cANNING

Ok so I have really been on this kick about canning food. I am trying to be a good little homemaker. With the price of fuel and everything going higher in prices there has been a little scare of the truckers going on strike. So Steven and I went to Wal-Mart and stocked up on canning jars, band-aides, hydrogen peroxide, neosporin, shampoo, toilet paper, clorox, and maybe a couple of other things for our year supply that are not food. Hey even if the strike never happens we will have the things we need and not have to run to the store. Plus we are doing what the prophets say we should be doing and working on our year supply.We bought 50 lbs of beans and 40 lbs of chicken so I can start canning them. This is the first time I have done this and am totally obsessed with it. I was able to get almost four dozen pints of chicken canned and lots and lots of beans. I have done just a couple of jars of pork and beef but plan to do more as they come on sale. We have tried a jar of all the things I haved canned and they have turned out great! Steven loves the beans when I have made chili beans. Oh how fast and easy they are to whip up. They taste great. I must say I LOVE to hear the little seals "POP" after being taken out and sealing. It is such an awesome thing to hear. It gives me such a feeling of accomplishment.

sHINNERS!

On Thursday I was watching Sharleen's boys while she went and did some stuff for her mom. I was in the Kitchen making lunch when I heard a "KABOOM". I hurried into the living room to find my little boy on his hands and knees crying. He was next to his little red chair that was tipped over. I got to him to find his nose all bloody and already turning black and blue. Poor little guy. I carried him to the kitchen to get a wet wash cloth to try and clean the blood so I could asess the damage. It looked pretty nasty! He cried a little for a couple of minutes and that was it. He was being so brave. I got a blanket and his pillow and layed them on the floor so he could watch one of his favorite shows, Caillou. I finished preping the gourmet mac-n-cheez and the Bushes baked beans. He didn't want to eat and he didn't want to drink anything. So I just let him lay there. Finally later he decided he was hungry enough to get up to eat. He LOVED the beans and didn't touch the mac-n-cheez. I don't know why not, they were gourmet afterall. Later that afternoon I decided to take him to the pool for a treat. He was so excited and loved it! I kept asking if his nose hurt and he kept saying "no". He's my tuff little boy! Needless to say the next day my 2 year old little baby showed off a shinner!



The dirty little culprit!

iMPRESSIONABLE

Well I have to write a little something about the things you think your kids are NOT paying attention to. The day little Karlee Jane was born we had Britt over for the day. They played and played and were having a great time. The boys were all excited about having a new baby girl in the family. Steven and I were in the kitchen getting lunch and the boys come barreling in saying something about Heavenly Father. We paid no attention to them at the time then a few minutes later we did. The boys were each taking turns sitting down and the other would put their tiny little hands on the others head and start to say a prayer. Then they would switch and the other would do the same. I was in awe. These little boys are only two years old and they have seen their daddies give blessings to their moms. They know that it is something special. I didn’t think they were even paying any attention at all because we as moms are always trying to get them to sit still and fold their arms. After having Aiden and getting my gallbladder out I was starting to feel better and Riley came up to me as I was laying on the couch and put his hands on my head. I could hear him say “Dear Heavenly Father.” Then a bunch of jibberish followed and then an Amen. How amazing are our little ones. I know they can feel the spirit even when they are so little. They watch us everyday make choices and do things. They follow our example and we better be ready when they do the things we are doing. I only hope I will be a great example to my children as they watch me. It makes me want to do so much better. Remember when they are running around, don’t think that they are not aware of what is around them. They are very aware and very impressionable!

pARENTS wHO bRIBE

Well I have to admit that I am a parent, or should I say we, are parents who bribe our children. It just started with trying to bribe Riley with candy if he would go pee pee on the potty. He decided one day in Mesa that that would be the day HE wanted to start going on the potty. Well that was fine by me. Although we had to go in the parking lot at Target since I was changing Aiden's diaper. He got the peeing part down and now all we needed was the other part. After making him help me clean the many messes because I refussed to put a diaper back on him, we had to make the reward a little more enticing. I told Riley if he started to go on the toilet we would buy him a tractor. Just basically meaning a toy tractor. Well somehow that got turned into a big, riding tractor. It has almost been two weeks now since he yelled at me to come to the bathroom cause he went on the potty. I was feeding Aiden and wasn't sure I wanted to go see just what he had done. I took the long walk to the bathroom and he had climbed up to the toilet and really did go. I was so excited. Daddy and I took him to the store later only to find they were out. Try explaining that to a 2 1/2 year old when he can see the display right there. Well we did it. We called Globe Wal-Mart and they had two. Steven was going to haul copper to Miami on Tuesday the 6th. Steve and Riley went and got it. After QUITE awhile the next morning Daddy finally got it put all together. (daddy tried to skip a few steps but mommy was luckily there to keep him in line) It was adorable watching him take off and ride!

Here he is just driving it like a pro!

Must have had to fix something!

Looking ahead for the turn.

Look at me Mommy and Daddy! I am having "loads" of fun!

He hasn't gone in his pants since that day and we are so proud. Congratulations Riley for crossing one of the many bridges that are laying in your path of life. We love you!

yUMMY

Aiden was really upset and thought he was just starving so I layed him on the floor and went to the kitchen to make him a bottle. He was totally throwing a fit. I noticed while I was waiting for the water to get warm he stopped crying and wasn't making a peep. I just thought he decided to calm down. Well finally the bottle was ready and I made it back to the living room to find that big brother decided to share his candy necklace!! Nothing like a little sugar to make a kid happy. He really seemed to enjoy himself! Just getting started!

Hey, this is pretty good!

Oh yeah! Now we are talkin'

Yep mom I think I like it

Yum, Yum! Thanks big brother

cHEYENNE fRONTIER dAYS

i CAN'T BELIEVE IT HAS ALREADY BEEN 10 MONTHS SINCE WE WERE ON FAMILY VACATION AND WENT TO cHEYENNE, wy. wE LOADED IN THE CAR AND DROVE THERE THE LAST WEEK IN jULY. hE STOPPED SEVERAL PLACES ON THE WAY VISITING FAMILIES sTEVEN KNEW ON HIS MISSION. wE HAD LOTS OF FUN AND rILEY LOVED THE RODEO. i WAS LOOKING AT PICTURES AND DECIDED I HAD TO POST THIS ONE.

gIRLS, gILRS, gIRLS

a GREAT BIG CONGRATS TO MY BROTHERS AND THEIR WIVES ON THEIR FIRST LITTLE GIRLS! oUR FAMILY IS REALLY SHORT OF GRANDAUGHTERS, BUT LAST WEEK IT GAINED TWO MORE. bRADEN AND kATIE HAD kARLEE jANE ON aPRIL 29TH WEIGHING IN AT 6lbs. 10oz. kOLBY AND cATHIE HAD rAELEIGH aILEEN ON mAY 1ST ALSO WEIGHING IN AT 6lbs. 10oz. tHEY ARE BOTH ABSOLUTELY ADORABLE. aIDEN IS GOING TO HAVE SO MUCH FUN WITH THEM!! CONGRATS!! i WILL POST PICTURES WHEN I CAN TAKE A SNAP SHOT OF THEM TOGETHER