2008 BYU Graduate

Aaahhhh.....It is over! An enormous weight is now gone. Dreams do come true, but sometimes after blood, sweat and tears. After a rough couple of months, my kids can come out of hiding or prison, as they would describe it, and my husband can happily live with me again. Our house can finally be in order, and it has never felt so good. I am now a college grad at 35. The road was incredibly difficult and the journey long, but it is over. Now, let's celebrate! Disneyland anyone?

A giant among the trees

These pictures are so cool! It is called perspective distortion. Doesn't Kenadee look like a giant among the trees just bending down to scoop up the sun? Photography is so much fun!

Timber!,chasing the geese and catching the sun: a typical weekend?

Saturday

Who said Saturday's were for sleeping in! Believe me, this family was programmed to sleep in, but not this Saturday. We were up and movin'! We had a birthday party to attend, and I had my final capstone course papers to get off in the mail. For me, there was a great sense of relief, and for the first time in a long time, I felt like I could do something fun. I said, "Hey, why don't we go see a movie!" The response...."Dad's going to chop down a tree!" Spencer's reply...."This is going to be totally awesome!" He said this with such enthusiasm, I wondered if we ever had done anything fun with the kids.

So off they went, chopping away. Everything was interesting and all until Shawn began demanding "Water! Water!" as if he were making his last requests before death.

Spencer, ever so eager to help with the hefty task or possibly a little concerned about his father's health, kept asking every couple minutes, "Dad, don't you need your saw?"

The response...."No....got it....were's my water!"

"Dad, are you ok?"

Timber! Shawn survived and the tree's down, but still in the yard. Any bets on how long it will be there?

Sunday

Shawn has created a great routine of taking evening walks around the lake by our home. The kids seem to thoroughly enjoy chasing and spooking the geese.

Shawn also got this awesome picture where it appears that Kenadee is pushing down the sun. Kind of cool, huh?

Walks around the lake

Family Fun
Nice colors
No comment.
You have to love the blue eyes.
One of my favorite things about living in the south are the warm evenings. Lately the kids and I have taken to walking after dinner. There is a loop around the lake that is just over 3 miles, the perfect length for Dad to get some exercise and to get the kids tired out. The temperature cools off enough that it is not uncomfortable, still humid and certainly not jacket weather. The kids love seeing the flock of canadian geese flying and swimming, the frogs, the fireflies,the occasional deer, fish jumping and so on. The sounds from all the bugs are amazing. I look forward to watching the kids have fun, taking pictures of the children and seeing the colors of the sunset each night. This is a beautiful place and we are fortunate to live here.

Enjoy the photos.

Come back Auntie and little cousins....we miss you!

My sister, Brenda, and her two cute girls, Morgan and Ava, stopped to visit while passing through town, headed from North Carolina to Arizona. What a brave soul she is! Brian, her husband, is a Harrier jet pilot, and their family is on their way to be stationed in Yuma, Arizona.
Thanks for stopping by! It was fun to catch up and the girls never turn away a model willing to undergo a few sparkle applications or major makeover (preferrably). They love hangin out with their little cousins. Wish you were closer!
Be safe! Love ya!

Recipes

Meals in the Telford home have become quite boring. So, I am on a mission to find some new, great ones! My goal is that my family will wish to stay home and eat, rather than go to McDonald's or BurgerKing (...ughhh....I know!). I swear, I'm not that bad of a cook! (Bloggers who have a different opinion- zip it!) And, as my journey goes....I will post the recipe and where I found it. Sounds like fun, doesn't it!

Last night, we cooked up some Sweet and Sour Chicken over rice, and I think we found a winner!!! My friend, Tauna, sent me a family member's website, www.homebasedmom.com (great site, thanks Tauna!)and I am already eyeing a dozen more recipes to try. This was the first...and very yummy. However, next time, I will reduce the amount of pineapple added. If you love pineapple, you will love it because it is definately overloaded! I may increase the soy sauce as well. Overall, it cooked up beautifully, and most of my kids ate it all (that is a great sign)!

