Canning 2013

Canning season has begun!  One of my favorite times of the year.  The weather is perfectly warm but not too hot.  The kids are getting ready to start school.  And all the fruits and veggies are ready to can!  We started off with corn this year.  We picked, husked, cut and bagged 40 dozen!  The girls were very helpful as were Grammie and Papa Beutler.

 Raspberry jam.  My favorite.  I don't make this very often but it is so easy and delicious!  And doesn't it look so pretty in the jars?

 Pickles.  My kids' favorite.

 Salsa.  A lot of work, but oh so worth it!

 Grape juice.  We were lucky enough to get so many grapes this year!  We ended up with 72 quarts of this yummy stuff!

 Whole tomatoes.  Always lovely to have these on my shelf.

 A canning season isn't complete without pickles and pears.  These will be gone in no time!

 My shelves are stocked.  Hopefully we make it to next year!

Wiggle Bikes

We bought these wiggle bikes at the beginning of the summer before we moved into the new house and thought the kids would have fun with them.  We didn't realize how much fun they would be and how perfect our unfinished basement would be to ride them.  The kids are down there almost everyday riding, racing, playing demolition derby and having fun with these wiggle bikes.  They are such a fun toy!

 Even Keen thinks he's big enough to ride and follows all the other kids as they go down to ride.  

Snow?

I have to remember that it's still September - because when I look outside it doesn't seem like it.  Snow?  Really?  I'm not ready for this yet!

Notes

I have left notes in Rease's backpack a couple of times this year just so she knows I'm thinking about her while she is gone to school.  I got this note on my nightstand one day before she left for school.  It's her note back to me to remind me that she loves me.  She is the sweetest girl!  

Triplets

We threw a shower for my little sister Hayley.  A few months ago she had a miscarriage and we were all so sad for her.  Then just a couple months later she found out she was pregnant again - yay!  It wasn't until she went in for her 10 week appointment that she found out she is not only having 1 baby, but 3 babies!  Triplets!  What?!?  We were all so shocked with the news and the thought of having 3 babies at a time!  She is doing great though!  Her official due date is in February but the doctor told her to plan on somewhere closer to December.  He is hoping she gets to 32 weeks which will be right before Christmas time.  We are so excited for these 3 little angels to join our family!

This picture was taken at her shower - Hayley and her friends from high school.  

Unicorn Rhen

On the days that Rhen doesn't go to preschool, she goes to the gym with us.  When I went in to pick her up one day I couldn't find her anywhere.  Turns out I wasn't looking for the right kid.  She was wearing this purple unicorn costume and I couldn't recognize her!  The teacher in the daycare told me that she wears this almost everyday.  It is so cute and funny!

Rease's Art

Rease has become a very good writer and loves to sound out whatever it is she's trying to spell.  She is always writing notes and coloring pictures for everyone.  So sweet!

Hiding in the Laundry

Liev loves to hide in the laundry when it's stacked in my room.  Sometimes I really don't know he's there - he blends right into the clothes!

Such fun!

Owwee

The kids and I met Josh for lunch at Taco Bell one afternoon.  We finished eating and Josh and I were just chatting before he headed back to work.  Of course Liev was running around keeping himself occupied.  Before we knew it, he was running past our table and just then tripped and fell right into the leg of the table next to us.  There were some tears shed when he fell but mostly just smiles after we got him all cleaned up.  The table did leave quite a mark!  Sweet little guy!

School Picture - 1st grade

Isn't Rease the cutest 1st grader?  I can't believe how grown up she is!  Rease has loved school so far and says her favorite part is eating lunch in the cafeteria.  She's at a great school and even better for me is that she walks/rides her bike to school with the neighbor kids.  It is ideal!  I love this girl!

Water Mess

One day after Liev woke up from his nap, he snuck into the bathroom where Keen was asleep in the pack and play.  Then got up on the counter and started throwing water into Keen's bed.  What a way to wake up right?  It was a big watery mess for me to clean up when I finally caught him.  Crazy boys!

Rhen starts preschool

This week it's Rhen's turn to start school.  She is going to a cute little preschool called Kinder Cottage just down the road from us.  Her friend Finn is in the class with her and she is excited to have him as her friend at school.  She looked super cute and was so excited to finally be able to go to school!

She was pretty quiet the morning I took her to school and I asked her if something was wrong.  She said to me, "mommy if I'm a little bit crabby it's because I'm just nervous to start school."  So that explained it.  She was a little nervous but her excitement outweighed that.  She ran up the path to school when she jumped out of the car and waved a quick goodbye.  I knew she would be fine and that she would love it!  Sure enough she got back from school and told me it was the "best day ever!"  So glad my girls love to learn.  We love you sweet Rhen!  

