"Ketchup"

How to just pick up where one left off? Almost 2 years and not a single update. I never ever, never ever, never ever (did I mention NEVER EVER) thought that I'd let Facebook get the best of me. Dare I admit that it has? Is the ease and convenience just too hard to resist? Well... Obviously the proof not only speaks, but shouts out my guilt. 
Let's "Ketchup"... (and can I just add thank HEAVENS for photo archiving, the one thing I seemed to have done right)

The rest of our September 2011 included...

 Cooler weather which allowed for a little more time in the sun.

(She reminds me of a little grandma in this photo)

Enjoying the many September birthdays. (including my own) In the photo below we were just getting ready to enjoy a production of Mary Poppins. A girls night that Rach and I had planned to celebrate Mom's big 60th. (yes, I know she looks like our sister)

 

Finally getting to see my BEAUTY-FULL niece Breanne cheer. 

 ...and of course more celebrating.

October 2011

School activities... This one in particular was a McKinley Elementary fundraising event. We got to sit at Bear River high, eat food and watch Caleb run 2 miles. A complete win for us. I can't necessarily speak for Caleb. (although I think he might have enjoyed it a little)

Lila of in front of the BR cement pad.

Halloween!! (one of my favorite holidays!)

I love to decorate for the season and usually do so in early September so that I can enjoy it for as long as possible.

Lila loves it as well. She tells me where she wants her decorations and I just help her get them out. Pretty soon she'll just want to do it all by herself so I will enjoy it while I can.

This year she decided on Cinderella.

She is our princess, so it seemed very fitting.

Our annual Jefferies Halloween party.

This is a lot of hard work on Grandma's end, but something she does every year. The kids (and adults) have many fun memories and for that I am thankful. 

As you can see in the picture below, this is about as good as it gets when trying to take pictures of the men in my life. This is why you rarely see them and maybe why you think Lila is my only child. :)

On many occasion I get in trouble for the information I do give, so these pictures are a little risky... I hope both my men and nieces and nephews will forgive me.

Food!

Games!

Celebrating our only October Birthday. Ms. Emma J.

 Treats!

Who needs to go door to door... I would say we get pretty loaded from just this one event!

Em, Maddie, Syd and Abbie. Such good sports and will continue to dress up. I love it!

Tyler and Brayden dressed up as a couple of teenagers. ;)

Crafts!

(Um, I think grammie just stole Hallie's craft. That's so like her.)

Caleb, Little David and Tanner

(I think this might be C-Man's last year dressing up. *Sigh)

Hallie J.

Alivia

Jack Sparrow, oops I mean Ethan, Carter and Emma.

...and a little trick or treating with some friends.

Lila loves Macie and Emery and we are lucky to have them close by.

November 2011

Sadly, my November archive has very little photos. I usually like to take the the typical Thanksgiving /Birthday photos, but this year was at work. (woe is me)

This month I also attempted to do a family photo but it was uncomfortably cold and the kids were miserable... 

This was as good as it gets. (I do appreciate the kids being such good sports and for at least trying.)

 My Mr. celebrated his 35th birthday this month. For him I am most thankful! He has kept me in check in every possible way. I just love him. :)

 My "mini" Turkey dinner.

 I can't figure out why I just didn't take pictures of the finished product. Sometimes I'm a weirdo. (two-cents are not welcome after that last remark)

A Little Ambition

It's amazing sometimes how the simplest gesture can trigger a whole lot of ambition. 

Take me for example... I've never considered myself to be a "good" cook. I mean, I'm "OK", but I would never categorize myself with my Mom, Dad, (yes I said Dad, he is an excellent cook) any one of  my aunts and of course neither one of my Grandmas.  Somehow a link in this chain passed right over me.

I always tell myself I'm going to do better. Do I get credit for telling myself?

A simple gesture = A birthday gift from my favorite little sister.

Triggering ambition = A cute flirty apron and a new cookbook.

 

Stuffed Mushrooms

 Italian Chicken and Vegetable Skewers

 

 

A mediocre Italian meal at best, but I'm still proud of myself. :)

(one day I'll add the pretty little garnishments to make my plate more attractive)

Due to time and mean$ I have decided I'll be able to put my new apron and cookbook to good use at least once a week. Well, let's be honest... I'll probably use the apron a lot more than that. 

Thanks for inspiring me Rach. :) 

First Catch

We attended our Soelberg Family reunion last week. One of the scheduled activities was an afternoon at a fishing hole near The Homestead (located in Midway). We aren't big fisherman so I had to do a little shopping before hand to purchase some poles, bait and a fishing license for the older boys.  On my shopping trip, I found a couple of cute cheap poles for the little girls Lila and Emma and was excited to accompany them on their first fishing excursion.  

When arriving at the fishing pond, I had to rely on the gracious help of my big brother Ryan to get our poles ready. Remember, I am inexperienced, but I did watch and learn and with his help we had everyone fishing and happy in no time (ok, it took a while). I somehow managed to break the "princess pole" but with Lila and her unwillingness to be patient, (what? a 2 year old impatient) kept waving the pole around and dipping it into the water so it was really more of a blessing there was nothing on the end of that pole, meaning fishing line and hook. 

 

While Dad and boys were off doing their fishing thing, I was hanging out with the girls and casting while they took turns with the non-working and working poles. I was also trying to keep them from sitting in the duck poop. Let's just say I failed at this miserably.  Emma seemed to do a little better with the pole that I was able to hook and bait so I let her keep that pole while Lila sat beside her.  Both were as happy as could be.

 

Emma would frequently reel in her line which she seemed to get very good at, so I would get up and cast again for her (I actually quite enjoyed this). 

 

On one occasion I could see that she was getting a little restless so I asked for the pole so I could cast it again for her. As I reeled the line in, I soon realized that this restlessness just so happened to be a fish on the end of her pole. 

 

I was so excited for these girls because they had been asking to "see the fish" and I really didn't think that they even had a chance at catching one. 

 

As you can tell by the photos, Lila was overjoyed but wouldn't touch the fish, while Emma just stared straight ahead with a distraught look on her face.

 

I assured her it was a good thing and we did release the fish so I hope she is not too traumatized. :)

I love these girls. They are hilarious together!