Apples, Apples, Apples: wine crisp, state fair, & red baron.

We've picked this tree over & over again. This little red baron is a generous little fella. 

I love how they grow in clusters. 

My view of my apple catchers. Felicity always snitches one. 

A little cinnamon and here come the apple chips. 

Amazing: 22 apples fit into a Tupperware container and 21 apples don't even fill this jar.

I'm hoping to learn how to make apple cider and apple vinegar out of the peelings. We'll see!

On this date: 10/11/2015 80*+

Whiter Whites

Has it come to this? I'm blogging about laundry? Yes. My girlfriend recommended I use this after complaining I wanted whiter whites w/o using bleach. Just 2 drops in a few oz of water in the softener cycle works wonders. Love this bluing!!

Fall Gardening

Greenhouses have everything 40% off in the fall. Since we have 3 beautiful apple trees and one sad, lonely plum tree I purchased a plum tree. Plum trees need to pollinate one another and they need different breeds to do so. 

We also planted 3 raspberry bushes, 4 blueberry, and 6 everbearing strawberry plants. My little helpers love to dig in the dirt. 

Our apple trees are: wine crisp, state fair, & Red Baron. And they produce in that order, which is cool bc then we don't get dumped on with apples. My fav is the wine crisp because they are blood red with soft flesh and super sweet flavor. 

Potato Play Toy

For some reason Fizz finds my 10# sack of potatoes fun. She drags them around the house then tries to put them in a box. I'm going to be known as the mom who gave her kid potatoes to play with as a toddler.  "We was so poor we played with  potatoes. And we loved it!"

The Joy of the Lord is My Strength

Motherhood is the hardest job I've ever had in my life. Granted I haven't lived that long, but I've had many jobs. At least the rest I could quit, not that I did but there was always an out. 

I love my kids, I do. But I can definitely understand why mom used to tell me that great grandma would sometimes pull her apron over her head (in the middle of her kitchen) and have some quiet time to herself to pray. She had 9 or so kids. I have 2. And the 4 yo is in school 3x/wk. 

In transitioning from full time therapist to full time SAH (stay at home) I find myself doubting my capabilities. Am I good enough? At work they give you employee reviews, raises, atta boys, & the families and patients pour praises on you for the good work you have done...even when you remind them it was the patient that did the hard work. You SEE that you are doing well.  Motherhood doesn't give these atta boys, unless you look for them. They're in my daughter tying her own shoes, cleaning up her dishes, feeding her fish, learning independence. It's in my baby's toilet training, booboos healed with magic mommy kisses, nighttime snuggles, or asking for "one more" when you sing them their goodnight song. 

I'm doing a good job, the best I can. I'm reading a motherhood book by Dr. Meg Meeker ... When I take time out for me. And she drills it home to take care of ourselves ... have girl friends. Which is slowly coming for me moving to a new town.  

Until then I will continue the nighttime snuggles, reread the recent library books, sweep the many crumbs off the floor, play kickball in the back yard, & keep looking for the descreet atta moms. God keeps reminding me to be a servant to all. 

Lake Bemidji State Park

Moo! Trunk Show

Felicity & I went to our library and met the author & illustrator or the book "Moo!" They even did a puppet show & signed books afterwards. The library gave us a free copy the day before at the library reading circle. Poor Elizabeth was in school, but is getting a kick out of the book. The place was packed. This is their 58/59 library tours. Lots of free-bes & lots of fun!  My busy-body even stayed still to soak it all in today. 

Innocence

This is a while back but I still want to journal the memory:

The girls and I were in the van. I was parked and someone had sent me a pic of my dad, a beautiful one I hadn't seen in a while. Elizabeth is watching me from her seat. I zoom in on the picture and take a pic of it w/ my smart phone. Well when I do this the phone makes the camera "flash" noise. Elizabeth asks me what I'm taking a picture of. Out of ignorance I tell her quickly, "my dad". I'll never forget how she then snaps to attention and starts looking through every window of the van to catch a glimpse of me dad. "Where is he?" She asks hurriedly.  "Oh honey, I'm just taking a picture of a picture on my phone." And I show her. She sits back, obviously disappointed, as am I. For there are no more pictures, no more hugs, no more laughs around the fire pit...until we meet again. 

#2 is in Her Big Girl Bed for 1 Wk Now!

Pretending to sleep when be woken in the wee morning hours. 

The crib all disassembled and ready for removal. My baby is growing up too fast.

