Going on an airplane

to Idaho.


BYU-I Education Week.


Sleep by myself. Eat whatever I want. And no body slams this week.

Shhhh

whisper

I did it!

I got the family switched over to brown rice!

They even ate brown rice, milk and sugar for breakfast this morning.

Shhh-they don't know their mother switched their rice and it is good for them. Well, at least they haven't complained about it.

IDIDIT! IGOTMISELFCHANGED!!!!

The 2 year old just came bolting into the living room in a bathing suit. She changed herself. She is very proud of herself. I wish I had a camera. She has a little light blue speedo one piece suit. The back of the swimsuit looks like a Y. She put her swimsuit on backwards and both nipples are hanging out. But she did it herself. Even #2 is giggling.

Surgery Date is Set

DH will have his shoulder repaired on August 3. That is after I get back from Idaho. He will spend 4-6 weeks in a sling, then 4 months of physical therapy. No snow shovelling for him this year.

The blackberries are ripening. The canes are so loaded they are hitting the ground. I anticipate about 15 pounds of blackberries.

#1 is back from Algonquin. His was the only canoe to capsize-in the middle of a lake-with six foot waves. He was upset he lost his water bottle. The saw moose. Ate wild blackberries on an island in the middle of a lake (while waiting for the chop to settle down). I am very appreciative for good Scout leaders.

Vamanos Amigos!

That is what I heard my #5 tell her Grammie today.

We picked blueberries at a U-pick down the road from Grammie's house. We now have approximately 30 pounds of blueberries in the freezer.

We were picking and picking and picking. And the "when are we going to be done?" question kept coming out of the mouths of the children. So, I gave the little guys the task of filling Grammie's bucket. When Grammie's bucket is full we will leave. She had kids all over her like glue. She handled all the chatter beautifully and when the bucket was full #5 ran down the aisle and yelled, "Vamanos Amigos! Let's GO!"

It was a beautiful day. Loads of boobas on the bushes, hot dogs for dinner and happy kiddos.

Surgery is in the Future

DH had an MRI done a week or so ago. The doctor read the results and my honey gets to have surgery to repair his shoulder. He has an appointment this next Friday with the shoulder doctor. From the reading we have done, I anticipate it will not be done arthroscopically-his tear and bone fracture is extra large and they will probably have to open him up the old fashioned way. I will write more when we know more.

sigh

I just keep telling myself a year. The recovery is going to be a year.

There are so many things that are just not happening around here because DH is unable to help out. The garden is essentially all weeds. The lawn is long. The weed whacking is long overdue. We are a team, my hubby and I. He is a man that does dishes, vacuums, puts kids to bed and does diapers. He is a gem! Keeping the house running (not smoothly) without him has been difficult. A bunch of tasks have just fallen off the bottom of the list.

I could try to push through but then the kids would suffer even more. It is better to read a story and bake together and have long grass, right?

Change is in the Air

School around here is looking a bit different this year. We are currently investigating online high school options for #1 and #2. It looks like Mom will not be their teacher this year.

I am good with that!

We have been investigating their options since our move. In our county we have middle collages. It is basically high school and college mixed together. In three years they could have their high school diploma, an associates degree or technical degree. For a family that has been paying taxes for years and not using the public schools we are really hoping the children will be able to get their first 2 years of college done this way. We looked into the online high school option to prepare them for college style classes. Being accountable to someone besides mom and dad and a more rigorous schedule is just what they need!

I get to concentrate on the little kids now. I am good with that!

Currants Picked

Jelly made. I love my Mehu Lisa steam juicer. It is a dream for doing jelly and juices. No straining fruit through nylons. No red fingers for days and days.

I only made one batch of currant jelly this year. We still had some from last year and I really, really love Bonne Maman Four Fruit Jam. It has cherries, currants, raspberries and strawberries. I used the rest of the currant juice for our own version of Four Fruit Jam. Whenever one of those little Bonne Maman jar is opened it doesn't last until the next meal. So I know the kids like this combination also.

5 pounds cherries, 5 pounds raspberries steamed and juiced with currants, 5 pounds strawberries and approximately 12 cups of currant juice. 5-1-7-2 (for those non-jamming readers that is 5 cups fruit puree, 1 pectin package, 7 cups of sugar and 2 tablespoons lemon juice for a batch of jam)

Off to A&W for dinner!

really tired

whenever DH is gone I just don't get to bed early.

However, the kids still get up at the same time.

yawn

The Big Boys are Gone

as is Daddy to Scout Camp.

The 4 littles and I are home. #5 has a sore throat and is quiet. That is unusual for her.

It is Sunday and we are just chilling. No church today. We were going to go to Grass Lake and see the parade but everyone (except #6) voted to stay home and let #5 get better. They really want to go to the lake tomorrow!