Summertime

This summer has flown by. I can't believe that we are already starting school again with the kids. Our crazy schedule started the week Timo was in Sweden. The following week, I came down with a week-long stomach bug. Our first round of company arrived the first day I felt decent after being sick.
We had a wonderful time with them. He was Timo's childhood best friend, and it had been five years since our families had seen one another. That means that AJ was just a baby when we saw them last. K was only two.

Two days after they left, we were on our way to Chicago to visit my family. We all gathered at a hotel there, and we struggled to catch up with everyone in our multitude during the all-too-short 5-day vacation.

Our next round of visitors was set to arrive two days after we returned from Chicago, but flight delays translated into an arrival the following day. These were two of my wonderful friends visiting all the way from Sweden. What a wonderful time we had. I shared many cultural experiences with them as well as taking them out into the hot, dry climate around here -- so much different than Sweden!

I was sad to see them leave, but the following weekend, my parents arrived for a short visit. They brought my grandmother's hope chest and two of my grandfather's paintings, all precious possesions more because of the sentimental value than the intrinsic value. It was great to see them again, even though we had just visited in Chicago. Since there were fewer people around, I felt we had more time together during their short stay than we had during the 5 days in the Windy City.

After my parents left, I settled down to try to get into a routine and prepare for the upcoming schoolyear. I love having company, but it is nice to be just our family again.

Peach Preserves



My first batch of peach jam

My in-laws recently visited and brought us about 20 lbs of peaches. I love fresh peaches, and I was drooling over these. However, our family can only eat so many before they start to go bad. I have always wanted to try my hand at making preserves, but I was always intimidated by the process. With so many peaches, I decided it was now or never.

I knew I needed jars, pectin, and some basic tools, so I took advantage of a rare solo trip to WallyWorld to peruse their selection of canning supplies. Fortunately, a nice older lady shopped nearby and willingly answered some of my questions. She was so sweet, and I came home with everything I needed to get started.







My second batch of jam included vanilla,
organic agave nectar, cinnamon, and cloves

My first batch of peach jam tasted so good that my jam-detesting daughter devoured almost a whole jar with the help of her brothers right off the bat. I had doubled the recipe but forgot to double the pectin, so it was thin. That didn't stop my kids from indulging. They finished all four jars within the week. My next batch was proportioned correctly, and they helped polish off a jar of that as well.


Processing the jam



My third batch included some frozen organic strawberries I had purchased at half-price with good intentions, but no concrete plans. Given my children's history in jam-eating, I didn't even fully process two of the jars since I knew I could put them in the fridge and finish them before the three-week devour-by date arrived. I was right. I made it today, and the first jar is almost gone.

Strawberry Peach Jam

If I had known how easy the process really is, I would have tried this a long time ago. For now, my family is enjoying Mom's new hobby. Now excuse me, I need to go buy more peaches.

Homemade Xylophone

K was required to build an instrument for her Prims group. She thought of making a simple drum out of paper and cardboard, but I encouraged her to step it up a notch. That is when she suggested a xylophone.

I looked online and found some simple instructions using readily available materials. Timo bought the pipe and wood at a local home improvement store, and I found the foam at Hobby Lobby.

Grant it, K had some help on this project. I did not expect her to be able to cut the pipe. She did help cut the foam and assemble the whole instrument, though.

K sawing some hard foam. We ended up using something else, but this was good experience in measuring and cutting.

K playing her new instrument

Top view of the xylophone

I am happy with the way the xylophone turned out. Not only do we have an instrument that she can actually keep and play, but I hope K learned that if it is worth doing, it is worth doing well.

A.J.'s Story

A.J. wrote a story at church this week. He has no experience with spelling, and this is the first time he has written a story. I am proud of his being willing to write without being afraid of misspelling a word.

Translation: I went to Hobby Lobby and got a rocket and get to fly it at Farmor and Farfar's house and it is going to be really cool.

At least, that's what I think it says. :)

Easter Day 2012

S in his Sunday best

Easter morning held extraordinary promise. The kids woke up to find their jelly bean jars sitting at their places at the breakfast table. We made it to the early service at church, and I even had started the roast in the crock pot early that morning. Our refrigerator held a tremendous number of dyed hard-boiled eggs, and our front yard beckoned me to utilize its hiding places for the egg-hunt.


 
After church, we drove home where I hurried to get the rest of dinner going in order to enjoy a mid-day meal. While the food was in the oven, I hid the eggs. Then, I rallied my troops and sent them out to hunt for the hidden eggs. They excitedly ran around the yard, filling their baskets with eggs. H needed a little help, so I eventually guided him to the proximity of the evasive eggs. Toward the end of the hunt, we experienced some unhappiness due to certain eggs not being found by the proper person, but that passed, and we enjoyed an Easter dinner as a family. The rest of the afternoon was spent on unplanned activities.

One of the marbled eggs waiting to be found

H reaching for an egg

H opening an egg. He spilled jelly beans all over the ground.

AJ looking across the yard

K finding an egg



Things I Never Thought I Would Say Before I had Kids

Why is there a sock on a piece of toast?

Get those toys out of my measuring cup!

More Easter Traditions

On Good Friday, the kids and I baked Resurrection Rolls. The simple ingredients provide a hands-on explanation to children about the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ. A marshmallow represents His body, which is dipped in melted butter and cinnamon and sugar. These represent the oils and spices that were used on Jesus' body before burial. The crescent roll dough represents the tomb where he was buried. After baking, the marshmallow has melted, leaving an empty "tomb".

I had seen these made before, but this is the first year we used them as part of our Easter education. The children all enjoyed them, and I think I will keep them as a yearly tradition in our family.

We also boiled and dyed more eggs in preparation for the Easter egg hunt. I had seen instructions online detailing how to marbleize eggs, and I was "dyeing" to try it (excuse the pun). I didn't want to get too messy, so I only used three colors as the base and one to create the marbleized effect. I thought they turned out looking pretty cool, and I plan on doing this in future years.