From fruit to jam

Friday me and the kids went with two other families in the ward to a pick it yourself farm where we picked peaches and raspberries. YUM. We bought 2 pecks of peaches and 4 pints of raspberries.
This is what we turned the fresh fruit into. I still have quite a few more peaches in the fridge. I want to make some more jam with them.
The delicious raspberries....It was so hard not to eat them while we were cleaning them. We served a few with lunch along with our very own GARDEN veggie below.
This was SO SUPER exciting. SO this is our first time growing our own garden. We always had a garden growing up but it is not the same as doing it ALL yourself. I was so excited to pick this out of our garden and then enjoy it. OH how yummy it was. It was candy corn. Not the kind you get at Halloween either.
I am so excited for the out come of what we were able to accomplish with this fruit. And even better is that the kids love the jam. YEAH. Double bonus here.

Little Miss Matched

Have you ever heard of this brand? If you google it you will see all of the cute things they have and yet they don't even match. Well the other day we had to run into town so I told Mayah to run up and get dressed. She came downand and this is how she looked...It was super hot out and she was wearing long sleeves. She had her pj bottoms on and a pair of mismatched tights. And then she was getting ready to put her tennis shoes on. I am VERY into letting kids choose. I think it is good to give them the opportunity to decide what to wear and get them into the habit of just being able to make choices. And I think letting them choose their clothes is a good first way to do this. BUT....it was hot. And she gets very very hot. And I am not so much into letting them wear their pj's to the store. And tights were hot as well. So we decided to go up to her room together and decide on a different outfit. Scroll down to see what we picked. IT is CUTE.


I think this is a much better choice. I love these garage sale boots that we found for her last year. And the shorts are also from a garage sale. The shirt was like $3 from Walmart and the necklace? Zach made it for her out of beads we got from his cousin, Sara. LOVE THIS GIRL.

CAN IT BE?

Caleb on his first day of middle school. He is one tall dude. His shoe size? 8
Zach on his first day of 3rd grade. He is getting so big. His shoes? Size 7. YIKES.
Here is my little girl getting all grown up. Rachel's first day of 1st grade. Shoe size: only a 13/1.


My kids had there first day of school today. It kind of snuck up on me and came faster than I expected. We moved into this new school district in the middle of the school year last year so we are not used to starting so early. I think we normally start after Labor Day. But I guess it is better to start earlier and get out earlier.

Caleb missed the bus and Zach left his lunch on the counter. I guess that is what we get for taking pictures. OOPS. Oh well. It will be better tomorrow.

Don went to the temple last night and got home late and wasn't able to give the kids their fathers blessing for the new school year so he planned to go in late to work today so he could get that done. It is such an amazing blessing to have him do this for the kids. They look forward to it and even Ethan and Mayah get excited to be a part of the blessings even though they are not in school yet. I had tears as I thought about them going away on their first day. Thankfully the kids didn't notice. I will get my blessing from him tonight. He always gives one to me as well. I am thankful.

It is a bit sad for me when the kids leave for school. GRANTED....I do enjoy the calmness of things with the two kids here but I still can't help but think of the emotions the kids go through on their first day. Caleb is in middle school and he kept asking all types of questions but he did say he was really excited. I, on the other hand, not so much. At open house Don and I were amazed at how different it seemed from elementary school. The kids seemed so much more grown up than Caleb. He is probably one of the youngest in his class. We were surprised at the girls and their makeup and some of the skimpy clothes they were wearing. AND THIS IS MIDDLE SCHOOL? Made me think of High School. I just hope Caleb can be strong and keep his morals and values high and find good friends that can encourage and help.

I know the kids will do well and I know they will succeed. Caleb is in two honors classes and I am excited for him to learn and grow and have a little more freedom. He is a great kid with a desire to do what it right.

