Coming Home

Naomi loves coming home. She is quickly becoming a homebody to say the least. Whenever we get back to our house from an outing Naomi has a lot to say. She squeals, talks and wiggles all over the place. The trick is getting it on camera. If she can see the camera, her performance comes to an abrupt halt. Today, we finally got Naomi's jubilation upon arriving home on camera.

Jonny Jumper

Naomi has been trying to figure out how the Jonny Jumper works. The first time we put her in it she was not quite ready and just flopped over.

Take One

I put her in it again today and she really enjoyed it. She was able to support herself and even jump a few times.

Take Two

Wells Family Reunion

Last weekend we went camping with the Wells side of Dustin's family. Usually Dustin and I camp in a tent but with Naomi we decided to rent a pop up tent trailer. It was really nice to have a heated space to sleep at night and a fridge to keep our food cold. It was good to see our nieces and nephews and visit with family members that we had not seen in some time. Our favorite part was the impromptu baseball game with Grandpa Wells as umpire.

Our Camper

Dustin pitching to Ryan

Our little family

Herriman Fire

On Sunday September 19th a huge fire was started at Camp Williams during machine gun practice. It went up one side of the mountain and came down the other into Herriman (the city one block away from us). We had no idea there was a fire until Auntie M called us and asked if we could see the flames from our house. We could, and they were huge. By about ten o'clock p.m. the smell was unbearable and the smoke was thick so we went to stay with my parents. During the course of the fire over 1000 homes were evacuated and three homes were destroyed. Our house was never in any danger, but it was still scary having a fire just five miles from our home.

This picture was taken at the end of our street

Gluten Free Baking

Gluten Free Skillet Cornbread

Dustin was diagnosed with Celiac a little over a year ago. Celiac disease is a permanent intolerance to gluten that results in damage to the intestine and is reversible with avoidance of gluten. Gluten is a mixture of different proteins that give all of the foods you love that doughy, elastic texture. Gluten is found in wheat, barley, and rye. Subsequently, wheat, barley and rye is found in an annoyingly large amount of foods at your local grocer. It would take forever to name all the foods that contain gluten, but if it is processed at all, chances are it has gluten. When Dustin was first diagnosed with Celiac I asked the doctor what foods he couldn't eat. He gave me the short run down of a "dude's" favorite foods. Bread, pizza, cereal, and beer.

I have avoided Gluten Free (GF) baking for two reasons. One, I was pregnant for the better part of a year and would throw up if I went near the kitchen and two, GF baking is rather expensive. You, my non Celiac reader can just throw all purpose flour into a bowl with a few other ingredients and make a wonderfully moist, springy, and delicious cake. If I did that with GF baking I would create something that resembles a hockey puck. GF baking requires several different varieties of flour: brown rice, white rice, sorghum, tapioca, and baking mix. Each flour gives the recipe a different texture and flavor. To achieve a texture and flavor resembling non GF baking, you mix flours together. Last night, to Dustin's delight, I dove into GF baking head on with the help of The Gluten Free Goddess. The result was scrumptious! I made cornbread to go with a tortilla soup. Dustin and I both agree that it is better than regular cornbread. It was soft, moist, sweet, and spicy. I can't wait to try baking a chocolate cake later this week.

It's a Moose! Or is it Meece?

We spent the weekend at the cabin with a few friends from USU. Like old times, we chatted about nothing in particular, played Settlers of Catan, and relaxed. Early Sunday morning as we were getting ready to come home Dustin spotted a moose. Thanks to a great zoom feature on our camera, we were able to get this shot of a mama moose and her baby on the east side of the cabin.

Sooooo Cute!

A wonderful surprise was waiting for me in the mailbox today. Naomi's ten week old photos! All of them turned out fabulously, but here are some of our favorites.

Photos by April Bladh

Goodbye Uncle Rico

Yesterday Elder Richard Clark Fetzer left to serve a full time mission for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints. He will be in the MTC (missionary training center) for three weeks and then depart for Seattle, Washington to seek out and teach people the Gospel of Jesus Christ. I am excited for him but can not begin to express how much I will miss him.

Richard and Naomi at his setting apart