Shotgun Trip

To Lake Powell.

Left Friday once I got home from work (so about 6:00) and came home Sunday morning.

Most people would say, "You drove 4.5 hours for one day of boating?"  and the answer is Yes.  For 12 hours of wonderful boating.  It may not be hot (80 degrees isn't warm enough when the boat is moving) but when the water is good enough to water ski in the main channel...it doesn't matter.

It was dad, Lisa, Derek, me, our friends, Brian and Jess Francom, and Derek's little bro, Corbin.  We met up with dad's good friend, Scott, and his friend, Paul, and Scott's son, Kelly.

We had a rockin' good time.  Lots of skiing and surfing.  And dad ran over a giant mile marker buoy.  Lesson learned, Don't drive into the sun at the end of the day or you won't see the giant buoy until it is 2 feet in front of the boat.  It put a little gash in the front of the boat but that's it.  We were so worried about major damage.  Or Corbin running into it because he was skiing behind the boat.

This is me.  After I first took off my wetsuit in the morning.  (I am hiding from the wind of oa moving boat and changing.  I can multi-task)

Derek doing pelvic thrusts on the surf board

Lisa fell asleep

Corbin cliff jumping

Jess and I at the gas station in Wellington on the way home

Nickschmidt and Ty

Our good friends, Nickschmidt and Ty,  got married to each other on Thursday Oct. 13.

I was privileged enough to attend the ceremony in the Draper LDS Temple.  (Unfortunately, Derek had to be at school and was unable to attend.)

(It was REALLY windy)

I love watching my friends get married.  It is such a happy and beautiful experience and reminds me of how much I love being married and how grateful I am to have my spouse because he is the bomb.

Anyway, ceremony = beautiful.  Reception = fun.  Laid back.  Very them.  Also, I got to be with all my good friends.  No pictures, but they were all there.   It was a rockin' good time.  We have the best friends ever in the entire world.

Best of luck to Nicki and Ty.  We love you lots.

Outsmarting Deseret Book

So I always goffed at Relief Society and homemaking and enrichment etc.

I broke down.

I went.

It was worth it.

I made these

After they were finished I took a poll (from mom and derek) asking, "If I bought these at Deseret Book, how much would ONE cost?"  I got answers from between $40 and $60.  $40-$60!  Ridiculous.

I made them fro $3.00 a piece.  That's it.  $3.00.  I got the pictures from old Greg Olsen calendars that were too beautiful to throw away at the end of the year and the wood was old scrap wood a man in the ward donated and cut.

So, I outsmarted Deseret Book by going to Enrichment.  Totally worth it.

I know, I made dessert

I don't eat sugar...or butter...but that doesn't mean I punish my loved ones.

We have a Granny Smith Apple Tree that is more fruitful than Eve.  For years we thought it produced the most disgusting apples.  Turns out, we picked them too early.  They are delicious.  So, we picked some today and I made apple crisp for dessert.  I made up the recipe and it was delicious according to 3 out of 3.

(It may not look great because by the time I got my camera my family had eaten it all.  This is my mom's plate)

Granny Smith Apples sliced (as many as fit in the pan you are using).
Coat them with cinnamon.

In a bowl combine some oats, brown sugar, cinnamon, 2 T flour, and some chunked up butter (almost a stick for how big mine was).
Mix that all together with your hands (I just eyeballed the amounts until the consistency seemed right).

Put in oven at 350 degrees for 20 minutes.

3 people.  All gone in about 15 minutes.

Good Day

Yesterday was a good day.

It has been raining and cold here in Utah all week.  (My beliefs in Utah being a moody woman with its weather are always confirmed).  It snowed in the mountains...sad, but so beautiful.  No snow in the valley though (wipe the brow).

Anyway.  Saturday it was "supposed to be nice".  So we woke up early.  Picked up our Bountiful Basket (which was plenty bountiful) and then went and did (my first) live session in the Salt Lake Temple.  It was awesome.  I love the temple.  Especially that one (according to one of the man patrons is the only true temple...jokes).

Anyway, after that we toured the SLC Farmer's Market (always a lovely time).

Ran errands and got the most BOMBER wedding gift for Nickischmidt and Ty (they better be excited).

Lunch and some clean up real quick and then off to Snowbird for Oktoberfest.

We get there.  It is misty and snowy but nice.  Not too cold.  But Oktoberfest has been put on hold due to a bomb threat?  Really?  That was my first reaction as well.  So we walked around in the snow and trees and after about 20-30 minutes of waiting they let us in.

We don't drink.  Which is what Oktoberfest is all about.  But we still had fun listening to polka music, hanging out with Brian and Jess Francom and just having a good time.

We also got to hear the big horns they play from way up in the mts.  (But due to weather they played them in the lodge.  I can't remember what they are called).

Once home, we went on a bike ride.

Then off to Western's 50 Year Anniversary Party where we hung out with all the guides from Western.  It was really fun.  Good time had by all.

I know.  Good day.

Feeling Crafty

So, at night Derek studies/does homework (my life is fascinating).  So sometimes I try to be productive (except for things that include cleaning my house in any way, shape, or form).

So during a particularly productive few minutes on pinterest I saw this idea and I copied it.

It is both cute and brilliant.  (And yes, those are 3 of our actual socks who are missing their partners in crime).

This was an attempt that is midway between success and failure (a combo of ideas from pinterest)

And this one...well, we'll just say that is my paint smock from when I was about 5 years old...

It once went all the way to my knees.  I promise.

Marathoning

This weekend was the St. George Marathon.  A long held tradition in the Paxton (and now the Storrs) household.

I didn't get in this year.  (sniff sniff.)  Probably a good thing, I don't think my knee (aka IT Band) could have been ready for it.  It hurt after doing 12 miles that day.

Anyway.  Dad and Derek were champions.

Derek ran 3:19:30.  AKA 26.2 miles in 3 hours 19 minutes and 30 seconds.  I ran up the course until I met him.  So I ran up almost 4 miles and then ran back those 4 miles with him and helped keep him going.

Dad ran it in 5 hours flat.  A slow one for him.  But he has been injured all summer and the longest he has run since last marathon is 12 miles.  But he did it, AND this was his 20th St. George Marathon.  So he was inducted into the 20 Year Club that night.  (But it is his 22nd marathon total).

Anyway, it was fun.  I ran the last 2 miles with dad.  (So add another 4 to my 8 = 12 miles).

Another thing that was fun is a good friend, Nate Nelson, was running so we got to see him and his wife, Malorie.  And my good friends Megan and her hubby and baby live in St. G so we got to spend time with them.  And my good friend, Molly, is living there so I spend time with her.  It was great.

And, it was General Conference which is perfect because not only is conference AWESOME but what is better than having a GREAT excuse to lay around for the next day and a half watching TV to heal from a marathon?  But really, conference was really great this year.  Full of hope and encouragement.  If you missed it, I highly suggest going back and watching it.