Pink Applesauce

I love fall apples.  Apple pies.  Applesauce.  Apple turnovers.  Apple doughnuts. Apple cider.  I really enjoy the fall and I love, LOVE, LOVE the apples.  This year I picked apples from our neighbor's tree.  We made some delicious applesauce for a friend.  Then, Edwin's friend Katie brought us a bushel of apples from her father's orchard.  They were beautiful.  Red.  Worm free. Delicious Jonathons. 

We set up the applesauce station and the kids helped.  This time I cooked the apples with their skins.  We ended up with pink applesauce.

Anne was a great help.

James enjoyed sampling everything.

Grace enjoyed the scenes from a distance.

We have 12 quarts of pink applesauce, and I can't wait to eat it this year and maked more next fall.

Maybe we can go Katie's family orchard and get the apples ourselves.



Something Besides Laundry

We've been ill.  At 2 am while hugging the stainless steel bowl and crying for a drink of water Grace said, "I am not having fun."  Tears in my eyes and bowl in my own lap I replied, "I know sweetie.  No one is having fun."  Within four hours of the first tummy ache complaint, all five of us had the stomach bug.  That was 10 days ago.  We are still recovering. Ironically I am happy to report we have progressed to washing the bedding every couple of days instead of every couple of hours. Laundry is usually a job find enjoyable, but I have come to loathe it lately! 

In the midst of this icky mess, we have had many friends help in various ways.  Meals, groceries, child care, early morning phone calls for help, blessings or errands have all been received well.  We are surviving and I think we are ready to get busy with living life again.  Needless to say I haven't taken many pictures lately but I do have a few things we did prior to our stomach mishaps.

WE HAD VISITORS!!!

They arrived. They ate.  They pulled out the fishing gear!

James tested the poles to make sure they were in tip-top shape.

Edwin, Grandpa, and Richard wanted to go fishing.  They went to the fishing store TWICE before bedtime.  They were out the door first thing in the morning.  Although they planned to do the fishing, they didn't plan on swimming. However, when the canoe tipped the fisherman became the bait!

The girls and James met the boys for lunch.  Edwin successfully paddled us around the lake without tipping us over.

James stayed on the shore and ate the chips, sandwiches, dirt and rocks. He didn't like the canoe for very long.

The kids enjoyed a brief nap on the way home.  Anne is "keeping the sun out".

One day of fishing isn't enough for this grandpa.  Edwin and Grandpa went fishing the next day while Richard was scouting out the law school here.  They caught a few catfish and a white bass.  We all ate well that night, a little too well.

The next day we took another trip.

You can't come visit us without a drive to Nauvoo.  The kids and Grandma and I went to the Family Living Center to ride the sheep and bake bread while Edwin, Grandpa and Richard and Jess attended the temple.

We enjoyed a carriage ride in the countryside in the afternoon.

We also made it Carthage.

I love this shot of Grandpa.  He scouted a building project and couldn't  resist touching the lumber and reading the building specifications.  Here is a man who is passionate about his job.

Aunt Jessica

This is one of the women my daughters admire, and a woman I am happy to have as a role model for my girls.  We love you Jess!  Good luck with your new bundle!

September In Review

A Day at the Zoo

Our friends, Clare and Jacob took us to the zoo. 

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Fall Harvest

I'd like to say we had a bountiful harvest, but alas, some little critters got to the garden before I did.

Good thing these little critters are cute!

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Birthdays at Home

Sweet little James turned 1! 

Somewhere between the day trip to the temple and the General Relief Society Broadcast Edwin managed to make a cake and put together a party.

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Dress-ups

Grace is a good mommy and strapped her baby on tight before giving her a drink of water.

Nothing like mom's old toe shoes to make Anne feel so grown up.



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Family Chores

The girls have started to be a big help with cleaning the house.  James tries to help too, but Grace and Anne don't appreciate his help.

The girls clean the bathroom, wash the windows, scrub the floors, set the table and occassionally wash and dry the dishes.  The thing about little girls doing the chores is that they love to pretend they are Cinderella and sing, "I am Cinderella.  I am Cinderella." while doing their chores. 

Alas, they are children.  

We are parents.  

Thus, chore time is not always a singing experience.

This concludes our

SEPTEMBER IN REVIEW!

Autumn

Reading Club

Grace was invited to join the reading club down the block.  She is the only girl with three boys.  A friend of mine wanted to give her little guy a head start with Reading so she offered to hold a reading club. When I agreed to let Grace participate I thought a group of kids would read books and then play.  Little did I know that this club includes, Secret Club Member Hand Shakes, workbooks, homework assignments, book reports, phonics reading, and much, much more.  Grace absolutely loves it.  She is overcoming some of her shy tendencies, and has learned to play well with boys.  This elite group helps her feel grown up and different from the little kids.  Her writing is improving and she pays special attention to how words sound and their pronunciations. 

WARNING: THIS IS NOT A BOOK CLUB OR A READING GROUP.  IT IS READING CLUB!

Although Grace loves going, I think Anne enjoys staying home with mom.  We have quiet play time together while James naps.  Candyland has never been so fun!  Anne also enjoys going grocery shopping if James is awake.  She is a great help at the store and enjoys finding good things to eat.  Every week she wants to buy Jello and pudding, which I permit.  I may have a year's supply of pudding by the time this Reading Club is over!  Anyone want to come over for some pudding?