July Fun

happy birthday derf. He is an official speed limit now.

josh and caraline

our favorite campsite at the northslope.

4-wheeler parking lot

a favorite activity, passed down by grandpa O. Horseshoe tournaments.

All the guys and caraline played many rounds of horseshoes.

Mr. B getting caught up on reading. He's always reading.

This was Limi's first camping trip. She is not fond of mosquitos or cold nights.

Crafting day. Nat was very generous and brought up her beads. The girls spent several hours creating earrings, bracelets and girl time talk.

Mr.M. (K's special friend) was able to get Limi to go four-wheeling with him.

Duncan was on dog patrol. One morning Duncan decided to go jogging and Limi came off her leash and went after him. She only ran from camp two times.

Duncan

Clint==sorry the camera and operator was not cooperating.

Mr.B.

Fred getting ready to start carving.

Clint being hung up at camp.

Each summer we try and get in a few camping trips. This year we were able to secure our favorite spot in the Uintahs. Most everyone was able to see moose, elk or deer. Limi tried to dig up a pot gut hole and there was lot's of laughter around the campfire. We were able to try a new treat over the fire. Caraline shared this recipe with us. Place a marshmallow on a roasting stick, wrap a biscuit around it and slowly roast until golden brown, then roll in butter and cinnamon and sugar. We decided this was a must from now on. Another favorite treat in the dutch oven is to place foil in oven, cover bottom with pecan frosting, place bits of choc/chips in biscuit's, fold over and then place biscuit's on top of pecan frosting. Cook until golden brown. Invert rolls on plate and serve. This is our dutch oven version of sticky buns. Happy Summertime to you all.

Limi

Limi gets so anxious when fred comes home. She literally runs to him and showers him with kisses. If he leaves out the door she is in the window watching for him to return.

She is begging for attention from anybody in the family. Josh tries to teach her new tricks.

Limi is being prepped for a photo shoot. We have had Limi for nearly a year and she certainly has become a part of the family. WE are getting used to her though some family members do not enjoy that she licks their toes. One afternoon she decided to lick Fred's entire leg.

Our neighbors little dog for sadly hit by a car today and killed in front of them. It was very tragic. He is now buried in our yard and a funeral was held with roses draping the area of rest. Jack was a good dog and he played with me one child commented, there were also words like: Are there toys in heaven? Does Jesus have toys? Heaven is in the ground. Char, is jesus fixing jack? I said probably so and he's running all around up there. He then asked me why his body was in the dirt.

He also wanted to know if Jesus had lot's of grass cuz Jack likes to poop a lot. Little Gracie prayed that Jesus would fix Jack. It was so sad to be a part of the tragic accident of our neighbor's dog, jack. Made me appreciate our Limi just that much more and how grateful we are for her companionship.

Thanks to the great men in my life

Just a quick thank you to all the great men in my life. I love and appreciate all that you do.

Happy Men's Day!!!!

Once again......

I hope that I don't kill them this year. It's been a long time since I actually went out and purchased flowers. I planted gerber daisie's and impatients. The hanging baskets came from a local nursery that just recently opened up. I'm grateful for the beauty that the flowers provide in the yard. Hopefully I will remember to water them and the sun won't bake them. Happy June Day.

YUM STRAWBERRIES

Sorry for the blurry picture. Summer is officially here!! We are enjoying strawberries from our garden and the peas are almost ready to eat as well. Thanks to Derf for working so hard in our garden. There is nothing that tastes as well as freshly picked produce.

Blakester

The Graduates from CHS, Go Falcons!!!

Blakester and his buddies from school.

Mr. CHS!! Way to go Blake!!

More friends enjoying the refreshments after seminary graduation.

Blakester holding his three-year certificate from JR AFROTC.

Not many years ago our family and friends wondered what we were up too when we decided to add to our family through adoption. A dark haired, dark eyed little boy from a country far away came into our lives at the age 4 1/2. Little did we know then what a great young man he would become and will continue to become. Thanks for putting up with us Blake!!. Blakester was stubborn (fitting of a Carlson) and overcame all the odds against him and proved himself by working hard because he wanted to. Congrats to Blakester. You are truly deserving of all the honors bestowed upon you. We love you....the family.

