Link Crew and First Day of School

Here is Brady in his Link Crew t-shirt. They had to wear this on Freshman orientation day and the first day of school.

The back view says:

Every Student....

Every Day....

Whatever it Takes!

Brady is such a silly kid - LOL! I like the pose ha ha ha!

The first day of Link training was Friday August 20th. I was up and showered before Brady got up for the morning. I thought he would be up by 7am - 7:15 am. 7:15 passed and I decided that I needed to go wake him up and get him moving for the 8:30 meeting. I told him that he needed to get up now - because we would need to leave by 8:15 to arrive by 8:30. He heard we needed to leave now so that he could be there by 7:30. I didn't know he misunderstood me. He got up and went 100 miles per hour in getting showered and dressed. Then he comes down 15 minutes later and says - "let's go so I won't be late". Then, we discussed the time he had to be there and we laughed. He was ready in 15 minutes -- It was funny.

Here is what he said on his facebook account: So I woke up at 7:17 this morning, was told I had something at 7:30, went on 150mph mode, and then figured out that it was at 8:30.

He had another training meeting on August 25 to prepare for the big Freshman orientation on Thursday August 26th.

He needed to purchase something or make something that would make his group stand out from the others. Brady wanted to get his freshman group lined glasses. We went to Zurchers and purchased these cool glasses for his team.

Thursday morning we got up at 7am to be there at 8;30 am. However, I put the wrong time down on my white board schedule for the week. He was suppose to be there at 7am to get set up. This time, we really went 100 miles per hour. I was embarrassed that I put the wrong time down.

With all of the places we have had to be the last few weeks - I have been writing out the schedule on our white board on the fridge - so it's visible and I know where we need to be. The calendar had the right time - but I transferred it wrong. I was embarrassed that I made this mistake. Oh well... it all worked out - even though he was the only one late.

This is what Brady wrote about the Freshman Orientation day:

Went to the Freshman Orientation today as a Link Leader. During the beginning, in the bleachers, there were these awful freshman who thought they were cool, didn't want to participate, were complaining, and kept talking the whole time. It was frustrating, I didn't really want to baby them. But my group of Freshman were... great, everything after that went great. Especially since Danielle's and Ammon's group merged with ours. They made it all the better.

It's sad that kids don't know the fun the are missing out on when they have to be too "cool" to participate in fun games. When they act like this - the are missing out on opportunities to bond with others and make the most of the experience and their high school years. Too bad kids don't see the whole picture. I'm glad Brady doesn't act cool - but has fun and silly times every day. I guess I'd rather be weird and have fun then cool and judgemental. Who enjoys life more??

This weekend Brady put together his school supplies for the first day of school.

This is what he wrote on facebook:  I'm working on organizing my binder for next year, and I decided I wanted a skinny binder all year, so I'm going to do the A day binder and the B day binder. Then I put my graphing calculator into the pencil bag. Suddenly, my B day binder wasn't so skinny anymore, =( so I'm going to see if I can handle having my calculator outside my binder this year.

If you can't tell - I love that he is writing in facebook now. I am trying to capture his expressions as a journal reference. I'm loving it! This way we get to know what he is really thinking and not what I think he is thinking - ha ha ha!

He had a great first day of school. Here is the run down.

1st period French. "He said - my name is Brady. What is yours" in french to me. He thinks he will like his teacher.

2nd: Chemistry AP. The teacher demonstrated how to put out a fire. He lit a torch and discussed different scenarios about the fire. Brady was surprised at how long he kept this fire going. The he asked the class how to put it out. They said, "turn off the gas"... He said, "What is the fun in that". "First you have to freak out". Brady laughed at him - I think it will be a great teacher that has found ways to capture the interest in the students. He said on Wednesday the teacher is going to light the table on fire. It might be interesting - ha ha ha

3rd: Newspaper. He organized his area. I received a full detailed information about where everything is placed in his desk area. He is the Business Manager for the Newspaper team. He made a bunch of phone calls to businesses to get support for their fundraisers and he also sets up advertising in the school newspaper to make money. He said it was a very productive day.

