Hoop it Up!

HOOPS!

The boys have been enjoying the warmer weather. When school is done they head out for a game of basketball.

Great exercise!

Baseball Anyone?

Spring is in the Air

Spring Training has Begun!

We are excited to have the starting Great Eight "Z" players return for the season of 2008. We are especially excited to announce our new recruit. Baby Z will be joining the team in October ~ just in time for the World Series. There is great excitement around here and look forward to our new arrival to join us.

In other words - - I am pregnant and due at the end of October!

Pretzel Guy

The Process

Hudson stumbled across a pretzel recipe. He asked if he could try to make them. Sounding good to me, I of course said, "Sure!". I helped him with the activating of the yeast and he did the rest on his own.

Kneading the dough.

Spreading the egg white glaze on each pretzel.

Abbi helping with the toppings. Garlic salt, Parmesan, Poppy Seeds, Sesame Seeds and salt.

The Best Part of the whole process -

Eating Them!!!

Moose - post by Caleb

Adrenaline Rush

written by Caleb (14 yrs old)

I had been sick most of the week and I was ready to get out of the house.

So, Bandit, Oakley and I headed up the Cottonwood Canyon on our property. We saw five porcupines. One of them was so big I thought it was a black bear. I didn't know whether to run or get a closer look. I went closer and it ended up being a grand-daddy of a porcupine!! We also saw a lot of coyote, rabbit, deer and moose tracks. It was obvious a moose inhabited this canyon. There was lots of scat and tracks and she was also shedding lots of hair in the trees and all the other places she had been. Me and the dogs fought our way through a brushy part of the canyon. I was thankful when we finally got in the open. We were rounding this corner when... 50 yd ahead of us was a cow (female) moose . I told the dogs to sit. We watched her for awhile. She watched us. Then she suddenly started slowly walking straight at us. I slowly started backing up. Then .... she put her ears and her head down and rushed at me. It all happened very fast. The next thing i knew I was running at top speeds with the dogs by my side. It felt as if she was breathing down my neck. The shaking of the earth caused by this massive (at least 500 lb) moose got my adrenaline pumping !! I looked over my shoulder and the picture (from Google images) at the top of the page is pretty much what I saw!! I ran across a creek and jumped into a bush. I peeked out of the bush and saw that she had stopped on the opposite side of the creek. It looked as though she was trying to decide whether to cross the steep creek bank on the other side. I was sitting in that bush hoping and praying that she would turn around. But nope. She put her ears and head down again and headed at me one more time. I had no running left in me. There was no way I could stay ahead of that long legged moose for very long. I thought for sure this was the end of the road for me and that my work on earth was done. I was about to pray my last prayer when I had an idea. I said to Bandit, "Go get 'em boy!" . He, with Oakley at his heels went straight at the moose. The moose stopped in her tracks and shook her head and hooves at the dogs. While they were distracting her, I gathered up the energy I had remaining and ran. Ran for my life! The dogs caught up with me later with their tongues hanging out. I looked around and was grateful to be alive!!

I have learned to always bring my dogs when I go up into the mountains. They, especially Bandit, have saved me numerous times from harms gate. This was not the first time I have been charged by a moose . But, it is the closest I have been to my grave.

I just hope I won't have to experience too many more of these kind of encounters.

by Caleb

FYI - This is a true story written by Caleb. The picture, however, is something he found on Google images. I proofed his work but only the grammar part - periods, capitals etc. I did suggest he change one sentence and he did. But other than that, the credit for this writing goes to him.

Dewey Decimal?

Park City Homeschool Library Tour

We had a great afternoon of learning things about books and the library. Miss Heather read a couple of cute books about the library and gave the children a quick overview of how books are put on the shelf. She gave us a tour and then each child was given a piece of paper with items to find in the library. A scavenger hunt! Fun!!!

Miss Heather (Librarian) and the Homeschooler Crew

The children designed their own book cover.

(Hudson on the right)

Abbi and Dani Rae

(Papa~ take note of which hand Dani is using)

1/2 of Weston, Maggie and Elizabeth

And of course, Tess. She stayed busy gathering and dragging coats.

Fun afternoon at the Library!

(Caleb was at State Swim Meet so he was not here with us)

Missing...

Caleb was reading a book to Tess in the family room. Much time had passed and I hadn't seen them for awhile. So I started asking the children if they had seen Caleb and/or Tess. No one had. We all split up looking for them. He likes to take her outside so a few of them ran outside to look out there - nope! The rest of us split up in the house. Maggie came running up the stairs. "Mom! Mom! I found them and you will want to bring your camera. It is soooo cute!!!" So... I grabbed my camera and we all followed Maggie downstairs. There they were - sound asleep in Calebs bed. (Tess with her thumb.) My oldest and youngest taking a little nap together.
Awww, I love it!!

Ski Day

SWEET FRIEND - offered me a ski pass at Deer Valley

SWEET HUSBAND - stayed home with the children

SWEET SKIING!

March 11, 2008
It was a perfect spring day of skiing. Temp was 48 degrees. A little overcast with some sunshine sprinkled in. Great snow and lots of it. A fun day just being with my friend, Erin and "tearing" up the mountain. One day a year of perfect skiing - I am set!! That's all I need.

This is the view from the top.

To me, Deer Valley is the perfect ski resort. Here is why:

the staff carry your skis to and from your car, lotion in the bathrooms (very important), friendly staff, and NO snowboarders - just skiiers. Nothing against you snowboarders but it is nice to not have the worries of the boarders zipping around.

Don't Do It, Erin! Here she is right before heading down the Black Diamond run.

Well, not really. We stuck to the Blues and enjoyed every one of them.

The Duo.

Fabulous Day - Thank you Erin!

(and hubby)

Sushi

We all love Sushi Night!!

A favorite tradition for our family is sushi night with friends. Every one takes part. The children place their favorite orders at the "rolling bar".

Brian and Christa taking orders for the sushi rolls.

Ingredients include: Dried seaweed sheets, sushi rice, zucchini, red pepper, mango, cilantro, avocado, cream cheese, cucumber, sesame seeds, ginger root, green onion, and green pepper. And of course, the sushi (raw) fish - tuna and salmon. We also use imitation crab meat.

Even Tess loves sushi.



The diligent worker. Mr A. slicing the rolls and decorating the platters. A very fine job he does.



Caleb helping out with the rolling.



Weston showing Mr A. a card trick and Sawyer playing the drums with the chopsticks.



Perfect table



Lots of sushi!

And affordable and fun!!!

Oh, how we were full and very satisfied!