Good times

The kids put on a puppet show for family home evening.
I love it when the kids give the lesson and come up with
creative ways to make gospel learning fun!!

Ah! Good times!

Apples, apples, apples

Janei, Lieschen, and I got together and had a little fun with apples
this week. We played with a couple of new recipes for bottling apples,
making pie filling, and apple jelly. Of course, Daniel & Janei's daughter
did an awesome job of coring and peeling all the apples.
Us moms struggled to keep pace with those two!

apple jelly

Adding apples to our stash of peaches and pears.
Canning with friends is so much better than canning alone.

Brothers

David & Bryan

Salt Lake City, UT

photo taken Monday, September 28, 2009

3 generations of Kemps

Grandpa Kemp, Bryan, Terry, David

Orem, UT

photo taken Monday, September 28, 2009, 7:42am

Waxing crafty

Because Jared's teacher is pregnant, the class hosted a baby shower for her. Charlotte & I put together these pacifiers as party favors. We used glue like frosting from Michael's, lifesavers, gumdrops and ribbon. Of course, I "borrowed" the idea from last year's room mom.

(Hint~let the frosting dry overnight before packaging them up.)

He's a bear!

Daniel fought the bear (aka Bryan) and emerged victorious!

Daniel has officially earned his bear badge.

Way to go Daniel!!

Got milk?

Jared & Daniel sporting milk mustaches.

Good times!

Sunday afternoons

Sunday afternoon naps are the best!

It's a party!

Once again the boys did a fantastic job with their reading goals.

Way to read Daniel & Jared!!

the Fam & Chris showing off their oreo smiles

Peaches & Pears Galore

A friend told me about a great deal on fruit. So, I called my pal Charlotte and together we decided to hop in on the deal. We bottled, we jammed, we buttered, we wanted to cry but didn't, we laughed & joked, and overall had a good 'ol time. Our kids loved the play dates, our husbands supported our crazy idea (& even helped!), and now we get to enjoy the yummy 'fruits of our labors'!

Day 3: Peach Jam & Pear Butter

(I forgot to get a picture of what we did on days 1 & 2 at Charlotte's.

Hey Charlotte, wanna do it again next year?

Just Because...

Thank you sweetie for a lovely surprise!!

Tender Mercies

A couple of days ago Bryan came home from his presidency meeting and mentioned a video that Pres. Theis recommended we all watch. So we did. As we watched the video my eyes filled with tears as I realized, I know them! Victor and Katrina are an amazing couple. I'll always be grateful for how they touched my life when I was a BYU student.

Our cuties

Thanks Janei for a morning of picture taking fun!!

our mouse babies

handsome oldest brother

handsome older brother

the princess aka pretty girl

Trip to the Gila Valley

Grandpa & Grandma had to head home on Monday. Since it was Labor Day, we thought it might be a good opportunity to take a day trip down to the Gila Valley. While we were there we drove by the temple site, drove up Mt. Graham for a picnic, and visited a lovely orchard with all kinds of yummy apples. What a great Labor Day!

checking out the progress on the new temple

at the orchard after picking apples

Grandparent visit

Grandpa & Grandma Flores dropped in for a visit on Saturday. It's always so nice when they come to town. The kids love it!! As always, Grandpa brought along his box of science experiments and the boys had some serious science fun. In the afternoon, we watched the Pink Panther with Grandma. We ended the day with a competitive game of Monopoly Jr.

On Sunday, we had a very inspiring family home evening about the Prophet Joseph Smith Jr. As a little girl I interviewed my dad's mom for a 6th grade history project. Tho it didn't realize it at the time, that experience has become one of my most treasured memories with Grandma Sara. I really wanted our kids to have a similar opportunity for a great memory with their Grandpa. So, at the conclusion of family home evening we pulled out the mp3 and recorded my dad bearing his testimony of the Prophet Joseph Smith Jr. It was an amazing experience! I'm so grateful we were able to do it.

playing Monopoly Jr.

