Staying with the Brittain Family in Camas, Washington

Rob's Aunt Kristen, Uncle Shaun, and cousins, Bryan, Hunter, Lauren, and Ben were all hospitable hosts/hostesses. Rob and I slept in Lauren's room, while our four kids slept in Bryan and Hunter's room. Two children slept in each double bed in their room. Here is everyone playing guitar hero. I love how Weston is getting serious on the drums. Abby and Lauren right before our family left to attend church at Stanton and Bonnie's old ward in Lake Oswego.

Here is Hunter and Bryan with Bastian and Hayden. Ben would've been pictured here with the boys but he was recooperating from an episode of the throw ups.

TowneSuites by Marriott in Boise, Idaho

On our way to my sister's funeral in Portland, Oregon we stayed overnight in Boise, Idaho. We all loved our room. Our suite had two bedrooms, a pullout couch, and a mini kitchen. We got there around 10 pm. The kids were exhausted and fell into bed. Bastian had to be carried in because he was COMPLETELY out. It came with a free breakfast. The two plates on the right is the food that Abby took. She got to it before we could warn her that her stomach can't hold that much food.

Homemade Applesauce

Aunt Jessica came over and helped me can applesauce. It was my first time ever canning applesauce and I am so grateful to Jessica for her time and effort. It was an all day process! We used Jonagold apples because that is what "Mother Allred" suggested would be best for applesauce. I must say she does know her apples because the applesauce tastes divine. I taste tested every batch just to make sure I had added enough spices. I made mostly spiced applesauce and a few jars of 100% natural applesauce. The spiced applesauce tastes like ground up pie filling. Ashlee and Gavin came to visit and do laundry while we were making the applesauce. We all had a fun time visiting.

Bastian turned the crank for a long, long time. Seriously, I think I got to turn the crank for a few minutes during the entire canning process. He took it over as "his job" and never tired of turning that crank. I am very thankful for his help.

This is the cores, seeds and skin that comes out the garbage spout. This machine really made things very easy.

The kitchen smelled soooooo good.

Look at how much darker the spiced applesause is. I am glad I learned how to make applesauce. Thanks to Aunt Jessica and Bastian the applesauce was a great success.

The recipe we used came from the Ball Blue Book: Guide to Home Canning, Freezing, and Dehydration.

Applesauce:

2-1/2 to 3-1/2 pounds apples per quart

Water

Sugar (optional)

Wash, stem, and quarter apples; do not core or peel. Cook apples until soft in a large covered saucepot with just enough water to prevent sticking. Press apples and juice through a sieve or food mill (this is such a fun process for the mom's and the kids) to separate seeds and peel from the pulp. Return apple pulp to saucepot. Add 1/4 cup sugar per pound of apples or to taste, if desired (each box was approximately 25 pounds so I used 6 cups sugar). Bring applesauce to a boil, stirring to prevent sticking. Reduce heat; simmer 5 minutes, stirring to prevent sticking. Ladle hot sauce into hot jars, leaving 1/2-inch headspace. Remove air bubbles. Adjust two-piece caps. Process pints and quarts 20 minutes in a boiling-water canner.

Recipe Variation: Spiced applesauce can be made by adding ground spices, such as cinnamon, nutmeg or allspice, to the sauce during the last 5 minutes of cooking. For a chunky sauce, core and peel apples before they are cooked. Coarsely crush half of the ocoked apples with a potato masher; press remaining apples through a sieve or food mill. Combine crushed and sauced apple mixtures; continue as for Applesauce.Note: Using a sweet variety eating apple may lessen the need for adding sugar.

Invention Convention

For 2nd grade invention convention Abby made a hover craft. She started with a sketch of the model and we went from there. It turned out pretty great. It came with a cup and plate holder and a wireless steering wheel.

Those gold shiny pieces on the floor are the gas and brake pedals.

Abby let Hayden add some finishing touches on the steering wheel. He included the gas gauge, speedometer and hyper speed button.

