Catch up

I didn't realize it has been so long since I posted. We have been so busy around here I still have a huge list of stuff to do- I probably should be doing now! I think this will be a quick wrap up of everything, well most of it, some of it is to personal to share.

We spent the rest of spud harvest picking, freezing, and canning. I made 12 more loaves of zucchini bread, but only 8 made it to the freezer.....hmmm I wonder what happened! I canned 40 jars of salsa so far, my sink is full of tomatoes right now. I made 15 jars of freezer jam, with Kami's help. We froze our corn, beans, peas, and I still have broccoli and carrots to do. The onions have been picked and need drying. I have 3 bags of apples from my parent's tree to dry. Honestly, I haven't started yet because they are so good we are eating them!

Kami helping me make raspberry/peach jam.

The girls spent harvest playing in the dryer box. Who knew something so simple could be so fun. They even decorated it. Kami cried when we threw it out, it stunk!

They got to play in the snow. They build a fort complete with bedrooms and chairs. They got mad at me when I made them come in because they were blue!!

Ky has been so busy some days I don't see him for more than an hour, let alone talk to him. He does homework all night (until 12:30 every night). He doesn't have all the wood cut, he is trying like mad to get it done in his spare time (if he has any). I am afraid it will not be done before it snows. He has had to turn down 2 jobs now because he just doesn't have time to do them. He is so stressed I know he will be glad when this semester is over. His BIM instructor is brutal with his work load, this is the same instructor he has for Auto Cad. I feel for him, he is so stressed. I keep trying to get him to take a couple of hours so we can go out and relax, but he just doesn't have it. This has made it hard on all of us. The girls have stopped asking me "where is dad" and "when is dad coming home" they just know he is busy.

Ash got her retainer yesterday and wow is it pink! Her head gear is working wonders and she has already moved up to the next notch. She sounds so funny, I was teasing her in the car yesterday, but she gives it right back! She got to wear her costume to ballet last night, she loved it. I spent three days searching the house looking for Kaite's costume! She likes to put things in weird places, like her church shoes in the cupboard under the bathroom sink! I finally found everything yesterday and hid it from her!

Last week I went to the girls' assembly and watched them both win the reading contest for their classes. Kaite was so shocked and happy. I am kicking myself for not having the camera ready and getting her expression, it was awesome! She won by 800 minutes reading 1740 minutes. Ash won by less than 200 minutes reading 2491 minutes. I am sure proud of them. Kaite wanted to win so bad. They got to ride the fire truck and have ice cream sundaes. Kami was upset that we didn't get to go too.

This wasn't the great expression, but it was the only shot I got of her. All the winners.

We had fun over spud harvest, but I am glad they are back in school. They were driving me crazy, plus I love the peace and quiet!

A couple of Sundays ago this happened....
I broke my starfish pendant I bought in London. I was so sad this was my favorite thing I bought over there. Sometimes I feel like this is life now and I am trying to find all the pieces! Oh well I know it will get better. Plus I know what to put on my Christmas list!

Next week I have 2 posts planned. I am going to try to get all the Halloween stuff posted in a timely manner!

Chillax

Chillax is one of Mar's words. She says it all the time and somehow it has caught on with us. The past couple of weeks we have been chillaxing. We have been enjoying spud harvest and SLEEPING IN!! We have also been trying to make our house smell better. We have had a smell problem lately. First Ash brought home the stomach flu from school, yuk! Second Ky finally shot our elusive skunk! Sounds like good news right.....except that he shot it five feet from the house! He was so happy to get that skunk he put 23 rounds in it. Our house smelled so bad and he got sprayed a little. I put bowls of vinegar out and that has helped some, but I still get a whiff of it every now and then (like last night). I finally went to wally world to stock up on my favorite fall and winter candles, so yummy. I have been burning this one as much as I can.

I have been addicted to ebay lately and have found some good stuff for Christmas.

I have also been enjoying my new dyer. I have to stop myself from drying each load three times, habit. I also love that it is not eating my clothes!

Chris and Chantelle spent last weekend with us. The boys got the rest of the wood and us girlies watched conference and visited. Ashley chased Chelsea around the entire time.... Ash is the only one who can hold her for an extended period of time. I also finally finished my cross stitch that I have been working on forever, I only work on it during conference.

I am trying to rest myself so we can start plowing through the garden stuff over the next couple of days. My mom brought me back a couple boxes of tomatoes, peaches, and plums. So I will be making jam and salsa the next couple of days. We also have to get everything picked before it SNOWS, yep snow is what they are saying for Friday, ugh!

I have made a list of stuff I want the girls to get done next week before they go back to school, I hope we can accomplish it. Kaite is bound and determine to win the reading contest and ride on the fire truck! She is doing pretty good.

I am kind of glad fall is in the air. I will really miss those warm summer days, but fall generally means a slow down for us.... I am so ready for that!

Happy Birthday Harriet!