A WOMAN AND HER GOAT...

SO...I HAVE A GOAT. LIKE MOST OF THE ANIMALS I INHERIT...IT HAS A STORY. SO, THIS IS THE STORY OF MY GOAT.

I HEADED INTO BASIN FEED TO PURCHASE SOME RABBIT FEED FOR CONNER'S BUNNIES...YES BUNNIES..HE HAS TWO. THEY ALWAYS HAVE SOME SORT OF ANIMAL IN THERE FOR KIDS TO LOOK AT...IN HOPES THAT SOME PARENT WILL GET SUCKED INTO THE DRAMA AND PURCHASE THAT ANIMAL FOR THEIR CHILD SQ WILLING WITH DELIGHT. THAT DAY THEY HAD A BIN WITH PUPPIES, UGLY ONES, AND A BIN WITH TWO GOATS, PIGMY GOATS. NOW I HAVE SEEN THESE GOATS BEFORE AND THEY ARE SORTA CUTE...FOR A GOAT. ANYWAY, THE GIRLS WERE WITH ME...WHICH WAS PROBABLY MY FIRST MISTAKE. THEY WERE COOING OVER THE GOATS. A NICE MAN STANDING IN LINE BEHIND ME WAS HOLDING THE GOATS STILL SO THE GIRLS COULD PET THEM. I PROCEEDED TO PAY FOR MY SMALL BAG OF FEED AND CHATTED WITH THE TELLER WHILE WE WATCHED THE GIRLS PLAY. TAYLOR, TURNED TO ME AND SAID," MOM...CAN WE GET THIS GOAT? PLEAAAAASE." I SAID, WELL IT IS KINDA CUTE...BUT NO. JUST LIKE CHILDREN THAT DON'T SEEM TO EVER HEAR YOU THE FIRST TIME...SHE ASKED AGAIN.. AND LIKE ANY MOTHER I TURNED TO HER AND SAID," HONEY THOSE GOATS ARE 100.00 DOLLARS AND IF I HAD A SPARE HUNDRED I'D BUY IT...BUT I DON'T SO..NO. " I THEN PAYED FOR MY FEED AND STARTED TO HELP THE GIRLS GET THEIR COATS ON. THE NICE MAN BEHIND ME PAYED FOR HIS STUFF, TALKED TO THE TELLER A BIT, THEN LEFT. JUST AS I WAS PRYING MY GIRLS FROM THE GOAT BIN THE LADY CAME OVER WITH A BOX AND LIFTED A GOAT INTO THE BOX. I SAID," OH THAT MAN MUST HAVE BOUGHT THIS GOAT." THE LADY THEN LAUGHED AND SAID," NO MAM...THAT GUY BOUGHT THIS GOAT FOR YOU!" SHE THEN HANDED ME THE BOX...WITH A GOAT INSIDE...STARING AT ME...YES WITH THOSE EYES...I KINDA LAUGHED AND SAID." OH WELL, THAT WAS SURE NICE BUT I CAN'T AFFORD TO FEED IT." THINKING THAT WAS MY OUT. SHE THEN PROCEEDED TO TELL ME I DIDN'T HAVE TO FOR SOME TIME BECAUSE THAT NICE MAN....OH THAT NICE MAN...HE ALSO BOUGHT ME A 50 LB. BAG OF GOAT FEED. I JUST STARED AT HER. BY NOW THE REALIZATION THAT THIS GOAT WAS A GIFT HIT MY GIRLS AND THEY WERE SO EXCITED...I MEAN WHO GETS TO TAKE A GOAT HOME...IN A BOX...EVERYDAY. NOT MANY FOR SURE :)

