Finals Week

Hey everyone...you're gonna have to cut me some slack for a bit. It's finals week and I'm swamped. I'll be back in a few days.

Doggy Door II

I came home today from work and look who was trying to get through my doggy door.

I'm glad someone is using it.

(That is Alexa by the way).

Dutch Oven?

The school year is almost over, and I have a couple of goals I want to work on this summer.

One of those goals is to learn how to cook with a Dutch Oven.

If you scroll down and read my food storage post, this post will make a lot more sense.

I read the other day that if a person has no access to an electrical cooking element, you can cook virtually ANYTHING with a Dutch Oven.

So...I'm gonna learn how to do it.

I consider myself an okay cook, but I have to admit, I'm nervous about this one.

So...if you have any great suggestions or even better....recipes....I would LOVE to hear from you.

I also have to say that Dutch Oven cooking reminds me of 2 things:

1. When I was growing up, my family used to venture down to Lake Powell every year, and it was kind of a "tradition" to cook Dutch Oven style one night. I loved it. My dad had a great "Cowboy Stew" recipe that was really yummy. He just kind of threw a lot of yummy stuff in and let it brew. Honestly, there's nothing like sitting on the beach in Lake Powell as the sun is setting eating a yummy Dutch Oven dinner. It's something I will always remember.

2. Before my dear Grandma Staples passed away, my dad would arrange a day where he would cook a Dutch Oven meal out on the side of my grandma's house. We only did it a few times, but whenever I think of Dutch Oven cooking...I think of my grandma...and I can't tell you how much I miss her. I cry whenever I think about her not being here. But, I'm SO thankful for all of the great memories I have of her, and Dutch Oven cooking on the side of her house is definitely one of them.

So, I'm gonna post a recipe that I'm gonna try first. I would like to add to my collection, so please either email me the recipe at bkelly@weber.edu or post it here.

Beef Pot Roast in a Dutch Oven:

3 lb rump roast or pot roast

3 Tbsp vegetable oil

3 potatoes, peeled and halved

3 carrots, cut into 2' pieces

2 onions, halved1 tsp salt

1/4 tsp pepper

1/2 cup water

Brown roast in oven on all sides in oil.Remove meat. Place half of vegetables in bottom of oven.Return meat to oven and season with salt and pepper.Add remaining vegetables and water. Cover and cook at 300 degrees for 3-5 hours depending on how well done you like it.

Doggy Drama

I really love my dogs Max and Jack, but I am TWO SECONDS from putting them on KSL.

I have done everything short of putting a catheter in them to get them to go potty outside.

I have to say...they are MUCH better than they used to be.

I am just SOOOO thankful Robb owns a carpet cleaning business...otherwise our doggies would have been LONG GONE a LONG time ago.

Yesterday I had John Bankhead (awesome guy...even more awesome handyman) install a doggy door in the middle of my kitchen. The picture at the beginning of this post is NOT my doggy door, but it looks very similar. However, my doggy door is in my wall, and poor John had to cut through my BRICK to install it.

But...it is beautiful and John did a TREMENDOUS job.

But guess what??? THEY WON'T FREAKING USE IT!

I'm not kidding. We were doing all we could to get them through it last night, but they acted like I was leading them to some uncertain death.

My kids think it's awesome. All of them (except Kaid) tried to weasel their way through it, but the dogs? Not so much.

Anybody have any suggestions? I really am at my wit's end.

And if your post is something like, "This is exactly why I don't have dogs," then don't bother posting because as you can see, I'm past that point.

Thank you kindly.

Sexi Wexi

This is a horrible pic (of me). I look semi-Neandrothol because I had to take it with my cell phone (weird angle). But I wanted to get a picture of my sister, Lexa, on her birthday at her birthday dinner.

I am SO blessed to have FOUR sisters....that's right...NO brothers. I love all of them so much.

I have wonderful and very different relationships with each of them.

I can't imagine what my life would be like without any of them in my life.

They are TRULY my best friends.

What an honor to have a sister like Alexa.

She's HILARIOUS, she's BEAUTIFUL, she's CARING, she's SPIRITUAL, she's FORGIVING, she's PATIENT, she's ACCEPTING, she's SMART, and she's FUN!

I could go on and on.

I must have something right in Heaven for Heavenly Father to bless me with a sister like Alexa and 3 MORE sisters on top of that.

My life is rich.

Easter 2009

We got up and went to church before we did any Easter stuff. I bought all of the boys new suits for Easter...including Cannon. When we got home, I told the boys I wanted to take a picture of them in their Easter outfits. Needless to say, Cannon didn't like the idea. He really dislikes getting his picture taken. If you would hear what he was screaming in this picture, it was hilarious. He kept saying, "I don't want to get my picture taken. I feel like a moron." Don't ask me how he learned to say that.I had the advantage though because I told him he couldn't look for the Easter eggs until he got his picture taken. Needless to say..he snapped out of it pretty quickly.

All of my handsome boys!


Kaiden...being SO serious. After all, it's not cool to smile when you're 13.

I can always count on Cooper to give me a GREAT smile!
I truly think that Connor is one of the most photogenic kids I know. He takes a great pic.

And this kid truly LOATHES getting his picture taken...you can see it in his face. But he was on his best behavior because there was an Easter egg hunt right after this pic!


Pre-Easter Egg hunt....Yes, we hid the eggs in our basement. In years past, I have hid the eggs outside the night before to wake up to a rain storm which ruined all of the candy. So, not as fun as outside but much safer.

