Summer is Going Fast!

This week has gone by quickly, especially since it's been full of things to do.

Monday after work we were planning to go w/ a couple we used to home teach. We planned to go to a Korean restaurant for dinner, since she was from Korea, and her husband served in Korean also. We also invited another couple to go w/ us, since she served her mission in Korea also. Well, as I was getting off work Steve called as said Umbi, the one from Korea, was sick and came home from work so we called it off. Since we already planned to go out, we decided we'd go to Red Robin w/ the other couple anyway. It was fun and we got to know them better.

Tuesday, I had class of course. We're 1/2 way done w/ it, yeah! I probably already said this but I'll be glad when this class is done. It's my last required class then 3 electives. I sure does take a lot of my time not only going to class (3 hrs/week) and then we meet during the week (about 2 hrs/wk), and research time (about 3 more hrs/week). I'm pretty sure I'll take online classes for my last elective mainly due to time.

Steve is getting closer to finishing his semester too. He's got finals starting tomorrow. One will be Monday, one Tuesday, and one Friday. Then he'll have 2 weeks off until classes start back up on the 22nd of August. He's getting pretty excited to be done w/ these classes; I don't blame him at all. :)

Wednesday after work, I went w/ my 1st counselor to visit a sister who just moved in the branch. She is from Russia originally, but has lived in Canada and then the U.S. for quite some time. We met her at another sisters' place and got to know them both better. I then hurried home and picked up Steve so we could go home teaching. We had a good visit and shared the 1st Presidency's message on being committed. Afterwards Steve wasn’t feeling too great, so he stayed home to rest and I went to the gym to run.

Thursday I hurried home from work (even got off 15 minutes early) so I could change and go w/ Steve to the Sandy Crops for an assignment. Our branch was supposed to have 4 members from the branch go, and since we haven't gone to do "service" in a little bit, we decided to volunteer. It was actually pretty fun, and fun to work together w/ Steve. We got to pick cucumbers first, then squash.



They were definitely more "poky" then I remember, but luckily they had gloves and a long sleeve shirt I could use. Though we had signed up for 2 hours, it actually only took us an hour and we were done! We then went home and I made taco soup, then we went for a swim to cool off. I'm actually really starting to like swimming; Steve is getting me hooked! I think the warmer water in the pool is definitely helping ;)

Friday was a pretty busy day at work, which most of the week was also. Since the debt ceiling deadline is getting closer and closer, more and more people are calling in asking what they should do w/ their accounts. They asked us to come in 15 minutes early every day for the next couple weeks. I've also worked some overtime during my lunches.

After work we were both pretty tired. So we had dinner (left over taco soup), then we both had to work on homework and assignments. I was helping Steve w/ an assignment and ironically we were reading about "internal pollutions" and our carbon monoxide detector went off saying "warning, warning, carbon monoxide." Steve then shut it off and we opened all the windows to let fresh air in. Steve had the A/C on early in the day so we thought it might have something to do w/ that. A couple hours later I got tired all of a sudden and my head hurt. I got ready for bed and Steve was like, "wow, that’s not like you to be so tired" so we decided to take a walk around our parking lot to get some more fresh air. My head was really hurting and I felt like I was on drugs per say, so we decided we'd better not chance sleeping in our place. We called up Dave/Joann and asked if we could come over and they said sure. We slept downstairs, then the next morning Steve helped Dave trim the lawn, then we left.


I then met my sisters at Olive Garden for lunch to celebrate Pauline's birthday. The food was great and the company was even better! We all had their unlimited soup, salad and breadsticks...yumm ;)



We then went to the Cheesecake Factory for dessert, since it was National Cheesecake Day and all cheesecakes were 1/2 off. I'm not the biggest fan of cheesecake but Pauline and Rose really like it so we went. Pauline got a chocolate turtle one and Rose got a white chocolate w/ raspberry on it and I didn't order one. They both had tons of whip cream on it so I ate some of that and had a couple bites of there's.



We went walked across the street to a homegood store to look around, then a grocery store to get some fruits/veggies. We then went over to DWS shoes so Pauline could use her $20 off coupon, then she had to go. I then met Rose at Target so she could return some items, then had to go. It was fun hanging out w/ my sisters and just enjoying our time together. In a couple weeks we'll all (all my brothers and sisters and their families) be getting together in Yellowstone and staying at one big cabin. That'll be lots of fun, I can't wait!!!

