Tastes of Summer

Last year I bought a couple case of peaches.  I made lots of jam and the rest I just cut up and froze. They sat in my freezer for a long time not really knowing what I should do with them.  I finally started using the frozen peaches in smoothies and they disappeared fast from the freezer.  I used the last of them this past week.  (excited for end of Summer and more peaches...maybe I will get a few off my own tree)

Strawberries just went on sale at Macey's and thinking that I still had plenty of jam I would just freeze them for smoothies.  Yum!  I think I need to go back and buy more...cause I actually learned after I went to the store that I only have 6 jams left.  LOVE homemade jam....on fresh out of the oven homemade bread.  

I want a freezer full of fruit and jam!

Crossing things off my list...

I love days that I can get things done and cross projects off my LONG list.  Today was a work outside day. It was warm and gorgeous and so nice to feel the sun shining down on me while I worked away.

 My garden area needed serious help this year.  I put ground cover down last year but didn't ever get anything put over it so it ended up just shredding and the weeds took over.  Not to mention, my garden sucked last year.  I don't know if it was just the heat, but I didn't get one single vegetable from any of the plants I planted. I am hoping for better luck this year.  

Looks so much better!  Weeds are gone, new ground cover down and put down bark.  I kinda wanted gravel but didn't want to spend the money on it.  So I settled for something cheaper.  I added some new containers.  I have blueberries planted in 2 of them and the other 2 will have raspberries.  The back right box has strawberries in it...we just planted them last year.  I hope I get a few strawberries this year.

See that pretty vinyl fence up the left side....yep, it's brand new.  It was just finished yesterday.  It looks so nice and and it will be awesome having our yard enclosed now.  There is wood fence on the back and up the other side...I am hoping to replace those with vinyl next Summer.

I started this project a while back and it needed to be finished.  It's an annoying little spot that just grows weeds so it needed to be fixed.  Plus, that is where the chickens were taking there dirt bath and getting dirt all over the patio area.

I was going to put the pots there and plant stuff but decided on doing something different. 

I really want to expand the patio...I am crossing my fingers that it will be another Summer project that will get crossed off my list.  I dream of lounge chairs and laying out on the new patio while the girls play in the sprinklers.  A girl can dream : )

Brylee was my big helper today. ( Love that girl...she graduates from Preschool this week)

The chickens were free range all day now that we have a fully fenced yard.and they have found other spots in the yard to take their dirt bath.

Now I am sitting down with this....I spent too much time in the sun today (I have the red skin to prove it) but I am happy with what I got done.  And it only took 3 trips to Home Depot.

Mother's Day

I love being the mom of these three beautiful girls!
They are amazing and teach me so much every day.

And I love the pictures they draw for me!

New Toy = lots of random pix today

I got an early Mother's Day/Birthday present.  

Just a new little hobby to take better pictures of the girls 

(and whatever other random things I come across).

I love this man!

Flowers we bought for Erik's mom.  

We went to visit her today for Mother's Day since we can't fit everyone in on Sunday.

Flowers growing in their yard

I am not a dog lover but this dog totally looks like it's smiling.

Crazy about my girls!

While we were up in Layton we stopped at the Park...didn't there use to be more ducks?

Love them!

Did I mention she thought it would be ok to cut herself some bangs at the babysitters house last week?  And...she has now lost both top teeth.

I am amazed at how clear of pictures this camera takes.

I also ordered me a photo shop program...should be here Tuesday.  Then we can really get busy taking pictures.

Two for Tuesday

1.  I can now continue with my house projects.  I had to stop painting for a while and move over to working on the YW Fundraiser.  It was on Saturday and I think it went pretty good.  It was the first time I was in charge of an event like this.  I have been very nervous and now I am very relieved to have it over.  Our ward amazed me with their love and support for our YW.


2.  I love pedicures!  I finally went and got my first one of the season last night after work.  I treated myself to one for having a successful fundraiser and surviving the past week.