Thanks

Thanks to my husband and children for their love and support this mother's day. I am blessed to be surrounded by Loving and patient family members. It was so sweet to have teenagers clean the kitchen before and after dinner. I enjoyed the neck massage and brushing of hair by a teenager boy while we watched bride wars and bedtime stories. I appreciated the homemade card and special 'licorice' treat, the spa kit, flowers which the boys picked out all by themselves.
I appreciated my husband for helping to bring it all together and for spending time as a family today. I also enjoyed being able to take a nap. I am mindful of the influence of all the wonderful mothers and mom's in my life. It was great to be able to talk with Grandma O. Thanks to each of my children and husband who also spoke to her. I miss Nila and thought of her today. I am so thankful that she raised such a wonderful son and that he still carries on some of her qualities. (Like finding the Easter candy yesterday that he had bought months ago.) May all mothers and birth mothers and those who nurture children to be their best enjoy this day and everyday of the year.

Taffy Pull

Mr. M has the nickname of "teflon" hands. the taffy rarely sticks to his hands while pulling it.

Clint and Nat showing us how to pull taffy.

opps....that is not coming from where you think. Actually when pulling taffy it is best to not use so much butter. Clint to Nat's rescue.

before and after

the entire right side received some damage.

Wish this was a close up. Lot's of scrapes to the bike, some broken and bent parts.

actually this is the before picture taken about 3 minutes before the mishap occurred. J was just pulling out of the driveway and had started to accelerate when his back tire slipped. He tried to keep the bike from going down but was unlucky there. He put his foot down to try and stop the crash and had no luck with that. Gratefully the bike bounced up and he was able to clear his leg and from there I understand that he flattened out his body and rode with the bike down the road for about thirty feet. He had all of his protective gear on which I am sure help to lessen the injuries to his body. He must have landed on his knee because it was very bruised and swollen with a minor scrape on it. He also has some road rash on his side which is now healing nicely and a sore foot. Not a fun ordeal, especially because he just had detailed the bike and is trying to sell it. Only body damage to the bike and it can be fixed. Quoting Josh, "My bike can be replaced but my life can't."

Prom 2009

It was a very poofy dress. Steak dinner served at our favorite restaurant....home.

Posing with Mr. B before he leaves to pick up his date.

Weird Dream

I very seldom remember my dreams and wish that sometimes I would just keep a pad of paper and pen handy to record some of them. However, this morning it is different. I decided to come and post it quickly before I forgot it. Now this dream isn't extraordinary but remembering it is!! I'm still pretty young but at times I've sure got that old-timers things going on and I forget a lot. Watch out children you may have to start taking care of me in a few years. HA HA

I am at a security checkpoint, the kind that you would find at an airport. I am going through this check point hoping to meet up with my family and friends who are waiting nearby at the Chuck-a-rama. (I worked there for 2 and one half years while in high school) I go down the escalator and through the check point, take off my shoes that have a teal stripe in them and go through the x-ray machine. Upon my exit I go to find my shoes and discover that they are not there. I am then sent to the "pile" to look through. This is the place where people leave their belongings behind. In my mind I'm thinking who would leave their stuff behind at a security check point? Strange. I look around to discover baby clothes, shoes, blankets and other items.
No shoes. I ask someone for help and I'm directed upstairs to where they take the leftovers and sort through them. Upon my arrival at this point I find that everything is neatly stacked and now all the shoes are paired up and in boxes, the clothes have all been folded. I look and look and cannot find my shoes. I'm told that I will not leave without shoes. That's real assuring to know that I can pick someone else's shoes. Where are my shoes? I search and search. About this time I am half awake and half sleeping and I'm cannot even remember what shoes I had on. I had looked at so many of them I was really losing my mind. Were they my old camping tennis shoes? Or were they my teal pearl izumi shoes that squeak when I walk. I determined they were not there so I kept going down the escalator looking and up to the other area and look. I repeated this cycle several times. Yeah it's like one of the those dreams that you keep going in circles or running and can never catch up to your destination. Finally I was allowed into another area.....this time it was the area where the employees stash the good stuff that has been left behind. I asked a lady if they were going to donate this to charity or just claim it for themselves? I was told that I was rude. The ladies all had black wigs on and looked alike in this area. Why? I don't know, they reminded me of Diana Ross and Supremes. I was finally given a pair of shoes. They didn't match of course. I had one white thin looking type of my left foot and then on my right foot I was wearing a gold adidas shoe. They were too small and at that point I heard my cell phone beep and that was what woke me up. Weird

Conclusion:
I don't really care about shoes and maybe I should purchase some new casual shoes for work.
I went to a baby shower last night and there were lots of clothes and blankets.
I can never catch up with my mind.

