the cold front

We were hit with a cold front. We went from 80 degree weather to below freezing...overnight.

 

The first day of Spring and we were shoveling our sidewalks.

Since the schools don't have sufficient heating...school was cancelled.

The kids had a great time playing in the snow...before it melted.

We had a fun afternoon of hot chocolate and friends.

All the farmers in town were up all night long trying to protect their crops. Everything was lost. It was beyond their control. 

The last of the peaches for March 2012

Photograph by Shauna Neilsen

 

 

 

 

 

 

weekend with family

It was Spring Break for El Paso.

All the family came in for the weekend.

We filled our time with relaxing in the steam room...

shopping for designer shoes and glasses...

eating out...

platica and candy...

horse back riding...

golfing...

lashes...

temple session...

playing hard and getting dirty...

football practice...

chips and soda...

basketball games...

kitty scratches...

tacos...

wrestling...

and much, much more.

We love our time with family.

And I didn't get one single picture!

Why I LOVE Mexico...

I know I live a "world" away from my side of the family but I love having my in-laws just down the street.

I love sharing a bench at church with them.

I love having my kids come home for lunch everyday.

I love that everything is walking distance...including the temple.

I love knowing that all my children's teachers, leaders, coaches are temple recommend holders.

I love that my kids are bilingual.

I love that my kids are learning tennis.

I love that they are learning ballet.

I love that they can play the piano.

I love that my kids are learning to play basketball and football.

I love that my children are being included in musical performances in the community.
I love that their grandma is their vocal coach.

I love that my children know how to play outside and use their imaginations.

I love that they are well-rounded.

I love having my husband home everyday by 3:30pm.

I love knowing my kid's teachers and all the kids they go to school with.

I love that the people who own the store know me by name.

I love the honor code that all the teens in town have to abide by.

I love having the farm close by to send my children out to work in.

I love that my kids will have the opportunity to be in the band, choir, student council, cheer squad/football team at the same time if they so choose. 

I love being in a small town.

We are like one big family...

sometimes we bicker...

but in the end we really do care about each other and want whats best for us all.

Thats my boy!

It must be an instinctive nature for little boys to be able to pick-up a ball and know what to do with it.

I still have a hard time understanding the game!

Benton is lucky enough to have 2 best buddies...and they are twins to top.

They have a great yard with a "play place", basketball court, gardens, trampoline, and a great place for us Moms to relax and watch.

We gather most mornings so our sons can play some ball and we can catch up.

Beautiful mornings.

How to Have your Cake and Eat it Too

Scheduling is very important when raising a family.

I have settled into a nice routine that I love.

My mornings are filled with teaching early bird ballet, and exercise class, household chores, running errands in town, and preparing a hot lunch for my kids.

My afternoons are dedicated to naps with my babies and catching up on correspondence.

Once school lets out I fill my evenings with helping coach the High School Dance Team, homework, more ballet classes, scouts and a sit-down family dinner.

I have my calendar careful planned out so that I can even make room for an occasional visit on a front porch with a close friend or a friendly tennis match with another good friend. 

All the "in-betweens" are filled with changing diapers, wiping noses, reading stories, baking cookies, and helping with art at the Grade School.

I have made it my #1 Rule to be finished from teaching early morning dance by 7:15am in the morning so I can feed my kids a hot breakfast and help them get ready for the day...and also by 5:00pm so we can devote the rest of the evening to each other.

I also have a strict rule that "play-dates" are for weekends only and I really feel this helps me get in enough family time.
I am able to help with so many different activities because I do not have to factor in any sort of commute.
By giving each situation careful thought and prayer, you too can do those things that you find personally fulfilling and not neglect your family at the same time.

I love structure and I believe if you are carefully scheduled you can find time to do it all and not feel too burned out!

I will add that you must also learn when to say NO and really be in tune with the needs of your family first.

I am happy for the opportunity to serve in our small community. 

Nothing helps you more with your spiritual growth than service!

Happy Autumn!

"Lived to tell"

It is that time of year again...

the fair is in town!

We packed up the family and headed out for a fun FHE.

We headed straight for the rides.

Last year Benton cried on every ride. He didn't like the fair at all.

This year he was laughing and screaming...

for the first go around.

He didn't enjoy the 2nd...3rd...or the 24th turn.

Even Adalyn got in on the action.

She loved all the lights and was kicking and squealing the whole time.

Garrett decided it was time to put her on a ride...at 10 months!

She got to ride, with Tori, on a mild little balloon ride and she loved every minute of it.

She reminds me a lot of her big sister, Tori.

When Tori was tiny we put her on a little roller coaster, by herself, and she licked the handle bars the entire time. 

Every time the ride came by the parents perch we would all start yelling...EWWW...STOP licking the bar...etc. 

It did no good.

But I think it did strengthen her immune system.

Seems like everyone in town had the same idea for FHE so we joined up and had fun riding with some of the adults in town.
All the men jumped on the bumper cars and had a blast.

All the girls lined up for the TWISTER.

You have to understand that the Mexican fair is VERY mobile. 

We have witnessed tightening of bolts and screws...WHILE rides were in progress!

It adds to the excitement of the ride...I guess.

To see if you live to tell on each and every ride.

Kristy, Michele, Jen and I decided to take our chance and it didn't disappoint.

We laughed and screamed the entire time.

Till next year...when the fair comes to town.

Football Season

We started off the season with a tailgate.

Everyone showed up with picnic lunches...BBQ's...paletas...sodas...and much more.

Everyone was sharing with everyone. 

The Johnsons had Philadelphia steak sandwiches...the Jefferes had disciada...the Whettens had cupcakes...the Jones had fresh cut fruit and veggies.

