Today's Must See Video

It will make you feel good about living on Earth... and kind of the same feeling I get each time I step into my classroom with my students!

Onto Great Heights

On his way to more challenges and a stopover in Utah. A. heads for the Y.

Summer on the Lake

Here's Hannah and Maren water skiing. The girls have all been learning to water ski on our lake this summer with their friends. It is so fun to watch those little bodies skiing across the water. For more photos, check out my blog at http://www.kirknkirsten.blogspot.com/

Isaac's Description of WICKED at Lagoon

Harvest Fun

Summer recipes that have been a success at our house:

Green Beans with Hazelnut-Lemon Butter
1 lb. fresh green beans
1/4 c. butter
1/2 toasted chopped hazelnuts or almonds
1 Tbs. lemon juice
1 Tbs. minced fresh parsley
1/2 tsp. dried basil or 1 Tbs fresh
1/2 tsp. salt

Boil green beans until crisp tender. Brown butter in separate saucepan, add hazelnuts, lemon juice, parsley, basil, and salt; and heat through.Drain beans ; add the butter mixture and toss to coat. Gourmet!!!


Molasses Pork
4 boneless pork chops
2 Tbs. Molasses
2 tsp. garlic
2 tsp coarse salt
2 tsp. pepper

Marinate pork in molasses, salt and pepper 1 hour to 24 hours; and grill.


Grilled Zucchini
Quarter zucchini lengthwise; put in plastic gallon bag; drizzle with 1 Tbs olive oil; sprinkle with kosher salt or sea salt; let sit 1 hour and grill or broil.


Here are some pictures: from Tad's birthday, Isaac coming home from a mini pioneer trek and huckleberry picking.



While Porter babysat Davis, we picked an amazing 3 gallons of giant huckleberries on Saturday. We picked for over 6 hours.





Tad had a great birthday. We picked Tad's friend, Trevor, went to the movies, ate pizza the park, then went home and had sushi and homemade ice cream with the missionaries. It was a day complete with jedi fighting and Legos from Grandma.




Isaac went on a mini pioneer trek with the stake on Saturday. He chose Charles Smithies to walk for because he was musical. Isaac is thinking about getting a accordion.

Fair and Fun

We enjoyed walking around the fair. It was a cool day. On Saturday SDL had a great open house with lots of activities and demonstrations. The kids especiall liked the ice cream made with liquid nitrogen. A quick treat.

At the fair. Thomas is a good companion to have along

Northwest

Flowers in Victoria

Light house near Port Townsend

Our condo at discovery bay.

Totem pole carving studio at a native american tribal complex.

Just what you would expect but better in real life.

Nelson Family Summer Activities

Mom requested summer activities. Here are a few. Sorry I couldn't get the layout to work, but at least the pictures are on there. Maybe next time. I also couldn't get some funny vidoe clips on there. I need a tutorial.


Dad and Mom gave me a great camera for my birthday and so the documented summer started at Seratoga Springs.













We also enjoyed ice cream with the Sorensens, including Tad defending Dima, and Sadie meeting a prince on the tower, and amazing balancing tricks


Thanks Mom and Dad for the cherries.





Isaac received a package from Homare including something that looked like seaweed gum and dried whole fish. We took the Yakisoba to Lagoon with us to eat. Sorry the video clip didn't work.

Porter and Pace won the "no cavity" prize this year.


The Nelson family reunion was in Moore, Id. This picture was taken at Indian Cave at Crater's of the moon. This cave takes a 15 degree temperature drop as you go in. Nice on a hot day. There was also a cindercone also named "snowcone". You can see ice and snow from your 95 degree vantage point.





The boys spent almost all of the 3 days trying out Pace's new BB Gun (bought from the no cavity prize) and also Uncle Darrell's bows. We stayed up late playing cards and watched a great family DVD about Keith's and family's youth.

Lawnmowing for LAGOON. We came back from the Nelson reunion on Saturday exhausted and, using the boy's lawnmowing profits, decided to go right to Lagoon on Monday to beat the Pioneer Day crowds. We had so much fun with daring children. Tad was the Magic height and was able to ride all of the small kiddie land rides with Davis and Sadie and all of the big roller coasters also. After riding 3 times on the tilt-a-whirl with Isaac, I threw up on the sky ride.








Here is one of Keith's favorite rides, rocket launch, from the top of the Ferrris Wheel.


One or two days each week we spend in this garden.




The favorite present on Sadie's birthday was the pink cell phone from Grandma. And yes we do have style.








Our summer days also include swimming in the canal, a profitable slushie stand on the bike path and amazing tricks with the mats.

Well, thanks for reading. You have endured.