Kitchen Helpers

This year has been one of the best ever for the tomatoes in my garden.  With that being said, I have tomatoes upon tomatoes to process and can!  Thankfully, I have a couple of very willing helpers.

Reba did a wonderful job of helping washing the tomatoes before I would chunk them.  She then, placed every single piece in the funnel of my Sauce Master.  (She tried cranking, but decided she didn't have enough muscles for that)

Julianne thought she needed to help to, but I think we'll let her wait another year.

We have enjoyed many BLT sandwiches, and this winter we will be enjoying homemade spaghetti sauce, pizza sauce, tomato sauce, chili base, salsa, and tomato soup!

Until next time...

Julianne's 1st Ponytail

With a little bit of water, and a little bit of patience, I was able to get Julianne's hair into the traditional first ponytail!  Right on top of her head.

She wore the pony most of the day (it got pulled out during her afternoon nap), but the after-effect it had was hilarious!

Until next time...

Click here for Reba's first ponytail.

School Days 2014

Yesterday was Dallas' first day of 1st Grade!

He was kind enough to get his picture taken with his sisters

Dallas has 12 students in his class this year - 6 boys and 6 girls.  Two boys moved in, and one girl moved to public school.

And today, Reba had her first day of Pre-K!

She thought we needed a picture of her with her brother and sister.

Reba has 17 students in her class this year.  All 7 are returning from last year's preschool class, so she was excited to see her "old" friends.  She will go Monday, Wednesday, and Friday this year.  Although, she would love to go all 5 days so she would be one of the "big kids" to help the "little kids".

I am super excited to report that there were no tears (from kiddos or parents) on either day!  Here's to a blessed and joyous school year.

Until next time...
Take a look back at our previous first days
2011
2012
2013 (Dallas)
2013 (Reba)

Julianne - 8 months

When Julianne turned 7 months old, she had just started army crawling.  

Now that she is 8 months, she is can sit herself up, crawl with her belly off the floor, pull herself into a standing position, and so much more!

Our little lady loves to clap, as well.

Of course, now that she can crawl, she is into even more things!

A few of the other things Julianne has accomplished include:

• Putting herself to sleep at nap time and bedtime without being swaddled.
• Putting everything in her mouth - including a pacifier she found! 

• Went to first tractor pulls
• Still loves to blow raspberries

• Loves to play peek-a-boo
• Giggles a little when tickled, but usually stops after 2-3 times
• Eats: sweet potato, banana, applesauce, green beans, butternut squash, carrots, rice cereal, puffs, ice cream.
• Drinks water (and pumped milk) from sippy cup

Until next time...

Rushville Steam and Tractor Show

In addition to getting our kiddos back, we headed north to attend the Pioneer's Engineers Club in Rushville.  We had two jammed packed and fun-filled days at the show.  Enjoy the photos!

On Saturday, Reba participated in the straw game.  Various coins were scattered in a pile of straw, and the kiddos got to keep whatever they found.  Reba ended up finding $1.50 in quarters.

Then it was time for the parade.  This year the feature tractor was Massey in conjunction with the National Massey Show.  Our friends, the Schenk's, made the trip with Carla's parents and tractors!  Ciara and Mattison decided to sit with us during the parade.  They loved waving when Poppy, Mamaw Jo, and their parents rode through.

The weather couldn't have been more perfect this past weekend.  It was warm and sunny, but not hot and muggy.  Of course, we still enjoyed a few ice cream cones!

Check back to this post to see previous ice cream cones

Later in the day, Daddy borrowed a friend's tractor and wagon and we all went for a ride

After spending the entire day at the show, we decided to stay into the night for the Spark Show!

I'm not sure of the whole logistics of how it works, but the steam engine operators put something into the funnels and sparks are thrown into the night!

There were 3 or 4 steam engines participating in the show.  In the picture below, you can "see" the fly wheel on the side of the engine that would catch the sparks and then throw them along the belt that was hooked up to it.

We headed back on Sunday morning for more fun!  While looking around in the machine shop area, we got to talking to this gentleman that built a scale-model steam works that actually ran off a toy steam engine.  He also had this saw mill that ran on a toy steam engine, and he let Dallas run the mill!

Here's a video of Daddy running the mill...

Reba decided she wanted to search for more coins so she could buy an ice cream, and Dallas thought that was a great idea - so he joined in too.

Unfortunately, Dallas dropped what coins he found back into the straw.  Luckily though, Pa-paw had a pocketful of coins that he gave to the Big D, and he was able to get an ice cream.

Reba didn't quite find enough change to add to the previous days earnings, but Pa-paw helped out there too.

As we were packing up to head home, Dallas was insistent that the stroller ride on the trailer!

Don't worry, he added many straps to hold it on.

Until next time...