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....

  

the fair

I have a love/hate relationship with this little fair that comes to our town every August.  I love it because it's so close to our house, it's small and we only have to be there for an hour to cover everything.  I hate it because it's so close to our house so it cannot be avoided and it seems ridiculous that tickets are $1 each and you need 4 of them to ride 1 ride.  5 kids (well, 4 + Dale) = a high cost for an hour of fun.  Is that how all fairs are?!

The last few years we have purchased ride tickets and had the kids earn $ to play games.  This year they each had between $10 and $15 to spend.  It was fun to watch them decide what to play (this was after I witnesses the $4 ride-smiles).  Lucy and Luke were determined to win a fish!  Reagan went for a stuffed animal and Carsyn wanted an airplane.  We were mostly successful....

  the girls rode this one twice- they LOVED it!

the first harvest

This year our pear tree is loaded!  We decided to harvest the first batch before the squirrels realize there is a food source.  The kids were a big help!  The pears are now finishing their ripening process safely in our basement!  Round 2 of harvesting is next week.  Canning will commence in the weeks to come.....

1st day

Today was our first day of the 2012-2013 school year.  Carsyn is in 5th grade, Luke 3rd and Reagan 2nd.  They were a bit nervous.  Each of their teachers are very nice- we met them on Monday.   I am thankful for the wonderful school they are privileged to attend.  

1st day at our school- 2006

 sweet friends...

Luke's fist day- 2007

Reagan's first day-2008