Fall Harvest

Three years ago, we planted a peach tree (we actually planted 2, but that's another story), and this is the first year we got any fruit from it. I know, it isn't the best looking tree - I'll learn about pruning in the years to come - but we have been really excited for our first crop of peaches. I didn't realize the peaches were even ripe until Brandon came over, took a few and reported that they were ready - I was just thrilled to sit and look at them.

Overall, they were on the small side, but they were juicy and flavorful.

I gave a couple of bags away and Curt & I ate quite a few - so with the few remaining, I made a peach crumble. Doesn't look to bad hu?

What, you can't see any peaches? They were there, under that yummy crumble topping

Can't wait for next year's crop! Peaches are the BEST!

Octoberfest 2009

So - another Octoberfest is in the books for us. We had a wonderful time this year - lots of sun, good food and waiting in LONG lines for activities. I think it was more crowded this year than in years past. I wanted one picture with me and the grandkiddies - just one, but do you think they would all cooperate? Oh I love these little ones of ours!
The Olson's
The Bohn's
The face painting up there is the best I've ever seen, and they are super fast too. This year Berlynn decided to go for the rainbow look -
Annie, the "I'll invent as I go along" look -
Aren't they beautiful girls?
And this year, Ez tried out the SHARK!
Here's a few more pictures of our activities -

SWEET!!!

(20) BYU 14 - (3) Oklahoma 13

Family Lagoon Fun

We had a day at Lagoon before summer comes to a close. It was hot, it was crowded (one of the last day's before School starts) and it was fun. The kids ran from ride to ride, rode all of them - a number of them several times. Berlynn found her favorite ride "The Bat" - after twice on the "Jumping Dragons" Annie couldn't get anyone else to ride with her and Ez just loved all of them. Little Cate lit up like a light when she got to ride the boats first with Annie, just look -

Then with Ez steering the boat -
This is what she looked like AFTER the ride!
My grandkiddies waiting to take sail -
Here are a few more pictures to enjoy!

Pool Party & Princess Dresses

I got to watch Annie and Cate for a little while and decided to have a pool party (Karen, how do you like MY pool?) before the summer is just a memory. We had a pretty good time (especially little Cate) who just giggled the whole time, and Annie had a better time when Berlynn came to visit.
Here's my littlest Mermaid - (I didn't have a swimsuit for Cate, this fancy swimming suit is a sun dress if you can't tell).

After the water came dress-up time, and our new favorite activity, drawing princess dresses (also tatter's and rags) on our big - long driveway.

Thanks for making my day - again - kids. I love you!

Happy Birthday Cate!

Today, our little Cate Marlee turns 1! Where has the time gone? We have loved having little Catie in our family - watching her grow and develop this past year. She is such a happy little girl, and although she is the spitting image of her daddy, she is all about her mommy! We love her deep auburn hair and her cute little squeels and giggles.

Her 1 week old picture - Happy Birthday to our little Cate - and her mommy's buttercup!

This summer I'm enjoying...

Last fall I failed to remove the top from our gazebo before the first snow came. It was a very "early in the season" snow prediction and I did hear the warnings but failed to heed the promptings (not unlike other warnings I have failed to heed, but those are other stories) - I figured the first snowfall would be what they normally are this early in the season, a light dusting to aclimate us for the season ahead. Well I was wrong. That fist storm came in furious and gave us about 6 - 7 inches of WET, SLUSHY, HEAVY snow, and when I woke up on Sunday morning I witnessed my precious gazebo, now completely bent with the roof comfortably resting on my patio table. We had to throw it away. I cried for weeks, months maybe - at least throughout the winter and everytime I looked out on to my back porch and didn't see it there. The funny thing about that stupid gazebo is I was SO upset when Curt brought it home, I didn't want it. I just liked my little umbrella patio set and told him it was too big, it would take up the whole deck and my pots (flowering) wouldn't get enough sunlight. He ignored me completely and put it up anyway - I pouted, for about 1 week until I realized just how convenient having that gazebo was - it actually extended our living space by a room, made it a lot cooler back there and my pots (flowering) showed no signs of distress. Again, Curt was right. Throughout that summer and the years that followed, I LOVED it and couldn't wait for the time it could be put up in the spring - hence my heartbreak at my blantant disreguard of promtings to get the top down before the snow.


You can bet I was looking ALL OVER for another gazebo this spring. I couldn't find one as nice as the original one, but we did finally get one. After months of pestering and pestering and still more pestering Curt (constant nagging I profess, the kind wife's are famous for!), to "please put up my new gazebo", it's finally up and I am again LOVING my extra little sun room! I wanted to share with you one of my most favorite places to be this summer -


Come on over and have a sit with me - there's still some summer left, but be aware that as SOON as pre winter weather is predicted this year - THE TOP IS COMING DOWN!

THANK YOU CURT - I LOVE YOU!