artichokes

Hey, are these strange or what. The friend at the nursery that started the seeds said he was glad when we picked them up this spring. He said they were freaking out his students. For you older ones, he said they looked like the man eating plant from Little Shop Of Horrors. They are suppose to last 7 years but aren't suppose to produce the first year, but these are going crazy. Now if we can figure out when they are ready to pick how to do that and how to best cook them we'll be doing great.

Check out these wierd plants

SUMMER FUN, FUN AND FAMILY

You will have to go to about 3 or 4 older blogs to see all this new one. Whew--this should do me for a month or more.:)

WOW,I am really making up for lost time. I realized after I did this that it would not be in chronological order. If I were you kids i would know how to move things around. If you want to see it in order scroll to the bottom. I've put so much stuff on that some may be put in older posts. Conner you have an uncanny way off not being where the camara is. I couldn't find even one picture with you on it. Watch out I'll be stalking you next time I see you so I can make up for it. :) You too Zach I only had one of you in the tent. Nate have your mom email me a picture of you on the steer. I didn't get to get a picture of that. Here's how our day went on the 4th. Up for breakfast at 7:30. Then watched the childrens parade, then the regular parade. Jamie and Sharel were on the float with the other Heritage day royalities. One thing that bugged me was a young couple that didn't stand and salute the flag as it passed. I don't know what their problem was but I would like to have bopped them. That flag represented all the men that gave their all so they would have the freedom to sit there and be ungrateful and disrespectful. Next came the talent show--what fun! Kari and Garison clogged. I was very impressed!! They were very good! One fun thing was something you would only see in small town USA, a group of ladies that did line dancing, all were 65 or older. I don't know who had the most fun them or us watching. It was delightful. After the show we took the kids around to all the rides, jumpy things, trains and climbing wall, all were free. We went to the concessions so the kids could spend the money I gave them. Somehow I dropped my wallet out of my pocket. It was found not 5 or 10 min. later the cash was gone but I am just thankful they didn't take the credit cards It must have been kids. Dave is always teasing me about locking the car down there where people don't even lock their doors at home. Well I have prove there are even thiefs in Emery Co. Oh here's an interesting fact for those of you not from Elmo or Larwnce, There are no stop lights in all of Emery Co. We had lunch and home for a nap. That evening we went to the childrens rodeo. Nate rode a steer. He did a real good job. His Grandma would never have let him do it so he can be glad I'm grandma and not his folks. There were two kids that got hurt one Nates age went over the steers head and got walked on. He was out cold for a few minutes. The other was highschool age. A bucking horse ran him into the fence to get rid of him and his hand was caught and he was dragged about 200 feet. He walked out of the arena very slowly. I'm sure he went to the hospital. The other little boy seemed to be okay. Grandpa and I were too tired to wait up for the fire works, so we ended our day earlier than everyone else.

WE CELEBRATED ETHANS B-DAY. HERES THE BIRTHDAY BOY.

THE DAY STARTED AT 7:30 WITH BREAKFAST IN THE PARK, HAM EGGS, HASHBROWNS AND PANCAKES--VERY GOOD!

THESE ARE PICTURES FROM THE PARADE. JAMIE ON THE FLOAT---SOMEHOW I CUT SHAREL OFF--SORRY. THE KIDS WAITING FOR THE PARADE AND ALL THE CANDY.

THIS IS GARRISON DOING HIS "BOOM BOOM AINT IT GREAT TO BE CRAZY" CLOGGING DANCE AT THE TALENT SHOW AFTER THE PARADE. NEXT IS KARI DOING HER DANCE WHICH WAS VERY COMPLICATED.. WHAT GREAT FUN! SEE MORE AT KARI'S BLOG. THE NEXT PICTURE IS EVERYONE WAITING FOR THE SHOW TO BEGIN.

WE WENT DOWN TO HELP KARI AND SHARMON WITH STORAGE SHELVES AND TO SEE THE GIRLS IN THE HUNTINGTON TOWN HERITAGE DAYS PAGEANT. GRANDPA GOT THE SWINE FLU AND WAS DOWN IN BED FOR ALMOST 3 DAYS AND COULDN'T GO SEE THE GIRLS. SHARMON'S REACTION WHEN THEY FIRST SAID THEY WANTED TO DO THE PAGEANT WAS, "WHY IN THE WORLD WOULD YOU WANT TO DO THAT! " THEY POINTED OUT MONEY WAS INVOLVED. IT WASN'T BIG AND THEY WERE PREETY MUCH GUARANTEED PRICE MONEY. THEY DID A GREAT JOB!!! COULD HAVE WON ANY WHERE ANY TIME IF YOU ASK GRANDMA. JAMIE DID A COMEDY READING ABOUT A SOUTHERN BELL GOING TO A BASEBALL GAME. FOR HER TALENT AND SHAREL PLAYED A DRUM SOLO SHE HAD WRITTEN. IF YOU WANT TO SEE AND HEAR THEM GO TO JAMIE'S SIGHT SHE HAS VIDEOS.

NO CHEATING BUT LOTS OF "CREATIVE PLAYING"

June also brought us a visit from Uncle Mike, Aunt Janine and Errin. They had a chance to visit with Kari, Brady and boys and then with Sharmon Paul and family. The Gilberts were up for a nephews wedding. The Staples left for home on Sat. That night we were up to 2:30 playing cards. Had a blast!

Jamie, cousin Errin, Sharel. Below Janine see's your socks and raises you one shoe---opps wrong its NERTZ not POKER.

CAMPOUT AND MADDIES B-DAY

We made smores around the camp fire.

Kari came to camp out in the back yard with the little kids. She is either very brave or crazy. Zach was a good sport and helped her. From left to right, Ethan, Garrison, Madison and Zach.

So much fun has happened this summer! We celebrated Maddies b-day while they were up on Fathers Day. Kari and boys came over night because Brady was gone with his scouts. We all went to the South Jordan Country Fest. The kids had a great time. They had safety helmets for $10 a great buy. Tonya and Kari bought the kids each one.

Maddie got in the way of a swinging remote control and ended up with this shinner. Tonya had a calendar made for Shane's gift that had this picture and his under it with this saying, " My personal injury attorney got me, ten pounds of ice, a cherry red popcycle, sun glasses and a safety helmet. See what he can do for you. Clifford Law, with you every step of the way." We had a great visit with them over Fathers Day.