Hart Happenings

Here is our "blob" (what Jack calls it) contribution for the week. It has been a full and lovely summer. We got to take the boys to a Ryan Shupe concert which was delightful. Good to pass that kind of stuff on to the next generation. Speaking of which, Thomas, will you please take in the responsibility of introducing Emma to The Princess Bride? 

The bearded fellow with his hand in the air was Alex's mission companion who moved into our ward a few years ago. We love them!

The boys loved spending time with Grandma while Alex and I attended a business retreat in Park City. It was a great getaway for all of us! Thanks Mom and Dad and Ruth!

We've been taking full advantage of the long summer days playing in the parks around town, making jam, running in the rain and just enjoying each others' company. 

Alex got to go hiking with some buddies last weekend. It was so great. Most of them have gone away so it was really fun to gather the group and reconnect. We have met so many great, excellent people here and are glad those relationships continue even when the geography changes. 

A couple months ago Alex bought me a ticket to Education week which is what I got to do all last week. Alex and the boys Had a blast here at home and I was thoroughly inspired and uplifted down at BYU. Something that I really enjoyed but hadn't really expected or planned on was all the visiting that I got to do with Grandpa and Kristi, Joe and his family, Janine and her kids, and Ruth's clan. And talking to the home base people with the Mannings thrown in was a treat! It was truly delightful! We have the best family ever!

This is just a sample of how the boys enjoyed themselves while the mom was away......

It is supposed to be a video. I hope it works.  

I'm rambling, but I feel like we haven't blogged for a while. So there you have it!

Nilsson News

I decided I would just post a few random stories from the week, most of them being provided by Eliza.
So, we celebrated Emerson's 6th birthday and it was most enjoyable.  Hiking, bowling, watching a movie and of course the presents were a few of the highlights.  I made a piggy bank cake since Emerson is obsessed with coins and that was a fun thing.  However, right before the cake cutting, we were singing the birthday song and getting to blow out the candles.  It was almost to the exciting climax when Eliza promptly took charge and blew out all the candles before Emerson had a chance to take a breath. I'm sure you can imagine Emerson's reaction to that, so we quickly relit the candles and this time had a successful outcome.
I just need to say a few words about our Eliza.  Don't Be Fooled!  She might seem cute and cuddly, but she is full of fire!  I was asking Eliza's nursery leader how she was doing in nursery.  Her response was, "Interesting..."  I asked her to explain.  She said Eliza just seems to have a mind of her own and lately she has taken to climbing up onto the tables and dancing on them and does not care if the leaders ask her to get down.
One time I heard quite the ruckus in the other room and went to check it out.  Not surprisingly, Eliza was in there doing some kind of treachery.  I asked her what she was doing and she responded, "I bake it into smidoweens!"
Garrett and I had the privilege (if that's what you'd call it) to go to our first Stake High Priest activity.  In case you are curious, we were the youngest ones in the room of 260 people.  As we were eating dinner, the women across the table from us asked Garrett, "Since you clearly aren't a High Priest, what are you doing here?"  Garrett replied, "Well actually, I'm a bishop."  Her face was a classic!  At the same activity, the Stake President introduced us to the General Authority who came to speak.  When he was told that Garrett was one of the bishops, he responded, "Wow!  You look like you should be chewing bubble gum and washing with Clearasil!"  In all honesty, Garrett looked at me and said, "How did he know?  I did that just today!"
I wish I had some pictures to share but I haven't figured out how to transfer them from my new phone.  Oh well!

Flake Fun

16 August 2015 - We just closed the door on our Sunday night company.  We invited Scott's cousin, TJ, and his family for dinner and conversation.  They have 6 adorable kids and we enjoy hanging out together.  They are the ones who "loaned" us their furniture and beds!   They still haven't found a rental.  Great people with adorable kids.

This week was pretty good.  Our tomatoes have started to turn red and we are waiting the explosion that will start us canning them.  The green beans are all but done.  We shared them with some neighbors and will probably freeze the stragglers.  We have 2 heads of broccoli.  The cucumbers are still going like gang busters. 

We went on a hike yesterday with Randy & Dona.  It was pretty hot but it was a nice little hike. 

