Grilled Pizza

We love to cook on the grill and we recently tried something new...PIZZA.  I know that this has been done before but for us it was the first time and it was FABULOUS! 

My girls who love pizza were pretty skeptical when I told them I was going to cook the pizza on the grill, but they were won over by the taste.  The grill gives the pizza a flavor very similar to what you would get from a woodfire oven.  Also because it cooks so hot it also cooks very fast.  So if you try it, make sure that you have all your toppings laid out and ready to go because you don't have much time once you put the dough on the grill to get all the toppings on.

I'm sorry this picture doesn't really do any justice to the magnificence of grilled pizza but you see it's such a busy process that I couldn't take time for pictures for fear of burning my crust.  This was the last pizza on the grill so I was able to get a picture, it just happened to be one of the girl's plain cheese.

Braces!!

Another right of passage for our darling Ashley....BRACES!

We have known this was coming for a while as she has been having developmental check-ups with an orthodontist for a few years now.  When the last of her baby teeth fell out this spring it was time to get serious about moving forward with braces. 

We had a check-up in July and the braces were on by August 2nd!

Ashley was pretty worried about it, nervous if they would hurt, what she would look like, what color rubber bands she should choose, but it has been a week and everything is A-Okay.  It didn't hurt at all to have them put on, the soreness lasted for about 5 days but wasn't nearly as bad as she anticipated.  Also, everyone has been so nice to her about them, she's not worried about it anymore.  I encouraged her to get them on before school started, so it didn't give her much time to prepare, but I think she is glad about the timing now.  (By the way, she chose pink and green bands.)

I think the hardest part is and will be sticking to the approved and banned food list.  Honestly, I find it pretty restrictive and know for sure that when I wore braces I ate Doritos, pizza crust, and Skittles.  Of course, I don't want to encourage Ashley to disregard the rules so I'm just going to let her find the right balance on her own.

Right  now, she only has the top on, but she will get braces on the bottom as well.  We have to wait about 6 months for her bite to give a little more space for the braces.  Her total treatment time will be about 2 years...ahh the joys of being an adolescent.

Girls Camp

It's been 14 years since I've been to Girl's Camp.  I was a brand new in the Church and filled in for two days for someone at the last minute.  Needless to say I didn't know what was going on or really get much from the experience.

So fast forward to 2011 and I feel like it is my first time at Girls Camp.  It also happens to be my oldest daughter's first time too!  We are newbies together!!



Ashley and I in our Italy "La Familia" t shirts and fedora hats

The theme for our camp was D.O.V.E---Daughters of Virtue Everywhere.  It was held at a boyscout camp in Lafayette, Indiana.  Some more experienced adult leaders have called the place, "Camp Hilton."  This probably has something to do with air conditioning, even in the cabins!  Nice!!

Bags we gave everyone from our ward

My assignment at camp was in the kitchen.  I was one of three ladies who prepared three hot meals and snacks each day for about 160 campers.  All I can say about this is HARD WORK.  The best part really was getting to work with friends.  I was basically on my feet all day.  I was however in a nicely equipped kitchen with air conditioning although it still got hot working with huge convection ovens.  The reward for all that cooking is that we get to sleep in the main building in our own room with beds, a/c and a shower!!  I wasn't really roughing it.

the fabulous kitchen crew on crazy hat day:
Leilani, Jenny and Julie



Although, I really didn't have any free time from the kitchen, there were times when we finished up for the day and I could go out and visit the girls or join in the evening campfires.  I even got to go on a hike with Ashley's group.  I saw Ashley every day but didn't spend too much time with her.  I think it was the perfect balance of "close, but not too close."  Ashley of course, loved camp!  She had so much fun and just loved being with her friends and passing off requirements.  It was great for me to see her SO happy!

I definitely left with a greater appreciation for many things:
-the blessings of the Gospel
-the amount of work that goes into Girls Camp
-how important camp is to the Young Women
-how important it is to honor the gifts we have been given
-a good pair of shoes that save your feet when you are standing on concrete all day
-a shower - (it was soooooooo hot during the whole week and very humid.  Once you stepped outside your where drenched in sweat.  The heat index was over 100 degrees on a couple days.)

Manchester United vs. Chicago Fire

At the end of July, Dave and I went with some friends to see the Premier League Manchester United play the Chicago Fire.  The game was played at Soldier Field and we had really good seats.  I LOVE Soldier Field, it's so beautiful.
Unfortunately, we were late to the game because of the horrific traffic.  I didn't mind too much though because it was sort of nice surprise to see so many soccer fans.  Soldier Field was sold out.  Most of the crowd were Manchester United fans but we cheered the Fire on.

We were sort of expecting ManU to blow out the Fire but were surprised that the game was a little closer.  In fact, the Fire scored first and led 1-0 through the first half.  As this was an exhibition game, the coaches rotated a lot of players into the game and during the 2nd half ManU really came on.  This happened to coincide with a goalie change for the Fire and Manchester took advantage of his mistakes scoring 3 goals and winning 3-1.  We even got to see Rooney score! 

