Enjoying the fruits (and vegetables) of their labors

So it has been amazingly hot around here lately.  I snapped this temp in my van in the late morning last week!!!  Ugh!  It got hotter than this, but I didn't take a picture.  It has been so dry also.  

Thankfully we got a little rain last weekend, but we still need more.

Despite all the heat and no rain, our garden, or I should say my kids' gardens have flourished.  We have had a garden every year for the last 12 years since we got out of grad school and apartments and had a home with a yard.  Ben and I (well, mostly I) have been in charge of the garden.  The kids have come along and helped half-heartedly as they have grown up with lots of complaining and whining.  Anyone else relate to this?  So this year I decided to do something different.  Our garden is fairly big--50 feet by 50 feet, so I divided it evenly into 4 squares in the spring.  I told each kid they got a square.  It was their own garden.  I put out all the seeds and said, "Plant whatever you want where ever," and I left it at that.  I haven't reminded them to water.  I haven't said anything about weeding, and I haven't set a foot in the garden until this past Tuesday.  I have just watched from the kitchen window each morning as they have weeded and watered, and I am honestly amazed.  When I went into the garden Tuesday night weeds were not to be found, and fruits and veggies were bursting out all over.  The kids have done an amazing job.  They are so proud,

 "This is my cantaloupe."  

"Do you like my corn Dad?" 

 "My zucchini was used in this bread, isn't it good?"  

"My green peppers are in the chili"

We have had lots of zucchini.  We harvested corn Tuesday night.  We are getting lots of peppers, our first cantaloupes and there are lots more to come as well as watermelon and carrots and tomatoes.  I say 'we' but it is really the kids.  They have watered it, weeded it, and taken such good care of their gardens.  Of course, don't look at our water bill.  As we were shucking corn Ben commented each ear was probably worth about $5 each with all the water, but hey, the kids did it, and I am sure proud of them.  Miss O was definitely proud of her harvest when I snapped this picture.  I am wishing I had thought of this plan years before.  I am now certain how I will garden from now on (or at least for the next 11 years until Mr J goes to college)--from the kitchen window.  Bring it on.

2012 Blue Jeans Week 12

What a week, what a week!  I thought I was going to have lots of down time with 3 of my 4 kids gone most of the week, but that was not the case.  I drove over 1000 miles last week, and all of it in the rain.  We had spring break last week, and it rained.  every.  single.  day.  Needless to say, we were all happy to see the sun, and I was happy to leave my car in the garage for a few days and send the kids back to school.  Sadly this week started out on a sour note.  Mr J woke up with pink-eye Monday morning--went to the Dr., got the drops, then this morning when I thought I could send him to school, it is in the other eye.  Life is never dull :)  We are just grateful for the sunshine!!

Sunday:  Took my camera around my yard to get some photos of spring.  This is one of our red bud trees starting to bud. 

Monday:  Mr J is my youngest and only boy, and his room is the cleanest out of the 4 kids.  He is so good to remember to make his bed each morning.  He makes it very nicely and arranges all his animals and pillows on it by himself each day.  I think it is too cute, and I wish his older sisters would take a lesson from him :)

Tuesday:  These shoes have been required all week with our rain each day.  Mr J loves his rain boots.

Wednesday:  My youngest sister invited my kids to come stay spring break with her.  She lives about 5 hours away, thus the long driving I did taking them there and back (in the rain).  But they had a blast with her and her husband.  My sister took some pictures for me of their activities.  This was a playground by my sister's house that they played at each day.

Thursday:  Miss A was not able to go to my sister's because of some commitments she had at home.  Instead today we went to the city (more driving in the rain) and went to the art museum.  Monet's Waterlilies takes my breath away every time I see it.  Once I was able to see all 3 together.  That was amazing.  A rainy day spent in a art museum is always a good day :) or any day spent in an art museum is a good day I think.

Friday:  Happy Birthday to me!  Ben made me a lemon cheesecake (from scratch, not a mix) with a strawberry sauce he put on top.  It was divine. 

Saturday:  I went to a matinee of The Hunger Games with some friends today.  It was very good.  The book was better (isn't it always?), but I thought they did a good job with the movie.  Miss A went to the midnight showing on Thursday.  Fun stuff!  After I saw this picture I had to laugh with the fire around my head.   My friend said, "you're the girl on fire." 

