reasons I feel old

1. Kailey is in Kindergarten

2. after a day in the yard i'm sore and need asprin

3. i have 3 kids, all can walk and i can understand (for the most part)

4. I get excited about doing a garden, having my yard done and getting a fence up

More to come.... i can't believe i have a kindergartener. She walks home from school with a few girls in the neighborhood. she's so cute and responsible!

Bear Lake here we come!

Shaun took the 3 kids on the jet ski. Kailey and Cater were fans, Jordan not so much

Carter was walking away. He loved to eat the sand and sit in the water, surprisingly it wasn't that cold

Lily, Kailey and Carter building sand castles

Grandpa Lee with Shy Kevin and sandy Carter.

Every year its so much fun and we never get to stay long enough. This year everyone in my family was there, for some point in time. Even Annalyn and Ryan who had their baby the Tuesday before we left! (i know shes crazy! but we're glad they came) we did the Pickleville Playhouse, La Beaus and got some bear lake pizza. Rode Jet ski's, did some wake boarding and boating, tons of tennis, running, got to play a little kick ball with the kids and even got to be sick a day, I know, I know I'm so lucky! it was a blast and sad to leave but kindergarten was waiting!!!

We got a day just our family as well, I think it was the first time we have ever been on "vacation" with just us 5. (i don't know if really counts as vacation if everyone was there earlier in the week, normally our vacations revolve around going to visit someone we know, rather than just going somewhere with just us 5) It was pretty fun and made me feel old again, but it was nice to feel like a real family. we built an awesome star sandcastle and did a long and triple jump competition, which i won. Hung out on the beach and played tennis and went swimming. I think i can handle a vacation like that again.. Boston here we come. but we are visiting family so not sure if it counts.

Meeting Mrs Hansen

Kailey meeting her Kindergarten teacher for the first time. She was assessed and told she was the smartest kid so far. (then Kailey was asked shapes and we didn't do so hot with the rectangle) oh well. she'll learn!

private

Well, I'm going private. All of you who check out the blog whether I know it or not its ok. Confess, if you'd like to continue to hear my rantings, ravings and hilariousness you have to give me your e-mail so I can add you to my special list of those who get to check my blog. i am becoming exclusive, forming a "click" if you will and i know i have other followers out there who will also go private (cough cough Ryan)especially when i get a comment from someone named beer or kid. (I don't know who you are and you seem like a nice guy, but sorry, i don't know you, or know anyone who knows you. Sorry don't take it personal. even though it kinda is.) I am hoping to go private in a week or two so if you want in. Let me know!

the last week

It seems the time is flying by. yet still no yard, so we have kept ourselves busy inside.
Carter and Dad posing for Kailey (the photographer)

My beauty queen Kailey, she looks so big! and starts kindergarten next week!

Carter wouldn't let go of Shaun's Milk Shake and this is what results! Awesomeness!

Carter fell of the bleachers while cheering for mom and dad playing tennis, so sad, but its all healed now

We went to the dentist and i had to bribe her with a present if she would talk to the dentist, the kid has become so shy!? she chose make-up. another batch of awesomeness is our house. luckily the have followed my rule, only in the bathroom and only on faces.

Jacob and Deidre visited for a night, I pulled my back and was immobile for a good 3-5 days, unfortunately Shaun got to be Mr. Mom coming home at lunch breaks to put carter to bed and feed the kid. He did good, i have come to the sad realization that our idea of "clean" and "picked up" not on the same scale!

Ryan and Annalyn also came down and stayed, they had Benson things to attend to and didn't see them as much as we'd like, but at least we get to see each other at all! baby #2 is soon approaching (i am thinking this week) and I'm sure vacations and quick trips to Utah will be put on hold for awhile.

We put up part of our fence and i have yelled at several Richmond American homes representatives to fix the yard, yet still nothing has happened... i must not be intimidating?

sooo good

I made these from my food and wine magazine last night. super good!

