Peach Cobbler Day 2026

Have I mentioned I'm enjoying this cookbook?

The American West section (see blog post from April 13, 2026) of Whisk Me Away has a recipe for Peach Cobbler. We used that recipe this year for Peach Cobbler Day on April 13. 

Nature's Cool, Man

 

While we were in Idaho visiting relatives, Jeremy spotted a lone cloud standing (floating?) out in front of the gray clouds in the background. I got a quick picture with my phone then started singing, "I'm Just a Little Black Raincloud," from Winnie-the-Pooh. It wasn't a little black rain cloud, but it seemed to fit because it was all alone, hovering under the other clouds. 

Family Weekend

Some things couldn't go better if they were planned.

We told the kids we had gift cards to Cafe Rio so we were all going to go out to eat. When we got to the area, Jeremy parked near the movie theater and got out to "see where the restaurant was." Oh, it was within walking distance so the kids and I got out and started walking with him. As we were walking, I saw the movie poster outside for The Super Mario Galaxy Movie. I just "happened" to be wearing my Mario shirt that day, so I made everyone get in a picture with me with the poster. Isn't that fun?

As we walked past the doors to the theater, Jeremy went inside briefly and told everyone there was a bigger poster right inside so I made everyone go inside for another picture because I was wearing my Mario shirt and it would be fun.

Then Jeremy spotted an even bigger poster by the podium where they check tickets, so I convinced the kids who were already outside again that we just had to get another picture together with that one. I was wearing my Mario shirt after all.

Then Jeremy continued on to the podium and we all followed, where he showed our tickets for... you guessed it... The Super Mario Galaxy Movie. We kept following him to the auditorium and our seats. 

Once we were inside, Jet kept asking if we were getting our food. The kids knew about the restaurant but not the movie. This was Jet's first time watching a movie at a movie theater so I had to explain that we were going to watch a movie first. We figured this would be a good one since he likes The Super Mario Bros. Movie and he's getting better at events. He used to try to wander around during orchestra concerts. He's been learning, though, and he did well watching Lucky's play. He did well with this movie and there were enough other little kids making noises that it was fine if he made noises or asked questions, too.

We all enjoyed it. It was a fun movie. It was a good one to watch as a family since we all like the first movie and Mario video games. It was a good surprise for the kids.

Jeremy and I didn't know about all the posters so that just added to the surprise because the kids really didn't know what was going on until that last poster. We've been known to take pictures with posters without going to see the movie before.

 

Afterward, we did go to Cafe Rio to eat and that was fun, too.

We went home for bathroom breaks then since we still had time in the day, most of us went to the library for a bit. People had movies and books to get and Jet got to do a library activity and earn a sticker. 

Then we went to a park because it was off and on kite flying weather. Nichole brought her kite she made in high school.

 

I got a walk around the park. Jet (and kids) played on the playground. It was a lovely evening. 

 

The next morning we got up early to drive to Idaho because our newest niece was getting blessed by her daddy, Jeremy's brother, so we wanted to go to support them. 

Jet was happy to shout out, "Road Trip!" every time I got a picture of us in the van.

We made good time and it was so nice to see family again. Jeremy's parents were also visiting for the baby blessing, so I made (asked nicely) my father-in-law take pictures of us since we don't have any family pictures yet this year (besides selfies- as you see from this post). Jet learned from someone at school I think to do the peace symbol in pictures, so that's what he was doing in all the pictures this weekend, until we made him stop briefly to get a nice family picture. I didn't think it counted if your fingers are in front of your face for all of the pictures. He's such a ham. I love it.

On the drive home, we went through a dust storm. Low visibility. Before we even got to the low visibility point, it was windy enough that tumbleweeds were tumbling across the road. So when it was low visibility and high wind...

Some of the kids were playing video games in the back and I commented how I was playing my own video game- dodging tumbleweeds. I got to the point where I slowed way down and put on my hazard lights so I could adjust my driving based on the tumbleweeds. Apparently I didn't dodge them all because I found this the next day.

We did make it home safely. The dust storm we were driving through only lasted a little while. I could see the headlights of the vehicle behind me so I knew they could see my hazard lights. I couldn't see the vehicle in front of me even though I knew it was there, but if they didn't slow down as much as me, then there was even more space between us. It was crazy but not too scary. We've been in scarier driving situations. I think it wasn't as scary because the traction on the road was fine- different than icy/snowy roads. We did comment how if we saw flying cows (get that reference?), then it would be more of a problem. I didn't want things flying at our van, though there were a few tumbleweeds that flew across the road instead of rolling. It turned out all right.

  

It was a wonderful family weekend.

Lucky showing his balancing talents in a moving vehicle.

Catch of the Day

 

Quality of the picture's not great because I zoomed in with my phone but one day while I was driving, I saw a turkey vulture sunning itself on top of a tall pole. I had to turn around and turn around again so I could pull over and snap a few quick pictures. It had its wings fanned out in that position for a long time. At first it looked like a statue but there are no statues of birds on poles like that on that street.

Have I mentioned I love birds? 

Cosmo!

Since Lucky didn't have school during Spring Break, he was able to help Jeremy build a giant Cosmo Cougar balloon for BYU Grad Bash again this year. Way to go, guys. Jeremy took Lucky out for ice cream afterward.

A couple days later, Lucky and I went back with Jeremy to set Cosmo up for the celebration. I helped last year and wanted to do it again this year. This is how Jeremy put it:

Lucky, the short one, built the legs, Jeremy, the big one, built the torso, and Kristin, the cute one, did repairs.

Yay! I'm a helper. I love that Lucky is learning the "family business."

 

When we got home, we had more ice cream, in the forms of... root beer floats and/or on top of apple pie.

Spring Break

Let's talk about Spring Break... for three of our kids. Last week was Spring Break... for three of our kids. Here are some of the holidays we celebrated (besides what I already mentioned in my April 9, 2026 post).

April 7 was National No Housework Day. I didn't tell the kids that was the holiday and asked them to clean. Bwah ha ha ha. But I celebrated.

 

April 8 was Draw a Picture of a Bird Day. This is what Nichole created.

She's awesome. I love that I could immediately tell it was a red-tailed hawk. Gorgeous.

 

April 10 was National Siblings Day. I encouraged a couple of my kids to wish each other a Happy that holiday but forgot to wish it to any of my own siblings even though I planned to.

It was also National Farm Animals Day. For dinner the night before, I made red beans and rice and hush puppies and garlic parmesan asparagus. On April 10, we had leftovers (including the beans and rice that had Polish sausage made out of what? Farm animals!) and I made more hush puppies.

This exchange happened while I was making them.

 

Jet: What are the dog things you are making called?

Mom: Hush puppies. 

 

He's so adorable.

 

Breakfast and a Movie

To celebrate The Sheriffs of Savage Wells movie coming out the beginning of this month (based on the book by Sarah M. Eden), my husband, daughter, and I had an "American West" breakfast with recipes from the book, Whisk Me Away (by Michelle Wright), which also has quotes from The Sheriffs of Savage Wells book.

We ate Crustless Quiche, Biscuits with Raspberry Honey Butter, and to drink we had White Lightning Moonshine (Sweet Tea). Read the "Sheriffs" book or watch the movie (or both) to learn the origin of that drink.

As we ate, we watched The Sheriffs of Savage Wells movie. I laughed so much and got so giddy seeing the quirky characters from the book on screen.