Just for Laughs

I know, I know... everyone has a funny video of their kid eating a pickle. But, they're still funny. I can't help but post this.

Background: Ben has had a pickle before (a year or two ago), but I enjoyed this one even more. Why a pickle? Why now? We let all the kids watch Little Rascals and they all asked for pickles for a snack. This is what happened when we gave one to Ben.



P.S. Wendi and Hailie really enjoyed their pickles - said it was a "good sour". :o)

Forgotten Posts of Summer

Have you ever done something fun and taken pictures (or not) and thought, 'I will blog about this. It was a great time.'?

Now you know how I spent my summer.

Here are a few of the things we did that were left unmentioned:

The Twin Falls Temple Open House:




With accompanying sightseeing:











Then, there was the Caldwell Night Rodeo (Tricia, you and your family HAVE to come for the CNR sometime - you know you want to!):


Hailie has deemed these the only "okay" princesses. All others are superfluous.

The Western Idaho Fair









The reason this picture is so much bigger is so you can read the sticker on Ben's shirt.

Finally, Wendi and Hailie camped out in the back yard all by themselves (we had our bedroom window open, the gate was locked, and my daughters were blessed with screams that could make the deaf hear and the hearing deaf).

SUCCESS!

I can make jam. Not only that, but I can also can it (I can can, can you can can?). A friend gave me a whole lot of peaches (leftovers from the bushel she bought) and I decided I might as well make jam.

And, I did.

And, it worked great and tastes great.

I actually ended up making three batches from peaches. Then, just to make sure I didn't make only ONE kind of jam in my first season, last night I made strawberry jam from the strawberries I bought at Costco. It was the perfect amount - and I got to eat two berries.

Brent's new challenge to me is to figure out how to make a "Pear Berry" jam. Hm. Maybe next year. I'm still basking in the glory of all my lids "popping" and nothing burning and no major spills.

*sigh*

Success.

Not just one, but TWO!

Hailie's bottom front teeth have been getting loose for quite a while. About a week ago, Brent convinced her to let him tie dental floss to one of them and have her yank it out. It was traumatic, but triumphant. The result can be seen at right.

Then, two days later, she was eating an English muffin for breakfast and her other loose tooth came out. A decent picture of both missing teeth is still pending.

Yes, we're doing the tooth fairy thing and, of course, they love it! Me, too. It makes it very exciting all around.

First Day of Kindergarten!... and "What's that orange stuff?"

I am happy to report that the first day of kindergarten (which is, in reality, only three hours long) went successfully!

Was I concerned? Not much. Occasionally, I thought there would be some separation anxiety (even though that's never been an issue with my WONDERFUL daughters), but they didn't even require a good-bye hug when I took them to their classrooms.

Let's rewind for a moment - this is their third school - preschool was had for a year and a half previously. But this is big kid school. (Did anyone ever notice how fifth graders look really big?)

Have I mentioned that Wendi and Hailie are BRILLIANT?! Wendi notices absolutely everything. It is an unusual gift; she sees when people need something or if something isn't quite right... I love this talent of hers!

Today she said, "Mom, what's the orange stuff by the garage door?"
Me: "What orange stuff?" I look around and see nothing orange.
Hailie: "Right THERE, Mom!"
Me: "Uh, don't see any-" WAIT! Um, haven't been paintballing in a while, but pretty sure I know what THOSE are! (only one pictured... there are two more)

What does your Peanut Butter Sandwich say about YOU?!

I think this is MOSTLY right... I'm pretty sure I'm not a "fussy eater", but oh well!

What Your Peanut Butter And Jelly Sandwich Means

Your eating style is reserved. You are a bit of a fussy eater, and you have very specific ways you like your food prepared. You have a total sweet tooth. When you can get away with it, you like to have dessert before dinner! Your taste in food tends to be complex and sophisticated. You're probably a great cook, and talented at mixing unusual flavors. You are probably a fairly normal, upper middle class person. You don't rock the boat too often. You are a tough person who isn't afraid to live life fully. There isn't a lot that scares you. You are laid back and extremely easygoing. You never make a fuss, and you try to enjoy every moment.

What Does Your Peanut Butter and Jelly Sandwich Say About You?

Lemonade Stand!

My fantastic daughters decided they really, really want a fish tank.

Well, if we're going to get a fish tank, let's get a decent one that we can grow into, right? Let's not mourn over the one we left in Florida or lust after those really fancy ones in doctor's offices. Let us save our money and work towards said fish tank.

My fantastic daughters also decided they wanted to open a lemonade stand. Well, two birds, one weekend! :o)



Here are the signs and my daughters. They were such good sales ladies. Every few minutes they would yell out (unprompted, I might add), "Lemonade, twenty-five cents! Who wants some ice-cold lemonade?"

We used a folding table and had our stand at a yard sale. We were there on a Friday and a Saturday each day from around 9 a.m. to around 12:30 p.m. Total made: $22. Not bad for their first jobs, eh? Including their savings from before, Wendi and Hailie's savings toward the fish tank add up to *drum roll* $43! Wahoo!

Oh, and Wendi gets her cast off in two days. Another WAHOO!