the day the waitress told us she looked good naked {the scarecrow walk}

-thursday october 17th, 2013-

the walk where i decided we needed to move to park city.

but by the end, 

we were freezing our buns, 

and i changed my mind.

i give you,

a 

SCARECROW

photo gallery...

the skiing scarecrows

were my favorites.

only in park city:)

imagine a hillside full of yellow brushstrokes.

that was probably a week ago.

wah!

and then we took the kids for hot chocolates at mcdonald's, 

where the waitress told us she was a gymnast in her youth,

who never had kids,

and still looked great with her clothes all off.

true story.

the ladies and chase all sat in our own booth,

and we put the kids in their own booth behind us.

with halloween oreos for everyone to pass around.

relaxing lunch with kids on a whole new level:)

so relaxing that max spilled her hot chocolate all over the table,

and i didn't even know it.

and brennan and blake wrestled on their side of the booth,

and no one but us could really see them,

although we pried them off of each other every 5 minutes or so,

just to be grown up like for a minute,

or when one of them punched each other in the crotch and someone started crying.

whichever.

i also learned that the southwest chicken salad my mom ordered 

was better than the chicken bacon ranch salad i ordered.

but that i would have been better off just ordering a hot chocolate for lunch instead.

except brooke's was watered down.

i always forget how much i love park city.

sometimes nostalgia just isn't practical {PEACH SALSA RECIPE!!!}

canned peach salsa!

{you can make this without the vinegar and eat within 3 days if you don't want to can it.}

INGREDIENTS

7 cups ripe {but not over-ripe} peaches, peeled, diced, and set in colander to drain

1 1/4 cup red onion, diced

4 jalapeno peppers, seeded and diced

1 red bell pepper, diced

1/2 cup fresh cilantro, loosely packed and chopped

1/2 cup white vinegar

2tbls honey

2 tsp cumin

1/2 tsp cayenne pepper

DIRECTIONS

1. cop and prepare all ingredients.

2. combine them in large cooking pot, set aside.

3. bring your canner to almost boiling 

{pour a 1/4 cup vinegar in your canning bath water 

so your jars come out squeaky clean}, 

get your jars and rings hot, lids ready.

CLICK HERE for a more detailed canning HOW TO.

4. bring the salsa to a boil, then turn the heat back and let simmer for 3-5 minutes, no longer {don't want your peaches to get mushy and over cooked}.

5. set your hot jars out now, transfer salsa to hot jars, wipe rims, place lids and rings on.

6. process in a boiling hot water bath for 10 minutes {you can add 10 min. for salt lake county elevation or wherever you are if you want to be a rule follower, BUT i decided not to last year so my peaches wouldn't get mushy, and i didn't have any problems with sealing and storing. proceed at your own risk:)}

yields 4-5 pints.

**this recipe has quite the punch in the heat department, 

so if you want is less hot, back off of the cumin and jalapenos.**

and how do i chop all of those onions in peace you ask?

the way i have for last 6 years.

GOGGLES:)

.

.

.

.

.

i KNOW i'm not alone.

goggles courtesy of my high school swim team.

it appears my face has grown though,

because they pinch my nose more than they used to.

so totally worth it.

pain is gain.

pain is gain.

except next time,

i'm just going to get my grown up goggles out.

because

sometimes nostalgia just isn't practical.

does it come in any other colors than blue?

painters tape.

the race track gift that keeps on giving.

that's what i was thinking last friday.

body armor shields are this fall's latest fashion.

i was informed.

they tore it all up from the floor,

pasted it onto their bodies {no hair was harmed in the making of these pictures},

and then...

wait for it...

wait for it...

they threw it all away. 

i know,

GENIUS.

that painter's tape.

we're gonna need to buy another roll.

'cause january is a long cold month in the great state of Utah.

february and march too.

does it come in any other colors than blue?

the little witch

watch out,

she's a hitter.

she can bring a grown boy to tears.

i swear.

where troubles melt like lemon drops.

"you're my girl mom." -brennan 5.7 yrs old

...

 forget the tomato soup and grilled cheese on the stove.

there's a rainbow 

outside our window:)

"Somewhere over the rainbow, way up high

There's a land that I've heard of once in a lullaby.

Somewhere over the rainbow, skies are blue

And the dreams that you dare to dream,

Really do come true.

Someday I'll wish upon a star

And wake up where the clouds are far behind me.

Where troubles melt like lemon drops,

Away above the chimney tops,

That's where you'll find me.

Somewhere over the rainbow, blue birds fly

Birds fly over the rainbow

Why then, oh why can't I?

If happy little bluebirds fly beyond the rainbow

Why, oh why can't I?"

"Somewhere Over The Rainbow" -Judy Garland

...

i'm sure gonna miss that garden this winter...

CLICK:)

learning to read over here.

exciting business!!!

bat

cat

mat

pat

{grandpa was so excited that brennan can read his name}

sat

hat

fat

nat

{we didn't worry about the "g" there}

then he moved onto

pot

dot

then

mop

top

stop

at which point he told me he was done.

and that a 4 letter word was super great reading.

a BIG word.

so fun to watch him go.

and that darn letter C.

not even individual enough to make it's own sound.

i know, C, sometimes we all struggle with that.

but really, you have to borrow K and S?

at least X combines them both.

i'm having flashbacks of LIT1 in college with missy...

hardest class in my entire college career.

with the greatest teacher ever.

mr. allen.

it was just that it required 6 units of work,

but you only got 2 units of credit.

i still have nightmares that i have to take the LIT1 state exam again,

and i haven't studied for it.

that i have forgotten all of the material from when it took the class.

b/c i took it 8 years ago.

or something.

LIT 1.

traumatizing.

that's we what call that.

boy,

i'm sure glad i had to take it.

and boy,

i'm sure glad linsey's mom dropped off these cards to help me remember why i took it.

because there's nothing more amazing than watching your child learn to read.

CLICK:)

Hey Dad

Hey Dad,
Remember last time you were here to ski,
and you slept without a pillow on the guest bed for 4 days,
because I forgot to put one out,
and you just thought I didn't have one?
Except I had two pillows in the hall closet right outside of your room the entire time.
But you're just so mellow and easy going,
that you didn't care.
Because you don't like to cause a fuss.
And I was so busy with the kids that I didn't notice it
until I went in on the last day and realized there was no pillow on your bed.
Well guess what?
Today, the kids and I went to target to buy Sean some razors to keep his head a smooth as a baby's bottom,
and we bought you a brand new pillow.
I put it in the hall closet right outside of Chase's room for you.
Left it in the plastic and everything.
Mostly because I wanted it to stay brand spanking new for you,
and I'm a little bit lazy with things like that.
This way I for sure know my kid's paws will stay off it.
Also, I washed all of the sheets and made the bed.
Can't believe I'm so ahead of things.
I know.
Love,
Emily