Tennis

David and I went and played tennis on Friday over at Mountain View. They really have the best courts in Orem. I haven't played in forever and still have my same racket from my sophomore year in high school. I need to get it restrung. The strings are fraying. I had forgotten how much I enjoy playing and how much energy it takes. My arms are sore and I got a blister on my thumb from gripping the racket. It took us a while to get back into it but we got a couple of good rally's going. The balls were a little dead so had to hit it harder. I purchased some new ones last night and can't wait to go again. It is a fun sport and really one you can play forever.

Moroccan

I purchased a food processor and dual grill/griddle for the stove over the weekend. I have wanted both forever and finally got around to buying it. Actually, I have enough points on my credit card for a gift card to cover both.

Anyway, when Tyler was at the doctor I saw a recipe in a magazine for Moroccan Sliders, which is a cake made out of white beans. Similar to making crab cakes or anything like that. They turned out really good. Tyler was out with friends and didn't come home for dinner so he is trying them today. The only ingredient I didn't have was a spice called Harrissi (?). Not sure I would be able to find it anyway. You are supposed to mix it with mayo but I don't like mayo so ate it dry. I told Ty it would probably be good with mozzarella. This is probably the only time I will cook this week but the processor worked great and I love it. I want to make crab cakes. Barefoot Contessa has a good recipe for them.

I called him to come home by ten because I wanted to have scripture study and FHE. He reminded me that we haven't done it in forever. Nice try Ty. Doesn't mean we can't start over. He got home @ 10:15. I told him he needed to be home earlier in the evenings because we have things to get done and we need to finish his online math class. I want to try and get it done over the summer so we don't have to work on it during a busy school year. He got upset that he has a curfew in the summer and is almost eighteen. Sorry, but just because you are out of school doesn't mean you get to stay out from morning til night and play. Unfortunately, there is a lot to do and never enough time to do it. I wish I could get the summer off from school and work. And it is not a curfew. I just don't have any other time to do it and I get too tired later in the evenings.

For FHE we did a couple of YouTube messages. It was so nice & easy and I didn't have to think or plan anything myself. Tyler is going to do the message for next week from his seminary notes.

Saturday

Mutti called and asked if I wanted to go walking up Provo Canyon. She wanted to start walking again and take Ashley. It was overcast and so we took some poncho's with us, which we needed as half way up it started pouring. We walked the upper part from Bridal Veil to Vivian. Ashley loved it and was able to get in and swim. It wasn't very busy because of the weather which was nice.
Afterwards David wanted to go see "Up" so we all went to Ruby River Steakhouse and then to see "Up" in 3D. I had been Ruby River quite a bit with work but it was the others first time. They have really good steak and sourdough bread. Mutti and Michael really liked it and mentioned we should do the next birthday there. Ty's is the next birthday so I guess we are going to Ruby River. Everyone liked "Up." My mom loves it. It is really cute so if you haven't seen it you should.
It was a fun day but other than cleaning house I didn't get anything done. I still have to go grocery shopping and had to get up early Sunday to prepare my lesson for church. They mentioned yesterday that the church has a site on YouTube called "Mormon Messages." I guess it was created to share information about the church but they are interesting even for members and I think will make great family home evening messages. I liked the "Why Mormons Build Temples" and "Elder Christensen - A Book with a Promise." Check it out.

Prom

Ty's pictures from Prom.

Park City

Linda & Mardene
Taking a break

Me & Mardene

Me sitting behind the wheel

Mardene won a year lease on a BMW convertible so we played hooky from work yesterday and went up to Park City and went shopping at the Outlet stores and to lunch. It was so much fun. I wish I could do it every week. Park City wasn't too busy and we had a nice long lunch. Mardene let us drive the BMW. I would have loved to have had it in college. I think it is a great college car. We stopped at Sundance on the way home and put the top down. It was a blast. I have decided that if I get a PhD. degree that I am going to lease a Mercedes convertible as my reward. I don't want it long term but it would be fun for a few years.

Provo Canyon Pictures

Bridal Veil Falls
Provo Trail

Provo River

Provo Trail

Linda and I went walking again on Tuesday. I can't believe how wet it is in June and cool. Today we are in the mid 70's. So unusual for Utah. Everthing is really green still. You wouldn't believe we are living in a desert. Posted some pics of the trail. I love walking on it. We have been going up to Bridal Veil which is about 7 miles round trip. We are going to have to start going to Vivien which I think is 12 miles. Last night we just went over to the track by Mountain View HS. We didn't feel like a long walk.

Walking Provo Canyson

Linda (a friend from work) and I are training to walk the Provo 1/2 marathon in August. We did it last year in 3.20 hours. I realized last week that the 1/2 is only two months away so we have decided to up our mileage and begin walking in the canyon. We decided to start on Thursday. I walked out of my door and it was pouring rain so I called Linda and we decided to go anyway as the weather over the canyon didn't look too bad. That is why I like going with Linda. I would have used the weather as an excuse to stay home. I need someone to force me to do things. We got a little wet on the way up but not too bad. Even worse than the rain were the bugs. They kept pestering me or I just was able to see them better. It's like spiders. There can't be a spider in the house without me seeing it. We walked up to Bridal Veil and back and it was really enjoyable. I don't know anywhere that has a better trail than Provo Canyon. Unfortunately we talk the entire time and don't focus on what we are doing so we always go slow.