Apples Apples Everywhere

We picked 4 buckets of apples recently and have been working on canning up homemade applesauce. You really can't compare homemade to store bought especially when we make it chunky style (SO good!). The kids have been loving it and it's nice knowing we have some put away for a little while. We had a few left over apples and Sunday was one of those dark, cold, windy, rainy, miserable kinda days where you don't want to do anything but stay home. So....I talked my darling husband into helping me make an apple pie. If I haven't mentioned it before, my husband is an incredible cook. He is very advanced in the kitchen and while the idea of making an apple pie from scratch is intimidating for me, it's easy peasy for him. We followed an Alton Brown recipe fairly closely (he's a favorite around here) and wound up with a pretty great pie. There are a few things the Mr. said he will do/try differently next time but I was pretty proud of us for a first attempt.

And I love the pie bird!

Rain Rain.....Go Away???

It felt like we went from summer weather of 80+ to cool, rainy fall in the blink of an eye. I am all for fall. It's my favorite season. I love the cool brisk mornings, the need for a sweatshirt and the pleasant, almost warm afternoons. The weather we have been having the past two weeks isn't really the fall weather I know and love.  Maybe that's because the 3 little children that reside in my house are going a bit stir crazy, which in turn means I am going a bit crazy. I can feel the energy radiating off them and the need to get out and stretch their muscles. The fighting and screaming/crying over every little, teeny tiny thing is at an all time high. I am actually hearing "Elliott touched me" and "No, Banon do it" tattling going on between Baron and Elliott. I am definitely feeling my mom patience being tested (and occasionally found wanting) these past couple weeks. They just don't understand why I don't send them out to play but it's hard to do when there is rain and wind gust in the 20 mph range (and up). Mom frowns up the idea of her little ones getting soaked to the bone and possibly blown over the fence. These poor kids had such a great summer and pretty much complete freedom to go in and out of our fenced yard at their leisure. Hopefully the rain will let up for a little while and we can resume some much missed outside play. Wish me luck ;)

On the flip side, the yard is loving the wet and greening up nicely!

 

Pretty Princess!

 

Captain Adorable

 

Off to school we go

Fish On

The Mr. and I were invited to go fishing recently so we lined up babysitters and headed out for our first kid free, overnight getaway since Baron came into our lives (I know, I know....long overdue). We left at 2:30 am on Friday morning and headed to Coos Bay to meet our friends. We were on the water by 6:00 am, had a great day fishing and didn't get off the water until around 4:00 pm. We were back on the water the following morning by 5:30 am and fished until 2:00 pm. We had a great time with the Medfords and came home with a LOT of fish! Between the four of us we caught 12 Chinook and 2 jacks.

 

Thank You Kim and Jason for the awesome weekend.....we had so much fun with you both!

 

Thank You Tara/Tia for staying with the twins and Honey/Grandpa & Trav/Katie for keeping Baron. We appreciate you all so much for having our kids and keeping them safe & happy while we were away!

 

Day #1

 

Day #2

Meet Mr. Pre-School

Baron started pre-school the beginning of September and so far it has been a huge hit. School is two hours & 15 minutes twice a week and already I have mom treasures. Pictures are lining my board and I just can't bring myself to toss the yellow strips of paper he brought home that he cut up with scissors. When asked what he likes most about school, he usually responds with an enthusiastic "Miss Lori" followed by snacks and writing on paper. The twins and I are using this time apart to work on colors/ABC's/numbers/puzzles/reading, going for walks and running the occasional errand.

Best. Dad. Ever!

I don't mean to brag but.....my kids have the best dad ever!

 

Green Beans

A couple weekends ago, the Mr. and I pickled green beans. We spent about 4 1/2 hours pickling/canning once we were home with all the ingredients.  This means I spent 3 hours snapping a 30 pound box of beans while Grant did all the other work but hey, I had the best company a girl could ask for. And our good little children napped for most of it which made the process even faster.

 

We also made homemade salsa the same day. Not sure where all the energy came from but we were quite productive ;)

 

 

There's a 4th Grader in Our Midst....

This lovely young lady started 4th grade today. It's sometimes hard to believe that she is growing up so fast. She is a much adored cousin and niece that we love to pieces. Happy first day of 4th grade Bailey Bug!