When I got back Steve was still working on homework and I cleaned up the house a bit, then that evening we went to his nephew's birthday party. It was fun so see his side of the family. When we were done we went home and went swimming :)

Today I'm actually at work. I'll be here from 10-4pm. They wanted our group to have people here just in case people continued to call us, mainly with concerns about the debt ceiling. So far it's been pretty slow, which I'm not complaining, since I've been able to watch some Conference talks and what not. I have to go in early tomorrow also at 7am. They anticipate that tomorrow will be really busy since it's the day before the deadline on the debt ceiling. Guess we'll see how it goes

Well I hope all is well. Life really is too short not to enjoy it. I'd encourage you all to reread President Monson's talk from October 2008 called "Finding Joy in the Journey." He has some really good advice in it. Here are a couple of quotes from his talk, "Stresses in our lives come regardless of our circumstances. We must deal with them the best we can. But we should not let them get in the way of what is most important—and what is most important almost always involves the people around us. Often we assume that they must know how much we love them. But we should never assume; we should let them know. Wrote William Shakespeare, “They do not love that do not show their love.” 3 We will never regret the kind words spoken or the affection shown. Rather, our regrets will come if such things are omitted from our relationships with those who mean the most to us.
…...Let us relish life as we live it, find joy in the journey, and share our love with friends and family. One day each of us will run out of tomorrows…..
Our realization of what is most important in life goes hand in hand with gratitude for our blessings." Here's a link to his talk. You can read it or watch it.

http://lds.org/general-conference/2008/10/finding-joy-in-the-journey?lang=eng

Love ya all sooo much!

Penny ;)

Summer fun......

This past week was pretty full of things going on. Steve has been busy w/ school trying to get his projects done and getting ready for his last tests. This will be his last week of school, then finals next week. Tomorrow will be week 4 for my class, so half way done.

Wednesday, I had a visit to a new sister in the branch. Her and her husband moved her from Connecticut and are living w/ their 30 yr old son while they're waiting for their apartment to become available in a couple weeks. It's nice to have to have a couple in the branch who is "older" per say. After the visit I went to the church and went over our home and visiting teaching assignments w/ our branch president and elder's quorum president. We are having a lot of people move out this month and beginning of next month so we had to make a LOT of changes. Our Elder's quorum president is also moving in a couple weeks, so we'll be having another one put in soon. By the time we were done it was after ten, like normal.

Thursday Steve met me at the tracks and we went straight to the Jordan River Temple to do initiatories. It was a little busy when we got there, but it was good to just sit in the temple, read the scriptures, pray and ponder. When we got done, we decided to make a date night and go over to Café Rio for dinner. It was good like normal. We then went swimming, which is always fun!

Friday, Steve picked me up at work and we headed out to Rose's to watch their kids overnight for their 14th anniversary. Rose already fed them dinner when we got there so we just took them out to the backyard to distract them (Sophia basically) and they snuck out. We then played outside for a while, kicking some balls and playing tag. We then put Sophia down to bed and played a game of 3-D blokus w/ the other three girls, then put Ali to bed and played "Ticket to Ride" w/ Summer and Ava. By the time we got them to bed we were ready for bed also.

Steve's replica of Ava


Steve and the girls (except Sophia who was in bed by now)


The next morning, Ava and Summer were up by 8am, so we got up and made breakfast. After voting on it, we decided to make waffles. Sophia and Ali were up about this time, so we got them downstairs for breakfast too (though Sophia didn't really want to eat anything). We then played outside w/ the cats, then on the playground for a while. Sophia didn't want to leave she was having so much fun. It was getting pretty hot outside so we went back inside. We gave the girls Popsicles and Sophia was sitting on the porch w/ Ava and apparently fell down the steps. She wasn't feeling too good after that, so shortly after she went down for a nap. She was really cute and just wanted to cuddle w/ Steve though. Rose and Jared came shortly after we put her down, around noon, since I had to go meet my group for our project.

