I feel like a domestic diva!

This year I decided to can peaches, pears and tomatoes. My kids went through the pears that we canned last year like crazy. I always kept that "last jar" on the shelf because I couldn't part with it. Silly I know. Anyways, so this year I decided to can more!! Thanks to my wonderful husband we really made out great with peaches and pears! Unfortunately the peaches I got weren't the best and when I opened the boxes had to toss some of them:( But with the other peaches that I couldn't can because they were a little too soft, I made freezer jam! YUM YUM. So we have enjoyed having that. It was a lot of fun canning with my husband. It was great to visit and he was so awesome to stay up with me into the late hours of the night so that I wouldn't be even later going to bed. I sure am lucky to have such an awesome husband! The tomatoes this year came from some fun picking out at a place that gives them to you for a lot cheaper if you pick them yourself. So, a couple of friends and I went and picked tomatoes one day and canned the next at my house! We had a great time even if we did smell up the whole house. The kids played and we canned. It was a lot of fun. Here are some pictures of the kiddos enjoying fresh fruit before I canned and also Madie getting into the tomatoes...she had fun! I took pictures of the stuff I canned, but I don't have any of the peaches. I thought I had gotten some, but I must not have...oops.

Sleepy time or meal time...or both

When my sister was here visiting we had gotten back from church and starting eating lunch. Madie aparently was ready for the nap part a little sooner than later. The older kids thought it was the funniest thing and I have to admit I couldn't resist getting out the video camera! I promise we took her out and put her down for a nap right after the camera went off. You have to admit though, it's pretty darn cute!!

Updates...

I'm trying to update my blog and get caught up as best as I can, but I want the posts to be dated close to when they occured and since I'm behind, there will be some posts that won't pop up as recent. I've currently updated Cailee's birthday party (dated July 16th) and Independance Day (dated July 4th). This is a great way to journal and I'd like to keep them in order of when they happened!

The "Island" Makeover

This summer...

In our backyard we have what we call an "Island" where we have huge shade trees in the center of our yard. The wood that surrounds it was rotting really bad an exposing large nails and we felt like it was time for a makeover. So Blake mostly and I redid the wood and I think it turned out great! I'm sure our neighbors were glad when the project was over (as were we) so they wouldn't have to hear the hammering anymore. The nails we used were more like stakes, infact, they may be called stakes, I don't really know. I think it just turned out beautiful!! We are so happy with it. We also added fun solar lights and a fun lamp post light to the center and have enjoyed a few nights sitting on the patio with the lights on. It sure has added a new fun dimension to the backyard!