New calling

In our new ward I got put in the nursery the second Sunday we were there. I think that may have been my first time doing Nursery. So for the last 10 months I have been taking care of the little tykes. Mayah LOVES having me in there with her and I know she will be sad tomorrow when she goes in alone. But she enjoys it and really likes the other leader so I am pretty sure she will be fine.

My new calling is in Primary. I will be teaching the Valiant girls. Our primary is so small that I will be teaching all the 8-12 year old girls plus doing Achievement Days twice a month. I am fine with the teaching. But am a bit nervous about the activities. I have never been good at planning activities and I am HORRIBLE at anything crafty. I don't want to disappoint and I hope I can help the girls grow and gain a testimony and love coming to church and sharing in that wonderful experience.

I am excited about my new calling and as I was attempting my preparations on my lesson about Joseph Smith I commented to Don how different it is to prepare a lesson like this rather than one on being thankful for animals or families. But I know I will learn as I prepare to teach these young girls. I pray that God will bless me with the spirit as I teach. What a very impressionable age this is.

I love the Gospel and how perfect and organized it is. I am so blessed to have it in my life and so thankful to be a part of all the things that are taking place in the world today. I could never ask for a more perfect plan than this.

I find it amazing all the volunteering that goes on in the church. None of us are paid to do these jobs yet so many are willing to put time and energy in to teaching and leading. I am truly grateful for all my kids' teachers and all the teachers and leaders that take time away from their busy life to serve and bring up the kingdom of God. That is what it is all about.

vacation

Our vacation to Pittsburgh went so fast. But I am thinking we need a vacation from our vacation. We had a bit of a stressful day on Saturday. We got caught in construction and ended up in the car for quite some time with five fighting kids. But we had a lot of fun and we made a ton of memories.

We spent 2 hrs. in Cabela's. It was awesome. The kids had a great time and it was like being in a zoo with dead stuffed animals. MAN they must have spent a ton of time setting up that cool store.

Friday night we stayed in Don's cousins cabin. It was a bit further than we wanted to go but it was fun. We did a few things on Saturday and then stayed in a motel that night so we could get ready for church the next day. We went to the ward that Don grew up in and gave his missionary farewell in. It was nice. I loved hearing people speak so highly of Don's dad. It brought tears to my eyes to hear what an amazing person he was. He did part of the electrical work on the church and built the HUGE toy box in the nursery. He also did part of the electrical work at one of the malls in PA.

We set up camp that night. Then the next day we had the best time. Monday is when we did all the fun things. Don wanted to show me the "mountains" they have here and compare them to the ones in Washington. We drove to a ski slope and the hills were pretty wimpy in comparison. But they were having some activities and we let the kids choose one thing. It was a HUGE slide that was 1,980 feet long. There were sled type things that you sat on and slid down. You had to control the speed with a handle that sat directly in front of you. At first no one wanted to go except Rachel and I. SO I paid for both of us and you had to ride the ski lift in order to get up there. That was HIGH. Rachel started getting a belly ache because of how high we were. But finally we got to the top and we rode down FAST. It was a blast. Once we got to the bottom the boys and Don wanted to go. They LOVED it. WE may end up going back to this place next year and staying over night so we can do the other things they had. SO FUN.

We visited Ft. Necessity. That was interesting. WE watched a movie and then saw a live demonstration of the guns they used. We visited the Cavern there and learned alot about the war. I really admire George Washington for so many things.

Our last place on Monday that we visited was the Laurel Caverns. WOW. I can't believe how HUGE these caves were. When we walked into the building there were about five bats that were stuck to the wall. The kids were hoping to see some in the caves but sadly they didn't. Those were some amazing caves. We were down the length of 17 flights of stairs. It took an hour to get through them and we didn't even see it all. It was very cool. The kids just loved it and wanted to stay in there. That was our FHE for Monday night and then we stopped at McDonalds for icecream for our treat.