Teaching Independence

I've been teaching the older kids the importance of being self-sufficient. They are now doing things on their own that in the past I have been doing for them. A couple of things they now do is pack their own lunches and get their own snacks. This training has rubbed off on Weston and he is now getting snacks on his own....most times without my knowledge. Here he is making turkey sandwiches with Ritz crackers.

Here he is getting himself a hot dog, ketchup, and grapes. There's protien, fat, and carb--a pretty balanced meal! Where has my baby gone?

Kindergarten Show and Teach

Bastian chose to make chocolate chip cookie dough for his kindergarten show and teach. He did a great job reading the directions and putting all the ingredients in the Bosch. At the end he gave everyone a cookie that he had made the night before. He was a great speaker and didn't get nervous at all. After each ingredient was added, he turned on the beaters and counted to 10 in his mind.

Great job on your outstanding teaching abilities and your great baking skills, Bastian!

Reverse Psychology

"Nobody take my socks off," says Rob after he comes home from church or work. Bastian and Weston fall for it EVERY time. Then comes, "don't put my socks in the laundry room," to which little feet carry his socks into the laundry room and place them in the dirty clothes hamper.
He just HAD to know what would happen when he said, "Nobody lick my foot." Oh, Rob. Really?

The other night it was, "don't go get your pajamas on." Bastian and Weston ran upstairs giggling and Hayden said, "I can't believe that still works."

Bastian Turns 6

Bastian turned 6 on November 1st. We ate chocolate fudge cake with chocolate frosting and rainbow letters.

For his birthday he got the N-strike Longshot by Nerf. Wouldn't you know, it was exactly what he wanted.

After putting together the Nerf gun we went to Jumping Jacks and jumped and slid on their big blow-up toys and slides. It was a great 6th birthday for Bastian.

Halloween 2008

Weston was Buzz Light Year for Halloween. This is the costume that Aunt Jessica bought Hayden when he was Weston's age. We have used it often and love how nice it still looks after all these years.Bastian's class made these cute scarecrows in Mrs. Olsen's class. He almost didn't want to eat it because it was so cool.

Bastian was a ninja. Here he is doing his Karate Kid moves.

Abby loves being pretty on Halloween. She was a beautiful bride. I did her hair in these barrel curls.

Hayden was a sith lord. He said he was a Jedi gone bad. I asked if he was Anakin. He said, "no." I said, "Since all the siths have Darth as their beginning title, maybe you should be Darth Hayden." He didn't like my suggestion.

The kids went trick or treating with Rob and Uncle Joe around our neighborhood.

The Letter P

I was so pleased that Bastian got his homework out and finished it by himself. When I checked on it, this is what I found. Yes, on the left is the mound of poo and on the right is the stream of pee. I contemplated leaving it, as he did think of these things AND spelled them on his own, but in the end I couldn't do it.

Legos

One of the greatest things about Aunt Shelly's house is how many Legos she has. Andy keeps his collection of Legos at her house--probably until Drew is able to play with them. Until then, Shelly's house is a totally awesome place to build anything your heart desires. This is Abby's pirate, Hayden's sith lord, and Bastian's soldier. They were ever so kind to make peace long enough for a picture to be taken.

Hours of fun were had by playing with Legos. Below, Abby's pirate is walking the plank. It's a dangerous day in the life of Abby's pirate.

Swimming in Aunt Shelly's Pool

In October we went to Gilbert, Arizona to visit my sister, Shelly. My niece, Ashlee, and her baby, Gavin, came with us. Even though the pool felt VERY cold to Arizonians, the pool felt a not too cold for Utahns to swim in--especially the Utah children. Outside tempatures were high 80's to low 90's. I must admit, the pool did feel QUITE cold.

Weston dropped a toy in the pool.

And his brother, Hayden, came to the rescue. What a nice brother!

Here's Hayden after his first jump in the pool. He was saying how cold the water was and what a shock it was to jump in. Then he said, "I'm going to do it again!" That's how he got the rest of us to go swimming.