I've Finally Canned My Own Peaches!!

Last year I really wanted to can some peaches, especially when everyone around me was doing them but with the construction of our add on I wasn't able to do it. So I was able to get a bucket of peaches from my sister in law, who got them from my mother in law's tree. I called up my grandma on Saturday and asked if she'd come over today to teach me how to can peaches and that's just what we did. It's been a busy morning! With running to the store for canning supplies, trying to do all the canning, kids wanting to help and then in between I had to feed the kids lunch and then race Nikki off to her bus stop to go to school. Oh and then talk to my hubby and feed baby when I got back. Thank goodness Grandma was here!! It would've been very difficult without her. Maybe I'll can some more and make some peach jam when I get some more peaches. Yum!! My head was spinning when we did it this morning so I'll definitely have to have help again.

Don't they look delicious?? (if I do say so myself)

My baby girl started school!

I can still hardly believe that Nicole is old enough to be starting school. And today it finally happened. The first day of Kindergarten. I have to admit I was nervous up until the bus picked her up. Then I got a little nervous again when I went to pick her up after school because I'm new at this and not really sure what I'm doing. But it all turned out alright in the end and I didn't even cry. Well, I didn't but Garrett sure did! He tried to climb up on the bus with Nikki and as soon as I grabbed him off the bus steps he started bawling. It was so sad. He cried for at least 20 minutes. I tried to bribe him with a popsicle or a cookie or to play a game with mommy but nothing would work.....until I asked if he wanted to go play with Alex, his cousin. That calmed him down a little and then I called up Michelle to see if we could come over. So that made him happy that he got to play with his cousin. Can't wait to see how he reacts tomorrow when she gets on the bus again, yikes!

Here she is ready to go to the bus stop and Garrett anxious to go too.

Jack waiting at the bus stop, which is conveniently only two houses away from ours on the corner of the two intersecting streets. I brought him a toy to play with but he was having more fun with his feet.

Can you tell she's excited? She got on so fast I couldn't even get a picture of her next to the bus or a video of her getting on. But the bus driver paused to let me take a picture.

I at least got a picture of the bus before she took off.

This is Nikki's first homework assignment (before school even started). When we went to orientation yesterday they handed out these paper dolls for the kids to decorate however they want and they will hang them up at school. Nikki was so excited to do it she wanted to start as soon as we got home. We both had a good time working on it together. We cut out fabric for the skirt and shirt and glued them on. Then she picked out a button for the shirt and beads for a necklace and bracelet. And she colored everything else. Oh, and the thing she colored on the arm is a tattoo. I was a little shocked. "What? Why did you put a tattoo on her?" She says "Because it's pretty". Then I said "Well as long as it is a washable one", lol. Don't know where she got that idea.

The most exciting thing for Nikki today that she did at school was that she discovered how to push herself on the swings using her legs. She kept telling me over and over how she can swing by herself now. Then I got a video of her doing it on our swing set at home. Yay!! I don't have to push her anymore :)

Learning to sit up

Lately I have been working here and there with Jack on learning to sit up. He's getting pretty good but once he figured out he had something behind him to catch him he just kept falling back after I would sit him up again.

In case you're wondering what's he's holding it's a little rubber pony. He enjoyed chewing on that because it also squeaked a little each time he bit down.

I bought this shirt for......FREE!

Last week I got a $10 gift card in the mail with Kohl's advertisement saying that it could be used on anything in the store. So yesterday after I dropped off my 2 older kids at playgroup at Michelle's I decided to go shopping to check out the clearance racks at Kohl's. I happened to find this shirt and wasn't even sure it would fit me but decided to try it on anyway. It fit perfectly and I love it! And it was on clearance for $8, originally priced at $40! $10 gift card + $8 shirt = FREE shirt! I didn't have to pay 1 cent. Woo hoo!!! I'm going to have to do this more often. I was also so glad to find a nicer shirt to wear that didn't look like a t-shirt. And better yet, it's modest so I don't have to wear a shirt underneath and it's nice and light weight. I love it!

Baby feeding time

When Garrett saw me feeding Jack some rice cereal he decided that he needed to feed his baby too.

This is to show that Garrett wanted to be doing the exact same thing as me. I was sitting on a chair in front of Jack and so Garrett wanted to do the same with his baby.

Don't under estimate babies

This afternoon I was feeding Jack some rice cereal. He didn't eat very much before I wanted to get him some water. I left the bowl of cereal on the edge of the tray because I didn't think he could reach that far yet. Silly me, what was I thinking? So as I was returning from filling up Jack's sippy cup with water I turn to see him holding the bowl up to his face. It reminded me of Beast on "Beauty and the Beast" trying to learn how to eat. I just laughed because when I took the bowl away he had a little white beard. I love those kinds of moments :)

Family Fun Night

This past Wednesday evening was our community fun night at the civic center where everything was free except the food. It was a lot of fun for the kids and a lot of work for me but worth it!

Thank goodness I had my parents there to help me. My dad carried Jack the whole evening. Thank you so much Dad!! I had carried him when I first got there but I didn't realize how heavy he was.

There were lots of inflatables! This was the best one for Garrett. He loved it.

There was cotton candy for 75 cents a bag ($3 at a diff stand, I think I'll take the cheaper one)

There were 2 Disney princesses. Here is Sleeping Beauty and there was also Cinderella. Nikki got pictures with both.

And there was a super hero, Batman! Garrett wasn't too sure about standing next to him. As soon as we were finished taking pictures he just stood there and held his hands up for someone to get him, as if he were afraid to move, lol. So cute.

There were yummy snow cones.....

And a petting zoo.....

And train rides!

There were also dancing performances, music, and a lot more. We just didn't have time to do everything. It was great though! Needless to say, we were all exhausted by the time we got home....or at least I was :)

Family Photos & Airport Goodbyes

This morning we said goodbye to Curtis again. I decided this time I would not linger too long. The longer I stay the more likely I am to cry. So I stayed long enough for him to get his bags checked in and to take a few pictures and then left. No, I did not cry this time. I just have to keep thinking positive and concentrate on other things besides him leaving.

Yesterday we had Curtis's sister Shauna come over to our house and take some family pictures in our back yard on the trampoline. The one I liked the best is our new title photo at the top.

The next time Curtis comes home should be right before Thanksgiving and we may end up spending Thanksgiving in Utah because we are trying to get Garrett's 3rd and final surgery scheduled for right after Thanksgiving and hopefully it will be in Utah and not somewhere else. Our nurse informed us that his usual surgeon is on medical leave and not at Primary Children's anymore and that the location might change for where the surgery will be. Garrett will have a doctor appointment the beginning of September and then we'll know for sure when we talk to his doctor.

In the meantime now it's time for me to do my first school shopping for Nicole as she starts Kindergarten in just a few short weeks. And so it begins..... Oh my gosh! I can't believe it!! And I can't believe I have nieces and nephews who are in high school and turning dating age! Where did the time go?