it never gets old

i love

this week has been rough so i decided to come up with this list of 25 things i love (beyond the obvious)...

the sound of my children creating with legos

the beach

flip flops

starbucks

traveling the US with my family

hearing a great sermon

being a SAHM

a new box of crayons

carsyn's middle-of-the-night smile

luke's love for God's creation 

listening to Reagan's imagination

getting letters in the mail

great jeans

delicious fish tacos

the smell of a book

getting a great deal

my superhero husband

taking pictures

cooking

my hunter rain boots

giving gifts

fresh linens

having lunch with friends

walking/hiking

being available

what do you love?!

camping

This past weekend we went camping with friends.  We decided to return to the park we went to on our very first outing with our camper.  It was a perfect camping weekend- weather was great, food was delicious, the hiking was fun and the company was delightful...

happy birthday to me...

For my birthday Dale and the kids purchased a sushi making class (for 2).   I have been wanting to learn to make sushi for a long time.  The class was last night.  I brought my friend Elizabeth and we had so much fun.  We watched and listened as a sushi chef made various rolls.  Then we each (all 16 of us) got to make 2 rolls.  We ate until we could not move.  

It was awesome!

my rolls...

It was the best birthday present!

soccer time

Reagan participated in her first ever organized sports activity today.  She was SO NERVOUS!  As I was helping her suit up she said, "Mom, I am scared and a little nervous.  If I don't like it then I am done.  If I like it then we are going to the world championship."

okay then.

We headed to the field.  The girls warmed up.  Reagan watched the first group of girls play (which was good for her- she really doesn't know much about soccer).  Then it was her turn!  She ran out and took her place.  When the whistle blew she started running.  She ran, chased the ball and smiled for the next hour.  It was pure joy the whole time.

It was AWESOME. 

After the game she said, "When I fell it was great.  I felt energy rushing through my body.  I wanted to fall again."

She cannot wait until next Saturday.....

final count

80 quarts of canned pears
5 quarts of pear sauce
10 pints of pear butter
12 half pints pear honey

All from ONE pear tree in our backyard!

endless pears

We decided that Saturday was the day to embark on the very big task of canning the pears from our tree.  It was almost too overwhelming because there.are.so.many.pears.  Thankfully Dale parents arrived at 8 am to help- we really could not have done it without them.  SERIOUSLY- there were so MANY pears.  We peeled and cut for hours and hours and hours.  Everyone worked all day.  Finally at 5:00 we stopped.  Enough was enough.  It was a very successful day-65 quarts of pears!  We will be eating them until the end of time.

BUT THERE ARE STILL MORE PEARS..... 

Today I decided to make pear sauce (as opposed to applesauce).  It is really good.  I like that you don't have to add sugar.  It's just pears and cinnamon.  I also am in the process of making pear butter (in the crockpot).  Then maybe this week I will make some pear honey.   Any other ideas?  Because the pears are multiplying like rabbits....