New House

We have been moving and now we're finally moved out of our old house and into our new house just across town. We love it. When my sister saw it for the first time she said, "Wow, it's bigger then your last three houses combined!" It is. Five bedrooms, three baths, tons of storage. And we have an amazing ocean view. And it is across the street from the middle school track and field so we can go over there in the afternoon and ride bikes and play soccer...so fun. And we are neighbors with one of the nicest families you'd ever know from our ward. And the price is amazing even though it's $750 a month more then we were paying. It's worth it to have the space. We're very happy here.

Berhnerd Johan Neufeld

Born Nov. 14, 1919 in Inman, Kansas
Entered into Rest Sept. 8, 2011 in Pacific Grove, CA
Lay to rest in Monterey, CA

Tomorrow will be his funeral services.

The above picture is my Grampa and Grama close to the time they were married. Their whole lives were ahead of them...just starting out. I love this picture. And I love knowing the people they became. My Grama has been passed away for eleven years now and I miss her dearly. I know I will miss my Grampa as well but I'm so happy thinking of their sweet reunion. I'm so grateful for my testimony that life continues beyond the grave and we will be a family for all eternity. I love my whole family and want to be with them forever. My Grampa is so sweet and good and honest and truly compassionate. People don't come any better.

The Measure of a Man

Not-
“How did he die?”
But-
“How did he live?”
Not-
“What did he gain?”
But-
“What did he give?”
These are the units
To measure the worth
Of a man, as a man,
Regardless of birth.
Not-
“What was his station?”
But-
“Had he a heart?”
And-
“How did he play
His God-given part?”
Was he ever ready
With a word of good cheer,
To bring back a smile,
To banish a tear?”
Not-
“What was his church?”
Nor-
“What was his creed?”
But-
“Had he befriended
Those really in need?”
Not-
“What did the sketch
In the newspaper say?”
But-
“How many were sorry
When he passes away?”

---Kansas City Star

Puppy Chow

So I have been doing this workout with a couple friends called Insanity. Have you heard of it? The first couple times really felt like insanity! Today it seemed better, even with only 6 hours of sleep. I am less sore--just sore enough to feel good and feel it working but I can walk. That's always nice...to be able to walk. So this along with my regular running, I shouldn't be thinking of treats. The problem is that my kids do. So anyhow, I made this recipe but I only ate enough to just try and that. is. all. I don't want my hard work to be for nothing.

So I got this recipe in my email inbox and thought of Linnea.
I decided to make it today so it would be ready when the kids get home from school.
They are always ravenous!

First melt 1 c. chocolate chips, 1/4 c. butter, and 1/2 c. peanut butter (I used half sunflower butter because I was running out of peanut butter). This mixture tastes GREAT with a banana dipped into it. I may have done that. (:

Then pour over 8 cups Chex cereal (whatever kind of mixture of kinds you want). I also sprinkled in raw oats to appease the health consciousness in me.

Then put everything in a gallon size zip lock bag and shake with 1 cup powdered sugar. Then lay over wax paper and refrigerate until set.

Yummy and easy to use corn chex for gluten-free or sunflower butter for peanut allergies...
I heard this is great over ice cream....if you like that sort of thing. Which I don't even really like ice cream but my kids do!

Our Accidental Garden

I went out to a place in our yard that I rarely go (our dog actually uses this place for the bathroom) and saw this! We have lived in this house for two years and never had a garden. I did know that the previous people living here did have a garden there. So now I am watering this plant and checking on it religiously. I guess the dogs manure did some magic work back there. Does anyone know what it could be? It grows like a foot longer every time I go back there!

First Day of School

Well, I'm late with this. The kids started school last Wednesday (the 10th). So I'm only one week late. Considering how much has been going on around here, I'm doing pretty good. Jacen didn't start until this week because he was in the hospital for four days. He's out now and doing pretty good. We're coping with a lot. Linnea and Gavin were really excited and really nervous too about starting school. Gavin is a big second grader and loves his teacher, who has a really cool garden that the kids get to eat cucumbers out of! I love second grade and I think Gavin will too. I've often thought that when I'm ready to teach, I would like to teach second grade. Linnea started middle school. I think I wouldn't like to teach that but, hey, who knows. She is adjusting gradually. There is a lot to remember and she's a young 6th grader. Her cousins born within 7 months of her are all older then her but they are still in elementary school. Micah is enjoying time at home with just mom. We've still been in emergency mode though so he and I will like it even better when things (hopefully) slow down and we have more time to relax and play.