4th Seminary. He has a new teacher this year. The teacher had a goblet (wine glass) and broke it while discussing how the church fell apart after Jesus died. How churches took pieces of "Jesus' church" and made their own. They talked about how our church has the fullness of the gospel with Prophets and apostles. We don't have pieces but the fullness and "all the pieces" that Jesus set up when he was on the earth and it was restored back tot he earth though the Prophet Joseph Smith. The lesson made a big impact on him. Sometimes - an example from a good teacher can make you really understand a concept. He enjoyed it.

He is also the only one who plays the piano in his class. I guess that will be his calling this year. It's a great opportunity for him to play while people are singing - that is a hard thing - but he doesn't mind it.

Sounds like he had a great day. Today is "B" day and I hope everything goes just as well.

Book Review: "The Mocking Jay" 3rd book in The Hunger Games

I finished The Mocking Jay last night.

I was horrified!

It was depressing!

It was WAR!

I guess I knew it was going to be war .... but didn't realize to what extent.

It was awful!

Loss of life - key characters.

Gale or Peeta - for Katniss? I knew who I was rooting for - but there were lots of twists and turns. I didn't think anything would work out.

There wasn't any romance, no humor, nothing good. It was tense.

Each chapter was a cliff hanger and hard to put down.

But, the horror was too much that I had to put it down and walk away.

I'm still trying to process it.

Overall - it was a very sad, horrifying book. But, I guess that is what comes from war AND government control.  No one is ever the same - or - sane.

It was hard to know who to trust and lots of twists and turns.

You find out why President Snows breath smelled like blood. I thought vampire or something. It was quite a shocker when the truth comes out about that evil man.  

Very sad...

I'm not sure I'm glad about getting this book on CD before I read the book. Probably not a good move. I just didn't see the series ending this way.

What did you think?

It arrived!

Mocking Jay arrived in the mail today! Woo Hoooooo! I ordered the book on tape too... cause I LOVE to listen to them after I read them! I am totallly addicted!!

I may not be available until I have finished it... See ya!!  :-D Yeah!

Twilight quote:

"I didn't know if there ever was a choice, really.

I was already in too deep.

--Bella

Canning Time is Here!

I love fall, but I find that I am rushing to get many things done. My garden is doing well, and I have been trying to keep up with the canning.

I have been eating tomatoes for a while now, but now they are really starting to ripen and it's time to can them.

Here was my first big picking. I was able to get two quart bottles from the first picking. Then later that morning I received a call from Glenna asking me if I wanted more tomatoes. She returned from vacation to lots and lots of tomatoes and she didn't know if she could get them all processed as she is preparing for school - she is a teacher.

I told her that I would take any she had. She brought me over two grocery bags full. I was able to get 6 more quarts of tomatoes canned. Yea!! 8 quarts already!! LOVE IT!

I have also been canning beans. So far I have canned 24 pints of beans!! My beans are almost over. I may get one more day of canning them and then they will be done.

My celery is awesome and am really glad I planted it this year. We have lots of green onions, carrots, and crookneck squash. My zucchini as been really slow. I've actually been able to eat everything we've grown. Nothing extra. It's been giving me enough, but not to much zucchini - amazing! Oh, and cucumbers too! I love having a garden - and yes, mine is a container garden!!

Twilight quote: The meadow, so spectacular to me at first, paled next to his magnificence.

---Bella on Edward

Random Fun Pictures of Brady

I absolutely LOVE when people post pictures of Brady on Facebook and I can swipe them.... Yes, I am soooo bad! But, Brady is such a cutie and I love all of these random pictures of him. Here are a few:

Brady is on the bottom.. This is a fun picture.

A Cross Country picture. I think he looks much older this year then when this was taken. He is growing up too fast!

Brady and Cody... Brady looks kinda mad - don't you think? Look out!

Last year the kids with good grades were able to go to "Wahooz" - a fun zone amusement park. They were able to take the day off school and go play for a day. Here is Brady with his friends. Look at all those girls kissing him... Hmmmmmmm ... I don't think that is legal - he is NOT 16 years old yet... What is he thinking?? It's OK with mom??? Nope... not until you are at least 21 and returned home from your mission - LOL!

Lockers

For school registration, Brady had "a plan" to meet up with all of his friends to register together. The plan was to try and get lockers next to each other. We were next to 2 of his friends waiting to get in, however when they received their schedules right inside the door, the took off to get it changed because there were errors. We went forward and finished our registration. So far the plan wasn't working too well.