Hope you all had a good week!  Thanks for stopping by!

2012 Blue Jeans Week 4

I am really beginning to think that winter might have skipped us this year?  We have had a good week, and hope yours has been good too!

Sunday:  We get home from church around 1, have lunch, and then I always take a nap.  It is just programed into my system.  Sunday afternoon nap-necessity for me  :)  Now my kids know this, and sometimes they catch me at a weak moment, like today just as I was falling asleep Mr J asked, "Mom, can I build a train track in your room?"  "Huh?  Yeah, just don't wake me up."  Results from my weak moment above.  I am really glad those tracks are wooden because if they were plastic with as much as they get stepped on we wouldn't have a track left!

Monday:  She is official and legal--if  I am in the front seat :)  She is learning quick!

Tuesday:  Piano lessons night--we have a 2 hour block of lessons for 4 kiddos.  Our teacher gives them at a local church, and the kids know to bring their books as they wait for their turn in the church lobby.

Wednesday:  The kids get out 30 minutes early on Wednesdays for teacher meetings, and since the weather has been so nice, we have been enjoying the park after school on Wednesdays.  Today the kids wanted to roll down the hill.  I happily watched from below and took pictures :)

Thursday:  Free family bingo night at school.  Our kids' elementary does a free family bingo night each year.  They buy books for the kids' prizes and have themed baskets as prizes for the adults.  They have an optional chili dinner for $1.  It is a great, fun family night out.  We love our schools!

Friday:  Tonight we went to the big city to see our friend in his high schools' winter play.  It was Thoroughly Modern Millie, and the kids loved it.  An evening at the theater is always fun.

Saturday:  Miss A had a church volleyball tournament today in the big city.  It was a long day full of volleyball.  They started at 8:30 a.m. and didn't finish until about 3:30 p.m.  They came in 2nd place!  Yeah!  

Wishing you all a great week ahead!!

2012 Blue Jeans Week 2 and history

2012 makes my 4th year in doing a picture-a-day type scrapbooking and documenting of our family's life.

2008 was the first year I tried it.  I was lucky enough to get one of the Project 365 kits.  Becky's first kit like this when she was with another company. 

This is a page out of that album--sorry it is sideways I could not get it turned.  It had a little different layout with the pictures and cards.

This is my 2009 Project Life album.

And this is a page layout from it.

My 2010 Project Life album

And a page from it.

And now I am very happy to be starting my 2012 album, and these are the pictures which will go in this week's layout. . .

Sunday:  We are Settlers of Catan fans at our house.  Even my 6-year-old likes to play.  Sunday evening we were finally able to all play because we bought the extension that allows 6 to play.  Lots of fun!

Monday:  Lately Miss O and Miss E have been into having their hair braided at night after they shower so it is all curly and poofy in the morning.  Tonight after Miss O got out of the shower Miss A was nice enough to braid all her hair.  Sadly, I forgot to get a picture of it in the morning, but it was cute, curly and poofy :)  She said everyone at school wanted to touch her hair.

Tuesday:  This white bowl with this turtle in it has been on my kitchen counter for the last week.  Mr J bought one of those water expanding animals with some Christmas money and has had it in the kitchen to see how big it would get.  Those are really not one of my favorite things, but he enjoyed looking each morning to see how much it had grown.

Wednesday:  The day started out about 60 degrees, and the kids and a friend had fun playing outside, but then the wind picked up and dropped the temperature about 30 degrees, so the kids came in freezing and in desperate need of hot chocolate which is something we are never without at our house. 

Thursday:  End of quarter awards day at school today.  Miss E and Mr J show off their school awards.  I don't think Mr J was too excited to share :)

Friday:  Wow, thank goodness it is Friday, and we can relax!  What a little man with both remotes!  Too funny!

Saturday:  Sorry for the far away, blurry picture, but Miss A was in a regional honors choir this weekend and with how far away we were, this is the best I could get.  They practiced all day and gave a performance in the afternoon.  She is right above the conductor's head with a black hair band on.  They were very good.

Hope you all had a great week!

2012 Blue Jeans Week 1

Welcome 2012!  Our first week was a good one.  Our weather was divine!  I will take sunny and 65 in January anytime :)  Here is what we have been up to. . .

