My dirt/Grout novel

As most of you know when we moved into the house we are living in it was on the heels of our landlord. They moved out and we moved in with out the chance to have everything cleaned. For the first week Muria, her mother, my mother, sister in laws, and friends helped us clean and move in at the same time. This was crazy at best. The Kitchen was cleaned and the floor was moped many times. A few months after we moved in Muria pointed out that she felt like the tile in the kitchen never looked clean. One day I tried to clean the grout and found out the the grout color was not dark brown or black like we though but cream to match the tile. Since then I have made a few half hearted tries to get the grout clean. This consisted using many chemicals including industrial floor stripper. Never once could I get it clean. A few weeks before Muria and the kids were to set out for New Hampshire I Googled "How to clean Grout". This gave me a few home remedies and many ideas on how to get the grout clean. With the reality that it was going to be an all day project and cause the kitchen to be off limits I decided to make my attempt when the 10 muddy little feet were not around.

After 6 hours and many new home remedy's the final cleaning product that worked the best was Oxi Clean and water(about 1 gal and three scoops Oxi Clean). You poor on let sit for 20min and scrub each grout line. Then wash off with water.
When I get the rest of the Grout clean I plan on sealing the grout and waxing the floor with 3 or 4 coats of floor wax

Dodgers

The Hoopes had 4 tickets and a preferred parking pass to go see the Dodgers play against the Houston Astros.

The Dodgers were stomped on but we made the best of it. After the game their was a Fireworks show.
We Ate a Bunch of different things. We forgot to get a picture of the Dodger Dogs but they were good. You could smell the French Fry's from a mile away. This was because they were covered with crushed garlic. As we were leaving Darlene started picking up extra collectors cups that were left behind. Gordon, Darby and I also joined in and by the time we made it to the gate we ended up with over 40 cups. We were walking out and a couple asked us how we got so many and they tried to go do the same thing with no success. The guards were clearing out the fans so we decided to give them a few. I had a great time and would like to thank Gordon, Darby and Darlene Hoopes for inviting me.

Providence Lake

We went to the lake last week. It has been a very rainy summer for everyone in NH so far, yet the weather since we've been here hasn't been bad. The ice cream truck went by as we were swimming and everyone got Popsicles. We had a really nice time.

Emmy and Carrie
Sammy, Jess, James, Ethan and SarahBuilding castles in the sand

Meme with Nelson

Mollie and Nelson
Carrie and Emmy again

Jess, Sam and James hanging out in the water

Kayla's new baby Isabell

Sarah playing in the sand

Hanging out!

Auntie Manda's Petting Zoo!

My little sister has a few animals. Right now she has 4 dogs, a small turtle, a fish tank full of fish, 2 birds, 2 cats, 2 mini horses, 4 ducks, and 2 chickens. (I say right now because the numbers change on a daily basis!)

Her house is a fun place to go, so we went the other day for a picnic lunch and some animal fun. I took lots of pictures but I am only going to post a few....
The mini horses were the biggest hit. The kids brushed them and walked them and even got to sit on them.

Sammy

Carrie

Jessica

Sarah

Nelson

And my Mom of course... actually she is standing over the horse, not actually touching it's back!
I love this one of Nelson... he really wants to take that horse for a walk, after all it is his size!!

We had lots of fun at Auntie Manda and Uncle Nicks "petting zoo", thanks for letting us come over!

4th of July BBQ at Mom's

We had a fun time at the parade for the Fourth of July, then we headed back down to my mom's for a small family BBQ. Here the kids are showing off their new flag shirts from Meme (my mom). ...and with Meme!I am so excited that my sister is expecting (any day now) and I am too (lots of days from now)! I really wanted a picture of us together... as you can see here she wasn't too excited about the idea.

So like a good big sister I showed her who was boss!

And I got the picture I wanted!!!

(Ok, so I really didn't hit her or even try too, but the pictures really made it look that way!)


The girls really liked "hanging out" with their Uncle Nick!

And who doesn't enjoy a ride over to the horse barn after a BBQ dinner!! The kids LOVE riding on the "cubby" with Meme!!

Hope everyone had a great 4th!

Soft Pretzels

Deric and Jessica saw these pretzels made on TV and decided to make them the day we left CA. They were super yummy. Deric then made a bunch of them to share on the 4th of July.
Ingredients:

22oz Flour
2oz Melted Butter
1Tbs Sugar
2tsp Kosher Salt
1pkt or 2 1/2tsp Yeast
1 1/2cups Water @ 117 Degrees

Boil mixture:

10cups Water

2/3cups Baking soda

Egg Wash:

1 Egg Yolk

1Tbs Water


Melt Butter and heat 1 1/2cups water in microwave. Meanwhile measure flour into mixing bowl. Mix sugar, salt and yeast into warmed water. Add water mixture and melted butter into flour. Mix on low until a ball is formed. Mix 5min more on med. until smooth & elastic. Spray mixing bowl with non-stick spray cover with towel and let rise until doubles (approx 1hr). Weigh out 12 pretzel portions (3oz). Press out portions into rectangle, roll it up then with lightly misted hands roll them out and form into desired shape. Place on parchment lined and nonstick sprayed cookie sheets. Cover with towel spray over pretzel to keep form drying out.


In large frying pan bring to boil 10cups water and 2/3cups baking soda. Boil each pretzel for 30 seconds in water/soda mix (this will deactivate the yeast). Return to parchment. Mix 1 egg yolk and 1Tbs water to make wash. Brush each pretzel lightly with egg wash. Sprinkle with kosher salt.


Bake for 14min @450 Turn Cookie sheets 1/2 way through baking.

4th of July

This is some of the fireworks at the Rose bowl In Pasadena CA.

4th of July Parade

The Everitt Girls, and Nelson, are in NH. Our flight went well for the most part. We were supposed to leave at midnight and didn't leave until 2:30 am... it made for an interesting wait at the airport. We did make it though and the kids are ecstatic to be here. Our first adventure (after seeing the grandparents of course) was to participate in the 4th of July parade with our home school friends.

Here is Pat securing the flag to the truck.This is the only picture of the entire float that I was able to get. We were going to take pictures after but it didn't work out that way. You can see the horse plowing the field, the cabin with a woodpile and clothes line, and way it the back is a garden. The float was "Homegrown explorers settle in the west, 1850."

Here is Carrie standing in the "field."
(LtoR) Sarah sweeping, a friend Callie, Jessica and Samantha hanging out the laundry.
This is a picture of Nelson and Mollie before we left the house. Nelson was in a terrible mood and screamed the entire time we were in the parade (I actually had to sit in the truck with him.)
Ok, so the float "adventure" began as soon as we started moving. It had been sunny all morning, and even when we were lining up, but the parade started and so did the weather. First the winds, then sprinkles of rain, and just as we were putting a tarp over everyone the water started pouring... and did I mention the thunder and lightning?! It was all a little crazy, but it was the kids favorite part. They all rode back on the float, most of the kids in the little log cabin, under a huge tarp. The traffic was crazy and it took a while, but they really had a great time!

Jess and James peeking out from the cabin.
Sammy and Ethan

And this picture is just to give you an idea of the rain outside.

So the question is would we do it all again? I can't speak for the other Mom's but I love and adventure, so I say bring it on!!!