We went through everything but passed the "get a locker" place. Brady started texting his friends to find out where they were. We waited for them and that is when I decided to go get the print out of his report card from last year.

Then we went to the 2nd cafeteria where his friends were getting their schedule change. We waited ..... and waited ..... and waited. I was getting antsy because I really needed to get to work. I decided he would have to walk home or get a ride and left him there.

When they went to get their locker, one of their friends Kara was in the booth giving out parking permits. She told the staff member that these were her friends and they all wanted lockers together. The VERY NICE staff person went to a clean sheet and gave them every other locker.. Which meant that they all had the top locker - in a very great location which in this world is very private (not for the blog).

Woo Hoo!! They might have just given them all top lockers because they are all really good honor students - who knows??... But Yeah!! A top locker surrounded by all of his friends. Such a great way to start off the school year!

Oh, and he got a ride home - he didn't have to walk because a mean mom left him there. LOL!

MHS Registration for Junior Year!

This morning we registered Brady for his Junior year in High School!! Goooooo Warriors!

While I was there, I decided to get a print out of his report card. Last year the school district decided not to mail report cards or any Principal newsletters - due to budget cuts. When I called, they told me to print it off of the Parent School system - where we monitor grades daily. I printed it off, but it wasn't pretty like a report card. I need a nice one, for our records and scrapbooks.

This is his report card for his Sophomore year!! Woo Hoo 4.0 and no missed days or tardies!! Brady is such a great kid. I told him I wanted to see this again for his Junior year! :-D

(I hope, I hope, I hope - fingers crossed).

Fees for this year $100, plus pictures $41. He didn't have any extra "club" or class fees - yeah!

But, still quite a bit of money. Thank goodness I have 2 "only" children going through these school fees one at a time. Does that make since? With a 10 year difference in Jason and Brady's ages, I haven't had to pay for both of them in the same year. I don't know how you do it if you have lots of children going through at the same time - yikes!

With his school records, we received his ISAT (Idaho Standards Achievement Test) scores from last year. The scale is "BB"=Below Basic, "B"=Basic, "P"=Proficient, "A"=Advanced..

In Reading, score 241 - Advanced

Mathematics, score 268 - Advanced

 Language, score 242 - Advanced

And last Science, score 253 - Advanced!

Cross Country is going full blast of 2 practises per day. I'm excited for another year of watching this team run!

This year Brady will be the Business Manager on the School Newspaper team.

Also he is a "Link Crew Leader".

As a leader he will be given the responsibility of managing and instructing a small group of 8 - 10 Freshman on Orientation Day in a series of activities; these are done in effort for the Leaders and Freshman to get to know each other better as well as allow the Leaders the opportunity to pass on some valuable information about being successful in high school.

In preparation for orientation day, Brady is required to attend several training days and other events in order to be fully prepared to be an excellent Link Crew Leader.

In addition to orientation day and the events related to that, they will also be called upon to support Freshmen throughout the year in a variety of ways including calling their Freshman group to check in, connecting with them during the school day, attending a variety of social events specifically designed for Freshmen and Link Leaders as well as being available as a mentor for the Freshmen should the situation arise.

Here is Brady's activity card and school picture for this year. I wish they wouldn't have done the picture at an angle and had them sit straight. Oh well....he is still such a cute young man!

It's going to be an awesome year! I'm excited for all of these wonderful opportunities for Brady and being able to attend a great school!

Fun with a Food Saver

Have you heard of Wendy Dewitt? There are 9 YouTube videos on her food storage presentation. Here are 2 of the 9 YouTube videos. I am always trying to find the correct way to store food, because wasting food storage is like throwing money down the drain.

I was excited to see how a food saver can be very valuable in keeping food from going bad. I have been looking for one on eBay and Amazon for a while. I'm bad at eBay because I always get outbid. I'm not always on the computer watching as the time expires. I like Amazon because I can find a good price and just purchase it - not lose out to a bidding war. I found a brand new Food Saver unit on Amazon for $59.95 with free shipping. The wide mouth Jar sealer was $11.69 w/free shipping.

I received this in May and finally have found the time to use it. Now that I am in the process of canning and working on my food storage room again I cleaned bottles and started filling them. FINALLY!

