Pomegranite Pie

I know you've never heard of it unless you know my Dad. His property has many pomegranate trees. Normally when we go to California in November we bring home a box of pomegranates. Since they were selling at Albertsons two for $7.00, I feel pretty lucky to have them. This year we just missed the season. My Dad had a few left, so every day we ate pomegranate pie. This is how you make it. You shuck the pomegranate seeds into a bucket of water, so you don't stain your clothes. You bake a pie crust. Mix pomegranates with strawberry glaze. Fill the shell and top with cool whip. At first you are surprised by the sour sweet flavor, but then you start to crave it. We ate it every day I was there. I won't taste it again until next Thanksgiving, unless I decided to pay $3.00 for one pomegranate. I think I'll wait.

My family

 What is in a family picture? Every year as long as I can remember my family has taken a picture for the Christmas card. Even before it was popular, my Mom would make us do it. Even if we had no makeup, pajamas, nappy hair, it didn't matter we were getting these pictures taken today(Thanksgiving). So here is the latest that my Mom will send to all of her relatives and friends.

This is my cute Mom and Dad. They are still crazy about each other.

 My brother Charlie,who is in Dental School, his wife Megan and Abby.

 My brother Sam who lives in Calif, but not with my parents.

 Us

 My sister Megan, Travis Ivy, Tommy and Susie

Thanksgiving Dinner

Mary and Megan

We really don't look anything alike.

 The winners of the last game of Capture the Flag.

The losers of Capture the Flag. Actually they won the other two games.

Zipline

My senior year in High School, I was sitting in my bedroom doing homework when I looked outside, and their was a raging fire at my Grandma and Grandpa Miller's house which was on our property near the barn. I called the fire department and ran out to help my grandparents who were walking toward our house. It was the wierdest thing. The wind was blowing so hard that their house, many trees and that side of the barn were burned in an instant. It had started by a little earthquake that had shaken the hot water heater loose. They were uninjured and ended up moving back to Utah. I remember digging through this huge pile of burnt items and salvaging some pictures. My Dad never rebuilt any buildings their. He decided to plant a forest of Eucalyptus trees instead. So, growing up they were just seedlings. My children have been the ones to benefit.

Every year Jeff and the kids get so excited to see what they will create in the forest. With wood and twine. It may be a platform, bench, or a jerry rigged zipline.Deciding is all part of the fun. While we were gone my Dad had the Scouts help him create a more solid zipline. That was definitely the hit. It was so fun. Even I tried to look cool doing it. I think I am just too old to look cool doing anything anymore. It was still fun.

The things they did decide to create were bows and arrows. We're into Robin Hood lately. They, including Jeff and Kate spent many hours with the bows and arrrow. Didn't I tell you my parents house was like the Garden of Eden, well I guess minus all the flowers and Adam and Eve. Sorry about so many pictures, but I just can't resist.

Farewell For Now!

Ok, now I have only been blogging for a few weeks, so why am I worried about leaving without telling. I know you can live without reading about me, but can I live without reading about you. We are going to a place called Dos Palos (Two Sticks). Try to say it with a hispanic accent. It is the place I grew up and the Garden of Eden thanks to my Mom planting, it's gotta be hundreds of trees. This remote little town of 4,000 people, I'm sure has the internet, but my parents can't get in on their property. It's really probably good, but as a result I will not be posting or reading your cute, entertaining, and funny posts. I will return on the 29th, and then scramble to get ready for Katelyn's 14th birthday on the 1st of December. I guess what I'm trying to say is that I am not going to quit, forget or lose interest in blogging at this time, no promises for the future. I am just plain gone and on an island of farm land in the middle of California hanging out with my parents, brothers Sam, Charlie and his wife Megan and baby Abby, and my sister Megan, her husband Travis and three kids. I hope a few neices and nephews show. I can't wait to be on a trip. Really I am so excited even though we are leaving at 2:00am Sat morning. The best part is talking to my husband for hours with abook on tape, movie, or whiny kids in the background. Jeff is an excellent companion on a trip and a blast to boot. Well, farewell and try not to say anything too funny without me.