SO TO MAKE A LONGER STORY SHORT... THEY LOADED FEED AND A BOX..WITH A GOAT IN IT..INTO MY CAR AND SAID THE MAN SAID TO HAVE A MERRY CHRISTMAS. YES MERRY IT HAS BEEN. I STARED AT THIS GOAT ALL THE WAY BACK HOME...IT SAT NEXT TO ME IN THE CAR. I HAD TO LOCK IT IN MY BATHROOM TILL BRANDON GOT HOME TO BUILD IT A PEN. I'M NOT SURE HE WAS TOO EXCITED WHEN I CALLED HIM AND TOLD HIM I HAD A GOAT IN THE BATHROOM THAT NEEDED A PEN. BUT REGARDLESS..A PEN WAS BUILT. AND THE GOAT ONLY ESCAPED THE BATHROOM TWICE WHILE IN IT. TOOK ME 30 MINUTES TO CATCH IT...MAN THOSE THINGS ARE FAST! AND THEY JUMP!

SO NOW OUR GOAT HAS A NAME...BELLA.
SHE LIVES IN A MAKESHIFT IGLOO NEXT TO THE RABBITS BEHIND THE HOUSE. MY LANDLORD DOES NOT KNOW...HEAVEN HELP ME WHEN HE DOES KNOW. SHHH! :) FUNNY THING IS LATELY BELLA HAS ESCAPED HER PEN. AND EVEN FUNNIER WHEN SHE DOES SHE SITS ON THE BACK PORCH AND WAILS LIKE A BABY. THEN WHEN I GO OUT SHE RUNS BACK BEHIND THEN HOUSE AND INTO HER PEN. WHENEVER I HEAR HER WAILING I JUST LOOK OUT THE DINING ROOM WINDOW AND SURE ENOUGH SHE'S SITTING ON THE PORCH CRYING FOR ME. ONE NIGHT SHE MADE ABOUT SIX LAPS AROUND MY HOUSE..WITH DOGS BEHIND HER...BEFORE WE CAUGHT HER. WE TIED HER TO A TREE THE OTHER DAY SO THE KIDS COULD PLAY WITH HER. SHE BALLS LIKE A NEWBORN UNTIL YOU PICK HER UP AND THEN SHE STOPS AND JUST STARES AT YOU WITH THESE BIG GLASSY BEADED EYES THAT ARE MOST LIKELY SAYING, THANK YOU FOR RESCUING ME FROM THAT PEN AT THE FEED STORE...I'M SURE IT'S SOMETHING LIKE THAT.

SO...MY LOVE OF LIVING IN THE COUNTRY IN AN OLD HOUSE IS DEFINITELY TESTING ME LATELY. I HAVE DEFINITELY LEARNED A FEW LESSONS THIS TIME AROUND.

#1 DON'T TAKE YOUR KIDS TO THE FEED STORE..ESPECIALLY WHERE NICE MEN MIGHT BE WAITING TO BUY YOU SOMETHING!

#2 DON'T EVER EVER EVER TELL YOUR KIDS YOU'D BUY IT IF YOU HAD THE MONEY...CAUSE ONCE AGAIN YOU NEVER KNOW HOW MANY NICE PEOPLE ARE JUST WAITING TO SPEND THEIR MONEY ON YOUR KIDS!

#3 WHEN YOU LIVE IN THE COUNTRY EXPECT TO HAVE PEOPLE DUMP THEIR UNWANTED ANIMALS ON YOUR PORCH AND EXPECT TO HAVE LOTS OF ANIMALS CAUSE IF YOU LIVE IN THE COUNTRY YOU MUST LIVE ON A FARM! ???

#4 DO NOT LET THE BIG BEADED GLASSY EYES PULL YOU IN! YOU THINK YOU CAN RESIST..BUT I'D LIKE TO SEE WHAT YALL WOULD HAVE DONE :)

#5 EXPECT THAT EVERY ANIMAL YOU BRING HOME..OR TAKE IN AFTER SOMEONE DUMPS IT...EVEN IF IT STAYS OUTSIDE...THEY IMMEDIATELY ASSUME YOU ARE THEIR MOTHER. AND THEY WILL CRY FRIENDS...THEY WILL CRY FOR YOU AND YOU WILL PICK THEM UP...EVERY ONE OF THEM...BECAUSE THAT'S WHAT MOTHERS DO.

