photo sesh

I got a new camera for my Birthday, Easter and Mothers Day. Although I would have liked it to be my tax return gift to myself, I am still very excited about my new toy! I am no photographer yet but I sure enjoy my new toy!

So these were taken about a week ago. So Kendyl is about 4.5 months old. She only cooperated for a short amount of time. Thanks to her non cooperation, I have few photos. ahhh next time I guess!

ps... tell me what you think of her headband. too skinny? I like it, Jase hates it.

For my brother Trevor!

and to all others who have had a bad game..

Travis..... so you had a bad game....

Michael Jordan: " I missed more than 9000 shots in my career. I've lost almost 300 games. Twenty-six times I've been trusted to take the game winning shot and missed. I've failed over and over and over again in my life. And that is why I succeed."

"Everyday is a new opportunity. You can build on yesterdays success or put its failures behind you and start over again. That's the way life is, with a new game every day, and thats the way baseball is."
take a look at this picture.... This is a 100% strike out! check out Barney's face too! This is a good look and this was one of my MANY strike outs in my season!

I remember playing Weber on a rainy day. It was the 6th inning and I hit a double, I then scored and we were up by 1. (our team NEVER wins games!) The game was called and we had to finish the game when they came to our field the next time we played them before we started a new game. They were up.. didn't score. We were up...didn't score. They got last ups.... they hit one. I was center field. I ran UP on the ball! WHO RUNS UP THE SECOND A BALL IS HIT!? Me! I so over judged that ball.... right over my head. They scored, they won, I had just lost the game.

everybody has bad games, everybody has bad innings everybody has bad seasons.

" There is no failure except in no longer trying" -Elbert Hubbard

Here are some facts. There are 8 other players on that same field in that exact same inning. There are 8 other players out there that make more mistakes than any pitcher. They sit around do nothing while the pitcher works his butt off. Have you ever felt your face and every single muscle in your body working to get that tiny ball from far away thrown as hard as you can, to try and get it in a tiny area? Tell me that isn't giving it everything you have inside of you to win that game. All of this every single pitch, when left field or second base is just barely paying attention?
All i know is your a great bseball player. You probably have more heart than anybody on that team. Pick your head up.
Remember when I used to suck? Practice makes a player kid. Nobody probably knows this about me. One summer after my sophmore year I went down to mtn. view on my little scooter almost every day. I hit softballs for about an hour every day. Then I would run to them then throw them back trying to hit a certain spot on the back stop. The better I got at hitting, the harder it got throwing, and in turn the better i got.
Im not saying Im some softball terminator that can crush any ball and can throw from a mile away. Here is a fact. I have only hit 1 homerun my whole life. It was a homerun on errors.
So remember this as your practicing your heart out and playing the game that made you.
"The Better! The better it is, ya gotta give it all ya got, everytime ya got it..AHHHHHH!"
Your better than to beat yourself up.

virus, high temp and rash

SO this past weekend we packed up some stuff and headed to Utah. We had BIG plans to visit grandma and grandpas, go to the Ogden temple, hang with TYCO, go to the expo... My mom was gonna watch the baby. This sounds just easy and fun doesn't it!? Well we got to Utah late Friday night and had all these big plans for Saturday. We did make it to the show Saturday morning. It was so fun to play with the baby bears again and then to watch splash dogs. Kendyl just was not happy though. She cried the entire time! She felt a little warm but we thought it was just from her crying and it was hot in the building. We got home and she was still just sad as ever.... and just looked miserable. Her temp was reading 99 so it wasn't too high. She has had diarrhea for about a week. Anyway she was just sick. We decided instead of going to visit grandparents to let her sleep in a bed. That didn't last long. So then next we decided to not make my mom watch her cause that would be torture on her part so we didn't end up going to the temple. :( and we missed out on TYCO night! :( Anyway she just wasn't happy, she was miserable. Her temp got to 101.4, she wouldn't eat much... and i was a scared momma. Monday morning we got her back up here to her doc. I was thinking just ear infections. Nope she has a stomach Virus. (I'm thinking a form of the flu?) She was getting dehydrated. Luckily her fever had broke. We had to give her pedialite which she loves. (Jase wanted to mix it with milk to make a "strawberry milkshake") SICK! Then we thought she was getting better until last night within 10 minutes she was covered head to toe in a rash. So we called the doc after hours. (which i am sure he is just loving me by this point!) Turns out its just a heat rash from the fever. Lets cross our fingers for a better day today and a better night sleep tonight.

