Sweet 16

Can you say that about a boy? Collin turned 16 today. He is a sweet boy. I can't believe that he has been around that long. The day before he was born I spoke in Sacrament Meeting. We had just moved to a new ward and so I told them I was due to have a baby in a couple weeks. Afterward, several of the older ladies came up and said, "Oh honey, you won't have that baby for at least a month." That statement and the fear of speaking must have caused too much stress because that next morning he arrived.

I remember bringing him home from the hospital, holding him in my arms, and wondering, "What do I do now?" Well, we seemed to have figured it out ok, doing well at some things and not so well at others. But together we are figuring it out. He is a great kid! In his honor I've decided to write "16 Great Things About Collin."

1. Full of energy - zoom, zoom, zoom. He doesn't stayed bored for too long.

2. Has never needed a lot of sleep - not so bad now but at 1 and 3 years old this was difficult.

3. Always wakes up cheery - no matter how little sleep he has had.

4. Champion of the underdog.

5 Smart - but doesn't want too many people to know it.

6. Very dependable - and I love that he has his driver's license and can be counted on to help.

7. Star saxophonist - if you haven't heard him you should. The tongue slap is way cool!

8. Positive influence - high school vice-principal is always assuring me of this. Whew!

9. Funny - I think he's funny. His sisters think he's weird.

10. Adventurous - i.e. scuba diving, kayaking, white-water rafting.

11. Great conversationalist - he always has something to talk about and will with anyone.

12. Hard worker.

13. Loves his grandparents - and so respectful of them.

14. Has a strong testimony of the Gospel.

15. An amazing and broad imagination - remember when I thought he didn't have one at all, Trent?

16. A shoulder of support for anyone who needs it.

So, happy birthday Buddy. We sure love you and are grateful to have you in our lives. Thanks for all you do to make our family happy and fun.

We're Going on a Bear Hunt

We decided to go to Yellowstone early this year. So, we went on Sunday. Yes, we skipped out on church and I felt guilty the entire time. I worried that there would be way too much traffic but I think it was just perfect. I'm sure the southern loop would have been crazy but we were on a bear hunt and heading to the North.

Our first adventure was a hike around the Norris Geyser Basin. We wanted to wait for Steamboat Geyser (the highest erupting geyser) but considering it hadn't erupted since 2005 we reconsidered and moved on.

Collin is always good for a great conversation. He is either trying to rid the world of zombies (and preparing for the battle) or explaining the origins of philosphy in molecular physics (whatever that is). He is funny. If his ipod isn't in his ears, he is talking. Sure love that boy.

Adri and Katy hate their pictures taken and so I have to take it whenever I get the chance - no matter what the face is. Katy is so funny. She is always making us laugh. Adri is much more serious and quiet. Do you think they look alike? I realized today that many of their friends can't tell them apart and adults rarely can. They are absolutely delightful and beautiful. McKenna, though not pictured, was off doing the "pony dance" down the trail. We love her too.

Right in the center of this picture is a rabbit. He was so cute! It was the first real wildlife that we had seen. We don't count bison because they are everywhere. Still, we were on a bear hunt and this rabbit was definitely not a bear so we kept hunting.

We got delayed by a couple lifeflight helicopters that landed at the intersection. We enjoyed a nice picnic on the road while the accident was cleared. After an hour and a half wait, we were back on the road.

We enjoyed the elk at Mammoth and the FIVE bears that we saw along the way. All of them were black bears and two of them were really close. One was so intent on eating its baby elk that it didn't even notice the 50 people watching him about 50 yards away. That was pretty cool to watch.

Our last stop was near Mount Washburn where there is still 6 feet of snow next to the road. The view was absolutely spectacular. The snow made us appreciate the green grass that needs to be mowed and the garden that will need to be weeded.

We had a great time, a ton of laughs, and lots of fun memories. Can't wait to go again. Maybe we'll go on a moose hunt next.

Tasty Tuesday

Spaghetti Pie

6 oz. spaghetti

2 Tbsp. butter

2 beaten eggs

1/3 c. grated Parmesan cheese

1 c. cottage cheese

1/2 c. chopped onion

1 lb. ground beef or pork sausage

2 c. favorite spaghetti sauce (homemade or canned)

Cook spaghetti according to package directions; drain, should have about 3 cups. Stir butter into hot spaghetti; stir in beaten eggs and Parmesan cheese. Form spaghetti mixture into a "crust" in a greased 10 inch pie plate. Spread with cottage cheese. Brown meat and onion. Drain off fat. Stir in spaghetti sauce; heat through. Turn meat mixture into spaghetti crust. Bake, uncovered, at 350 degrees for 20 minutes. Sprinkle with mozzarella cheese; bake until melted, about 5 minutes. Makes 6 servings.

DELICIOUS!!!!!

Tasty Tuesday (on Wednesday)

So, we didn't have power last night - until 2:30 a.m. and I couldn't post my recipe. So, here it is on Wednesday. I'm sure that it'll be tasty any day of the week. Trent and I love it. We think the kids do.

All-American Turkey Burgers

1 pound ground turkey

1/2 cup chopped onion

1/4 cup ketchup

1 clove garlice, minced

1/8 tsp. pepper

Cook on the grill or in a frying pan. Combine all ingredients and form into patties (about 3 1/2 inches in diameter). This recipe makes 4 patties.

I love these burgers almost more than I love beef burgers. Yummy!

Finally It Is Ready

After much packing, purging, packing, chucking, packing, purging, and unpacking my new classroom is finally ready for occupancy. I will begin teaching there tomorrow. I'm so excited. Twenty-five students will arrive, eagerly seeking a new room. I'm sure that there will be very little learning happening. So, (drum roll please) I introduce MY NEW CLASSROOM!

