Canning for Dummies

I have never canned a day in my life. I don't remember ever seeing my Mom can. I decided that I would try my hand at canning. While I was waiting for the peaches to come in a friend had a problem with the storage of some pears. She knew that I wanted to can so she offered them to me. After asking her a ton of questions, asking my sister-in-law more questions, and researching on You Tube I was ready to go.I was able to make 12 quarts and they turned out great! I can't wait for the peaches next week.
I think I did a good job for my first time. We will be eating some tonight for dinner.

Jareds Glasses

Jared is REALLY hard on his glasses. On Sundays during church I will do some adjustments and cleaning of his glasses. When we went in this year to get new glasses I asked them to adjust his old ones. While she was adjusting them the broke in two. She told me that if I payed for new lenses she would replace the frames.

It was a good investment at he broke his new glasses (see picture) a couple of weeks ago and had to wear the ones that broke in the doctors office and we bought new lenses for.

I just hope that these will last until we can get him into the doctor at the beginning of the year. Thank goodness Lyle's insurance cover new glasses (frames and lenses) every year!

Another Thumb Sucker

Both Jared and William were thumb suckers. Jared stopped about the time he started school but William is still sucking his thumb.

The other day I took these pictures of Whitney. She does this at night and keeps herself asleep throughout the night.

At least I will save money and not need to buy pacifiers.

First Day of School 2011-2012

I know that I am a month late but here are the pictures of my Elementary School kids heading off to their first day of school. Even thought William did not start school he wanted his picture taken also.

All About Austin

Austin turned 14 this year. He is getting taller and his voice is changing. He will go up to people that we know and see if he is taller than them yet. He is VERY close to passing me up.

This year he joined swim team. He has not fat on him so he is getting more defined muscles and tan.

This is a picture of my WHITE arm against his back.He also joined JROTC. Don't tell my brother that he was very upset that it was

the Navy JROTC and he wanted the Air Force. Got to LOVE a guy in uniform.
Spirit day at school. "Nerd Day". He is really enjoying High School life.

Young Woman Cupcakes

Last March I found this recipe in my "Family Fun" magazine. I thought they looked cool but also realized that they had all the Young Woman Value colors in them. I kept the recipe knowing that I would make them for the Young Woman for Birthday Sunday (The one Sunday a month that we celebrate all the Young Woman's birthdays for the month).

We started planning this years Young Woman in Excellence (This is the opportunity for the girls to showcase what they have been doing in their Personal Progress Books for the last year), and I was put in charge of refreshments. I knew I had to make these cupcakes.

They were a little more time consuming than I thought they would be but they turned out so cute. I topped them off with Cool Whip and gold sugar crystals.

I Want to Feed Her Too.

When I got home from the hospital with Whitney William watched me nurse her. The way he was looking at me I though, "How am I going to inform him that he can't eat the same way?" I found out soon enough that HE wanted to nurse Whitney. He would lift up his shirt and say, "I want to feed her." We gave him the chance just to see what he would do.

We all had a good laugh at him trying to feed his sister.

He's ask to taste my mommies milk so one time while I was pumping I let him taste some. He has not asked since.

He is such a good helper with her. He also is a great "Big Brother". When he wants to do something on his own he will tell us, "I do it! I a big brother!" We've had many spills of milk and lemonade to clean up but I am very happy that he is doing it on his own.