It was a fun time, the worst part had to be the heat.  The game was on one of our super hot/humid days.  I have a picture of Dave and I but I'm not posting it because we are so hot and sweaty looking it's gross! 

What a great opportunity to see Premier League soccer!

Winter Quarters, Nebraska

After one month, it was time to head home.  I mean if we hadn't already, we didn't want to wear out our welcome.  So after a tearful goodbye, we hopped in the van and headed for home.  Our first day goal was Grand Island, Nebraska.  Grandma sent us home with a plate of homemade cinnamon rolls to eat for breakfast on the road.  The cinnamon rolls and our Beatles mix tape was more than enough to help us make it through the first day. 

In Nebraska, the girls swam in the pool and we ate a funky restaurant called Carlos O'Kelley's.  The place was basically a Mexican cafe, but you could get mashed potatoes with your taco...whatever.  After a good night's rest we hit the road, making one more stop before home:

Winter Quarters, Nebraska.  Another Mormon Trail historical site.  There is a nice visitor center on site in addition to the memorial at the cemetery that was erected many years ago.  Again, it was amazing to think that the pioneers cleared the land and built a functioning city only to leave it behind.  Of course, how much more difficult to leave buried loved ones behind knowing that you would never return--what a humbling example of faith.

Winter Quarters Visitor Center



"Loading" the wagons



Winter Quarters Memorial.  All around are quotes about death not
being the end, this is one of my favorites.



Winter Quarters Memorial.  A sculpture of grieving parents
standing over the grave of their child.

Fourth of July

We got to celebrate the Fourth of July twice this year, which is okay with me because I love this holiday!

Our first celebration was with my family.  It was part Independence Day and part birthday party.  My dad and family were so sweet they wanted to have a birthday dinner for me and also wanted to have a fabulous firework show for the girls since fireworks are pretty much a "no-no" in Illinois.  I mean the best we can do is light sparklers and do some poppers.

So on Sunday, July 3rd we had a big family dinner at Becky's house.  My dad grilled chicken and shrimp and bought me a cheesecake for my birthday.  I also got a big basket of Scentsy stuff from my sisters and mom.  It was really nice and so fun to be together.  Unfortunately, I didn't get many pictures, I was too busy having fun and putting out fires.

I am being literal about the fires.  Becky and her husband Chuck took my dad and bought a bunch of fireworks.  They had a big variety--from the little fountains you set off in the street to big aerial fireworks that shoot up 100 feet.  Let's just say that I had the scare of my life when one of the big fireworks tipped over and shot into ditch which then started the weeds on fire.  Fortunately, everyone was able to get it out before it got out of control, but it scared the daylights out of me.  I was pretty much ready to call it night after that, but everyone else was totally unfazed and the show continued----thank goodness without further incident.  Needless to say there was much excitement and the girls saw a great show.  Their parents were just grateful for what didn't happen :)

The next day we celebrated with the Smith Family.  Dave's parents hosted a big backyard party for the extended family.  We ate fried chicken, roasted corn on the cob, and a potluck of summer salads and desserts.  It was also really nice to visit with some of Dave's aunts, uncles, and cousins.  At dusk we pulled out chairs to watch the professional firework show that just happens to be perfectly viewable from Dave's parents front yard.  Fun, fun, fun.

Katie and Ashley - twinners

Kristin- Hey this would be a great Facebook profile pic!

Dave with Grandpa and Grandma Church

watching fireworks!

Brian - Official corn roaster



Utah Shakespearean Festival

During our last weekend in Utah Dave and I drove to Cedar City for the Utah Shakespearean Festival.  This was orginally his parent's trip, but when we decided to come to Utah they decided to go at a later date and offered to let us take their place and buy their tickets/hotel.  It was a very kind thing to do and I still feel a little guilty for taking their trip, but Dave and I did have a wonderful time.

We used this trip to celebrate my birthday and an early 15th wedding anniversary.  The last time we were at the festival was on our honeymoon.  We saw the play Henry IV part II.  This time we left the girls with their grandparents and Dave and I saw two fabulous plays. 

We drove down on Friday and ate dinner at the exact same pizza place (The Pizza Factory) that we did on our honeymoon.  It was yummy!  The next day we saw a matinee of The Music Man.  The tickets were a birthday gift to me from Dave's parents.  I had never seen The Music Man live before and was thrilled.  Many thanks!!!  The peformance was very good and the leads really entertaining.  

Later in the evening we saw Romeo and Juliet in the outdoor Adam's theater.  Prior to the show we did a little shopping in the gift shop and then sat outside to watch the greenshow and eat tarts.  We decided to try one of every tart---we hadn't eaten dinner that night because we were still too full from eating lunch at Cafe Rio.



 Again, the play did not disappoint.  Our seats were great and the outdoor theater so enchanting.  A pleasant surprise after the show was reception for the audience in the courtyard in honor of the festival's 50th anniversary.  Audience members were treated to refreshments, drinks, entertainment and given the chance to meet the cast.

What a wonderful little get away, very fun for Dave and I to get to spend a little time alone.  And our minds were at ease knowing that our little girls were in good hands and having some fun of their own with their grandparents.