Peter Piper

Yesterday afternoon Justin was home and felt like pulling up the garden so, he did.  He and the kids went out and started picking all the produce that was left hanging.  They brought in quite a few peppers.  We had anaheim chilis, jalepeno chilis, and banana peppers.  We didn't know what to do with them so we found a recipe for pickled peppers.  We also tried jalepeno jelly.  The peppers need to sit for a while so we haven't tried them but Justin tasted some of the jelly and thought it was good.  We'll see. 

Kai's last cross country meet was Thursday.  He ran well and got 4th place.  We're proud of him.

Seila still has two volleyball games left this week.

I've been working at the warehouse two days each week.  So, we're all trying to juggle it all and help each other out.  I haven't made any mistakes yet that our secretary hasn't been able to fix.  Thank goodness for her.  Harvest is going alright.  The fujis haven't had great color but we're hopeful that the ones left to pick will show better color.

Kale's birthday.

Today is Kale's birthday.  My baby is 7!  Before I know it, he'll be gone.  It was a busy day for us and we ended up splitting the festivities into small tidbits throughout the day.  We started off with a few presents.  We opened the ones from far away family and Kai and Hadley gave theirs.  Then they all headed off to school.  I made cupcakes and took them in to Kale's class after their lunch hour.  That was a surprise to Kale.  I actually almost forgot, okay I did, that I was supposed to do that until Justin reminded me.  (I seriously wonder about myself sometimes.)

Kale sits in the back row of his class.  The class is singing Happy Birthday to him.

After school Kale and Hadley rode the bus to their piano lessons where they discovered that Hadley did not have Kale's piano books like she usually does.  She decided that he should remember them himself but forgot to tell anyone that she wasn't going to bring them.  So, he almost cried, he said, because he didn't have them.  Their piano teacher is super flexible and was able to give him a lesson anyway.  (I've never figured out how to do that with my students.)  After the lessons, we went to Kai's cross-country meet at the Royal golf course where Kai placed 3rd. Good job Kai!!  He's really improving.

Kai started out over on the right end.  He's in one of those yellow shirt things.

Crossing the finish line.  Oops, snapped the shot just as he blinked.

When Kai finished running, we went home for about 10 minutes so that Justin and I could give Kale the rest of his presents.  Kale really wanted to stay home and play with all his new toys so while Justin showered and got ready for his meeting, Hadley and I went to Seila's volleyball game.  I took a couple of pics and then the flash threw her off and she missed her serve.  She made sure to let me know the flash was not appreciated.  I turned it off after that but couldn't get anymore good shots.  Their team won!  They played Ki-Be.  They looked really good tonight.  As soon as Seila was able to go, we headed home so she could give her present to Kale.  Then all the toys got opened and spread out across the living room floor and they all played together for about 15 minutes until Kale had to go to bed.

Kung Zhu pets.

Tomorrow night we'll go to Othello for his requested birthday dinner.  He wants egg flower soup and then ice cream bars.  Sorry Royal football game, something had to be sacrificed so that Kale's birthday wishes could come true and until I actually have a kid on the team, it's going to have to be you this time.

Baby goats

We have new baby goats, finally!  The first kids were born Mon, Oct 4.  These pics were taken last week when they were 2 days old.  They are super cute!  Our other pregnant goat had her kids this Monday but had a hard time delivering. In fact, Kameron had to pull both of them.  Justin stood back and watched, for moral support.  They kept calling me for advice, like I know how to deliver a goat kid.We were so excited for the heroes that we all went out for pizza that night.  Yesterday they died.  Guess they weren't heroes after all.  maybe they pulled too hard?

Baby goat #1, 2 days old

Baby goat #2, 2 days old

Wanted to know what it would be like to stand underneath the rain gutter waterfall.

Found out that it feels cold and wet.

We had a seafood dinner last Tuesday while Jared and his friend were here.  We ate out on the deck and had yummy food.  After we cleaned up dinner and took everything in the house, I went out to check on things one last time and found Kale all by himself still working on cracking his crab and eating it.  He doesn't leave any meat behind.  He cracks every tiny shell until all the meat is gone.

Crab lover.

Prophets and Apostles

I love the New Testament and recently decided to read from it more often.  So, this morning the house is still quite and I grabbed my Bible.  I have been reading in Ephesians and this is what I read this morning:  "Now therefore ye are no more strangers and foreigners, but fellowcitizens with the saints, and of the household of God; And are built upon the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Jesus Christ himself being the chief corner stone;"  Eph 3: 19,20.  I thought it was so cool that this is what I read today of all days, General Conference time!  This weekend, we are priveleged to hear from apostles and prophets who have been appointed and are led by Jesus Christ himself!  It gives me great comfort and peace to know that our church is lead with the same organization that was established by the Savior when He was living here on the earth.  He leads the church today through the apostles and prophets just as in days of old.  I am more excited than ever to hear from them today and tomorrow!  I also love that He has blessed us with modern technology that allows us to listen at home and even record the conference! 

I also particularly loved verses 11 through 14 in Ephesians chapter 4: "And he gave some, apostles; and some, prophets; and some, evangelists; and some, pastors and teachers; For the perfecting fo the saints, for the work of the ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ: Till we all come in the unity of the faith, and of the knowledge of the Son of God, unto a perfect man, unto the measure of the stature of the fulness of Christ: That we henceforth be nomore childre, tossed to and fro, and carried about with every wind fo doctrine, by the sleight of men, and cunning craftiness, whereby they lie in wait to deceive;"  The apostles and prophets guide us and we will be protected from the deceit and craftiness and sleight of man if we follow what they say.  They only lead us to do good and be more like the Savior.  All you have to do is hear them to know they speak the truth and are led by Jesus Christ.  I want to invite everyone to listen to them this weekend.  The General Conference can be found on Dish Network channel 9403 (BYUTV) at 9 am and 11 am today and tomorrow.

Last night Seila thought she needed to have a party because she and her friends are not old enough to go to the Homecoming dance. Our Saturday schedule was tight but we were able to fit it in. So, after a cross-country meet in Connell, helping clean up an afternoon wedding reception, and the Relief Society broadcast (which was so uplifing, dont' you think?) I helped Seila host a party. Fortunately, my friend went to Costco on Friday and picked up some heat and serve food. We didn't do any decorating, mostly because we spent all our time cleaning but also because we're really not into that. We did play a scavenger hunt game. Justin and I each drove one team around Royal looking for certain pictures. It was a sports theme and so some of the pics to get were pinning a total stanger to the ground, making a free throw shot with a football, kicking a field goal, standing at the end of a diving board fully-clothed. They were all worth different points so we could tally a winner at the end. We had a fun time. This would be a great family reunion game or group family home evening game. There are several different versions of the game so you could play a few different times and not have the same items. There is also a list of things to collect but we didn't have that much time and I didn't want the girls bothering other people. Here are just a few of the pics:

tug-of-war with a total stranger

6-man gymnastics pyramid

"tight end"

pinning a total stranger to the ground

a real "tight end" Brady Dixon