Stout Family Reunion - Summer 2010

It was so wonderful to have our whole family together at a beautiful location in Logan Canyon. It was a wonderful family reunion that would not have taken place if not for the many efforts of Janna and others who contributed time and talents and money.

Mother's Day

I planned a delicious dinner- roast in the crock-pot. Strawberry shortcake for dessert, then I started to think how much I liked a cake my mom used to make for me for my birthday. It is an angel food with a frosting/glaze made with orange juice instead of milk or water, and lots of orange zest. It gets poured over the top and sides of the cake. So I made it and we used that for the shortcake and so it was like having 2 desserts in one.

Kirt gave me a lovely card with a very special letter, and a box of chocolates - nuts and chews. Shaunika's family sent me a bunch of chocolate covered strawberries. YUM!

I guess this day will have to be one of my 20% where I eat too much or wrong stuff, knowing that tomorrow I will be "back on the wagon" and trying to eat well the other 80% of the time.

Best of the day was seeing all the posts on the grandma blog from the grand-kids, and phone calls I have received and cards that arrived yesterday and the day before. And I guess MD will continue as the gift that Logan is sending will arrive some time this seek.

Even with out gifts or any special recognition I know I am very blessed with such amazing children and a wonderful spouse.

Fixing the Yellow Truck

Shaunika's family(including Jason) has been sick this week with the flu so Kirt figured he wouldn't be able to go out to have Jason help him with the truck. Shaunika called early to say the Jason was feeling well enough to help Kirt.

I decided to go also (and we were crossing our fingers that we would make it). Kirt and Jason undid a few bolts off and lifted the cab off and fixed something about the thing where you put the gas in.

I made cookies with Samantha, the kids played with bubbles, and jumped on the trampoline. We fed the chickens the scraps.

Kirt primed the floor of what will be the new shed. Samantha had put on her Cinderella dress and wanted to use the paint roller- they didn't let her.

Shaunika and I took Jacob and went to Michael's- she was getting a gift card for a friend. I bought KFC to take home to feed everyone. We threw the scraps to the chickens.

Some Pictures from the Garden

A little bit of my tomato harvest. They're so little and yummy! (Ignore the waterspots.)

Marigolds that grew about 4 or 5 feet tall!

Samantha picking a tomato. She doesn't actually like them, but they're fun to pick.

Picking carrots.

"Look! It's just my size!"

A New Grandson

We were thrilled to have John call us to tell us of the birth of their new little boy. Stephen Allan Stout weighed in at 6#1oz, 19 1/2 long, born Wednesday, March 24, 2010. One month early via a c-section delivery, Angie is doing well.

Spring is here...

In California, it is time to be thinking seriously about putting in our garden. Our peach trees are in bloom, the apricot and pears and already bloomed and the blossoms are gone. I hope to get a fruit dehydrator this year.
Kirt has the soil in our raised planter boxes all turned over and ready for planting. We have some Raspberry and Marion berry plants ready to plant. - we just don't know for sure where they will go.
The 2 pots of hyacinths that Kirt gave me for Valentine's are blooming on the front entryway and they smell heavenly.
We have a Pomegranate tree that Samantha gave Grampa- it should go in the back yard somewhere.
I think we might build an arbor on the south side and grow some grapes. Then I will have the fruit I need to be able to can fruit cocktail. (except the maraschino cherries and I think fruit cocktail will be just fine without them.)

Things that I feel strongly about...

1. I am a mom, and grandmon; I love my kids, husband and my grandchildren
2. I am a daughter & I love my mom, she is still very important to me
3. I am a sister – “oh, the joys of sisterhood!” as a child and as an adult
4. I want my children to live good lives, remain active in the church, and work always to be the best they can be
5. Education is important
6. Continuing education continues to work for me
7. The importance of making a marriage work- it is important to marry the right person, at the right time, in the right place
8. Oral histories- I love to find out details about my ancestors lives
9. Family history – who did I descend from?
10. Quilting, knitting, some scrap booking
11. I have arthritis – and can do less with my hands than I want to.
12. Stress management
13. The importance of a good relationship with in-laws
14. Christmas – family holidays and get-togethers
15. Our joys and struggles as we lived in our “Poverty, hunger and dirt” days…we were so poor, with 6 kids in a little 900 sq ft home.
16. Emergency preparedness – follow the prophet
17. Getting out of debt- living within our means

What do you feel strongly about?