Boots

Liev has started trying to put his shoes on himself.  He's figured out that the only ones he can do all on his own are his snow boots.  So most days - even though it's blazing hot still - Liev is wearing his snow boots.  And some days, like this particular one, we get a special treat from him as he wears Rhen's pink snow boots.  

Rhen's Hair

I'm not sure how she does it, but this girl always manages to get her hair in a mess just minutes after it's done.  I had her hair in a simple elastic on the side ready for church and, sure enough, right before it was time to leave this is how it looks.  New fashion statement?  

Lucky Charms

Lately Liev has been going to the pantry and helping himself to the boxes of cereal throughout the day.  I find boxes in his bedroom, in the basement or anywhere he decides he wants to take them for a quick snack.  This particular Sunday, he brought the box out to the front room and started snacking while we watched The Prince of Egypt.  Before we knew it, the whole box was on the floor.  This is his look of, "what?  did I do something wrong?"

Might as well not let them go to waste...

Keen has this crazy sense of food and can usually tell when it's around and at his level.  He was over there in a second ready to snack along with his brother.

Jackpot!  Thanks Liev!

Gorilla Dance

I don't know when this started, but I haven't seen it until today.  This is the way Liev has started dancing.  Arms out to the side, legs apart, bouncing up and down.  He looks like a gorilla!  I couldn't keep from laughing, but he is all serious when he's dancing.  This is the real deal guys!

First Grade

It's hard to imagine that summer has come to an end - and that my girl is starting 1st Grade!!  What happened to the time?  

We went to meet Rease's teacher Mrs. Spain yesterday and tour around the school and little bit.  Rease is super stoked to be going to school all day long.  So excited to eat lunch at school!  She's also excited that she doesn't have to take a nap anymore.  I've always told my kids that they can stop taking naps when they are in school all day long.  So Rease has been counting down the days this week - "mom, only 3 more days of naps!"  

This is Rease by her desk at school.  

And what first day of school doesn't start out this way?  I did this as a kid every year!  (I love the backpack underneath the shirt with the sleeves through the straps.  Very creative.  Another thing not really visible in the picture is her bracelet wrapped around one of the sleeves and necklace up at the neckline.  She has it all figured out!)

Rease has a morning routine since we've moved into the new house.  She gets up a little before 7:00 and waits outside on the porch for her dad to get home from the gym.  She's our early riser and is sitting waiting for him most mornings.  Today was no exception.  Dressed in all her stuff, she was waiting as Josh pulled into the driveway.

After a breakfast of French Toast (her choice) we packed up to take her to school.  Luckily we live so close to her school that she can walk.  The boys and I walked with her today but she will walk with the neighborhood kids the other days.  

Liev wanted to ride his scooter and actually did pretty good until about halfway back - then was tired and mom had to carry it for him.  

Rease looking all grown up in front of her school.  She is such a sweet girl and gave me a big hug and kiss before she ran off to play before the bell rang.  

She found her friend Izzy before class started and I grabbed this cute pic of the 2 of them.  

I love this sweet girl of mine.  I would be lying if I said I didn't shed some tears as the boys and I walked away from the school.  I'm going to miss this girl during the day but am so proud of her!  Have a great year in 1st Grade!

Messy Eater

Keen loves food as you can tell by his chubbiness.  But he also loves to make a mess while eating it.  A fair amount gets into his mouth, but there is a definite pathway of food all around him when he's done eating too.  

 And plenty of leftovers on this adorable face!

Best of Friends

Liev and Canyon have become the best of friends.  Everyday Liev asks when we are going to see "Tanyon."  They luckily get to see each other almost everyday and love playing together.  Hayley took these pictures of the two of them one day while playing at her house.  Don't they look so cute?  Like little old men sitting out on the porch.  

 Sitting on the same toy, in the same position.  These two are just too cute!

Lipstick and purple marker

I keep thinking that Liev will grow out of playing with the girls stuff and just want to play with his boy toys.  But every once in a while I still catch him doing the things he's seen the girls do everyday.  Purple marker is their favorite (and his by the way he colored all over himself!) And Liev has learned to carefully apply make-up just like they do.  Don't get me wrong, this guy is all boy.  Rocks, dirt, trucks, jumping, climbing and all.  But once in a while it's ok to be in touch with your sensitive side too, right?