Last minute pics, I hope!!

OK - 2 pictures of the Gothic Arch and 2 pictures of Lark's Rock - I have lots of pics and video and it was a great adventure.

Love to all - JB

Happy Thanksgiving

We had a really nice Thanksgiving. Hope all of you did too! We had dinner with Russell's family, got our tree up and the house decorated. Luke is really excited about Christmas stuff this year. He has been loving all the lights in yards and all the x-mas decorations at the store. He was way excited to put our tree up. On Friday, he got to meet Santa Claus! He was at a little craft fair they have every year, and while we were standing in line he kept saying "My turn! Lukie's turn now!" Mostly, he's kind of a shy kid, it takes him a minute to warm up to most people. But not Santa! He ran right over and hopped up in the sleigh, got his candy cane and said "Ho, Ho!" He got his picture taken, and when I told him he had to get down he told Santa "I'll miss you!" As we were walking out to the car, he was crying because he wanted to go back in and see Santa again. He has talked about nothing but Santa since. Hope everyone has a good month!
Love-Meg, Russell and Luke

Thanksgiving and other adventures

We had 2 great trips to Moab this month including one trip to Blanding and Red Canyon. In the middle of the month, we went with a bunch of our Lone Peak 4 Wheelers club for our monthly trail ride. We did Klondike Bluffs on Thursday on our way down, then Elephant Hill on Friday. It was great fun and a bunch of our people had never done it before. On Saturday, we did Hell's Revenge where we had some great adventure and one mishap. Marlin Sharp laid his Wrangler over on it's side at the top of Hell's Gate. No one hurt and not too much damage. From there we hurried to Gemini Bridges to get some pictures driving across the Bridges in case they decide to close them to vehicle traffic.

On Sunday, we did the Secret Spire and the Dellenbaugh Tunnel on our way home. They are both to the north west of Moab, so they work well for short trips on the way home. We aired back up in Green River, ate at Ray's and came home.

Troy Garrett, one of our club members who has helped me a lot working on our Jeep, couldn't go to Moab that weekend, but was set to go with some friends the next weekend with some friends who were going to rent Jeeps. We met them on Saturday morning at the Moab Diner for breakfast, then they went across the street to Moab Adventure Tours to rent their Jeeps. We took them on Poison Spider Mesa, which is not a beginner trail, but it is not too hard and is a great place to take beginners who want to see what Jeeping is really like. We had a great day, and finished up UNDER Gemini Bridges because we were running out of daylight and they could see it from the top in their truck. We did the top the next morning, then when they headed for home we headed for Blanding.

We had a great visit with Mom and Dad on Sunday afternoon, looked at pictures and info on Lark's Rock, got GPS coordinates and instructions. On Monday morning we got up and headed for Red Canyon. Dad had said we could see the rock when we got to the Marquis Mine turn-off and when I said to Julie "There is the turn-off to the Marquis," we both turned and looked over our right shoulders and instantly saw the Rock. We took some pictures from there, then drove on down to where the road crosses the canyon and turned up the bottom toward the rock. We drove to within about 200 yards and walked the rest of the way. Took lots of pictures and video that I will get on here.

Thanksgiving was pretty quiet at our house. I have a foot in bad shape, so we didn't do much and I went to the Doctor on Friday morning. I have some kind of infection, am taking antibiotics, soaking my feet and waiting until Monday morning to go back to the Doctor.

Hope you all had a GREAT THANKSGIVING and that all is well with all of you.
Love ya all, - J.B.

NKOTB Rules!!!

On 11/15/08, me, Molly and Marisa went tothe E-Center and saw New Kids on the Block!! It was probably one of the funnest things we've ever done together. We had floor seats on the 33rd row, which was great. Then, 1/2 way through the show, they came up on a platform in middle of the floor and we were, like, 5 rows away from them!! And I'll just tell you, they are still so hot! Peggy (love you pegs!) watched Luke and Savannah, and Gavin had a "boys night" with Paxton and his brothers. It was so fun to hang out, just the 3 of us, and do something we've wanted to do for, like, 15 years. (My dad wouldn't let us see them in concert when we were kids because he thought we were too young.....lame!!) We also got started on out christmas shopping a little bit. But pretty much the highlight of my month (year?) was Jon, Jordan, Donny, Joey and Danny. (Those are their names, for those of you who aren't fans) So much fun to hang out with my sisters, wish we would've taken a camera!!! Hope everyone is doing well.
Love-Meg

The Pulse Tour!

Earlier in November, I had the opportunity to go to Las Vegas for a dance convention. It was called The Pulse Tour, and a lot of the choreographers from So You Think You Can Dance teach master classes. I went with some of the teachers from our studio. It was such an amazing opportunity! There were so many people and the classes were all packed. We learned many routines and had great, inspirational thoughts from these incredible instructors. Yesterday at our studio, one little girl saw these pictures up on the wall and was asking questions about them. She said, "are they as good as you guys?" I immediately gave her a hug and promoted her to the top of her class!