I love vacations. I love taking time with the family and exploring and spending time as a family. It was fun. It was a bit hectic with the fighting but such a great time. I would never change these times together. On the way home we rocked out to Rascal Flatts.

More pictures to come of the things I didn't put here tonight. I took some pictures with my camera and Don used his to do the rest. The others are on his camera.


These are not the best pictures but it was so fun looking over Pittsburgh. It was SO stunning at night. Here is Don and the kids. Our camara doesn't take the best pictures at night. We rode the Incline up to the top and walked a bit to get up to this point so we could look over and see this amazing sight. We then rode the Incline back down. The kids really had fun that night. It was a late night. In fact every night I don't think we got to sleep before 11 or 12. The Incline is the 2nd or 3rd most romantic spot in the U.S. at night. I can see why.
Isn't this gorgeous?
Here I am with the kids.
This statue was so cool. It is George Washington facing an Indian. The kids had to have their picture in front of it.

The camping begins. Setting up tent. We did some lake swimming. WE tried to roast hot dogs and smores. Long story that someone in particular doesn't want told. We will just put that down and remember the funny memory. Zach on the ground working on the tent. Caleb is holding the pole in the back.
Mayah and her very excited self. She rarely keeps her pony tail in her hair and it ends up looking pretty ratty.
Caleb working on building the fire.
Don with his boys. They sure enjoy being with him.
This is our camping trip to Laurel Hills State Park in Pennsylvania. This is where Don's dad would take them camping quite a bit. It was beautiful and the kids had fun. Does Rachel look excited?
Mayah and Rachel heading into the tent.
Don holding his girls with Ethan looking on.
Don was SO amazing at helping the boys and teaching them to put up the tent. He instructed only. The boys did it all by themselves with only a tiny amount of help.
Don instructing boys on the tent.
This was the end of our vacation. We were on our way home and we pulled over to do some rearranging. This was in West Virginia. I read this cool sign and loved this and had to have a picture with Don. I LOVE this man.

HAPPY B-DAY

WOW. Don is getting old. HEHEHE. I am sure he would love that. We wanted to do something for Don's birthday but he is working late tonight and then we will be leaving tomorrow to go camping for 4 days. SO he didn't get a special dinner or cake or anything. I feel sad. SO the kids and I went to the recycling center and got some newspaper. We made him a homemade pinata. The only problem with that is it has to dry for 24 hrs. SO we failed again. We will have to finish it when we get back. The kids were going to put special messages in it for him and then a scavenger hunt for his gift. HIS GIFT? We don't have it yet. This poor guy. I guess when you get to a certain age you really don't want a birthday anyway right? Well this time I dropped the bomb and didn't plan right.

Don is taking us to Cabellas to check out that cool store. I think I will let him pick out something there. Or maybe I will find something cool to get him and leave the kids with him and go buy it and then give it to him in the store. That is a better idea. Next year will be better for him. I am going to plan something in advance.

I am so grateful for Don. He is a great husband. He knows exactly the types of things I need to here to make me feel better. He is kind. He is loving. He NEVER talks bad about me. He has a huge heart and he tries so very hard to make me happy. I am so thankful for his hard work. His knowledge of the gospel and of events in history amaze me. He is very smart and very sweet. I think I will keep em. I love you so much Don. I hope you have a great birthday even though your wife stunk at the preparation. I do love and admire you for so many different reasons. Thanks for all your love and devotion to your family. HAPPY BIRTHDAY.

Sunday talks

Don and I were asked to speak in church last week. Our subject was family. I was so grateful for the opportunity to do this. I am not one to like to get up in public but I love researching topics and I always learn so much more than those listening. I know I need to take a look at our own family and see where we need to improve. I know it starts with Don and I. I love these quotes:

"As parents, we should remember that our lives may be the book from the family library which the children most treasure. Are our examples worthy of emulation? Do we live in such a way that a son or a daughter may say, “I want to follow my dad,” or “I want to be like my mother”? Unlike the book on the library shelf, the covers of which shield its contents, our lives cannot be closed. Parents, we truly are an open book in the library of learning of our homes".