Sweet and Sour Chicken
www.homebasedmom.com
serves 4

4 boneless, skinless chicken breasts, cut into cubes

6 tablespoons flour seasoned with 1/2 tsp salt and 1/2 tsp pepper

1/4 cup olive oil

1/8 cup cornstarch

1 teaspoon salt

1/4 teaspoon pepper

1/4 cup brown sugar

1/4 cup vinegar

1 20 oz. can pineapple tidbits (reserve juice)

1/2 cup pineapple juice (use reserved juice)

1/2 cup chicken broth

1 tablespoon soy sauce

1 red bell pepper, sliced

1/4 cup onion, sliced

Coat chicken in flour and fry in olive oil until browned. Drain and set aside. In same skillet, combine cornstarch, salt, pepper, brown sugar, vinegar, pineapple juice, chicken broth and soy sauce. Cook and stir until boiling. Reduce heat and cook for 2 minutes. Add chicken, peppers, onions, and pineapple. Cook until heated through. Serve over rice. Enjoy!

This year for the 4th, we had a great pool side BBQ and swim at our friends, the Fye's. For years, we have been attending Provo's SPECTACULAR Stadium of Fire; however, due to various reasons, including our recent move, it just wasn't possible this year. BUMMER big time for the kids since Miley Cyrus performed this year. Ouch kids....I know it hurts! Regardless, they had a blast swimming and playing with friends. Thank you Fye's!! Once again, you saved the day! Afterwards, we watched fireworks shot off near Ole Miss' baseball stadium. I would say we had a great day!
On a more serious note, I am so grateful to live in land with freedom to laugh, play, work, worship.....LIVE with peace and prosperity! Most days I do not really recognize how blessed I am to have those abilities, and I should. Thank you to the brave men and women both past, present and future who make such a sacrifice for US. I am indeed, proud to be an American!

2008 World Series Champs!

This summer, Shawn and I were able to participate in a co-ed slow pitch softball league. Here in Oxford, many small businesses will sponsor a team, and FNC once again sponsored the "Powerstrokes"....that's us! Goooo......Powerstrokes!! Ra! Ra!


Now, I played first base because 1. they HAD to play 5 men 5 women; 2. team desperation 3. the playing position would be kept in an approx. 10ft radius, thus decreasing my need to run fast and jump high, thus, decreasing the likelihood of calling 911, CPR and cardiac arrest and 4. they noticed the unbelievable ability to reflect the sun off of my legs to create a glare in each batter's eyes resulting in 3 up, 3 down. Unfortunatly, it wasn't because of my amazing ability to leap high, dive low and fire an amazing throw to anywhere infield, although I'd like to think that.

Honestly, I really was a little freaked out at times to play this position, especially when these burly guys would get up to bat. I knew, if they hit a line drive toward me, I would surely die or the very least have my teeth knocked out. And I knew, that their goal was to hit the ball to the most vulnerable position on field. Yep, that would be me!

I think Shawn was worried for me as well. After each batter, he would ask ME, "Are you ready?" What about the other 8 players on the field? And each time that I happened to get a hit, I would hear this, "RUN, RUN, RUN, RUN.....!!!!" Ok, what else do you think I'm going to do? And do you really think that I could possibly run faster? I already need a full day's bedrest and a tube of icyhot after each sprint to first.

And yes, I did play, but 20 years ago! And my age....oh my! Most of these teams were young, buff college age machos with their cute girlfriends. Then, there is Shawn and I.... a little out of shape (ok ALOT out of shape), a little overweight (Just a little ok...we're trying to keep our self confidence!) with reflexes...much slower, running, panting, joints creeking, sweating like pigs, always in the "ready position" but only because this was the closest thing to sitting down between plays...... not to mention the handful of kids running around, laughing, fighting, begging, crying, whining- with lots of dirt mixed in....yes, those would be ours!

Shawn played the position of pitcher. He did very well, only walking a couple of batters, snagging some infield balls and withstanding the blows from runners coming to home, especially one not so gentle "Miss" who came thundering home (catch my drift). This was a great opportunity especially as he is still recovering from shoulder surgery. Great job Babe!
Honestly, it was so much fun playing with Shawn and on top of that we both survived. We are already looking forward to next year, after training that is.

GoooOOOO....Powerstrokes!

P.S. Thanks Kenadee for our great photos!