Steve playing w/ the cats (fishing line on a stick w/ a bark chunk to chase)


Silly kitty can't enough of it


Sophia going down the slide


After my study group at the library, we decided to go swimming. We then decided it would be fun to hike up Little Bell Reservoir since we hadn't done it in a while. It was a beautiful hike. Definitely different than in the winter time. It was REALLY green and lush, and since it was only 7 pm it was pretty hot and humid. When we got to the top Steve was able to cast a few lines (fly fishing) but of course a couple of people came and got in his way and didn't even care; so we left. It was still a fun hike.

So pretty


Steve casting


The water was so full!!!


On the way home we rode past Dave/Joann's and noticed Jeff/Kim and the boys lighting fireworks. We stopped and watched the last one w/ them. After we got home we called Jeff/Kim and asked if they wanted to watch a movie. We ended up renting "Unknown" from Redbox (Dad you'll love it) and brought plenty of popcorn. It was fun and I liked the movie a lot, even though I was a little slow at getting what was going on.

Sunday I had meetings in the morning, then church. That night we went over to a couple in the branch and played games w/ them and others from the branch. It was a lot of fun!

Tonight we went w/ a couple from the branch to Red Robin, then went and got a few essential groceries (milk, bread, and chocolate) :) I also got my gift card from work finally! Only 4 months after the campaign was over and the last week of the next campaign. Oh well, at least now we have it!

Have a great week!!! Our family trip to Yellowstone is coming soon.... yeah! ;)

Fun Times......

This past weekend was REALLY FUN!!! Friday after work Steve and I met Eve and Darrell at the Bosch center in South Jordan for our cooking class at 7pm. We had signed up for a deal where you get a cooking class and a movie for half the price! So we signed up for the "Italian Cooking Class" and went and got our movie vouchers a couple weeks ago to insure we'd get a seat for Harry Potter (since it was the opening day and the last Harry Potter movie).

Getting ready to start

Eve/Darrell

Steve starting the pasta

Work it honey!

Me stirring the Alfredo sauce....Darrell and Eve working on there's too

The finished product. Chicken w/ homemade pasta noodles and Alfredo sauce.

The cooking class was awesome! We ended up being there 2 1/2 hours cooking different things. We made Alfredo sauce, a meat sauce, grilled chicken, and made homemade pasta noodles. It was sooo fun! It was a small class of 10 students so we got to ask a lot of questions and take our time making the food. Of course we got to try the food as we went which was the best part. We then hurried and gathered up the food we made which we didn't eat and went over to the movie. We got there just in time to sit down and watch the previews. The movie was AWESOME as well! We loved it! Of course it was a little different from the book, but that's expected. Regardless of the differences, it was still a great movie. By the time we got home and got to bed it was almost 1 am, but totally worth it. :)

Saturday we slept in til 9:30 a.m. then went over to the church where we were in charge of our Stake Pioneer Breakfast. We helped clean up which took an hour or so. When we got done, we decided that since it was such great weather we would go for a hike. We decided to drive up Big Cottonwood Canyon and go to Silver Lake then hike to another lake just past it. We went right of the trail which led us to S. Solitude Lake. It was 1.25 miles to the lake. It was pretty. We heard another 1/2 mile or so you get to another peak, so next time we'll try that. We then hiked back and around Silver Lake, so about 3.25 miles total. It was cooler up on the mountain, about 70-75 degrees which was nice, but we still got some sun and a little burned.










When we got back we invited Rob over. I made some lunch/dinner for us, then we all went swimming. Our pool is amazingly warm so I've been loving it, and Steve just likes to swim no matter what, so we were both happy. We then decided to buy tickets to see Harry Potter again (since Rob hadn't seen it yet and he had a gift card to MegaPlex). Most of the seats were full (the good ones that is), so we waiting to go to a 9:35pm show. We got there in plenty of time to get some popcorn and watch the previews. It was fantastic the 2nd time too!

On Sunday, I normally have branch council at 9 am, so I got up and was getting ready when I got a call from a sister in our branch. She and her husband home/visit teach a lady and her son who live close to Steve and I. She said the sister had called her and said her son was in a lot of pain and might need to go to the hospital. She was trying to get a hold of her husband but he was in a meeting at the church. I told her I'd be over there in 5 minutes and would tell him what's going on and also have Steve go over to check on him. After I got to the church I talked to her husband, then called Steve and told him he was coming if he could go w/ him to check on him. When they go there he was in a lot of pain, so they gave him a blessing. Steve asked for his symptoms and said it sounded like kidney stones, so he volunteered to take him to the hospital (his mom actually just had neck surgery a couple weeks ago and can't get around herself let alone drive).

