A Boy!

My sister found out yesterday that she is having a boy! I am so excited for her and happy that we finally know so that I can start making him things!!!! Her due date was changed to December 26th, which is weird, because that was my due date with Skyler. Hopefully she won't have to wait until the 26th either, but I really hope she doesn't have to wait until after the 26th! Congratulations kiddo!

A Splashing Good Time!

We went to the sprinkler park yesterday and the kids had a ball! The water was cool, the sun was hot and what kids don't like playing in the water?! They were pretty sad when we had to leave, but we had to get home for nap time! I don't do anything to miss that special time of the day!

Canning Tomatoes!

Today was what summer is all about. This morning my mom came over and she brought with her all of the things we need to can tomatoes, including the tomatoes (since my 5 plants are not doing well at all!). I contributed my stove, my water, and my tomato peeling power and this is what we ended up with. We hope to do this once a week!!! Yummy, I loved canned tomatoes in the winter time!!!!!

13 Years

Wow! It has been 13 years since the blistering heat of 1995 when we said our wedding vows at 10:00 in the morning and then had the worst fight of our marriage and then danced all night in the heat! It has been the best 13 years of my life! It seems like only yesterday we were getting married! Now we have two awesome kids and a wonderful life, more wonderful than I ever dreamed! Thank you so much for being the world's greatest husband! I love you! I, of course, would have uploaded some video, but James fell asleep during the ceremony and the video of the church floor gets a little boring after a second! I look forward to the next 50+ years with you!

2 New Wreaths

Check them out here.

New Craft project

Check it out here.

Bountiful Harvest

It is just the beginning of harvest season here, for the particular veggies that I planted, but I am already experiencing an overabundant supply of fresh vegetables. I spent yesterday afternoon preparing green beans for freezing and shredding and preparing zucchini for freezing. I love to freeze zucchini. I shred it and then freeze it in one cup measurements so that all I have to do is pull it out and it is ready to make zucchini bread, which we LOVE around here! My brother was nice to let me borrow his vacuum sealer. I had 18 bags of zucchini and 5 bags of green beans. Yummy!

Dave Matthews Band

Last night Chuck and I went to a Dave Matthews Band concert. When we heard that they were coming to town, I was not excited at all and did not want to go. I like Dave Matthews, I like his music a lot! But, we had gone to a concert of theirs before and I hated it. Let me paint a picture of it for you. It was back in the fall of 2005. I was 3 months pregnant. We drove about 10 hours to Denver, checked in to our hotel, freshened up and then went to Red Rocks, where the concert was. I was amazed at the beauty of the place. It was gorgeous. The weather was perfect for an outdoor concert, not too hot, not too cold. The opening band came and went, they were ok. I can't even remember who it was. And then it was time for The Band to come out. All of these people started crashing into our area and everyone was drunk and continued obscene amounts of drinking. I am fine with that. I don't like it, but can handle that. But then, they all started smoking their pot and it ruined the whole thing for me. I mean we drove all that way to experience this concert and we left early because of the freaks that came out. So, needless to say, I was not too excited to go to another one.

But I did. And I am so glad I did. The concert was awesome! Like in my top 5 of all time greatest performances. Who was better? We'll get to that later. The energy was amazing, the musicality of the performance was astounding. The people we were around were not drunk or high or doing anything to get that way. And man, can Dave sing. AWESOME!

So who else is in my top 5? Definitely Tool. I can't believe I listen to or like them, but their music really is awesome and their concerts, top notch. I have been to 2 and they hold the number 1 and 2 spots in top performances because of their total rockin awesomeness. So, the third spot goes to Sting. We had the please of seeing of Sting in an outdoor setting 8 years ago and man he is awesome. There was energy, the music was awesome and everyone was having fun.

Rounding out the top 5 would be Matchbox 20. I have seen them twice as well, the last time in February of this year, and they rock too. Lots of energy and great music.

