Crazy Corn

Farmer Kaleb

60 ears!

This smile didn't last long

 

Looking good

48 cups

24 bags

One of the best parts about living in Ohio is the sweet corn!  It was always one of my mom's favorite things. Kaleb and I have had to enjoy it "off" of the cob this year due to my braces and his loose teeth!  We went to the farmers market this weekend and bought 5 dozen ears.  Kaleb helped me for a little bit until he realized it was "hard work" and then I was pretty much on my own.  I don't think he'd survive one day on an amish farm!  I'm not sure if I would survive two days, so I'll cut him a break.  Looks like we will have enough for the entire winter and spring.  Shucking it was the worst part, once that was done blanching it, cutting it and double bagging it wasn't too bad.  One more thing I can cross off of my list.  No yucky store bought corn for us!

Dead Grass

School has started but that doesn't mean we can't sneak in a couple more days of swimming.  We talked dad into getting a "practice" pool this year.  What we actually talked him into was killing 15 feet of his grass!  If we use this and take care of it for a couple of years, he's going to let kill 15 more feet of grass with a "real" pool.  We are finally enjoying our boring back yard.  Sadly, it's almost time to take it down.  We will help dad get through it by making a fire pit in the same spot so we will still have something to do this fall, and maybe he won't notice his dead grass!

Show off!

Kaleb & Tom

Rose

Peaches

25 pounds of peaches, oh my!

peaches and lots of jam

Keith's favorite!

One of the greatest things about talents I think is sharing them with others.  I've always wanted to learn how to "can" and was really excited when my friend Megan Little offered to teach me her secrets.  Well it happens to be peach season, so that's where we started.  We bought 50 pounds of peaches and got to work!  Blanching them, peeling them, cutting them, adding this and that.  Boiling the jam, heating the jars, and the lids, filling the jars and heating the jars in the big pot thingy were just a few of the things involved in this neat process.  Keith's favorite is peach pie.  I had only ever "tried" to make one once, and failed miserably.  This was a good time for me get a great recipe from my friend Diana Cochran and try again.  I am proud to say that it turned out wonderful and received Keith's stamp (fork) of approval.  Next on my list will be salsa, and then apples.  If I survive all of that, then maybe strawberries (yum)  in the spring!  It's always fun learning new things!

Lost

It was one of the first to come, and now it's the first  to go!  A couple of weeks ago we realized you had loose teeth.  It fell out while sitting in the car.  We had stopped at the hospital to drop some things off at mommies work.  Cindy my secretary gave you a dollar, she said she was the "cheap fairy".  Then you spent the night at your cousins house and the tooth fairy (Uncle Andrew) left you a dollar under the guest pillow.  When you got home I said we better put your tooth under your pillow, and you said, "Don't worry about it, I'll pray to Jesus, and he'll talk to her.  He talks to her and Santa."  Smart boy.  Why bother when you can just talk to Jesus.  Your grown up tooth is already coming in, so you are well on your way to being a great big boy.

Fun in the sun

Kaleb, no fear!

Jonah, our cousin.

Kaleb's friend Heber who really wanted to swim OUTSIDE!

Kaleb and Heber say it's better than a bathtub!  Mom says she'll wait until winter to get in there!

After 4 weeks of sitting in a HOT natatorium for swimming lessons we were able to spend some time at our cousins house in their nice COOL pool.  This has got to be the best part of summer!

Summertime

The big day!

ready to go

"I can see the whole world!"

Having Uncle Aaron with us was definitely the best part!

mom & dad

Our fun hotel

Can you find Kaleb in this picture?

Walking at Epcot made someone hungry!

6 Years Old

It's hard to believe you are six years old. How time flies. Kindergarten is done. You have 3 loose teeth. We are enjoying another summer together, sleeping in, and oh how I love having you home with me. We went to Disney World for your birthday this year, a much needed get away. You are in your 3rd week of swimming lessons this summer and loving it. You love anything that has to do with a video game, and you love being around other kids. We try to keep you busy, but every once in a while you like to stay at home and have a "lazy day". Mom has been really worried for about the last 9 months since you have been having some additional health problems. You have been a good sport through it all, just a happy kid no matter what is thrown your way. How lucky we are to have such a great kid. You are my favorite Kaleb!