Sorry to hear about the broken air conditioner and lawn mower!  Things always break at the most inopportune times, don't they?

The recipe looks delicious and we hope to try it soon!  As far as Lauren's thoughts on parenting, I would add, just go to primary for a few weeks! 

We didn't know Grace had taken to the stage!  How exciting!  We would love to see pictures!

Well, I think that is all for us! Hope that everyone has a great week!

More from Hyde Park

So, I've been thinking...
Emma does not like being alone with her parents for FHE. Who can blame her?! Well, I've been rolling an idea around in my mind today and want to run it past you all. Some families we know have monthly FHEs with their extended family, but that doesn't seem feasible for us. However, would it be possible, or desirable, for us to have an FHE with one of the married families via FaceTime or Google Hangout once or twice a month?

The idea: Connect with one family and sing together, have a prayer, share a lesson - we could tell a story as part of your lesson or we could teach a lesson and the kids could tell a story. We might even be able to play a game if it was a guessing game, like charades. We'd each have to make our own refreshments, I guess, but we could visit while eating them!

What do you think? If you'd be willing to consider it and get back to us, that would be great. If anyone wants to volunteer to test it out, let me know and we can try it and let the rest of you know how it goes. Dad thought we could even travel now and then on a Monday and bring the refreshments along. I'm not sure we'd make it to Snowflake, but we could probably get to the other families now and then!

We are just trying to figure out how to stay connected with our children and grandchildren and be part of their lives more than just occasionally. We feel like we are not succeeding like we want to in this arena and are trying to find ways to develop closer bonds. If you have other ideas you think might work better, we are open to any and all suggestions!

Can't wait to hear from you all...

Manning Musings

First of all, we took a look at Ruth's recipe and want to try it this week! Nick says if anyone needs Balsamic vinegar we can mail it to you because we have about 4 bottles of it. Why? I don't know.
Nothing too out of the ordinary this week. Just teaching, prepping for school and trying to be outside before the weather turns bitter.
I have been reading a book called "Just Married," by Mark Ogletree that Grandpa Belliston gave to us. It is a delightful read (probably just for newlyweds though). Today I was reading the chapter about parenting and (no, this is not an announcement) it tickled my funny bone so I thought I would share since some of you might relate. The author included a piece he found on the Internet called, "11 Step Program for Those Thinking of Having Kids." I won't put all the lessons down but here is a taste... Lesson 1.
1. Go to the Grocery Store.
2. Arrange to have your salary paid directly to their head office.
3. Go Home.
4. Pick up the paper.
5. Read it for the last time.
Lesson 2.
Before you finally go ahead and have children, find a couple who already are parents and berate them about their...
1. Methods of discipline.
2. Lack of patience.
3. Appallingly low tolerance levels.
4. Allowing their children to run wild.
5. Suggest ways in which they might improve their child's sleep habits, toilet training, table manners and overall behavior. Enjoy it because it will be the last time in your life you will have all the answers.
Lesson 5.
Dressing small children is not as easy as it seems.
1. Buy an octopus and a small bag made out of loose mesh.
2. Attempt to put the octopus into the bag so that none of the arms hang out.
Time allowed for this: all morning.
Lesson 6.
Forget the BMW and buy a mini-van. And don't think that you can leave it in the driveway spotless and shining. Family cars don't look like that.
1. Buy a chocolate ice cream cone and put it in the glove compartment. Leave it there.
2. Get a dime. Stick it in the CD player.
3. Take a family-size package of chocolate cookies. Mash them into the backseat. Sprinkle Cheerios all over the floor, then smash them.
4. Run a garden rake along both sides of the car. There, doesn't that look nice?
Lesson 7. (I related to this one)
Go to the local grocery store. Take with you the closest thing you can find to a preschool child. (A full grown goat is an excellent choice.) If you intend to have more than one child, then definitely take more than one goat. Buy your week's groceries without letting the goats out of your sight. Pay for everything the goat eats or destroys. Until you can easily accomplish this, do not even contemplate having children.
I know you want to hear the rest now but hopefully it got you laughing! Love you all!