While I was at my meetings Steve kept me posted on his progress through text messages. He took him to the ER where they tested him and sure enough it was kidney stones. Steve then took him to the pharmacy to get some pain medication afterwards also. By the time he got done, it was time for Sunday School. We had RS/Priesthood then our munch and mingle that we helped with, clean up especially. We then went home where I made peach cobbler for our family get together w/ Steve's family. We went over to his grandma LuDean's for dinner, hot dog roast, it was good. Aunt Diane also gave a good lesson on the pioneers, then we made graham cracker hand carts and sparklers. It was a lot of fun!


Besides the great weekend, we've been busy w/ school and me at work. We've also been running and swimming to get in shape for our 5k next month. On Wednesday we had a RS activity. We had a lady bring her sister to teach us how to make homemade whole wheat bread. It was soooo good! She just put all her ingredients in the Bosch maker then vwala.....6 loaves of homemade bread! We also talked about healthy living. Here is her recipe:

Homemade Whole Wheat Bread

By: Anna Barbieri (Tamera Perkins’ sister)

6 cups warm water

2 cups oats (quick or regular)

1 cup oil

1 ½ cup honey

4 eggs

8 cups whole wheat ( Always use white wheat. The red wheat produces a much heavier/denser bread).

Mix just until incorporated.

Add

3 tbls salt

3 tbls gluten

3 tbls lecithin

3 tbls dough enhancer

4 tbls yeast

7-9 cups whole wheat

Mix on med speed for 7 min. Divide into 6 lovely round balls, slap and put in loaf pan.

Let raise until double in size. Bake at 350 for 30-35 minutes.

Misc.

-I use ½ honey ½ molasses for a richer flavor

-recipe can be ½ white and ½ wheat ( Whole wheat uses more moisture).

-I use 4 tbls yeast for whole wheat, you can use 3tbls, just takes longer.

-The old fashion, heavy non-stick loaf pans work best. Spray pans with non-stick spray then just wipe out after using.

-You can put the dough in their pans in a clean garbage sack and they will rise faster-or in a Utah winter you can put them in the garage and go to church for three hours, and then bake.

-DO NOT preheat the oven. I put mine in for 31 mins. Total.

-If you want to make bread often, save yourself a headache and invest in a good electric knife. I have a Cuisenart(sp)..

-DO NOT put bread in fridge. You can put in freezer.

4th of July Weekend and more.....

Last weekend we went up to my parents place for the 4th of July. My sister Barbara decided to bless her little boy Dallin, so it was a great "excuse" for us to come it. It was a fun weekend!

Steve picked me up after work on Friday and we drove up to my parents. We made good time and were up there by 10pm. We brought up a trolling motor for my dad as well. It was an old one Steve's dad had but wasn't using (it actually went w/ the boat he gave my dad). The next morning Steve went out w/ my dad and uncles and went and shot pigeons over at the Dairy. I slept in a little, then went and mowed the lawn. We then packed up some lunch stuff and met Daron and his family over at the Upper Dam Park for lunch. My dad brought the boat so we went out tubing. Haley went first, then they talked me into going with her. It haven't been tubing in forever, but it ended up being really fun! My dad kicked us off the tube several times ;)

Haley on the tube

My dad steering the boat

Daron and Steve just watching the fun

Haley and I on the tube

Still holding on

Steve, Haley, and I got off the boat and my dad, Daron and Kristi went to load up the boat. Well we were waiting a while, so I decided to go around the corner and see what was taking so long. As I looked over at the ramp I could see my dad climbing out of the water from about his chest down, and Daron in my dad's truck. The strange thing was my dad's truck was further down in the water then seemed normal and Daron was pushing on the gas to keep it from falling further in the water. I didn't want to freak out, so I hurried and went over to Steve and motioned him to come over. I then asked him if the truck was normally in the water that much, he quickly said "NO, definitely not" then ran over to try and help them. Well......come to find out, my dad had put the emergency break on, then went on the back of the truck to help Daron pull the boat up. Well, in the mean time the emergency break must have come off and the truck started rolling back into the water. Daron then ran around and got in the truck just in time to stop it from rolling even further. My dad was caught in between the boat and then truck and thankfully didn't get hurt more than a scraped finger. A couple men that were around grabbed a chain and used their pickup to pull my dad's truck out. Thankfully no one got hurt. Hopefully there won't be any serious damage to my dad's truck either. Let's just say it was draining for a while.