Grandpa with his grandbabies

Singing during family home evening

Camping Trip

We've had an incredibly busy summer and didn't have a chance to squeeze in a family camping trip. This weekend was our first 'non busy' weekend so we packed up the car and away we went. We didn't go far just over to Gardner Canyon. The weather was perfect!! It kept threatening to rain while we were setting up camp and we were getting a little anxious cooking in the rain. Thankfully, it didn't rain until well after dinner when we were settled for the night. In the morning after breakfast we took a short hike and enjoyed Heavenly Father's creations. There's something about being in nature it's just so calm and peaceful. It's rejuvenating!

Jared with his new cool stick &

Daniel displaying his freshly caught crickets.

Rain

It rained this afternoon and we love the rain!

The kids put on their swimsuits and set out to have some fun.

It was fun until the rain turned to hail.

Then it was not so fun anymore.

It's a party!

Because Daniel & Jared were very diligent readers this month and reached their AR goals, we decided to do something special. Bryan, Sara, and I decorated the house and surprised them with a party! We had root beer floats for our after school snack followed by yummy pizza, mango sodas, 7 layer dip & chips, cookies, and chocolate eclair cake. Yum!! In the evening the F. family came over to celebrate with us. The kiddos played some serious Wii while the parental units hung out in the kitchen and hit the board games. Fun was had by all!!

Thanks boys for giving us a reason to celebrate!!

OUR FANTASTIC READERS!!

Cub Scout Indiana Jones Pack Meeting

Daniel, decked out as 'Indiana Jones',

receives his religious square knot.

He's worked really hard this summer and it shows!

Sara

The other day Sara was running through the living room carrying the bathroom step stool. When I asked her where she was going, she replied "I climb a mountain"

Sara climbing her "mountain" aka the changing table.

Fun with food

The trifle I made for the Scentsy party. It was just so pretty that I had to take a picture. Sometimes, a girl just has to toot her own horn. Hee-hee

Cub Scout Summertime Pack Meeting

The boys receiving their chess belt loops.

Earlier in the month, Daniel & Daniel F. taught the rest of the pack how to play chess.

Daniel in a shoot out to get his awards.
He received his chess belt loop, leave no trace badge, world conservation badge, and a red bead.

Way to go!! We're so proud of you!

First Day of School

Ready to go!

1st day of 4th grade!

1st day of 1st grade!

Cheese

Sara

loves

her

cheese!

Chess

Daniel really enjoys playing chess. So to fulfill one of his bear requirements he and his buddy taught the rest of the cub scout pack how to play chess. Daniel and Daniel F. were both part of the chess team at school so they know the game well. They got together a couple of times to plan the activity. On the big day, they hauled all their chess boards over to the church. They had10 between the two of them! When their fellow scouts arrived, they divided them into two groups with each Daniel teaching a group. I was so impressed with they way they followed their outline and the patience they demonstrated in teaching. They did a fantastic job and every boy there earned their chess belt loop!! Way to go!!

Nightly ritual

Sara love to snuggle. Part of her bedtime routine is a little snuggle time with mom on the couch. I love our little snuggle bug!!

4th of July Flag Raising Ceremony

We love the 4th of July!! In the morning, Daniel participated in the flag raising ceremony at the church. Then we enjoyed a yummy pancake breakfast and chatting with friends. In the evening, we drove over to the radio controlled airplane airport to see the cool planes light up the night sky. Good times!!

Daniel looking sharp

A new do

After some thought and a desire to be a little more giving I decided to grow out my hair and donate it. I opted to donate to Locks of Love. I can honestly say, I'm glad to have done it. Even though,I've never had short hair and getting used to it is going to take some time.

before

after

Happy Birthday!!

Daniel celebrated his birthday with a little back yard fun. For his party we had a few relay races, a shaving cream adventure, launched alka seltzer rockets, cake & ice cream, and the company of good friends.

Happy Birthday Daniel!!

shaving cream fun

rocket launching

cake and ice cream

good friends.