Much Ado About...Strawberry Picking

I took the kids berry picking Thursday. we were going to get

one box to split,since we had already made jam and frozen 

some; but I felt kinda silly going out to GreenBluff with Six

able bodied pickers and only getting one box:)

So we got three not quite full boxes.Good thing they don't

weigh them before and after. that's all i have to say about that;)

Jenna was the hardest working picker.

Jonah said he was supervisor.He directed people to where the best

berries were stashed. but I think he ate most of them:)/

Neven picked a lot,"but ask how many he actually put in

 the basket.". was Karis' suggestion. Nate said"I already

did my time now I want to eat some too."

In the end we had a good outing; getting home before

it started raining.

Much Ado About...BLUE BELTS!!

At looong last! The day has Finally come! The three

musketeers are Blue Belts. Jenna was so excited she couldnt stop

smiling. She kept Hugging her belt:). Neven claims his

smells like power.

Last time as white belts.

Jenna and Sensei Bowing.

on with the new.Jenna tried to put hers on but she did

it wrong so sensei had to redo. I think she was a bit

embarrassed.

take no notice of the people in the back:)

Nevens turn.

huh?

Our lives may never be the same. One day there

may be three pairs of hands as registered

weapons in the family.

Much Ado About....Etiquette

                                        How do you tell house guests they have bad breath?

or BO? They refuse to take showers, brush their teeth,

pick up after themselves, and take up all the room on the bed.

they beg at the table, and lick your legs. 

But they are happy to see you come home.

forgive you when you step on their feet.or trip over them.

But we are all looking forward to having their mamas

come get them.

Mention,the self-appointed Sheriff. she is so funny. When

Piddle gets out of hand all we have to do is get out

of her way. She tolerates him like an irritating little brother.

You can just hear her thinking,"there He goes again."

Pistol AKA Piddle. He loves to walk, and play chase.

He tries his hardest to get Jackson to play. But alas,

 Jackson. has no idea he is a dog.

His words to Pid."what is this "chase" you speak of?"

Then he hides under the trampoline.

much Ado About...GAK

If you happen to have 8 ounces of glue and 2 tbsps Borax

 sitting around and bored kids. You have all the making of a fun

afternoon.Pour the glue into a baggie. rinse the bottles with warm water.

dissolve borax. and optional color in 1/2 cup water.

pour into bag and

squish,squish,squish

and squish some more.till all the liquid is absorbed.

 Don't be scared the whole process took about 10

minutes.

Is it solid?

is it liquid?

We may never know, but it is so much fun!

Blow bubbles?

or wear it?

He's got the whole world in his hand?

*word of warning: food color will stain their hands.

Much ado about...Waiting

So the kids have been patiently waiting till Thursday. They will be presented with their Blue Belts. They have been promised cupcakes. I am not sure what they are more excited over? Don't worry we will post pictures:) In the mean while, they are keeping busy with the dogs. More on that later...

much Ado about...Belts

Nephew,Rabbit and McScott tested for blue belts on

Thursday.Happily all three passed with flying *ahem*

colors.

Black belt Judges.

The Testing trio

Front snap kick.

Knife hand forward fighting stance.we'll

post pictures of the belt ceremony when we have them:)

I am sure you will all be waiting.try to remember to breathe.

and these guys were so little. too cute:)

the little girl on the right was so funny. Sensei thought

not all of her had arrived:)

                      

Much Ado About....STRAWBERRIES!!

W finally made it to  Greenbluff  for strawberries. I realize

this is late for my two readers, but, the weather being as

cold as it has been. everything has been late this year.

Sissy and kiddos bailed had to take Karis to drivers ed.

Maybe it was just our deodorant:). it only took us half an  hour

to pick 50ish pounds or 5 boxes. they looked like they had been

spilled on the ground.

aren't they beautiful? they were just as good as

they look. *drool*

of course we kept on box to eat.

our diligent crew decapping? is that even a word?. the berries.

we have 5 willing hard workers. it is amazing how much lighter your load

can be with willing and helpful children.

by 1:00 we were done cooking 40ish pints of jam, and

freezing 17 containers.

we had a lot of fun and are looking forward to eating

the bounty.

Much Ado About... Projects

McScott found a big piece of cardboard and proceeded

to create a work of art: he calls it "A Study in Scarlet"

Rabbit painted 3D butterfly magnets. it kept her busy for almost

two days.:) Which is well worth the 5 bucks. I think.

Much Ado About...Kitty Addictions

Lori Gave me two catnip plants for our Kitties. One of whom is

"Meh." the other,Coco, is a tad obsessed; Cute,But obsessed.

Every day we had to pick the poor thing of the ground and

replant it.

this is the day we brought it home last week.

Yesterday i went outside to hang my laundry, and found this^^

Somebody needs Catnip Anonymous.

Much Ado About.....Rhubarb Cake

Cousin Jeannie sent me a new recipe to try:

Rhubarb cake

1 1/2 cups brown sugar
1/2 cup butter
1/2 tsp salt
1 egg
1 cup buttermilk
1 tsp soda
1 tsp vanilla
2 cups flour
2 cups diced raw rhubarb
Topping
1/4 cup sugar
1 tsp cinnamon
Crushed walnuts

Cream sugar and butter, add salt and egg. Stir in buttermilk, soda,vanilla and flour. Add rhubarb. You can bake in 9 13 pan or make cupcakes. Sprinkle topping and bake at 350 30-35 min. Yummy

as you can see it is so good, we almost didn't get a picture.

Much Ado About....Bleach

If like me you have had pants you loved,but one day you

ruined them! by dripping bleach on them. what to do?

Well let me tell you my solution. i love these pants

and guess what happened?. yep, bleach spots.

so i took up applique. and modeling. :0)

Much Ado About....picking out a cellphone.

Oh the joys of being a teenager and getting your first cellphone.

Being as Marvin is old enough to drive,mow lawns and dog sit,

and being as i am tired of being his secretary, he needed

his own. So we called up our carrier checked out their website.

So I call him over and and show him the 11!! free phones

to choose from. He comes over and in a scientific process

that took all of 2 seconds!! says "Is that a touchscreen??

can I have that one?" That is an actual quote.

Then we waited for three, whole, agonizing days.Finally it

arrived. then being the meanie that I am I made him take

pictures first. Ha.

But for all that I think he made a good choice. He's happy.

                                                              

But in the end. It all adds up to:

One Happy Guy.