My first canning experience...

My WONDERFUL friends, Tammy & Michelle let me hop aboard this year for the canning season! I had no clue how to do it, so for 2 days, we canned like wild women and canned over 100 jars! We were tired afterwards (Michelle still has 2 bushels to can on Monday!), but it was a lot of fun to learn! I called Mom the first day and said, "I can do this, Mom" and she said, "Of course you can!" (her response to anything food/baking related). I was thrilled to walk away with my 28 beautiful jars and now am so excited for pears and applesause in the near future! I think I might have turned into a peach snob though, because I don't want to buy those awful store bought ones ever again! Although it is a lot of fun to do with friends, I could TOTALLY do this on my own! One day....

The dreaded Sex talk...

When we were driving home from my Dad's house a few weeks ago, we were listening to the radio when all of a sudden a little voice from the back asked, "What's sex?" (Tristin thought he heard it in the song, but it was actually the word accept.) Anyway, I sat there in shock wondering how to explain it to a 6 year old boy, of all people, that that dreaded word meant! In that moment I said a lightening fast prayer and asked God to help me. I started to explain it was something Heavenly Father designed for Mommy's and Daddy's, when Travis took over the conversation! How I was so thankful!! He gave the age apprioate discussion with no details and just talked about how it's what married people and animals do to make babies. blah, blah, blah. And that was that! Conversation done! I just sat there thinking, "What just happened?"
Anyway, this morning, a few minutes before 7:00 am, I was in making my bed when Tristin walked in with his airplane lego in hand. He causally stood and watched me and then started talking about Shrek, the movie. Out of the blue he started talking about the donkey and the "s" word he had said. I instantly thought he was referring to the a** word referring to a donkey, so I was about to talk about how sometimes a word has 2 meanings, and all that, when I figured out that wasn't the word he was talking about. At that point I was confused so I asked, "Buddy, you are allowed to repeat the word to me, you will not get in trouble, I just want to understand what you're talking about so I can explain it to you." He embaressedly lowered his head and said, "its what Mommy's and Daddy's do to make a baby." Well, great, I thought. How in the world did we go from talking about a donkey/ass to sex all in about 10 seconds!? So on went the conversation... the word he was talking about was "sexy", not the other 2 like I thought, so I eplained how sexy is a grown up way of saying a woman looks very beautiful, and it isn't the meaning of sex. He blurted out, "I know Mommy, I know. Daddy already told me A LOT about it." Well, because I was there for the conversation, I knew his A LOT was VERY minimal, so I just quickly explained that Heavenly Father designed it for parents and animals to make babies, and that it is very private, and something we don't talk about with our friends on the playground, ect... I did, however, tell him, if he ever hears a word and he's confused about it or doesn't know what it means, to come to me/Daddy and talk to us about it. He confirmed that he would, and then we started on our next morning task, but HOLY COW! I handeled it great, and he didn't sence my frantic whirlwind of thoughts, but inside I was screaming, I"M NOT READY FOR THIS!!!
Just thought I'd share how my morning got off to a start...

My first batch of rolls...

After all of my trying to "enjoy" the cooking & baking thing, I've discovered, I still don't find much pleasure in it. I still hate the mess, the time it takes to make 1 thing and sadly, some times the end result. I am just not one of those girls who was meant to love it, so now I just accept the weeks that pass without a single thing baked, or the attempt at a new reciepe. With all that rambeling, I made my first batch of rolls, and let me tell you how hard the devil was tempting me to just buy the store bought ones. Seriously, I was standing at the store looking at the rolls and I was fighting off the urge to throw them into the basket and just be done with it, but out of no where I heard a calming Relief Society voice say, " Emily, you can do this, they are just dinner rolls!" And then I thought to myself, if I can give birth to 3 babies, dinner rolls be no problem, right? They actually turned out yummy, so I'll be making these again in the furture. So here is more proof that I was in the kitchen doing something besides cleaning it!

Saying goodbye to Tristin on his first day of 1st grade...

Here they are getting ready to say goodbye to Tristin...

1st grade here we come...

