In a JAM

On our way home from Utah we stopped and picked up these beauties, boy they were yummy! So this week I have been making jam, I was able to get over 30 jars of jam from these and a yummy apricot cobbler, that no one seemed to want, bummer, should have made something else, but it was hard to find any recipes that used fresh apricots. The good thing is we don't need any jam for a while, with this hall and the rhubarb that I made earlier this summer we should be set, but then again if I get some more fruit I may just make some more, I would like to try some huckleberry jam, but to buy the huckleberries is outrageous and I don't think we want to pick that many, we will just have to wait and see what we can find this year. Not much planned for this week-end just relaxing at home maybe a picnic Saturday or Sunday who knows, maybe we'll go to Jackson tomorrow depends on what the kids and hubby want to do. Guess I better get busy and and get stuff done so we can PLAY tomorrow it works out so much better if I don't have a ton of things to do on Saturday and we can just enjoy the day playing and veggin'. Have a super good week-end Melody

Utah Trip

Okay so we were hoping to go to Utah last weekend, and thankfully Sara was better and we went. It was super HOT as expected, we enjoyed the mission farewell and visiting with family. We then went into Salt Lake and got a hotel. It was fun the kids loved it, we went swimming I know we probably shouldn't have it being a Sunday and all but we did anyway. All was well we got kids showered and in bed and oh just to relax and enjoy some quite time. We had our plans set for Monday and it was going to be busy. BUT at 2am Jared woke-up with a terrible headache, plus a fever no less, we gave him some medicine and got him settled back down and I thought oh no. In the morning we got up and ate breakfast he seemed to be fine, we thought do we dare go to the zoo? Plus all the other things we had planned, he said he was fine so off we went.
It was fun and everyone enjoyed themselves BUT poor Jared started getting fevered again and his headache was back he just wanted to rest, besides it was HOT! (How do people live and function down there in the summer? I guess you get use to it. ) It soon became obvious that this was not going to be a good day for him, & it was HOT. So we quickly finished up at the zoo. The kids wanted pictures by the gorilla shadows but poor Jared wouldn't get out of the stroller to get his done.
This is all he would do. So to make a long story short, we left after the zoo, we stopped and got some lunch and drinks, and headed for home. We did stop and get some fruit & corn on the cob, and of course at Smith and Edwards. So our trip was cut short, but what else could we do, Jared slept until we got to Grandma & Grandpa's and then he slept until we got home, poor kid by the next day he was fine, should have guessed that would happen, that is what the girls both did, what ever they had only lasted 24 hours, so far no one else has had it. We still had fun, but the next time we go it will be in the fall when it is not so HOT couldn't believe it on they way out of Salt Lake the temp said it was 109 that is way to HOT for us.

Saturday

Just a quick update, I tried the potato's in the crock-pot they were wonderful, I just washed and wrapped them in foil and put them in the pot on high for about 5 hours then turned them on low until we ate, I think it was another hour before we actually ate but they turned out FABULOUS the kids liked them too. Hope to still be going to Utah, tomorrow but the babe isn't feeling well, high fever, body aches, we will have to see hope she is better, I don't like it when my kids are sick it stresses me out. We plan on going the the 24th of July celebration today too, but who knows will have to see. Have a great weekend! Melody

YAHOO ITS THE WEEKEND!

Yes its Friday yahoo! I am excited besides being the weekend, its way cooler today than yesterday, its even been raining a little bit, hope it stays cool all day its a nice change from all the HOT weather, its would be great if it stayed in the high 70's low 80's that is my kind of weather. Anyway its a great day. We are planning a mini vacation this weekend, we have a mission farewell down in Utah so we thought we would stay a couple extra days. Hope its not too HOT I know it will be but we can survive for a few days in the EXTREME HEAT it will be great to come back home to cooler weather. I guess I had better get busy, I just want to take a nap don't think I will get one but the thought is nice. I have been thinking about doing baked potato's in the crock pot anyone ever do this, I hope they turn out but then again its cool enough that I could use the oven and not heat the house up too much. I really need some new ideas for summer cooking, quick easy meals that are healthy and tasty if anyone has ideas please share them. Well I guess I better get kids busy no one is dresses except for me, we had a late night so that makes for a late morning once again, its a really bad habit the first week of school is going to really be hard if we don't get in a better sleep routine. Sorry for all the rambling have a super good weekend Melody

