All In a Day's(or two) Work or What The Heck Was I thinking?

So I have spent the last 2 days of my life canning peaches. Last week I did a bushel of pears, and since the peaches I like weren't ready yet, I decided to get another bushel over the weekend. I got a call Monday morning that they were picking peaches and that I needed to come get them immediately. I bought 3 bushel. They were ready to can that day. So I spent Monday night doing 49 quarts, and all day Tuesday doing that many more. But look what I accomplished in 24 hours!

I have 90 quarts of peaches all ready to go on the shelf so that we can enjoy them all year!

And now, I have to get those pears done immediately.

These are the ones that I did last week! 21 quarts, and 21+ more to go!

Adventure Base 100

On Saturday, we went to the South Towne Mall to visit Scouting's Adventure Base 100. It is a traveling activity that celebrates 100 years of scouting in the United States.

Les, smashing a commemorative penny.

Les enjoyed every minute of the activities even though we got there late and didn't get to participate in all of them.

Quilting & Stress Relief

Yesterday, Brian asked me to make a baby blanket for a friend that is going to have a baby any minute. I needed a break from life, and decided to get creative. I saw a really cute and easy example of a quilt that had been strip pieced, and decided that would be easy enough. It took me a lot longer than I had anticipated, but it felt good to be creative again. It didn't turn out as I had anticipated, but I loved it. I wish some of the finer details had finished nicer than they did, but overall, it was fun to do. And no one but me will ever critique it like that anyway.

Good luck with the new little one Kristen!

Amber and Another 5K

This year, Amber has chosen to race instead of play soccer. It has been a huge relief to us since last year was very stressful with all 3 kids playing. Saturday morning was one of her races. She did this one last year too.

She placed first place for girls in elementary school. WAY TO GO BER!

Soccer - Here We Go Again!

Les and Zak are both playing soccer again this year. I am always impressed by Les on the soccer field. He is an awesome goalie, but is also very good on offense as well. He is old enough now that he has referees, and the rules are really important now. On his first game as goalie, he stopped about 7 shots at the goal, but he also scored a goal on the other team. His games are getting more and more fun to watch as the boys skills are improving so much now.

Zak is still playing on the smallest field and only working on the very basic skills still. He missed the cutoff to be on an older team by just a few days. He is a full head taller than any other boys on the field, and he is fast. He gets the game, and sometimes I worry that he doesn't like playing with the smaller, younger kids, but he always has a good time at the games, and is quick to point out when he is faster or more knowledgeable than another player. (We'll work on humility next season!!)

This year, Brian decided to coach Zak's team. It is so basic compared to when he has coached Les and Amber that he was afraid that he wouldn't like it. He loves it because there is no stress. It is just a show up-have fun philosophy at this age.
So it is officially soccer season at our house. That means crazy, busy Saturdays. Our neighbor commented that we wear him out watching us come and go! But we love it! GO (green and maroon) DEVILS!

Happy Birthday Mom

Happy Birthday Mom!

I won't tell anyone that this one makes an even 60!

I love you!

Labor Day in Idaho

The last few years, we have gone to my cousin's house in south-eastern Idaho for various reasons. So this year, we decided to go for no reason at all. The boys planned a fishing trip, and my cousin had some fun things planned for the girls. We had a great time, and can't wait to do it again.

The catch of the day.

All of the fish were about 3 1/2 pounds. And Les called me on the drive back so excited to tell me he caught the biggest fish of the day! Caleb was excited to just get a turn to hold a fish. And Zak had a good time too. He and Caleb had to help each other reel in the fish because they were SO big! The girls made flower headbands. Amber's turned out really cute, and she got lots of compliments at school on Tuesday! All 3 boys with their fish! And the beautiful flowers in my Aunt's yard.

Antelope Island Balloon Stampede

Friday night Brian took the boys camping, so Amber and I had to find something fun to do. After checking out a few options, we found that Antelope Island was putting on their Hot Air Balloon Stampede. So off we went. The balloons were a little disappointing, but the kites were amazing and we had a lot of fun together.

There were professional kite fliers, and just any old person who wanted to fly their own kite.

As always, the buffalo were amazing.

And the sunset was beautiful.
When it was dark, they did the balloon glow.

We had a good time together.

Maybe we'll send the boys camping more often!

