Helping Hands Make Light Work...

Together we enjoyed an apple tradition by

cleaning jars,

boiling lids and rings,

peeling apples,

cutting apples,

throwing away the curly q's,

packing apples,

finding cute little faces in the apple cores,

making the filling for apple pies and apple crisps,

stirring the filling,
pouring the filling into the jars,

sealing all but one jar,

and finally, making them cute with fall material. ;-)

We finished in a little under 2 hours with 29 quarts of apple filling. We used four bags of apples. We have already picked 8 other bags and plan on picking some more tomorrow. Does this motivate anyone to can some apples? Actually it was really fun and I love that Kaydree and Karsyn already consider this a tradition. They enjoy helping and really enjoy eating apple pies and apple crisp. Hey, all of you in the Anoka Ward, guess what you might see at the next Linger Longer?! ;-) We have had a couple of requests now for some apples and that makes my parents very happy that their apples will not be going to waste. There are some local deer that are grateful for the apples that fall on the ground because they feed them through the winter. It is a lot of work canning, however... Helping Hands do... make the load a little lighter!

Recipe for the filling: http://allrecipes.com/Recipe/Apple-Pie-in-a-Jar/Detail.aspx

Apples, Apples and More Apples.

This is my parent's apple shed. This summer they refinished it.
This is the new and improved RED APPLE SHED!
This morning was a beautiful crisp 57 degree morning, so we thought it would be a great morning to pick crisp apples. My parents have 13 apple trees that need some pickin'.
So we all got to work. Mom and I were helping, just not in the pics.

I kept getting side tracked by all the apples that have already fallen on the ground. I slipped on them twice and fell, so I started throwing them all to the base of the trees, until Benjy so nicely reminded me by ( throwing an apple at me) that there was work to be done, by picking the apples off of the trees.
We only picked a small, very small portion of 4 trees. This is how many apples we got in an hour. We plan on picking more before we leave. We are now going out to enjoy our last day this summer on the lake and then we will be peeling, coring, slicing, packing and canning apples!

I know in the past that some of you have enjoyed canning apple filling for pies, crisps and apple sauce with these apples. Let me know if you want some more... it will help us decide how many more to pick. I don't want to bring back a car full of apples, if people aren't going to use them....?? I am kind of lazy like that!;-)

A Generous Tooth Fairy?

On Tuesday night we decided to grill a couple steaks. I love to floss. So naturally after eating steak, it was much needed. Some of you may not know but I got braces a couple of years ago, and ever since then, my contacts on my back teeth are very tight. When I pulled the floss out on Tuesday night, a small chunk of my tooth came flying out and hit the mirror. I thought, how can this be possible? I am flossing, taking care of my teeth and this is what I get. Well, I called the dentist right away in the morning, I was a little frustrated because I thought I didn't even have a filling on that tooth, so what the heck? Well, the dentist laughed when I brought in the little piece from a tooth in the back, because it was a tiny porcelain filling. They fixed it in less than an hour and our co-pay was $45. Not bad... so I may have over reacted a little, since I couldn't sleep stressing out about it! Thank you Andrea, for watching the girls on the fly...
Here is a blurry picture of my filling next to a grain of rice. The rice is on the bottom. Here comes the story... All day, yesterday, Karsyn kept asking to see my tooth? I kept telling her it wasn't a tooth. She asked many times, so I finally let her see it last night. She took off running.. saying, " Now I can put it under my pillow for the Tooth fairy." I informed her that it really wasn't a tooth and that the tooth fairy only comes when you put your own tooth under your pillow. Benjy informed me, that no, the tooth fairy would probably come for Karysn. I disagreed, however, This morning this is what the "tooth fairy," put under her pillow!
I mean really???? What is the tooth fairy thinking? Benjy informed me, he has special connections with the tooth fairy! I guess this may have cost $46 to fix?

We've Never Been So Excited To...

FINISH A BOOK...

I have decided to invest my time in the Harry Potter Books. My niece Korin, has been wanting me to read these for years...so I have decided to find a way! I have checked out the first three books along with the audio books. I have to be able to still be productive while reading these books, so....I listen to Harry Potter when I am on the computer, driving and doing house work. Let's just say the girls are not as enthusiastic about Harry Potter, yet! I have finished and returned book 1. GO TO THE DENTIST...

We have an awesome Children's Dentist in Elk River that the girls love going to. They actually were counting down the time to go. When we got there, there was another four year old screaming her head off. When they called Karsyn's name...she jumped out of my lap smiling and ran over to the hygienist and grabbed her hand. When they came back Kaydree was smiling from ear to ear because they had more than just Princess toothbrushes.. because she is sooo passed that stage, you know! The hygienist was laughing when she brought Karsyn back she said, "Karsyn didn't care about the stickers or the toys.. all she kept asking for was a new Princess toothbrush. That is all she cared about!" NO CAVITIES and the dentist told them they were awesome little brushers! I am so thankful they are not scared of the dentist and that they have always had positive experiences there!

