour. We grind it our selves.
1/3 C. Gluten (bulk section at Fred Meyer or Winco)
2 T. instant dry yeast
1/3 C. brown sugar
3/4 C. Powdered Milk
2 C. warm water (I put cold water in the microwave for 2 min.)
2 t. salt
1/3 C. vegetable oil
2 1/2-3 C. White flour

Place 3 cups whole wheat flour, gluten, yeast, brown sugar, and powdered milk in bowl. Mix together and add warm water. Mix thoroughly. Let dough sponge for 10-15 min. (sponging makes lighter bread and reduces the kneading time.) Then add salt and oil and mix well. Gradually add the white flour 1/2 cup at at time until dough forms a ball and cleans the side of the bowl. The amount of flour needed may vary. Knead 5 minutes using a mixer. If mixing by hand, knead at least 10 minutes or until dough is smooth and elastic. Preheat oven to 150 degrees during this time. Lightly oil hands. Divide dough into two equal portions. Shape into loaves and place in greased bread pans. Turn off oven. Place bread in oven, arranging pans with space between to allow heat to circulate freely. let rise until almost double in bulk, approximately 20-30 minutes. Leave bread in oven and turn heat to 350 degrees. Bake for 25-30 minutes. Remove from pans immediately and cool on wire racks.

New Lessons to Learn

I have a new opportunity in our church. For quite awhile now I've been involved in our children's group (Primary), I've led the music and also been an activity day leader (it's like cub scouts for girls) and now I've been asked to teach in our women's organization (Relief Society). I'm a little nervous but it will be a great opportunity to learn and grow. My first lesson is this Sunday, wish me luck. I've also removed the primary helps on the side of my blog and have created a new blog list with some of my sisters newest obsession couponing blogs. I haven't ventured in to it like she has but just maybe I'll give it a try. Let me know if you have any other favorite coupon blogs.

The Inkom Flood

This was a 4th to remember... We had a great morning, enjoyed the parade and time with family. (Happy pictures to follow in a later post.) We went to soda to spend some time with Dustin's dad on his birthday and we got a call from a neighbor saying our street was a river and our home was flooding. There was a freak storm it rained for less then 15 minutes with golf ball sized hail. It caused awful damage farther up the creek and the culvert near our home was just one to be filled up with junk. We hurried home as quickly as possible and these are the pictures after the flood receded. We are so grateful for the wonderful friends and neighbors we have. Luckily we replaced the windows this spring and only one let some water in. We have a little carpet to clean and we'll see what happens with the yard in the days to come. We are really blessed no one was injured and hopefully everyone will sleep well after all of the excitement we had today.

Happy Birthday Week!!!

This week we have 3 birthdays in our immediate family. Sunday would have been Braxton's 13th. I can't believe I'm old enough to have a teenager.

We went to the cemetery with cake and balloons. I was a great day to remember a very special son.

Monday was Dustin's Birthday. He choose to have chocolate cream pie. This is his mom's recipe and it is so yummy. He is an incredible man and I'm so grateful he is a part of my life.





And last but not least. MaKady's 11th birthday was yesterday. She put in some suggestions for what she wanted for a cake and this is what we came up with. It was massive. I joked I was decorating my first wedding cake because it was so big. I got the opportunity to practice the chocolate roses I learned last week, and the daises and name are made with starburst fruit chews. It was a lot of fun to make. I can't believe MaKady is growing up so fast. She is turning into this incredible young woman and I'm really grateful she is a part of our family.

Cookies! Cookies! and more Cookies!

I had an awesome opportunity to get together with a friend from high school, we met up again through facebook. She had posted pictures of the most amazing sugar cookies and I was privileged to go to her home yesterday and have her share some of her serious cookie skills. The roses are all made of chocolate. I can't wait to try these on my own. It was a great day and look forward to doing it again sometime soon. Thanks Mary!