SnickerDoodles

Alright So I have honestly been making these about once every 2 weeks.... I have got to stop but I can't cause they are so good!
ingredients:
1/2 cup butter (1 stick)
1/2 cup shortening
1 1/2 cup sugar
2 eggs
2 3/4 cup flour
2 teaspoons cream of tarter
1 teaspoon baking soda
1/4 teaspoon salt
Cream together the butter, shortnening, sugar and eggs
Gradually add flour, cream of tarter, baking soda and salt
Mix until all mixed together
(on the side in a bowl mix together 2 tablespoons sugar and 2 teaspoons cinnamon) (i always add about half a tablespoon more of sugar)
Ball up the dough into little balls, roll in the sugar/cinnamon mixture, place on cookie sheet (dont press them, just leave them in little balls)
Bake at 400 for 8-10 minutes.

Getting Ready...

So last night I was at the gym on the tredmill trying to get my run in for the day. I normally don't watch the tvs there cause I hate reading the captions and I honestly get more enjoyment on my run while watching people. I have read the news, I have seen a few pictures....but i had never seen it on tv. Were talkin about the earthquake in Japan. I just ran in shock, in hurt, i just kept running and running. Now i don't have tv here so I normally read the news from the internet. I am just in awe at how anybody survived. So this got me up to thinking....What would I do?

In the church the prophets are constantly giving us warnings. Warning after warning. How often and for how many years did they warn us that the economy would crash!? How often do they tell us to be prepared? Well, I am far from prepared. I have a few water bottles to my name, a few cans of vegetables and such and thats about it. I guess I could live off of canned corn. Then I was thinking what about Kendyl!? Sure i have enough formula to feed her for about a week! But i can't rely off of feeding her off of me cause I don't have enough water for me to drink to produce for her! Anyway, the church is HUGE on prepardness this year. To get our year supply all ready to go.

ps, i swear im getting somewhere with this, just bare with me and keep reading!

Anyway, lately jases Book of Mormon class has been reading all about the second coming. Then in the Gospel Doctrine book chapter 43, its all about the signs of the 2nd coming. it says in there:

" Our Heavenly father wants us to be prepared for these troubles. He also EXPECTS us to be spritually ready when the Savior comes to His glory."

in D&C 45:27- And all things shall be in commotion; and fear shall come upon all people

D&C 88:91- We can expect earthquales, disease, famines, great storms, lightnings and thunder...

Not all signs are scary. Some are full of joy as well. Sealing of families, the book of Mormon, Missionaries on all parts of the earth...

Its not that hard to see that some big changes are coming. In this chapter it shares the parable of the fig tree. He said that when we see the fig tree putting forth leaves, we can tell that summer will soon come!

It also states that the righteous when he comes will not be destroyed...

If you read on KSL Elder Hollands press conference about the missionaries over in Japan.... here are some facts that he stated. http://www.ksl.com/index.php?nid=148&sid=14743094

All 638 Missionaries are safe and accounted for...

The church has been able to identify and document the safety of all member of the LDS church of the affected area except for 1 ward and 2 branches.

Substantial financial help has already been commited to the nation, to the people, regardless of their religious affiliation

I am not saying I know when the second coming will be here. I am not saying it will be today and i am not saying it will be in 10 years because honestly i have no Idea. All I know is that I want to be ready. There is no doubt that I know its coming soon.... the fig tree is blooming!

So im headed to go get us some food, water, first aid kits, you name it, im gonna be ready for when a disaster strikes near me.

Chicken pot pie!

