~FaLL~

I love Fall!! But I have to say it takes me a few weeks to get over the fact that yet another Summer is gone and another long Winter is approaching. Once I get that out of the way though, I am excited! I love the smells, the colors, the foods, the Holidays, the together time and the warm, fuzzy feeling :) Yum!

To start our Fall off, I have been bottling! My Grandparents have a huge, BEAUTIFUL garden and it is plentiful in many things - tomatoes, onions, corn, cucumbers, squash, peppers {of many kinds}, beats, beans, rubarb, and not to mention the fruit trees - apple, peach and apricot! My Parents also have a few apple trees that have TONS and TONS of delicious apples. I have picked 5 or 6 five gallon buckets full and so has my family and you cannot even tell it has been touched.

I have been so blessed to have Grandparents and Parents that work hard and provide for us. And my Mom and Grandma have taught me so much about bottling and preserving. Everything is getting too hard for my Grandma and she just cannot do what she used to be able to. And my Mom has had a bad back this last month and she cannot do anything either. So... I decided I would take care of the bottling this year. I enjoy it and am happy I have the knowledge and ability to do it.

My Grandparents and I made 24 jars of these gorgeous peaches!

6 jars of pickles, 3 batches of dried apples, 30 jars of tomato juice and 36 pints of salsa!

And I still have a box of tomato's to make stewed tomato's with. I have a feeling I will be all bottled out soon.

{{BACK TO SCHOOL}}

This year I had very mixed emotions with school starting. The kids truly need a schedule and do much better when they are going to school and getting good bedtimes. It is really hard to get in the swing of things again though, for Momma and the kiddo's! And the part that has caused me lots of stress, anxiety and tears... my BABY started All-Day Kindergarten, All-Day. That is 8 - 3 everyday, school lunch and 3 recesses! The whole Shebang!!! And wouldn't you know, he is doing absolutely great! I may or may not have been the crazy Mother that sits across the street to watch him on the playground. And if I did happen to do that, it was only for a day or 2, because if you know Dax at all he is extremely independent and was JUST FINE. Which makes me so happy and proud of him, yet so sad at the same time because I know that he is growing up. And before I know it he will be in High School and College! So have any of you tried the brick/rock trick? Ya know, put a rock on their head so they stop growing up?!? I do not think it is a bad idea at all ;)

I just have one question!

 When did this red-headed baby of mine...

 that was so little and needed his Mommy all the time....

 become this big boy.....

that goes to Kindergarten All-Day?!?!?

Brylee Ann is a Big First Grader! And I am pretty sure she is the cutest one in the County =)

  Bronsen Larry is in Third Grade and is most definatly one of the smartest, coolest 3rd Graders around!

Dax Chad is in Kindergarten! And I know he is the the most handsome thing to hit Ashman Elementary ever!

Here is to a great school year and a house full of the 3 smartest kids I know!

Family Pics 2012

I love getting family pictures done. I try to do it at least once a year. It is a lot of work, with planning outfits and getting everyone ready. After 2 hours of getting everyone dressed and done up, we headed out to get the pictures and it was windy and rainy! I was having some major anxiety. Luckily, by the time we got to the farm and got going, it died down and was perfect. I think the pics are pretty perfect too =)

Here are a few!

We really have the cutest kids ever! And the pics turned out great (minus the chubby girl with dark hair - GRRRR)!

Love my family!!!