Strawberry Jam 'n Strawberry Waffles

So this is what 11 1/2 lbs of strawberries looks like.  I honestly didn't think that I had that much.  We ate every last one of them though.  Yumm.

The Jam Process.

I got to use my "Balmix", which I don't use very often.   It smashed up these strawberries like a dream.  The juice/ puree was so pretty, the color of it was just mouth watering.

The kids helped with the smashing of the strawberries, everyone had a go with the cool blending tool.  

We measured the pureed strawberries into a bowl, and discovered that there is way more sugar in Freezer jam then I thought.  No wonder it is so lovely.  :-)  I would say that the measuring out of sugar into the puree was the only down side to making our own jam.  I would have rather gone through life not knowing how  much sugar I was eating.

Then came the mixing.  If you look closely you can see that the "stirer" got a little too excited and slopped jam all over the stove, down the side of the bowl, all over her shirt, and the chair upon which she stood.  The pouty look on her face is in reaction of a reminder to "please be more careful Tori, that was a lot of jam that just got waisted."  She did do a fabulous job helping me though.

They looked so pretty all poured in and ready to go.  

WAFFLES!!!

All the kids pitched in to help wash an "hull" the strawberries.  One picked them out of the box, one washed the berry, one hulled the berry and then I sliced.  We cut up a lot of berries.  It was very fun to see them all working together and taking turns with the little hulling tool that i bought for $1 at the strawberry patch.  :-)

Waffle Eaters

Enjoying the "fruits" of their labors. (ha, corny)

 Don't they all just look like they've never had such a yummy dinner?

Alex had to set up his plate for the picture.  All the other kids were yelling, "mom, take a picture of me!"  Alex was saying, "wait mom, let me get it set up first."   So his personality to need it just so, for the picture.  :-)

No talking with your mouth full, but what about smiling with great excitement about the bounty before you?

Even Katie stomached a few more strawberries for dinner.  

(we won't even talk about this poor girls diapers for the next 3 days, will we?)

Isn't it funny how even the little ones get into the excitement of the bigger kids.  It was truly a very fun day.  Full of Strawberries!!!

Full Of Gratitude.

Today I got to witness something that I consider a treat.  To some it may have gone unnoticed, but to me, it caused a domino effect of gratitude.  After spending the morning with my girlfriends little ones, she picked up her kids and took one of mine with her.  I was left with just one child, who was sleeping.  As I came into the kitchen I caught sight of a beautiful Blue Jay in my tree, as I paused to watch it for a moment, in flew a baby, so wobbly and awkward.   The baby perched himself on the neighbors trampoline fence and the mother peeped at him.  Then, much to my surprise (as I've heard that bluejays  babies are not friendly to one and other, and rarely have more then one baby survive)  Another baby awkwardly flew up and perched right beside him.  In awe of this picture of a momma bird teaching her babies how to fly, I contemplated getting my camera, but refrained for fear of scaring them away with the sliding door sound.  I am glad that I did, because then in flew papa, graceful and careful, chattering along with the Momma.  The babies peeped and were awarded for their efforts with a little treat, and I was awarded with an image that I hope I never forget, 4 blue jays all with in 3 feet of each other.  A little family.  What a blessing.  And what a blessing I have in my family, how wonderful my life is, to have these 4 healthy children to raise up and teach them about their Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ.  

I have been listening to this parenting Seminar that I recently purchased, and have been thinking a lot about my children and how we run things around our home.  I have spent some time in thoughts about their individual personalities and needs.  I have come to realize that there is not one cookie cutter way to raise children, and this seminar talks about the color code and love languages and adjusting your "style" and color and love language to each child's needs.  I have realized that my Liza is mostly yellow, that would be the  opposite of me who is mostly red.  Appreciating my children for who they are and realizing that I can not, nor should not change them has really made me happy today.  

I also had moments today where I was so grateful to have my sweet husband on this continent.  Although he works crazy hours and is stressed out beyond belief, he is here, and sometimes he has a day off to spend with us.  He is not in Iraq staring death in the face, and witnessing the horrific events that take place there daily.  He is here, he is safe, and at night, although only for a few short hours, I can curl up next to him and know that all is well.  I am also very grateful that when the day does come that Brent is called up to go and serve his country, that I will have just a touch of peace in my heart knowing that we are sealed in the temple, and that no matter what happens while we are apart, we will be together forever!  And the knowledge that my children will be ours forever too.  What comfort that thought brings to me.  

I am grateful for the gospel and the light that it brings into my children, for the security that it brings them, and for the anchor that it provides us all in this world of turmoil.  To have a plan in place for my children.  To have leaders at church who back me up on the principles that I am teaching my kids.  And to have examples in the youth that are older then my children, who can show them that leading a pure and clean life, walking in the ways of the Lord can lead to great happiness, and you can still have fun, and even be cool.  :-)   I feel like I am not battling the world for my children's sake alone.  I feel a part of an army of people who care for the welfare of children, and all children.  What a blessing it is to have such resources at my fingertips.

I am also grateful at this time for the knowledge that I have of the after life, and the comfort that comes to me in knowing that the Lord's hand is in my life, and that even though people pass away, they are still here, that they are permitted to watch over and keep us.  I feel that Shirley (Brent's mom) is around us often, and I am grateful that I am blessed with this testimony and can therefor feel her presence near.  

