GO ARIZONA DIAMONDBACKS!

There hasn't been much going on this week .. well, that is, if you don't count the Arizona Diamondbacks making it to the playoffs...news doesn't get much better than that at my house! We're a bunch of D-Backs fans if you can't tell.

My kids are anxiously awaiting basketball season to start next week. By process of elimination, Steve will once again be coaching Jeff's team --- he usually coaches his baseball team, so this is a whole new challenge - but we all know he'll do a terrific job. The good news for mom? Well, the coach usually picks practice locations -- and Steve is setting up practices at the park near our house --- hurray...that should save me a ton in gas! Starr will start B-ball also -- her FIRST Season. Steve attended the parent meeting and she'll be attending an "established" team that holds a 3 year undefeated record.... hummmm...... should be interesting to see how that ones goes. I'll keep you updated. It's been nice to not have my kids in a TONS of things this year. The girls are enjoying NOT dancing and having more free time to play with friends. However, I am feeling some guilt about not starting piano yet this season with the older kids. I'll have to remedy that soon.




Oh, and I have to add....Josh started going to nursery at church today!!!! I can hardly believe he's already 18 months old. It was a good day!! YEAHH!!!!!!!! Sunday school....here I come!

All in the Name of Family Fun

I can't believe how much work it takes for our family (a family of 7) to go camping for 24 hours. I have to admit, I kept asking myself the whole time preparing to leave for our Ward Family Campout if it was worth it, but all in all -- I suppose so. We did all come home sleep deprived - but isn't that normal? Afterall, I did tell my 9 year old, "We don't go camping to get a good night sleep." Our sleep would have been better if Emi didn't wake up in the middle of the night telling us she felt like we had to "throw up". So I walked her to the outhouse (that smell alone would make you want to throw up), and we walked around, but she didn't get sick. After I tucked her into bed, I had a hard time going back to sleep thinking she was going to puke all over the inside of the tent. I have to admit, if she did that - I'd have to throw the tent away - I don't think there's getting rid of that smell! But anyway, she was fine the rest of the night. And all in all, we got out of town and broke up the "same of thing" type of weekend and my kids were able to just hang out with friends and play with sticks and rocks - the area was beautiful.
l.

Sunday we were able to attend Nate Johnson's mission farewell --- he did a fabulous job! He shared with us some of his Nauvoo experiences during the summer -- if you didn't know Nate and you were listening to his talk, you'd have a hard time telling if he was coming or going. All in all, we hung out with family all day at the Johnsons and thanks to Aunt Jackie, received some awesome foot rubs as an extra bonus to the great food. Anything's great when I don't have to cook. (No offense, Mignon.) I didn't take my camera to Mignon's but Bert was taking pictures and will hopefully have those posted on his blog. (hint-hint)

And now as a side note to those wanting to make those orange balls. Evidently, the recipe came back to mom when she saw my post and said she did add a small amount of powdered milk to the orange balls at the end to give them a firmer texture and roll into balls more easily (they were pretty sticky when I made them). I'll have to give them another try - my family's already asking for more!

A Nickname is born...

My kids have to actually earn thier nicknames. Poor Josh has been the last kid without one -- until now! My I introduce to you - MR. CHOMPERS. Check out those pearly whites!

Nolstalgia

Okay, first off – right after I wrote my last blog, the weather did cool down. In fact, the newspaper said this morning that on Tuesday at 6am, the temperature dipped to 71 degrees – the coolest it’s been in the valley since JUNE 8! See why I was sooo depressed. But our mornings and evenings are so beautiful now. Anyway, had to clarify with hopes I didn’t scare those coming down to Arizona for Thanksgiving too badly.

Anyhow, back to the title of my blog. My sisters and I have been talking off and on (for YEARS) about this orange candy my mom used to make when we were all kids (this and peanut butter balls were a staple in our home). This topic came up again Saturday night when Katie was over and said she was craving it. We’ve tried asking my mom, but she can’t seem to remember what was in it. Saturday night, I googled the ingredients Katie and I could remember – which was only the orange juice concentrate and the powdered sugar and I stumbled across it – sorta. A version of it anyway. Well, yesterday I made it and YEP, it tasted just the same as I remembered as kid, so I thought I’d share the recipe with you….and no, it’s not figure friendly – inspite of my husband’s comment when he tasted it…”this taste healthy!” I had to correct him on that one, quickly before he wolfed down 5 more. Not that he could, WARNING: They are very rich. Oh, also, all of the recipes I found have crushed vanilla wafers in it – and the ones we grew up with didn’t. I’m sure we just couldn’t afford the wafers so mom omitted them – I’ll have to ask her about that. I did, however, make them with the vanilla wafers and it added an interesting texture… more cookie like than candy. And all of my food critics loved it – except for Emi who thought they were too sweet. And I did take some over to the Urie family – but not sure how they like them yet. And Katie, I have some in my fridge waiting for you!!

Orange Balls

1 12 oz box of vanilla wafers
4 cups powdered sugar
½ butter, softened
1 (6 oz) can frozen orange juice concentrate, thawed – or buy a 12 oz and divide it in half.

Crush vanilla wafers to make fine crumbs. This works best when using a food processor. Or if you’re like me, put them in a gallon size ziplock bag and beat the begeebers out of them with a rolling pin. Add sugar, butter, orange juice concentrate. Mix well.

Shape into small balls and refrigerate at least 1 hour. They will become more firm as they are refrigerated.
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Peanut Butter Balls

1 cup peanut butter
1 cup honey
1 ½ cups dry powdered milk
In a medium bowl, stir together the peanut butter and honey. Add the powdered milk and mix until well blended. Roll into walnut sized balls and serve.

Is it fall yet?

It's suppose to be 105 today, so I wouldn't know if fall is here or not! Someday it's gonna cool down - hopefully sooner and not later, and then we'll be out at the parks again riding bikes and enjoying the outdoors after a long summer. It's so close, I can just see it now! My weekend has been uneventful, and I've been very unmotivated lately. It probably has something to do with Steve leaving on a "business trip" Thursday for a few days. I get so lazy when he leaves -- it probably has something to do with him getting "smoozed" on this trip by flying first class to Ohio, eating at restaurants other than McDonalds and Chuckee Cheese, going to a Cleveland Indians game, museums, and staying in nice hotels in a room by himself with no kids in his bed. Do I sound bitter? Naaahh, at least one of us should feel rested by next week.

PARTY TIME!

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Birthdays....birthdays....birthdays....

It's been a busy month for birthdays this past week (see photo's above). Jeff turned 12 on August 30th and was ordained a "squeekin' deacon" on Sunday. He chose to have a family party since his grammie and grandpa Hartman were in town. Then a few days later he and a couple of friends were dropped off at SunSplash -- by themselves-- for the afternoon and had a great time! He was more than pleased to do a waterpark with friends over a friend party. Then while grammie Hartman was visiting - we celebrated her birthday on Labor Day. It worked out so great with everyone out of school and no work. We just spent a nice day all together.