When we got back, since I had just mowed the lawn and all, we decided to play a game of croquet. We played a couple round, ate some Popsicles, then it was time for dinner. Daron and Kristi weren't able to stay much longer though since they had a Rodeo to go to the next morning. We played a game of Ticket to Ride though; dad won this time!

Playing a game of croquet

Sunday morning my parents had to go to their church so my dad could teach a lesson and my mom had to lead the music in Relief Society. We wanted to spend some more time with Barbara and her family so we left the same time they did and went straight up to Boise. It was nice to visit with them before Church and spent extra time w/ them. At 1 we went to their church where they blessed Dallin. After church we went back to Barbara's for lunch and stayed and visited some more.

Dexter, Michelle and the kids came also, then invited us to come see where they live, so we followed them out. They live about another hour outside of Boise, across the border into Oregon.

We crossed the border to Oregon

Back to Idaho

After you cross the border you go down this long dusty dirt road for about 7 miles, then turn off onto another road and finally into their place. It has its own sort of beauty to it. There is a canyon wall surrounding one side, then the creek that runs through it and all the green land they are farming. Dexter took us around their place and showed us and explained to us how he takes care of the land. Definitely a lot of land for one person. Michelle also helps when needed. Dexter even showed Steve how to get the siphon tubes going.

Dexter explaining to Steve how to use the siphon tubes

Steve giving it a shot

Success finally!

Dexter put this up to help control the water, an artificial dam

The creek, pretty full, but not as full as it was earlier this Spring.

After getting the "tour" of the land, we headed home, and got home by 11pm. The next morning we had breakfast, packed up, and headed out. Steve needed to get home to study and finish some more homework. We made good time. After Steve got done what he needed, we went over to Dave/Joann's for a BBQ and some fireworks. It was fun to see everyone and visit. When we were done Steve and I went for our quick run. Chandler and Ethan decided to come along too. Chandler ran with me but Ethan only lasted a couple seconds, then decided it would be easier on Steve's back, so Steve decided to carry him while he ran. I think he got an extra workout from it.

Fireworks

This week has been pretty busy. Steve had his test Tuesday, and I started my capstone class. This is my last required class, then 3 more electives. It will be a pretty intense course. We're basically coming up with a product/service and doing all the marketing, finance, etc for it.

Wednesday we met Eve then went and exchanged our vouchers for tickets for our cook class at the Bosch center for next Friday, the 15th. They're going to teach us how to make Italian food and homemade pasta. They also gave us movie vouchers which we went and exchanged for tickets for Harry Potter, which just so happens to come out the same day! This Friday should be soooo much fun; double date w/ Eve and Darrell, cooking class then Harry Potter!!!! We then went for a run then went swimming fro 20 minutes. The water is so warm I love it!

Thursday Steve picked me up at the traxs on 3900 South and we went over to the park by his grandma's for her birthday party. It was a lot of fun to visit and celebrate it w/ her and the whole family. We then came home and swam for a while; it's so nice!

Friday, Steve and I went and ate at Red Robin for dinner, then went to the temple and did initiatories. We then came back and went over to our neighbors, the Thomas', who had invited some friends from the branch who had moved out a couple months ago, the Metcalfs and Booths. The Minsons and Shorts also showed up. It was good to visit w/ everyone.

Red Robin........yumm :)

Saturday we went and exchanged out our keys for electronic ones, or "key-less entries." Our HOA board has been making some great changes and this was one of them. We then went up to the U Library where both of us met w/ our own study groups for our group projects. We stayed up there for about 2 hours then came home. We then got something to eat, then went down to Orem for Ryan's baptism.

Ryan and Carrie at his baptism

Well I hope all is well. The Summer is ticking on unfortunately, so make sure you take advantage of the beautiful weather and sunshine! Love ya lots! ;)