More projects

I found a pattern to make pants out of bandannas, I wasn't expecting this thankfully I got the bandannas for $1.oo each. I wanted to make them for Sara, (not that she needed them) but they fit Rachel much better, so she ended up with them and I didn't want to take the time to make them fit Sara. The pattern I found was for boys, it would really have to be tapered, cause they are very flared, anyway this is what they look like. I do think they are cute, but I am not going to make anymore of them, even though they are like SUPER easy. Maybe I'll try a skirt, I found some really cute patterns.

Aren't these the cutest little feet you ever seen? These flip-flops were given to the girls from their anut Magen , she got them at the dollar store and then tied water balloons on them, the girls LOVE them I thought it was a super cute, super cheap, fun project to do however its hard to find the right size of flip-flops and no store is getting anymore in, too late in the summer, oh well must remember this for next summer and start looking early for the flip-flops, maybe even get some on clearance this year for next summer.

I'm still making juice pouch bags, I think it is becoming an obsession. My source for juice bags has paid off, and I have a ton of them. Its fun to make different size bags and things, but then how many do my kids need, so beware those who have birthdays coming up, you may just end up with one ha ha ha. Have a good one, Melody

Finally our Fun Family Weekend

We spent the weekend with Dennie's family. We left early Friday morning and had a very busy, very HOT weekend (of course it had to wait until this weekend to get really hot,) but we still had fun.

Sara enjoying her juice. She survived on juice and otter*pops this weekend.

The crazy boys on the trampoline ready for bed yeah right, it was really late, the kids were so excited to see each other and to sleep outside it was very late when they finally settled down to actually go to sleep. We put up tents in the back-yard and slept out there, it was sooooo much cooler outside, and I forgot to get a picture of our tents until they were down and packed up and the guys wouldn't put them back up for me bummer. (who can blame them it was about 90+ degrees when they were taking them down)

Sara and daddy waiting for breakfast Saturday morning. Sara enjoys the first otter*pop of the day, the kids ate almost 200 otter*pops this weekend, but then again it was so hot who cares how many they ate it was a good yummy way to stay cool.



Jonathan getting ready for breakfast YUM! We had homemade egg mcmuffins super yummy even better I didn't have to cook them that is always a plus in my book.

We had a Birthday celebration on Saturday, Dennie's uncle celebrated his 80th this weekend, it was so HOT I thought we were going to melt, so we came home and broke out the
slip-n-slide, and of course a water fight was started, sorry no pictures of that but it was fun and VERY refreshing, everyone got wet except for a couple of party poopers, you know who you are no need to mention them.

We had a super fun time this weekend visiting with our family from out of town and some from out of state, it was hard to pack up and come home, back to the real world, that is the only down side to any vacation, camping or just a fun weekend with family.

This weeks projects

We have been busy this week not only with all the running around, but we have made laundry soap, (really like the soap and it is such a savings) and I have made some more things using juice pouches, I was able to make each of the boys a tri-fold wallet, and I made a larger bag, it has been so much fun and the kids love there wallets and bags plus they love the juice, I think I have found a source to get the pouches without having to buy all of them. We have also been back to the skate park this time we took Jared's little bike, so Rachel could use the small scooter, it was fun, and we have really lucked out we have had the park pretty much to ourselves both times we have been there which is really nice. I am recovering from my visit to the dentist very well, thank-goodness for some reason I really had a hard time going this time, usually doesn't bother me at all but for some reason this time it did, maybe because of how much it cost who knows but any way all is well. Have a good one Melody