AND EVERYONE NEEDS A MOTHER. EVEN IF IT'S NOT THEIR OWN.

KIDS...ALLL OF THEM.

I failed to mention that my last post was my 100Th post....quite an accomplishment for me, and what a perfect post to have it on. I'd like to do a list of 100 things, but I'm sure no one wants to read 100 things about me or of me or whatever, so we will just skip that and get on with posting life and it's funny little quirks.

So some of you know I'm not so much a morning person. I lOVE staying up late and DESPISE the whole waking up thing. I have never slept in past 8 in fact, but Rolling outta bed in the morning definitely has literal meaning to me. Brandon's alarm goes of at 630 mine at seven, but I'm awake when his goes off, how does anyone honestly sleep through another persons alarm? not me. anyway i roll out at seven to get kids up, ready and on the bus.

I started the kids off with breakfast then let the dogs outside, then the cat in. Poor thing, it is 7 degrees and a wind of no less than 20 mph for sure! So cold to say the least. So Oscar, the cat, comes in in the morning to get warm for a bit then we kick him back out. I do feel bad for him having to be out in that cold, and he is the most well behaved animal I have ever owned, but yet he's the one that gets kicked out. Funny how that works in other aspects of our lives. Anyway, i sat Presley up in her chair and gave her a bowl of cereal, then went to wash my face. when i came back i noticed something in the chair at the end of the table. this is what I saw.


I thought...seriously. no way. So I got closer. Yes friends this is again what I saw.


So as I chuckled I simply asked Oscar what he needed. Without saying a word he gave me those eyes...ya know like the ones that cat on SHrek gives...the big sad glassy looking ones. Yep I got those. He simply gave me the eyes then looked directly at Presley's cereal bowl.


That is exactly when my heart melted. The poor thing was cold....obviously hungry...and thought if he sat up to the table like Presley nicely in a chair that he too would be given a bowl of milk.....which I have not given him in years!!!! How smart? I mean really.


So I warmed up a bowl of milk, meanwhile he just sat there and waited, then i put it in front of him and he quietly ate. He didn't even drip! Then If that wasn't enough, when he was done he simply turned around and got down. no whining, nothing, he just got on with his day. miraculous.

Ya know, those people who know the story of my cat, and if you don't it's in my early posts, know he is one of a kind. I know he came from a rough area, and he is just so thankful to have the things he has now, and he's proving it. He is soooo good to me. I don't do whining cats always rubbing on your legs and jumping on your counters and just being annoying. I have kids and two dogs for that, he's just a quiet, reserved cat and I love him! Never bothers anyone. And if I would have yelled at him to get off my chair he would have just jumped down and got on with his day. I often wonder why my dogs can't take heed of his shinning example. instead they do all the opposite; wine, beg, bark, slobber,climb on furniture, steal peoples food. I mean don't get me wrong they are small dogs and they aren't THAT bad, but I just wish they were more like my cat.

Oscar is definitely one of a kind. He won't join us every morning for breakfast, but I gotta admit if everyone just sat up and waited patiently, QUIETLY, without a whine or a bark or fighting over what bowl you get....If everyone acted like my cat....I would definitely be more pleasant around mealtimes...and everyone would get milk. :)

GRADUATION !!!

MY BABY HAS GRADUATED! MAN I FEEL SO MANY EMOTIONS AT ONCE AT A TIME LIKE THIS. I HAVE THIS EXCITEMENT AND JOY THAT I JUST WANT TO SHOOT THROUGH THE ROOF, A HAPPINESS ONLY A TRULY PROUD PARENT COULD HAVE, AND AT THE SAME TIME AN OVERWHELMING UNCERTAINTY TO HOLD ON TO SOMETHING I HAVE HAD AS A PART OF MY LIFE FOR THE LAST 8 ALMOST 9 YEARS.

