Apples, Apples, And yes more Apples!

October 2007- Ok so here is a part of what we did we actually went and picked about 4 more boxes of apples after I took this picture and so all I can say is I really don't want to peel another apple this year. (The people who let me pick their apples were all angels though so thanks to all of you. My parents live in a neighborhood where the majority of the people planted fruit trees and at one time or another they used their fruit, but today most of those same people are older and have no time, desire or abillity to put up fruit any more. I can't stand seeing all these beautiful apples just fall on the ground so I drove around for 3 days and nocked on doors and asked people if they wanted their apples. Most are so happy to see me and more than willing to give me all I want. They are just happy they don't have to keep picking them up off the ground and throwing them away, or hiring somone to come scoop them all up once they have all fallen on the ground and rotted. So the kids, my mom and I had a lot of fun picking apples at numerous homes. We definately had our fair share. One farmer told me he had 32 fruit trees and most of them were apples, he was delighted to give them to me. He said please take them we had such a great crop this year we have given them away, eaten and bottled some and are now even feeding them to the horses so please take all you want. I said I didn't have that many boxes, he said to fill them up and to feel free to come and get more. After picking all we wanted we had more than we needed and it didn't even look like we had been there. He even said to please remember him next year. (I definatelly will). I worked on apples for 5 days straight. Literally I would wake up feed the kids breakfast and start peeling apples I never went to bed before 2 and one night I was up until 4:30 and up again at 7. None the less I was tired and I felt bad because every day the kids would say what are we doing today mom, more apples? And sadly for that week the answer was yes. They were such troopers and amazing helpers though and that helped. Besides our storage room is glowing with apple sauce and apple juice and we couldn't be happier. Best of all the apples were all free, and nothing beats that. I will admit though I bottle a lot and of all the things I have bottled apples are the hardest and most time consuming because of all the steps. Good thing our family loves them or I wouldn't take the time. Here are some pictures of all my helpers. And best of all I got a new blender and a food processor out of it.

Rob peeling, blending & tasting. Of course.

Peeling some more.

My favorite picture, Justin peeling and eating the skins right off the peeler, he loved doing this and I was grateful for his help! He peeled several buckets of apples for me.

Justin and Katie scooping the apples into the food processor. We like our applesauce really smooth and so it took a little longer than it had too. We never thought we would see the end and what a relief to dump that last box of apples into the sink.

I'm done finally, here is out counter top full of applesauce and apple juice.

So when all was over we had 75 quarts of applesauce and 20 jars of apple juice (some quarts and some pints). The best part was putting it all downstairs on the shelves and it not fitting, we may need to buy another shelf. (That feels good). Thanks family for all your help and for the really boring week of apples. We sure are enjoying them now though.

Some of the apples we picked were green apples but pink on the inside. We all had the most fun peeling these and guessing if it would be green or pink on the inside. Katie thinks that the pink jars are hers since her favorite color is pink. Too bad we only had 3 jars of them. But it was still fun and they are sure yummy.

THE END, of the apples at least!

Pears, Pears, Pears!

October 2007- So it feels like forever since I have blogged and honestly I have been so busy I haven't had time, honestly I don't really have time now I should be doing a list of other things. But I wanted to update everyone on what we have been up to. As you can see busy! Here are the kids helping me put up pears they were so great picking, peeling, and washing the fruit. They loved helping me feel up the sink and get them ready to put up.

Here are Katie and Justin being such wonderful helpers peeling the pears.

Here is Rob and Justin pealing. I was so grateful for all the help. It would have taken mommy so much longer all on my own.

Oh what a beautiful sight and oh so yummy. Only 25 bottles (1 not pictured since it didn't seal, & I forgot about it in the fridge, and boy was it good). But we are sure happy to be done. At least with the pears.

Justin So Proud!

October 2007- Justin was so excited to get his trophy for soccer! He got this after his last game and for not feeling well he sure did play well and did his best. Grandma came to watch and he felt bad that he wasn't playing his best. When we got home he went downstairs curled up on the couch and fell asleep for 4 hours. He was sick with the flu and despite it all he was such a trooper. We are so proud of you buddy. Great job, go TIGERS!

Play me a song

October 1 2007- Justin Looking really cool. He loves to play his guitar with his dad. Today he dressed up and made up several of his own songs. He loves to sing and dance.

Well since Justin dressed up you better believe Katie is not far behind. All dressed up and ready to sing along with her brother. My favorite is the home depot apron as a cape. You look good kiddo.

Birthday at Grandparents house!

Tonight we had Birthdays, here is Justin opening his presents. He got these K'nex just what he wanted. He loves these so much that in the middle of the night we saw the hall light on at 3 a.m. I got up to find Justin in the living room playing with them. I put him back to bed and again at 4:30 I found him doing the same thing. This time I had to put them up. After this experience I thought back to my own childhood and remembered how excited I would get the night before Christmas or my birthday and how magical it all was. Having kids helps bring that magic back and I love that about being a parent.

Next is Brandon, Shannon, Amy, & Justin blowing out the candles to celebrate all their Birthdays.

Grandma & Grandpa with the Birthday boy.


Like father like son. Rob got ready to go & I was in getting Justin ready when they both came out they were wearing the same clothes.

Justin's 5th Birthday Party!

HAPPY 5th BIRTHDAY JUSTIN!

Justin wanted a firetruck cake. I made this for him and he loved it. It took a ton of red food coloring to get this truck red too. I sure did have fun making this for him.

Justin wanted to go to the local firestation for his birthday. All of his friends met at the station and went on a tour. They all had such a great time. Here the fireman is all dressed in his gear and told the kids to hit his head to see how hard the helmet is and how it won't hurt him. They loved this and all 15 of them just started pounding him. The other firemen loved it too. They kept saying hit him harder, kick him check his boots.

Here the kids are practicing their stop, drop, and roll. Justin has been practicing this ever since the party. He thought this was so fun.

The Firemen let all the kids sit in the truck and would ask each of them where they drove the truck when they were done. I loved hearing all of the kids responses. Justin said he drove to the mountains and put out a fire there.

Katie taking her turn in the truck.

Here are all of us with the fireman. Back row: Fireman, Nicole, paige, Kaitlynn, Shaylie, Sharrissa, Lauren, Becha, Rob, Megan, Ashlyn, Jackson, Caleb, Riley, Aiden, Fireman. Front Row: Katie, Emma, Elsie, Kelsie, Justin, Alex, & Brinley (Jayden came late he thought the party was at 12 so he is not pictured). While at the firestation the chief was so great. They let all the kids hear the bell, and someone from dispatch called in on the intercom, she announced the station name and said she wanted to wish "Justin and all his friends a Happy Birthday and have a great party at the firestation today." All the kids loved that and felt so big. (The funniest thing rob and I noticed was that almost all of Justins friends are girls. There are hardly any kids his age that are boys, but that's ok he just loves playing with them all).

Here the kids are playing a game, they each have a balloon on their ankles and this is their fire. They want to put out everyone elses fire without letting their own fire go out. They had a lot of fun doing this.

Singing Happy Birthday to Justin. Then eating the cupcakes we made. They were singing so loud Justin at one time even put his hands over his ears, and just laughed.

So here are all the kids under blankets waiting for their parents. Unfortunaltely the weather didn't want to cooperate with us and so it was really really cold and we didn't want them to freeze. And if you look close they still have smiles on their faces, even in the cold.

A close look at the cake The front view.

The side view.

Justin with all of his presents. He got so many great toys and had such a great party. Thanks to everyone who came. You are one lucky little boy, you have so many great friends. We love you, and can't believe how quickly you are growing up.