STRAWBERRY JAM

I found the best deal on a flat of strawberries! $3.99 at our small town grocery store! Can you believe it? I couldn't either, so I bought a couple flats and turned them into jam last night. I made 21 pints. Not only were they cheap berries, but the best ones I have ever bought. I didn't throw one strawberry away out of 2 flats. Unbelievable, but true. I hope the jam is as good as the berries. I am going to try it out today.

Yum! I love strawberry jam. Now I need to make some bread....

LET'S GRILL

If you are like me, sometimes I really struggle with what to make for dinner. I really don't dislike cooking that much, it is just figuring out what to cook that is the problem. I don't know how many times I have said to my husband, "So, what sounds good to you tonight?" And my husband replies, "Whatever you're making." So helpful, so helpful. Well, tonight I am telling you what to make for dinner:

Grilled Chicken marinated in Tomato, Garlic & Basil.

with Italian Pasta Salad

I am so thrilled with spring. I look outside and see the sun on my beautiful green lawn and I just want to be out there. So here is my Spring Dinner Menu idea. Go to it!

PINEWOOD DERBY

Our Pack Meeting last night was the Pinewood Derby. So much preparation and excitement go into this event. Our leaders did a great job and it was a very fun night for all the boys. C's car was very cool, but it actually seemed to get slower as the evening went on. He didn't win any ribbons or trophies, but he was a very good sport about everything, and that, I think, is the most important thing to learn from the whole experience.

My 7th grader went down to the the scout office and bought his own kit and made a car too. He got to race it after all the official races were done.

P was even into it. It was all so exciting, but we are also glad it is over for another year...

FAMILY NIGHT-ROCK CLIMBING

Last night we went up New Canyon to do a little climbing. I shouldn't say 'we' because I don't climb anymore. I never really liked it much and now I am just too weak to do it anyway. I am there as the photographer and occasionally to belay. My 3 older kids, however, LOVE it. They really have a great time and don't even need my husband to set up the gear anymore. They just go to it. It was a successful Family Home Evening.

S lead climbing.

Belaying the sister.

Look its Spiderman!

D peeking around the edge.

My husband at the top.

OH, WHAT A BEAUTIFUL DAY

This afternoon, after soccer games and service projects were over, my husband and I went on a date. We went skiing up Ephraim Canyon. It was such a gorgeous day. It was warm and partly cloudy, so the clouds made amazing designs on the snow. We have such fantastic mountains around us.
/

These are my birthday tele skis.

These are my birthday tele boots.

This is me, skiing on my new equipment. It was very fun, even though the snow was the consistency of mashed potatoes. I am NOT complaining.

Here is my amazing husband cruising with his snow kite. I love spring skiing!

SPRING SOCCER

I have a 2nd grade soccer star at my house. He loves it! He practices everyday in the backyard and is very excited about each game and team practice. I am thrilled to finally have a kid that is not in it for the treat they get after the game. Soccer was the one team sport I always loved too (and still do). If they had a women's league here, I would join in a minute. It is great exercise.

He scored 4 goals at his game this morning. Way to go, bud!

Make a Smilebox slideshow

BOOKMAKING WORKSHOP

I attended a bookmaking workshop at the college this morning. It was a blast and I learned some great new techniques. We made 5 books in 3 hours!

This is a simple accordion book.

This is a 3-tiered accordion book.

This is called a flag book.

The first 3 books fit into this slip case.

This is called a retreating accordion book.

And last and cutest, we have a match book.

I LOVE TO MAKE BOOKS!

OVER THE HILL

The black balloons and decorations tell the story of our 40th birthday party. My husband and I have birthdays only a month apart, so I decided we should celebrate/mourn together. We had lots of friends come to either commiserate or make fun. We got some great gifts- such as a cane, some arthritis ointment and some reading glasses. We are not looking forward to needing or using these items.

The happy 40 year olds, wearing our mourning colors.

My husband gave me some telemark skis, so hopefully I won't be acting my age for a long time.

MY JUNIOR GENIUS

At our elementary school they have a program called "Junior Genius." Your child can choose to learn about something that interests them and do a project on it. They can display their projects at the Junior Genius Fair. We have done many of these throughout the years and this year it was my 2nd grader's turn. He did frogs and it turned out fun. He is my Junior Genius!

COLD REMEDY

I am so sick of being sick!

I was doing so well this winter. I didn't catch anything and kept patting myself on the back for being so healthy. Now it is all coming back to bite me in the rear end. In the past week I have had the stomach flu and now a nasty cold. I am so bummed. 

To combat my illness, I have decided to make homemade chicken noodle soup and rolls. I am very excited for dinner tonight. This comfort food has another benefit as well. Our spring weather has turned cold and snowy, so this will be a great slushy day meal for the rest of my family too.