Ok so this recipe is Super Easy and SO super yummy. Seriously Pot pie is my comfort food. Anyway so try this cause its so easy and so good and you can have leftovers!
Ingredients

• Bag of Frozen Vegetables. (I get the one with brocoli, cauliflower, carrots... but whatever fits your fancy)
• 1 Chicken breast cooked then chopped or cubed (seriously if u want to make it easier and faster just put in a can of chicken.
• Pie crust (either make your own or buy the pre made kind from the store.)
• 1 normal size can cream of chicken soup (I use cream of celery or mushroom... doesn't matter)

Optional

• any other vegetables u would like. I usually add a few mushrooms.

combine vegetables (still frozen), cooked chicken and can of soup in a bowl and mix together. Add whatever seasons you would like. I usually put in garlic salt and powder, pepper and season salt.... other put in chicken rub, really its your preference. Line your round pie pan with the bottom crust, Fill with your mixture, then put the top crust on top. Pinch the edges all fancy and then cut out a design out of the top. Anything you want. I have done the letter "T" and last night I made a flower. Bake at 400 for 45-50 minutes. Let stand for about 5-10 minutes before serving! mmm mmm mmm! Love this recipe!

4 months, jackson and the bears

Ms Monkey turned 4 months on Thursday the 10th! To celebrate we took her to the doc to get her shots and all that. She now weighs:

11 lbs 9 oz and is 24 inches long.

She is starting to get so big! She was all full of smiles and loved holding the doctors hand while he listened to her heart and lungs. Then she was still full of smiles and then the nurses gave her the shots. She screamed like what was that for, i was trying to be cute to u guys! poor baby girl! But she did so good after and she slept all afternoon!

Friday we went to the new costa Vida in town. It was just what i wanted BUT they are brand new and i think some of the workers had never been to or seen how this place works! Some of the locals were commenting on why a mexican restaurant would decorate with surf boards and all that. I didn't care... I got my salad and was happy! It was still fun to hear peoples reactions to this place! Then we went and celebrated at adam and alyses house cause they just found out they are having a BABY BOY! yay! Congrats you 2!

Saturday we headed to Jackson Hole! Jases parents came up and Jases and his dad really wanted to see some wildlife.... so off we went. the girls pretty much slept the enitre way up there until Kenny hit a frost heave going 100mph. (not really but felt like it.)

We had fun looking in the shops and wishing we had the hundreds of dollars for the ugly sheepskin sweaters! Jase and kenny went to the refuge and they saw lots of animals...even a wolf! Kendyl slept her entire trip up here so i guess we will have to go back when she is older so she can experience it!

And my favorite day....SUNDAY! We hung out all morning then went to our very late 1:30 church. Kendyl slept almost the whole time during that too. (How did we get such a good baby!?) After church we came home, changed, ate our spaghetti dinner, played a game of hot dice and headed to Bear World. (ps..yay i get to work there again this year!) Anyway the Baby bear cubs were pulled like a week and a half or so ago. And since Stacy (the bear keeper) is the nicest, funnest and best lady ever.... she let us come play our hearts out. These were the sweetest babies ever! I wanted to put one in my pocket and bring one home. Instead I just played!
Here is the size of them. look how tiny and cute!

This one was SO hyper! He was so cute!

This one is "#9" (they dont have names yet) and he was MY favorite! Look at their cute paws!

See they are so sweet!

kendyl didn't know what to think of the noises they made. It was funny to watch her!

So thanks STACY!!! your the best and we owe you big time!

Life is short

Story #1:

So as I was 8 months pregnant I got a message on facebook from an old softball pal about another girl (Kailie) from softball was in the hospital after ankle surgery in a coma. She had a 6 or 7 moth old daughter.... and there she was in a coma. we did a lot of praying, a lot of putting her name in the temple and somehow we ended up at her funeral a week later. I was shocked, I was saddened, i was in disbelief. Kailie had a new 6 or 7 month olf baby that was just adorable. Her father had passed away shortly after she was married. SHe had just sent off her brother on a mission and living life to its fullest. Her life was cut short. It was horrible news... and how i never wanted to get ankle surgery in my life!