Ok, so enough about that. We enjoyed our show. We were worried our car might get towed because of where we parked, but we got lucky and it was still there. But we made up for that with a nice $300 speeding ticket on the way home. Erika, eat your heart out. Mr. Speedy pants who thinks any road is a specially designed racetrack just for him, finally got caught! Chuck was going 63 in a 45 mph CONSTRUCTION ZONE, so his fine was doubled and apparently they just raised speeding fines at the beginning of the month! NICE! Oh well, now he can go to traffic school and learn all over again the benefits of not speeding.

So that kind of put a damper on the evening, but we still had fun. I guess we are lucky he rides his bike to work a couple times a week, you know, to diminish the risk of more tickets!

So who is in your top 5 all time performances? Better yet, who do you think would be, but haven't been able to see yet? For me, Coldplay and Maroon 5.

Blessed

Tonight Chuck and I are going to a concert. I asked my parents to babysit for us. They said yes. Since we will be getting back so late, I asked if they wanted us to pick them up late tonight, or have them spend the night. They said spend the night. That's cool. But this is where it gets good. I asked my mom what time she wanted me to come and get them, she said 10 o'clock. 10! 10! Oh my gosh, I get the whole morning off!!!! I can sleep in late and still get up and have time to work out!!!! I could probably do that and still have time to take a bubble bath and read and eat a nice breakfast. Can you tell that I am excited? I will post tomorrow exactly what I did with my morning, but you reply and leave your guess about what you think I will do, or let me know what you would do with the morning off!

Zoorific Day

We went to the zoo today with some friends we hadn't seen in a long time. We had a great time. We looked at some things we hadn't seen in a long time and we road the carousel, which we had not did in like forever!

Pics

Here are the pictures of the things that I sewed yesterday. First are the pants of Lily's pajamas and the baby blanket I made for a friend.

Swimming Lessons

We started swimming lessons on Saturday and wow, how different it was a year ago. Last year, Lily was only a year old and cried through the first 4 lessons. This year she didn't want to get out and couldn't wait for class to start so she could get in the pool. She had so much fun with her dad. Skyler is in a new class this year and learning even more things about how to swim. Totally cool!

Craft Day Monday

Actually, last Thursday I had a sewing lesson with my mom. She had helped me pick out a pattern for some pajamas for Lily. She helped me lay the pattern out and follow the instructions. She thought the pattern was extremely hard, so that made me feel better because I kept getting frustrated! Well, I finally finished the the pants part yesterday. They are pretty cute! I will upload a picture later today. I also sewed a baby blanket as a gift for someone who is having their first boy! I am pretty proud of the blanket and liked it, because it was sooooo easy! Today I also made a birthday present. I can't put any pics of that out until I give the gift on the off chance they might look at my blog before I give them their gift! I also made another patriotic wreath, since mine was in such bad shape and Pat was coming over to buy one! So I got my craft groove on and kept myself busy! Pictures to come!

July 18, 1982

One of the most memorable days of my life. It was a Sunday, we got to have McDonald's for dinner, which was very unusual, and my little sister was born (hence why we had McDonald's, mom couldn't cook). I loved having a little sister that I could practice my mothering skills on. I did that a lot and feel I still do now!!!

Happy Birthday Rachel!! I am so glad that you were able to visit us last weekend! I hope you have a wonderful day!

Here is a little trip down memory lane!

Rachel, being a goof ball in the front yard - here is proof Lily looks so much like you!

You pushing your baby in the stroller
You, me, Andy and Grandma Aggie.

You and Chuck at the Great Salt Lake!

And you, a little over a year ago as the blushing bride!

My perfect morning

I love mornings, it's my favorite time of day, if things go my way. What is "my way" you ask, well let me tell you.

I wake up without an alarm clock or a child, meaning I wake up when my body is ready to, not according to someone else's schedule.

I take a shower and get ready for the day uninterrupted!

I get a little reading time.

I eat my breakfast, alone and in peace.

I get a little more reading time and some computer time, checking my email, checking on my favorite blogs (I have quite a few) over a cup of coffee.

I then hear a little knocking sound on the kitchen wall. This is a little game he and I play to let me know he is up. I go say hi, and he is in a great mood and asks if we can read some books! Yes! We read two books and then we hear our little Lily asking us to help her so she can have waffle time. It was a great morning! I wish this could happen every morning, but the fact that I got it today is one of the greatest things ever!

