Peaches & Pillars

I told myself that I wasn't going to can anything this year. I hate when I lie to myself. I figured I better get some peaches & pears done since I'm going to be spending my life savings on baby food eventually....maybe I could make a dent by having some fruit on hand. I didn't do a lot of peaches...on 17 quarts...because I already have quite a bit from last year. Why 17? Why such a

strange number? I was going to do eighteen but on the last batch - - -

CRAP!

To cheer me up - my dish soap made a butterfly for me while draining. How nice!

We've got these gigantic slug looking caterpillars this year. They are sick. I can pick up a hairy one - but not these big green squishy ones. Caleb was holding one the other day & it twitched & he threw it & screamed like a little girl. It was hilarious. What was even funnier about that - is Casey went & picked it back up to show Caleb that it's okay to hold them....and it twitched again & Casey threw it. HEE HEE - pansies.

Caleb discovered this fella the other day. He wasn't sure how close to get to it.

- getting braver!

I had to be pretty sneaky to get this picture with his eyes open.

If you are wondering - we are still stuck on the "I shut my eyes phase"

Caleb's New Thing

Me - with camera in hand: "Caleb....smile!!! "

Caleb: "I shut my eyes"

A new tradition!

August 30th is NATIONAL TOASTED MARSHMALLOW DAY! For those that don't know, I heart mallows. I love the sugary coated peeps at holidays (the Easter rabbits are my favorite...and the Halloween pumpkins are a close second). I love to get 5 or 6 large mallows & put them in a cup & microwave them for a bit & then indulge in their gooey goodness. I love a perfectly toasted mallow over the camp fire. I love to snack on mini mallows. I once bought a mallow that was dipped in caramel - then dipped in chocolate - then drizzled with white chocolate. It was sinfully divine!

When I was a little girl - my Grandma Anderson had a drawer that she kept mallows in & a few would occasionally escape from the bag & I'd dig through the drawer & find them. They were stale & I stilled loved them. I called them 'little crunchies'. Yum.

Since I had never heard about this fabulous day until Sunday afternoon - I had to make a plan! I attempted to get my family together at the Box Elder campground - but alas - everyone was busy! DIDN'T THEY KNOW WHAT DAY IT WAS!?!? They'll all have to pencil it in for next year. Casey & Caleb & I went and celebrated the awesome day anyway. It was a chilly evening - but roasting hot dogs & mallows over the camp fire was a lot of fun & a cheap outing!

Caleb loves graham crackers!!

My little tree gnome. I heart gnomes.

Silly Casey. It's not NATIONAL SMORES DAY. Oh well - to each their own I guess!
I've finally purchased a DSLR camera (my 10-year gift from Flying J) & I'm clueless on how to make it function at it's best - so here are some more attempted pictures of our evening.

Yeeeee ha!

Ahhhhhh. The wonderful Box Elder County Fair. On Wednesday night my brothers were both participating in the Wild Cow Saddling event for the Bulls, Broncs & Barrels night....needless to say it was some good watching! The whole evening went pretty slow - but towards the end of the evening a bull rider got kicked in the back of the head & knocked out (should've worn a helmet!!) and a bull took off over the fence & into the stands. I'm glad I wasn't sitting there. Casey & I managed to share a corn dog & eat a rodeo burger that night. I don't know the carneys secret to corn dogs....and perhaps I really don't even want to know....but the are fabulous. I'm excited for Peach Days to inhale another one!!

On Thursday - you'll never believe this - Caleb ended up sick. Around 11:30 he was sitting in his high chair playing with play-doh when I asked him what he wanted to do next & he said "I want to go night night" How cute! So - I pick him up & he was so hot! Gave him some medicine & off to nap time it was. Poor kid. Are toddlers always sick? Just 2 weeks ago he had a double ear infection. Give the kid a freaking break already!

So - after his nap we headed out to the car and just as I was about to back up - I see my sister pull in behind me. She comes walking up my side of the car & we are both dressed in hot pink shirts with a black tank underneath. CLOSE CALL!! We've ended up wearing the same looking outfits before & I'm afraid we're going to have to start calling each other before we hang out. Want to know why she was stopping by? She wanted to know if her shoes looked dumb with her shorts!! What a random reason - but I'm so glad she stopped! She had to change since I didn't have anything else to fit my body.

The real reason for Thursday was my baby brother Dylan was showing a steer. He didn't do to hot - but he looked smokin out there in the ring with his FFA jacket. I bet he's beating girls off with a stick on a daily basis. After he showed his steer we inhaled some more fair food - I had Dutch Oven potatoes, BBQ Chicken, Scones & homemade root beer....it was divine!