Link to sneak peek!!

Here is the link to see more of the photos our sweet Sushi-Mama took of our family.http://www.blessedlifephoto.blogspot.com Enjoy.

Picture Day Fun

Just some of the candid shots from our fun family pictures taken on our anniversary. More to come. Thanks again Julie for doing this for our family. Love to al

Happy St. Patricks Day

On this day 26 years ago, Fred and I were in Boston celebrating St. Patricks Day and on our honeymoon. It was alot of fun and I enjoy wearing the green on this day. At a public school there is much excitement and the kids are happy (well if they don't get pinched) and involved in many "lucky" activities. Our family feels a special connection on this day as Fred served his mission in Ireland. This morning, the Today Show was broadcasting from Ireland and I'm sure Fred would have loved to have seen all the beauty of the country.

I like to wear some green and have a special headband that has beaded shamrocks on it. When I wear it I look like I have two green ears on top of my head. The students love it and it's just a fun tradition. Today one of the kindergartners asked me what was on my head and I responded that I was wearing shamrocks. His comment back to me was, "You look like a forest!" Funny, Funny, funny. Never been told I looked like a forest before. I hope that all of you have some luck in your day. Happy St. Patricks Day.

Celebrating 26 years together.

Well he still loves me even if I snore loud at night and wake him up.
He still loves me when I forget where I put his papers.
He still loves me and let's me have scrapbooking shopping sprees.
He is patient when I roll his four=wheeler.
He is even more patient when I drew out a deer tag on Deseret Lands and we only hunted there for a few hours.
He loves me even if I can't see when backing up and I hit a red car and smashed the window to the camper shell.
He still loves me even if I can't pull a car out of snow and can't hear him yelling to stop cause the car door is open and I'm pulling it in the oppositive direction.
He loves me even if I ask him several times to repeat what he just said.
He loves me in spite of trying to run a fireworks business and we didn't agree. Sorry to neighbors and family over that one.
I love it that he calls me the boss, because I really am.
I appreciate that he lets me color my gray hair.
We may not see agree on many things. One thing is for certain. We've managed to love each other through everything for 26 years and look forward to eternity.

Happy Anniversary Fred. I love you more today than ever before.

A special thanks to Julie for helping to capture this day on film. It was so great. I really appreciate all of your efforts. The best gift today was being together with family. I love you all and may you be as blessed as Fred and I are.

Are you Game?

(To all my talented friends and family members. No more hiding behind the "I don't have talent or I don't Have the time to do something for someone else! Join this challenge. I am really excited and hope you will be to. Get the creative juices flowing and follow the rules below. What a great way to share with others!!! ....Thanks, Char)


ARE YOU GAME?
The first three people to respond to this post will get something made by me! My choice. For you. This offer does have some restrictions and limitations:
1- I make no guarantees that you will like what I make!
2- What I create will be just for you.
3- It'll be done this year
4- You have no clue what it's going to be.
5- I reserve the right to do something extremely strange.


The catch is that you must repost this on your blog and offer the same to the first 3 people who do the same on your blog. The first 3 people to do so and leave a comment telling me they did win a FAB-U-LOUS homemade gift by me! Oh, and be sure to post a picture of what you win when you get it!

Who's in?

Thanks to Crazytown and her friend Angela for the idea. This sounds like fun.

PS I love to craft. I love to sew, scrapbook and do other handiwork. I've got some great ideas and my youngest wants to help thus creating another bonus of bonding time with her.....so come on you can do it to!!! for Baker4...yeah I can do guy things to!!!!