So far I've done raisins, garlic, walnuts, mixed nuts. I want to start doing my chocolate, butterscotch, and peanut butter chips in bottles, possibly marshmallows.

I've seen wonderful food storage pantries, where they keep their long term food storage in the the 10 gal buckets, but keep a canning jar full in the kitchen pantry to use. They keep the jar sealed with the food saver to lock in the freshness. I wish I had seen this method before I purchased all the Pete jars. However, the food saver doesn't do dry powdered products like flour, pancake mixes etc. But, it works great on freeze dried fruit/veggies, beans, chips, lentils, noodles to put in a jar and seal in the freshness.

 I'm excited with this way of preserving food.

Currently I only have a wide mouth jar sealer. I may have to break down and get a regular mouth sealer too.

Quick tip: After it is magically sealed, I un-do the hose from the jar sealer and then remove the sealer. Removing the hose, loosens the sealing pressure from the sealer (not the jar) and it is easier to remove.

Recipe: Scotcharoo's

The trick to these bars, is making sure that you cook the Karo and sugar mixture slowly. You don't want it to still be grainy or sugary when it comes to a boil. I like that it is a food storage item. You don't need marshmallows - which seem to go hard before I use them in a food storage situation OR butter. Plus a big bonus - it is YUMMY!

SCOTCHAROO'S

Ingredients:

1 cup Karo light corn syrup

1 cup sugar

1 cup creamy peanut butter

6 cups crispy rice cereal

1 cup semi-sweet or milk chocolate chips

1 cup butterscotch chips

Directions. cook corn syrup and sugar together in a large pan over medium - low heat, stirring to dissolve sugar. Bring mixture to a boil. Remove from heat, stir in peanut butter; mix well.

Add cereal: stir until evenly coated.

Pour into greased 13x9 inch pan and pat into place.

Melt chocolate and butterscotch chips together. You can melt in a saucepan over low heat.. but I did it in the microwave for 1 minute stirred and then another 30-45 seconds. Spread over cereal.

Cool at least 45 minutes or until firm. Cut into bars.

These chewy bars will be gobbled up very quickly. The butterscotch chocolate top is perfect with the chewy peanut butter base. If you don't care for butterscotch chips, simply use all chocolate. You can even add a couple tablespoons of peanut butter to the melted chocolate as well. It's a nice twist on the regular marshmallow rice crispy treats that we all love. Try these soon, your kids will love them!

B-Day Gifts For Brady

When Brady arrived at cross country practise on his birthday, nobody would believe it was his birthday until they checked it out on facebook. A couple of people told him that they would bring him a gift the next day if it was his birthday. When he went to practise, these are the gifts he got. It was very kind of these girls to think of him.

The Oreo package came from the girl he won the Oreo Champion from at cross country practise. :-D I think she still can't believe he won - LOL!

The card was homemade from Sora.

Along with a hundred dollar card the Inside said:

Brady....

Happy Birthday

Hope this 17th year (because you've already lived 16) year is really great! You're such a cool guy and keep coming to these summer practices. And keep laughing your Brady-laugh, because it makes me feel like I'm funny when I know I'm lame .... :-D Sora

These girls made Brady's sweet 16th birthday special! Thanks a bunch!

I almost forgot to post Brady's present from his dad. Maurice gave him a $50 iTunes gift card. This was on his list, he love finding new music. He really has a unique taste in music. He will be watching a movie or TV show and fall in love with the music. Then he sets out to find it. He has a very musical ear. A lot of the music is completely instrumental. He is an amazing kid and I know he will have a ton of fun finding new music to load on his iPod.

Book Review: "The Dickens Inn Series"

I finished reading the new series out by Anita Stansfield called "The Dickens Inn Series". I really enjoyed this series. I have always been a huge Anita Stansfield fan. Lots of people don't like her - but I think it has to do with them trying out a book without reading the whole series that starts with "First Love and Forever". You start loving the characters that are through the whole series - intermingled with new people and new challenges they go through.

It seems like such a long time since I enjoyed reading an LDS novel. I've missed the inspiration and gospel messages from reading non-LDS books. It was completely refreshing to have good people live by gospel principles with encouragement that I can do better in my living gospel principles. I was inspired and I loved reading every page.

This series has it's own challenges ..... challenges associated with Post Traumatic Stress syndrome, from fighting in a war, to being an FBI agent. But of course, there is a love story within the books and healing.