Birthday Boy

Someone had a birthday this week.  May 2nd to be exact.  The big 3-5.  We celebrated by going out to dinner.  Mmm..BBQ.  He all ready got his bday/fathers day present..he wanted a gun, but I did still surprise him with tickets to see Muse. They are one of his favorite bands and they are coming in concert in September.  It was a great evening with the family.

Next year I will try to plan the YW fundraiser not on the week on someone's bday...Eriks bday dinner was planned around a trip to Sam's Club so I could do food shopping for the spaghetti dinner.

What I Love Wednesday

The smell of fresh baked bread...

thirty loaves to be exact!  I spent yesterday baking bread for our YW Fundraiser Dinner.  They are nestled snugly in our deep freeze and will be enjoyed on Saturday.

MS Walk

This is our 3rd year doing the MS Walk in Salt Lake.  Erik's Aunt died from complications of 

MS a few years ago so we like to go and support the walk.  

The walk starts and ends at the Gateway.  It is so awesome to see everyone there supporting such a great cause.  

 It was such a gorgeous day for a walk!

.  Orange is the ribbon color for MS.  If we are going to do this every year we really should work on our orange clothing for the walk.  

So proud of our girls!  This is the first year that ALL of them walked the whole 3.1 Miles.

The first year we did the walk it was soo cold.  Brylee rode in the stroller covered in blankets or Erik held her while one of the other girls rode in the stroller covered up.

Last year it was a bit warmer and we took the wagon.  The older two walked it and Brylee 

rode the whole way.

 Love Tulips!

We have started a tradition that after the walk we go out to eat at Rhumbi's. 

We are thinking about doing the Breast Cancer walk in a couple weeks.  Erik's mom is a breast cancer survivor and Erik's cousins wife just finished up all her treatment this year for her breast cancer. 

She loves her daddy

When Erik goes out of town Brylee likes to sleep in my bed with me.  Sometimes I don't mind but sometimes I do.  Last night instead of climbing in bed with me she took Erik's blanket(the black & white one) to bed with her and slept with it.  That girl loved her daddy and hates when he is gone.

Yes my child sleep on a mattress on the floor.  

I have plans to make her a bed I just haven't found the time to yet.

I win...again

A friend of mine recently posted a picture online of a painting project she is working on and she tagged it #therapeuticforme.  I read it in shock..really a painting project..therapy.  It's so much work. How is that therapy?

Then yesterday I was in a bit of a funk..I don't know why..I just was.  Guess what cheers me up when I am in my weird moods?  A trip to Home Depot.  Which means I am usually buying supplies for a project..which means I use projects to cheer me up.  I guess it is therapy for me too.

I started a new project yesterday.  First off, let me say Erik was not on board with this project.  I sent him a sample picture I found online and he didn't think it would look good.  Well, I did it anyways.  Erik is not real picky when is comes to decorating and such.  I have had two other projects that he was hesitant with and didn't think they would look good.   After I finished them he  admitted that they ended up looking better than he thought.

Project number one..the kitchen cabinets.  I knew the oak needed to go but I didn't know what color. 

I went with red..love them...and so did he. 

I just realized I don't have a good picture of the whole kitchen. I did a whole little remodel..back splash, new sink and painted the cabinets and added new hardware.  I have a few more updates I going to do though, so maybe I will get a picture when I am all done.

Project two the oak railing..black and white.  My husband didn't think it would look good but when I finished it, guess what, he likes it.

Which brings me to the project I started yesterday.  The third project that Erik hasn't been on board with but I did it and he likes it.  When I sent him the picture today he said "you win".  Another project that Erik had doubt in that he has ended up admitting that I was right and it looks great.

I love how the door look with the newly painted railing.  I decided that as I painted all the doors black I would put on new knobs and hinges too...out with the old gold.  

I love house updates and projects...and yes I guess it is therapeutic to me.