What's your perfect morning?

Corn Chowder

I am a big fan of soup. I really like soup and I like to try new recipes. For our cowboy party the other night my mom asked me to make Cowboy Corn Chowder. I said yes, as she is my mom, but was wondering if it would be good. I mean corn chowder, it just doesn't really sound that good to me. But I made it, and it was delicious! Here is the recipe:

1/2 pound of bacon
1 large onion, chopped
1 cup diced celery
1/2 cup all-purpose flour
2 qts chicken stock
2 cups diced potatoes
1/2 teaspoon thyme
1 bay leaf
4 sprigs parsley, chopped
6 peppercorns, crushed
1 garlic clove
6 ears sweetcorn or 2 cups corn
2 tablespoons butter
2 cups half and half
salt and pepper to taste

In a 4 qt stock pot, saute' bacon until the fat is rendered. With a slotted spoon remove the bacon and discard, (or save to put in as a garnish when done) leaving the fat in the stock pot.
Add the onion and celery to the stock pot and saute' until transparent, but do not brown. Add the flour and continue cooking over low heat for 10 minutes, but do not brown. Add the chicken stock and bring to a boil, stirring until no lumps remain. Reduce to a simmer and add the potatoes, thyme, bay leaf, parsley, peppercorns, and garlic. Cut the corn off the cob with a sharp knife being careful not to cut the cob. Add the corn to the soup. Continue simmering until the potatoes are tender. Add butter and half and half and return to a simmer. Season with salt and pepper. Makes 8-10 servings.

Go ahead, try it, don't be scared! You'll thank me later!
What new recipe have you tried lately? Share it with us, won't you?

Cowboys

We had a surprise cowboy party for my dad's 60th birthday. Some cowboys from Wichita arrived just before sundown to really surprise everyone! We had a rootin tootin time!


The whole gang (mostly) missing is Denise (out of town for work-bummer) and Kaleb (taking the picture)

This was just the cutest cowgirl at the party. She drank plenty of lemonade, because really, who could tell her no!

Chuck turned out to be a mighty fine cowboy!


You really have to watch out for this cowboy, he doesn't mess around!

They had so much fun swinging on their brand new tire swings! Thanks Grandpa!
The Boot cake. It was so yummy!
Chuck and Andy. They were 2 of the best dressed cowboys in town!

Western Heritage Museum

Saturday we spent the morning at the Western Heritage Musuem and took a trip to the Amazon. Here are the kids and Dad aboard the boat.

Chuck and Skyler both got to wrestle an anaconda.

Skyler as a Sting Ray.

Cowboy Skyler

Well after a few gifts from grandparents and a visit to the Goodwill, Skyler has transformed himself into a cowboy. He is thrilled with the look and has informed me that he is a mean cowboy, which is so apparent in this picture. I am so glad that we have this costume complete, as we need it for a party next weekend. I am still working on Lily's, will let you know how that turns out. I am glad that it is July and I already have Halloween costumes figured out!

A Visit from a fairy

I was out running Skyler to Martial Arts and then Lily and I went to Michael's and when I came home I found this on my porch. I know it must be for Lily, as it is a piggy bank and a lady bug, both her things, and I think I know who the fairy is, (Holly). I do appreciate it and we loved it and it was great to find a surprise today! Thanks.

Nebraska City

Yesterday we went on an adventure to Nebraska City. The weather was wonderful and even though our main objective was to buy the highly coveted cherries from Kimmel Orchard (have you tasted my cherry pie?) we decided it would be so much more fun to play there too. So we went to the Arbor Day Farm Tree Adventure and had a blast! We each got to take home a tree too! The most fun along the trail was the Nature Explore Classroom where they had all kinds of things to do, like play with big old trees and logs and sticks and play on giant xylophones! We had a great time and bought 10 pounds of cherries, oh the yummy pies I'll make with that! I can taste them already! Oh, that's because I'm eating the frozen cherries straight out of the freezer, I guess if I want pies, I'll have to stop doing that!



Skyler made a little something here that he want to make sure I photographed!