Story #2:

lets fast forward about 5 moths.... Janae's (jases mom) cousin (i believe that is the relation) went in for ankle surgery. The next day went into a coma, and quickly went down hill from there. She had to have her leg amputated, go on dialysis for her kidneys, and her heart and lungs were failing. She was going up hill and made such big progress then it all just went down hill in a matter of days. This lady was just sealed in the temple to her husband in 2009, she has a beautiful daughter named Mady... and her life was cut short.

As I was looking at her obituary in the newspaper it dawned on me i knew the lady right next to her column... ODD! Then as Jase was looking at it he had known another guy on the same page. Thats 3 people in one section. But back to the ankle surgery.... thats 2 people I know within 6 months of eachother. If i ever have to get ankle surgery.... which i will do everything in my power even if its a cement cast i have to wear for 2 years.... I will try my hardest to protect my little kankles. ANd if i do have tog et surgery... no way am i getting a pain pump in a million years.

But I have reall felt so bad for these young people and their families. It really just breaks my heart and really shows us just how fragile life is. I ran across a quote that i really just fell in love with.

"Faith In God Includes Faith In His Timing"

So if anything these 2 women have taught me is say my prayers, read my scriptures, attend the temple, be the best I can be and don't wait til tomorrow.... because life is fragile and life can be short.

Jases Facts

As promised we are having Jase do his 25 random facts.... but from my point of view.
1. my favorite thing to do is hunt.
2. i love my wife so much... I think she gets wife of a lifetime award.
3. One of the best days of my life was when Kendyl was born.
4. I used to play little league baseball in my socks and sandals...Tayler likes to laugh at me for it.
5. i played every sport and ran track in college.
6. I used to put antlers on my neighbors head, make him crawl around and my friends and I would shoot him with foam arrows... it was called "hunting"
7. i served my mission in the Chicago South Mission.
8. Once when we were on the ranch my truck caught on fire.
9. I think i have the coolest and had the coolest boss in the world...(one of them was my dad!)
10. i wear cowboy boots every day
11. I love seafood, Tayler hates it but i eat her favorite food... she wont eat mine!
12. I love all my cars to be the color white
13. I am the best fly fisherman around
14. My dad used to make me yell what i did wrong off the front porch 10 times when i got in trouble.
15. My favorite food is anything with a good salsa on it.
16. I can spot a deer or an elk from 7 miles away
17. I have driven through a tornado
18. If i dont know the answer...my answer is always 7
19. My favorite movie is Son in law
20. my favorite animal is a Mule deer
21. my favorite color is Sunset pink
22. I once chopped my sisters ponytail off
23. my favorite place to be is on the mountain
24. I hate any rattling noises.
25. In the winter i film deer and in the spring they shed their antlers and i find em and in the fall i hunt them.

Best breadsticks

So i was going to have an Eat Pray Love date night with Jase since we were getting that movie in the mail from netflix saturday night. So I put on my apron and made us an Italian Meal... spaghetti and these SO yummy and SO tasty and SO EASY breadsticks! (ps this was my first time making anything bread besides banana bread!)

So here is the recipe cause I think I should share!

Ingredients:

3 1/2 cups all purpose flour

1/2 tsp salt

2 TBSP sugar

1 scant tbsp (or 1 package) quick rise yeast (i just had normal yeast and it worked just fine)

1/2 cups warm water

1 stick butter

(to put on top when finished) garlic salt and parmesan cheese (fresh)

So i mixed all the dry ingredients together in my kitchen aid then added in the warm water. Make sure you have your dough hook on for this! I kneaded it in my machine for about 10 minutes. I let it rest for a few minutes then rolled it out. Roll it to about the size of a jelly roll pan. Melt the butter and pour about half into the bottom of the pan spreading it all over. Put the dough on the pan and roll until the edges meet. Then with a brush i brished the rest of the butter all over the top. sprinkled on some Garlic salt and parmesan cheese. I then cut them to the size I wanted with a pizza cutter. i covered them with saran wrap and let them sit for about an hour. (could have been less but i ran to the store to get some milk and it was packed so it took about an hour) I let the oven heat up to 375 and cooked them for about 13 1/2 minutes. But depending on your likeness and your oven it can be anywhere from 12 to 15 minutes.

seriously these are DIVINE!