THIS TREK IN MY LIFE HAS BEEN A LONG, ROUGH ROAD, WITH SO MANY OBSTACLES I CAN'T EVEN COUNT. IT HAS BEEN A JOURNEY I WILL NEVER FORGET, AND A GRADUATION WELL WORTH THE FIGHT.

AS OF NOVEMBER 17, 2009 CONNER HAS BEEN DISCHARGED FROM PHYSICAL THERAPY, OCCUPATIONAL THERAPY, FEEDING THERAPY, AND SPEECH THERAPY. AT ONE POINT IN MY LIFE I THOUGHT WE WOULD NEVER GET HERE, I TOLD MYSELF A LONG TIME AGO IT DIDN'T MATTER IF WE EVER GOT DISCHARGED, I LOVE MY BUBBLES NO MATTER WHAT, BUT TO SEE THE GROWTH AND DEVELOPMENT I HAVE SEEN OVER THE LAST 8 PLUS YEARS AND TO BE DISCHARGED AGAINST ALL ODDS AND ALL PROGNOSIS; THE FEELING IS TRULY PRICELESS.
FOR THE FIRST THREE YEARS OF CONNER'S LIFE HE COMMUNICATED ONLY BY SIGN LANGUAGE. IT WASN'T EASY TO LEARN OR TO TEACH, BUT HAVING A TRACHEOTOMY PROVIDED NO OPPORTUNITY FOR SPEECH, SO TO COMMUNICATE WITH OUR LITTLE ONE, IT WAS MUCH NEEDED. CONNER'S FAVORITE SIGN WAS I LOVE YOU. AFTER COMING OFF A VENTILATOR AND MOVING TO ONLY OXYGEN THROUGH HIS TRACH, WE WERE ABLE TO PLACE A SPEAKING VALVE ON HIS TRACH AND TEACH HIM TO USE HIS VOICE. I REMEMBER THE FIRST TIME THEY PUT THAT VALVE ON. HE WAS CRYING BECAUSE HE DIDN'T UNDERSTAND WHAT WAS HAPPENING, I DON'T BLAME HIM, BUT THE FIRST THING I HEARD WAS THE SOUND OF HIM CRYING. AND THEN OF COURSE I WAS CRYING :) FOR A LONG TIME WE KNEW HE WAS CRYING BY LOOKING AT HIM, BUT WE WERE UNABLE TO HEAR HIM. AND NOW AFTER 8 YEARS OF SPEECH THERAPY, WE HEAR HIM.



