Oatmeal Jumble Bars

All: Here is recipe that my Mom and Tenille really like. I used to make these bars a lot when the kids were growing up so they would get their "oats".

Oatmeal Jumble Bars

3 cups Quaker Oats (Quick or old fashioned - I used old fashioned)
1 1/2 cups flour
1 cup firmly packed brown sugar
1 cup butter, melted
3/4 tsp salt
1/2 tsp soda
One 10-12 oz jar preserves (I generally use raspberry, but the stores have a mixed berry which is really good)

Heat oven to 400 degrees F. Grease 9 x 13 inch baking pan.
In large bowl, combine all ingredients except preserves, mix well.
Reserve 1 cup mixture of oatmeal mixture.
Press remaining onto bottom of lightly greased pan. Spread preserves evenly over crust to within 1/2 inch of edge of pan, sprinkle with reserved oatmeal mixture. Bake 25-30 minutes or until golden brown. Cool completely, cut into bars. Makes 9 x 13 pan of bars. Put into an air-tight container. ENJOY!

2009 Thanksgiving

Several of us went to Blackfoot to celebrate Thanksgiving with the Perkes side of the family. We had a good time visiting and seeing alot of cousins that we haven't seen for a long time. We also celebrated Thaksgiving at our house on Sunday, November 29th. Everyone was here except Troy and Laura who celebrated at Laura's Moms.

These yams were "golden brown" - not burnt!!!!Jill's Mom and Grandchildren - they are the BEST!

The "infamous" Thanksgiving Candy Party - we also had a fruit party with apples and oranges and also a pie and ice cream party - Grandkids are funniest.

Scary Night

All: last night was a scary night. Dennis was excited about going to the climbing wall with the boy scouts, which he has done several times before. But, last night was different. He left the house around 7:00 pm and was home at 8:15 pm. I knew that something had to be wrong. Well, it was! He was in extreme pain, his face was white as a ghost. I ask him what was wrong and he began to tell me what had happen. I immediately put him in the car and off to the hospital we went.

While at the climbing gym one of the older scouts was belaying (can't spell) him down from the top of the tallest wall, around 30 - 35 feet high, and instead of hitting the brakes on the ropes, he tried to grasp it with his hands, and Dennis fell somewhere between 20 - 25 feet to the ground. He hit a 2 x 4 on the ground and was in extreme pain. At the hospital after lots of x-rays, pain medication it was discovered that he had fractured (cracked) the L2 vertebrae in his back. We were told that the only thing they could do was give him pain medication and to keep moving so he wouldn't stiffen up.

We arrived back home around 1:00 am on Wednesday. Dennis went straight bed, however, the pain was pretty bad so he took another pain pill around 3:00 am and another at 8:45 am. I picked up his med's at the pharmacy around 9:30 am and took them home - he was trying to sleep, but I could tell that he couldn't get comfortable. He has slept most of the day today. On top of all of that he cut his tongue really bad and has that nice taste in his mouth and can't eat very well. Anyway, this was a really scary night and I hope that he feels better tomorrow, but they told him it would take 4- 6 weeks to heal completely. I will update his progress later.

Thanksgiving and Christmas

All: We are trying to decide what to do about Thanksgiving this year. Dennis would like to see his relatives on the Perkes side of the family. They are having a Thanksgiving Lunch at one of the church houses in Blackfoot. If everyone would like to go there on Thanksgiving day or go to other family gatherings, then I will do Thanksgiving on Friday or Saturday depending on everyone's work schedules. Let me know - we need to give a total to Uncle Leon so he can plan. This is by no means final - if everyone still has only Thanksgiving Day off from work then I will plan something here at the house. (I love to see each and everyone of you)

Several of you have asked who you have for Christmas this year - here's the list for 2009:
Troy - Tenille and Grant, Alyssa 11, Blake 4, Elizabeth - 1 month, Jay 12
Tenille - Travis and Ryann, Aftyn 6, Kaylee 4, Hunter 10 months (wow)
Travis - Tyler and Neta, Riley 5, Dakota 11 or 12
Tyler - Tracy and Tyler, Abby 17 months
Tracy - Tanner and Chelsey
Tanner - Troy and Laura
Hope this list helps. Let's all keep it simple and watch our budgets. Remember that the holidays are about spending time together not blowing the budget. Love you all. Mom
PS: It would really help if each of you would give us a wish list of about 3 or 4 items that you would really like - including the kids wish lists!

Halloween 2009

Well, Halloween started a little early this year. We went to the church house on Thursday to do a little truck or treating with Tracy, Tyler and Abby, but it was so cold that we literally ran from trunk to trunk. Here is Abby getting ready to go trunk or treating in her "Bee" costume.

Here is Tyler with Abby at the church house.
Here is Blake, Riley and Abby playing in the leaves that Grandpa just raked up - boy did they have fun burying Abby in the leaves - I am not sure that she was enjoying in though!

Here is Tenille with Elizabeth - I was glad that she could come up and bring the baby and Blake.

Elizabeth just slept through the entire evening - with doorbells ringing, kids screaming everywhere - how would it be?

I kept trying to get a picture with her eyes open, but it just wasn't meant to be.

Here is Riley in her "Queen Bee" costume.

