***WARNING*** EVERY PARENT MUST READ....

NEVER let your children play with swords...or makeshift swords!!!

I could not believe this!!! But it happened!! And poor Austin feels soooo bad!! He even offered to pay to have it fixed!!! What a sweet kid!!!

Allie, says she does not even care about the missing part of her very permanent tooth!!! As long as it does not hurt to have it fixed!!! I say....baby girl, you WILL care someday!!! Trust me!!!

So for now the broken parts...yes I said parts....of her tooth will remain here.....

in milk in the refrigerator, until we get to the dentist tomorrow!!!!

And until tomorrow, she remains VERY.... HAPPY!!!!!!!

Ahhhh!!!!

I am so blessed!!!

Look what I get to snuggle up with on this chilly night.....

and look what you get, from our 2 youngest blessings.....

KiSsEs....MuAh!!!!!!!!!!

Canning Take 2!!!!!!!!!

I did it!!!!

I know I told you I did the pickles a few posts back...ummm okay so....they were B.A.D!!! And not the good B.A.D....but the gag the minute you tasted them B.A.D!!!!! WAY to salty....we did deep fry them....then they were the good B.A.D...but not healthy!!! So, I tried!!! And after going to visit my sister who has turned into quite the little homemaker....I knew I HAD to try again...ummm okay with her help!!!! I also had to do something with ALL of these peppers...and per Johnny request, my Dad makes the B.E.S.T Pepper butter, I had to try it too!!! Okay I confess Jess already had done hers and so she helped me with that too!!!

So, all afternoon and evening I, with the help of "Becky Home~ecky" (I love you, Jess!!! and you know I am just jealous!!!) made some, now edible dill pickles and "Dad's famous mustard" As far as what else I have been up to?! Cleaning out the basement....eeeewwww!!! Not fun!!! Getting somethings ready for a future garage sale, tossing out things we DO NOT need!!! And re-organizing!!! I know now you are jealous of me....hahahahaha!!!! I have made a small dent in the work that needs done, however a "to do" list is n.e.v.e.r e.n.d.i.n.g!!!!! Tomorrow the kids have school and then they will be off for 10 days!!!! I am looking forward to that!!! I still have not heard back on a job?! Please pray for me that if it is meant to be I will get something!!! For now I will enjoy my little people and try to come up with something to do with ALL of these tomatoes!!!!

CHUGGIE!!!!

This kid....

truly... makes me....

Smile!!!

He is growing up soo fast!!

Did you know that he went fishing and caught a shark...A SHARK!!! And he also grows wings and can fly into the woods and catch bears...BEARS!!! When I was a baby he used to rock me and sing songs to me...to ME!!! Sometimes when he is on his pirate ship he shoots crocodiles!!! And magically when he takes his shirt off.....

HE IS THE HULK!!!!!

I love this kid!!!!

Last week!

So last Monday I sent my 12 year old to school...7th grade!!! Since the kids start Middle school in the 6th grade now, it was not too bad. However, I can remember 7th grade...like it was yesterday!! That part makes me sad. My little "Tin~Man" is growing up!!!

A friend of ours is taking him to school this year, along with her son. So he does get to sleep in a little more than he did last year. And between Mimi and Mommy he gets a ride home in the afternoon!! He said after the first week, he likes all his teachers and is happy to have a bigger locker!! His classes are not all the same kids, so he likes that he gets to see many of his friends durring the day. Let's just pray that he is not being too much of a social bug...and spending his time learning!

