Applesauce and an Auction

On Tuesday, I agreed to learn how to make applesauce...or at least help Teri Booth (my awesome landlord) and Julia Mumford (rad neighbor and friend).

The hard part about making the applesauce was that we started at 6:30pm. Teri had gone to Waterville, WA, the day before (Google it if you don't know where it is) to get free apples from her aunts house. She brought back MANY! We didn't finish until about 11pm. I was wiped out because I'd been at work at work earlier in the day...and relaxation didn't seem to come as quickly as I'd hoped. But--I was glad I was able to participate. Unfortunately, the apples boiled over the pot on my stove for 3 hours---and made a nasty burn around the burner. I still haven't finished cleaning it yet.

After the apples boil...with cores and all...I took them upstairs to Teri's part of the house and she and Julia would process them and get them all mushed up, in jars, and in pots of boiling water to seal. In the end--there where about 51 jars of applesauce. Today, I just found a home for them until we need them (on-top of the high cabinets).

Then on Thursday night, I had the opportunity to go to the Law Advocates Dinner and Auction. Buri Funston Mumford, PLLC bought a table and I was invited to attend. It was fun to dress up and be in a place with table cloths, good food, and all the people from the office in a new setting.
We had table 6! Let me introduce you to my fellow table sitters of that evening.

Karen & Heidi

Craig (husband o' Karen)...& Karen

Philip...& Darcee (wife o' Philip)
And then Tom was there too!

I bid on a silent auction item and won! I got a beginners package to learn to ski or snowboard at Mt. Baker---and dinner at a restaurant near the ski area. It was fun! (Tom got a couple cool items too--including a eventful sounding water ski day with his family.)

Did I mention there was a dinner? Because it was delicious! Here was dessert....a gingerbread cake with a lemon custard and whipped cream. It was SOOO good with the lemon custard. (Tom didn't love the custard as much as me---so, he let me have most of his! Yum.)

I took a video to give all you out there in computer world a sense of what it was like. This is the live auction--with more expensive items. ---This wasn't a place for me to bid. But, i enjoyed watching.

Today, is Saturday. Shaun and I got a call last night and have been given a opportunity to speak in church tomorrow. We are the ONLY ones speaking...and have a loose topic. It should be a good experience to prepare for, but keep us in your thoughts and prayers anyway.

'Till next time...!!!!

Last minute--how we fill our minutes...

Daily life ... Shaun started school last Monday. He's taking Math, Econ., and Political Science. He's getting used to his new schedule and meanwhile, I'm calling him into the bathroom to look at how romantic our toothbrushes are.

On Saturday, Shaun and I went to the temple in Bellevue. We really had a special time together. Afterwards....we went to our favorite Indian restaurant (also in Bellevue) with a killer lunch buffet.

We would encourage anyone to go! Lunch buffet is M-Sun, 11am-2:30pm. We had many delightful treats. Then we went to Whole Foods in Bellevue and bought a lot of Sliced Apple Cider--made by Reeds. Everyone thought Shaun was an alcoholic when they looked in his cart because he had so much (and it comes in amber bottles). Many dirty looks---and even a rude comment from a display lady that worked there.

We came home. Sunday, we had some friends over for a potluck and Family Feud. It was a nice evening. Gotta go!

Did you do the Puyallup?

On Saturday, we left Bellingham and headed to Puyallup for the fair for the for in good spirits...but soon were joined by the rest of the state's enthusiastic fair-goers on the freeway exit. So, we crept to the fair and made it from the Pioneer Exit to the fair's parking in about an hour. Actually, we parked in a locals yard. It cost us $15.00....but we were parked.

We had free tickets from a co-worker and headed directly inside the grounds. Originally, I was determined to ride a ride at the fair with Shaun--since we had never done that before together, but after the traffic getting there, we were not interested in waiting in anymore lines! So...maybe next year. Check out some of our fair pictures. (Lots of flowers because they were the prettiest.)

This was a juggler----juggling 3 golf clubs. (Please exuse my poor camera skills.)

This was a man carving a huge pumpkin. You could buy the huge seeds and plant them at home. Unfourtunatley, we were not motivated enough to spend $5 on a seed...or growing our own gigantic pumpkin. (Please note the enthusiasm of the carver--he's wearing a pumpkin shirt!)

We saw a fair-size cow...from behind.

Look at the cute bunnies cleaning themselves in the video below! We both agreed they were adorable.

This turkey tried to eat our camera strap.

Shaun figured this sheep was going to be a ghost for Halloween.

And then Shaun found his own wool bunny!

Now the pretty flowers...

Also, we spoke to a man who does art in the Western art building. He said that he'd been participating in the fair forever--but was stuck in the boring building. (He used to get more crowds when there wasn't a "Western Building" I guess.

We left the fair shortly after this and made our way to the Tupper's house. We ate pancakes, eggs, bacon, and fruit in the morning. (Shaun's the one in the Batman pants, duh...)

Then we met up with Shaun's family at a park (Tuppers came too). Shaun played with Richie all over the park's playground toys. He was pretty beat afterwards...but I think Richie was not at all affected by any type of exhaustion. (Kids... :)) And by the way, Andrew (6 months) has gotten so big since the last time we saw him!
Cuties! (Kimi and Andrew)

We talked, ate, hung out... and then took off to make it home for Sophie's 10 year birthday dinner (she's one of the sweet-awesome Booths we live with).

HAPPY BIRTHDAY SOFIE!

"The Office" Premieres September 25th!

I can't wait until the big Season Premiere of The Office! Everyone who cares...tune in...or watch on the Internet the following day.

Life is still Awesome. For example, our Jeep Wrangler has been out of commission for a few months. The clutch was having issues...and we couldn't get it to shift....and it kept driving us crazy. Shaun could only get it to drive in 2nd gear...and he had to restart the engine at each stop. BUT---when we finally took it to the mechanic last night we found, to our surprise, it worked great...and the mechanic couldn't find anything wrong we he looked at it today. He said there may have been an air bubble in the line. It only cost us $30 to be looked at! ...AND our prayers were answered in a way we didn't expect. It was a miracle!

2 years---just enough time complete an elder's mission. HAPPY ANNIVERSARY TO US!

That's right...2 years! (With our powers combined....get it...it's like a superhero slogan.)

A couple shot...

A couple kissing...

A couple with passion....

We enjoyed reflecting on the moment we caught one another's affections and sealed it for time and all eternity in the Seattle Temple September 9, 2006. Please raise a glass of lemonade to us....Cheers! (I love the private Holiday an anniversary can be--the one holiday people don't want to hang out. :)--- but we love ya'll!)