Happy V Day and a new addition to our family

We have a new addition to our fam and I didn't even have to be pregnant! Soap was given to us by a friend of a friend. He's name was Sophia until they found out he wasn't a girl, and shortened his name to Soap. He's so affectionate! I've never had a bird nuzzle up to me, but Soap does it to all of us. He loves the kids and doesn't mind all the attention they are giving him. So, we talked Nate into a pet, and it's so fun!


The snow keeps falling! Today it fell a bunch more, and this snow fort is now buried under another foot of snow. I have to go out and find Nate and beg him to come do something else because the kids all came in before him and are whining at me. He loves being outside in the snow working on the snowfort (almost mansion now) or the sledding hill (almost mountain now).



These two pictures say it all. Happy Valentine's Day! Love, the Blaines

The old and the new

After the last 10 or so years of long hair, I am ready for a change. I am excited about my new do. Ben took this picture of me. He loves taking pictures just like his Dad.


Emily, Ben and Deven collecting icicles with Daddy at the church.

Nate on our fun cross country ski date behind our house.

Nate put lots of snow in the middle of our driveway circle and made a really fun sled run. We all are having a great time on it with Ben's new sled from Grandma.

I just didn't get around to a Christmas letter this year. I guess this will have to be a poor substitute. We are well and staying plenty busy with life.

I was getting back to organizing pictures and I found these quotes from the kids from the last year.

Emily: After chatting with Aunt Jill for just a minute, "Can I hand the phone over to my mom yet?"

Ben while in car with Jill while she was making a u-turn commented in GPS language about her driving. "Did you type in all around the town Jill?"

Emily: I served canned beets on a salad to which she said "I don't like beets." I said, "yes you do, we grow them in the garden and you love to eat them." She replied "Yes, but not these cooped up ones from the store."

Ben: I told him not to get too full on dinner or he wouldn't have any room for dessert (what a healthy Mom I am), and he happily commented "I hungry up pretty fast."

Everything Deven says at 3 is adorable to me, so I can't quote everything he says and do it justice without his cute voice. He loves telling me that he's a big boy. He calls white, "wipe" and the other kids think that's hilarious.

That sums up what's new and old this year.

September and October... The joys of fall time.

Say cheese, it's time to take more pictures for our blog. Grandma is requesting more pictures!
Deven happily complies.


Happy 30th Jill! We love you! We are watching her dog Spunky while she and Thain are traveling all over Europe. Lucky!


Last weekend we went to Vernal, Utah and to the National Dinosaur Monument. Look very closely. They are pointing at a leg bone literally sticking out of the rock. Very cool! The kids LOVED it. Nate said as a kindergartner he was fascinated with dinosaurs and would have been in heaven in a place like this.

Emily and Ben hiking up a little cliff with Nate. Deven and I opted for safer ground.


Emily sliding down a natural rock slide we found on our rainy hike.


This canyon was a lady's pig pen. Literally. She lived out here all by herself and was self sufficent for 40 years without modern conviences. Amazing. This canyon echoed like crazy. Ben and Nate grew hoarse from all the yelling and echoing. Spunky, the dog, was going crazy with all the noise.



Can you find Ben and Emily?


Riding in the new motorhome was really rough.



The family at Flaming Gorge Dam.

Ben, Deven and Nate looking at Mommy trying to take a nap. I didn't get much sleep.




Ben the rock mountain climber.





Our new motorhome. Nate has been wanting one forever. We found this one for a really good price. It's older, but it works. I am the least excited about our new addition, but the others are really excited. The fall colors up in Flaming Gorge were breath taking!

Here is Heidi, my partner in crime most days here in Mantua. I received boxes of apples, pears, and peaches for free this summer. She patiently helped me can and preserve the abundance of fruit. Thanks Heidi!!! Her son Tyler and my Deven are the same age. We have a lot of fun together. A couple of days ago we ventured up in the moutains behind Mantua with the boys for a picnic.