After Austin left it was time to get my big fourth grader ready!! The first day was not too bad. She had her outfit picked out the day she bought it!!! And we cut her hair so that was fairly simple too!! She eats the same thing for breakfast EVERYDAY...Fro.sted Fl.akes, so again simple! As the week went on, it did get a bit more complicated!! She is VERY head strong...hmmm wonder where she gets that?! Johnny is very thankful that he is at work when we are having words in the morning!! It may go a little like this:

• Mommy> Allie it is too hot to wear long sleeves
• Allie> I don't care, it looks SOOOOO cute
• Mommy> I care, and yes it is cute but it will be even cuter when it is worn in the right season!!!
• Allie> When do I get to pick out my clothes by.myself.without.your.help??
• Mommy> (under my breath) When you get a fashion degree, or in about 5 years when your fashion sense kicks in!! (out loud) OH honey maybe next year!
• Allie> FINE!!!! WHAT DO YOU WANT ME TO WEAR?????
• Mommy> Ummm this cute very age appropriate pair of gym shorts and this cute little softball shirt?!
• Allie> WHATEVER.....

OH did I argue with my Mom like this? And this is really a mild disagreement!! Some days....OH MY WORD!!!!

So once we are past the getting ready part! She seems to really enjoy her day!! She did want to know who the genius was that took out the playground (for construction) and is having the kids play in the parking lot!? HA HA!! And all the hype about the teacher she was not looking forward to having...she is over it! She seems to like her!!! OH THANK YOU JESUS!!!

I have told you that AJ is playing fall baseball this year instead of football!! He is loving it! And doing really well! Saturday the other team had a 14 year old pitcher, that could throw 80 MPH....OH MY GOODNESS!! Austin said he was really nervous...and he did strike out. But he probably has the best on base average on his team! It is hard to pitch to a kid that is not very big, so a walk it is!!!! Now he has hit several times, and actually gotten on base too! They are 90 ft bases so this is a change too!

So here his is batting on Saturday!! Check out how little he looks compared to the catcher....these are some BiG kids he is playing with!!!

He did hit the ball, I missed the action shot!

It was very un-August like here this weekend. Saturday night at his game I was in jeans, and a sweatshirt and wishing that I had a blanket!! I did not so I just pulled the truck up so I could see and sat in there...with the heat on!!!

So that is that!! Week #1 at school done!! We will get this week over and then they have a 9 days off!! And then back at it again!!!!

Wordless Wednesday

Fort Rapids!!

Thank You

Sayers

Family!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

So, it took us a couple years to use it....

and after some deep thought......

....Johnny took last Friday off and we spent Thursday night and most of the day Friday at the water park!!!

We had a WoNdErFuL time!!!!

We go to the hotel up 1 exit from us a lot, to let the kids play and swim!! It is always a good time.....but this place (fort rapids) is like splash harbor on crack!!! Holy Moly!!!

Thanks to R,K,I,M & C for the gift certificate!!!

We had a Blast!!!!

Crazy Busy!

We sure have been busy!

I guess maybe next summer I need to stick to it when I say lets not wait until the last 2 weeks before school starts to get everything done that we want to get done!

Last night Austin had a scrimmage. His first "Babe Ruth" scrimmage! He did really well! Remember he is playing on 90 ft bases, and hitting off of kids 3 to 4 years older than him! And when I say hitting I mean he hit the ball!!! Did not make it on base, however had 2 RBI's and that is AwEsOmE!!!!!! Before his scrimmage Johnny, Allie, Cash and I ran over to visit with Johnny's Grandma. It was a short visit but a nice one! We are excited to have her come to see Austin play ball this fall! And yes we are busted....we went over to see that beautiful little Emma, after the scrimmage! Yes, she is still sooooo darn cute!!!

This morning it was rush around to get out the door and head in to see GG!!

We had a nice visit with her as well!

And then.... off to the Zoo!!! Check out these cute little Prairie Dogs!!!!

And these Gorillas!!!

It was a nice day for the Zoo!

We had a great time!!!

This picture was in "the outback" as you see Cash was not loving the smell!!! And if you look close, neither was Miss Al!!!! We made it back home in time to chill out with Daddy!!! Tomorrow we are going to meet up with a friend of mine from High School!! She has 2 kids that are around A and A's age!!! Looking forward to some catching up!!! See I told you........ Busy!!!!