Jared's wallet, I think it has 6 pouches in this.
This is the large bag there is 21 pouches in this. This is the large bag, the small bag, and the wallet

Long Week

Its been a long week already and its only Tuesday. Monday brought doing errands, today was the dentist YUCK I don't mind going to the dentist usually, its just so DARN much money, but it had to be done. My poor hubby & kids its been late getting dinner both nights and very late to bed which means late getting up and so its late going to bed the next night, so the cycle goes. Does this happen to anyone else? I need to get it together and get on a better schedule but by the time I get it together it will be school time again, why does the summer go so fast? It seems that we can never do what we want to do in the summer and then its fall and winter and we plan for next summer and summer comes and goes once again. We really need to get it TOGETHER. Have a good one Melody

Random Things about us

I thought it would be fun to tell you some random things about us, some you know some maybe not. Hope you all enjoy.

*Dennie and I met in High school, he was a senior, I was a junior we went to different schools in different towns.
*We got married 6 months after Dennie got home from his mission
*We met on October 5, got married on October 14, first child born on October 11, second child born on October 8, not only that we have about 10 other birthdays in October we LOVE October really we do.
*Our first son was born 3 days before our 9th anniversary.
*We have lived in 5 different homes in 4 different places.
*We have only bought 1 TV yes it is still working & we have 2 other TVs but we didn't buy them.
*We have traveled to 8 different states and 1 foreign country.
*We have bought diapers for the last 6 years SO glad to be done with that now!
*We have owned 6 different vehicles 1 we bought BRAND new I think it had 8 miles on it. We drove it for a long time it was a great car, with very few problems.
*We would cut our own Christmas tree, we did this for 14 years until I talked Dennie into a artificial tree, we plan to start cutting our tree again this year.
*The kids like pasta more than potato's, why is this when we live in the potato state?
*We go through about 12 gallons of milk each month, (that's just the kids) maybe we should buy a cow.
*Dennie is the oldest and he has some of the youngest kids.
*We have best and cutest kids ever!
*We are a HAPPY FAMILY!

Today's Project

I have wanted to make a bag out of drink pouches, I've see them around. So I started looking for ideas you can buy them done for around $9.00 depending on the size. I knew I could make one myself for way cheaper I found EASY instructions and decided to give it a try, I think it turned out pretty cute. The only thing is I wish the picture on the front of the pouch was different, oh well I just used what we had. At the time I bought the juice I wasn't thinking oh what a cute bag this will make, I just needed the juice for garden class so I grabbed what ever was on sale. Now the next time I will be looking at what kind of picture is on them, just hope the kids like what I choose hahaha. I though they would be good for wet swim suits and towels, the next ones will have to be bigger. Have a GREAT day! Melody

Wheeeeeeee

Yesterday Jonathan got invited to go to the skate park, I didn't even know that there was one here, am I with it or what. Anyway he went with his friend, I thought it would be fun for Jared to go to and I wanted to check it out as well, so I loaded up the kids and the scooters and headed out. The kids had a blast, there was nobody there so they had the whole thing to themselves which was great cause the girls were able to just run around and not be in the way and I was able to get some great pictures no I didn't post them all, the only trouble was we didn't bring any water, thankfully it wasn't too hot and there was a breeze so it was enjoyable. Yes we will be going back there, the boys can hardly wait.

Jared on his scooter he really needs a new one I think we got this for him when he was 3.

This is how the girls enjoyed the skate park it was too funny watching them slide down the ramps.

Weekend FUN

Love this picture the kids and I made these out of big cans, they turned out super neat and the kids love to lite them, we put them on the deck.

Jonathan and some of his fireworks.

Enjoying the parade

Cooling off in the pool really wish we could get one the kids love it.

But how in the world do you have one without your own yard?

Jared and his penguin fireworks. Whats up with the face?

Men at "work" it was a little windy when they were trying to light fireworks.

