Peaches, tomatoes and jars oh my!

I have checked a few things off my life to-do list this year! I have always wanted to can peaches and to make home made salsa. I did both this summer with help of my fabulous Kecia!

While wandering the farmers market a month ago, at the end of an amazing girls day out, we met a peach farmer who put our names on a pre-order list for amazing peaches for canning. I went a few weeks later and picked up our 3 boxes of peaches and she drove up from Provo to spend the day canning while Jake and Tyler "watched" her daughter Emma. We had a blast and it went so quick with two of us.

I was thrilled with how easy the skins came off these peaches and they looked so pretty when they were canned I decided to use them as decoration!

Salsa was a different matter. I've never made it before, so it was kind of an adventure. I bought the basic ingrediants at the farmers market, to get the "really fresh" taste. (My tomatoes went in late, so they are not ready yet)

I don't have a food processor, so I hand chopped everything. I made 4 jars. We really are not big salsa people, I figured that would be plenty. Brian and the kids thought it was so good that we are down to 2 jars! I guess I'll get to use my tomatoes after all!

First day of freedom.... I mean school....

It's a little late in coming, but I've finally gotten around to posting my life again!! After all, who can resist the first day of school pictures?

Jake started Kindergarden this year, he was so excited!! Although a little bummed when he found out he won't eat lunch at school until next year.

There he was, off on his own. He didn't have any seperation problems. I think he learned that from brother, who didn't even want me to walk him to his door. (I snuck behind him, just to make sure he made it). I did really well right about to halfway thru the parking lot, then the gates opened and I couldn't make it to my car fast enough. Although I know every other mom is doing the same thing, I'm not a crier, so this was tres embarrasing!

The next day, just so you all know, I woke up, sent the kids to school and smiled my whole way to Eggs in the City with my darling husband for our first "kids at school date".

Did I really just do that?

This week has been one of milestones. Brian called from the highway the other night and asked if I was busy. Uh, am I ever at 9:30pm? He then asked me to come outside for a moment. In true Hallmark style, as I'm freezing my tush off in the midst of an early cold front on my porch, my hub pulls around the corner in a car. Not just any car, my car. Well, hopefully soon to be my car...A 2000 white Ford Mustang GT. In amazing condition, just humming along.

Now for those of you who have been blessed to never be present when I get going on Mustangs, let me explain to you why this was one of those moments. The 2000 is one of two Mustangs ever built to posses the "tail end" body style that seriously makes my heart stop. I am in no position to purchase a 2008 in cash, so that leaves option number two, the 2000.

Yeah, I know, I'm an idiot, but I'm ok with it, and I assume you all are too, or we wouldn't still be friends right? :)

Well, upon driving this baby around for a couple hours, I started getting this little wild hair. Thoughts started running thru my head. Things like; "maybe it's time to REALLY clean the garage" "Maybe we should finally let go of all that baby stuff" Next thing you know, I've listed my crib, changing table, jogging stroller, toddler bed and baby clothes on KSL. Not that I've written off additional rug rats...only that just maybe, this could be a fun, care free new time for our little family. We have no immediate plans to enlarge our family, so why not? Why not have room to actually park a CAR in our garage?! (I know, what a thought right?) Why not drive a car that would be absolutly impossible with kids younger than mine. Why not wear my nice shirts around the house, no ones spitting up on them anymore... So I think I'm selling the Explorer too. Saying goodbye for a bit to the era I love, of babies and toddlers and bottles and blankies. And welcoming with open arms, and a few tissues an era I'm learning to love more, with soccer games, rock climbing, mustangs, Harry Potter, and kids who make their own chocolate milk.

3 handsome boys, 1 grey hair, and a crab

Gas to Seattle: $212
4 greasy Dicks Cheeseburgers, 3 Fries, 4 Shakes: $22.64
2.5 pounds of Coconut Taffy you can only buy in Seattle: $12.57
Waterfront parking: $2.95
Spending my birthday in my favorite place in the world with my favorite people: Priceless!

We drove to Seattle Wednesday morning on the way home, even though technically it wasn't anywhere near the way home. (Although after checking map quest it is only the longer way by 45 minutes, so I think it's justified!) All I wanted for my birthday this year was to be in Seattle, eating either fish and chips from Steamers or cheeseburgers from Dicks. Well Brian and I had amazing fish and chips the night before so we went for Dicks. It was everything I'd longed for! the kids loved it, we have always loved it, so it really was the perfect way to start the drive home. We spent some time on the waterfront, just hanging out.

