Blueberries

Last week Trish and I decided to go pick blueberries and you might say we got a bit carried away! We were having such a good time that we just kept picking! The bushes were loaded and the weather was perfect and I was having fun. We both had full buckets and were quite suprised when they weighed 26 pounds! So far I have made 2 batches of jam and some really good blueberry crisp. I am going to attempt to make syrup so I will post pictures when that is done. I love Oregon for their blueberries they are so good and sweet and big!

Vacation pictures cont....

Here are a few more pictures from our trip. They are all random so I didn't write about each one. Hopefully you can figure them out on your own:) I hope you enjoy looking at them.

Happy Birthday Bunny!

Today is my sister's birthday and I am sure she will love the fact that I put her nickname on here! I guess I should tell why that is her nickname...My mom used to put here hair in a bun all the time so we started calling her bunny from that. It got shortened to bun but I still call her bunny. Its funny because when I call her Denise it almost feels like I am not calling her the right name! She is a great member of our family and has a very big heart. She is always helping someone out and loves animals. I think she would make a great vet unless they had to put an animal to sleep then it would be hard for her. She is very different then the rest of us in the fact that she loves everything country! I didn't start liking it till a few years ago but she has always enjoyed farming and animals oh and cowboys:)I am so glad to have her as my sister. We have had alot of fun times and I am glad we enjoy alot of the same things. She loves to cook like I do and calls me about different recipes to try. I am so glad for the family I was blessed into.Thanks for being such a great sister your the best! love you bun!

Happy Birthday Mom

Today is my mom's birthday and I just wanted to say how great she is! She is such a big part of our family. She is always there for us and has such a cute way with the grandkids. If they had their way they would move in with her.I am so grateful for the many things my mom has taught me through the years. Because of her I am a hard worker and I love to cook! Growing up my mom was the bread winner while my dad went to school and she provided a wonderful home despite having to be gone. She always made holidays fun with little notes and poems.She could even make doing chores fun with little games and insentives. I am so glad she taught me all that she did I have been able to use it through out my life. She is a very spiritual person and I hope to be just like her one day! Thanks for all you do mom I love you!

Family Vacation

My family came to visit me from Utah and my sister came down from Seattle. We decided it would be fun to get a beach house and then just explore from there. We had a great time but we missed my sister Denise who had to stay home and work. I have like 55 pictures so I spared you being bored and picked a few of my favorites. I am thinking already that I will have to do another post later with more pictures. I just have to many favorites to chose from. I hope you will have fun seeing a little bit of what we did on our trip. Its always sad when its time to go back home and back to reality. I miss everyone already!

Maya reading to phil and Anya she is really smart. She is reading at a 2nd grade reading level and she is not even in school yet!

Elijah loved Trish's truck if he had his way he would have just hung out there the whole vacation!

Do they look tired from too much vacation or maybe they have spent to much time in the car!

The Oregon coast is rarely a warm place to visit. If the wind didn't blow as much it would be better but that doesn't happen very often. It was really cold with the wind so Lisa and Trish are bundling up!

Maya was being funny trying on this hat without actually putting it on, she just put her head in it but wouldn't do it when i wanted a picture so her mom is helping.

We always have time for games when we go on vacation!

My parents having their own time on the beach

My dad is really funny when it comes to salt water taffy he loves it! Here he is sneaking yet another piece out of the trunk. I think he would be perfectly content eating taffy and clam chowder.

Did I mention my dad was funny about salt water taffy? yes he is eating every last bite off the wrapper!

Olya is showing Elijah and Anya the turtle at the museum we went to.

Update

I am sorry I haven't been a very good blogger lately. I recently lost my job so that has been my focus. I do hope you will check back later this week I will have lots to blog. My family is coming for a visit from Utah and we are heading out to the coast! I am really excited for a much needed break from life! Have a great week and I will see you soon:)

BLT Pizza

1 DI GIORNO RISING CRUST Pizza - Four Cheese
½ cup shredded lettuce
¼ cup chopped tomatoes
4 slices Bacon, cooked, crumbled
2 Tbsp. ranch dressing
1/4 cup diced red onion

HEAT oven to 400°F.
BAKE pizza as directed on package.
SERVE topped with remaining ingredients

This is a really easy and good recipe.

America the Beautiful

My country,' tis of thee,
sweet land of liberty, of thee I sing;
land where my fathers died,
land of the pilgrims' pride,
from every mountainside let freedom ring!

My native country, thee,
land of the noble free, thy name I love;
I love thy rocks and rills,
thy woods and templed hills;
my heart with rapture thrills, like that above.

Let music swell the breeze,
and ring from all the trees sweet freedom's song;
let mortal tongues awake;
let all that breathe partake;
let rocks their silence break, the sound prolong.

Our fathers' God, to thee,
author of liberty, to thee we sing;
long may our land be bright
with freedom's holy light;
protect us by thy might, great God, our King.

I am so grateful for this holiday that we have to celebrate our freedoms. I love the patriotic songs we sing.I was able to go to a flag ceremony this morning and sing some songs and say the pledge of allegiance. It was a great experience to go and celebrate America! This is one of my favorite songs I love the words. Enjoy your day!

Fourth of July Trifle

1 large package instant vanilla pudding
4 cups fresh berries (strawberries, blueberries, raspberries, or blackberries), washed and hulled, plus extra for garnish
1/4 cup plus 2 tablespoons sugar
2 teaspoons fresh lemon juice
1 cup whipping cream
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
1 angel food cake
1. To make the fillings, prepare the pudding according to the package directions and chill it.

2. Slice the strawberries, if you're using them, then toss all of the berries with the lemon juice and the 1/4 cup of sugar. Set aside for 30 minutes to allow the berries to release their juices.

3. In a medium mixing bowl, whip the cream, vanilla extract, and remaining 2 tablespoons of sugar until soft peaks form. Set aside.

4.Cut the angel food cake into cubes. To make the layers, set a layer of cake on the bottom of a large, clear serving bowl (ours was 4 quarts). Top with the berries with half of the pudding.

5. Add another layer of cake, another third of the berries and juice, and the rest of the pudding. Add a final layer of cake and berries. Top with the whipped cream and a berry garnish.

6. Refrigerate until you're ready to serve.You can use cool whip if you dont want to worry about making whip cream.