This is the LONG hall to my room. Once you get through this hall you have to walk through the entry, down the old hall and finally to the front doors to go to recess or to the gym for lunch and P.E. We will all be a little healthier by the end of the school year. But, it is bright and smells like fresh paint and new carpet!
My favorite part is my office right in the back of the room. It has a lot of storage and most of it is empty. I haven't accumulated enough, yet, to fill it up.

My soft, squishy office chair fits perfect in the office. Now I don't have to share it with kids because... NO KIDS ALLOWED! That white board on the floor will be mounted on the wall there sometime. Why? Because it can't go anywhere else. My own children will be able to draw pictures on it.

This is what you see when you first walk in. The door on the right is to my office. The superintendent said the current furniture now looks ugly and so we can all expect new desks or tables by Fall. The best part? Those big windows straight ahead that offer plenty of sunlight and can be opened for fresh air. Didn't have that in the old room.

Right inside the door is this washing station. It evens comes with hot water. Now we can wash away even more germs. By next Fall it will be equipped with a drinking spout.

The coat cubbies are around the corner from the doorway so no one will have to step on coats or backpacks or boots or snowpants to come in. What a bonus. The cubbies are bigger and can hold more "stuff" during the winter.

The computer center is nicely tucked over on the side of the room. Next Fall it will have five brand new 20" flat screen monitors. That will be nice. The counter is too high and so the students will sit on stools instead of chairs. That's ok because I will be able to tuck them neatly under the counter.

This can be called the "Center of our Universe." I love the magnetic whiteboard that doesn't have permanent black clouds on it. However, I can't use tape or ticky tack on the board. I've made a ton of magnets instead. Do you love the TV stand hanging in the top left hand corner? Someday it'll have a TV in it. Until then Curious George and the Construction Ducks call it home.

That's the tour. There are many things that aren't ready yet such as there are no phones or communication devises in the new wing. We are using cell phones for now. And hopefully the computers will be ready by Friday. The office is a million miles away but that will keep me out of the candy cupboard. It is almost a two block walk to the gym and to recess but by the time we get there the kids will be all warmed up and ready to go. When we walk back they will be so worn out they'll just want to sit. But, we are so grateful for this new building and the space that it provides. Can't wait for total completion next Fall.

A Day of Thanks

Adrienne Grant, age 11

Blowing out the candles while the cousins look on.


Kathrynn Grant, age 11
What would we do without Grandma's cakes to put candles on?


Adri and Katy
aka The Twins, Twinners, Girlies, Kadri

I spent the day thinking about the twins. Adi and Katy turned 11 years old. They have been so excited for their birthday to come. I'm always excited for their birthday to come - just wasn't so excited about their "birth day." This is the day that I reflect on that day.

Looking at the twins today - tall, happy, healthy, active - you would never imagine what their beginning was like. As I was sorting laundry, eleven years ago today, I felt what I assumed were fake labor pains. I was almost 27 weeks along in a pregnancy that had been full of surprises, especially the announcement that we were having twins. I had never had any kind of fake labor with the other pregnancies so I didn't question them. But, after about two hours and the pain increasing to the point that I couldn't walk, I decided to visit the doctor. Trent met me at the hospital and we were immediately put on the monitor. My greatest fears were realized when the doctor told us that the twins were on their way. There was nothing we could do to stop them. So, arrangements were made to send the twins, after delivery, to Primary Children's Hospital. Two helicopters made their way to the hospital in Soda Springs and then rushed our two little girls away. I was able to see, hear and touch Katy but only caught a brief glimpse of Adri (all blue) before they were taken away. Each girl weighed in at just under 2 pounds. Their heads were smaller than my fist and their arms were so skinny that Trent's wedding ring fit up to their shoulders. For nearly two months they fought for life. They received a marvelous blessing from their grandpa that promised them they would run and play just like all the other kids. People all over the world prayed for them daily. And we waited and watched in awe as they grew and surprised us all once again with their strength and ability to defy the odds.

Today we have two beautiful happy girls that "run and play just like all the other kids." And so today, as I do every year, I say thank you to many people. Thanks to a wise doctor who knew he was way over his head and sent our girls to doctors and staff with the knowledge to help them. Thanks to family and friends around the world who prayed for them with great faith. Thanks to a dear husband who lifted and supported me in my rollercoaster of emotions (we were good together) and gave a blessing to a tiny baby girl before she left in a helicopter. Thanks to an unknown "Elder" who answered the call to give a stranger's baby girl a priesthood blessing away from home. Thanks for another priesthood blessing that I put all my trust and faith in. Thanks to two older children who somehow understood that I was needed somewhere else and have forgiven me for not being with them that summer. Thanks to our parents who sacrificed so much to help us then and for years to come. Thanks to two baby girls who fought for every single breath for weeks and every single pound for months. And thanks to my Father in Heaven who brought these two bundles of joy into our lives in such an unusual but marvelous way and answered all of our prayers.

Happy birthday Girlies!!!!!!
We LOVE you.

Tasty Tuesday

Shaggy Tigers

1 lb. ground beef
1 egg
1/2 c. milk
1/2 c. shredded carrots
1/2 c. shredded potatoes
2 Tbsp. chopped onions
salt and pepper to taste
1 can cream of mushroom or tomato soup

Mix and form into patties. Brown, and top with mushroom or tomato soup. Cook in 300 degree oven for 1/2 hour. Serve with rice. Use soup as gravy for the rice.