Mary, Mary Quite Contrary

How does your garden grow?
With silver bells and cockle shells,
And pretty maids all in a row.

I am missing the bells, shells and maids but have the other prime components of a successful garden this year. I had (2) 4x8 raised boxes with amended soil.

• Tomatoes: Early Girl, Sweet 100, and Yellow Cherry. All worth doing again but do higher cages - they went crazy. Try a Yellow Pear and a Roma next year
• Cucumbers: Armenian and lemon cuke. Pass on the lemon next year but the Armenian is a winner! Taller cage on Armenian - huge producer!
• Peas: Did not plant enough and need to trellis better
• Yellow bush beans: Good flavor but go with pole beans to climb next year
• Zucchini: One plant is always enough
• Pumpkin: Find a better place - they take over every inch!
• Strawberry: Not successful this year. Must not have the knack yet.
• Lettuce: Easy, always good
• Spinach: Didn't do well this year
• Radish: Plant further apart, did OK
• Carrots: Still waiting to see if it's worth the effort
• Onions: Started with red and yellow sets, should be good
• Jalapenos: Not terrific, don't bother next year
• Tomatillos: Fruit way too small, not worth it
• Swiss Chard: Plant more than 4 next year. Took too long to get enough to cook for Tal with just 4.
• Green onions: Not worth the effort
• Herbs: I think I am going to use fresh herbs but never do. Don't bother.
• Sunflowers: Did well. Do again for some height and color variety in boxes
• Flowers: Those in between the veggies in the boxes didn't do well but the front planters were great. More petunias next year.

This is the first year I experience squash bugs - nasty little things. I finally Googled an remedy and it worked just fine. Fill a spray bottle mostly with water then add at least 1/4 cup of dish soap. Spray all bugs, babies and eggs like crazy. Do it in the morning of evening when bees aren't out. Repeat each day for 2-3 and they should be dead. They winter over so make sure you get them really good before putting your garden to bed.

The little boys had fun helping with planting, weeding, watering and picking. The real thrill was counting the number of treasures brought in and then hiding the cherry tomatoes from Dallin. Dallin has not lost his love affair with tomatoes. Last night around 10 PM, he went out to the garden with his head lamp for light and picked a bowl-full of cherry and lemon cherry tomatoes. He's a funny kid.

Birthday Boy

Yes, I only ever have Christmas wrapping paper.

Another year older and wiser, too. Happy birthday to you!
Eric was very excited for #9. He is getting so grown up. These are the highlights of what his favorites are right now:

• Loves to read - especially Captain Underpants
• Legos: He has moved out of Ninjago and now loves Star Wars and Alien Conquest
• BeyBlades: Spinning tops that "battle" each other
• Writes comics and illustrate them. Right now they are about a team of Yeti hunters
• Favorite TV shows: Sonic the Hedgehog, Power Rangers Samurai, Pair of Kings
• Favorite Cereal: Cinnamon Toast Crunch
•  Loves to stay up late when he is supposed to be sleeping
• Is giving his Primary teacher a hard time because he only wants to sit by Kaylie
• Finished his Wolf badge for Cub Scouts the last weekend possible
• Loves to pick out a dessert recipe and help make it
• Loves raw carrots, Red Delicious apples and pea pods
• Watches over Spencer on the bus, at school and in the neighborhood - no one messes with Spencer (except Eric)
• Loves to tell people about his cancer and talk about his diagnosis and treatment
• Hates immunization shots (to the point of giant baby tantrum) but doesn't mind blood draws
• Still needs to wear glasses but can't seem to leave them on
• Gets up every morning to his own alarm clock and gets ready for school by himself
• Wildly fluctuates between annoying Dallin & Kadi on purpose then wanting to do nice things for them
• Prays everyday for Taylor on his mission and for Grandma to sell her house and move here

He asked for cold cereal for his birthday dinner: Cinnamon Toast Crunch, Frosted Flakes and Apple Jacks. For the cake he wanted Buttermilk Pie.
He had some friends over for a party that weekend. They played at our house then we went to the pool at the Rec Center. Everyone had a great time.

Kadi and friend Emily are photo-bombing!

Happy Dance

I think I was more excited for school to start this year than all my kids combined. Since Spencer starts 1st grade this year, all my kiddos are in school for the whole day - the WHOLE day! Imagine the peace, the quiet, the mounds of homework I can complete uninterrupted by my precious and endearing offspring!

