Life happened at our place today

What a busy day! I've done a load of laundry, weeded my garden, watered my trees, grapevines, and pots, mowed my lawn, and canned 15 quarts of apricot syrup all by 4:00p.m. And I'm not going to have to have Gordon stop and get pizza for dinner. There was a time today when Jacob was "helping" me, Bridie was crying, syrup was boiling over 3 pots on the stove, and smoke filled the house so thickly that I had to open all the windows to air out the place. Things have calmed down and I can hear the popping of the jar lids as I type this. I remember canning as a child. I hated it. My mom would get all of us together and looking back now it was probably more of a punishment for her, but we thought she loved it. We would all get a pie tin to put our peels in. My mom would boil the fruit/vegetables and bring it to the table in a big bowl. The peaches or tomatoes would be so hot I could barely handle holding it as I would peel off the peel and place it in the pie pan. Then I would put the fruit into another bowl ready to go into the jars. I now love to can. My kids and Gordon are pretty good at it also. Although today I was solo (with help from Jacob and Bridie). I get the itching to can something about now and it lasts until the end of September. There are few things better than looking at the beautiful colors of the jars cool on my counter and feeling that sense of connection to my Mom, Grandma, and other past generations. I can't wait to see what else gets canned this year. There were strawberries on sale maybe I'll do some more syrup.

Laundry

I hate laundry. I don't like to do it and I really don't like folding and putting it away. We just got back from my parents cabin and I have loads to do! I have put it off today but tomorrow I'm going to have to face the piles. Gordon is so kind, he let me buy a really great front loader hoping it would make laundry easier on me, but I still hate laundry. I have found I do just as many loads as before but now my washer and dryer play music when the load is done. Gordon says I need a machine where you dump dirty clothes in one side and they come out the other side folded and sorted into the various peoples piles. That would be great. As it is I throw them in the washer and dryer, sort clean clothes into the kids own baskets (except whites- they are an even bigger pain)
and they fold and put away. All except Mine, Gordon, Isaac, Jacob, and Bridie- I put their clothes away. Wait a second, that's more than half the people in my family I wash, dry, fold and put away- no wonder I hate laundry.

Book Group and our new "Special Plate"

I belong to a Relief Society book group. Up to this past month all the books have been great. Some I liked better than others. This past month we read "Yearning for the living God" by F. Enzio Busche. It was fabulous. It is an LDS book ( He was a General Authority). It has made me want to be a better person, mother, and strengthened my testimony of Jesus Christ. I enjoyed every minute I read it. It is so great to read a book where someone is so strong in their testimony of Jesus Christ. Gordon read it with me and just loved it also. Our book group is quite a motley crew. We are so diversified in our backgrounds, ages, and opinions. The one thing that we have in common is our testimony and belief in our Savior. I think that is why I love Relief Society so much- the diversity. This book group is a highlight of my month. Next month we are reading "The Beggar King and the Secret of Happiness" by Joel ben Izzy. I look forward to reading it, although I doubt it has more secrets of happiness than this last book by Elder Busche.
We have started what I hope to be a new tradition. At dinner we have a special plate. I found it at Savers and thought it was beautiful. I bought it and brought it home, but didn't have any special plans for it. I had once read about a family that had a special plate at dinner. The plate was set at someones place instead of the normal plates everyone else had. Every other family member would then say 3 things they like about the person with the special plate. We have just done it with James and Matthew, but it has been great for our family. It's good for all of us to compliment each other and look for the good in each other more. I look forward to having many more dinners with the "Special Plate".

