Some pictures Jack took on Saturday......

There were some trees that were blocking the view when we sat on our front porch....so on Saturday we went over for a little mini work day. I took along a lunch and for the first time we had a meal in our new kitchen.

I set up some saw horses and a piece of plywood for the table top and threw an old sleeping bag over the top for a table cloth. This is the same spot our kitchen table will someday go. I admit it was a little hard to even leave that day. I just wanted to move in. Patience is not my best virtue.

I love the view out the back windows. I love watching the kids play on the giant dirt hills, love watching them explore the woods, and Isabella loves to roller blade in the cul-de-sac. It's so quiet there and just so fun to dream of how it will be. This is such a huge blessing.

Here are Suzanna and William enjoying dessert looking out the front porch window watching their dad clear the last of the trees.


What a perk to have the builder as your uncle and he lets you use the bobcat to haul the trees! Thanks Dave! Don't worry, the kids aren't driving the bob cat...just eating their dessert there.
There were some low bushes/evergreen type trees to the left of the house that Donovan cleared out that day. The view is much better now. I look forward to sitting on that front porch someday watching the kids ride bike and roller skate.

And here is the siding color we are going with. We had a sample of this siding picked out...but were so excited to see a house that had it up. It's so hard to pick colors from small samples. Donovan is on the porch with the man that is re-siding this house...getting advice and tips.

Thank you for ALL the great comments on
'this' blog post. I've never in the history of my blog had that MANY comments! Plus there were some of you that left messages on Facebook. It was so fun to read your great ideas and advice and see all these readers come out of the woodwork. So thank you! I hope if you picked blue you won't hold it against me. :)

who loves to camp?

I do!

Our church had their annual camp out this weekend. We had perfect pre-fall weather for being outside. I think we had about 150 or so there. Last year we had only been attending Siloam for about 2 months, when we went to the camp out. It was a great way to get to know your church family. This year was just as much fun. Learning to know people in a new way.

Uncle Sam & Uncle Dave

This was Saturday morning brunch. MMMMmmmmmmm.....eggs, ham, bacon, hashbrowns, rolls, toast, fresh fruit & juice and coffee.

Suzy had finally warmed up to Carla..after being in small group together for over a year. It was fun to see them enjoy each other.

Ahhh...Suzy and her friends Claire and Allison. So very fun to watch these girls trot around together. Suzy would wake up from her nap the following day and ask, "Where are my little friends?" Although she had lots to pick from...I caught these 3 together the most.

I loved listening to their 3 year old conversations. "Do you want to come in my camper?"

There were also some organized games for the kids and adults.

Noah hangin' with the girls.

Isabella with her cousin Shalie.

Such creative people I go to church with! Isn't this a fun game of fishing?

And a water balloon toss.

In the evenings Donovan's aunt and uncle would pop corn over the fire in a huge copper kettle. It was a highlight to watch and eat. Jack got to pass some out.

Friday evening dinner and Sunday morning breakfast was on your own. The rest of the other meals we shared as a church. It was such a well orchestrated event. Such great coordinators and so much fun. Loved it! Here we are just before our outdoor church service sharing breakfast in our borrowed camper. Loved the camper. Wish I would've got more pictures......my batteries went out just after this picture was taken. Some friends of ours let us borrow their Jayco camper complete with 4 BUNKS in the back and a queen bed for me and the hubby! It was so awesome!

After breakfast Sunday morning there was a neat baptismal service down in the lake, and 5 got baptized. It was a really neat and touching service. So cool to be outdoors and be able to enjoy such a beautiful morning. Then we shared a carry in lunch of make your own sub-sandwiches. Would have loved if it could have lasted one more day.


ALSO!
Thanks so much for all the great tips on siding colors! I'm pretty sure my blog has never seen so many comments on one post. You make me happy. I love all the feedback. I'm pretty sure we've got it "nailed down" on the siding color....and I will let you know by the end of the week.

cast your vote....

We had this siding picked out for about 2 years. "IF" we ever build again this is what we were going to do.

But then we saw this yesterday and we are having 2nd thoughts......and O.k. well this is an office building...but you get the idea of the colors. Right? Which do you like better???

Please leave a comment and tell us what to do.

canning envy

Ever have canning envy?? You walk into someones home and see all the food they have put up for winter....or see them in the middle of working on canning something that looks really really delicious...and then you think...I gotta have me some of that. That's what happened to me last week. I walked into my friend Roses house and smelled something that sent me through the roof. It smelled so amazing, and looked even more delicious. So I got the recipe for her homemade tomato soup to can. MMMMMmmmmmm GOOD!!!!

And the herbs, tomatoes, and onions....those came from my other friend Julie's garden. Who has such a bumper of a crop on their first year of a garden???? Julie is raising her hand right now.

And yet another friend..Marlys gave me tomatoes today so I can make more of this soup this weekend!!!!
Do I know how to pick friends or what?????

So here it is....the recipe I know you are anxious to try out.

1/4 bushel tomatoes (8 qts.) cored & cut up
12 small onions
15 bay leaves
1/2 cup chopped parsley
1 cup chopped celery
4 Tbs. salt
1 tsp. pepper

Combine the above ingredients in stock pot and cook at a slow boil for one hour. Stain mixture and heat again to boiling.

Add:
1 cup butter
1 cup sugar
1 1/2 cup cornstarch dissolved in water

Let boil for 10-15 minutes.

After opening can, mix 1 part soup with 1 part milk or water.

git-r-done little buddy git-r-done

If you're already sick of construction pictures please fast forward this post by 5 pictures. Sorry, but it's the biggest thing going on right now in our lives and we are totally giddy about it. Somehow my 7 year old turned into a gangster...or whatever that pose is in the above picture. It cracks me up.
This is the some day to be a driveway in the above picture.

Here is an overview of the setting. Donovan estimates that we cleared about 250 or so trees. I was so worried that it would lose the feeling of being in a woods after we started burning that enormous pile of trees. But after all the clearing is done to make room for the house and septic...there is still lots of trees for our monkeys to play in.

Future office in the basement window.

So fun for them to tromp around in the tunnels and dirt.

It's amazing. Just an amazing process!

This little girl started a story time at our local library on Wednesday. Embarrassing as it is this blogger friend did not have my camera. But here she poses for you after we get back. With her movie.

Suzanna is entering the silly face phase. She has such a sweet smile..but oh so hard to capture when I pull out the camera.
So library time...surprised me. I took Suzanna for the first time and she went. She was so shy going by herself. When Isabella and Jack were little I neverrrr went. It seemed so very exhausting to lug the diapers, wipes, nursing pads, blankets, extra change of clothes, car seat, and everything else that stage requires. That was that season. Last fall some friends along with William, Suzy and I went every week. I loved it. I was in a new season of mom-hood. I had 2 in school and didn't need diapers, etc. Thankfully everyone was done nursing as well. But the rule is you have to be 3...so Suzy didn't qualify. Now this fall she does. So crazy this little one can trot off by herself for 30 minutes and be in story time.

And yesterday.....

A family tradition....sweet talking all the grandmas into helping with all my work. I think this is the 8th year in a row for these grandma's helping me make sauce.

How fun to spend a day together working. 4 bushels would've taken me all week to complete by myself.

Suzy's attempt at taking a picture.

Another attempt by the 3 year old.

The finished product...almost too hot to eat.

The git-r-done crew! Amazing all the apples were washed and cut up my noon!!! We've got some awesome grandparents I tell you!!!
My tally for the day? 88 quarts!

quote of the day:
Yesterday while I was doing my hair & getting ready.....
Suzy: "Daddy can you just take me to Grandmas? Mom takes to long to get ready."