~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!!!

~The Words of Dax~

{In the Bath Tub}

Mom: "Dax hurry and grab that bar of soap out of the water please."
Dax: "Too late, it already resolved."

{Working with Gramps on the Farm}
Dax: "Grandpa, I have a Dad at my home now, so you can be my Uncle. I do not have one of those."
Grandpa: "How about I still be your Grandpa?"
Dax: "Okay"

{Driving to Work/Daycare this Morning} - Trying to figure out full names and middle names.
Dax: "So Mom, are you a Chad too?"
Mom: "No, I am a Jo."
Dax: "What is all of your name?"
Mom: "It is Katie Jo....?"
Dax: "Katie Jo Mom!?"
Mom: "Katie Jo Anderson"
Dax: "Oh yeah, you are a Chad too."

{Driving Home from Work/Daycare One Afternoon}
Dax: "Guess what mom, I know the king of all swearwords."
Mom: "Oh you do huh? What is it?"
Dax get really close and whispers in my ear, "Crap!"
Mom; "Oh yep, we better not say that word anymore." ;)

Such a smart, innocent little thing! Love him!

Me and My Love

Just wanted to share this cute picture of me and my handsome man!

MAN I love him!!!

Father's Day

Saturday before Father's Day we went for a long fun ride with Larry's Dad, his wife Dee Dee and their kids Ty and Summer. It was a good day :)

All about DAXC BOY!!!

I have always heard people say how fast your children grow up, but you never understand how fast they truly do until you have your own!!! And holy tamole, my little man is becoming a big boy. I love it and hate it at the same time. He is so stinkin' fun and smart. He is my best friend and thinks that I am pretty awesome, I know that it will not last long and pretty soon I will be an embarassment to him. I DO NOT want that time to come. I have made him promise me that I will always be his best friend and his favorite person to hang out with. He promises now, but I have a feeling that will change WAY to soon.

2 BIG things have happend for Dax the last few months:

First - He graduated from Pre-School!!!!

 Dax and his friend Gavin

 Miss Mya and Dax. They have been friends their ENTIRE lifes :)

 My handsome BIG Boy!

Pre-School Graduate!!!

Next step in life, KINDERGARTEN!

Second - He turned 5!

There is an awesome outdoor pool about 40 miles away in Manti. Everyone had told us it was way awesome and I had been wanting to take the kids there. Dax's birthday was on a Monday, so I took the day off and spent it with the kiddos :) It was a fun day for us all. We went and visited everyone at their works, then we went to McDonald's and had lunch and played. We went to the Lion's Park and played for a bit and then headed to the Manti Pool. It was a hot day and perfect for a cool dip in the pool.

 Dax and Ty

 Miss Mya

 Brylee Ann

 Bronsen and Dax

 Mya Zoie and Josie

 The Birthday Boy himself :)

 A Spiderman Transformer - what more could you want in life!?!

 Dax got to pick out his own bike for his birthday present from Larry and I

 Brons

DaxC

What an amazing adventure my handsome little 5 year old has taken me on. I count my blessings everyday for him and the life we have.