CONNER HAS WORKED SOOO HARD FOR SO LONG TO ACHIEVE THE STABILITY HE HAS NOW. WE USE TO HAVE TO GET HIM UP AT SIX THIRTY IN THE MORNING FOR AN HOUR LONG OF PHYSICAL THERAPY, AND WE DID THIS THREE TO FOUR DAYS A WEEK FOR TWO YEARS. THEN WE WENT TO TWICE A WEEK FOR TWO MORE. AND FOR THE LAST FOUR WE HAVE GONE ONCE A WEEK. WE HAVE ALSO TRAVELED TO MILWAUKEE WISCONSIN FOR AN INTENSIVE FEEDING TEAM THAT HELPED US LEARN THE TOOLS TO TEACH CONNER HOW TO EAT. CONNER HAS BEEN TUBE FED FOR SEVEN YEARS, AND JUST LAST YEAR HE HAD HIS FEEDING TUBE REMOVED. WHAT A CHANCE AT A SKILL SO MANY OF US TAKE FOR GRANTED EVERY DAY...EATING. AFTER BEING TURNED DOWN BY SEVERAL INTENSIVE FEEDING TEAMS AROUND THE GLOBE BECAUSE OF HIS EXTENSIVE MEDICAL HISTORY, WE WERE FINALLY ACCEPTED TO THE CHILDREN'S HOSPITAL IN MILWAUKEE. WE WERE ACCEPTED WITH THE UNDERSTANDING THAT THERE WERE NO PROMISES, AND THEY WOULD ONLY DO AS MUCH AS HE COULD PHYSICALLY HANDLE, WHICH WAS NOT MUCH. WE DROVE TO MILWAUKEE EVERY OTHER MONTH AND STAYED AT THE RONALD MCDONALD HOUSE FOR A WEEK. WE DID THAT FOR TWO YEARS. AFTER ALL THEY COULD DO AND ALL THE TEACHING WE COULD LEARN WE WERE AGAIN TURNED OUT ON OUR OWN. NOW 8 YEARS AND 7 MONTHS LATER, MY BUBBLES CAN EAT WITHOUT THE AID OF A TUBE.SO MANY THINGS...SO MANY LITTLE THINGS THAT HE HAD TO LEARN. THINGS YOU AND I CAN'T EVEN UNDERSTAND WHY IT WOULD BE SO HARD. EATING, WALKING, SITTING, CRAWLING, TEXTURE, SOUND, SMELL, CROWDS, BREATHING....THINGS THAT OUR BODIES DO NATURALLY. THINGS THAT YOU CAN'T EVEN IMAGINE HAVING TO LEARN ALL OVER AGAIN. SO MANY THINGS A LITTLE GUY HAD TO DO ALL OVER, AND WORK SOOOOOO HARD FOR. THINGS THAT HAVE TAKEN 8 YEARS TO LEARN. I SIT AND THINK OFTEN ABOUT HOW A PARENT FEELS WHEN THEIR CHILD TAKES THE FIRST STEP, OR BITE OF SOLID FOOD, OR CRAWLS, OR ROLLS OVER, OR PERHAPS THE SIGHT OF ANOTHER BREATHE AFTER A SERIOUS ILLNESS, OR CHOKING. BUT CAN YOU IMAGINE THE SIGHT AND THE FEELING OF SEEING THOSE THINGS WHEN EVERY MEDICAL PROFESSIONAL TELLS YOU HE CAN'T, OR WON'T? THE FEELING IS THE SAME....PRICELESS, BUT AT SUCH A HIGHER LEVEL OF INTENSITY I CANNOT EXPLAIN.

MY CONNER HAS DONE A LOT OF THINGS IN HIS 8 YEARS HERE ON EARTH THAT MOST PEOPLE WILL GO A LIFETIME WITHOUT EXPERIENCING. HE HAS BEEN A TROOPER THE WHOLE WAY THROUGH. JUST ONE OF THOSE BABIES WHO DESPITE THEIR PAIN AND OBSTACLES, CONTINUED TO SMILE.

AFTER JUST THE FIRST YEAR OF HIS LIFE I WAS CERTAIN HE WOULD REFRAIN FROM BONDING WITH ME IF I HELD HIM DOWN FOR YET ONE MORE IV LINE OR ONE MORE SHOT, BUT CONNER HAS LOVED EVERYONE EVERY STEP OF THE WAY. I AM SO DEEPLY PROUD OF THE EXAMPLE, THE PATIENCE, THE SINCERITY, THE HUMBLENESS, THE STRENGTH, AND THE LOVE CONNER HAS. I HAVE NEVER SEEN ANYONE ENDURE SO MUCH AND BE SO HAPPY. HE HAS A LOT A HEAD OF HIM, BUT I KNOW HE IS STRONG....LOOK AT HOW MUCH HE HAS ACCOMPLISHED. A LOT OF PEOPLE ASK HOW WE EVER DID IT, OR CONTINUE TO DO IT, BUT MY ANSWER IS JUST THE SAME TODAY AS IT WILL BE TOMORROW; WE JUST DO IT. IT IS A LIFESTYLE THAT HAS BEEN A ROLLER COASTER, AND WILL CONTINUE TO BE SO, BUT I WOULDN'T TRADE MY BUBBLES FOR A SINGLE MINUTE FOR ANYTHING ANYONE CAN PROVE TO BE BETTER. NOTHING IS BETTER FOR ME.

