Stuff about US

So, I've been a little slack with my blogging lately. It's certainly not because I've been doing housework either because my house sure is a mess. It's not because I've been reading because I'm still working on the same book that I started right after we returned from the beach. Thinking back since we've been back, I don't really know WHAT we've been doing with our time...except for picking cucumbers and making pickles! Brent and I have been working. The boys started back to Kountry Kids and are working on making that adjustment. Elijah loves it but he is very hot and tired by the end of the day. He is sleeping better at night though. His teacher said he takes a 2 1/2- 3 hour nap every day but he is still exhausted when we pick them up. Nolan is getting adjusted - he is with the school kids now so he is still learning the ropes! He has been reading a lot of books this summer and I think he will be happier when school starts again and he gets to see his friends. His friend, Claire, is going to be at a different school this year though so he's a little sad about that.

We have been enjoying time together at home in the evenings since returning from the beach. It is nice that my work schedule is a little more "normal" now so I get home a little earlier in the evenings. Brent and I have been enjoying the potatoes, squash, corn, and cucumbers from the garden. It is nice when I don't have to spend so much money at the grocery store. I have made 60 jars of pickles so far - bread and butter, dill, and garlic dill. I am going to make some more tonight and who knows how many jars I will have by the end of the summer. I would love to sell them but I don't know who I would sell them to. I also have a recipe for zucchini relish that I was thinking of making a batch of for canning but I just don't know... It won't be long until the green beans and okra are ready and then I will have to work on canning green beans.

Logan, our dalmatian that is ~12 years old, is not doing so well these days. He is on medicine daily for his kidneys, he can't hear much anymore, and he just isn't himself. We are sad to see him declining but we have had him a LONG time.

We will soon be adding some new fainting goats to our family. I will have to be sure and put plenty of pictures up for you to see! And, yes, they really do faint! It is hilarious to watch! I promise it doesn't hurt them...it's just something about their genetics that makes them fall over and "faint" when they are startled.

Nolan really wants a hamster but I just don't know where we would put it. I have promised him that he can get one when we build a house. He is okay with that but who knows how long it will be until that day comes!

Something very sad happened within our church family this week - our minister's son died (not sure what the cause was yet) and he was around my brother's age. That has been hard for me personally because it brought back a lot of memories of those days when my brother first died. I really do miss him. There are days when I don't really think about it, but there are other days when I can't stop thinking about how much I miss him and how much I wish that I could talk to him again. Maybe I will have something that I can pass on to the Torpys' from my experience...I'm not sure, but at least I will understand some of what they are going through and feeling.

Out N About Treesort

Brent and I saw this place on the travel channel one night this week. It would be a cool place to go on vacation. It's a little far away...but I just think it would be so much fun and it would be a great way to create MEMORIES!! What do you think? Would you like to stay at this place?

Can you spot the real ones?

A friend of mine put this on her blog awhile ago and I thought it was a cool idea, so I asked her if it would be okay if I copied her. She said...Of Course! So, here it is -

Below are pictures of houses - some are real houses that actually exist and some are fake pictures. Your job is to look at them and decide which ones are real and which ones are not. Post your answers in the comment section. In a few days, I will post the answers! Good Luck!

Quote

God has not made a little universe. He has made the wide stretches of space and has put there all the flaming hosts we see at night, all the planets, stars, and galaxies. Wherever we go, let us remind ourselves that God has made everything we see...And not only did God make it all, but He is present.
-- Francis A. Schaeffer

Saturdays...

Don't you just love Saturdays? I do. It is nice to have a day of being at home. Today I had a productive day but I have enjoyed it. I got to sleep until nearly 8 (late for me since the boys usually wake up at 6:30 or so!). When Brent got home from work (he works 8a - 8a), we had a nice breakfast. I went to church and took Angel Food orders, went to Wal-mart to pick up a few items, had lunch with our good friends, and then made pickles with my mother. We canned about 36 pints and 4 quarts...some dill and some bread and butter. And guess what?? There will be plenty more cucumbers this week. Additionally, I got to talk on the phone with one of my good friends and have washed and folded so many clothes. The boys have enjoyed getting to be home and I have enjoyed getting a few things done! Now we are getting ready to go eat Mexican food...one of our favorite types of meals.

I am so thankful that God gives me days to be at home! I am also thankful for our bountiful garden! It is gives us lots of yummy food to eat and enjoy throughout the coming year.

9th Anniversary (last week!)

While on our vacation this past week, Brent and I celebrated our 9th wedding anniversary! I can't believe that it has been 9 years since we said our wedding vows. In the past 9 years we have had some good and bad things happen, but we have experienced them all together. I love my husband so much. He is my other half...without him I would feel incomplete. It is amazing how God led us together. If you don't know, Brent and I met in the 7th grade...started dating in our senior year of high school, dated until January of 1998 when Brent proposed to me. Then, we married on a hot Saturday afternoon, June 26th, 1999.

Brent - You are so wonderful and kind and good and I am so blessed to be your wife!! I am looking forward to spending the rest of our lives together!

On Thursday night, Brent and I went to Broadway on the Beach and walked around for awhile. Then, we went out to eat at Senor Frogs...a restaurant that I have been wanting to go to, but have never had the opportunity. The atmosphere was fun...the food was good...and we had a great evening! We ordered a really cool dish that is designed for 2 to share. It was interesting and good!

I love you Brent and I had a great time on our anniversary!

Fun Signs

While walking around a Broadway at the Beach, Brent and I noticed some fun signs around the place. I took pictures of two of them -