Next, do we exemplify the legacy of love? Do our homes? Bernadine Healy, in a commencement address, gave this counsel: “As a physician, who has been deeply privileged to share the most profound moments of people’s lives including their final moments, let me tell you a secret. People facing death don’t think about what degrees they have earned, what positions they have held, or how much wealth they have accumulated. At the end, what really matters is who you loved and who loved you. That circle of love is everything, and is a great measure of a past life. It is the gift of greatest worth.”

Our Lord and Savior’s message was one of love. It can be as a light to our personal pathway to exaltation.

Near the end of his life, one father looked back on how he had spent his time on earth. An acclaimed, respected author of numerous scholarly works, he said, “I wish I had written one less book and taken my children fishing more often.”

Time passes quickly. Many parents say that it seems like yesterday that their children were born. Now those children are grown, perhaps with children of their own. “Where did the years go?” they ask. We cannot call back time that is past, we cannot stop time that now is, and we cannot experience the future in our present state. Time is a gift, a treasure not to be put aside for the future but to be used wisely in the present. Pres. Monson

“The final desire of the Prophet Joseph Smith was to build a community of spiritual Saints. This begins in the home. The most important instruction our children will ever receive will be that which parents give to them in their own home, if parents diligently teach their children the way our Father in Heaven would like them to follow. One instruction our leaders have given us is to hold regular family home evenings where we can meet together weekly, learn gospel principles, and build family unity. Here we can counsel together, read the scriptures, pray together, and play together. Our greatest goal is to become an eternal family. We build a community of Saints one family at a time.”

L. Tom Perry, “Building a Community of Saints,” Ensign, May 2001, 37

I absolutely LOVE to read the quotes from the Apostles and Prophets. They speak with such conviction. As I read I can just feel the truth radiate though out me. I am so blessed and grateful for the gospel. I am so grateful that we have this perfect plan and a perfect map of the things that help us within our own family. There is NOTHING greater than family. There is NOTHING greater than the gospel. There is NOTHING great than Heavenly Father and His son Jesus Christ.

The bishop asked us if any of our kids would like to speak. We got a NO from everyone on that one. But then we asked if they wanted to sing a song instead. Everyone again said NO. But after a few days Rachel thought maybe she would like to. She was still apprehensive. But we practiced and practiced many time a day and I am SO amazed with her. That took alot of guts and boy did she sound beautiful. I am so proud of her.

Then Don spoke. He did a great job. And I am truly grateful for him. My talk was a lot shorter than I expected and he had to fill in the rest of the time (30 min). He was able to do it. He had to rearrange his talk a bit as he was up there but I thought he did great. The Gospel Doctrine teacher referenced his talk 4 times.

I am super grateful for my family. I know at times, I get very frustrated with the chaos and insanity of things. But how grateful I am that God has trusted me with 5 of his amazing spirits. I don't even trust myself with any of them. :) They teach me so much. They are so innocent and so trusting. They have a desire to do what is right and for that I am grateful. My biggest fear in life is that they will go away from the truth. I pray and pray that they will stay strong and hold on to these teachings....especially in a world that knows no morals.

cemetary questions

Today we had to waste some time while we were waiting for a prescription. We decided to just drive around the town. There are a lot of places we haven't seen yet. We went up this steep hill and it led us to a cemetary. We were so amazed at the different headstones. The kids wanted to know why they were all so different. I told them that the families left behind chose that for them and that they were very very expensive. We talked about their baby cousin, Allison. That was the reason she only had a flat stone. It was just so expensive. We continued on and they asked more questions. WE talked about how our bodies and spirits would join back together. WE saw the cutest stone of a double heart that I am sure was for a husband and wife. I looked at Caleb and told him that would be cool for your dad and I. He then said, NO WAY, that is too expensive. Smart kid.