Who Is This Katelyn Jones?

Now I have known Katelyn for a long time and she really hasn't changed much. Yes she is 5'8"(recently measured) and she looks like a 16 year old. When she's not smiling she can even look intimidating, especially when she is at the net getting ready to spike the volleyball, but inside she is still that fun, creative, goofball kid that makes life better no matter how bad it gets. Many people benifit from Katelyn. Even if you don't realize it, you get more opportunities just because she's around thinking of stuff. By the way, for those of you who don't know, she is only 13, and an 8th grader. Her whole life she has been treated like an older person, hence she is a mature conversationalist for her age. She was also born with insight, even as a two year old. Whenever she is just hanging around with nothing to do or waiting for something, she will

either be ballroom dancing with anyone near, or doing "Say,Say Oh Playmate"( You know the old clap, hand thing we did as a kid). As a sidenote everyone in our family including Jeff and excluding Kyle knows how to do "Say, Say Oh Playmate". Kate might be considered the champion, except when I win the title back occasionally. Another thing that you may not know is that I wrote a song about Katelyn. I plan to write song's about each of my kids in no particular order when it comes to me. This one is called "Brilliant," need I say more. It can be found on melonpatchmusic.com. I don't have a vocal recording yet, but the sheet music is there with the accompaniment. Katelyn is kind of a jack of all trades and enjoys a variety of activities. She really is an excellent oldest child. A long time ago, we ran into L.Tom Perry at a Pioneer day in Cokeville, Wy. He spoke to Katelyn and said "Now you know that whatever you do your younger siblings will be watching and think they can do." Or something like that. She really took it to heart as a 4 year old. She would have been that way anyway, but it's nice to get some encouragement. Katelyn is a crack up. She has always prided herself in being weird in a good way. With all her beauty and height she's got that personality shining through. I hope you get a glimpse someday, you won't regret it.                                                                                      

                                                                                                                             

Quiet or Shy?

This picture has such an Anna look. I had to let you see her. Quiet or shy which one is she? If quiet means not showy, gentle, mild, I'd say yes. If shy means not assertive in the presence of others, timid, bashful, I'd have to say sometimes. Shy, quiet is not who she is, but it does seem to follow her. Sometimes I wish people could see exactly what she's like when they first meet her. I guess you'll have to trust the people who know her best. Katelyn has always said that Anna is such a perfect friend that it's hard to find people like Anna. Katelyn and Anna have always been good friends. Katelyn is about 5' 7 1/2", while Anna has not yet reached 4'10". They are 1 year apart in school. They are opposites in many ways, which is an advantage. Anna does like being short. Might as well like what you are. Annalisa is very easy going and low maintenance. Sometimes a little too low maintenance like could you please clean your room.. Annalisa is definitely her own person. If she sets a goal, plan on it happening because of a lot of hard work and endurance, not because it's easy. People who know her see the good and trust her. She is a happy girl that talks plenty at home and with her friends. She's fun, silly, laughs at her own jokes for a long time and especially nice. I wanted to have "Wicked" playing while you thought about her because it is her favorite CD. She sings "Wicked" songs all the time. She is saving her money and hopefully we'll be able to get tickets in Salt Lake.

My Namesake

My Namesake.

When I was expecting my fourth girl we were playing the name game as usual and Jeff suggested my name. At first I felt a little weird, like "Are you sure?" He really wanted to, so when Kristen was born, Kristen Mary Jones was her name only she goes by Kristen. When I was born my first pictures referred to me as Kristen, which my parents don't remember. They claimed at one time that they always wanted Mary, but didn't want it to sound like Merry Christmas so Kristen Mary it was. They don't remember telling me this either. My whole life I secretly wanted to go by Kristen because Mary so common. As it goes, my whole life up until College I only met one other Mary and finally decided that I liked my name.

