Sushi!

Sophia came over yesterday and showed me how to make sushi.... not sure I'll make it without help in the near (or far) future. But it was fun!

The ingredients

Shea holding the thingy that rolls up the sushi.
not sure what it's called.

Shea and Sophia creating the masterpieces!

Beautiful!!

Enjoying the fruits of our labors with

the missionaries, the Stoker's and Song and Sophia.

Spring!! and snow....

Today is the first day of Spring, only West Texas didn't get the memo.

High of 32, windchill of 10.

brrrrrr.

But all this moisture will be good for my 'little purple pansies touch with yellow gold'.

Camping with wild turkeys

Braden headed out Thursday for a 2-day biking scout camp at Palo Duro Canyon, about 2 hours from Lubbock. He had a great time, and did fantastic biking over 11 miles on one of the rides! Friday the forecast was calling for TEN INCHES of snow at night so they came home a day early. It did storm pretty bad last night, so I was glad he was home snug in his bed!

Civil War Quilt

I don't usually put my quilt pictures on this blog... they are all over at Quilting Sisters. But this was the mother-of-all projects and I'm so glad it is finished (all except the binding, but it still looks wonderful on my bed!)

this is my messy quilting corner

with multiple projects.

all un-finished.

Buffalo Springs Camping

Shea is always sad when Braden goes camping with the scouts and he has a two day trip this wee.... so Shea talked us into taking her and a friend camping.

We really are the best parents EVER!
Especially since it was FREEZING last night.

I am very happy that I have my camera back, I took LOTS of photos so it was hard to narrow them down for the blog. Here are a few of my favorites.

Shea and Brenda heading out on a hike.

exploring and hiking.

Robert and I up on top of the plateau.
Jack's tail just made it in the photo.

Jack and the girls.

I wouldn't necessarily call this plant beautiful.

maybe interesting.

silly girls begged us to let them swim in the lake.

it was about as cold as AK this summer...
just not as pretty.

so cute!

watching the sunset.

awwww....

Eating S'mores.

that's what I love about camping!

sitting by the fire.

after a nice day.

perfect.

the girls had their own tent.

they shared with Jack.

Fish. Clam chowder. Flowers.

It's a good thing Kayla has been taking pictures (and sending them to me:) since I just haven't been using the camera much lately.

Seattle Temple

in spring

Clam Chowder
"good... if you don't think about what's in it"

My new friend.

the fish.

not the guy.

My lovely missionary....

More pictures.....

male bonding....

Robert and Braden went over to Dallas to go to a car show.... here they are drooling over their dream cars.

A few more pictures of Kayla and Seattle....

My friend Wendy Rose, told me she had posted a few pictures with Kayla on her son Adam's blog. How fun that they are in the same mission!! Adam is the one in front - he's a great kid!!!

Working kids...

Braden has been watching the dogs of an older couple a few blocks away. Pretty easy job for $10 a day!

They have four dogs.... and not one of them compares in meanness to Sasha.

Braden mopping up the piddles

Shea giving some love

Taco, Poco, Tilly & Pepper


Playing with Taco

Poor Andrew....

Murphy's law... things happen in three's.... bad things happen to good people....

Andrew is doing great at his job (just got his second raise in two months!) and is taking three classes and doing really well.

Unfortunately other things have been going wrong. He had to put about $800 into car repairs, his '09 tax bill is over $500 (oops - withholdings were too high :) and then last night someone drove by and shot out his car window.

But doesn't that mean things will start getting better now?