Bass Lake and Yosemite Vacation

This is the view from our cabin. It's right on the lake so perfect for just jumping in for a quick swim.

One day we drove up to Yosemite with my Dad and did a few little hikes. It was nice.

This is on the bridalveil trail.

Micah found this cool looking rock that looked just like an egg. He kept calling it his egg.

This is the lower falls hike. Pretty huh.

We took the easy trail and then we walked back and climbed up the rocks to look at the waterfall from the side and above. All the kids liked climbing up the rocks the best.

Morgan, Chris' daughter, climbed up really high. It was fun to have her with us.

After Yosemite we went back to the cabin and relaxed a little, swam a little, and visited with Chris' family before they headed back home. This little cutie is Chris' youngest, Par.

Jacen and Par

Chris and Par

Uno by lantern. The kids loved the lantern.

The next day we rented a boat and took it out on the lake all day. It was nice. The weather was perfect, the boat had a grill on which Jacen cooked a juicy steak. We innertubed. It was a fun day.
Albert drove.

Grama Shirley

Micah dozed for an hour or so.

Morgan, Linnea and Jacen

Gavin and Jace

Jacen
He got a little bored with the tube so he started making up tricks and stunts to do on it. I wish I could have gotten some good video clippage of it. It was fun to watch!

Gavin, Grama Shirley (who refuses to get old) and Jacen

I even had a go on the tube. We decided to save up for a boat. We also rented a wave runner but didn't get any pictures on it. We had a great time. We need to utilize the cabin more often. My kids were amazed at how warm the water was. They are used to the freezing Pacific Ocean water. I loved being able to go for my run in the morning and then jump right in the lake with my running clothes on even and swim out to the booey and back a few times. The kids also did some fishing...Jacen even got up before 6 a.m. to fish (unheard of on a non-seminary day). Great times. We were glad to get back to our own beds though when the trip was done.

Another Baptism Picture

This is late and I already posted pictures of the baptism but I wanted to post this one too that I just got today from Sister Fowkes. All the cousins there sang "I Will Follow God's Plan for Me." It was so sweet.

OJ or liquid Eggs?

So, last night Linnea and Micah and I were reading on my bed and Micah said he was thirsty and got up to go get a drink. Linnea and I were just waiting for him to come back to resume reading and remembering all these funny memories that we were laughing about. After a few minutes we got up to check on him. From all the clues, we pieced together what had happened. He had taken out the carton of reddi-eggs, thinking it was orange juice, and poured in his cup. Then upon drinking some decided that it was not orange juice. Imagine that surprise!! Yuck. Then he climbed onto the table and had poured the carton of reddi-eggs into the flower vase and this is how we found him! He keeps us laughing. One more funny memory to add to the mix.

Some of our June Goings-On

As long as we've lived here and loved driving down to Big Sur, we've never visited the Big Sur River Inn area. So on a recent Saturday we headed that way. It was a gorgeous day! We stopped at the general store at the River Inn for a nice little lunch ($68!! next time Subway on our way there) which we ate by and in the river.

There is also a heated pool right next to the river in which we swam. It was a lot of fun and since Albert was with us, I finally got to really swim and play with Linnea and Gavin.

Gavin braved the cold water...all the way. He got completely in the water from head to foot and it's COLD...as cold as the ocean!

Micah loved throwing in rocks. We all tried skipping rocks and all got at least a couple skipped.

We found some really cool looking rocks.

It was neat how we could actually put our chairs right in the water.

Back at home Gavin found some worms!

Micah did too...and with the funniest face ever!

We enjoyed an awesome 50's party for Nanette turning 50!! Linnea and Gavin both won a hoola hopping contest and won gift certificates for In n Out! Dallin is doing a great job here too!

There were obstacles bounce courses, a bounce house with a basketball hoop even, and this bungee cord bounce game. So fun! I even did it.

The decorations were amazing, the food was great, the company was fun. I tried dressing Micah up...see his slicked back hair?

Thanks Nanette for turning 50!

We've spent tons of days at the beach! I feel like I'm on vacation in between my laundry loads and cooking of meals.

I've enjoyed having some extra time to do things with the kids. We also have spent some time at the Monterey Bay Aquarium, PG Museum, the dozens of great parks around here, the PG High Pool, the Carmel Valley pool, bike rides and walks to see the baby seals... so much fun to be had in our own backyard. I love it here!