This is a very busy time of year for our family! We've been canning like crazy. We harvested our carrots a few weeks ago and actually had a really good crop this year. We peel, chop, blanch, and freeze them to eat during the winter. So one night for family night we had a carrot factory. We borrowed another peeler from the neighbors so all the kids could peel away! We all had orange hands for a couple days! I think we got 15 gallon bags of chopped carrots.
A week or so later we went and picked grapes at the rental house we lived in and made juice. Then we got some apples from Jared's bro and made apple sauce. It was a long day with lots of dishes. This isn't even all the jars. Jared had already taken some to the basement.
I counted up all the things we either can, freeze, or dry and it's like 15 different things (pesto, green beans, corn, carrots, soy beans, salsa, tomatoes, peppers, tomatilla salsa, apricots, pears, peaches, apples, grapes). Not to mention the jam..... All I can say is....I couldn't do it without Jared's help!!! He is awesome!
Our sweet little Millie turned 8 this year!! Yippee! It's one of those birthday's that she's been waiting for.....well, for a long time. I feel like we've been celebrating her birthday for a month. We had a family party for Luke, Mason, and Camille in Duchesne over Conference weekend, complete with horsey cupcakes! Then we had her actual birthday. She got a reading lamp (which she was saving her money to buy, so she was thrilled), and her scriptures. We made cat cookies to take to her class and I went and ate lunch with her at school that day! She was in heaven. I have to enjoy every minute of being loved in public. She loved showing me off to all of her friends:)
The next day was her friend party. My kids only get friend parties when they are 5, 8, & 12, so this was a big deal. We had a western party and invited 15 girls! Her invitations said, "Kick up yer heels, cuz we're makin' a big deal. Camille's turning 8, let's celebrate!" We had dinner and a campfire, and lots of fun cowgirl games. We played, "Rope the Pony" (get the hula-hoop over the stick horses head).
Pin the Tail on the horse. We were so lucky to have Aunt Kaydi in town for Camille's party! She was such a great help. We couldn't have done it without her.
"Pan for gold" (we had toys and candy buried in the sawdust)
We also did barrell racing around 5-gallon buckets. We had quesadillas for dinner.
Then we headed out for some good ol' boot scootin boogie (simplified). The girls loved dancing to the music!
I didn't take nearly enough pictures! I don't even have a group photo, but we ended the night with a campfire and smores and a game of "Pass the Rattlesnake" (hot-potato). We had a blast planning this party! We sure love our little cowgirl!
Then......on Saturday we went to Black Island Farms for more b-day celebrations. This one was for Mason too. His birthday is 4 days after Camille's.
We had a great time. It was actually a little hot, but we weren't complaining.
Dallin just hung out here almost the entire time! He is sure a happy easy going guy!
Our little Mason Man turned 3 this year! We love this guy so much. He is still enthralled with the chickens and checks for eggs at least 5 times a day. He is my best little player. He'll go play outside, in his room, or wherever for hours. He doesn't ever say, "I'm bored", or want me to entertain him. He wanted this game for his birthday! He loves it.