Tyce Diorio

Shane Sparks

Mia Michaels

Squash and other fun

Yesterday was our annual squash outing. We got up early, gathered up stuff we needed for the day and headed for Brigham City. We did get some squash, but I think we were a little late in the season – we didn’t have all the choices we usually have. We ended up with butternut, acorn, banana, blue Hubbard, sweet meat and pumpkin. We at least have enough to get us into the New Year.

Ate lunch at Maddox’ – Julie had a sirloin steak and I had a superb piece of salmon – barely seared and just fabulous. We went up I-84 thru Morgan to get to Park City. Saw a bald eagle and quite a few hawks. We checked out the new Columbia Sportswear store at the Outlet Mall but they didn’t have any pants my size. Our sack of canned goods was our entry fees to the Adopt a Native Elder festivities. I bought Julie a new turquoise necklace and she got some ear rings. We listened to some singing and chanting and saw lots of fabulous rugs.

Tonight we attended the annual Holiday Fireside for the Mt. Timpanogos Temple workers. Elder L. Tom Perry was the guest speaker. He and Sister Perry gave great talks and it was fun to go to the American Fork Tabernacle. I had never been there before except in the basement where the Family History Center is. It is really a cool old building.

Hope all is well with all of you!!

Happy Halloween/End of October

Hope you all had a great Halloween - it was pretty quiet at our house - I was on a Marketing teleconference call for over 2 hours and Julie had to work kind of late. So we just ignored the doorbell and went about our business.

It has been a pretty quiet weekend at our house, but I saw this recipe on TV and we decided we just had to try it. We watched some woman make it and it looked really good. It was a little time consuming but not hard to do.


Huevos Rancheros with Black Bean Puree

Prep Time:
15 min

Cook Time:
35 min
Level:
Easy
Serves:
4 servings

For the salsa: 2 small tomatoes, seeded and chopped 1 small onion, chopped 1 medium jalapeno, chopped 1 garlic clove, chopped 1 tablespoon lime juice 2 teaspoons extra-virgin olive oil 1/2 teaspoon hot sauce (recommended: Frank's Red Hot) 1/4 cup chopped cilantro leaves Salt and freshly ground black pepper
For the Black Bean Puree: 1 (15.5-ounce) can black beans, drained and rinsed 1 clove garlic, smashed 1 teaspoon ground cumin 1/2 teaspoon lime juice 2 teaspoons extra-virgin olive oil Pinch salt
2 (12-inch) flour tortillas 1 tablespoon melted butter 8 eggs, room temperature 1/2 cup shredded Cheddar 1/2 cup shredded pepper jack cheese Sour cream, for garnish
Special equipment: 4 (4 by 2-inch) ramekins
Preheat oven to 350 degrees F.
For the Salsa: In a small bowl mix together, tomatoes, onion, jalapeno, garlic, juice, olive oil, hot sauce, and cilantro. Season with salt and pepper, to taste.
For the Black Bean Puree: In a food processer, blend all ingredients together until smooth.
To assemble: Stack tortillas on a cutting board. Using the bottom of the ramekin as a guide, cut 8 circles out of the tortillas. Spread the bean puree evenly on 1 side of each tortilla round. Place a round in each ramekin, bean side up. Crack 2 eggs into each of the 4 ramekins, followed by 1/4 cup of salsa, and 1 tablespoon each of Cheddar and jack. Cover with another tortilla round, bean side down. Do not jam the dishes with too much. The eggs will expand during cooking and overflow. Brush tops of each tortilla with butter and bake on a sheet tray for 35 minutes. Top with remaining cheese during the last 10 minutes of cooking. Cheese should be melted and golden on top. To serve, top with sour cream and salsa.

Give it a try and tell us what you think!!

For those of you who live in a cave - these pictures are of Lark L's Miracle Rock in Red Canyon - pictures taken by President Kay Shumway. Julie and I are hoping to get down there in November and go see it if the weather cooperates.

Happy Halloween from Vernal!

This is Lukie the Beagle!! We ordered his costume online, and he loved it! He had a really fun time trick or treating and got way more candy than a 2 1/2 year old probably needs. We had a really nice month; carving pumpkins, making halloween sugar cookies, decorating the house with pumpkins. Molly and Paxton and the kids came out for Savannah's birthday on the 18th (my mom and Marisa came too!) And we had a really fun time going to the pumpkin festival and the corn maze. Savannah was the cutest little birthday girl ever in her new party dress and her tiara!

Everyone at our house is doing really well. Russell is still really liking his new job, and my dad is going to get a promotion at Cutters! I had to work a few extra days this month and hardly knew what to do. Luke really likes that he can talk because now he can really order us all around. He is so cute and big. Hope everyone is doing well and had a good month!

Love-

Meggie, Russell, Luke and Duane.

Just in case anyone forgot how pretty m eand my sisters are....here is a reminder! LOL!