CONGRATULATIONS CONNER...YOU HAVE ACHIEVED SO MUCH, WITH EVERYTHING AGAINST YOU, YOU HAVE ONCE AGAIN DEFIED ALL ODDS. I AM SO TRULY GRATEFUL TO BE YOUR MOM. YOU ARE LOVED SO MUCH AND ALWAYS WILL BE. YOU ARE MY STRENGTH, MY SUNSHINE, MY BUBBLES...MY CONNER. AND I LOVE YOU.

LOVE, MOM

AFTER LOOKING THROUGH MY POST I FORGOT THESE LAST FEW PICS!! SO...FINALLY...OUR FANCY PUMPKINS. THERE'S A GOBLIN IN THE MIDDLE WITH SLEEPING BEAUTY ON TOP AND JASMINE ON THE BOTTOM.
TAYLOR GOT HER FACE PAINTED AT THE CARNIVAL. A BIG SPIDER, EQUIPPED WITH JEWELS :)
AND LAST OF ALL A PIC OF US AT THE CARNIVAL. HAPPY HALLOWEEN!!!

HALLOWEEN PART 2

I HAVE TO SHARE THE REST OF MY HALLOWEEN PICTURES BEFORE IT'S THANKSGIVING! WE DID A HALLOWEEN PARTY FOR THE KIDS OVER AT AMBER'S HOUSE. CELESTE WAS DOWN VISITING AND CAROL LOVES TO PARTY, SO THEY SET UP A COOL LITTLE PARTY FOR THE KIDS; COMPLETE WITH DECORATIONS, FOOD, AND GAMES.

DARREN AND CAROL DECORATED THE MUD ROOM INTO A SPOOKY DINING AREA FOR THE KIDS.


AMBER COOKED UP SNAKE, AND IT WAS FABULOUS HOW IT SPLIT AND SPILLED IT'S GUTS! THE KIDS WERE A LITTLE HESITANT TO EAT, BUT AFTER THEY TASTED, IT WAS GOOD.


WE LET THEM BOB FOR APPLES. THAT WAS PRETTY FUNNY, ALL THESE KIDS, ONE BIG BOWL OF APPLES....YUCK. :) THEY SURE HAD FUN THOUGH.






OUR GRAVEYARD DESSERT TURNED OUT GREAT. AMBER MADE THE GRAVEYARD WITH PUDDING AND CHOPPED UP COOKIES AND I DECORATED IT WITH TOMBSTONES AND GHOSTS...YES THOSE WHITE THINGS ARE SUPPOSE TO BE GHOSTS....I TRIED.

WE ALSO MADE GHOSTS OUT OF SOCKS. I BOUGHT SOCKS AND WE CUT THE BOTTOMS OFF AND THEN GLUED EYES ON THEM. THEY WERE SUPER CUTE.


THE KIDS HAD A GREAT TIME. I HOPE THEY KNOW HOW SPOILED THEY ARE CAUSE THIS WAS A SUPER DUPER PARTY.... :)

TRICK...OR TREAT?

Ah, another holiday behind us, three more to really go. good thing they jam them all into about three months, I don't think I could be crazy all year long! :) Actually I like Halloween. Pumpkins, lights, costumes, candy...candy. kids were all cute this year, as always...how could a kid not be cute in a Halloween costume...o.k. i have seen some not so cute costumes, but that doesn't mean the little people inside them aren't cute. Needless to say, my kids were dashing this year. I finally convinced Conner to give up the sully costume from monsters Inc., the same one i have in every Halloween picture for the last five years. He decided he would be an old man. He pulled it off perfectly, even the walk.


Taylor wanted to be a witch again, but this year she wore the grey hair and I talked her into painting her face green. She is a good little witch.


Presley didn't get to choose her costume, last child syndrome...hand-me-downs. She was an elephant, but I have to say a darn cute one. she loved me putting pink blush on her cheeks...I had to reapply several times just to keep her happy :)She wasn't too sure about the whole trick or treat thing, but she soon joined in after seeing candy was involved and mom was close. In fact she was a little stinker cause after we went to the church party I took them out to hit a few houses, and I just let her run up with the other kids. Well, before I know it she's walking right into the house past the lady with the candy and headed down the hall!!! I ran up after her and the lady was like," oh, sweetie you can't just come into a strangers house." I was embarrassed, but oh well. Nice big dog sitting in the living room too, needless to say I walked her to the door each time after that.