Baby shower

Tonight I went to a shower for my cousin Robbie and his wife. They are having their 5th ( a little boy). They live in the same neighborhood my dad's apartments are in. We know some of the same people. Small world. It was so great to see everyone. Lots of my cousins were there. Lori wanted to know how Christina was doing. Cindy and Anna wanted to know how Julia was. It's so fun to go and be able to catch up. So much changes in peoples lives. It was at the park on 5th west and center. It used to have a open stream running through it. It isn't in the best neighborhood and busy streets and homeless people (in fact Jane fed one dinner- I was proud of her) so Gordon stayed at home with the kids and I took Bridie and went. Lots of my Aunts and Uncles were there. Scott and Jane, Ron and Margaret and Jon. Tonight I will lay in bed and remember, with fondness, all my conversations and look forward to the next time we get together. P.S. Gordon just went down to check on the boys- they had made their beds to look like they were sleeping in them, and then they snuck into the another room to watch a movie- that I said they couldn't watch. We'll have to talk to them later- Gordon and I still think it's funny so a lecture right now wouldn't be very effective.

Pizza for dinner

James is at scout camp and tonight Matthew was at day camp, so I thought we would just have pizza for dinner. I'm still on this budget and I'm trying to save money for Montana so things are a little tight. I'll just get one pizza, I thought. That will save money and without James and Matthew that should be enough. We got home and I went inside to get the rest of the meal prepared- big mistake! I came out several minutes later to find half the pizza on the patio with Corby finishing off the last of the toppings and only 2 pieces left in the box. Gordon came home to a very unhappy wife. I saved the last 2 pieces for Gordon and me. Luckily the other kids had each gotten a piece before Corby got to it. I really hope tomorrow night's dinner goes better.

Shoes

I am noticing we have deposits of shoes all over the place. We have piles of shoes inside the back door, outside the back door, in the toy room, by the sandbox, swing set, and a few ones strewn throughout the lawn. Some shoes I don't even recognize. Summer has a way of making everyone go shoeless. Whenever we need to go somewhere and I can't find a pair of shoes for Jacob. I go to one of these hot spots and I am able to find at least one pair of shoes. I love that the weather is so warm that shoes aren't necessary. I love walking barefoot on warm concrete and cool grass. I will miss summer.

4th of July

Someone said that the fourth of July is their favorite holiday because you get together with family, but you don't have the hassle of buying gifts. I totally agree. It's also a party all day long. It starts with a parade, we have some friends that let us park in their underground parking right on University Ave. They save us a place in the shade and even Gordon enjoys going to the parade now. After the parade we go to breakfast at Magelby's Fresh. This year my brother Mark and his daughter Mckayla met up with us for breakfast. Their syrup and all you can eat french toast is so delicious. Plus going to breakfast is my favorite meal to eat out. After gorging ourselves, we rest in the afternoon. We always eat dinner at my in-laws neighborhood party. It's fun because I know some of the people there. We then go one block west to Gordon's grandpa's house. His backyard has a great view of the Stadium of fire's firework show. Gordon's Aunt Cathy and her family comes- she is the life of the party. It's nice to see them. I love the fourth of July because I love my country. I am proud to be an American. I am eternally indebted to the men and women who have served in the military for this country. I am greatful to be born in a promised land. I know there was divine intervention in the creation of this country. It is my prayer I can be a good steward of the freedoms I have been given.

My brown eyed girl

I think every parent should think their child(ren) are the best, cutest, smartest, and most talented. So when I say that I think Bridie is the cutest baby I am only fulfilling my parental duties. I also have become a bike addict. Gordon lets me slip away almost every evening. It is a sanity ride. Being at home all day with the kids gets hard, so I hop on my bike and clear my head. I like biking because you actually go places. I biked 8 miles in 30 minutes today. It was beautiful. I bike past fields of hay, horses, cows, and beautiful houses. I come back and am ready for what tomorrow will bring (almost). The other thing I like about biking is that sometimes it's so tough, but it never lasts for long. Then there are flat places and it's not too bad. The down hill are the best.- your aching muscles get to rest and you are able to look around at this beautiful earth. My bike is just a cheap one from Wal- Mart. It's stuck in 2 nd gear, but it gets me where I'm going. One day I'll spend am obscene amount of money on a good bike, but I don't think I'll enjoy my ride any more than I do now.