Look at those sad eyes

I hardly get any time to blog anymore. When I come home from work the teenagers want to use the computer, when they are done Derf is home and he gets on the computer and stays for hours. He used to complain that I was always on the computer. NoT.....people Derf is a ebay junkie. Anyhow as I try and squeeze a post in this morning I am brain dead and only have an update of the dog. Now don't get me wrong she has bonded to her best friend quite well and is back to her old tricks. We really liked it and didn't like it when she was so sick. Here is a picture of poor Limmie after a visit to the vet. Look at her sad eyes, she is really looking for some major sympathy. She did not like the bandage on her leg and it was a matter of minutes before the cotton ball was out and then she chewed away at the wrap. That didn't take long either. This morning she is whining due to the fact that derf went to work. She goes to the window looks, she waits at the door, she goes down the hall and scratches at our door to see if he is there. No luck Limmie you are stuck with me. Poor, sad, dog. not really. She is getting as spoiled as the rest.
Happy Day. PS....We have new callings. Ward activities Chairpeople. Send any successful ideas our way. We'll be needing them.

Happy Birthday Kallee

singing? pretending to sing? Yeah for Kallee

Duncan's family

Josh loves to call Kallee goofer

celebrating Kallee's birthday !! Both families came together. Now the list:

23 reasons to love Kallee

1. Your name is fun to say backwards and will get your attention in a crowd. eellak

2. You have been a songbird from a very little age and have provided us with much entertainment.

3. You are happy (most the time) and love to laugh.

4. You are a good cook.

5. I love the rerun movies that you and Josh do

6. You created lots of fun home movies shows for us to watch.

7. You were blessed with "power" to marry josh and jerrica when they were five. You then decided to give your brother a blessing. funny memory

8. You and Nat were able to dress your brother up in bras and skirts and then get him to dance with you on the fireplace hearth.

9. You are great with children.

10. You were our tom-boy turned beauty.

11. You are a very tough player on the soccer field.

12. You put up with your dad being your coach and held your own.

13. You've always had strong desires to do what was right.

14. You married Mr. Right and we are very grateful he is taking good care of you.

15. You still love us in spite of what happened to the bug

16. You have a beautiful voice.

17. You style hair for others and don't charge for it.

18. You like to be silly and can get away with it. When I try it I'm booooooood.

19. You can stop the chaos if needed

20. You love to shop til you drop.

21. You love Disneyland and CAMping and Hawaii and to travel

22. You know your Heavenly Father loves you. I know you love him.

23. Any hair style looks good on you. I'm so jealous.

Happy Birthday Dr. Seuss

It's a fun reading day for everyone. Today is Theodore Seuss Geisel's birthday aka Dr. Suess.
For some fun activities for kids visit www.seussville.com for some games and story making. Also it is fun to go to www.grinched.com move the magnifier around and find city hall, click on that and enter Whoville. You will be able to type in your name and find out what your "Whoville" name is. Today I am Cartoon Charlene Conga-loo-who.

I love the book "Oh the Thinks you can think" by Dr. Seuss. To encourage children to read I created this poem many years ago.

Oh the Thinks you can Think
when reading a book,
Think of the characters,
the setting, the scnook,
You can think of predictions if only you try.
Think up all types of questions that begin with the word Why.
You can think up a great summary and read many words,
Think about endings, the vowels and the verbs,
Think, Think, Think
then Believe in Yourself!
Now one, two, get ready
Grab that book from the shelf


Have fun and read a Dr. Seuss book today!!!

A little bit here and there

Yesterday as I came to work there was a darling handwritten note left by a student that I work with. He is a first grader and has been a little spit fire lately. I mentioned to his classroom teacher that he sure has been talking alot. Most first graders have to tell you all about their mornings, how so and so spit on them, that their mommy and their step mommy are having babies today, they explain when they are sad or that they have to move because their mommy and daddy can't live in the same house anymore. Those kind of stories break my heart. I hear many stories each day.

I don't always get a note and this note is not anything extraordinary. (Except that his handwriting has improved so much) But he saw it sitting on my desk and was so excited that I had seen it and proudly pointed it out to me. It reads: Dear Mrs. Carlson, I am sorry that I have not been behavins. I will talk less! I don't always get a letter of apology. I could tell that someone had talked with him and I thought that it had been his teacher. I was surprised when his mother came with him to my class to make sure that he was behaving. I appreciated this little stinker!!!

It really works well for children when there is support at home. I agreed with Obama with what he said last night with regard to parents and education. I do see everyday the positive outcomes of parents who take an active role in helping children with their homework and other aspects of education. It really does make a difference.
(I'm sure my nephew will elaborate more on his speech in a more eloquent way than myself.)