And yes, you read that right. Fate had the gall to bestow me with a grey hair on my birthday, MY 29th BIRTHDAY no less! Not cool. And no, I don't want to talk about it.

There was a crabber on the wharf who had a good catch he let us inspect. Notice Jake's hands behind his back? He was the first to reach out for a crab and he tried to grab the wrong side. Let's just say we're all really glad he has Brian's reflexes! After that he was less than enthusiastic about trying again, photo opp or not. Tyler Braved up and so did Brian. I personally don't believe in playing with my food :) so I refrained from holding the crab. All in all, it was the best birthday I've had in years!

RoAd TRiP!!

We took a last minute trip to Washington to see Brian's parents. We planned to leave around 4am on July 5th. That was our first mistake. Never plan to leave for a 12 hour drive the morning after you have a huge party at your house. I spent the 4th getting ready for the party and doing minimal packing, figuring I would get around to it. After my family went home. That was the second mistake. We had so much fun on the fourth we didn't even think about getting ready for our trip until 11pm as the last remnants of party goers drove off. Then I looked around and made the command decision that we would be leaving a little later. I sent Brian and the kids to bed and I packed. And packed. And packed. We ended up not too far off schedule, we left at 5:45am which I thought no small miracle. An even greater miracle was that upon completion of the trip, we realized I FORGOT NOTHING!! Yes, I'm feeling rather prideful at pulling of a trip of this magnitude in 4 hours. Not to shabby!

The trip there was awesome! We had so much fun with the boys and they were so good. We only turned on the DVD player for one movie and they didn't really even watch the whole thing. Tyler was the real entertainment, asking every question that would come up watching scenery pass from Utah to Washington. Things like, "mom, why do people want to live in Idaho, it smells here" to "How does a tug boat push that huge ship all the way to the ocean?" as we were passing thru The Dalles. Not to mention the crazy rest stop shenanigans, like climbing on the roof of the car when Brian and I try to steal a kiss, thinking our kids are safely in their seats...

In Shelton grandma and grandpa provided hours of fun with their new boat and innertubes. The kids spent more time on that lake then they spent with me! It rained most of the trip, but that didn't stop anyone, proving they are true Washingtonians!

One of the innertubes was a 4 man, which means to little boys can ride, fully clothed all around a lake and not even get wet. This is a priceless feature when it's 58 degrees outside and they just have to go for one last ride!

I just loved this scream! They were so cute on that tube!

We also got to see Brian's sister Karen and her 4 kids. The boys loved spending time together and Jake got a long really well with Kalena, even if she is a girl. :) Tyler and Jake both loved helping in Grandma's garden, including Picking Huckleberries for a pie, which wasn't quite as fabulous as we thought it would be...digging potatoes, picking raspberries, strawberries, lettuce and sweet peas.

We took some long breaks during the drive, stopping for lunch and some football and Frisbee tossing.

All in all it was an amazing trip, we were so proud of the kids and how great they were. We feel like we've finally gotten the road trip thing down to a science without having to rely on a TV to keep everyone happy.

4th of July

4th of July was a blast at out house! We had an amazing BBQ complete with a fire and smores afterwards in my new fire pit. We had great fireworks, with I might add, a fabulous soundtrack with everything from Jimi Hendrix to Bruce Springstein. We took the opportunity to take some family pictures since all the grandkids were in one place!



Here's just the grandkids with my parents.

This one kind of weirded me out! It looks just like last year, I think I might actually find last years and stick it on here for comparisons...

Here's Jake in girl-cousin heaven. He loved all the attention!

We also had cake as an early birthday celebration for me, it was really, really nice to have my family all with me and celebrating my birthday. I love you guys! Thank you!

A Shout out!

Alright everyone, I know I have been amazingly absent from your posts, and amazingly absent from mine too come to think about it.... but I need a little help!

4th of July is my families official holiday. From my dad down to the youngest grandkid (who currently resides in my sister in laws belly) we are patriots and we love to party this holiday up. However, in years past we have had trouble finding the perfect music for the occasion. An Occasion with BBQ's, slip n' slides and firewords needs just the right sort of thing, and I'm determined to have it this year.

So what I'm asking you, is for your best, all-american, good ol' boy music. I'm riding on the lines of Born in the U.S.A. by Bruce and Sweet home Alabama, so anything similar is welcome. Heck, anything is welcome, I have no problem trying new stuff!

Thank you to all who contribute!