Sunday:  Not exactly sure what we're are going for here.  I took a nap after church and these 3 had fun with Dad, his suit coats, ties, and the camera.  I just saw the evidence after :)

Monday:  First Monday night in a new year we always make our goals sheets.  Each of us chooses goals for the new year in different areas--physical, mental, spiritual, temporal.  Everyone was working on their 2012 goal sheets at Family Night.

Tuesday:  The dreaded day that we put all the Christmas stuff away.  Lots of stuff and a big mess.  Nice when everything is clean and back to normal :)

Wednesday:  The kids were playing 'old fashioned' school today after school.  Love their hats.

Thursday:  I was working at the school today and got to snap a picture of Miss E working.  It was fun to be at their school for the day.

Friday:  This has been on our family room coffee table all week.   Our Harry Potter Lego village.  We love HP and Legos, so this has been extra fun.

Saturday:  We got the kids' pictures hung today.  They are so beautiful.  I am so glad we got them done. 

Happy New Year to all of you and hope you have a great week!

Daily December 22

So many things happening this week before the biggest thing that happens--Christmas!  Where has the year gone?  I remember 2 years ago my neighbor saying she took her tree down right after Christmas.  I commented that it always made me sort of sad to do that, but she said, "Oh, don't worry in just a minute you will put it back up again."  It does seem like that--just a minute ago I took it down last year, now a minute later I am putting it back up.

So the kids have been super busy.  Miss O got to go to the big city for a field trip for kids who got good grades.  They got to go ice skating--first time ever for Miss O, go to a cool science museum, and see a film at the IMAX.  Awesome day.  Then she had a major English assignment due and math test.

Miss A has a test every day this week.  I didn't think that was a very nice Christmas present from her teachers.  She also started driving lessons with Grandpa because she will be 14 this week and can get her learner's driving permit!!!! Ah!  My daughter is learning to drive.  I definitely feel old.

Mr J had his school Christmas program and got to go on the Polar Express today at school--with hot chocolate and a candy cane to stir it while they watched the movie.  Love it.  He has his class Christmas party and gift exchange which he is totally excited about.

Miss E also had her Christmas program.  She got to play the alto recorder and was so excited about it.  Her class sang "Do you hear what I hear" which is one of my favorite Christmas carols.  She is super ready for Christmas. 

The kids are always doing something fun.  Hope your next few days are really fun!

Blue Jeans Week 43

Sunday:  This was actually from Sunday a few weeks ago, but the picture got "lost" somewhere between the computer and camera.  Does that every happen to you?  Anyway, once a year the kids in our church do the program at church.  The kids sing, do all the talks, and it is always a highlight for everyone.  It is the Primary Sacrament Meeting program.  This was Miss O's last year, and she wasn't too excited about doing it.  She wishes she didn't have to do it at all :)  Miss E and Mr J had no problem, though, and they all 3 did a good job.  

Monday:  Miss E and Mr J wanted to play Candy Land, but, believe it or not, we didn't have the game.  I must have gotten rid of it accidentally several years ago :), but that didn't detour them.  They just made their own game board and cards.  It is really cute.  We played it tonight. 

Tuesday:  We were singing some songs and Mr J and Miss E decided they wanted to play the drums along with us while we sang.  The kids made these drums at a workshop several years ago, and we have used them a lot over the years. 

Wednesday:  Working on my Countdown to Christmas stuff, and today I started on getting our Christmas letters done.  Doing a little bit at a time each week gets them done easily, and my hands don't hurt from all that writing at one time :) 

Thursday:  We have some really good friends that moved here a year ago from Mexico.  She makes the most delicious food, and we have been over several times to eat it.  One of the best things she makes is black beans, and so today I went over, and she taught me how to make her black beans.  So yum!  Mine don't taste quite as good as hers, but I am learning. 

Friday:  Took a picture of a receipt from today.  Won't see this date again in my lifetime :)

Saturday:  We went to the city today and got to go to Trader's Joe's with a friend and her family.  We had 8 kids between the two of us ages 2 to 13.  It was kind of crazy!  But the store was cool, and we got some yummy stuff.  Know I know what everyone is talking about when they say Trader Joe's!  Can't wait to go back!

Hope you all have a great week and a wonderful Thanksgiving!  Remember your blessings!