Most Beautiful Woman in the World

Today while I was trying to still recover from my stupid infections, I was reading Nienie's blog. She finally posted a photo of herself after the almost fatal plane crash one year ago. I could not contain the tears.

Click to see photo of Nienie

Pokemon

Morgen has decided lately that he really likes Pokemon. He has been collecting the playing cards since he was 7 or 8 but didn't really get into it until a few weeks ago. Attending different tournaments, trading cards, buying new ones, he is thinking he's gotta catch 'em all. I guess. Anyways, he wanted to go to the World Pokemon Series yesterday at Sugarhouse park. So we went and he was in his element. He played in several rounds (or whatever they are called) and we brought a picnic.

Markus was loving the free blue slushees that they provided all day long and playing at the park.

I spent most of the afternoon looking at the sky, lying flat on my back on the blanket. I could not get up without feeling dizzy and had the chills. So I just stayed wrapped up.

Max played a little as well and won this new playing mat, but he gave it to Morgen.

Markus won the t-shirt and Morgen won the Poke ball. Which I might add, he was pretty excited about. Funny kid.

After the tournament was finally over I went to Insta-care to see what was wrong with me, because by then I could barely walk, I ached all over. I found out I have two infections, Strep throat and an UTI. So the Dr. prescribed some heavy duty antibiotics and said I should feel like a new woman by Monday. Hopefully he is right, because I feel like an old, sick woman today, just sleeping in bed for most of the day. Argh! Oh, and the pain med. he prescribed me, made me completely sick and shaky and when I got up to use the bathroom in the middle of the night, I passed out and hit the wall on the way down. There is a huge dent in the wall and I woke up laying face down on the floor. I have never done that before, so weird. I am definitely not taking those again.

Oh, another crazy thing happened when I went to get my medicine. Wal-mart was closed so I went to Rite-aid instead. Right after I walked through the doors, there was this huge bang and the lady standing at the check out counter grabbed her leg. Then we both saw what had hit her, a golf ball! The driving range at Sports Authority is right next door and apparently someone had hit the ball so hard that it went right through the wall and hit her in the leg. You could see the hole in the wall where it had come out. I think she is going to be okay, but she filled out an accident report. So if you are ever in that Rite-aid make sure to duck when you come through the front doors.

Pre-Season Game

Max's first pre-season game was this morning at 9. They played Jordan, whom we found out afterwards, went undefeated last year. They held their own and only lost by 5 touchdowns. Oh, well...at least it doesn't count towards their ranking this year.

Markus was watching a video for most of the time with his friends.

Friday Night Lights

Max's team was asked to play a scrimmage game during the high school football games half time.

He was so excited to be playing under the lights and with such a huge crowd watching. It was the Murray vs. Hillcrest game.

He had a great time and I am sure he will remember it for a long time to come.

The game was really close and Murray almost came back to win, almost.

Back to School

These were the clothes Max and Markus were going to wear on the first day back to school, but since it was raining on Monday, they wore them today instead. It has been hard adjusting to the new schedule this week, especially for Markus. He hasn't been going to bed early enough at all after being on the late night summer bedtime. After his melt down tonight though, I put him to bed at 8:00. He was really tired.

Rollerblading

Last night the boys were out Rollerblading and racing with Justin. Markus was cruising when he ran off the sidewalk on to the grass and totally wiped out big time. He just laughed and got up to finish the race.

Silly Monkey

The boys and I rollerbladed over to the ballpark to watch the Babe Ruth World Series game that we could hear from our house.

We couldn't stay for very long since it was getting dark and late but I think they had fun watching for a little while.

Teaching

Toni

I am trying to just teach on Tuesdays and Thursdays this fall but I am having a hard time fitting all my students into those days so I may have to open up Fridays as well. I was going to take a photo with each one of my students today, but I forgot Callie and Nick, so I will have to post those next week. Also, I will try to remember to take my camera for my Thursday students as well.

Amanda

Ava

First Day of School

Markus started 1st grade today. He was so excited to go and had all his school supplies loaded into his backpack last night. He wouldn't hold my hand on the way into class and just walked right in when his line went in. I took some photos and kissed his check and then had to go outside before I lost it in front of the other moms. As soon as I made it outside, I couldn't hold back the flood of tears. As I walked around the corner I ran into a friend and she had tears in her eyes as well. She asked me if it was my first or last child and I could barely squeak out my last. She was nice and said it is hard after having kids at home for 14 years and now what are we going to do? I was wishing that I had my sunglasses on to cover up my puffy, bloodshot eyes, but I think she understood.

