Teenage Fondue Par-tay

Last night after the football game, Braden had friends over for a fondue party....

Cinnamon bears

Pretzels

Donuts

Rice Krispie treats

Twinkies

Bacon (yes- bacon)

Limes

Cookies

and probably a few fingers...

all dipped in chocolate

Weekend trip to LA

This past weekend I drove with Tammy and her daughter, Christa to LA.  Christa was starting a job as a nanny... so we made a girl trip out of it and stayed at my dad's house in Huntington Beach.

Dad took us to the flea market on Saturday morning.  Treasures galore....

Then we headed over to the beach and watched a little kite surfing.

Then we headed out into the harbor for some kayaking.

After kayaking, we went out to dinner in Newport Beach

It was a beautiful, wonderful, lovely, but tiring day.

Sunday we stepped out of the celestial kingdom for a bit and met up with Tammy's cousin in Santa Monica.  The beach was beautiful and then we ate crepes and listened to a fabulous band on the plaza.  We planned on taking Christa to the singles ward in the afternoon before we dropped her off with her new family, but discovered that it was Stake conference once we got to the church.  So we never actually stepped back into the celestial kingdom.  But our intentions were good.  Right?  RIGHT?

Snow on the mountains...

Pictures from my phone don't do this justice... but I had to share.

Cold and rainy here today, then as the clouds lifted this beautiful site appeared.

Lovin' me those mountains!

Fall ride up the canyon

Yesterday after conference we took a ride up American Fork Canyon to Crystal Springs. A beautiful fall day that fed my soul.

Braden and Shea took turns with the camera and captured some of the wonderful scenery. 

Jack looking out the window

blurry canning pictures.

Last week mom and I went up to Preston, ID (think Napoleon Dynamite) to can chicken and beans.  Why, you ask?  That's a very good question...

I did it because my mom wanted to.
and because Tammy wanted to.

I know, I know - now you want to know if I would jump off a bridge with them too.  I might push them off a bridge, but that's as far as I would go.

We only had my phone for pictures...  and I obviously don't know how to adjust the settings correctly.  Take your glasses off and you might see them better.

Tammy stirring her brew...
she forgot her witches hat.
we were all sad about that.

beans, beans the magical fruit.
the more you eat the more you....
(notice daddy warbucks in the background)

Jan - these two photos are for you...
the mother-of-all apple sauce makers.

outside.

It is a beautiful Sunday morning and so I headed out to take a few pictures of our (almost) finished yard.

Not that I think it will ever be finished.

What is life without projects?

The front.

The back.
good thing you have me to explain things to ya...

Looking at the back yard from the south

Terra Cotta Cove
or
Shea's place.

South side again
looking down onto mom's patio

fire pit.

Fence and arbor should be done next week...
climbing roses over arbor should be done next decade.

South side view from the street.

the orchard
Pear, plum, peach and two apple.
I love my orchard!

The garden
and my shadow.

22 raspberry bushes
thanks Tammy!!

Fire.

Shea took some great pictures of our fire last night...

Braden was testing out roasted pickles.
not too tasty.

Marshmallows - of course

Hot dogs -  The ONLY time I like them is over a fire.

I need a bigger ax.

Jack is loving the back yard....

The photographer and her dog.

Sunset coming through our back trees.
It was a beautiful evening!