Cross Country District Meet

Cross Country has been tough this year. I don't know if it is due to senioritus or being very busy.

Brady missed 2 meets this year. He missed Warrior Mountain because it fell on General Conference weekend. I let him decide if he wanted to go or stay home and watch General conference. I was thrilled that he decided to stay and watch it. Our coach blew a gasket because he didn't go, but I was proud of him - oh well.

The next meet in Nampa fell on parent teacher conference and the College Career Fair. I have really been stressing out about college and felt it was important for him to attend the college fair. He missed the Nampa meet and we went to the college fair. I guess I was expecting more from the fair at school then what it ended up being. I shouldn't have made the decision to miss the meet, but I didn't know the fair would be like that. Oh well again.

Friday was the last race, District meet at Eagle island. He ran at 3:30 and I didn't have enough time to shower and drive out there after work to make it. I missed him racing. As I reflect on this years season, I only attended one meet. Pretty sad, but it has been such a busy season with Jason and Sharon's wedding.

I don't think Brady was as into the season as he has been in previous years either. I think it's hard to be a senior and be the only senior on the JV team. But, that is fine. He did run the first race on the Varsity team - which was really exciting.

He did have a personal record during the district race. His time came in at 19 minutes and 36 seconds!! Woo Hoo! I'm proud of him and his dedication in running during the past 6 years on the cross country teams in middle school and high school.

READY ..... SET ..... Go!  Brady's on the right hand side.

Look at those boys go!

I love the strong determined face. Grin!

The fall weather has been gorgeous! It was a great day for a race!

I think he is feeling it now! He said for a while he couldn't feel the energy he needed for the push. Then someone he knew was about to pass him and he wasn't going to let that happen. That was the spark he needed to pull it in gear and push ahead.

He beat Nathan, one of his teammates he is really competitive with. Except Nathan is lots taller then Brady - Nathan usually beats Brady by a couple of seconds, but Brady came in front of Nathan. He loved that! (You can see Nathan next to Brady in the 3rd picture)

Having a PR - or personal record to end his Cross Country career was awesome too!

The end of the race waiting in line to give his number to the timing coaches. He was happy to see the great time he had. As soon as the race was over he called me with his excitement. I'm really proud of him!

I wanted to add a picture of their new Coach Aaron this year. He's been different then our beloved Coach Rusty but Brady liked him too.

Another note, the Varsity boys are going to state! First time since 2002. Yea Varsity Boys team! Go Warriors!

Proud to be Brady's Mom

This is Brady's first recommendation letter for his college applications.

I am gushing, happy, proud, and feel lucky to be Brady's mom.

It is a great letter!! I'm loving it.

Recipe: Butter Braid Bread Base (Bread Machine)

Butter Braid Bread Base (Bread Machine)

3/4 cup water

1 egg, slightly beaten

2 teaspoons vanilla

6 Tablespoons sugar

1/4 cup butter (softened)

3 cups flour

1 teaspoon salt

2 Tablespoons dry milk

2 1/4 teaspoon yeast (a yeast cake)

Add to bread machine in order listed and set on "dough cycle.

Cut dough in half to make two breads. Roll each out into a rectangle.

Add your fillings (see below for options) in the center of each dough, leaving space on the edges.

Cut 1 inch strips on the sides from the edge to center. Fold in and tuck under strips to give it a braided appearance.

Let rise for 45 minutes. Bake at 375 degrees for 15 -20 minutes or until lightly brown. Add frosting or glace (see options below)

Now for all the options. You can use any combination of the following.

Option 1 Filling options for cream cheese frosting:

-Apple Pie Fillings

- Cherry Pie Filling

- Blueberry Pie Filling

-Peach Pie Filling

- Lemon Pie Filling

Basically any type of pie fillings will do, and those listed above are best with the cream cheese frosting on the top.

Cream Cheese Frosting

4 oz Cream Cheese

2 Tablespoons Butter

3 Tablespoons Powdered Sugar

1 teaspoon Vanilla extract

Melt cream cheese and butter together. Add vanilla and powdered sugar. Pour over butter braid.

