2nd week of school

Yippie, we made it through the 1st week of school and are onto the 2nd. Football is going, piano is starting, this weeks homework is half way done, peaches and pears are canned for this year, one chair has been recoverd and 3 left to go, getting ready to do driveway and septic system (double yippie), preschool starts tomorrow, and on top of it all it feels like fall! My favorite time of the year FALL yes FALL is just around the corner. I love this weather and all the colors and smells.

This picture is from last year and I am so excited for this years trip to the Finch!

first day for A

Can it really be? Where did summmer go? Where did the warm weather go? And how can it be that my boy is in grade 3 already?

what is there something wrong?

Carli loves to do things like her big brothers! This is B's dress up outfit, Looks like she wants to go bug hunting too! Man I just love this guy. He brings such joy and fun into our home! He reminds me of the boys sometimes. I love it when he gets down on the floor with the kids and becomes one of them. I've never been very good at becoming and acting like a kid. Someone has to be the adult! Just after this pict was taken he was teasing me and trying to convince me that he put a bigger lift on my Jeep. I kept asking if he really did and he would reply with some silly justification of why it had to be done. The boys thought it was so funny! Did he? you ask... nope... such a tease! Even with the way he dresses! I did convince him that he should change his boots cause I thought it looked silly to wear boots and shorts. Perfectly ok for a little boy but a big boy? hmm ... you tell me

bugs... and beans

This is my latest picking from my garden. They are Royal Burgundy beans. When boiled in water they turn green which is kinda sad because they are so beautiful in this rich purple color. And this is Avery's new hobby. Nana got him a bug vaccume! This is his first bug, it is a Ten-lined June beetle or Watermelon Beetle. He started a bug journal to keep track of all the bugs he catches. Fun times in my home!

Just a quick note to all who are wondering, yes I'm feeling much better. It willl take a while to get my strength back and what not but thus far all is well. Thanks for all the prayers!

Something I never thought my boys would have...

I never thought my boys would have mohawks. Well the day has come... Daddy gave the hair cuts tonight as I put C to bed. Ave didn't get one just B. ( try to look past the the smore pie that is still all over his face)

mmmmmmmmmm chocolate crinkles!

One of my all time favorite cookies is the chocolate crinkle. I remember Mom making these after all of us kids were in bed. It's no wonder why she had to do that, they are delish. I made some today and the "boys" finished off a tray (10) of them (with a little help from me).

I also remember sneeking out of my bed at night and taking some of the warm cookies off the cooling racks when she wasn't watching.

So here's to chocolate crinkles and Mom (for trying to make them without us finishing them before they could be used for lunches the next day)

soo very good

Just finishing it off.

water, mud and what more mud...

Saturday we had a family day. It was long overdue. We headed to Idaho, spent some time down by the water, which is always a favorite of the boys. So many rocks and sticks to throw in we could have stayed for hours!



After our time at the lake we headed down the road ...
for some ...
fun in the mud?
OK so we started pretty clean, all was well

till we had to cross this stream.
Jer was wearing somewhat water resistant boots and I was just in shoes (nothing fit for walking through water). J decided that he would carry us all across. So up first were Carli and I. We got half way across the stream and I slipped off his back and got terribly wet anyway! Feet, bum and all.

Here he is bringing the boys across the stream.



After the stream crossing ...
the rest of the trail was full of mud puddles which of course you need to sit down in.
as shown here by Bo.
I have to say, after I was muddy and wet it was a lot more fun.
Just letting loose and playing in the puddles with the boys.

What a blast!

Carli was the only one who stayed clean.

This is a picture of the first stream we crossed.
As you can see it had some rocks to step on.
That made crossing a little easier.

These were my jeans after the ordeal.
That was not fun, driving home for an hour in wet pants.

Ah, sleeping boys after a long day of play!

I'd do it all again (mud and all) next weekend!