TO DO THE LAUNDRY..

We have been fortunate to have a couple home repairs this summer. The last three Benjy was able to fix himself and the dishwasher....well let's just say my leaning up against it, took care of the problem...our washer on the other hand....not sooooo much. After our last one filled the house with smoke, we went and bought some new belts for it and immediately the new belts started to smoke and burn, so we decided our free washer... had finally bit the dust. (sorry dad) We hated to have to do this, but we invested in a front loading washer. ;-O ummm! yeah...it was my dream to get one! I love it. It was only $80 more than their cheapest top loading washer, so we went for it!
The problem is... that I want to sit in my laundry room all the time watching it and listening to it. It sounds like a waterfall and it is so peaceful to watch the clothes getting washed. I hope this will wear off soon, after all, outside summer is coming to an end so we should be out enjoying what we have left of nice weather!

Pancho Villa Returns...

For years I have been trying to get Benjy to go horseback riding for a date. He has some unknown origin of fear for horses. He didn't want Kaydree and Karsyn to pet them at the fair for fear that they might get bit!? He thinks that every horse is going to bite, apparently? Yesterday during his morning meetings I scoped out the stables and made a riding appointment.
Since I thought the stables were just across the street, we decided to walk there. Benjy was making an effort to try to be comfortable around horses as we waited. After our start time had passed we realized that this was the wrong stable. So we pretty much ended up running a 1/2 mile down the road, in the heat of the day in jeans! Not... off to a good start. Benjy does not like being HOT! You can imagine his comments under his breath...remember this was your idea... what in the world, how can it be this HOT? I was so excited that I just kept smiling and reassuring him that it would be FUN!
After we ran thinking we were late.. we were informed that the group before us did the same thing. So we got to wait for a couple minutes. Benjy picked out this horse to ride! Ha Ha. No.... really. He thought the horse looked hefty enough to hold him!

Then he picked out this horse to ride...thinking it was a little taller..;-) ...yes it was a donkey.. but hey, Benjy thought he made a connection with this little guy!

They told him... you are going to ride JOE! This is JOE.. one of the tallest horses there! Ha Ha. I was laughing and Benjy...nope.... not so much!
I rode Amy... ( who wears a necklace like that... to go riding. I forgot I had it on!) Talk about looking like a city slicker!
I asked the lady to put Benjy in front of me so I could see him and enjoy it. We had our own private ride. The last one of the day!
We are off. Benjy had his blackberry on his hip, wearing a polo and leather loafers. I bet these people just chuckled at us!

This is what I saw most of the ride. It was beautiful, however Benjy thought he was Pancho Villa... he kept kicking his horse to run! Then my horse would take off running, which I wouldn't care, but my legs were too short to reach the stirrups, so I would bounce like crazy and only had the tiny little saddle horn to hang on to! Amy...my buddy, they told me tends to run into things on her left side, so I would need to over compensate for her! Well, when she would take off running I would hold on for dear life, which required not being able to pull back on the reins, which led to, being hit by branches and getting off the path. Benjy picked up on this and had a great time with it! Let's just say I am having a hard time sitting today!

(Remember it was my idea to do this!)

Benjy hates to admit it, but he loved it. He looked like the real deal... making his horse run and taking control of a 1,000 pound animal. Benjy's comment was, "I got back in touch with my roots"....PANCHO VILLA RETURNS.

Last night we had a formal dinner and awards ceremony. The food was amazing, again! We had a blast with some friends and listened to music and then Benjy took me for a stroll out to the dock, there was a full moon...sooooo ROMANTIC.

A little History lesson...after I did this post, Andrea asked,

"Who is Pancho Villa?"

Here is a picture of him.

Villa's Robin Hood story began after he established himself and his bandit followers in the sierras in 1900. Today Villa is remembered with pride by most Mexicans for having led the most important military campaigns of the constitutionalist revolution, in which his troops were victorious as far south as Zacatecas and Mexico City, east as far as Tampico, and west as far as Casas Grandes. Here is a link if you are interested in more...http://www.mexconnect.com/mex_/travel/jcummings/jcpanchovilla.html

Ahhh... What a Get A Way!

Every year for our anniversary gift, my parents watch our girls so we can get away, just the two of us, for a weekend. I recently heard my mom say, "We could give them money or a gift, but what we enjoy doing more, is to give them our time!" I can not tell you how important it is for us to have this time just for the two of us! Karysn told Grandma and Grandpa, "My dad is taking my mom out on a date over night!" The girls think they are getting the real deal, actually! So we are all very happy!