Angela let her kids ride a few rides....it was 96 degrees!! No shade...I thought I was going to die. I drank so much water. I swear - I'm part camel lately.

Jordon & Blake & my dad chillin on a bench.

Angela & Griffen screaming their faces off.

Caleb loved the small animal barn. Every time a rooster would crow he'd put his hand up to his face and say "OH MY GOSH!! WHAT IS IT?? A rooster?!?!" He also loved the rabbit that was out to pet. He kept hugging it & kissing it...but we convinced him that hugging it was enough. We then all shared cheesecake on a stick. I thought that Blake was going to cry because he couldn't have his own. Mmmmmmm.....fair food is so freaking good!

This afternoon Casey lost a bet. HA HA HA! I heart winning. Since Caleb was sick Casey stayed home from church because it's freaking impossible for me to find someone to play the piano last minute - so when I came home from church Casey was cleaning the bathroom (cause he LOST) and Caleb had fallen asleep on the couch. Poor kid. He napped for almost 4 hours, but woke up without a fever. I hope tomorrow he feels a whole lot better than the last 4 days.

Are you sitting down?

Casey & I went to the Dr yesterday - and you'll never believe what was found.

Two freaking babies are in me!! Thanks a lot stork! I'm currently in major denial....but when I'm as large as a barn - I'll probably have to accept reality. So - would you find out the sex of the babies or let it be a surprise? EVERYONE except ME wants to know so bad! We won't be able to find out until the end of October - so maybe everyone will decide it will be a fun surprise by then. Come March 2011 - I am accepting all donations & dinners offered :)

Casey Turns 30!

I'm a slacker. We had the party on July 11th & I'm barely getting to writing about it!!

Eeeeek!! 30?! I guess it could be worse. I planned a fun party of 'Minute To Win It' games for both sides of our family. We met at Snow Park in Brigham City for games & dutch oven cobbler (peach & cherry). I don't understand it - but Casey's family likes pie or cobbler for their birthday desserts. I'm a cake girl. I guess it keeps me from eating treats when their birthdays roll around - so I'll stop complaining.

MINUTE TO WIN IT: My sisters had to put a puzzle together. They each had a different cereal box cut into 16 pieces and had to see who could put their puzzle together first. Ashley took the cake on this one.

MINUTE TO WIN IT:

Both sets of parents had to unravel a roll of crepe paper one handed. It was good watching!

I'll have to watch the replay on the video camera to see who the winner was - but it was really close between Casey's mom & my dad. But - we're all winners, right?

MINUTE TO WIN IT:

Place an Oreo cookie on your forehead and using only your face muscles - move it into your mouth.

Casey won this game in no time! Who knows how to use their face muscles for a purpose besides smiling??

Shelby looking at Casey in total bewilderment.

MINUTE TO WIN IT:

Ben & Derrick seeing who can empty a kleenex box the fastest one handed!

MINUTE TO WIN IT:

All of the chillins under 13 played an M&M game. They had to pick up an M&M with a straw & carry it over to another plate - whoever had the most on their 2nd plate at the end was the winner!

Griffen & Blake kept cracking up for some reason.

Our niece, Kaetlyn, DOMINATED the M&M game!

MINUTE TO WIN IT:

Casey's Brother & his wife attempting to balance 7 ding dongs on their forehead. I wonder if they would've worked better unwrapped?

MINUTE TO WIN IT:

My brothers had to keep a balloon up in the air with nothing but a spray bottle. It didn't work as well as I thought it would - but it was good watching!

Jordon keeping the balloon up!

Dylan winning the balloon game!

For those of you that aren't aware - my family can be slightly annoying/fun/rambunctious/weird/lame/hilarious. So - of course we ended up in a water fight. My sister's husband, Derrick, asked me "Where are all of the extra balloons?" So I handed him the bag of empty balloons, not even thinking!!

My dad came up to me a second later & said "Where are all of your extra balloons?" I said, "I gave them Derrick." My dad said "WHAT?!?! All of them?? Why would you do that!?" I said "oopsie."

Jordon waiting to drench someone. I don't think Casey's parents brought the cooler of water for this purpose - but it was appreciated none the less.

Angela attempting revenge on Dylan.

My mother's exact words: "Derrick. Don't you dare"

Someone yells in the background "DO IT!! She dared you!" So - he did it. I think he looks slightly pleased/scared. Needless to say - he left shortly after that.