Option 2 fillings for glaze:

- Cinnamon 1/4 melted butter, 1/3 cup brown sugar, 1 teaspoon cinnamon)

- Jam or Jelly

Glaze Recipe:

1 cup powdered sugar

1/4 teaspoon vanilla

3 - 4 tablespoons milk

Mix together, adding milk as needed.

That's it! The fun part of this recipe is trying out different fillings and toppings for the bread and coming up with completely different breads each time.

MHS Fall Choir Concert 2011

Last night I was able to attend Meridian High Schools Fall Choir Concert.

Brady was in choir his Freshman year but he hasn't been involved in choir again until this year. I have missed going to the concerts.

I enjoyed attending the concert. However, I get really frustrated EVERY TIME at the choice of music the director comes up with. It's not good music, or music that you can understand. I discussed this with Brady and he said the kind I want is "candy" music. Well, what is wrong with that? There is such great music out there that I don't understand picking music that the audience doesn't appreciate. The students must learn techniques and that is why they torture us with this kind of music. I just don't get it, because I love opera and classical music. I didn't even like the selections, so I wonder if the average person enjoyed it. I just don't understand why they don't sing better songs.

I'll quit complaining, because I did enjoy it. Here are the different choirs.

 New Dimensions, Jazz Choir.

I loved their outfits!

Jazz choir is always my favorite.

They sang:

"Come Fly with Me"

"Stardust"

"It Don't Mean a Thing"

Then the Ladies A Cappella Choir sang "Goody, Goody" while they choirs switched on stage.

 The next choir was the "Concert Choir".

They Sang:

"Hebrew Rounds"

"Down By the Riverside"

"Tama Tu"

"Showdown"

 Then the A Cappella Men's Choir sang while the choirs changed on the stage. They sang: "I've Got the World on a String"

 Then the Treble Choir sang the following songs:

"Psalm 100"

"Ubi Caritas"

"Good News"

 While the next choirs changed stage, Jake and Rachel did a song. It was pretty good!

Lastly Brady's A Cappella Choir sang:

"True Light"

"I Am in Need of Music"

"Doin' It A Cappella" 

Way Back Wednesday: Grandparents

This past week I have been really thrown into Family History. I've been contacted by distant relatives on my Mother's side and My Father's. I find it interesting how many people are getting into their own family histories and want to know where they came from. It's exciting!

I don't have a lot of information, but I'll share what I have.

While my mom was growing up, their home burned down 2 different times. Unfortunately when your home burns down, you lose histories, genealogy and photos.

Here is a history of their home burning down from my Mother's history that she wrote:

(Photo not from our history but found on the web. I'm a visual person and love pictures so I'm adding it for effect)

House burning down the first time from my mother's history:

The first thing I really remember was when I was 3 years old and our house burned down. I remember telling Leo to come see "pretty", and I showed him the whole ceiling in the kitchen was on fire. Leo locked Darrel and myself in the grainary so we would be safe. I can still see and hear our neighbor Tel looking for us. Tel might have been able to save something if he had known where we were. Everything we owned was gone. I was told we lived with my Uncle Rufus for a while. We had land by him and built a 2 room home there and another on the ranch. I really loved our ranch. There were lots of hills and a stream coming out of the hills. I used to try and catch water skippers in the stream where we got our water to drink and bathe in . We did not have running water or indoor plumbing.

House burned down the 2nd time:

The next thing I remember is a short time later when we were all in our home by my Uncle's house. Bonnie was healing from a car accident. My sister Jean and her baby Danny were at our house (her husband Glen was in the Navy) and Jean got me up to go to school. Jean had me come to the kitchen to show me what she had made me for lunch. We went to the kitchen area, she made me a gumdrop man with tooth picks and gumdrops. We looked up and the whole ceiling was on fire. I ran out of the house to my Uncle's house for help. I wasn't dressed yet and was only in my petticoat and bare feet. The school bus stopped and helped. I was very embarrassed that I was only in my petticoat in front of all the kids on the bus. We saved only what we could get out of the main part of the house, not anything that was in the attic.

