Family

My mom and dad arrived yesterday and as always I was unprepared. I ran as fast as I could around the house for the last hour to get everything in order and still didn't manage to get everything cleaned up. They were so glad to see the kids I don't think they even noticed.

Today is day 2 of the visit and things are going alright. Already my dad and I have discussed politics and religion. Mom and I have covered just about everything we needed to to bring each other up to dated. My dad is putting together a swing set for the kids and mom and I made 3 batches of peach jam. Wow we had a full day.

Kook Kwick

Some pictures of the Kook Kwick

Fun Things I found

Oh the stuff you can get for $1.00! Yesterday I washed all my new things that I acquired from the auction. I still have all the big stuff that's in the trailer so I'm sure I will be posting on this for the rest of the week.

In the boxes for $1 I found an oil lamp and 2 calf buckets. Also an old milking pail that's not good for milk but sill in nice condition so I will find a good use for it. Also I got a small table that will be good for Brody to play at and 3 old blue TV trays we will use outside when we BB-Q. Lots of old big jars that will be good to keep things in too.

In the boxes for $3 I got very nice binoculars and some beautiful blue jars. Also some neat clear jars.

In my $8 box I got a sewing box and and a cake holder. I love it and call it dated. Joe said it's vintage!

I also got an Ice cream maker for $3 and an old coffee grinder that I think is neat. I got 2 pressure cookers, one is great and we used it tonight to make bean soup. The other needs a gasket but is in great condition. I got them for $10 each.

And the best thing of all is my pressure cannier. Well maybe it's to small to can in but it is so cool. It's a Kook Kwick. I can't find a lot of information on it but I will keep looking.

This is just the beginning! I still have more! In other news My parents are in St Gorge Utah tonight. I got 12 large bell peppers from the garden and have many more that should be ready in about a week. I canned green beans tonight, wish I had more but some is better then none. Brody decided he no longer needs a nap but is so tired by supper no one wants to be around him.

Also we sent a down payment for 2 new horses today. We will pick them up when we are in Minnesota next month.

I can't move the pictures around or I would.

Do I hear a dollar

We went to a farm auction last weekend and due to the rain is was moved to today. Over 4 inches of rain fell last week and after standing in it for 2 hours last Saturday we were all glad they changed the date. Well I don't know if we got anything we relay need but we had fun. The kids stayed with a sitter and Joe and I had grown up time! I got 2 presser cookers, small cannier, lots of junk for a dollar, bed roll that was supposed to be a tent, nice pair of binoculars, a bookshelf and an old cabinet. Joe got some equipment I will list in detail when I now what it is, a mouse infested sewing machine cabinet, 2 old children's sleds, hay hooks and a broken bookshelf. So you can see we relay didn't need any of it. Well, maybe the equipment.

I found peaches for $0.99 a lb on Friday and now have 60 lb of them. I will can them this week. My Mom and Dad should get to our place on Wednesday so that will break up the week. I am so excited for them to come but at the same time I'm not ready for house guests.

I know the pictures have nothing to do with the auction. I just like these!

Texas or bust

Yesterday my kids tried to go to Texas on foot. Joe and I were fixing the dishwasher and the kids were taking about going to Texas to see real cowboys. We thought that this was a game just like when they built a boat and went to sea. Well about 30 minutes later I look out the door to see my children at the county road. That's about 1/4 of a mile. One good thing is we live well off the road and that it doesn't get a lot of traffic. When I got them and and questioned Karlee on what they thought they were doing all I got was " We told you we were going to Texas." They got in trouble for going out of the yard and taking Brody with them as well as leaving their shoes at home. We talked about how far it was and went over strangers, cars, money, food, and what happens when it gets dark. I think all the reality of the trip was harder on them then me being mad. I don't think they will do it again but they are not going to play outside without me now. So much for some quiet time alone. Its funny when something like that happens, you want so much to yell at them and yet hug them because they are home safe. It was also hard not to laugh, they were so serious and determined to go.

Karlee, Hank and I made cookies today at nap time. They had so much fun and we worked it into our math lesson. They also folded and put away all their own laundry! Today was also our first science experiment, what public school has a science experiment on the 3rd day of school and lets you bake cookies? I love homeschooling!

Brody

Joe caught a praying mantis today and gave it to the kids. They loved the way it would look at each of them. We let it go in the garden. I did not get a picture as I was having fun playing with it. Oh well maybe next time.

Brody is talking so much now. He is very good at the F sound so everything starts with it. Hot is Fot, go is fo and so is no. He calls himself mine. Where is Brody? "Mine!"he yells as he points to himself with a smile.

First Day of School

Wow my babies are 5 and starting school. I feel like I just had them, I'm not ready for this but like all things it happens if your ready or not. It went well I think. A little anticlimactic. We have done so many projects and work sheets the last year it was almost like any other day. I had the kids get dressed before breakfast and when were finished eating we started school. We did bible class first, about 35 minutes, than they went out to play and I cleaned the basement. It's going to be the school room someday. Hank thought if he worked fast he could go play before Karlee so his first page looks like Brody did it. When he found out this didn't work he did a better job. After abut 30 min we were back to the table for science and language arts. We also read some poetry and worked on handwriting. We are starting the kids with cursive this year. I know their a little young for that. We will see how it works and if they just cant get it then next year we will try something new. We skipped history and math today as we started that last month and are about a week ahead of schedule. Brody did great, he colored and played with toys. Over all it was a good day. Oh, the kids climbed on the roof of Joe's pickup to night and were put to bed with out a story.

So in other news my garden is trying to grow but with all the cool weather and rain things sre slow. I have about 3 heads worth of lettuce today and some beans. I just love my garden ans wish I could spend all day in the dirt!