What was I thinking?

I get an email on Wednesday from a friend that she knows someone that has 1000 pounds of pears and she needs to get rid of them. She is selling them for .35 a pound. I think wow that is a good deal and I consider getting some. I forward the email on to some friends and Megan calls me to ask when we are going to get pears.
I get all excited and we run out and get pears that night. I end up coming home with about 65 lbs of pears. I am beginning to think I am crazy. I have only ever canned jam and this seemed more complicated. The next day I stop by Megan's house and she is knee deep canning her pears. I know that this is what I need to do but I really didn't know where to start. Megan offered for me to come over and work on mine with her but my day was too crazy and her day got crazy today. I was on my own. Still panicking but I knew that I had to do something with all these pears. HOW DO YOU TAKE THESE TO THIS? You borrow a few things from a friend and jump at the offer to take her daughter home to help. Capri was the biggest help. She has been helping her grandma and mom can for as long as she can remember. We canned about 2/3rds of the pears today and Capri peeled and cored over half of them while I was preparing the rest of the stuff. Capri is an amazing young lady and my life saver today. Also just having her here urged Madison to jump right in and help when she got home from school. Capri is also great with Ashley and involved her by letting her hand her pears and help with the corer. Ashley felt like she was the most important part of the whole process because of how wonderful Capri is. We now have 23 quarts of pears and I am a little more confident when it comes to canning, thanks to Capri. Tomorrow I get to dehydrate the rest of the pears. This is what my girls are looking forward to the most. A friend gave us some last year and they thought it was better then candy.

Goofy girl

Today I came out to Ashley helping herself to a snack. I had to do a double take to see what she was doing. When I realized what she was wearing to peel her orange, I just started laughing. I ask her why she needed goggles to peel her orange and she told me so it won't squirt in her eye. Now that is creative.

Ashely got her ears pierced

Today we went to get Ashley's ears pierced. We have been trying to do it for about a month but it never has worked out. She has been asking to get them done for awhile but we couldn't ever figure out if it was her or her sisters pressuring her. We finally came to the conclusion that she really wanted it and she is the same age the other two were so we did it. Kevin made sure Ashley understood what it all involved so we wouldn't have any problems when we got to the store. She was a real trooper and hopped right up in the chair with no problems. She was so brave and didn't shed a tear or even look like it hurt. When she was all done and we were waiting to pay and she was nothing but smiles. Who ever knew that it was going to go so smoothly. Afterwords when we were walking around the mall she would tell anyone that would listen that she just got her ears pierced. I am happy that she is so excited and happy with her new ear rings.

My husband is amazing

Back in June I took family photo's of all of Kevin's side of the family. It was late in the afternoon and the kids were cranky so we didn't get the best picture but with the help of my amazing husband we have a descent picture.

Before

After
Unfortunately he couldn't fix everything because there wasn't something else that he could switch it out with. I am just amazed at what he was able to do and that we have a nice picture of his family. Thank you Kevin for helping me capture a good picture for you family. You are amazing and I don't tell you that enough.

Sleep walking

Our kids have slept walked off and on over the years but it seems to be happening more lately. Last week Madison came into our room as we were going to bed. She started asking us a question over and over again but it took us awhile to understand what she was saying. When we finally figured it out we knew she was sleeping. She ask us if she could drink on Monday, Wednesday and Friday or Tuesday and Thursday. The only thing that we can think of is that she was dreaming of school because there is one class that she switches every other day. We told her about it the next morning and we had a great laugh.

Tonight as we were watching TV after the kids went to sleep, Allison walked out of her room into the kitchen. I didn't jump up right away till I heard her rummaging in the silverware drawer. By the time I got in there she had a spoon in her hand and was in the next drawer down. I ask her if I could help her and she told me that she was brushing her teeth. I told her ok and I would help her. I walked her back to bed. She laid right down like nothing happened.

It hit me tonight how scary it can be to have them sleep walking like they do because Allison could have easily grabbed a knife. I wish I could do something so they wouldn't do this but at least it is good for a laugh.

Preschool time

Ashley started preschool today. Just when I thought I have seen her at her most excited she starts school. She jumped out of bed and was ready to go but school didn't start till 12:30. Things were kind of hectic here this morning so it went by fast but that doesn't mean that I want a repeat of this morning. However time could not move fast enough for Ashley. I showed her where the hands needed to be on the clock before we could leave. She would come and say she was ready and I would tell her to look at the clock. She then told me that we needed a new clock because one of the hands doesn't move fast enough. She was dressed with her back pack on for over an hour before it was time to go. It was so cute. I sure love this little girl she keeps things fun around here. It was great to see her cute fun personality in everything she does. She finally wore her shoes outside. She decided that she was saving them for the first day of preschool. I am so happy that she was excited and didn't have any problem going. Kevin was home today so he was able to go with me to drop her off. She walked right into class. The first thing she needed to do was find her name tag to put into a cubbie. She found it right away. After putting her back pack and name tag away she gave us hugs and then was off to play.
When I picked her up the first thing she told me was, "THAT WAS FUN!!!" She talked the whole way home and sang me a new song she learned. She is ready to go back tomorrow. I have tried to explain to her that she doesn't go every day but she isn't quite getting it. Tomorrow is going to be hard when the reality sets in. Thursday can't come soon enough for her.

Labor Day Weekend

For Labor Day this year we decided to try something different. We have been going to Utah since Madison was in Preschool. We really have had a lot of fun but our reasons for Utah just weren't there. We have been talking about visiting Kevin's sister in Spokane since they moved there a year ago so we took a vote and Spokane won. The girls were super excited to go see their cousins. We left Friday after school. We had a long drive ahead of us but I was prepared with snacks, movies and activities. The drive went so smoothly and we arrived in Spokane with no hiccups. For our family that is saying a lot, we do not travel well in a car. Lets just say Dramamine is my best friend to avoid messes.

Since we arrived late, the girls didn't get to see their cousins till morning. Once all the kids were up and acquainted, they sat down to watch cartoons while all the parents got ready for the day. Once we were all ready we went into downtown Spokane. It was rather busy because Pig Out in the Park was going on but we were still able to do what we wanted. Unfortunately I left my camera in the car so I had to improvise with my phone camera. We rode a gondola over the falls in downtown. The kids enjoyed the ride. The view of the falls was pretty but earlier in the year it is even more magnificent we were told. The girls also got to ride a carousel and then feed the ducks. If was fun to be able to see downtown and get to do some the tourism stuff.

The kids also had fun goofing around and playing with their cousins.

The girls were able to take a ride with Uncle Ryan on his go cart. They thought it was cool because they have never been able to ride on something like that before. Aunt Karen also taught Madison and Allison how to make friendship bracelets and they have been making them ever since. Allison already has a plan to make matching ones for two of her friends at school.

On Sunday we were happy to help them celebrate Ruth's 1st birthday. I know that this year Ashley's birthday was extra special because her cousins were there so I am glad that we were able to be there to celebrate. Ruth was so cute with her cake and we enjoyed watching her eat it. I am so glad that we decided to change up our Labor Day routine. We had a great time and were very sad to see it come to and end.