Post Easter egg hunt...and you can just see the excitement in their eyes...SERIOUS sugar rush in about 5 minutes!

And to end the Easter holiday...nothing like a good ol' game of charades with Grandma. I had to post this picture because she KILLS me. I swear this lady is always looking for a good time. She will play any game at any time. This is her acting out Big Foot for the grandkids. It's amazing how easily they grandkids are amused....and how much fun my mom has amusing them.

Food Storage

Last year I decided to work REALLY hard at getting my family's one-year food storage supply. It was A LOT of work, and needless to say.... A LOT of money. The Sister in our ward over Emergency Prepardness actually called me "her best customer". I was quite pleased at the title I have to say. I have spent a lot of time and money in other stores and was never given such a great title, so I wear that one with pride!

About a month ago, I was in my basement taking in all of the boxes of canned goods. It REALLY is a beautiful sight. As I was staring at the buckets of wheat, rice, beans and plenty of other goodies, the thought came to my mind....if there is a catastrophe, my little family just might be okay.

So then that got me thinking EVEN more, and I got a little arrogant. As I was staring at the shelves of food, I thought...if we ever have to use this, I bet there will be people who will want to break into my house and steal my food because I hate to brag, I have set up a pretty nice shop.

Which got me thinking EVEN MORE....maybe I should buy a GUN! (Temporary Insanity)

But, I had a SERIOUS wake-up call the other night, and I am thankful for a gracious Heavenly Father who loves me and is continually humbling and teaching me.

I was at Costco and bought the book I Dare You To Eat It: Designing Food Storage You Would Actually Want to Eat by Liesa Card. Chapter 1 is titled: Seeing Food Storage as Part of God's Plan. and I read this:

"The prophet's plan for food storage is today-as it has always been-a plan for everyone. As the First Presidency recently noted 'prepare every needful thing', so that should adversity come, we may care for ourselves and our neighbors and support bishops as they care for others.' If our bishops send out a call for food, who will be prepared to serve? Who will be ready to accept that calling? Ultimately, I believe food storage is about love-love for the Savior, love for the prophet, love for our families, and love for our neighbors. Perhaps there is an eternal responsibility in sharing food and sharing the gospel."

And just like that....SMACK.....it all made sense.

So...the dear sister in my ward who considers me "her best customer" is gonna be seeing a lot more of me cause I'm heading back to the cannery to amp up my food storage so I can have enough to share with others because I have a testimony of service and sharing and loving my neighbor.

So...consider this an invitation...if there's a catastrophe (or not), you are always welcome at my house and I will do all I can to feed you and the ones you love. We'll have one ROCKIN food storage party!!

Nothing

I got NOTHING today! Completely uneventful.

I'm convinced that school administrators give children Spring Break

so parents become more grateful and appreciative of the entire school system.

Love my kids, but school is a BEAUTIFUL thing.

Spring Break/Kids Gone Wild

When you let your kids get a hold of your phone...this is what you find.

This was HONESTLY one of the cutest things I have seen in a long time. Kaid got a

season pass to SWAN LAKES and he has been DYING to go use it.

Since both Kaid and Cannon were off of school, they both decided to take advantage of

the good weather. So...Kaid took Cannon up to Swan Lakes today to hit some golf balls.

Kaid is SUCH a good brother that way. He never complains when Cannon wants to "tag along".

This is what partying EVERY DAY during spring break will do to you.

I had to take this picture because Cannon got his official first sunburn of the season today.

If you know Cannon and his skin, that's not hard to do.

While I was at work, Kaid took Cannon to the park, but unfortunately left the sunscreen at home. The poor guy got really burned. You can't see it too well...especially with his face

plastered again my orange bedspread.

I have a feeling he's gonna sleep really well tonight...even with the BURN.

Conference Update

I love conference weekend. It's a really spiritual time for me. Maybe it's because I can do the laundry and clean the house and feel the Spirit at the same time.

THAT'S A BEAUTIFUL THING!

My favorite Conference talks:

Saturday Afternoon: Richard G. Scott

Sunday Morning: Jeffrey R. Holland

Sunday Morning: President Monson

Really, I love them ALL, but these talks especially touched me.

I was honestly doing my dishes and crying at the same time.

I think my kids thought I was crying cause I was tired of cleaning.

I'll let them continue to think that.

Maybe they'll feel sorry for me and pitch in one of these days.

(BTW....I really didn't miss a post. I posted two the day before, so I'm good, right?)

It's Back!

I remembered today what is one of my more FAVORITE smells ever.
FRESHLY CUT GRASS.
I smelled it for the first time today this year and it is for sure in my top 5 for my smeller.
(Isn't smell such a funny word?)

Night

In my English class at school, we are reading Night by Elie Wiesel.
If you haven't read it, I highly encourage you to.
It's an easy read...probably could be read in a day or two.
But I have to warn you...it is a difficult read.
It's definitely not a feel-good book, but important nonetheless.
It is a true account of the Holocaust, and we read it in my class because I think
it is so IMPORTANT to never forget what happened.
If you pick it up, let me know what you think.

American Idol

I'm not sure how many of you are fans of American Idol.

We are kind of obsessed.

Could Megan Joy been any more destroyed by Simon with his "We don't care response"?

And what sort of stuff is Lady Gaga taking cause I need to get me some of that!