Raspberry jam, yum!

Our raspberries this year went crazy! I think all that rain we got in June helped us get a bumper crop. So far we have done 6 batches of freezer jam and there will probably be one or two more, based on how many berries I still see out there. And we get to eat fresh berries on ice cream and cereal, what a treat!

I love that Kimee likes to come out and help me pick. Audrey keeps us company and tries to help. Usually that includes holding and possibly spilling the bucket of picked berries. They both keep me company and I love working out in the yard in the morning before it gets hot. Picking enough berries for one batch of jam (about 6 cups) takes almost an hour, although I have never timed it.

There is nothing better with homemade raspberry jam than freshly baked homemade bread. I haven't done this in awhile. Actually, I think it may have been 3 years since I made homemade bread. SO, that may be the reason I did something really dumb. I shouldn't advertise my stupidity, but I think it's good to know that everyone does dumb things now and then. And it's good for me to laugh at myself.

So, I was making bread and my "dough hook" broke. The next day, I did it again with the other "dough hook" and it broke too. (The bread still turned out really yummy!) I asked Dave if he could stop by the Bosch store sometime to get me a new dough hook. Well, the wonderful husband that he is, went out of his way the very next day to get me a new dough hook. He calls me from the store and asks if it was the cookie paddles that I was using to make bread. DUH! Yes, it was. So I guess I needed knew cookie paddles. Then he asks if I need a dough hook too. Yes. He buys both and brings them home. As soon as I see the bag I recognize the dough hook. DUH! I have one of those, I just have no idea where it is! Wow, I can't believe I used cookies paddles to make bread dough, and had no recollection of owning a real dough hook. I guess I can blame it on losing too many brain cells from pregnancy/child birth/new baby AND/OR I have just made so many batches of cookie dough I thought that was the only attachment I had for the Bosch. I can't wait to make another batch of bread with the real dough hook.

in the exersaucer

Maddi is now old enough to enjoy the exersaucer.
It is so fun to watch her play and learn to use her hands.

Sometimes she even falls asleep!

She is just so cute, I can hardly stand it!

summer dance

Kimee and Audrey had so much fun in their summer dance class at the Madsen's. Aubry is the best teacher! This is the first time Audrey has been able to go to a "class" like her big sister. She absolutely loved every day she got to go to dance class and would talk about it all the time.
We were so glad that grandparents, Jill and Jeremy, and the Smith's were able to come enjoy the recital. The girls did such a good job and were so adorable doing their group and individual dances.






Afterwards we went out to dinner at Golden Corral. It was so fun and a great way to celebrate!

Cherries, anyone?

Had my fill of cherries today. You do the math...

12 hours (9am-9pm)
16 gallons of cherries picked (Thank you Dad!) off of one awesome neighbor's cherry tree
5 bowls of fresh cherries shared
21 quarts and 7 pints of whole cherries canned
20 pints of cherry pie filling canned
1 Costco cheesecake topped with homemade pie filling, half eaten
Too many dirty dishes to count
Lots of fun memories with my parents

I wish I could have taken pictures today, but my hands were full all day! Grandpa spent a lot of the day holding and playing with Maddilyn. Kimee helped pick, wash, and sort the cherries. She spent a lot of time helping Grandma and me in the kitchen. Audrey kept everyone entertained and on our toes, including teaching us dance steps and one major meltdown (no nap!) At this point it seems like it would be a lot easier to just go to the store and buy pie filling. But this whole process is a good lesson for my kids and somehow, despite the mess in my kitchen, gives me a rewarding feeling. I conquered the cherries!

Independence Day

We are so happy to be living in this wonderful country, the good ol' USA!
We bought a flag at Costco, and today was our first day using our flag pole.

Dave putting up the flag bright and early this morning.

Here we are in our Old Navy flag shirts at the Provo Freedom Festival Parade.
Happy 4th of July!

camping out

I think one of the reasons why I have been putting off the blogging this week is because I knew I would have to sort through the hundreds of pictures that Emma took with my old camera of our campout in the backyard. Seriously, there are over 200 from about a 2 hour time period! Here goes . . .

Dave, Kimee, and Audrey setting up the tent.

Mariah helping with the poles.

Kathy and Maddi watching the setting up of the tent :)

Emma in the tent.

Mariah in the tent.

Kimee and Audrey having fun.

After the tent was up, we grilled steak and had a good 'ol barbeque. Later, Dave made a fire and we roasted marshmallows and made s'mores. Yum!








The next day, after putting all the camping stuff away, we got out the water slide and had fun in the sun! We had so much fun, we forgot to get out the camera! Thank goodness or I would have had 400 pictures to go through. :)

Liberty Land

We had so much fun at this new place called Liberty Land. Every time we drive by on the freeway, Kimee notices the mini Mount Rushmore. So we had to go and check it out. It was lots of fun, although we got a little overheated. There was hardly anyone there, so we got to go on all of the rides multiple times with no lines! The only wait was if we had to wait for an attendant to come and start the ride.

Bumper boats around the Statue of Liberty.

Riding the Rush Coaster


Kimee didn't want to go miniature golfing, but I insisted. Audrey got tired after a couple of holes. The course was pretty cool, with waterfalls, a few tunnels, and lots of patriotic stuff. Definitely the nicest miniature golf that I have played, but I haven't played many places. By the end, we were all pretty hot and exhausted. As we walked in to turn in our clubs, Kimee enthusiastically exclaimed, "That was so much fun!"



Poor Audrey was so hot. We stopped for ice cream.
A few more rides before we head home.

I don't know why I didn't get a picture on the carousel.
That was Audrey's favorite.

Audrey is a big girl!

I haven't been pushing Audrey to get potty trained, but have had out the potty training chair for several months now. She used it every now and then. Honestly, I don't know what triggered it, but she started using it more often. And before you know it, she is potty trained! I did buy her a package of Dora underwear and that really helped. She loves wearing those! I knew for sure it was true when I took her to Costco. Sure enough, at the very back of the store, she declares she needs to go potty. We made it just fine all the way up to the front, and she used the restroom without any problems. I guess it helps that she is so tall because she has no problem getting on and off the toilet all by herself.

What a big girl! I am so proud of Audrey!!

Maddilyn 10 weeks

I was playing around with my camera while holding Maddilyn.

She is just so adorable, I can hardly believe it!

Father's Day

Dave is such an awesome dad! I knew he would be from the first time I saw him playing with his nieces and nephews. Kimee, Audrey, and Maddi love their dad so much. And so do I :)
Happy Father's Day!!!

The one picture they were all looking at the camera, they're not smiling :(