Abs of Steel...

One day last week I was laying down in bed resting for a bit, when i heard my famous Abs of steel video being played in the living room. I got up to see what was going on, and there were my silly kids all working out. Pretty cute. They have more energy than I do these days, that's for sure! What I wouldn't give for my 6 pack back right about now!

70 bags of Freezer corn + tired feet!

On Monday, for FHE, we went to the 2 church gardens that we have here in town and picked corn. We went at 5:00 PM which was a 95 degree mistake, but we came home with enough corn to eat for dinner for 5 nights, + I was able to get 40 bags of freezer corn from it too, which I did this morning. (the picture is of my 40 bags)
My friend Angie came over around lunch time and we took the herd of kids to the garden and picked corn for her family and was able to get 30 bags finished for her! It was a fun, long and productive day! Did I mention we canned 21 quarts of peaches yesterday too? Thanks Angie's Mom for the peaches! Let the long days of canning begin, and Lord, forgive me now for the amount of TV I'm going to allow my kids to watch over the next month, just so I can get it all done!

I'm going to keep all my canning #'s here for the Summer...
Here's what I've done so far!

Green Beans= 38 pints, 11 quarts + 6 freezer bags (24 are Angie's)
Peaches= 112 quarts (45 are Angie's/ 13 are Annikan's, 54 are mine)
Freezer corn= 70 bags (40 mine, 30 for Angie)
Homemade Spegetti Sauce= 24 1/2 freezer bags (9 for Angie)
Pears= 132 (49-Angie / 83 mine)
Apple pie filling= 20 freezer bags (10 Angie's / 10 mine)
Fruit mix= 20 freezer bags (10 Angie/ 10 mine
Apple sauce= 31 pints

The kitchen is done!!!

There is a reason why we waited 2 years to start on the kitchen cabinets, it's called:
8 trips to the store
$ 150 + dollars later
4 full days/nights to complete
30 doors & drawers to be sanded
30 handles to be removed and replaced with new ones
44 hinges to be removed and spray painted front & back
280 screws to remove, spray paint and replace
205 seperate coats of primer & paint + hours to finish all the trim work
98-100 degree weather to work in
lots and lots of paint fumes
and exhausted, blistered hands!


Although it was a lot of work, we LOVE THEM!! They turned out just how I wanted and I smile now every time I walk into the kitchen! Thanks honey for sanding for hours like a crazy man!

Our trip to Washington...

Here's a few more of our trip to Washington, and yes, we tied Daisy's head again!

Charlie's funeral...

My cousin Charlie passed away a few weeks ago so we went to Pullman for his memorial service. I wish I would have known him better. I am so glad we made it last Summer to see him. I admire his strength and the endurance that enabled him he to fight his illness for so long. I am glad that he can finally rest, but wish his life could have been different. I hope and pray Aunt Helene and Carla will find peace now with him gone.

The fun has begun...

We have lived in our house close to 2 years now, and I've looked at the ugly brown cabinets in the kitchen every day, just wishing Fairy Godmother would come with her magic wand and sprinkle magic dust on them turning them into a fantastic cherry red for me, but sadly, she never came...
So Trav and I decided to do them ourselves.
The reason we put this project off was because neither one of us wanted to sand, prime & paint 30 kitchen cabinets, but we're off and running and here's a sample of what we're doing, wish us luck!

Daisy & Grace helping me can beans...

The girls helped me yesterday can a few more beans. They were so adorable and kept calling themselves- "worker girls"

Fun at the pool...

Here's a few more...

Swim lessons are done!

Tristin & Daisy LOVED swim lessons this Summer. It was a great 2 weeks and they learned a lot. They both passed their classes and will move on next year when I sign them up again. We went every morning from 9:00 am- 10:10 AM. I was able to get back-to-back classes, which made it nice (I love having the rest of my day free!)
Here's a few pictures of their last day.

Let the canning begin!!!

Who knew that one day the sight of canning jars, fresh fruit/veggies & trips to the orchard/garden would bring so much happiness into my life? I am deliriously happy and if I wasn't pregnant, I think I would dance wild in the street right now!

After swim lessons, I met my girlfriends at the garden to pick beans & peas. I had never used a pressure cooker before today,(or did I even know their purpose until 2 years ago!)and it was super easy! It was a little time consuming, but what canning process isn't? Thank you Lara for letting me use your pressure cooker, that I must admit I don't want to return to you now! I'm now on the lookout for one of my own! (As well as a food processor, a 2 burner gas camp stove & food strainer!) I'll give yard sales another few weeks, and then if God doesn't send my coveted items my way, I'll end up on E bay spending way too much on shipping prices!)
Here are my beautiful beans!And I canned them all by myself and actually read a manual! Unbelievable!