Max started 5th grade and likes his new teacher. He actually rotates through all 3 5th grade teachers, for different subjects. It is supposed to better prepare them for Jr. high but I also think it is fun for them to have more teachers throughout the day, to break up the time.

Morgen is in 9th. He goes to high school though for math which made his first day back a little tricky, taking him to two schools, but I think I have it figured out. I just pick him up after I drop the other boys off and take him back up to seminary, which is great since they aren't too strict if he is ever late getting there after math.

Skating in SV

Darlin and Jan in front of Mt. Baldy outside her condo

Breakfast at Perry's on the patio

SV Lodge

I didn't sleep too well and was up at 5, but Darlin slept in until about 10:00, she wanted to go skating after breakfast, so we did. It was just starting to rain but since the ice is covered by a screen it was like skating in a tropical rain forest mist.

Since Darlin skates and teaches 6 days a week, on her day off she decided to skate in hockey skates. Just for fun.

Darlin and Jan clowning around

Even though it was raining, skating in Sun Valley is a great experience. What I love most about it is the sheer joy of skating on outdoor ice that gives jumps their spring, flowing movement and deep edges, bright skies and glorious mountains, all of which lifted my spirits.

Darlin and Brewster

She is loving having her dog around and I can tell he loves her right back

Sun Valley

Darlin skated to "These boots are made for walking" in the show this year. I tried to take a picture of her spinning...as you can see it is just a blonde blur.

After the show signing autographs.

Darlin is cute to stay until all the little girls asking to take pictures with her are gone.

Jumpin' Joe, is from the Czech Republic and teaches at Steiner year round, he just comes up to Sun Valley on the weekends to skate in the show. He has the highest jumps you will ever see on the ice and does a back flip as well. I know him from the Olympics, when he was the Fire Within - he skated for the Opening Ceremonies and his wife, Jen, is a friend of Darlin's from back when they used to compete against each other...a long time ago.

Backstage after the show.

Darlin and I went back to her place and talked until the wee small hours of the morning.

Weekend Getaway

After signing up Max and Markus for hockey this morning, I headed up to Sun Valley to visit my sister Darlin. The drive up was great, I just listened to my tunes and cruised up there in less than 4 hours. When I arrived Darlin had just finished working and was walking her dog Brewster, pictured above outside her condo.

We hopped in her convertible and went over to the pool for a little "Girl Time" and some relaxation. This is the view from her pool.

Crusin' around SV and picking up some lunch

Chillin' at the pool


The ice before the show was about to start

The SV lodge

I am still trying out different settings on my camera.

Too bad I can't remember which one was which, next time I will write it down

Morgen's Mushrooms

Morgen downloaded this recipe from the Internet and came with me to buy all the ingredients. He loves to cook with me and it is fun to see him making new things. He especially loves anything with mushrooms.

The finished product was delicious.

1 T. olive oil

1 package of baby Portobello mushrooms

1 wheel of Laughing Cow Garlic and Herb Cheese

2 c. of fresh spinach

1 t. minced garlic

1/2 t. ground Rosemary

2 t. black pepper

1 t. salt

Heat oven to 350*. Rinse and destem mushrooms so you only have the caps. (You can mince the stems and saute them if you want.) Put mushroom caps on a baking dish, stem side up. In a small saucepan, heat oil to medium heat. Grind or finely mince rosemary and add to oil. Add onions and garlic and sweat until tender. Slice spinach into little strips. (Roll them up in a bunch and slice.) Add spinach to pot, cook until it begins to wilt. Add cheese to pot and stir until melted. Sprinkle black pepper and salt over the mushrooms. Spoon the mixture caps as full as you want. Put in oven for 10 minutes. Turn oven broiler to high. Crack the oven door open slightly and keep an eye on the mushrooms as broilers will burn anything if you turn around for a second. As soon as the cheese mixture is golden brown, take them out and let them sit for 1 minute.

Missing

I was helping Max floss his teeth tonight when the floss got stuck . . . and out came his tooth! It has been loose for awhile now and the new tooth was starting to grow in underneath it and out to one side. So he was glad to have it out, still it hurt a little so the tooth fairy might just have to leave an extra buck or two tonight.

They call him Jared...

Markus' little friend Hayden caught seven frogs last night while he was fishing with his dad. So Hayden brought one over for Markus to have. Morgen had his friend Austin over when it arrived and they named the little hopper Jared. Markus was of course so excited and couldn't wait to make it a habitat to live in. Max helped him make it out of his air-soft pellet bottle. Snips and snails and puppy dog tails, that isn't all that little boys are made of. Sometimes you have to throw a frog in there as well.