I think the kids had a lot of fun this year. Chili, candy, face painting, trick or treating, costumes, my yummy caramel corn...I think it was a good one. Boy they are getting big fast.

HALLOWEEN TREAT

I FOUND THIS COOL TREAT TO MAKE FOR HALLOWEEN AND THOUGHT I'D SHARE. IT'S SUPER EASY AND SUPER YUMMY. JUST A FEW INGREDIENTS.


MY FAVORITE VANILLA ICE CREAM. CHIPS AHOY COOKIES, AND SPRINKLES!

JUST PUT 1/4 CUP ICE CREAM A TOP A COOKIE, I THOUGH IT WAS A LITTLE MUCH, BUT HEY, STILL GOOD. PUT ANOTHER COOKIE ON TOP. SQUEEZE LIGHTLY, THEN ROLL EDGES INTO HALLOWEEN SPRINKLES. WA LA!

THEN PUT THEM INTO THE FREEZER FOR ABOUT HALF HOUR, THEN ENJOY! WE DID.

EASY FOR KIDS TO MAKE, SETS UP QUICK, AND FESTIVE. AND JUST IN CASE YALL THINK I WAS SO CRAFTY TO THINK THIS YUMMY ONE UP, THE RECIPE IS ON THE PACKAGE OF HALLOWEEN CHIPS AHOY COOKIES. :)

HMMMM.....I BET YOU COULD DO THIS WHEN THE CHRISTMAS ONES COME OUT TOO! :)

Oh boy...

I know this photo is horrible, but was a must post. If you look carefully you'll see Brandon, riding Conner's john deer gator, yes people....that is a motorized four wheeler....FOR KIDS.... Brandon definately exceeds both the height and weight requierments, but those weren't stopping him tonight! I caught this photo from inside, undercover. He probably thought no one would see him cause it was dark, but secrets out...some kids just never grow up. They just wait till their kids go to bed and their wives are occupied.... then they re-live all their childhood dreams.

CANNING

I know some of these pictures are not very clear and bright, but Presley was such a big helper while I was doing my caning this year I couldn't not post them. I usually do a lot of canning, but this was just a busy time for me this year and I just got done what I could. I had to do Raspberry jam because it's our favorite. I spent most of my time eating the raspberries while I picked, but eventually after a few trips to brenda's raspberry patch and several sweat hours, my berries were picked and ready to go.

I had the rare opportunity this year to try white raspberries, yep white. I had never heard of such a thing, but they are to die for. They were so good we just kept eating them, they are sweeter than reds. I planned on making a jar of just white jam, but I'm afraid more ended up in our bellies than planned and we didn't have enough, so we just mixed them in.


Taylor was such a good helper at picking them, wish i would have had my camera on me. She was picking for quite some time and I had the bucket by me, so i said, " Taylor you need the bucket for all those berries yet?" She replied, " Oh Mom, these raspberries are just so good I can't stop shoving them in my mouth!" So cute. Picking and eating.


Now that both older kids are in school Presley is my daytime helper, and she just looooved making jam with me. She is quite the crack up, always making us laugh.




The jam was a success, oh so yummy.
My next canning project was grape juice. This can be tricky process, a messy one, but We love it, so we can it. Wash, steam, extract, bottle.




That about sums it up! I made 30 jars this year, and it is so good. There is nothing like homemade grape juice. I remember as a kid sitting next to the fence at the bottom of our driveway eating grapes off the overgrown vines from our neighbors yard. mmmm.


I learned a new trick this year while doing grape juice. Instead of adding sugar when you mix it up right before you drink it, I sprinkled sugar over the grapes while they steamed. I think this worked so well. The juice is already sweetned when bottled.