I loved the series and can't wait until book 4 comes out. Here are the books and what it says on the back cover.

“I want to be with you, but I have to make sure I’m in a position to give you what you deserve, and I’m not sure I’m the man to do that.” Chas put a hand over her mouth to hold back her emotion, glad that he couldn’t see the tears rolling down her face. . . . “I need time Chas, because if I’m going to commit my life to you, I don’t want it to ever go bad. I would rather have you love me in memory than come to hate me because I couldn’t give you what you deserve.”

A sprawling Montana setting; a charming bed-and-breakfast inn brimming with Dickensian decor; a beautiful and deeply spiritual innkeeper with secret sorrows from her past; a “Granny” who is as delightful as she is wise; and a handsome guest whose lifestyle and past are both troubled and troubling — these are the elements of a captivating novel of romance and intrigue.

With characters that are vital and vulnerable, and a plot that is wholly unpredictable, this story is a journey of choices and amazing opportunities.

Once again, Anita Stansfield proves her versatility as a storyteller extraordinaire in this novel that is an ingenious blend of romance, mystery, and Dickensian charm. The Best of Times will prove to be a favorite in the best Stansfield tradition.

Jackson didn't know how long it was before he finally realized that he was in the hospital, and it was Dr. Callahan on the floor with him, trying to talk some sense into him. Once the realization hit him, he struggled to bring himself back to reality while his breathing and heart rate remained shallow and fast for more minutes than he could. . . He felt more afraid than he'd dared to admit. . .

Their lives have all the ingredients for “happily-ever-after” until a traumatic and life-changing even in Jackson's life plunges his family into chaos and sorrow. His mother's unexpected death hurtles him toward a painful pilgrimage into a past that collides with the anguish of the present and threatens to destroy his family's future.

As past medical heartaches and fears resurface, Chas and Jackson agonize over the chances of survival for their baby daughter. At a time in their lives when the blessings of the gospel are so abundant, can their faith withstand this trial that looms on their otherwise happy horizon? Do they dare hope for a miracle?

At the same time, Jackson receives a call from a former FBI colleague who would like to hide a woman in the witness protection program with them in the Dickens Inn. Although Jackson and Chas agree to let her stay, when the woman arrives they realize she is hiding something.

Soon lives are in danger, and the stakes are high. Has trust come at too great a price? With tragedies hurtling toward them, Chas and Jackson will need all the help they can get from friends, family, the medical profession — and most especially from God.

In A Loving Heart, the newest volume in her Dickensian bed-and- breakfast series, bestselling LDS author Anita Stansfield delivers a captivating story filled with breathtaking twists and turns of events that are emotionally compelling, spiritually moving, and utterly satisfying.

Book 4 (below) hasn't been released yet, but I'm excited to read it when it comes out.

Recipe: Cherry Coffee Cake

I found a really yummy cake from Controlling my Chaos.com. You can find her fun recipe card for this cake here.

Ingredients:

1 box yellow cake mix, divided

1 cup flour

1 package (2 - 1/4 tsp.) active dry yeast

2/3 cup warm water

2 eggs, lightly beaten

1 21-oz can cherry pie filling

1/3 cup cold butter

Glaze: 

1 cup powdered sugar

1 tablespoon corn syrup

1-2 tablespoons water

Combine 1 1/2 cup dry cake mix, flour, yeast and water until smooth.

Stir in eggs until blended.

Transfer to a greased 13x9x2 inch baking dish.

Carefully spoon pie filling over the top.

Place remaining cake mix in a bowl and cut in butter until crumbly. Sprinkle over filling and bake at 350 degrees for 35-40 minutes or until lightly browned.

Combine glaze ingredients and drizzle over coffee cake. 

Yum! 

Brady's Ordination to a Priest in the Priesthood

This past weekend we had the pleasure of having Brady's dad here, his little (half) brother Porter and Porter's (half) brother Kyle visit us. They came so that Maurice, Brady's dad, could ordain him to the office of a Priest in the Priesthood.

They arrived Saturday around 4 Pm. Brady brought down the rock band equipment from his bedroom and they started to play. I had to snap a couple of pictures of the family.

Maurice is watching, Kyle on the drums and Brady and Porter on the guitars. They were really rocking and rolling to the beat - ha ha!