I want to tell you about the two Kristen Mary's by comparing our similarities. First of all we were both born on the 21st. I am in October and she is in February. We are both talkative according to Kyle. I know it is hard to believe , but I used to be shy. Kristen has never been shy. We are both dare devils. Before I had kids, I was pretty much game for anything. We are both prone to scrapes, cuts and scratches. If you could see my legs, you'd cry. On my mission an Elder said that my hands looked like I put them in a blender. I frequently cut my hands in the kitchen. I have accepted it. When we went to Disneyland last year Kristen got a carpet burn on her face while waiting to leave. Pictures are almost impossible because she's most prone to scratches on her face. Even in these pictures we had to use make up because she hit the pavement at school. A few months ago she fell in the window well and got the other scar on her forehead. We are both athletic and like to dance. My favorite way that we are alike is that we are both communicators. She loves to tell how she feels, which is nice because we all know what's going on. If you ever call our house, hope Kristen answers because she is so friendly and fun to talk to. She's a good girl, very fun and a great companion.                                                                              

                                                                                

Natalie

What's in a Name?

Natalie has been one of my favorite names for years. It began when I was watching "Condorman," a goofy superhero movie that my siblings and I loved, with Michael Crawford before Phantom. The love interest was named Natalia. I loved that name ever since. It fits someone beautiful, smart and tough. I realized that Natalie sounded a little more American, so it became one of my favorites. I never really felt like it was the right name for my first three daughters. When my fourth daughter came along, I had decided that if she had brown hair, I'd name her Natalie. If she had blond she would be Emily. When she was born with a full head of blond hair and blue eyes, I just couldn't name her Emily. So, our beautiful, smart, tough sweety pie is named Natalie, Natalia, Natter Batter, Nat, Nalley.

She was my baby when I got sick and was meant for that time. Many people took care of her and commented on how unreal she acted for a baby. She really didn't make a peep and was so content and happy. She was a charmer as a baby. She still definitely has charm and wit. She is funny, fun and has a sweet smile. I don't remember her ever wanting to be a princess. She insists on being cute and not pretty. The beads on her sleeves were her idea. It is necklaces wrapped around her wrists. She knows how she wants to look and we try not to argue. This picture is not a choice in the poll because it is too blurry when enlarged.                                                                          

                                                                                 

KYLE

Happy Birthday Kyle!!!
Kyle turned 11 today and just finished his Arrow of Light. It's weird to think of him as a pre-teen, so I won't. He's still that cute, crazy, fun, and sometimes bugging kid.
tonight during his favorite meal of Pizza and rootbeer we played the game,"What do you like about Kyle?" You know the drill. This is what we came up with: Cheerful, gives me hugs, funny, he added "You mean funny looking," has a sparkle, great smile, creative, will try new things, fun and funny, cool brother, a better brother than other people's brothers, and made me two treasure hunts. That's Kyle on his best day.

                                             

 

                     

Blogging Month- OLIVIA

Since this is national bloggers month. I am trying to write every day. I decided to spotlight each child. I also need some help choosing which picture is the cutest, to be framed as this year's picture.

Olivia can be described as a pincess (princess). No, she's a real pincess. You can call her Punzel (Rapunzel.) she wears a dress, a pretty flowing, fluffy dress every day rain or shine. She talks a lot, unintelligible many times and runs on her toes everywhere she goes. Today I was teaching her the name of an orange. She responded,"Orange." Then I pointed to myself and said "Mommy, " She repeated "Mommy." Then she pointed to herself and said," Alibby." She then pointed to me and said "Daddy!" Don't ask my why, but the girl cannot get it through her head that my name is not Daddy. Jeff is Daddy too. If she could explain, I'm sure she would say that parents should both be called Daddy and Grandparents should both be called Grammy, which is what Jeff's parents name is. It's easier. The one thing I love about a 2 year old is they always say thanks. Then when they turn 4 they forget how to. When she likes her food she says "Licious." They just say how they feel good or bad. She is a character and we love it.

These pole pictures were pure luck. She was playing peek-a-boo and I had the camera.



                                                                                           









Picture (FOR FUN)
We tried and tried to get Olivia to stand still for a picture, but to no avail. Finally we had the kids chase her across the bridge and back. Then we'd take a couple of pictures.
Then we'd repeat the process. As they ran it looked so cute I just had to take a picture!