Back from the Sun

It was so hot in Arizona! It reached 100 every day and only got down to 80 at night. It was a nice change from the cold though. Our plane left quarter to 7 on Friday morning and we got to Phoenix at 11 because of the time change, it was kind of weird. It was completely flat and then there would be mountains that jutted up. Big mountains. They also had palm trees everywhere. It was definitely a differnet kind of beauty from New York, everything was pretty brown. We had an awesome time and I'll post pictures soon!

Waiting...

Apple Blossom

Purple Shoes

Refreshing Rain

Packing up...

I'm mostly packed now. We'll be leaving tonight to drive up to Rochester where we'll spend the night, and then tomorrow we leave really early from the airport! My cousin and his wife live up there, so we'll be staying at their house.

I can't wait!

Ted and Michelle's engagement picture

Old Dress, New Shoes

A couple of days ago, we pulled out Mom's wedding dress, and had a fashion show. :) Well, Anna and I had a fashion show, since we're the only one's that can fit into it. Yeah, my mom was incredibly tiny when she got married!

After parading around the house, I had this amazing idea! (Ok, maybe it wasn't amazing, but it was an idea) I went and raided Teresa's closet and came out with some purple flats and took pictures of them with the dress. I was taking pitures of myself, and then had Mom come and put them on. Here are some of them:

We're leaving early Friday morning to fly to my brother's wedding, so I'll be away for a few days. I'm going to do scheduled posts everyday of just pictures that I've taken, so you'll see a couple more 'purple shoes' ones. :P

I finally finished!

About four years ago (give or take a year) I got this paint-by-number called 'Music by Candlelight'. Well, today I just finished it! Yeah, it's been awhile, but I would paint for a few weeks and then get sick of it and put it away for a year, and then get it out, and you can kind of see where I'm going. So for the last couple of weeks I've been painting the violin and books, and finished up the piano. Now I need to get a frame for it. I kind of like it. :)

Mom's Birthday

Tuesday was Mom's 52 birthday! Ted sent a bouqet of flowers, I loved that it just had one red rose, it was really pretty (and still is).

The birthday girl.

We played a card game called "Oh Dear" which really isn't the name of the card game, but we've long forgotten what the real name is and have been playing it for years. :) It's Mom's favorite game.

Dad building an amazing card tower with the biggest cards on earth. I think they're for half-blind people, but we use them. It's kind of funny using them, they're kind of hard to hold in your hand.

28 Years

My parents celebrated their wedding anniversary on the 13th!!! And after 28 years, 7 moves, and 6 kids, they still love eachother.

I love you guys!!!

Chocolate Pudding Parfaits

A couple of nights ago we made chocolate pudding and then put fruit and whipped cream on top. It was so good! Looking at these is making me hungry, I think I'll go eat some lunch...

Dear Mr. Obama

By an Iraqi veteran to Barack Obama.

Seven Years Ago

Dad's Caribou Hunt

My Dad has been up in Quebec for the last week on a caribou hunt and just came home today!

The little pontoon plane that got to fly in to their camp from the base camp. The week before, no one had gotten a single thing at the camp they were going to. The first day Dad's group got there, 8 of the 9 guys got a caribou, and one guy got two! They're only allowed two, so he did a lot of fishing the rest of the week... :) We were praying the whole week, and it worked! Everyone shot out the third day in their group.

The first one he got was on the smaller side.

And then he got 'the big one'! This was the second day, which was freezing. The day before had been up in the 80's, and this day it was in the 40's and windy. But despite the elements, he got a nice caribou.

Dad said they really weren't scared of people, gun shots, or people talking. Quite a difference from hunting white tale!

Brian, their guide, and Dad.

The view from the camp.

They saw a couple of wolves the last day. Dad said they were the size of small deer! They were walking parallel to them for about an hour howling their heads off. Sounds fun doesn't it? A black bear came pretty close to the camp the last day, but Dad didn't see it. There was scratch marks on their bunkhouse from a bear.

And we just ate some caribou meat, it was really tender and good. And we have a lot of meat! The amount of meat we have equals 4 deer around here. Dad's getting the bigger caribou's head mounted. I can't wait!

2 Dinners

Saturday night and tonight we had some pretty sweet dinners. Jordon was over and him and Sarah made fettucine/seafood stuff with a Greek salad that had really yummy homemade dressing on it. After getting back from the store.

The shrimp was really good and they also got scallops that were amazing. I don't usually like seafood, but I liked it then. :)

If your wondering who cut the bread, it was me. :P That was pretty much the only contribution I made to the dinner, besides finding the salad dressing on food network.

The table all set. Isn't it purdy?

And then Emily made a taco ring thing tonight for dinner from this Pampered Chef book we have. She made up the middle part, isn't it amazing? It was really fun to eat, not to mention delicious.

canning tomatoes

Yesterday and today we have canned tomatoes. We got around 42 quarts. I used to really not like them but now I don't really mind. It is not hard to do its just messy. You have to where an apron because sometimes it splatters. You feel accomplished after you can anything. Looking at all those rows of fruits and vegetables. It makes you thank God for all he has blessed you with.

Interjection by Abigail:
I wrote this poem four years ago about canning tomatoes. :D

We canned tomatoes today,
When we were done we shouted, "Hooray!"
In all the jars, romatoes are packed,
Thirty-five jars to be exact.

On the counter the jars stand,
Looking at them makes me feel grand;
And then we give a cheer
For we won't do them again until next year.

Vote '08

I haven't really been all that thrilled with McCain being the Republican nominee...until last night. Me and Mom watched Sarah Palin give her acceptance speech and it was AMAZING!!! I love her! She doesn't beat around the bush, she's so real, and she's been proven. She's actually done something in Alaska for the better, she even sold the governer's private jet on e-bay because she didn't need it! It stinks that I can't vote this year, but this is to all of you who can: VOTE FOR McCAIN!!! I have yet to hear McCain speak, that's tonight, but I'm just so excited that Palin is the VP.

If you missed it, you should watch in YouTube.

School!

Yes, summer break is over, yes, we've started school. In one way it's sad that I can't sleep in until nine every morning, in another way it's kind of nice to have a schedule. I woke up this morning and saw the sun rising! I must admit I haven't seen that one in a while, it looked pretty sweet. None of my school year activites start up for at least another week or longer, so I have a little bit of time to just focus on getting school done.

On another note: I just bought my first pair of skiis!!! Nordic Sports is going out of business and so is selling everything at really great prices. I got skiis and bindings for half-off, and now I just have to get boots and ski poles. I'm so happy! I've only ever skiied on rentals, which are pretty beat up and have no edges at all. I've been dreading winter, but maybe it won't be so bad...:)

Stars in the Heavens

Last night we had a bonfire. So I was looking up at the sky and I was amazed at all the different stars. I mean, how could God have made all those different stars and planets in the entire universe. I was thinking how can someone who does not believe in God look at the heavens and think oh that just happened by chance. I don't think so. If God could make the heavens then why do we worry about our little troubles down here on earth. He can and will take care of them. If we let him, and not try to do it on our own strength.