It Only Took 20 Years

Today I am making my sister-in-law's truly yummy cheesy potato broccoli soup. This is a "blog worthy" event because I actually have enough pots & pans in which to make the soup without having to stop & wash a pot or pan. I didn't even have to borrow a pot or pan from my good friend Lisa or from my mother-in-law!

Thanks to generous Christmas money donations from my parents, Darren's parents, my Uncle Jack, and even one of my little lovelies at school, I was able to purchase my first ever (in 20 years of marriage) complete set of pots & pans!

The bad news-now my family expects me to cook!

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Cheesy Potato Broccoli Soup Recipe

3 large potatoes

10 oz. fresh or frozen broccoli

6 Tbsp. butter

6 Tbsp. flour

1 Tsp. salt

1/8 Tsp. pepper

1 1/2 cups chicken stock (1 1/2 cups water + 2 bouillon cubes)

2-4 cups of milk (I use 2)

2/3 lb. Velveeta cheese

Peel potatoes, dice, and boil until tender. Drain. Cut up the broccoli and steam until tender. While the veggies are cooking prepare the white sauce. In a stock pot melt the butter. Blend in the flour, salt, and pepper. Add the chicken stock. Add milk to the desired consistency. Cook over medium heat until it thickens and boils. Add the Velveeta. After it melts add the veggies.

Merry Christmas PJ Girls

Swine Flu & Halloween

It is true. We've had the swine flu at our house this past week. I came down with a nasty case of it (along with mild pneumonia) earlier in the week-probably picked up from one of my lovelies at school who have had it. This morning Delaney & Addy woke up with "flu-like" symptoms-fever, chills, aches, sore throat, cough-which the doctor at the IHC Instacare said is swine flu even though she didn't test for it. Evidently, they are deeming all cases that come through as the swine flu because it is so rampant right now. Delaney also has pink eye.

And yes.....we hosted our annual pre-trick-or-treating feast (hot dogs & chili) to over 100 friends and neighbors last night! I actually had been "fever-free" for at least 24 hours and did not participate in any of the food preparation (thank you C.K.). I spent most of the evening waving to & talking with friends from the back deck, as I didn't want to spread my germs around.

The girls were able to enjoy the Halloween spirit a little before they actually came down with the flu.

The girls & Darren actually carved pumpkins outside this year because the weather was so great.

Delaney had a Halloween piano recital this week. Her costume had to have something to do with her song.....Ghost in the Piano!

Fruits & Veggies....Oh My!

I love September when all of the fruits & veggies are ready to harvest, but at the same time I am completely overwhelmed with ALL of the fruits & veggies that need to be harvested! It seems that everything comes into season and is ready to be bottled just about the same time that I have to go back to school. We spent all day last Saturday bottling 40 quarts of peaches, 15 quarts of green beans, blanching & freezing 20 quarts of corn, and picking one of the apple trees. I haven't even been able to touch the tomatoes yet, but I have had many neighbors who have been using them for salsa & spaghetti sauce. I shouldn't complain---it makes me very happy to see my food storage room filling up with yummy things from the garden!

Addy & her friend Minju picked the apples from one of the trees.

Delaney was a huge help with the peaches.

The peach tree was so heavy with peaches that Darren had to support one of the branches with a 2X4.

Here are just a few of the green beans from the garden.

Thanks Again to My Heavenly Father

Last year on September 28th, my dad was diagnosed with lung cancer. Last week my dad had his 3rd PET scan since having his left lung removed and receiving alternative medical treatments in Mexico.

My thanks to my Heavenly Father-Dad's latest scan shows no cancer!

School-Again!

Summer has gone by way too fast. We had a great trip in July to Alaska. After that Delaney attended a piano camp at Utah State University. Both girls then took a 3-week summer P.E. & a summer band class. We wrapped up the end of all that with the death of Darren's aunt, Gaye, and the marriage of our niece, Nicole. Now, we are officially back in the swing of school, and I can't say that I am complaining! We had SO much going on over the summer that it is kind of nice to be in a regular schedule again.

I wanted to post a couple of pictures so you can see what "regular" life is like for us!

Delaney is back to her nightly homework routine. She is now equipped with a new laptop computer that is "ice blue" (matches her glasses). She saved her cold hard cash to pay for half of the computer because I'm a tightwad!

Addy actually has to read again now that school has started. Unlike her older sister, she doesn't particularly enjoy reading. She would rather spend her time making earrings or playing with friends.
Once home from school I quickly change out of my super-teacher costume (something other than sweatpants & a t-shirt) so I can cook dinner, help the kids with homework, correct papers that I can't get done at school because I have 32 students this year, throw in a load of wash, and pay some bills (among other things).

Princess is doing the same thing she always does-ruin my couch with her fat belly and shedding hairs.

And finally, the "master" of the house doing what he does best-reclining!

Alaska 2009

We returned this week from our yearly trip to Alaska to see my family. I know that I have posted A LOT of pictures, but we had a ton of fun & I wanted to share some of that with you!

Probably the best part of the trip was seeing that my Dad's health seems to be mostly back to normal. He has gained back the weight he lost while fighting cancer last fall. He is also getting stronger, and having only one lung only slightly slowed him down. He looks great and I am thankful to my Father in Heaven that Dad is still alive & kicking!

Mom & Dad with Delaney, Addy, and Duffy the dog
The Alaska cousins (minus one)

Delaney & her pal Duffy

Dad & my brother Dave hanging out on the deck we helped build while we were there

Delaney & Alaska cousin Carol

Addy and a really weird little fish that was inside a 40 pound halibut that Utah cousin Anna caught

Addy & Alaska cousins Shane & Tyler with Utah cousin Anna-They played A LOT of Phase 10 & bandmitton

Delaney reading again

Dad & Darren working on the roof of the deck
Addy & Utah cousin Anna playing Phase 10 at my parent's cabin in Caribou Hills

Delaney's first driving lesson with her Uncle Dave at the cabin

Addy bathing in the lake at the cabin

My dad enjoying the fire pit at the cabin

Delaney on one of our 2 Kenai River rafting days