In a jam.

I have the last of two batches of strawberry/rhubarb jam in the canner and it's only 9:30. Sarah was uncommonly cooperative as she took a nap just long enough for me to get it all cleaned up.

I hope strawberry/rhubarb jam is good...I've never had any and we have almost 4 quarts of it.

Up next for the day, after Sarah eats, is the lawn. I'm going to try to beat the rain and make it look like adults live here. (Anyone who drives by understands that there are children somewhere near.) I'm also hoping for a "cruise of oil" miracle because I don't think there's much gas in the mower and I'm not really in a position to run out and get some.

Day 2 of Summer Vacation - everyone is still alive.

Canning jam

Because I was too pregnant to care last summer, we have run out of homemade jam. So when I saw some yummy-looking strawberries at Walmart Saturday, I decided to get off my lazy rear and make some jam.

It took over 4 hours and I got just over 4 pints of jam. Sarah slowed me down last year and she's at it again. This girl only has eyes for the tempting treats scattered under the dining room table. I wonder if she's old enough to be taught the story of the "Little Red Hen." Probably not...the older kids don't understand it either.

No jam for Sarah!

I have more batches to make with the crushed strawberries in the fridge, so we're not limited to the 4 pints, but I don't think Sarah's going to be any more cooperative in the coming days. Oh yeah, today is the last day of school...the kids can watch her for me!

Speaking of the last day of school...it's been snowing outside. Are we sure it's time for summer break? Just keep them a little longer...it feels like March anyway!

Joseph - Apples and Tears

BEFORE: Here is Joseph. Sweet little boy. What an angelic look on his face. He has been blessed with strong feelings on certain matters. He has strong feelings about hearing the word, "No."



DURING: Here is Joseph. Mad little boy. He wanted to eat that sandal. Guess what I said to him? He is really pouring his whole soul into his disappointment.

AFTER: Here is Joseph. Sad little boy. He's coming to Mommy for a hug. Who could resist such a face? Not I.

I can't believe he's going to have his first birthday in less than 2 weeks! Where has the time gone?

We had a load of apples earlier this month. We picked them from our neighbor's tree. We got a lot of apple pie filling, apple slices, apple sauce and apple juice. And can you believe it? We only got one WORM! :) But he's a cute worm.

I think the look on his face here says, "Why exactly did you want to lay me down on these hard apples?" I don't know. I was trying to create a cute scrapbooking photo. I'm not sure I accomplished my goal, but it's at least a unique shot!

Up to no good

I've been trying to keep out of trouble lately. Here's a little of the past week or so.

A small quilt top


We made strawberry syrup and strawberry jam from a flat of strawberries. Chad is using the Squeezo. I love that thing! It gets out the juice and separates it from the pulp and seeds. Not so fun to wash it though.
A whole flat of strawberries and this is all we get??




I made a batch of bread yesterday. This time, it did not cave in and make itself into a bread bowl loaf. However, I am having a problem with the tops of my loaves sinking a bit and leaving me with a wrinkled crust. Anyone have any suggestions? Share them in the comments!

I mopped the floor tonight. I realize that some of you will not think this is anything worth mentioning. If that is the case for you, let me introduce myself. Hi. I'm Arlyn. I don't often mop my floor. When you come for a visit, please don't take your shoes off.

I also cleaned up the laundry room which had been terrorized by muddy boots all winter. It was an all day effort, but it looks so much nicer!

I bought 12 yards of fabric this afternoon to make dining room curtains. It cost me just under $50. That is my motivation to actually make the curtains! When you come for a visit, please mention how cute they are! (But give me a couple of weeks to make them.)

Nathan and Joseph got shots yesterday. Nathan got his last chicken pox shot and Joseph just about got everything. Poor kid. He woke up with a little fever this morning, but slept for a good chunk of the night! Rebekah and Joseph are on the down side of ear infections.

Daniel signed up for pee wee baseball tonight. It's more like a clinic, I think. It's only about a month long. Perfect!!! He still gets a T-shirt out of it, so he'll have something to brag about until he outgrows it (in two years at the rate he's growing). Anyway, he's quite excited about it. I said I'd only sign him up if he would quit complaining about going to TaVaci for the rest of the season. He starts to get TaVaci burn out near the end of each semester. I'm not a pushy mom, though! I don't make him sign up...I just make him finish. He gets a trophy when they graduate the kids in 6th grade. Part of him wants the trophy...part of him doesn't (the vocal part).

And for those who would like to and are able to, the Spring TaVaci concert is May 10th. That's a Saturday. It would be over about 7 pm, I'm guessing. It's free and you can watch Daniel and Leah on stage. You can also watch Nathan in the seats. He gets restless about 3/4 the way through and starts asking when it's over.

I have been doing a lot of laundry lately as Rebekah is timing her bathroom trips poorly. The boys just chose to wet their pants. Leah never did. But it seems like Rebekah is creating more laundry than any of the others ever did. It's been interesting. The little spot of linoleum by the toilet gets cleaned almost daily. And you should know that goes against my cleaning nature!

Other than that, I haven't been doing much. And my house shows it. On a happier note, I have been more patient and slower to anger with the kids. We're having nicer days all around. (I still want them to leave me alone while I eat my breakfast!)