Senior Year

1st grade

3rd grade

Sophmore year

Dinner Appointment

Tonight we had the privilege of feeding the Elders. It has been a long time since we have been able to have Elders over for dinner. When we lived in AZ, we had them over all the time. They always played with the kids and were fun to have around. I'm sure we fit into some of their stories of watching TV or a movie when they weren't supposed to but we like to remember it as "fellowshipping".
Tal made breakfast for dinner - french toast, sausage, eggs and orange juice. He said since he signed us up, he would make dinner. How can I argue with that? (I'm married to such a great guy.)
Our house was pretty empty, though. The only kids home are Eric and Spencer. Kadi is in Loa and Dallin at Boot Camp.
The Elders made a great impression on the little boys. Eric was especially sensitive to their message and told them how he wants to be a missionary in the Philippines. I'm not sure why he has chosen that spot but they told him what an adventure it will be and how many people are waiting to hear the gospel.
I had the Elders give me their mom's email addresses so I could send them a note and a picture. Several Idaho moms have done that for me so it was my chance to give a little back. I'm not sure we will get them back anytime soon. There are only 4 sets that cover the 5 stakes in and around Vernal. They said they usually eat with members but there are several area restaurants where they can eat free: Golden Corral, Gandolfo's, McDonald's, and a couple others. But we told them if they ever have a cancellation or no-show they are welcome to come over. It may just be grilled cheese or macaroni but we'd love to feed them anytime.

First Letter From Boot Camp

I thought I would share parts of Dallin's first letter home form Basic Combat Training. He is at Ft. Jackson in South Carolina for 10 weeks for Army National Guard. When he first got there, he started with a cold that he hasn't been able to shake yet. We get a phone call at the end of Week 4 and Week 8. Can't wait!

Hey Mom & Dad -
I'm writing to you on my second fire guard shift at 2:00 AM, sitting next to my post, with arms hurting from so many pushups. Pretty crazy, huh? We got our rifles today and I feel great! We were shown how to strip it down to every last part and how to properly clean every individual piece. So when they are not threatening to kill you (no really, they do threaten to kill you! Like break your neck, crush your skull, etc) you are cleaning your rifle and fixing your living space like a madman. But even though I feel great, I'm fairly certain that I have infected five more people in my platoon with the cough and sniffles I STILL have. Even after 4 days, they refuse to die down! It kind of stinks but it hasn't even impeded my ability to learn one bit!

We have three Drill Sergeants (sergeant is a sucky word) named L, M, and P. I actually really like them! They are all still in their 20's and unlike the older geezers they connect with us. DS M.'s favorite phrases to use are "doggone", "hoooooly shiz" and "it would behoove you". So far he is my favorite. Something funny about my platoon is that there are 60 people in it and all of them are 17-21 (22 of them are 17!). In total, there are 413 people in this basic, and 112 are 17 (another 84 are 18 and another 62 are 19)! We have actually broke the record for the youngest basic training ever! Oh yeah, the reason I took two shifts this morning is because if I did, I wouldn't have to do it for a whole week. A week off of fireguard is a huge deal! I was the only one that wanted to, though.

.....

Write me back! Love you! Dallin
P.S. This is cool paper, Kadi is gay, the end.

Nutella, Welcome to the Family

I think Tal looks a little guilty.

Nutella has officially become a part of our family. When we run out, it's tragic! I just bought a large bottle and had successfully hidden it until Kadi found it. It won't last long now - especially with a new bunch of bananas that I brought home today.
Kadi and I discovered it make a delicious quesadilla. Spread on half a tortilla, marshmallow cream on the other half, fold over and heat in the microwave until warm. Mmmmm....

Basic Training

Today I sent my son off to Army National Guard Basic Combat Training. It's hard to believe I have one son on a mission and another son at Boot Camp.

We are so proud of him. He has talked about being a soldier since he was little so we have had plenty of time to get used to the idea. It's just unreal that the time has already come. He is still a little young. He will come back from 10 weeks in South Carolina and enter his senior year at high school. After graduation, he will train for his career and it's only after that point that he is available for active duty. THAT will be another challenge for me to survive!
I am comfortable in his decision and we fully support him. Not that it won't be hard - like letting him out the door this afternoon for Basic - but I am reassured that the Lord will care for him.

Please keep him in your prayers and I will send out his address when we get it. He can get cards but no treats or care packages.