Happy (kind of) in Hyde Park

From my journal entry today:
"Well, I am winning the award for the worst Belliston grandma ever. Not only did I forget the twins birthday this year, I also got mixed up on the dates for Grace's performance in 'James and the Giant Peach' in Springville this week. I'm so embarrassed, not to mention frustrated and angry at myself for doing such a dumb thing. The worst part is, there is no way to make it up to her. It's done and over and I missed it. I hope she, and her parents, can forgive me."

Urrrrgggh! I have no idea why my brain waves won't reach as far as Springville... I do hope the Joe and Lori Belliston crew will still talk to me and let me in next time I make it down there! I am very sorry. I was really looking forward to seeing her theatre debut.

Last Sunday, Thomas came home early from church because his back was hurting so much he couldn't sit any longer. He threw up as soon as he got home. Then his head began to ache. I put some oils on his head and stomach that night, which took the headache and stomach ache away, but when he got up the next morning, his neck was swollen and sore and he couldn't swallow. Now, you know Thomas is sick when he doesn't go to his mandatory Big Blue practice or to his coaching job. He stayed in bed until I could get him to the doctor. The diagnosis was a raging case of tonsillitis and he was told to go home and gargle with salt water. Miserable. He went back to bed until he had to go to Pickleville (there is no substitute for Chester the monkey) and Dad had to drive him there because he couldn't turn his head. Anyway, we nursed him for the better part of the week with salt water, herbs and vitamins. Yesterday he reported feeling 87% better.

The lawn was very long when Dad returned from Cedar City, but when he tried to mow, it was too much for the poor lawn mower and it gave up the ghost. He purchased a new one and was getting used to it yesterday. The yard now looks like someone lives here and cares about it. It's just a bit dry. Our air conditioner also decided to take a break as the temperature increased this week. It's as hot inside as it is outside, so I may have to come visit someone who has air conditioning...

Emma is done with band practices until after school starts (which happens to be this Thursday), so she has lots of plans for her spare time for the next few days. Thomas' Pickleville schedule is easing up, so he has a little more time, too. I've got most of the babies here that I've been waiting for so now maybe we can get some of the unfinished projects done that we've had to keep postponing!

Happy week to all! Please accept my apologies if I've forgotten or misunderstood important events in your lives. I do love you all very much and am trying to get my brain to function better. Thanks for your patience and forgiveness.

A Delectable Recipe!

Okay folks, hold on to your hats because this recipe will just about blow you away.  First of all, the reason I am raving about this recipe is because my picky eater does not like new recipes and he actually ate this and.....LIKED IT!!!  The other reason I like it is because it is pretty forgiving, meaning that  you don't need to have exact measurements.  It is also perfect with the fresh garden veggies that are coming on.  Without further ado I present to you:

Bruschetta Chicken Pesto Wraps
Recipe by Our Best Bites (with variations by Ruth)

Bruschetta:

1 tomato, diced  (seeds removed)
1 tablespoon minced onion
1-2 tablespoons fresh minced basil or 1 teaspoon dry basil
1 teaspoon balsamic vinegar
kosher salt
black pepper

Pesto chicken filling:

1 tablespoon mayo
1 tablespoon light sour cream or plain greek yogurt
2 tablespoons pesto
1 teaspoon fresh lemon juice and a little zest
1 cup shredded or diced cooked chicken breast, about 4 ounces (I used some chicken that we had grilled and had put in the freezer)
1 tablespoon pine nuts, toasted (I did not use these)
1/2 cup shredded romaine lettuce or spinach leaves
greek pita flat bread (I like the flat bread over the pockets because it is much more moist and flavorful)             Shredded cheese

Combine diced tomato, onion, basil, and balsamic vinegar.  Add a pinch of salt and pepper to taste.  Set aside.

Combine mayo, sour cream, pesto, lemon juice and a few grates of the lemon zest.  Stir mixture and combine it with chicken and pine nuts (if using), stirring until combined.  Layer lettuce on pita, top with chicken mixture, and then bruschetta.  Add cheese if desired

This recipe originally serves 2 so I just cut up a few more things and doubled the chicken filling.  I think that cilantro on top would also taste amazing!  If you have leftover bruschetta, try using it on home made pizza, it's delish!