This year Benjy decided to attend The Minnesota Association for Justice (Trial Lawyers) annual meeting...uh huh?! Meeting.....right...at Arrowwood Resort in Alexandria, Minnesota. Families are encouraged to attend so we thought we would jump on this opportunity. OH HOW WE KNOW... JUST HOW BLESSED WE ARE!

Here are a couple pictures from our patio! The mini golf course is right below us! This morning was so beautiful...breath taking on the lake!

Last night we attended a social dinner at Bug A Boo Bay Caribbean Style Restaurant, overlooking Lake Darling. There was a great Caribbean band and the food was awesome! We met some really fun couples, one couple asked us if they could sit by us and they happened to have just moved to Minnesota last February, from Moses Lake, Washington. Which is 20 minutes from Benjy's hometown. They have two little girls and they knew many of Benjy's friends and family... it's a Small, Small World! We also enjoyed an unbelievable magic show! I didn't take any pictures because no one else brought a camera, so I didn't want to look too touristy!
While we are here, Benjy is attending some continuing legal education classes, required for keeping up his licence, so what will I be doing during that time.....? I am getting ready to go for a run around the lake.
and.... I brought plenty of reading material! They have a an indoor and outdoor pool...and we are surrounded by a lake....ummmm I think I will be just fine!

What's Happened in My Life Since High School?

Sorry about the qualities of these pictures! I never thought I needed a scanner until this morning...ugh! I have recently been introduced to Face Book from a friend. I didn't think I would ever want an account, however since I have been able to get in touch with long lost friends, I am loving it! I have been asked over and over... "UPDATE ME ON YOUR LIFE!" So I thought I would give you all a little walk down History Lane... I am hoping that this will also be a part of my history for my children and Grandchildren. :-)
I attended The University of Wisconsin-River Falls, in order to do gymnastics...and get an education!;-) This picture was taken my Sophomore year at Nationals out East. We visited the Rocky Statue while we were there! (Can't find my picture by Rocky) :-( I originally enrolled pre-law, decided that I didn't want to go to school that long, so I switched to Nursing. I passed out in my First Aid class and thought, that this path might not work for me. River Falls is known for their Elementary Education Program, and I practiced gymnastics in the Education building and I was naturally drawn to that program by my sophomore year.

While at River Falls, I was (overly involved), as my dad put it. I served on just about every committee there was. I spent the majority of my time in committee meetings and serving as a Resident Assistant in Hathorn Hall. I became active in Student Government, traveled to Orlando for training and my Senior year I was elected as Student Body President.
I earned the Chancellor's Award for my involvement in student activities and in the community, where I taught religious education classes for the catholic church, coached track and gymnastics at River Falls High School and taught Aerobics for the University and Athletic Club. I have to say receiving this award was one of my most memorable moments in college! It was a sign that it really was coming to an end and it would be a start to a new beginning!
In 1998, right after I graduated with a degree in Elementary Education with minors in Health and Coaching, I moved to Las Vegas to teach. This is a picture of all the Third Grade Teachers at the end of my Second Year of Teaching. I taught 4 years at an inner city (at risk) school and absolutely loved it! My last year of teaching was spent at a school closer to my home at the time where I taught Fifth Grade.

I joined the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints on September 5, 1998. It has been the most significant choices I have made in my adult life along with....

Meeting and marrying my very best friend, Adriel Benjamin Villarreal. (Benjy) I am three years older than Benjy and when we met, I was already teaching and he was one year into his college career after taking time off of school to serve a mission in Las Vegas for our church. Benjy is from the State of Washington, where most of his family still lives. Benjy attended school full-time while working for Schwan's for the first 4 years of our marriage. He graduated from UNLV with a degree in Business with a Marketing Emphasis. We then moved to Bloomington, MN so that Benjy could attend Law School at the University of St. Thomas. During this time I worked 5-10 hours a week at Lifetime Fitness in their Kid's Center, where the girls could come with me. We now live in Ramsey, MN and Benjy works for Barna, Guzy and Steffen in Coon Rapids. I am now a Stay at Home Mom! I am currently serving in a calling in our church as the Primary President. Which means I work with Children and the Children's teachers in our church and I still get to attend meetings! ;-) Our daughter Kaydree is 7 and starting second grade. She has taken piano lessons and tennis lessons. She has dabbled in gymnastics, dance and soccer. Our daughter Karsyn is 4 and will be going to preschool 2 full days a week. She took dance this last year. I am planning on subbing a day or two a week while Karsyn is in school. Someday it is my plan to get back into teaching full time... just not yet!
Right now my interests are in providing peace and love in our home, keeping a clean house, taking my girls to the library, park and pool, going on dates with Benjy, trying to develop a love for cooking and working out at Lifetime Fitness. I love to read and have developed a new love for running. I have run a couple of 5k's but haven't worked up to more than that for now! Since High School, I have been living a very full and happy life. I have and I am currently living my dreams!