Boys=Bugs

Porter LOVES bugs, especially the great big stinky ones. This summer we have had quite a few bugs and moths, I think it has been because of the wet spring. Porter find them everywhere and has no fear, he picks them up and carries them all over. His favorite thing to do is scare his sisters with them. And he doesn't care if they are dead or alive!!! Which is good since most don't survive!!

So, I finally downloaded a video! Yay me!! Go all the way to the bottom and pause the music so you can hear it.

Brylee starts preschool!

Finally!!! Brylee started preschool two weeks ago, and holy cow she was SOOO excited!! First thing in the morning, she ran out of her bedroom and yelled "I am going to prechool today!!!" So, she was dressed way early, so we took some time to take pictures she doesn't cooperate as well when taking pictures. She talked the whole drive to school, and ran into school and tripped right on her face Brylee Style!! She loves it and I am excited for her to have her own thing, for so long she has had to wait to be old enough to do the things Aspen does.

I love my Brylee Jean!!

'Till we meet again!

Last week Brian and I attended the funeral for a friend of ours, Levi Tracy. Levi passed away Sunday, September 6th, at 26 years old, after a short battle with cancer. Levi was diagnosed with cancer, just over two months ago. Levi leaves an amazing wife and our friend, Wendy, and a daughter, Kady (18 months old). Wendy and Levi's family did a great job with his viewing and funeral, we all smiled as we walked into the funeral home for the viewing and at the front door was parked Levi's Harley, along with some other bikes belonging to friends. (Levi's Dad and brother's were joking that they all were finally able to ride Levi's bike, because Levi NEVER let anyone ride his bike) His obituary stated "Levi was a man who worked hard and played harder" Some of his favorite things were on display as you entered the funeral home, they had his dirt bike helmet, boots and clothing, snowmobile clothing, his bow and hunting equipment, his Harley vest and helmet, and his work shirt and hat, all things that made me smile, because that was all so Levi. Levi had asked those who spoke at his funeral to keep it short, and they honored his wishes while doing a great job at celebrating his life. Levi's wife Wendy has been such an example to me. She has an amazing unwaivering faith. These are going to be hard times for her, but she knows Heavenly Father has a plan for each of us and that she will be with Levi again. We love Wendy and Kady, our prayers are with them at this painful time for them. I just had to share the picture that was on the back of the funeral program-I love everything about this picture, I love that you can tell it is Levi, even from behind, I love that he is doing what he loved, I love the scripture they quote, I love the scenery, the sky, the road, the view, I love the symbolism between this picture and life, this picture brings to my mind, we are all on our own "rides", enjoy it to the fullest. Thanks Levi, for the reminder:)

Beans, Beans the magical fruit!!

It is that time of year, once again!!! The time when I am canning something everyday! This year we have had a very successful green bean crop, and the last time we picked we got two, 5 gallon buckets full, which after we snapped and put them in jars it equaled 21 quarts if green beans!!! If you are not impressed by this then you have NEVER snapped green beans. Snapping green beans sucks!!! But we really like the taste of home canned green beans-much better than store bought.

Since then I have had another HUGE batch of green beans, canned 50+ jars of peaches, made 20 jars of spaghetti sauce (which I am very excited about-I added zucchinni and carrots to get some extra veggies into my family-sshh they will never know!) , helped someone else can pears, froze many bags of brocolli, made many loaves of zucchinni bread, canned 18 jars of pickles, and I am in the process of drying apples, trying to decide what to do with more tomatoes (we still have plenty of salsa from last year), and could probably pick green beans AGAIN!! I am just not sure I want to! We really enjoy eating home grown and canned food, but I really start to get burned out by this time of year!