Jamming

We bought a case of raspberries this week.  We decided to make some jam. We even had all the stuff we needed at home.

Wesley loved helping.

 The recipe called for 1 2/3 cups of prepared fruit, 2/3 cup of sugar, 2 TBSP instant pectin.

Easy as that!

 We froze some of the berries. I wish we had made more jam! It is so yummy!

I will definitely be making this again.

Classic Skating

The kids have loved going skating this summer.  

 Bensen even had some fun.

 Jaycee is getting pretty good.

 Wesley practices a lot and is getting much better.

 It has been a fun summer thus far.

Jaycees Baptism

Jaycee was baptized today. Our newest member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints.

 Its so weird to think we have a child old enough to be baptized.

We are so proud of Jaycee and her decision to be baptized. She is setting the best example to her little brothers.

We left the decision up to her, and there was never a second of hesitation.

 We did several family home evenings on baptism and the Holy Ghost, and the ward missionaries, Sister Jackie Poll and Sister Melissa Petersen came and taught Jaycee and Wesley a lesson.

The kids loved the lesson.

 She was baptized and confirmed by Mike. Grandpa Max and Grandpa Randy were her witnesses.

In the circle with Mike were Grandpa Randy, Todd, Grandpa Max, Lance, Tyson, Matt, Trevor, Spencer and Bishop Skeen.

 She had so much support at her baptism, there are so many that love her. Most of her extended family were able to make it. She also had both her primary teachers come, Dora Skeen and Susan Konchar, the Primary President, Rachel Reeve, the ward missionaries, Jackie Poll and Melissa Petersen, and Bishop Skeen.

 We love Jaycee so much! We are lucky to have her in our family. She is the best big sister, she is so helpful, and so funny.

Family Vacation, Homeward Bound, Part 10

Tuesday, June 30, 2015

We got up early and headed HOME! I miss it. We stopped at Martins Cove, in Wyoming, and had a picnic lunch. Then we walked through the visitors center. They have a quote from Langley Bailey up on the wall.

 It was very moving. I can't imagine what they had to go through. I am very grateful to them for their love of the Gospel and their perseverance.

 We had fun pulling the handcart around the little loop they had.

 We even found a toad.

 Then we were ready to hit the road again.

 We had 5 more hours when we left Martins Cove.

I feel we were very blessed and protected the whole trip, and we had perfect weather most of the trip and that we were able to travel safely. Truly Blessed.

The kids were great.  All that stress for nothing. This has been a great trip.  I'm so glad we were able to do this as a family.  Good times.  I hope they remember it and have good memories of it and of the time we spent together as a family.

Family Vacation, South Dakota, Part 9

Monday, June 29, 2015

This is what happens when the kids get in our bed, they kick us out!

 The van was acting a little funny so we drove back to Rapid City to get it looked at.  I accidentally took the scenic route...oops. On our way back we saw crazy horse again. This was the only picture I took of it.

 When we got back we went to the Flintstones Park.

 The first thing we did was ride a train that took us to this fun little place.

 Then we walked through Bedrock.

 We saw a lot of homes, cars and characters.

 Deno.

 I love my Family!

 Bensen had fun, but he is screaming in almost all of the pictures.

 Or running away.

 He wanted to be doing everything the older kids were doing.

 It's hard being little!

 Mt. Rockmore.

 Here's the whole street. They had a theater that was playing old Flintstones cartoons.

 We rode in this fun car.

 The park was fun, it had old school playground toys.

 They had a little show where these characters sung and played instruments.

 Just as we were getting ready to leave it started raining.

 We went into the gift shop hoping to wait out the storm, but it kept on strong.

We braved the rain and went to dinner at Pizza Works. Running from the car to the restaurant we got soaked! 

Bensen was so crazy.  He kept throwing his food on the ground, and screaming! The pizza was pretty good though. It stopped raining while we were eating.

When we got back to the Campground we went and played some mini golf.

 The kids had fun running around.

 Me and  Mike kept score, I believe he let me win by one. He's so sweet!

 We tried to do a couple of things, but everything closes early here. We ended up letting the kids swim for a little bit, before it closed at 7:30! What pool closes at 7:30...really?

But the kids had fun and Mike was a good sport again and got in with them.  He is such a good dad!

After we got all showered off we went to bed. Jaycee had to go to the bathroom in the night. She kept trying to put Mikes shoes on, then when we got outside she tried to sit down on the side of the van.  I had to keep telling her to hold it! The bathroom was a good distance away.  It was funny and aggravating all at the same time.