The girls and their sparklers

We didn't have any BIG plans for the 4th, we did go to the parade and the kids enjoyed swimming at their cousin's home, and of course FIREWORKS I think they are a waste of money, but the boys can't handle it if we don't get some (must be a guy thing) anyway we had a BBQ and of course we went grocery shopping (can't go to the Falls and not get FOOD hahaha)

all in all it was a fun day relaxing and enjoying being together.

I just love it when this doesn't do what I want it to and I don't know what the heck I'm doing, it takes me FOREVER to just post a simple thing. HAHAHA have a good one Melody

Crispy Kids

Last weekend I went and scrap booked with my mom and sisters, I took Jared & Rachel with me so they could play with some of their cousins, they played outside all Saturday afternoon, in the water I didn't have any sunscreen for them BIG mistake, my poor kids got FRIED. I finally got the pictures downloaded for June and they were on the camera so here they are. I couldn't believe how bad they got sunburned, thankfully no blisters but they were pretty miserable for a couple of days, and now both of them are peeling, Jared usually just gets brown, but not this time. Lesson learned no playing outside or swimming without sunscreen.

Can it be Thursday already?

Wow I can't believe it almost 100 posts, didn't know I had so much to "talk" about. We had a great time last night I believe it was the first "date" we have had in almost a year. Sad I know need to make more time for each other but then again we had 9 years before kids so we like to be with them and they are only little for so long, so the more time we spend together the better. But then again the temple was great, so peaceful I just wanted to stay there but also have my children with me, then the thought came to me duh your home can be like this, so that is something we are going to work on making our home a haven, where its peaceful and you can feel the spirit there. I have a lot of work to do mostly me, you know the old saying "if mama ain't happy ain't nobody happy" so I must work on myself first, not that I'm not happy its just moms set the tone for the home and I need not be crabby etc. I know enough of my "preaching"

Not really any big plans for the 4th mostly grocery shopping oh so much fun. Maybe a picnic and MAYBE we will see fireworks church comes mighty early so not sure if we are going to see the fireworks or not. Have a safe and Happy 4th everyone. Melody

I just can't help changing my backgrounds there are so may cute ones so that is why it gets changed so often keeps it interesting right? HA HA HA

Here it is almost July, and wow the month of June has FLEW by course it really hasn't felt like summer until last week to much rain. So do you ever feel that you are the worst mother in the world? Do you ever have days that you can't wait until they are over and you can start fresh? So far it has been a TOUGH week. My son is making me crazy, he took off the other day on his bike and was someplace he should be so he was grounded no outside time unless one of us were with him, which is the WORST THING EVER for him, he would live outside. So it has been a challenge and its only Tuesday, last night we were going to go on a bike ride, I needed some private time before we left so I let the kids know what was going on and to PLEASE not fight and if they did no bike ride. Sure enough it started and it was bad, they even ended up with me in the same room fighting but of course just out of my reach. OH the JOYS! So I had to stick to my word NO bike ride, let me tell you the whole town heard about it I am sure. He went on and on and on it didn't upset Rachel so bad not that she didn't do her share of SCREAMING at the top of her lungs, it just ends sooner. Jared on the other hand let all our neighbors know that he WANTED TO GO ON A BIKE RIDE over and over and over. I can image what everyone thought, oh well I am not going to give him his own way just because he has a POWERFUL set of lungs, and go back on my word but still it is rather embarrassing when he throws such a fit, in the end he did calm down and we stayed in the whole night which really is kind of the pits cause it gives me some exercise and the girls enjoy going too, but we survived and all was well. Hope he learns quickly or it is going to be a long summer for both of us. Oh guess it is July didn't realize it was soooooo late no wonder I am sooo tired, Hahaha! We plan on going to the Temple tomorrow I am excited, haven't been in a long time its hard to get a babysitter and all but anyway it has worked out so we are going. Best get to bed have lots to do tomorrow. Melody