Canning!

Growing up I loved to help my mom do her canning. I didn't get to do a lot because she didn't want me to get hurt, or probably really didn't want me to get in her way. As I got older she didn't can as much as she used to. I have learned that I didn't pay attention as much as I should have. After I got married she helped my do Lasagna sauce and Jam so I feel pretty confident with those.

I love dill pickles especially the ones my mom made growing up. This year I decided I wanted to do pickles so with a lot of my sisters help on Tuesday we canned some dill pickles. Today I am doing Lasagna sauce. It is exciting to me that I can actually do this myself, well mostly. Andrea has been a really big help. Thanks Andrea for everything!

Gretchen's 2nd Birthday!!!

Yesterday was Gretchen's 2nd Birthday!!! Chad was out of town on her actual birthday so we celebrated it on Saturday.

She got a bike just her size. That is all she ever wants is a bike. Now that we have it she is a little leery, but we are working on that. A older 4 year old brother scared her and told her she is going to fall so she doesn't want to get on it. Then Saturday afternoon we went to the Treehouse museum. Gretchen wouldn't dress up though so I think I got way more pictures of Easton.

She loves Cinderella or lella so I made her a crown cake.(thanks Aunt Andrea)

On her actual birthday I didn't take to many pictures. Oops!

We went to our weekly summer movie and she fell asleep on aunt Andrea. Then we went back to Aunt Andreas and she played while I canned, another post will be coming about that in the near future. She got some food and dishes from her cousins and then some friends brought her a Cinderella doll. Then we went to a bridal shower and then sang to her and had some cupcakes.

Water

Yesterday at Target we found some water shooter things in the dollar section. Of course I gave in and bought each kid on. I am a sucker for the dollar section. I hope my kids don't figure that out to soon. Well they both love them I just fill up a bucket of water and they play outside with them for an hour or until Gretchen dumps out the bucket three times then they have to come in.

Yesterday Gretchen didn't have her suit on and just got in the bucket with her clothes on so today we decided to put a suit on.

Good times!

My friend Marietta invited my kids over to play in her fun backyard. She has a huge slide from her deck, Easton loved it but he went so fast that he landed flat on his face almost every time. Marietta has lots of fun toys for the kids to play on and both Gretchen and Easton were in heaven. They didn't know what to play on and just kept moving from one thing to the next.

Heritage Days

This week where we live has had its annual heritage days!! On Thursday night we went and had a dutch oven dinner in the park and listened to a little music. Saturday morning I woke up bright and early and jogged in a 5K. I love to run in races because when you finish you just feel good. Well usually anyway. I haven't ran to train for this race and thought I just might die at the end. I didn't of course and still would like to run in some more races. The race started way late so I got finished and we had breakfast and then headed to the parade. The kids came home with a ton of candy
After the parade we went home for a while and then we decided to go to the park and see what was going on. It was super hot so we got a snow cone. I love snow cones!

Easton and Chad sharing there snow cone!

This is mine and Gretchen's snow cone!

It was really hot and we told the kids that they could do one ride so we decided to go home and come back after dinner when it would be a little cooler, or we were hoping. We watched a Hypnotist show. Easton thought it was pretty entertaining. He sat and watched the whole thing.

The rides were incredibly expensive so we decided to let them go on this blow up slide thing. Gretchen was a little stinker she went up and wouldn't come down I had to go get her.

We came home got PJ's on and then watched the firework show from our front yard. Gretchen watched the first little bit and then fell asleep. It was so nice to be able to walk in our house and put her to bed.

Is this Normal?

This morning I picked up the phone and dialed my moms work number. Yeah my mom has been gone for almost 4 years. Shouldn't this not be happening any more? I just needed to ask her a question. I haven't actually picked up the phone and dialed the number for a really really long time. It is crazy I don't cry and miss my mom every day, I do think about her at least once a day probably though. So this seemed out of the blue to me. The weird thing is about an hour after I attempted to call her I was cleaning and I found a letter she had written me a few years ago. I do wish I could talk to her and ask her a few questions but I know I can't. I just need to continue to live life and stay strong to the Lord so that one day I can see and talk to her again.

Cherry Hill

We went to Cherry Hill yesterday with Andrea and her kids. Easton has been before but Gretchen hadn't.

This was Gretchen's first time down the slide. She wasn't so sure at first the water was pretty cold. She did warm up though and really enjoyed going down the slide.
Kendall

Easton

Charly & Easton
Gretchen

Noelle, Charly, Kendall


Easton loves his floaters!

Marshal

I think spending a day at a water park is such a good idea Easton didn't wake up until 8am. That is amazing. He could go to bed at midnight and still wake up at 6ish. So I was super happy that I got to sleep in a little bit.

Thanks Andrea for letting us tag a long.

Crystal Hot Springs

This year chad and I were in charge of his families reunion. We decided to have it at Crystal Hot Springs. We swam, ate, talked and had a good time. We are glad that we don't have to plan another reunion for 7 more years.

The Hydro tube slide was a hit with the older ones. Easton went down twice and told me he loved it but wouldn't go down anymore then twice so I don't know that he really loved it. I didn't go down but as a little girl I loved those slides.

Here are just a few random shots of the kids swimming. Gretchen loved the water and both her and Easton were getting pretty brave jumping off the edge.

Whats camping with out making some s'mores. Chad is a dang good s'more maker. Gretchen gave her s'more to her grandma and had chocolate instead.

After s'more's Jennica, Mckayla, Easton, Mason all went sniper hunting. It was hilarious! Because it was getting dark the pictures didn't work out. They only saw one though which was pretty disappointing to Easton he wanted to see more.

It was a fun weekend and glad everyone could come.

4th of July

Here is what we did on our 4th of July!

We went to a Parade and placed our hands on our hearts as the flag went past.

We waived our flags!

We waited for the candy to be thrown!

Then we went home to mow the lawn, to play in the sprinkler, take naps, and eat dinner.

We played a few rounds of Go Fish with our cousins!

We stuffed our faces with all sorts of junk.
We jumped and played with our cousins!(sorry Marsh)
We attempted to get a family picture.
We did a few boxes of Sparklers!

Then we watched the fireworks! Gretchen thought they were pretty cool. I think last year she fell asleep before they started.

We had a good fourth and I am very grateful that I live in this country and that I have the freedoms I have.

I Want to Be Like Ike!

I Want To Be Like (Uncle) Ike!!

Easton got his hair buzzed yesterday and I think he looks like Uncle Ike! Easton thinks it is pretty cool to look like uncle Ike.

Chalk & Sprinkler

We bought the ball sprinkler and after 3 uses it broke. Chad and probably Easton were fine with not purchasing something else and just using the hose or the regular sprinklers, Gretchen has absolutely no desire to get in the water so she was fine also. I on the other hand felt that Easton needed something else but I didn't want to spend a ton of money so today when we went to Walmart we got a new one for $5. Easton wasn't that fond of it because it was a purple flower. I have to say I thought it was cool and sometimes wish I could put on a suit and run through it with him.

Gretchen played with chalk and the doorbell. She learned that if you got up on the little ledge she could reach the doorbell, she also learned she didn't realize how to get down. Easton thought he needed to wear his sunglasses because on the sprinkler package the kids playing in the water had them on.