The Happy Couple

This is Mom and Barry together. They are getting sealed next month on Nov. 12 in the Raleigh, NC temple. They met on line at an LDS singles website and just hit it off. He is originally from Oklahoma but he will move to Raleigh after the wedding. Mom arrived on Monday and he picked her up from the airport. We took a few engagement photos yesterday. They seem happy together. Congratulations Mom! 

             








(Sorry it looks grainy, if you open it in its original size it should look a little more clear. )

Pumpkin Pictures

These are my three little pumpkins. I decided to opt out of lame school pictures for Gabe and just take some myself along with the other two boys. The only mistake I made was thinking I could do it alone. I should have waited till I had dad for back up and crowd control. There are a few more of Mac I'll stick on his 'birthday announcement' in a few weeks. 

Fun Fall Idea

This is what I did yesterday with some neighbor friends of mine to celebrate fall.  Granny smith apples covered in homemade caramel, white melting chocolate, and sprinkled with cinnamon and sugar (mmmmm..) All wrapped up in a festive leafy bag. I delivered about 10 this morning to different people in the neighborhood to spread the fall cheer. Simple, easy, good= success. The caramel can also be used as a candy on its own if you let it solidify and cut it up into squares.


 Now all I have to do is figure out what to do with the pears I picked. Anyone have a good pear recipe?

Goblins

Naming it Mushroom valley probably wouldn't have attracted the tourists like "Goblin Valley"

Two peas in a pod, only one is 5'0 and one is 6'0

Notice how I'm taking the pictures from the ground on most of these

A new way to stay awake

Last night I made some incredible homemade salsa. It turned out so well partially due to a good recipe but mostly due to the fresh and delicious local vegetables that went in it. It went on a homemade tortilla, with beans, lettuce, homemade guacamole etc. Its a repeat dinner for tonight. In the 7 1/2 years we've been married, I don't believe Zach has ever had homemade salsa, homemade tortillas, and homemade guacamole on the same night together before. He's a lucky man. It was good eat'n, but that's not the story.


Here's the kicker, or should I say 'licker'. Later on that night as I was sitting in the temple and I realized I had gotten some of the jalapeno oils onto my left hand between my last two fingers. The spot was burning. The only thing I could think to do was lick the inflamed area and try to get the oil off. I was partially successful. When I licked my fingers the burning in my hand decreased slightly but was then transferred to my tongue. I waited a few minutes till the burning on my tongue subsided and licked again. This went on for about 7 or 8 rounds until my hand was feeling some what normal and so was my tongue. I'll have to say this though, I didn't fall asleep when the lights were low. 

The Hike

Favorite spot

Parquor (?)

Just call me spider man

Brothers

Pack Mules

Goblin Valley (part I)

This past weekend we went camping with Ben's family, Tina and Naomi down at Goblin Valley. The weather was lovely, company fun, the hike interesting, and the boys thought they had died and gone to the big play ground in the sky. If my air mattress hadn't deflated it would have been pretty near perfect. I took a ton of pictures so I'll dish it in small doses.