Ganache-Stuffed Chocolate Chip Cookie
1 C walnuts (toasted for about 8 min and chopped) i only put in half of the dough
1 C 2Tbls Flour
1 tsp baking soda
1/2 tsp Salt
1 stick butter (softened)
1/2 C brown sugar (packed)
1/4 C Sugar
1/2 tsp Vanilla
1 egg
1 C bittersweet choc chip ( I used semi sweet)
Make balls about 1 Tbls big and refrigerate until cold (about 30 min)
bake 375 for 12 min or golden brown (let cool on pan for 2 and then transfer) I only did 10-11 min Cool completely
( i added about an extra T butter because the dough was really dry,)

Gnache
4 ounces bittersweet chocolate chopped
5 Tbls heavy Cream
2 1/2 Tbls Light Corn Syrup
2 Tbls Creme Fraiche ( i used heavy whipping cream with 1/2 tsp vinegar)

boil cream and corn syrup add to choc and whisk, then add Cream fraiche
and refrigerate about 1 hr, stir occasionally (becomes thick but spreadable)

make like a sandwich with gnache in the middle

I would make the gnache first, then then cookies because you could them sooner. They are pretty good. They kinda tasted like chocolate chip shortbread cookies with delisiouness in the middle. They are just as good if not better the next day! yum yum! they looked fancy too.

word

yes a word post, but it had to happen. venting is a natural and healthy thing right? I have discovered several truths lately. 1. people suck. yes i know pessimistic but its true admit it! we have been waiting for our yard to be fixed for over 4 months now! yes it is "in progress" yes they are fixing it for free but COME ON! how often can I believe the line "I'll call you back and let you know" when really they should say "I'll call you back.. NEVER!" or they say "they should start working on Monday" real translation "I'm to lazy to submit anything but that'd be awesome if things got done without me taking initiative" or my favorite "we should hear something by Friday" meaning "I'm going out town Thursday for 2 weeks sucka" yeah NOT COOL! my backyard is filled with dirt and my kids lovingly cover themselves is dirt, and mud every single day. i retorted to lying like my Nemesis Richmond Homes by telling Kailey that the mud is really cow poo (because it smells like cow poo so really only a partial lie) and threatening them that is they play in the dirt "something" will happen. as of late that something has not been a bath but more a wash with wet wipes or an occasional wash cloth to look presentable. leading to my second annoyance

Sundays. lately the only good thing about Sundays is that fact that my kids get a bath either sat night or Sunday (i mean yes, i have been lacking in the hygiene department lately but i am not THAT bad) I feel like going to church has become pointless. do I really need to get 4 kids ready only to have them whine and complain? Jordan basically cries at the closing song because she would rather go home and nap than go to nursery and play. "i don't want to play" is what she cries all during the closing prayer. It would be just as easy for me to set the coloring books out on my dining room table than on a pew with cheerios getting smashed into the floor and heart fruit snacks stuck to the walls. if it was appropriate to bring cameras to church this would have been a funny picture. and yes I am counting Shaun as a kid because he holds all the characteristics of kids on Sundays... unable to wake and get himself showered and ready, unable to pick out clothes without help from either Kailey or myself, and the lack of desire or ability to sit in church for 3 hours without the help of some sort of entertainment be it, iPhone, napping, snacking on anything in mom's purse, or simply boredom. why do I do it?

To add to people sucking, i also hate returns, most people that work at retail stores, and good old fashioned phone customer service representatives in all their varying jobs (qwest, comcast, and Chase are among my least favorite at the moment, but Sprint employees and doctor receptionists are close competition)

let see any other things bothering me lately? oh i'm sure there's more but i guess I can "be grateful" for babysitting and being poor, who doesnt love a little bit of good old poverty and the joys and sacrafices that come with it!

Is it just a bad few months for me or is anyone out there feeling what i'm laying down?

Wedding reception

Kailey out on the dance floor, when shes not giving her shy scared face she is pretty cute!

Shaun took the girls out and danced with them

yum yum
The video is carter rocking out and eating

Clyde was in town for a wedding reception from Shauns home ward and we tagged along.