my summer is almost gone

Oh the fun of working at a year=round school!! My work begins again on Monday. I've really enjoyed being able to just get up when I want to and not have to work around someone else's schedule. Glad for the time when I've been able to enjoy some long bike rides this summer, I've enjoyed movie time and camping. Life slowwwww down!!!

He's got pirate in him!!!

I had posted on facebook that I always thought that Blake had some "Pirate" in him, well here is the proof. He had "Hooks" on his wisdom teeth!! ARggghhh matey. Ha. Anyhow he has tolerated their removal very well and has been taking great care and enjoying all the goodies that I don't normally purchase. Very little swelling or pain. Not bad for having four out!!!

Tour de France

Currently we are watching the Tour de France and cheering on our favorite professional rider, Lance Armstrong. There are some great bikers in this years tour. The excitement continues to build as the mountain stages approach. Only one more week left and then we'll all go on TdF withdrawal. Hope your summer is going well. If I'm not updating here on this blog you can catch up with us on facebook.

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