Scuba Certification

Adam is getting scuba certified with his family. It’s quality family time. He is excited about it. It’ll take a couple dives and he spent the last week reading a book and watching movies before hand as part of the class. Breezy sent me this picture. I am glad he gets to do something fun for him even if that means my weekends without him for a bit.

This girl loves her Daddy!

Every morning she has to give him loves bye bye. Every night when he pulls in the drive with his big vroom vroom truck she squeals and goes running to the door saying “Da da!” She loves her Daddy and I never want to forget it! 

Canning

More canning is getting done!

Woot!

2 batches of peach freezer jam!

Freeze dried tomatoes and peaches! 

14 quarts of tomato juice!

The plan for tomorrow is to make fresh salsa and start more tomatoes in the freeze dryer again! 

One of our peach trees is ready. I haven’t picked all the fruit because I need them to last til Labor Day. We just won’t have time tomorrow. Dayton’s fall soccer season starts, game time, yeah! Adam is finishing the basement plumbing with our neighbor Bryson Swaysey. I have the four kids and kindergarten stuff to prep. Adam is studying for his scuba classes he is taking with his Mom and Dad, bad timing, cool thing. He is getting scuba certified. Also a ward party tomorrow night, if we even make it. So ya.... peaches isn’t realistic for this weekend. I hope I don’t hate myself for waiting another week but we must. 

It’s a busy time of year. I’m grateful that apples and grapes aren’t til after the first freeze. About October usually. Whew! 

First Day of School

Dayton and Rachel had their first day of school today. Dayton has Mrs. Turnbow, 3rd grade. Rachel has Mrs. Berry, 1st grade. I am so proud of them! 

On Monday as FHE they each got a blessing for the new school year. I’m grateful for the priesthood to help us and enlighten our lives. 

Adam walked the big kids to school their first day and said they couldn’t wait to go. I love that tradition of ours that Dad gets a part. I cooked them a good hot breakfast of German Pancakes and juice to start them off. They both even packed their own home lunch today. Since I am back to teaching now they are going to need to be more independent. Typically they will sit at Tricia Schroeder’s house each morning 8:30-9 before they walk to school then walk with her girls. We are blessed with good neighbors to do that. The littles are going to Brittney Bradshaw four times a week and Grandma once a week. So far when I go to pick them up they don’t want to leave.

Of course everyone wanted a picture. Carter wore his backpack to grandmas, preschool starts next week for him. Vivian needed to carry her lunch box like the big kids so totes an empty one to Moms. Too funny! I just can’t get enough of these kids! 

I had my first day but in kindergarten it is just assessments. I’m so excited to start! It’s been fun getting to know my students.

I am glad I am just half day. By 12:35 I miss my babies. Today I picked them up and Vivian cried mama mama the whole way home. I think she was mostly tired but it’s been an adjustment for us all. Then each day I plan to read to and snuggle carter as his special time. I think this may be the biggest tender mercy we get from our new way of life. This third child needs the extra love.

Back to School Dates

As a tradition Mom takes the kids on a back to school date before school starts a new year. We go to dinner and buy their school supplies together. It’s one of the things I most look forward too. 

Dayton chose Chuck a Rama. He had a chicken leg and then treats. True to his nature. We bought his stuff quick then I sent him to soccer practice. He will be in third grade with Mrs. Turnbow at Mountainside. He is nervous about his teacher, if she is nice or mean. He is excited about recess, big surprise. Ha! Not. 

Rachel also chose Chuck a Rama. She actually went before D on her date but I guess they both love it. She ate a ton! She is a good eater and not picky. She is going to be in 1st grade with Mrs. Berry at Mountainside too. I am excited for her to go with her brother and all day. She is so ready! She said she was most nervous about making friends. I chuckled inside cause she is so outgoing. Interesting to hear what your kids say when you have them one on one. She is most excited for all day school and lunch. 

Carter went a couple days after the big kids, preschool doesn’t start til next week. He got a new Spider-Man backpack and a lei spy Keene donut with chocolate and sprinkles. Woot! He is most excited about his new speech teacher and going to school with Khloee Bradshaw his friend. Thanks buddy for such a fun date! 

Garden and Canning so far...

We planted 24 tomato plants and have gotten 3 bushels so far. The first I made into salsa. Yum! 24 pints should last us one year, I hope. I used my turkey pot over two burners and it actually worked awesome as a salsa pot. Win! 

The kids helped us picked them! Oh Vivian is hilarious. She took a big old bite out of a tomato and then wasn’t delighted when it a tomato. I think she expected something sweet. Ha!

We froze all our corn. We got 16 freezer bags, quart size, full. Plus we ate some fresh. We planted 3 rows, it always amazes me how little we get of corn each year. It is okay though. Adam was a super star and did it one night while I was getting my classroom ready.

Now today we picked two more bushel of tomatoes. I think we will start freeze drying them and see how many we can get through before they are mush. We are eating them fresh, hamburgers for dinner tonight and they will be yummy on them. It’s just SO many tomatoes to get through just us. I bet we end up juicing some. 

Our lettuce has done very well this year. Our zucchini are doing awesome! Our cucumbers are okay, I never pick them in time. The pumpkins are taking over the garden. Literally. Next year we need to plant them somewhere else. But we do have lots of them. Our watermelon were eaten by the dog. Grrr! The onions are still growing. Today was the first time I cut broccoli. This is new for us this year so I’ll cook it and see how it is. We waited too long to plant peas so those didn’t do well. It’s okay. Oh and our new chickens that hatched last spring are laying. So we have lots of eggs! Lots!!! I feel blessed. I never thought I’d be a “country girl” but I sure am. Today I plan to get some baking in before this next busy week since it’s back to school. 

Oh and Rachel planted her radish from Kindergarten in our garden and they grew! She was so proud!

And just because Vivie is cute here are fun pics!

Oh Vivian we all love you!!!! I can’t believe you will be 2 next month! Gasp! Stay little my girl! 

Pickleville Playhouse

As an end to summer I surprised Adam with a fun night away. Pickleville Playhouse in Bear Lake with a Juanito Bandito show and dinner afterward. Oh it was hilarious! So worth a long drive! T.J. Davis aka Juanito is awesome and so talented. It’s inspiring to see a family legacy live on. Plus the dinner was yummy too! Thanks for a fun night away babe! 

Bridal Shower for Alex

While Joe and Susan were in town we had a shower for Alex and Nate. They are due in November but we wanted Susan to be a part of the fun. Here are a few pics I got. We can’t wait to meet this baby!

Oh and Lisa had a baby boy July 30th, named Jace. I held him a lot at the shower. She was 8lbs 4 oz so chubby but his hair is light. He looks nothing like her other two kids. It’ll be fun to see how he turns out. He is a love! 

Bees Game

The kids read all summer with the KSL read today program. Each day they marked a dot off and it ran them around a baseball diamond. Once they hit homeplate on their reading chart we scanned them into Read Today and they mailed them each a packet of goodies. A pencil that changes colors, a new book, free McDonald happy meal coupon and two tickets to a SLC Bees Baseball game. They were all thrilled!

So this last Tuesday we went to the game. Well half of it. We stayed til 9pm, there was no way we were making it all innings. Of course Grandma Sue came too. I’m so proud of them for working hard toward a goal and earning this.