Here I am with the boys.


The kids are holding beets. Yes, beets, that have been neglected in our garden. It's supposed to snow this weekend (boo hoo), so it's time to hurry and get everything out of our garden.

This picture is for my mom. She asked for pictures of the canning I have been doing. Here is the result of my pear canning yesterday. The jars look so pretty when they are done. Canning is not my favorite activity, but I can't pass up delicious free fruit!

Sorry for such a long blog, but I just don't get the chance to do this very often! Happy Fall!

Poor tooth fairy

Last week we had a fun time with Cindy and Joe and their fun kids at the their cabin at Strawberry resevoir. Catching three fish in a row was the most exciting part. Well, actually Cindy and I creaming Nate and Joe at a late night Spades game was more exciting, but the kids missed out on that part.



After Nate took this picture I said, "you just love taking bad pictures of me, don't you..." He said, "I take good pictures of you"... Hmmmmm.... Well, I guess I look as tired as I felt... :)



This is Emily with Nate on Saturday before she knew I was taking a picture.


This is Emily perked up and posing for a fall picture with her brothers. I guess she likes hiking after all... :)




The tooth fairy is going to go broke on our family. Ben lost his first tooth Saturday night. He was so excited about it. I can't believe he's at this stage already. My babies are growing up!

Delicious summer salad

This is a great way to use all those extra summer veggies from the garden... I should try throwing in zucchini! My friend here gave me this recipe and with some tweeking I got it just right for my taste. I ate lots of it the last two days for lunch. YUM!

Tomato Cucumber Salad
1/3 c. olive oil
2 tbsp. red wine vinegar
2 tbsp. balsamic vinegar
1 tsp. sugar
1/2 tsp. salt
1/2 tsp. dried oregano
1/4 tsp. pepper
6 medium tomatoes, chopped
2 cucumbers, quartered and sliced in 1/4 in. slices
1 small green pepper, chopped
1/4 c. thinly sliced onions
1 can olives
2 tbsp. minced fresh parsley
1 tbsp. minced fresh basil
4 ounces fresh mozzarella cheese cubed

In a jar with a tight-fitting lid, combine the first seven ingredients, shake well.In a large bowl, combine the tomatoes, cucumber, green pepper, onions, olives, parsley, and basil. Drizzle with dressing. Toss to coat. Cover and refrigerate for at least 15 minutes. Just before serving, stir in cheese.

The first day of school was last week! I can't believe the summer is over. Emily started 2nd grade, and Ben is in kindergarten. I am doing a co-op preschool this year for Deven. The kids come home so happy. They love school! I remember feeling exactly the same way. I miss them when they are gone, but I am glad they love school. Ben did bring home a nasty stomach thing. It slowly went through all the family. We are all healthy now luckily.


We went and toured Winnetonka caves last weekend. It was pretty neat.


Emily bit into her popsicle last night and out came her tooth. Everyone got a kick out of that. Emily and Ben have learned out to play "Settlers of Catan", one of Nate's and my favorite games. That's what we were doing in this picture.

I could post more, but the kids are going crazy as usual... :)

The blahs move on...

I think everyone should post one blah blog. I am so grateful for so many wonderful people in my life, and such great support. I love you guys!

So, I am fine, but I am really glad I let it all hang out for a moment. I now have really great pick me up notes to read next time the "funk" happens.

I am in CA at my mom's house. We decided at the very last minute to take a road trip. We drove up to Portland to see my brother Justin and his wife Alisa and their adorable new puppy Zoe. Then we went to Eugene to visit my dear friend Elise and her fun family. Then we drove down to Paradise to visit with my mom and dad and other brother and wife and kids. I have loved this road trip. Maybe I'll post pictures after we get back. School starts next week and then we are in a set routine for awhile. Ben starts kindergarten and Emily will be in 2nd grade. I can't believe how time flies.

Anyway, if you post a blah blog, I'll post a comment. They really meant a lot to me. Love you guys. Jen