It was a town buffet...of sorts.

It was a great party and got the school spirit flowing.

The NEW Booster Club wants to start every HOME game this way.

I think it is a great way to bring the community together and enjoy our sporting program.

This is our new football coach. 

We had a successful first game. 

Good job coach!

We had a great turn out this year.

The school spirit was GREAT...the Cheerleaders were stunting...the crowd was shouting...and the energy was high! 

Here is a picture of the crowd. 

What a great way to spend a Saturday afternoon. 

I can't wait until I have my son playing in these games!

Garrett is always a good sport about helping referee these games. 

It is not his favorite thing to do and doesn't always win him favoritism in town, but he will always help out.

Ada enjoyed the tailgating...and the cheetos. 

Good Job JSA!

Our trip to the beach....kinda

Our home is walking distance from a river. The rains came down and the river came up so we decided to pack a picnic lunch and spend the day playing on the sandy shores...of the Rio!

Alex took sand building very seriously and wanted to compete with anyone who was willing.

Ada loved the taste of our muddy sand and always had a mouth full.

It was very relaxing to just lay down and enjoy the beautiful weather while my kids played.

Tori even ran into some school friends who had the same idea as us.

Alex was the first to jump into the water. The current was very strong and swept her off her feet. 

I didn't let anyone else wade any further than the banks.

Benton thought the sand was for throwing.

He also thought the sand castles, that Alex worked so hard on, were for smashing.

He spent a lot of time sitting in the car. Rough day for Benton.

Ada loved standing and trying to walk. Falling down wasn't so bad in the soft sand.

It was a fun day at the RIO.

Peaches

A big Thank You to Tio Pancho for providing us with tons of beautiful peaches to bottle this year.

Garrett helped me peel and slice TONS of peaches.

I was able to do 35 quarts this year.

I prefer to do this outside to avoid the sticky mess.

Step 1: peel peaches

Step 2: slice peaches

Step 3: get baby to sleep

or

put peaches into clean bottles. Add 1/4 cup sugar and fill with water to the ridge.

Place hot lid and screw on tight.

Put in water bath for 35 minutes. (Don't' start timing until you see steam)

Let sit on counter tops for 24 hours...untouched.

Done!

You have to mentally prepare to bottle.

It is a lot of work.

Messy.

You have to figure out how to distract and feed your kids for the duration.

I like to prepare something easy that can sit out on the counter for them to eat as they so desire.

This year I did homemade Pigs-in-a-blanket and brownies.

I wasn't bothered once by the words..."I'm hungry."

Then I put out a large picnic blanket next to the peach peeling area for kids to lay on and play with toys or talk my ear off.

Worked like a charm.

Here's to another year of bottled peaches!

YUM!

football

Living in a small town we all support the high school football team. 

It is a chance to get out and visit...

eat good food...

and be thoroughly entertained.

With burritos being sold at one end of the field and hot fudge sundaes being sold (on occasion) at the other end, it makes for a good day.

Another thing about living in a small town is that your husband will be asked to ref almost every game.

You cannot please everyone but my husband will stand by every call that he makes.

He doesn't ever play favorites and he calls it as he sees it.

The crowd.

We enjoy catching up while watching the games.

We all have kids that are growing up together as well so we all have to be on the same page.

These games are a good place to do that.

This is our town.

taco

These are the BEST tacos in town. They are served out of a trailer but they are to die for!

With any order of tacos they bring out a tray of condiments such as

guacamole

salsa

pico de gallo

limes

pickled onions

and salt.

They are made with FRESH tortillas and the most perfectly seasoned beef.

One order comes with 5 tacos.

They also offer a terrific batter shrimp taco.

OH-SO-GOOD!

All of our out-of-town guests LOVE to stop by this taco stand.

They are one of a kind.

One of the perks of living in Mexico....REAL authentic Mexican Food...hot off the grill.

The Smudge

In our community there are many orchards.

It gets cold at night but it is warm during the day so the buds need to be protected from the frost.

These days  a sprinkling system is used to trap the warmth.

Every morning the orchards look like this.

This particular night the temperature dropped to 10 degrees.

There is nothing you can do for temps that low.

We kissed our apple crop good-bye and snapped some cool photos.

Now we are praying that our chile is fruitful.

Back in the day the farmers would light "smudge buckets" under each tree to frost control.

The town would be covered in thick smoke for most of the day.

Soot would get in the homes and stain the furniture and carpets.

The men would come home BLACK.

A more effective way was found to frost control....with water and a sprinkling system....but the process has always been known as the "smudge."

Plus, it sounds more manly than the "sprinkle."

Swimming...farm-style

This Spring Break EVERYONE left town.

My good friend Jen and I were the only ones left in town.

We got together almost everyday and did something fun with our 12 kids.

One day we let the kids play in the yard and enjoyed lunch together.

The next day we took a picnic up the river and let the kids play in the sand.

This day we went to a neighboring orchard and swam in their pond.

They had a great rope swing that the big kids were so nice to help the little kids on. We only had 1 injury while playing on the rope.

The water is green but clean. It doesn't bother these farm kids in the least.

They couldn't be more happy.

The view was great. 

We were surrounded by hills and had a nice view of the orchard below.

The kids had a blast pushing each other in...racing...diving...and splashing.

We set up camping chairs...lemonade...and strawberries so we could sit...relax...and visit while the kids swam.

No trip to a water hole is complete without a 4 wheeler. 

The kids all took turns driving and riding the moto.

It was a great day of relaxing...laughing...playing...and visiting.

Thank you Jen for the wonderful "stay"-cation. 

We had a blast with your family this week.