Lisa's Blog

Sorry for the long time between posts. I've been having major computer problems and my computer savvy hubby was gone all last week to tell me what to do!

Life has been moving at warp speed. It's always been a dream of mine to camp in the mountains near my home with just girlfriends. Two weeks ago it came to fruition. Kristy Banks texted me that they'd just gotten a new trailer. We've had one for several years but none of my girlfriends seem to have one as well. So--we planned a "girls only" campout and our dear husbands hauled the trailers up the mountain and got us all set up. Aside from Steve's truck totally getting wrecked while parking the trailer (he forgot to put the landing gear down on our fifth wheel trailer and the entire thing fell on his truck) and two late night visitors (Kade and Steve) who scared us to death, we had a total blast. Of course we couldn't go camping without our pal, Kerri Bradford, and her adorable girls. Here's the gang (along with Sage's friend, Krisha):



Here are the young girls:



And the even younger girls!



Can't wait to do it again next year!

So much has been happening these past few weeks.

All the kids except for Kade started school last week. I now have college, high school, junior high and elementary students!





Brecken wrote this sweet note to Sage on the first day of school:



I'm excited to share with you what Kade's been up to all day. Plus, wait until you hear about the meal Collin prepared for us last night. I'll write about these really soon!

Sincerely,
Lisa

Hello My Friends!

I'm writing this from beautiful Dallas! I'm down here for the big BYU vs. Oklahoma game at the brand-new Dallas Cowboys stadium. This takes place on Saturday night. I have become such a HUGE football fan. I can't get enough of it! My son, Collin, plays on the sophomore team at the high school. And I'm in love with college football (especially the BYU Cougars). On top of this I'm over the snack shack for the home varsity games at the school. Love everything about the game--the roaring crowd, enthusiastic cheerleaders, Friday night lights, smell of burgers on the grill and the shouts of players on the field.

So you'll never guess what Collin's first homework assignment was for American Studies? He had to make a meal for the family using only old-world ingredients (he didn't have to use all of them but couldn't use anything extra):

Apple, banana, barley, beet, cabbage, carrot, celery, chick peas, cucumber, eggplant, broccoli, leek, lemon, lime, oats, olive oil, onion, orange, parsley, okra, peach, pea, pear, plum, radish, rice, rye, salad greens, sugar cane, turnip, wheat, yam, black pepper, daisy, dandelion, garlic, grapes, horse, cattle, eggs, chicken, sheep, goat, rabbit, salt, honey.

Thank goodness he didn't get assigned the new-world ingredients (sounds a little challenging):
Amaranth, sweet potato, avocado, beans, bell and hot pepper, blueberry, cashew, chili pepper, cocoa, guava, cranberry, tomato, lobster, salmon, corn (maize), manioc (tapioca), wild duck, goose, turkey, vanilla, wild rice, papaya, peanut, pecan, white potato, pineapple, pumpkin, squash, strawberry, sunflower, salt and honey.

Can you imagine living at that period of time on only having these foods to cook with?

Here was the menu he came up with (love how he describes the food) and I have to tell you--it was really, really good!

Appetizer: Oatmeal with sliced apples and a smidgen of honey



Main Course: Chicken sauteed in fresh lemons, limes and oranges, grilled to perfection



Side Dish: Steamed broccoli with a kick of lime and a punch of sea salt and black pepper



Bread: Squaw bread made from rye and wheat and plastered in butter

Dessert: Heavy cream sweetened with honey and natures very own apples



Fun times!

I mentioned in my last blog that Kade has been up to something big. Not only did he start college last week, he's also had a doctor's appointment, got his wisdom teeth out, had a regular dental appointment and has been filling out a bunch of forms. Within three to four weeks he'll be called on a mission for our church and in January (most likely) he will be a full-time missionary for two years. Here is the picture he sent in with his forms:



I will tell you more about this whole process and have a little contest around where he's going in a couple of weeks (closer to the time he gets his assignment). There are over 200 places he can go--everywhere from Madagascar, Japan, Brazil and California (he doesn't get to choose).

If you read Becky Higgins blog, you'll know her parents recently went on a mission for our church to Finland. My pal Kerri Bradford has a son in Washington DC French speaking and Kristy Banks has a son in North Carolina.

It will be very hard saying goodbye--Kade is truly a joy to have around our house. But we are so excited for the wonderful experiences and the growth that await him over the next two years.

Speaking of missions, I had the opportunity to go on a mission when I was 21 to the lovely country of Scotland. Two weeks ago, a few missionaries from my mission along with our mission president got together for dinner at my house.



This is kinda a fun photo because the other gal in the photo set my hubby and I up (they went to high school together) and the dark-haired guy next to me happens to be the president over the university Kade is attending. (Kade goes to Utah Valley University on Monday, Wednesday and Friday and BYU for ROTC classes on Tuesday and Thursday. His goal is to be a pilot in the Air Force.)

Well, I guess that's it for now. I will write again really soon.

And--Go Cougars!

Lisa