Peer Leader

On Friday, the 6th grade nominated 3 Peer Leaders (as close as our school gets to electing a student government) from every class. Amber was one of the 3 chosen from her class. She was sure that because of the other people running, that she wasn't going to get it. She came home SO excited. Congrats Ber! You'll do a great job.

My Baby is 6

Yesterday my baby boy turned 6! Unfortunately, I didn't make cake this time. In the last week, I have made cupcakes, brownies twice, & gingersnap cookies. I didn't have time or energy to make birthday cake too. And since we had cupcakes for his party, and leftover mint brownies, we put the candles in the brownies and sang to him. It's a good thing he is pretty easy going.

Zak, We love you. We love your happy disposition and your intense desire to choose the right. We love your laugh and the silly things you do. We love that you love to run and play and be active and that you love to eat fruit instead of treats. We love the way you focus so hard on your school work and on your play time. We love that you love to play by yourself and that you love to have lots of friends to play with. But most of all, we love being your parents.

Happy 6th birthday to my little man!

iRock

For Zak's birthday, we took the kids to iRock and to dinner. After we had been climbing for a little while, Zak told me that he had been nervous about climbing, but that it was easy and lots of fun! They all did really well, but lots of the grips were too far apart for Zak to get very far up the wall, but he had fun and kept going up and down and loving it.
Amber climbed and climbed, but never could make it all the way to the top.

And Les made it all the way to the top on his last climb. It was a long way up but he was SO determined to make it all the way.

Brian and I decided to just belay(sp?) the kids and not pay to climb. I know that you can't tell that from this picture. He had to give it a try. It didn't help that the kid who worked there was a former student and told him he had to. Oh well, I guess if you have permission from the guy in charge, it's OK...right?

We went to dinner at the Pizza factory and had the best chicken Alfredo pizza ever. I wish I knew how to make it. It truly was to die for, and I am craving it as I type. Zak was just commenting that he was totally stuffed when they brought him a huge sundae for his birthday. We were all stuffed, but it sure was a yummy treat to share. I wish I had taken a picture of both the pizza and the sundae. Yummy! What a fun night!

Piso Mojado Concert

Last weekend while we were watching my nephews, their dad (my brother) performed at Ogden's Acapellastock with his acapella group Piso Mojado, and at the Ogden Farmer's Market earlier that day.

They were really good. It was a fun show to watch.

Les & Cub Scouts

A few days ago, my nephew received his Arrow of Light award. His Cub leaders were wonderful, and invited Les to help with the program. Les was quite honored.

They also helped retire a flag that flew over Brian's old school. The Scout leader who did the retiring of the flag was kind enough to let us have the grommets. We gave one to Hayden, and one to Les. Brian & Les. Blair & Hayden and Zak Grandpa's scouts. Good Job Hayden.

Zak's Birthday Party

While my nephews were staying with us, and before Brian started back to school, we decided to have Zak's birthday party. He decided to go to the splash pad and have pizza with his friends. Unfortunately, it was quite a cool day, and so most of the kids didn't want to get wet, but they had fun running around and playing on the playground anyway.

Ya gotta love little boys. It doesn't matter where they are, there is no shame! My nephew just changed into his swimsuit and went to play! He left his underwear right on the ground.

Eating pizza & breadsticks.

Ty claims that he doesn't like pizza and was upset with us for choosing it for lunch.
Zak enjoyed having his friends there with him.

And he wanted chocolate mint cupcakes and Oreo ice cream.

The boys loved it!

We had SO much fun. Zak has great friends.

I love you buddy.

Breakfast in the Canyon

Before Brian's dad died, it was a tradition to go up the canyon and cook breakfast every summer. I think we did it once after he died, but we haven't done it for quite a while. So, this year, we decided it was time to start that tradition again.
Brian & Lynn did the cooking (see why I like to do this?)

And we all enjoyed eating.

And as Grammy always says, "It always tastes better in the mountains."

The kids also spent a few minutes fishing with Grandpa Lynn. I know that Amber caught a small one, but I don't remember if the boys did.

Annual Day in SLC

Every year we try to spend a day in Salt Lake just to spend a day as a family. Usually we don't spend much money, we just do lots of fun free things downtown. This year we had a free family pass to the Discovery Gateway. The kids loved it.

Then we spent a little time at the fountain at the Gateway.

There was a cool breeze and the water was cold, so they didn't last very long.

But they had lots of fun.

We also took a tour of the Conference Center. I didn't realize my kids had never seen the inside before. These pictures are taken from the gardens on the roof.