weekend update...

We spent this weekend finishing the kids Christmas shopping, watching a movie and baking about a trillion dozen cookies... well at least twenty dozen...plus the making of zucchini bread from this summers crop. It was busy, but relaxing at the same time.

Yesterday was my mother -in- laws birthday! HAPPY BIRTHDAY!!!!!!!
(A kinder, more caring woman you will not meet!)

I am slowly starting to wrap some presents. The kids have all of their gifts wrapped and under the tree, so it looks full already.

I did take pictures this weekend, but will have to post them later. I somehow have managed to get off to a later start today than usual.

I hope everyone is taking the time to enjoy the season this year.

What did you do this weekend?

Weekend fun...

We usually get these completely blue skies with absolutely no white fluffly clouds. We sat out in the back yard for awhile enjoying the wonderful clouds float by.

We mowed both lawns. This is just the back. Then we raked and the girls loaded up the clippings and cleaned everything up.

Okay, this one is in here just for me. You don't have to look... but I will. Hmmm.
I saw this recipe on one of the blogs that I visit. I can't remember which one. It is bananas with marshmallows and chocolate chips and you wrap it in foil and put it on the grill.

Okay, so we tried it. It was gross. Sorry, but it was.

We tossed them and gave the kids icecream.

On sunday, after church, we headed out to some of the fruit stands and grabbed up some yummy stuff. I love to see the fresh fruit and veggies. The colors and smells... oh so good.
Aubrey was very interested in helping choose the tomatoes. She really did a great job.

We brought home some tomatoes, zucchini, watermelon, corn and peaches. I have helped can food before, but never on my own. This was our goal.

The minute we started the process, it brought back the good old days of smelling my grandmothers kitchen. OMG! I can't tell you how great my house smelled. Miranda jumped in, then the husband jumped in and we had such a blast.

We skinned the peaches and sliced them up. There is nothing so wonderful as peach juice running down your arms.

We cooked the peaches in a simple syrup and canned away. Mark gave me a pressure cooker for Mothers Day. I have wanted one for awhile and that good boy... well... he loves me.

Look at the beautiful result.

I am so proud of us. Even better, was hearing my fourteen year old daughter say that she thought it was so much fun to can food. --Me too, girlie. I had a wonderful time with you.

We cleaned up the mess from the peaches and I threw together a yummy dinner of meatballs, peaches, watermelon, sliced tomatoes and corn on the cob.

Summer is wonderful!

Fun... family... food... good times...

It was a Great Weekend!!

Wonderful weekend...

I finally kept my word to Aubrey and finished her skirt. It is way cute. I will take a picture before church tommorrow and show you how it turned out. She was so proud. (me too) Then I took some of the same material, that I absolutely love, and made a cute purse for...me. At least no one has claimed it yet but me. That could be because I am hiding it until I get the chance to use it at church in the morning.

I started with completely different straps, that I refused to take a picture of because they were so ugly that I wanted to cry. I ripped those puppies off and made some new ones. Now, I love them.
The kids played in the sprinklers, again. This is our afternoon ritual since it is so hot and you can only keep the kids cooped up in the air conditioning for so long.
The kids ate lunch and took a nap. I know that a lot of mothers look forward to nap time. I am no exception. Nap time is like a little taste of heaven! I get to refresh and hopefully get some sewing or scrapbooking done. A lot of days it is just full of folding laundry.

My lovely Miranda went out to bring the garbage cans in and the oh so friendly garbage men had dumped the cans and left a lot of garbage on the ground. She didn't even fuss. She just cleaned it up and put the cans away. Thanks Miranda. You're a gem!

Chey got the job of turning our way, way ripe bananas into banana bread. Yummy! She made three loaves today. Thanks for fattening us up, Chey.
This afternoon we are just hanging out in the backyard giving Daddy a chance to take a nap in peace. I would love to go over to the park later and get some great photos of the kids. Maybe it will cool off enough.

My Aunt is having surgery this wednesday to have her foot amputated. She has the mrsa infection and has not been able to get rid of it during the entire last year. She is in extreme pain and the doctor said she could lose the whole leg if they don't do the surgery now. Keep her in your prayers.

Have a great weekend!!