Lovely Weather

Today was Samantha's first day back to school after spring break.

After a week of cold 60 mph winds why were we surprised this morning to find it snowing?

St.Patrick's Day

We've had a leprechaun messing with us all day!

Our day started with our leprechaun trap shaking. Samantha & I looked inside hoping we caught a leprechaun and found the dogs motorized ball. Bummer, we'd been tricked.

I got us some cereal while Samantha got dressed. I turned round to put the milk back in the fridge and when I turned back our milk was green! (The same thing happened later with Patrick's cereal but not with Colin's baby pancakes) A few minutes later my water was green.

For lunch I made mac & cheese. I put everything in the pan and then went to help Patrick find the step so he could stir. When we got back to the pan our mac & cheese was green.

The same thing happened at dinner. Some how our rice pilaf and the butter for our rolls was green. After dinner we enjoyed the green cupcakes the boys and I made this afternoon.

It was a funny day but we never could find the pot of gold.

Happy Pi Day!!

In honor of pi day we had home made pizza (pie) and alien pecan pie for dinner. (Yes we still have pecans from Roswell. It only took about an hour to shell enough for a pie.) After dinner we had a hands on demonstration of how pi works. We didn't memorize all the digits of pi, or any for that matter. If we need to know we'll just ask Dale he knows a surprising number of them.

You know you're jealous Amy!!

Hot Dog

Dot really loves getting comfy in front of the fire.

A Fun Saturday Afternoon

Dale took the kids for a canoe ride today. My Dad bought this canoe a while ago and this was it's first time out. Dale said they were doing great until the wind started to carry them away. He had to row like crazy with only one oar but they made it back and the kids thought it was great.

Where was I? I was at home scrapbooking and bottling butter.

Bottled Butter

When I first head about bottled butter I thought it sounded crazy. I googled bottled butter and found this recipe.

Real butter works best but margarine works too. Heat pint jars in the oven at 250 for 20 minutes. Heat lids in boiling water for 3 minutes. Slowly stir and melt butter in a pan. After it boils for 5 minutes, stir and scoop the butter into the hot jars. Use a funnel to keep the butter off the rims. Place hot lid and ring on the jar and wait for the "plink". Shake the jars several times over the next 15-20 minutes. While still warm, put the jars in the refrigerator. Shake every 10-15 minutes. The separation will stop and eventually the butter will harden. Leave in the refrigerator for one hour more. Bottled butter can store on your shelf for almost 3 years.

Dale still thinks I've gone crazy but how cool is shelf stable butter! It's super easy and looks so pretty.

Our Trip to Utah

This weekend we went to Utah for a visit. It was a short trip but we had a lot of fun. We left Thursday after Samantha's 1st grade patriotic program (she's one the far right with a purple vest)so we didn't get to Provo until midnight. On Friday we went to Farmington and hung out with Jen and some of the cousins. We went out to lunch and to an air plane museum (can't remember the name). The kids had a lot of fun and there was a lot to see. The little guys were having a hard time with the hands off rule. I think every one had fun. That night we went to the Blue and Gold banquet in Provo. Dale's sister Becky is the Bears leader and thought we'd have fun. It was and the dinosaur eggs (baked potatoes) were yummy.

On Saturday Dale's brother Alan and his family came to Provo to hang out with us. We all went to the California Pizza Kitchen for a birthday lunch for our nephew Nick. After that Dale, Mike, and Alan went to the BYU/Utah basketball game. The had a great time and so did all the cousins who played together at the house. Colin asked if we could stay 4 more days but Patrick reminded him we only packed clothes for 3 days. Too bad. My kids love to play with their cousins and are so sad that they all live in Utah. We had a great visit and can't wait to get together again. Thanks everyone!!