I was uncomfortable, I haven't seen Maurice in person for 8 years. The last time I saw him is when he came to baptise Brady a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints when he was 8 years old.

Sunday morning they all gathered around Brady playing his DS game that he received for his birthday. It must have been pretty funny because they kept laughing and laughing. I was making breakfast before we all got ready for church.

When Brady became a Deacon and a Teacher in the Priesthood, he wanted his Uncle Kelly to ordain him. So Maurice didn't come during either ordination.

However, during this past General Conference April 2010, Boyd K. Packer gave a talk on “The Power of the Priesthood.”  In this talk he gave a few examples of fathers giving blessings to their sons - here is one:

During the Vietnam War, we held a series of special meetings for members of the Church called into military service. After such a meeting in Chicago, I was standing next to President Harold B. Lee when a fine young Latter-day Saint told President Lee that he was on leave to visit his home and then had orders to Vietnam.

He asked President Lee to give him a blessing.

Much to my surprise, President Lee said, “Your father should give you the blessing.”


Very disappointed, the boy said, “My father wouldn’t know how to give a blessing.”
President Lee answered, “Go home, my boy, and tell your father that you are going away to war and want to receive a father’s blessing from him. If he does not know how, tell him that you will sit on a chair. He can stand behind you and put his hands on your head and say whatever comes.”

This young soldier went away sorrowing.

About two years later I met him again. I do not recall where. He reminded me of that experience and said, “I did as I was told to do. I explained to my father that I would sit on the chair and that he should put his hands on my head. The power of the priesthood filled both of us. That was a strength and protection in those perilous months of battle.”

Here is a picture of Brady and his dad, Maurice.

Here is another story from the talk from Boyd K Packard:

Another time I was in a distant city. After a conference we were ordaining and setting apart leaders. As we concluded, the stake president asked, “Can we ordain a young man to be an elder who is leaving for the mission field?” The answer, of course, was yes.


As the young man came forward, he motioned for three brethren to follow and stand in for his ordination.


I noticed on the back row a carbon copy of this boy, and I asked, “Is that your father?”


The young man said, “Yes.”


I said, “Your father will ordain you.”


And he protested, “But I’ve already asked another brother to ordain me.”


And I said, “Young man, your father will ordain you, and you’ll live to thank the Lord for this day.”


Then the father came forward.


Thank goodness he was an elder. Had he not been, he soon could have been! In the military they would call that a battlefield commission. Sometimes such things are done in the Church.


The father did not know how to ordain his son. I put my arm around him and coached him through the ordinance. When he was finished, the young man was an elder. Then something wonderful happened. Completely changed, the father and son embraced. It was obvious that had never happened before.


The father, through his tears, said, “I didn’t get to ordain my other boys.”


Think how much more was accomplished than if another had ordained him, even an Apostle.

After sitting through that talk last April, we knew Brady needed to ask his dad to come and ordain him to a Priest.

Porter, Kyle, Brady and Maurice

When Brady introduced his family in Priesthood meeting he said:

This is my Dad Maurice, my half brother Porter and my half brother's, half brother Kyle. Such a soap opera.

Brady is Maurice and My son.

Porter is Maurice and his ex-wife, Shar's son.

Kyle is Shar and her ex-husband's son.

CRAZY LIFE!

Brady and Kyle - same age. I can't believe I didn't get a picture of Brady and Porter together.

I wanted to take a few pictures outside.

Hay look, I actually handed the camera to someone else and had a family picture taken.

Sondra, Brady and Maurice

It was funny to me, because I was not a complete "shorty" like I am with Jason and his dad. I always felt like I was shrinking and getting shorter when I am around my boys and brothers. But I'm not - LOL! Still in line with Maurice... It was weird to see him again. I still feel it was the right thing to divorce - it's been 14 years. I have some anger in me against him - but I was nice (I think).

All the boys - Priesthood boys.

I even let them stay at my house. Thank goodness I have enough places for everyone to sleep - with blow up mattresses. It was a quick 2 days and trip for Maurice. I'm glad we asked him to come and do the ordination for his son. I guess it will be two more years until I have to see him again.

It's weird because most divorce people see each other all the time when there are children involved. Not us, since I moved away. I just put Brady on a plane and he sees his dad once a month. It's been great :-D