Elizabeth's First homework

E's first homework was actually mine as the teacher asked the parents 10 questions as well as asking for a narrative on the back about something about your child. 

So I ask E what she wants to be when she grows up. This changes often but today she said, "a mom". Awe ;)

Then I ask her what makes her special. She says, "that Jesus loves me." AWE!!

My Oldest's First Day of School

Little sis wanted to photo bomb 

Tying her shoes all by herself!

She doesn't like me calling her my baby so this is my Oldest's first day of pre K. 

She will go MWFs all day. At first she was nervous but them at the end of the day asked when she could go back again. 

Wow! This past 4 years just flew by!!

Nighttime Routine

Felicity loves making a game out of having her shirt pulled off. Otherwise the process is torture to her. So I finally caught her as "Sister Felicity" as her neckhole pulls her face up. 

I'm currently listening to the little munchkin lie in her bed counting to 20 & kicking the bed rail when she is supposed to be going to sleep. 3 nights ago we pulled the side off of her crib so now it's a toddler bed. 

The days are long, but the years are short. 

Letters to Our Congressman & Senators

Years from now we may not remember why or that we did this, but recently Planned Parenthood has been caught on hidden cameras selling aborted babies and piecing them out for $60/organ. They even admit, in a letter to congress, to being more gentle with certain "tissues" to get more of a quality product. ARG!!! Disgusting! 

Our church gave us these packets & encouraged us to sign our own little note at the end. We prayed over them to encourage our congressmen to vote for what the people want and who they represent, not their own personal agenda. The kids and I even printed out a couple of Raegan & Suess pics we liked. 

Sleeping Beauties

It was tiring playing with Grandma & Papa last night, but well worth it!

Apple Picking Time!

Apples are beginning to fall off the trees. Time to pick!

Fun with Nails

I had a half an hour before our library group so I decided to paint my nails for fun. Polka dots were done easily with the use of a bobby pin. ( Boy my hands are showing their age!)

People used to ask me, "how do you spend so much time on your fingernails?" Well this only took me less than a half an hour including dry time. I'm not much of a TV watcher. And some of my coworkers used to watch 2 to 4 hours of TV a night. I think I found enough time to do a little something for myself once a week. ;)

Cutting, Splitting, & Planting as a Family

Gym Bin!!!

Emy, Ady, Felicity, & Elizabeth jumping on the giant air filled "raft" in front of rock climbing wall. It's a huge indoor park and gym for gymnastics. 

Jumping in the block foam 'swimming pool'.

After naps and dinner my gf from Hibbing was going from Crookston to Hibbing and stopped by for a play date. Miss these Guys!

Ceramic Pans take II

Earlier I posted about how much I liked the new ceramic pans. It was nonstick at first, but now I have to use a little bit of oil and my eggs still stick. I cook at a low-med temp so I know it's not too hot. I even followed the instructions and never put in the dishwasher. 

Would I buy again? Yes. Because I believe it is safer than Teflon, but I would be well aware that it is not long-term 100% nonstick. I have the GREEN+LIFE brand. 

Library Set Up

Still "setting up" I added a 3rd row to our, thankfully very sturdy, bookcase and got our books organized.  I know I should be doing more outside work while it is nice and saving the indoor projects for a long winter, but since it has been 90*+ outside this past week, the coolness of the basement was very inviting.

Baby Otto Samuel Joins the Family

Baby OSB was born Tuesday 12/04/2015 @ 12:04 pm. 

The Great Outdoors

This little critter LOVES to be outside, even to help weed the dog kennel. 

First time with the pressure washer:

The brick walkway has been severely neglected for years and dirt & moss had collected between the stones. I took the pressure washer to them and was amazed at how much crud was in AND on them as the bricks just brightened up before my eyes. 

No one told me there would be so much splash-back. I had to rinse down the house windows, my white van, and myself down afterwards. I was covered!!! From head to toe!

After:  I gave it the night to dry and did a little touch ups here and there. A little pressure washing goes a long way! And after cleaning up the rocks and trimming the gold mound spirea the walkway looks fairly descent. 

David's 37th birthday

David's birthday was spend with him and his ladies for dinner at Buffalo Wild Wings (yum!), then games at the mall arcade, walk around town, Gander Mtn, then home for brownies and ice cream then presents. 

I already took the pics off my phone to back it up onto my computer, but we had a blast. E's favorite game was when you use the mallet to hit the popping out alligators. E liked the brownies. David liked it al and I enjoyed seeing my girls take pride in their cars & gifts for daddy.