I just love this picture with all 3 of the kids in their costumes!

Onni came over with Riley and David so we could see them. I am so glad that she did. We had a blast with all of the kids. We also went to the Boo at the Zoo, but I left my camera in the car so no pictures, but the kids had a great time trick or treating with all the animals.

And last but not least, Tyler B with his mouth open as always. Tanner and Chelsey came up too and went to the zoo and then came over for some hot stew and rolls. (P.S. Tracy, Chelsey and I all fought over the baby, however I think that I won, but Chelsey is still holding and feeding the baby!)

10-24-09 Halloween Pumpkin Carve-Out

Well, Tyler and Tracy were trying to teach Abby about the great old art of Pumpkin carving, however, she did not like the feel of slimmy pumpkin seed guts on her hands so off to the water to wash. She remained there the entire pumpkin carving ordeal. (Nothing like a couple of measuring cups to keep you entertained)

Great Artists at work - notice Tyler's mouth and Tracy deciding what to do next.

Tracy and Tyler so intensly carving the pumpkin together - such dedication as Abby plays on in the water with Grandma.

Oh, and then Dennis got into the whole carving crazy!

And then the final results - WOW! Dennis with the big cracy mouth and Tyler B with the "PUMPKIN Skull". All in all in was a great night - Tyler with his creative side showing - Dennis carving out the crazy mouth, Tracy scooping out the insides of the pumpkin and Abby and I playing in the kitchen sink - of course she was pretty wet so we just gave up and took off her clothes and threw in the sink. Abby actually liked it when we turned off all of the lights and lit the pumkins with green candles. Thanks Tracy and Tyler for a fun night of carving!

Riley on her Birthday

Here are a few pictures of Riley on her birthday. We had plans to go to Tyler and Neta's for Riley's birthday, but Dennis had a overnight camp out planned with the scouts and couldn't find any other leaders to go. (He did get back around 5:00 pm - just in time to see Riley before she left our house) I still can't drive all the way to Pocatello with my back (hopefully only 3 more weeks of physical therapy and I will be back to normal - whatever that is at this point) Tracy had to work, Chelsey had the swine flu and Travis's kids and wife are still sick with the flu too. (WOW - I hope that all this sickness goes away soon) Sorry Tyler and Neta for missing the party - it sounded like a lot of fun. I hope that you took some pictures for all of us to see.

Onni did stop by the house on her way back from the party so I could give Riley a few small gifts for her birthday. It is hard to believe that she is five years old - where has all the time gone? I just love her great big brown eyes - I just couldn't resist buying the monkey p'j.'s - she is such a monkey when she is here at the house and so very inquisitive about everything.

We love you Riley and wish that we could spend more time with you. Happy Birthday!

Boo at the Zoo

All: I thought we would have a Halloween, birthday party for Riley (hopefully everyone will be well again) at my house on either of the 3 days that works best for everyone. Let me know and I will buy pizza and then we can all go to the zoo.

It opens at 5:00 pm and closes at 8:30 pm. It seems like last year we went early but then it started to get dark when we left so the kids could see all of the lights. Let me know who is interested in coming and we will arrange something. I was thinking that the 30th is a better day than Halloween night, but it doesn't matter to us - we just thought it would be a lot of fun to see everyone dressed in their Halloween custumes.Boo At The Zoo (October 29th, 30th & 31st) 1,000 Pumpkins, lights, sculptures, tricks, treats, spiders and snakes, games and prizes make for a safe and enjoyable Halloween at the zoo.

2009 October 10 Harvest Fest & Blake

On Saturday we took Blake so Tenille could get a little rest and have some alone time with the new baby. Dennis and I took Blake to the Snake River Landing Harvest Fest (I told him it was like a carnival and he would never say Harvest Fest again). It was a lot of fun. They had food booths and vendor booths for the adults to look at and tons of games for the kids. Blake loved the jumping toys and the slide below. They even had cookies for the kids to decorate, and leaves to paint and press. We stayed for almost 3 hours even though it was pretty cold and we had to wear our coats.
Blake loved the corn maze - he kept going back in several times - I was surprised that he didn't get lost.

They also had a bike safety course. If you went to all the stations they gave you a nice bike helmet. However, Blake has only rode a bike with training wheels and was scarred to death to ride without them. We only made it to two stations. The person teaching the safety course said to bring him back next year, but he could still keep the helmet. He was HAPPY with his helmet.

Here is Blake riding the half barrels - all the rides, including a wagon pulled by shetland ponies were free to the public. The jumping toys cost a $1.00. (Pretty cheap entertainment).

2009 October 11 Elizabeth

Updates on Elizabeth - She is home - out of the NICU! Hooray! Tenille had Grant and Dennis paint the baby's room bright yellow - however it looks a little green here - but it is actually fluorescent yellow. WOW!

Here is Alyssa and Abbey checking out Elizabeth. Be "soft" says Alyssa.

Abby checking out who mama is holding.

Look at those fingers - piano keys here she comes!

What an angel! (Chelsey picked out the cute bed liner and bumper pads - they match Tenille's choice of yellow for the baby's room).

Abby has had enough - check out the static hair.

Dennis holding his granddaughter, Elizabeth - I think that Elizabeth has more hair than him - just kidding!