I have a hard time with empty pots, so in the window box after I pulled all the summer flowers out, I planted some pansies that will go from fall to spring.
Sunday, October 19, 2008
AWWWWW, Summer is really over!
I always postpone getting ready for winter by pulling out my summer flowers. It's hard for me to admit that temperatures are dipping down and several times now the flowers have frozen overnight. The zinnias that used to be beautiful orange and pink are now crusty and brown, so I got to it and on Saturday cleaned out the flower beds.
It always kills me to throw all these flowers away. Did you know that if you dig up your geraniums before they freeze you can save them until next year. We have been doing this for several years and in the spring you have an enormous blooming geranium. Last weekend before I left on Friday, I heard it was going to freeze and so I dug them up, each with a pretty large root ball of dirt and placed them in a shallow rubbermaid tub, I squished them all together. I put them in the garage, it's best to put them on an inside wall to your house (it's warmer), water them every once in awhile throughout the winter, and in the spring they will re-bloom into gorgeous plants!
I have a hard time with empty pots, so in the window box after I pulled all the summer flowers out, I planted some pansies that will go from fall to spring.
I was busy in the yard for a big part of the day, cleaning the beds, mowing the lawn, moving things inside to prepare for colder temperatures. The kids had friends over which is great, they played outside and inside on the game cube or wii. However, this is the thing that killed me. Around noon I went to Costco and got a few things, one being the !!!4 lb !!! container of grapes. Around 6 when I came inside, this is all that was left.
I'm not really mad or anything, at least they're grapes instead of candy right? I just can never get over how quickly things disappear from our kitchen. Having 5 kids, boys nonetheless, food vanishes. And if I ask who ate it................well, nobody did it....it wasn't me. I guess it's something I won't ever get used to. And, really it's going to get worse as they get older. At our house a box of 6 something is a single serving and if everyone has one sandwich, a loaf of bread is lunch with not much else to spare. I have YEARS to deal with this. Really though, I wouldn't have it any other way!
I have a hard time with empty pots, so in the window box after I pulled all the summer flowers out, I planted some pansies that will go from fall to spring.
Friday, October 17, 2008
Fun day at the zoo!
Today the kids were out of school so we joined thousands of others and went to the zoo. It was a beautiful 70 degree day!
The younger kids rode the carousel (Taylor would not like anyone to assume that HE rode it).
The train ride is essential, fortunately I got to skip it and take a couple of pictures. You can be sure that I have taken my share of rides in the past.
Here's the highlight (for Cole anyway)...the penguins. He was looking for them the moment we got there. I have to admit, I also love them, first of all they are my favorite colors..I love black and white, and the way they waddle around....well...they're just CUTE!
The younger kids rode the carousel (Taylor would not like anyone to assume that HE rode it).
The train ride is essential, fortunately I got to skip it and take a couple of pictures. You can be sure that I have taken my share of rides in the past.
Thursday, October 16, 2008
One of many projects!
I have a lot of projects in the near future, too many actually, and I get very overwhelmed if I really think about what I need to get accomplished! I will post them as they happen, but this is a quick thank you gift that I made up today and wanted to share.
I was having a hard time getting a picture without glare. Obviously it does say "HOT Chocolate". Today my niece helped me out with the vinyl lettering and I love the way it turned out! THANKS TIFFANY!!!!!! This is a fairly large glass container filled with our family's favorite homemade hot chocolate mix. (Thanks to my sister) We love to share the recipe.
HOMEMADE HOT CHOCOLATE
1 - 16 oz. Nesquick
1 - 16 oz. powdered sugar
1 - 16 oz. dry non dairy creamer
1 1/2 tsp. salt
1 - 8 QT. instant powdered milk
Mix all ingredients together.
To make hot chocolate:
Fill cup 1/3 full of chocolate mix. Add hot water.
(If you buy the ingredients in larger containers from Costco like I did, 16 oz. is 2 cups of powder)
Enjoy this on the colder days that are sure to come. Of course you would want to make a delicious cookie or have some chocolate to accompany this.....maybe with a good movie! :)
HOMEMADE HOT CHOCOLATE
1 - 16 oz. Nesquick
1 - 16 oz. powdered sugar
1 - 16 oz. dry non dairy creamer
1 1/2 tsp. salt
1 - 8 QT. instant powdered milk
Mix all ingredients together.
To make hot chocolate:
Fill cup 1/3 full of chocolate mix. Add hot water.
(If you buy the ingredients in larger containers from Costco like I did, 16 oz. is 2 cups of powder)
Enjoy this on the colder days that are sure to come. Of course you would want to make a delicious cookie or have some chocolate to accompany this.....maybe with a good movie! :)
Wednesday, October 15, 2008
It's a first!
It's embarrassing for me to admit, but until last weekend, I have NEVER been away from my family. Well, that's not entirely true I guess, but I don't really count it because the 5 times I have been away has been in the hospital having another baby. And then it was only for 24 hours or less. No, Shawn and I have never even been away together for even a night! Pathetic I know! We just don't have anyone to watch the kids. Shawn has actually been away lots for business travel, but me, heck no! UNTIL.........last weekend. We went to my friend Wendy's parents cabin. Once I was gone, it was HEAVEN! I love my family, but I really didn't miss them! Friday to Sunday isn't too terribly long anyway............NOT LONG ENOUGH, that's for sure! The others would agree I think, (well, probably not Kayla!) Anyway, it did me good, recharged me a little, we had a lot of fun, and I just have to ask, "when can we do it again?
And for sure I have Shawn to thank for supporting me and taking GREAT care of the kids while I was gone. He is the best dad ever! He even tried to take the kids to the new Chuck E. Cheese in Layton.....voluntarily!! He gets an award for that for sure, that's one of those painful places you only agree to go because it's some small child's birthday! You never just GO...unless you're Shawn I guess!
Wendy and Penny.
Kayla... she was getting the car loaded (she was the one most anxious to get home)
Me and Penny again. Penny got all dressed up to get home to her Big Rig. (had to be there!)
And this is the beautiful new cabin of Wendy's generous parents we stayed in. Lots of laughter, girl movies, good food, and chit chat that will last me until the next time we are lucky enough to do it again!
And for sure I have Shawn to thank for supporting me and taking GREAT care of the kids while I was gone. He is the best dad ever! He even tried to take the kids to the new Chuck E. Cheese in Layton.....voluntarily!! He gets an award for that for sure, that's one of those painful places you only agree to go because it's some small child's birthday! You never just GO...unless you're Shawn I guess!
Friday, October 3, 2008
Lovin Jason Mraz' version of this song..thanks Wendy for posting it first
I was reading his blog today and the October 2nd post is worth reading.
http://freshnessfactorfivethousand.blogspot.com/
http://freshnessfactorfivethousand.blogspot.com/
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