*Hank*

Today the kids and I went to meet our cousin:

Henry Joseph (Hank)

He sure is a cutie!! This picture was a quick one...you see Prince Charming has a very weak tummy and he does not like certain smells, apparently baby spit up is one of them. So we started off with Cash holding Hank...and very quickly moved little Henry away as Cash was gagging, and telling Leslie "I can't like him" I felt soooo bad! But Austin and Allie were not afraid to grab Henry up and cheese for the camera!!! I love his little forehead all wrinkled up!!! Too cute!!!

...and this one he looks like mini me

"I will not blow up in my diaper for $1 million dollars"

ha ha!!

We had a very nice visit! And will be looking forward to our trip to visit "The Sleeseman Crew" up North soon!!!

*here I am*

Okay, I know I have been gone for a LOOOOONG time!!! But for good reason!!!

I have had a "to do" list that is never ending!!! And 2 kids that go back to school in 2 weeks!

So along with all the things I really need to be doing...umm I may have been putting some things off...and blogging has been one of them!

And if you have/had/want to have....THIS

you know where my "spare time" goes!!! HA HA HA "spare time"!!!!!

So, I have peppers hot/mild/very hot/very mild, cucumbers, melon, green beans (not ready YET) tomatoes (A LOT)

And several cookbooks to tell me what in the heck I can do with all of this....

and I have come up with a few things! I know FOR SURE we will NOT be buying ANY green peppers this winter! I have 15 bags frozen! I am waiting on the secret recipe for my Dad's mustard.....I jumped online today and found a recipe...."not good enough" and I have been thinking all day ....maybe I need to just pack myself and all my peppers up, get in the car...and go NORTH?!

Well....I would love too, but those cucumbers...or cum~peppers (Cash) are calling my name.... So I made some dill pickles!! They smell really good...and I will just say a prayer that they taste good!!! And after all this work that I have been doing......

Johnny is tired!!!

HA HA!!! Just kidding!!! Well he is tired as you see...but he has been helping too!!! Weeding that garden is a chore all by itself!!!!!

Okay, so when I am not busy in the kitchen...baaaaaaahhhhh that just sounded REALLY weird...me, Kate.....busy in the kitchen?! Okay so when I am not busy in the kitchen *snicker* I have been catching up on some deep cleaning! And after doing that this past week...The LaFever's are having a YARD SALE!!!!!!!!! Not sure when this will take place, but it WILL!!!

And then with any spare time I have.....

...I am working outside in the flowerbeds!!! I spent all afternoon last Sunday getting some starts from a "professional" not really but they should be!!! They have beautiful flowerbeds....I tried to get them to just come on over and plant everything they had given me...no such luck!!! I am not complaining, I know I brought home hundreds and hundreds worth of plants....for FREE!!! I just hope they will make it!!!!!

this is my FAVORITE...I already had this. It is a day lily. And it is called....

Ed Murray

that was my Grandpa's name! I found it last year...I bought everyone of those dang lily's!!!!

This is one of the starts I brought home last weekend! It is called a Magic Lilly! I was so excited about this one and then......POOF it was GONE!!!! and NOT because it "magically" disappeared! But because some cute, little, dirty faced, boy in his Diego underwear hacked it off!!!

So see not a lot has changed around here....prince charming is still......prince charming!!!

Austin has decided not to play football, but to play fall baseball! We are very excited about this! He is playing in ages 12-15. Last night at his practice he had an 18 year old pitching to him! He hit off of the kid too! Johnny and I both think this will be good for him.

Allie is still 9 going on 19! God help us!!!! She has talked her Daddy into getting her a cell phone! So if she calls you in the middle of the night or for no reason at all...just answer and you will make her day!!!

Like I said they only have 2 more weeks until they go back to school. So we will be busy this week and next spending some good times together!!!!

I will try really hard not to be such a slacker....but like my Ma always says

"No news is good news"