july is gone and august is here!

And again I post with no pictures because 1) our computer had a major malfunction and the more recent pictures are gone 2) I’ve just been too lazy to take pictures.

I’m not so sad that I lost the few pictures I had on that computer. There weren’t a lot and most of them were random. What I’m more sad about is losing all my iTunes. My music is gone. Lots of money gone. The classics: Wilson Phillips, Amy Grant, Tears for Fears, Johnny Cash . The later: Match Box 20/Rob Thomas, Ben Folds, Goo Goo Dolls, Good Charlotte, Rascal Flatts, Faith Hill. The latest: Kris Allen, Michael Buble, Plain White T’s, John Mayer. Oh I could go on. Sadness. The lesson learned. Use Time Machine today, not tomorrow.

On a happy note:

We have community BBQs all the time. The invitation is pretty much to anyone and everyone. We provide the grill they provide their own meat. We’ll sit around and chat for hours and eat until we’re about to explode. It’s nice to live in an area where you actually get to know your neighbors.

We had a great Pioneer Day on the 24th! Surprisingly the wards up here don’t participate in the traditional get together celebration. Being the Activity Leaders and have helped with the best Pioneer Day celebration in Las Vegas (North Las Vegas Stake has the best celebration in Las Vegas – hands down) we couldn’t pass this chance up. We had homemade stews, rolls, side salads, dutch oven potatoes and desserts, more desserts, lemon aid, and homemade root beer. We had people playing their guitars, kids on the playground, sack races, kick ball, and a cupcake walk. Some families even did a small “trek” in the wooded area. The turnout was amazing and everyone had a great time.

Jacob is a year older. We celebrated in style . . . presents, dinner with the folks, cobbler for dessert, ice cream cake for dessert! He played golf with his buddies and relaxed at home. That following weekend we had a birthday BBQ which was no different than any other except there was cake!

Jake’s parents brought up some peaches! Yahoo! We managed to get them all peeled and frozen before they went bad. We’ve already had some yummy peach enchiladas and a smoothie every morning. We are going through them quick! They also brought zucchini but that was gone within a couple of days! Our tomato plants are getting HUGE. There are tons of tomatoes but they’re still green. Ugh. I’m a very impatient farmer. We do have three bell peppers growing too! Our herbs have been harvested this year and we should be stocked up until next.

Well, I think that’s all I can think of. Maybe next time I’ll post a picture or ten.

~duck face~

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Hiking Kamiak Butte

Two weekends in a row we hiked Kamiak Butte. It a very pretty hike. One weekend Jake and I just went by ourselves. The next weekend we went with a group of friends.

heading to the top

a view of the wheat fields

almost there

jake, garret, valerie, jaimie, nayt, and bronx the dog

the trail runs along side of the mountain so there is a nice panoramic view along the way

jake at the top of the main hike. there is a summit where you can go to the very top.

at the top of the summit.

nayt, bronx, jaimie, valerie, garret, and jake

2010 and 1/2

2010 is pretty much half way done. I was looking back at some of my goals for this year and I've done fairly well.  For my traditional goals: I work out more, eat healthier, and spend less. I haven't saved all too much but there is still six more months to start that.

As far as the other realistically fun ones:

We've found a couple of recipes we really enjoyed. We've tried new things (well new to us) like Spaghetti Squash, homemade Sweet and Sour Chicken, Italian Rolls, and homemade tortillas. All in all I've kept up with a new recipe monthly.

I have not finished the blanket that I've been working on for years. I did get passed the halfway mark. It's going to be the biggest blanket in our house.

I started printing out my pictures that are stored in my computer. I'm even scrapbooking them as I go. The pictures I don't use I'll store in a photo album.

This next weekend will be our official first camping trip. The weather up here comes and goes. Just yesterday Jake said to me, "who would of thought we would still be wearing sweaters in June". It's been pretty cold the last couple of days and on the nice days we've already had stuff planned.

We've been reading a lot more. I've read about 7 or 8 books. That's a little more then one a month. Not too shabby.

And finally I finished the journal that I had for two years. I've started another one that will probably take just as long!

So far 2010 and 1/2 has turned out pretty good. I feel half accomplished.

a mush pot of our lives

Where have we been? Sometimes I wonder that too but we really have accomplished a great deal in the last two months.

Like everyone else another semester is over. That's a great relief. Jacob's feet still haven't hit the ground since he found out he got a 100% on his final. Not curved. I guess I would be up there too. He keeps talking about framing it. I'm not sure we'll go that far.

This is at Spokane Falls.

My schedule changed from days to swing. I love not getting up to an alarm clock. We seem to do more before I head out to work. We manage to run, take the dogs to the dog park, and run errands all before lunch. That always seems nice to get out of the way first thing.

We went to the doctors AGAIN. In April the news went from "you can have kids" to "Jacob might have a tumor in his brain". He has low testosterone and high prolactin which is an indicator of a tumor in the brain. After a MRI it was determined the only thing odd up there is a small cyst in his sinus area. That was a big relief. We were referred to an Endocrinologist in Spokane and now Jacob is back to giving more blood. After they balance all of his hormones out we'll be parents in no time (or at least heading in that direction).

We visited the Brashear family last weekend. We had a few fierce games of Lasso Golf, ate scrumptious food, and laughed a bunch. It was well worth the drive!

We drove to Coeur d'Alene, Idaho after a doctor's visit in Spokane, WA. It is a very pretty town. We stopped at Lake Coeur d'Alene and enjoyed the great outdoors. We always fall in love with places in the spring and summer. Maybe we should vacation more in the fall and winter.

I like moose.

I officially learned how to use my Embroidery Module on my Bernina. It's amazing. I'm in love. Although I have found something just as tedious as weeding vinyl. It's removing the drag (or string) between the letters or pictures on embroidery. Ugh it can get nerve racking. Jacob was afraid I was going to embroider every towel and shirt in the house. I didn't.

Now that the weather is nice we can start marking things off of our check list.

• We're going to extend our running route.
• We're going to bike to Idaho and back and not turn around half way. (it's only 8 miles one way)
• We'll be camping/hiking Hells Canyon and hopefully master the area.
• We're getting ready to plant our veggies!
• We're looking forward to harvesting peaches!
• We'll be going to many Saturday's Markets too!

I think that sums it all up. Hopefully I'll have more to update in May and June!

Campus on the Run

Campus on the Run is a race that WSU puts on every year and the proceeds go to local charities. This year Jake participated in this gruling 5k. I opted out. He and his buddies have been preparing for it. For this being his first 5k he didn't do so bad, especially considering there were quite a few avid runners in the race. We were pretty impressed he placed 221st out of 459.

I was in charge of cheering and photos. I did pretty well at the cheering but not so well on the photos. I actually forgot I had the camera until it was almost too late. Of the 4 pictures I took these two were the best.

Next year the goal is to place closer to a friend of ours name Brian. He placed 20th.

addictions . . .

We really shouldn't be addicted to things.

But not all addictions are bad, right?

-

The Amazing Race. It really is amazing.

Cadbury Eggs.

Vegetable Quesadillas. I can't stop thinking about them.

Homemade dehydrated fruit.

Reading the obituaries. I don't even know anyone here!?