What happened differently this year was what we did with the venison. Usually we cut up the backstraps for steaks and then make jerky out of the rest of the meat. This year we tried something new (to us). Our next door neighbors always bottle their game meat and they let us try some awhile ago. It was amazingly good!! We decided that this would be a wiser, more practical use of the venison and decided to give it a try. It was A LOT of work that kept me busy for three straight days, but now we have a pantry filled with 40 quarts of ready-to-use venison. We have already tried it in three different dishes and it is just amazing how versatile and convenient it is to have on hand! (And you would never know it was venison!)
Sunday, December 5, 2010
A Full Pantry
This year after the deer hunt things happened just like they always do: measuring the antlers, picture-taking, unloading, laundry, etc. It seems like it always takes at least 2-3 days to recover from such a big ordeal. The boys missed six days of school and even though they had finished all the school work they missed prior to the trip, they still had tests to make up and a few assignments to finish.
What happened differently this year was what we did with the venison. Usually we cut up the backstraps for steaks and then make jerky out of the rest of the meat. This year we tried something new (to us). Our next door neighbors always bottle their game meat and they let us try some awhile ago. It was amazingly good!! We decided that this would be a wiser, more practical use of the venison and decided to give it a try. It was A LOT of work that kept me busy for three straight days, but now we have a pantry filled with 40 quarts of ready-to-use venison. We have already tried it in three different dishes and it is just amazing how versatile and convenient it is to have on hand! (And you would never know it was venison!)
What happened differently this year was what we did with the venison. Usually we cut up the backstraps for steaks and then make jerky out of the rest of the meat. This year we tried something new (to us). Our next door neighbors always bottle their game meat and they let us try some awhile ago. It was amazingly good!! We decided that this would be a wiser, more practical use of the venison and decided to give it a try. It was A LOT of work that kept me busy for three straight days, but now we have a pantry filled with 40 quarts of ready-to-use venison. We have already tried it in three different dishes and it is just amazing how versatile and convenient it is to have on hand! (And you would never know it was venison!)
Full Bellies and Full Hearts
Thanksgiving this year did not disappoint. It never does!! We spent a wonderful day with our family eating great food and feeling abundantly blessed.
We had the kids spend some time in the morning writing down a list of what they were thankful for...we may or may not have bribed them with $1 for the best/longest list. However, what started out as a competition ended up being fairly reflective as we sat down and read everyone's list. (The longest list had 187 points!) We are very blessed and have so much to be thankful for! Even if some of those blessings include toilet paper and deodorant...I think the kids were trying to be funny, but when they really thought about it...those "silly" items were still very real blessings!
When we arrived at Grandma and Grandpa's house we joined in the bustling of getting everything plated, situated, and warmed up.
We really enjoyed seeing our St. George cousins who braved the cold and weather to join in the fun!
The table settings were beautiful as always...with name tags, pictures, and decor.
We had the kids eat a late breakfast to help them last until 2:00, but the delicious smells really got us hungry!
But it was worth the wait!
Dad's pineapple ham...
Aunt Cristi's butterhorns...
Grandma's moist turkey!
It was definitely tasty!!
Later that evening after we had digested a little we sat around for some good laughs,
a little joking around,
and a lot of yummy pies. A great end to a fun day!
Wednesday, November 24, 2010
Deer Hunting Part II
The hunting party has returned! They had a successful whitetail hunt and survived the arctic temperatures/mighty blizzard!
After holing up last night at a hotel in Coalville last night to wait out the storm, we were happy to see their icy truck and trailer pull up.
We are glad that they are back in one piece! They had a few scary stories about the trip...it was so cold in Wyoming that the cameras wouldn't even work so the pictures we took when they got home are the ones we have. One day the high was -7 degrees. But the best is the fact that they had to carry lighters to warm up keys/locks to open the doors! Crazy!!
One cousin shot his first deer ever, a young buck. He had already left so I didn't get his pic.
Our St. George cousin shot a nice 10 point. He was the first to shoot his deer.
My hubby shot a wide eight point (at 312 yards...a pretty respectable shot).
My husband's brother also came on the hunt and definitely was a big part of the success/fun! This will be a memorable hunt for everyone! We are so thankful they are home safely. Time for some hot chocolate!
After holing up last night at a hotel in Coalville last night to wait out the storm, we were happy to see their icy truck and trailer pull up.
