Just a few

Crazy moments on the deck. We love spending our mornings eating breakfast on our back screened in porch. Thinking that is all about to change as Kindergarten starts come Monday.

Canning

I can remember my mom canning pickles as a child. I don't remember eating them (as a child wasn't a fan of the sweet pickles) but I can remember the large pot on the stove and jars all around! Two summers ago upon moving to Jasper, my dear sweet friend, Jennifer, and I attempted our first canning expierence. We pickled tons of cucumbers from their garden! Great fun while our kids played! Then last summer, my mom helped me can pepper jelly and I attempted pickled okra on my own! I was hooked! So this summer, with our plenty of zucchini and squash (although most of that was frozen) and cucumbers, I started the canning process! So far, I have canned sweet dill pickles (didn't think they would be sweet), dill pickles (still waiting to see how they turn out), zucchini relish (yummy on hot dogs, brauts and pork sandwiches) and sweet peach preserves! Tomatoes and okra are next on the list as well as if our pepper plants make it, lots of pepper jelly!!!

My first attempt at peach preserves!! Super yummy! Looks all nice and neat. Little do you know, right after taking the first pic, the peaches bubbled over (too small off a pot) and I had a nice sticky goo all over my stove! Then as I was processing, sweet Thomas decided to wake up from his nap! But I got it done finally after 3 days of wanting to do make them and fretting over if my peaches were going bad! 

Happy Fourth of July!

A few pictures from our holiday birthday week!

 Thomas feeding the fish.

 Brothers when they are sweet...

And brothers when they are crazy! (notice the hair pulling? this is how they are most of the time!)

Beyond happy to be five!! He has been waiting so long to be five!

 Happy birthday to our sweet boy, Tucker!

Back again?

Well, we are testing our blog out again! It seemed to have been taken over by some photo thing or a while which then made me not blog (well, that and a few other things that seem to distract me these days). So, upon my decision to come of facebook, I thought I might try the blog again! We shall see...

Brothers

One of my favorites from Fall!

Soccer Mania

Well, we have attempted soccer for the second time this year. We had a great experience with a group in West Jefferson. And then learned that Tucker was old enough to play closer to home. So, we are trying that this fall. Tucker is playing on a team for 4 and 5 year olds (many of whom are now 6). Tucker loved playing in the spring but it was very low key and we never really played a "game". This go around is much more official and harder for Tucker. But he is doing well. He struggled at first in terms of the first couple of weeks of practicing. We even left one practice because he wouldn't go out on the field- all he wanted to do was look for things and explore! So, we left! But since games have started, things have been much better. He stays with the group as they run after the ball and cheers for his team when on the bench (or plays in the bushes with other kids). Most days we have to talk him into going to soccer- he says he gets too tired- but once he is there, Tucker has a blast! Must say, we are looking forward to soccer coming to a close next week. We will enjoy being able to just come home and play here at home on Mondays and Thursdays.

This picture shows how Tucker is more interested in the dirt pile than the soccer ball! :)

A great picture of Tucker and one of his new friends he has made playing. Tucker is the goalie!

5 months

Yes... I we missed our 4month update for Thomas! Let's just say that life has happened! But in a great way! We are loving every moment! Thomas has changed so much in the past month! He is full of personality and wants to see everything! Especially big brother!

We had a great 4 month check up. Thomas weighed almost 16 lbs and was close to 26 inches long (if my memory serves me correctly at this point). He was right on track! We were given the green light to start some "social" eating. This meant just introducing him to solids and cereal and helping him to know what to do with his mouth! Let's just say he has caught on very quickly! He is still nursing but then twice a day we add in food (typically cereal in the morning and food at night- unless introducing something new). He loves carrots and sweet potatoes. Not so big on peas. Loves apples and seems to enjoy bananas (we just started testing those out this week). Not a huge fan of cereal but once we start mixing it with other food, we think he'll be ok! So far so good in terms of no reactions! The peas were a bit harder to get used to but I think he was fine after a couple of days.

Thomas has become a rolly polly and is rolling all around. He started rolling belly to back around 2 months and then right at 4 he started rolling back to belly. And now he is just all over the place. He likes to scoot too! You put him in one place and you will find him in another! Definitely ready to move! When on his belly, he tries lifting his bottom and pulling his knees in! We'll see where this takes us! Definitely not ready to be chasing two little boys!!! But we know it won't be long before Thomas is crawling after brother!