First Day of School

This year I sent both of my kidlets off to school. Heather is now in 2nd grade and Trevor is in Kindergarten. Heather is in a team teaching class this year so she has 2 teachers. Trevor has the same Kindergarten teacher that Heather had. I am so excited for him. His teacher is awesome. They were both so excited to start school. Heather, our social light, couldn't wait to get back to her friends. Trevor is also the little friend maker and jumped right in.

Our Busy Summer

Each summer seems to go by faster than the last one. With 3 of our 4 birthdays in the summer, camping and my brother Jeremy's wedding we had plenty to keep us busy. Heather turned 7 and Trevor is now 5.

This year for my birthday Jon bought me a tandum skydiving jump. I have been wanting to go skydiving since I was in high school. Jon thought for sure that I would get to the plane and want to turn right around and go back to the hanger, but I did not. In fact I never got butterflies once, which surprised even me. I thought that I would at least start feeling them once we were ready to jump, but I never did. It was the awesomest, and shortes, most exciting thing I have done or might possibly ever do.

Jeremy married Paula (pronounced, Pa-ooh-la) in the Oakland Temple on August 6th. We are so glad Paula made it here safe (finally) and that she is now part of our family. It was awesome getting to know her and getting to use what little Spanish we know.

We went to Yosemite National Park for a few days with friends and were able to camp and hike. I love being in the woods. Probably cause I grew up in them, but they make me feel so calm and happy. Being in gods country really is the best thing for the soul.

Freezer Jam

When I first moved to Roseville one of the women in our ward invited me over to make freezer jam with her. I had never done it before so it was a new experience for me. She told me it was the only way her family ate jam and so she made it every year. Thanks to her kindness and willingness to teach me a new skill, I now make it for my family every year or 2 as needed.

I know the directions say that you're only supposed to keep it in the freezer for 1 year, but I've kept it in my freezer for up to 2 years without any problems. Lately my son has been going through peanut butter and jelly sandwhiches like wild fire so I am making more this year.

Below are the results of my first batch. I find that I have not bought enough strawberries for the amount I was hoping to make so I will have to buy more and do it again another day. I never seem to remember from year to year how much I need. (a failing memory is a terrible thing)

Washed and ready to mash

Thanks to this blender

attachment, I don't

have to mash by hand.

Wahla

Ingredients mixed and

ready to pour into containers.

I use glad plastic. Works great.

The finished product. Only took

about and 1 1/2 hours. Simple

and the kids love it. Great on

waffles and pancakes too.

2010 in Review

This last year, like so many others, has flown right by. Quilting has become a new passion of mine. I love making quilts and giving them away as Wedding presents, baby gifts, Christmas Presents. Most of the quilts I make are memory quilts. It has been a lot of fun for me.

Heather and Trevor were both in school this year. Heather in 1st grade and Trevor in Preschool. Both love school. I hope it is something they will always enjoy. They love to visit their "Grandma and Pappa in the woods" (where I grew up). There they can roam free and discover nature. Dirt mostly, which we have to wash out of them nearly every night. Winters are special because they get to play in the snow.

Jon is still working in the same place for the same company. We have been very greatful that he has made it through many paycuts and is still able to provide for his family. We have truly been blessed.

In September of this year I joined "Heritage Makers" as a Consultant.

Heritage Makers is a company built on the foundation of preserving Heritage and telling stories through photographs. I have really enjoyed my job. I'm not a sales person but I find it easy to talk about things I love the most. Photographs and the stories behind them. My webpage is http://www.image-essence.com/. I also have a blog: http://image-essence.blogspot.com/.

We have a good life and I thank my Heavenly Father every day for his kindness and blessings. I hope you and your family have had a good year and look forward to an even better one in 2011.

My Attempt to Coupon

In June my family and I went to a family Reunion at which I found out that my aunt, who had purchased the food and put the whole thing together, had spent $900 for food for 3 days for over 100 people. 3 meals a day. That inspired in me a desire to figure out how she does it. In August our ward had a Relief Society activity at which we learned about couponing, among other things. So the following Monday I got to the dollar store right when it opened and bought 4 Sunday newspapers. Who knew you could get the Sunday newspaper on Monday and get it for half the price if you buy it at the dollar store. AWESOME!

So this is me trying the whole couponing thing. I still have to organize a binder and cut up the last 3 weeks coupons from their prospective Sunday papers, but I am going to do it. The woman who taught the couponing class said she saved $2500 on her grocery bill in one year. That too was another reason for me to start doing this.

MONEY SAVING HERE I COME!! Wish me luck, and if you have any pointers feel free to send them my way.