After our house burned down all the people from Mapleton came and built us a new house. We had a house raising, everyone came and in a few days we had a new house. We never had electric lights in our home before, only a lantern for light. We still did not have a bathroom with running water, but we did have lights now. In fact, I was 17 years old when we finally got a bathroom in the house (1955).

In the Mapleton history book it says:

On 21 March 1941, the home and all the furnishing of Brother and Sister Henry Dursteler were burned. The ward turned out and helped build a new home for them.

Right now I have all of my Mom's black and white photos that I wanted to get scanned in and put in a book. I am starting to work on it and wanted to add them for my family and relatives. I love sharing family information with my extended family and photos are the best! Also my hope is that with this on my blog, it will be available to more relatives and be preserved.

 Grandma Clemma, Leo, Grandpa Henry, Darrel,  my mom Zoey and Bonnie in front.

 4 generation photo:  Joel Tudolph and son, Larry R. then Great Grandpa Rudolph Dursteler born 2 May 1862 Zurich Switzerland, died 11 June 1947 in Idaho. Next is my Grandpa and son to Rudolph - Heinrick (Henry) Rudolph Dursteler born 5 September 1890 in Idaho and died 19 June 1967 in Idaho. Photo taken at a Willow Flat Dursteler reunion 1942.

 I know a couple of people, but will fill in more when I talk to my mother.

Photo taken in front of home in Mapleton, ID about 1946 - 1948.

Tall boy in front of the tree is Leo, then Vinora, and Randall (not sure who the first 2 women are, one is probably Bonnie)

Front row with hat is Grandpa Henry, Jean and her son Danny (right above Jean in back of Grandma is Jean's husband Glen, then Grandma Clemma.

 In the middle is Great Grandpa Rudolph and Great Grand kids.

The photo is in front of home in Whitney, ID about 1946-47.
The children are Joel's kids: Jerry (1938), Larry 1937, Eugene left of Rudolf, Donna Lee (1944) in chair below Eugene (1941). Paul and Paulene (twins 1945) on grass to Rudolf's right. Vonazz holding baby. Glade next to here, Devon in chair, his twin sister Deon. 

 This is Grandma Clemma's kitchen and I remember it well. Grandma Clemma, then my dad Grant is looking through something, then my mom Zoey and my oldest sister Christine in the front.

 Grandma Clemma is sitting in a chair and her 2nd husband Elmer Neaf is in the plaid shirt on the couch. I don't know who anyone else is.

My Aunts and Uncles.
Leo and wife Shirley
Cora and Dale
Edwin (Elva (Ed's wife died about 1975 - as well as Joel)
Vinora and Randell

Photo about 1968. Looks like a campsite at Willow Flats. 

(Thanks to my cousin Larry for filling in the blanks on who are the people in the photos)

Jenny, Taylor and the Kids Visit

Last week my mom was in town for her annual doctor appointment. She likes her doctor here and hasn't established a new on in Eastern Idaho.

While she was here, my nieces Taylor, Jenny and Jenny's kids Kylee and Gabe came for a visit.

Gabe and Kylee

Taylor and Jenny.

I was happy that I had leftover crafts from my Primary Parties for Gabe and Kylee to work on.

They colored some leftover masks I had from last years party.

And they made finger puppets too. These are a couple of girls from last years Primary class showing the finger puppets we made. I also had bubbles and play doe for them to play with. It was lots of fun!

Gabe and Kylee don't know me very well, but I hope they had enough fun that they will come again to Aunt Sondra's house.

It was pure joy having them here.

Taylor is pregnant with her first child. We just found out what she is having. The ultrasound tech was the father's mom. They wanted to surprise Taylor with the sex of the baby and didn't tell her until the next day during a celebration. The mother ordered a cake with pink or blue in the middle. The cake was cut and Taylor is having a boy. We are all very excited for her.