We are glad that they are back in one piece! They had a few scary stories about the trip...it was so cold in Wyoming that the cameras wouldn't even work so the pictures we took when they got home are the ones we have. One day the high was -7 degrees. But the best is the fact that they had to carry lighters to warm up keys/locks to open the doors! Crazy!!
One cousin shot his first deer ever, a young buck. He had already left so I didn't get his pic.
Our St. George cousin shot a nice 10 point. He was the first to shoot his deer.
My hubby shot a wide eight point (at 312 yards...a pretty respectable shot).
My husband's brother also came on the hunt and definitely was a big part of the success/fun! This will be a memorable hunt for everyone! We are so thankful they are home safely. Time for some hot chocolate! Friday, November 19, 2010
Hunting Success
The hunting party has returned: successful, tired, and hungry...and with lots of stories to tell. 
Despite the snow and cold, they found several big bucks and had a really fun trip.
It's good to have them home again...oh wait, they have left again...back to Wyoming for round two.
They have three more tags to fill before Thanksgiving. The forecast calls for more snow and COLD temperatures. Tuesday the high is suppose to be 9 degrees, with a low of -6 degrees. Hot chocolate anyone??
This last week my husband and our two oldest have been hunting whitetail in Sundance, Wyoming with our good friends in conditions like this:
Despite the snow and cold, they found several big bucks and had a really fun trip.
It's good to have them home again...oh wait, they have left again...back to Wyoming for round two.
They have three more tags to fill before Thanksgiving. The forecast calls for more snow and COLD temperatures. Tuesday the high is suppose to be 9 degrees, with a low of -6 degrees. Hot chocolate anyone??Wednesday, November 10, 2010
Happy 80th Birthday
This last weekend we headed up to Roy for my Grandma's eightieth birthday.
Before the party I got to go to a baby shower for my cute cousin who is expecting her first baby next year.
We played some fun games, shared some parenting advice, and had some yummy snacks.
I know that she and her husband will make great parents!!
After the shower we enjoyed a delicious lunch...
and then celebrated the day with a birthday program for Grandma.
One talented cousin made an awesome video,
and we enjoyed several musical numbers and tributes to Grandma.
Of course we took a few pictures. This is my Grandma with all of her daughters.
Before the party I got to go to a baby shower for my cute cousin who is expecting her first baby next year.
We played some fun games, shared some parenting advice, and had some yummy snacks.
I know that she and her husband will make great parents!!
After the shower we enjoyed a delicious lunch...
and then celebrated the day with a birthday program for Grandma.
One talented cousin made an awesome video,
and we enjoyed several musical numbers and tributes to Grandma.
Of course we took a few pictures. This is my Grandma with all of her daughters.
My Grandma is one of the greatest women I know! I hope that I can be just like her when I grow up to be eighty!!
Christmas Projects
I have been a busy little elf during the past few weeks. I have put a few miles on my sewing machine...and I really like how the projects turned out! But I can't show you them! I used some stain and wood glue and sandpaper for another fun project. I can't show you that one either...but it turned out pretty awesome as well. I also spent no less that four and a half hours up the canyon taking pics of my kids in the fall plumage....not to mention countless hours in photoshop. I can show you a few pics that turned out pretty good, but didn't make the final cut to be printed... 
I do think I have some pretty cute kiddos! I have finished a big chunk of Christmas...and it feels great! I ran in the snow yesterday morning and had the song "I'm dreaming of a white Christmas" playing in my head the whole way. This morning there wasn't snow...just ice and cold. I'm still trying to get warm!
I do think I have some pretty cute kiddos! I have finished a big chunk of Christmas...and it feels great! I ran in the snow yesterday morning and had the song "I'm dreaming of a white Christmas" playing in my head the whole way. This morning there wasn't snow...just ice and cold. I'm still trying to get warm!
A Toothless Grin
When our oldest found out he could get money by losing teeth, he had six out in two months....we finally had to tell him that if he lost any more teeth we wouldn't let him put them under his pillow. That cured that!
Our first-grader has been anxious to get some money from the tooth fairy, but he hates pulling teeth. He's one of those who has teeth so lose that you swear he could sneeze and the tooth would fall out. In the last month he has lost both front teeth. He pulled one of them out by himself and the other I helped fall out...with minimal effort. He is now our toothless boy who gets to sing "All I want for Christmas is my two front teeth!" Somehow he doesn't have a lisp when he makes the "th" or "s" sounds. I sure think he is cute...but I'm sad that he's growing up so quickly.
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