I just dropped Tristin off at school 45 minutes ago. How does one describe it? My emotions are still a little scattered, and I know in awhile I'll feel better, it's just that he's my little man and when I watched him walk away, it felt like a tiny piece of my heart went with him. Will it always feel this way? Is that the love of a Mother? I'm so thrilled for him, and scared out of mind at the same time. I just want him to be a good boy and to grow into the most amazing man. At what point do you stop and just let them become the little people they were born to become? I think this might be letting go and just accepting what is, and in these moments that stretch our hearts, all we can do is trust in Heavenly Father and watch them walk to the playground with out us.

Getting ready to leave Grandpa's house...

We had such a great trip to Grandpa & Cheryl's house! Thank you guys for everything!!!! We love you!

Tristin with his Daddy...

I LOVE this picture of Trav and Tristin. I love their smiles. They are 2 of my favorite boys in the entire world! (Okay, add Michael Bolton and Ben and Jerry and we might be complete!)

Me & Trav...

I never get pictures with my husband! Yeah! I love this man. He drove the entire way to Washington and yes, all the way back. What a guy!

Dad's back yard...

My father is an AMAZING Japanese landscaper. He truely has a gift and his gardens are incredible. I wish I could have taken 50 pictures to show you all the amazing work he's done, but here's one that barely shows how breath taking it was. He's been published in Better Homes and Gardens and I am so proud of him. This is his real passion (and motorcycles!) it was so relaxing and peaceful out there. I've closed my eyes a few times and have already found myself there again.

One fish, two fish, red fish , blue fish...

It's tradition that all Grandparents have to read to the kids. My Dad was making up words to this one (as if Dr. Suess needed any help!). The kids love their books!

Grandpa & Tristin

Here are the boys hanging out!

Here we are with the bears...

When Daisy woke up and realized she had missed the bears, she was so sad. She was asleep the entire time!

The other bear...

It was crazy to be so close to these bears! Here's a better shot of the bear that wasn't swimming. This one was just laying around.

Trisin & the bears...

It's difficult to see the bear behind Tristin, but it's there! WSU has 2 bears that they are doing research on, so it was fun to watch them for awhile. There was one that was playing in a pool kinda thing. He was twirling around and splashing, it was pretty cute. I learned that bears smell horrible! Awful! Discusting! Gross! But they were amazing to see up close! Just plug your nose!

Grace loved Charlie's velcro!!!

It was so cute to watch Grace undoing the velcro on Charlie's shoes!

Me & Charlie...

I had to tell my Dad and Aunt Helene to stop taking pictures at the same time because this was the result- us looking at the wrong person! Towards the end of our visit, I had them taking pictures one at a time so we could actually be looking at the camera!

Aunt Helene & Charlie...

It was great to finally meet my cousin Charlie! I love this picture of him and Aunt Helene. He is getting used to the facility in Pullman but misses Alaska and his friends back home. I loved his sence of humor and how easy it was to be with him and talk with him considering we were strangers! He has been living with MS for years, I am amazed by his strength. He will be getting a new wheel chair in a few months too! It was great to meet him!

My Dad & Tristin metal detecting...

My Dad should have been born when pirates were sailing the open sea, because he is seriously one of them! He's had a coin collection from the time he was little and he's been on the look out for treasure his entire life. Here he is with Tristin doing one of their favorite things together- metal detecting! It's actually really cool to watch!

Our first morning there...

Everyone looked so cute eating breakfast the first morning we were there!

Cheryl & the kids...

Here's a picture of Cheryl, the kids and Jewels (the neighbor cat) just hanging out before we had to leave!

My Papa & Me...

Here's a shot of my Dad and I in his garden! Thanks for everything Papa!

My Aunt Helene & Me...

My Aunt Helene just moved to Pullman last Summer from Alaska! She has a super cute house not too far from Dad's and she shares it with her dog (sorry, I don't know how to spell her name!) We had a fun visit! She made the BEST raspberry cobbler the first night we were there and it was fun to go with her to her yoga class the next morning. I am having so much getting to know her better (Alaska was just too far away!)

A Visit to Grandpa's House!!

We just got back from Pullman Washington last night (WSU, for any of you who don't know where it is). We went to stay a few days with my Dad and his girlfriend Cheryl and we had a great time! It was wonderful to see my Aunt Helene again and meet my cousin Charlie for the first time too! This is a picture of my Papa, the kids and me behind his BEAUTIFUL garden (which you can't see).