We looked for familiar names. We were amazed at how old some of these stones were. It was fun taking the kids and showing them the life of those that have passed on. There was a couple of funny remarks like when Caleb said he wanted air conditioning in his casket when he dies. Then Zach said he wanted to bury Don and I in his back yard. HOW SWEET. WE talked about all being buried together as a family. They didn't seem upset about anything we talked about. It was just a matter of fact thing for them.

It was a good time waster and it sparked a lot of good questions. I think they enjoyed it too. We found someone that shared Caleb's birthday. He was excited about that.

I remember a couple of years ago when Don took me to his dad's grave in Pittsburgh. His dad died when Don was 12. It had been awhile since he had visited it and so we went together. I just bawled. It was just so sad to think how many years he didn't get to have a dad to do things with. He didn't have that example in his life and it really got me thinking how grateful I am for my own dad and how I take it for granted. I guess we sometimes don't realize what we have until it is taken from us.

I am not one to really like going to graves but it is such an amazing place. I now enjoy going and looking at the stones and the dates on them. I took the kids to a HUGE cemetary for Memorial Day. They seemed so interested in it.

Eleven already

We celebrated Caleb's birthday a day early. Tomorrow we have a class we are going to so we thought we would use FHE to celebrate. I started off by taking the kids to the pool. Here is Mayah, Ethan and Rachel in the kiddie pool.

Zach is doing something fancy on the diving board. You can see Caleb off in the back in the yellow shorts. They spend SO much time at this diving board.

Rachel was showing me something fancy with her feet. She is funny.

Then Ethan had to show me how he could swim.

Mayah also wanted me to watch her swim. Once one of them wants me to watch they all call for me to watch what they can do.

Ethan jumping into the other part of the kiddie pool.

So ofcourse Rachel had to do it.Here is Caleb about reading to jump.

Caleb shooting the BB gun. The kids took turns shooting them for Caleb's party. They had so much fun.

Zach is helping Ethan shoot. Looks kind of funny the way he is holding it. But it did the job.

WOW. Rachel looks pretty darn good there. Nice shot girll
All the kids took turns except Mayah. Here Zach is really getting into his shot.




We are having tractor races. Don, Caleb, Zach and I participated. I put up about 4 buckets/garbage cans that we had to go around. Here is Caleb. He got to go first.

Here is Zach. Poor Zach put the gear to close to the choke so it wasn't going very fast.
Here I am trying so hard to win. You know how some parents let their kids win. Well that is NOT me. I do my best at whatever I am doing. Kids need to learn that sometimes you win and guess what? Sometimes you lose. That is life. Well that durn Caleb beat us all.

And here is Don. NOPE not even he could beat Caleb.

Caleb wanted to have donuts rather than a cake. Here he is thinking after making a wish and blowing out his candle.

This is after his treasure hunt that Zach made for him. His gift was in the back of Don's car.

He is reading his clues from the scavenger hunt.

Here he is with his gift...an electric guitar. HMMM wonder who wanted to get him this? Now this better not be a noisy instrument!!!!

WOW. So tonight we celebrated Caleb's birthday even though it isn't until tomorrow. We have a class tomorrow night that we are going to so we decided to use Family Home Evening to celebrate Caleb turning 11. I really cannot believe I have an 11 year old. That means that next year he will be passing the Sacrament. He will recieve the Aaronic Priesthood. That is SO cool. He will be the first grandchild on both sides to get this wonderful gift.

Caleb is a very special addition to our family. He has such a huge heart and is so thoughtful. He is always doing nice things for people. He loves babies. This summer when we were visiting family and all the cousins were playing you could usually find Caleb playing with his baby cousin.

He is also very stubborn and lets just say spirited. But oh how we love him and how we are so grateful he is in our family. I know that Caleb will go far in life and he is going to make a huge difference with something someday. I just don't know what that is but I know it will happen.