Kokanee Salmon- Take 2

After our disappointing trip to see the Kokanee salmon toward the beginning of September I found out from Utah's Adventure Family that there were more fish a couple weeks later when they went to the fish trap at Strawberry Reservoir. The kids and I headed back there on Thursday, September 23, and were very happy to see so many salmon this time. Yay.

There were some in the stream. There were plenty coming up the fish ladder/steps and going into the fish trap. We love watching them. There were plenty more in the fish trap area itself.

It was a beautiful evening and I'm so glad we made it back there even if Jeremy wasn't able to come this time. We did text him about what we were doing while we were there. That was fun, too.

First Day of Fall

First Day of Fall on September 22 was a perfect day for apple crisp topped with ice cream.

This instant pot treat came from a Six Sisters' Stuff recipe.

Since September 22 was also Hobbit Day, we listened to music from "The Hobbit" and "The Lord of the Rings" movies.

Quadruple Celebration Plus One

I got a picture for September 20, Pepperoni Pizza Day, String Cheese Day, Fried Rice Day, and Punch Day.

I didn't get a picture for September 21, World Gratitude Day, but I did express my gratitude to my husband and my children.

Talk Like a Pirate Day 2021

Jr.: I'm going to steal some game time.

Mom: You do and I'll make you walk the plank.

Nichole: Don't worry. Peter Pan will save you.

Sunday, September 19, was International Talk Like a Pirate Day. We joked about talking like pirates at church but decided to be reverent. 

The boys plundered zucchini from a neighbor's porch (with permission).

Here's what I said about the holiday on Instagram:

Arr. It be our tradition to get doughnuts for International Talk Like a Pirate Day on September 19. It being Sunday this year, we didn't pillage the store but used our galley to whip up Cinnamon Sugar Doughnut Muffins from Mel's Kitchen Cafe and all the mateys agreed, "Arr, they be tasty."

Jeremy and the two oldest  went to a Youth Standards Night that night and there were doughnuts for refreshments so they were able to bring home doughnuts after all. Ha ha ha ha. Or har har har har.

They also got a picture of an ad they saw on their way home. Also har har har har.

Jr. Jr. made pirate gear for people. He made a hat for Lucky and an eyepatch for Jeremy.

 

We may have had piratey themed food like squid pups or something but I didn't take a picture so I don't remember.

Bonding Time

Jr. Jr. and I planned a hiking trip. It rained. We went for a drive in the rain instead, every once in a while stopping to get pictures... of ourselves... and scenery between windshield wiper wipes.

Jr. Jr. had fun taking pictures as I was driving. 

There was a nice break in the weather so we were able to stop at Bridal Veil Falls Overlook on the way home.

We had some friends greet us when we got home since it was such a wet day.

Ah, bonding time with my nature loving boy.

Dinner Club

Six Sisters' Stuff started a dinner club. All you have to do to join is eat dinner. Yep. You can do more than that but only if you want. They've been doing some contests. They wanted people to post to their Instagram stories about what they have for dinner. People can get ideas from those that Six Sisters repost and for me it's kind of motivation to have side dishes and decent food if I'm going to post about it. But hey, since I usually take pictures of food anyway because of using our celebrating in menu planning, it wasn't that much harder to put them in my Instagram stories.

I was posting fancy things like Instant Pot Swedish Meatballs and Chicken Cordon Bleu Casserole (which Instagram autocorrected to "blue") with homemade French bread and Ritz Cracker Chicken Casserole (from Six Sisters' Stuff), then after leftovers night I got picked and won a gift card. Ha Ha Ha.

Six Sisters' Stuff have also had a few live meetings/videos on Instagram and that's been fun to participate in. I've been getting more ideas for recipes to try and it's a nice break in my day... something for me (I've been getting burned out lately. Sigh).

Their first Dinner Club meeting was on Friday, September 10, which is Swap Ideas Day. How appropriate. We were definitely swapping ideas for the club and dinner ideas. That's where I got the idea for the Ritz Cracker Chicken Casserole.

At the end of the day, the older members of our family swapped ideas about what to watch after the younger boys went to bed.

I didn't put it on my picture with Leftovers Night but I made hot cross buns for dessert that night because September 11 was Hot Cross Bun Day.

Anyway, here are other things I've been posting on my stories for #dinnerclub

 

September 12 was Videos Games Day. People took turns playing video games while the more ambitious of us worked on our parts for our at-home potluck. I made chicken noodle soup with a whole chicken like grandma used to make but I didn't follow her recipe for noodles. I used some of the nokedli Jeremy made to be eaten with the chicken paprikash. It was fun and I love that everyone contributed (even though we chose and prepared for Jet- water to drink). 

September 13 was Kids Take Over The Kitchen Day so I told the kids they were in charge of dinner that night- not fend for yourselves but making dinner for the family. Nichole stepped up. Yay, Nichole.

Lucky had fun with the holiday, too. He wouldn't let me in the kitchen and put up a barricade with a sign, "The kids have taken over the kitchen!!!! Mwa ha ha haaa!!!" Jr. worked on dishes.

I got to relax and have some snuggles with a couple of my kids then later since it was International Chocolate Day and National Peanut Day, we all had Whatchamacallit candy bars. Mmmm.

September 14 was Eat a Hoagie Day. It was also Ants on a Log Day. I had plans to make ants on a log but the celery wasn't any good so we grabbed some fries out of the freezer instead.

September 15 was Double Cheeseburger Day. I made hamburger buns that turned out pretty small so I made hamburger patties to match. Hey, less meat that way when you're doubling up patties. It was also Linguine Day so I used The Food Nanny's recipe for Linguine with Butter and Parmesan Cheese.

September 16 was Cinnamon Raisin Bread Day. I adapted a recipe from The Food Nanny and Jet helped me make the cinnamon raisin bread. He helped out and it wore him out.

The Chicken Tikka Masala recipe was another one from Six Sisters' Stuff. It was so good. I was going to make other Indian foods to go with it but I ran out of time so I threw some other sides together. It worked.

On September 17 Nichole and I discussed "The Count of Monte Cristo" while I made Monte Cristo Sandwiches (recipe from The Food Nanny) on Monte Cristo Day. I love finding reasons (and ways) to celebrate.

 

The posting did slow down a bit after the contests for posting on stories ended but the Six Sisters are still encouraging people to share what they're having for dinner so I still do from time to time. And Dinner Club is still going on.