I had to leave and go to a baptism for one of my primary children. Normally we have our baptisms in our church building, but for some unknown reason we had it at the stake house. I haven't been to a baptism in our stake house. It was really weird because the font is in the hallway - not the primary or relief society room, but the hallway.

An unusual thing happened while we were waiting for everyone to file into the Primary room to watch the baptism. We sat in the primary room and the folding curtain back wall is open to the hallway where the font is.

A child got loose from his parents and slipped into the font for a swim - church clothes and church shoes still on. It was shocking! They had one of the father's dressed in the white jumpsuit go in and grab him out. The boy didn't want to get out, he was having a great time swimming around. It was crazy and I'm sure he had a red butt when he got home.

It wasn't a big deal, but it sure will be a lasting memory for those kids who were baptized that day.

Harvest Dance Invitation

Last Saturday evening on October 8th, we were sitting around watching TV when there was a knock at the door.

I always yell, "Who is it?"

We don't answer the door after dark without checking.

There wasn't an answer, so I looked out the window and saw a treat on the front porch. I opened the door and said, Yea! a treat. I thought maybe it was a Halloween phantom treat that goes around the ward this time of year.

We read what the flag said ..... hmmmmm

  There is no army big enough to

stop me from asking you to harvest.

Brady ... I yelled... You have a treat.

He gently pulled it all apart, pumpkin cups filled with snicker candy bars with a flag sticking out of it.

 However, there was one flaw. There wasn't a name attached to the invitation to the Harvest Dance.

I told Brady to go outside and look around to see if we missed anything. He came back in and said he couldn't see anything.

Well, darn ... that's not good. Yikes! Who asked him?

Then there was a knock at the door. Brady answered the door and it was a friend who handed him an envelope.

Brady opened the letter and found out that:

Meridian High School wants you

Emily Smith

The mystery was solved and Brady was happy. He likes Emily and had planned on asking her to prom - but she beat him.

Another cool fact is that Emily was crowned the Princess at the Homecoming Dance. Brady went with Kara the Homecoming Queen and now he is going to the Harvest dance with Emily who was the Princess. I like royalty girls .. this is lots of fun!

Now the pressure was on Brady to come up with something fun in response to Emily's invitation. Harvest dance is a Girl ask Guy dance.

Because the cups were pumpkins, he thought about doing something pumpkiny (not a word - but you know what I mean).

He rushed out of the house to go rent the video Charlie Brown and the Great Pumpkin for some inspiration.

He ran out of the house and to his car - but ran into something along the path.

What was that? He came back into the house and grabbed a flash light.

It was a bunch of army men along the pathway that he blew through - knocking many over. We couldn't see it because it was too dark outside.

 This made the invitation have more meaning. It probably took her a long time to set each army man up on the sidewalk.

You can see our front door from here. Now we have lots of army men to play army with - LOL!

While Brady watched Charlie Brown and the Great Pumpkin a plan developed in his brain. These kids are creative!

He purchased 5 pumpkins and added eyes to them. He planned on a hunt for the great pumpkin (like an Easter egg hunt).

While watching the Charlie Brown movie, he loved that Snoopy is an army man who drives his dog house around shooting at the enemy. He thought that was perfect with the army theme on the invitation.

 Cute pumpkins!

Then he made a booklet to put all the clues together. Each of the 4 pumpkins had a clue and a couple of puzzle pieces that needed to be glued on a graph in the note book. There was also other clues from the encoded messages that would give her the answer.

 This is the first page of the booklet.

The rest are the clues and puzzle pieces in the envelope that went with each pumpkin.

 The 5th pumpkin was really hidden in the mail box with the last puzzle piece.

Here is the cute puzzle when put together. Of course it is a blond piano player (Brady) with the dancing happy Snoopy army man. Don't you love it?

I love the teenage years. It's a lot of fun to watch all this creativity.