Oh, my heart is so full, I am so incredibly grateful.  Grateful to our Heavenly Father for his Tender Mercies, and the sacrifice of His Son.  Grateful for Jesus Christ, and all that he sacrificed for me, so that I could return to The Father.  I am grateful to Joseph Smith and his hand in the Restoration of the Lords Church.  I am grateful for all Latter Day Prophets, and their council and guidance of the church today.  I am grateful for the Book of Mormon and the Bible, and the direction that they provide us.  I am grateful to every primary teacher, nursery leader, primary chorister, and primary presidency member that is involved in my children's lives, they are watching you, and I appreciate your example to them.   I know that my Heavenly Father loves me, that he loves my children and that he has entrusted them to me, to raise them well and help guide them Home.  For THAT.........  I am GRATEFUL!!!!

Strawberry Picking

In this "year of lasts" that we have here in Maryland, I will cherish every trip to Larriland Farms.  It is a "you pick" farm that we frequent.  Spring offers us the yummiest strawberries ever! 

I bought the girls these darling little "gumboots" for picking because we have had so much rain. Lucky us, there was straw down, so we didn't really need the boots, but they made for cute pictures.

The kids ate their weight in Strawberries.  Here is Natalia enjoying a nice juicy one.  

Katie smeared with juice.  Yummo!!!  She ate SO many strawberries!  I think they gave her a belly ache.  I know that I saw her with more then one green strawberry.  Poor gal.

                                                    BEFORE                               AFTER

LOL!!!!

Tori did do some picking... she brought me about 2 baskets full of berries. And several little wild flowers that she and her pals were finding. 

And the photo that I have had in my mind since Easter when I bought the bonnets on clearance. I LOVE IT!

All Gone.  Or maybe it's "here's the first one..." he looks far too clean for it to be "All gone."

I love his little rubber boots down there.  :-)

Katie's first juicy bite.  SO SO yummy.  She was pretty excited about this field full of one of her favorite foods.

Mama's pickin' with babes strapped onto their bellies.  

I got to take a few shots around the farm afterwards.  These are just a few from that time.

I have a lot more..... But this post took all day to compose, so this will do for a bit.

Look at the grins on these boys.  They're too cute!

Ah, the boots.  I had to have a shot of just the boots.  :-)  

One last strawberry, okay mom?

We had a blast.  We picked 11.5 lbs.  Then we had lunch with our pals, and took tons of pictures.  Then we came home and Tori and I made jam.  23 jars of it!  Those pictures are still to come.  There will be more strawberry pictures soon.  :-)

UNCLE

All right, all right, I've been abused enough! LOL! CLEARLY, I STAND ALONE! Oh well, it's all good, Liza loves them, so if I wanted to shell out the $$ she would go with me. I looked up tickets and I don't like them THAT much!! The cheapest ones are $88!!! Yeah right! Who do they think they are, come on boys, you're has beens. Any way, that's all I have to say about that.

Sunday ended up being a pretty crumby day, with some pretty ugly realizations. The night ended with me up at 2 am with insomnia, I almost came down and blogged everything in my brain so that it would shut off. I was lucky to be able to curb my self and then spend the night with continual dreams of being under attack, in several different situations. The clearest dream was me in a collage dorm room with some other gals, joking and laughing till the wee hours of the morning, then noticing a shooting star out the window, only to realize that there were TONS of shooting stars, oh wait those were missiles. We ran to alert the other people in the dorms and try to find a safe place when all of a sudden a tank drove down the road and fired a stream of bullets into the entire dorm... It was horrific! I woke up in a cold sweat. I NEVER EVER dream like that.

Then today, I got to teach water aerobics outside!!! Oh how I love to be out exercising in the SUN! MMMMM, so nice. It was a beautiful morning and the water was just perfect! That really brightened my day. I then hit the mall to find some cute little rubber boots for my little girls. I wanted them for 2 reasons. #1. Pictures... Hello... why else do you buy the silly things. #2 we are going strawberry picking tomorrow, and the fields will likely be muddy, but hello... pictures :-).

I am excited to go out the the farm tomorrow and be in the sunshine and eat yummy strawberries. And take pictures. Oh I hope I get some good ones. And I hope I get tons of yummy strawberries. :-)

Confessions!!!!

OKAY, Everyone brace themselves. I LOVE New Kids On The Block. Always have, went to a concert when i was just a little bopper and just found out that they released a new single on May 13th called "Summertime". They are also going on tour. They'll be here in DC on October 2nd. Tickets go on sale tomorrow at 11am. Anyone for a throwback good time with me??? Come on out of the closet you NKOTB lovers!!!

"What if this is as good as it gets?"

I don't know if I have blogged about this before, but I have real issues with looking to the future, for things to get better. I have "grass is greener" symptoms. I always think that things are going to be so much better when...... Today, this movie line "what if this is as good as it gets." popped into my head. I've thought about it all day. At first the phrase seems a little negative, as though, things suck, and it isn't getting any better. But after some thought and a chat with dear Barbara tonight, I realize that what I need to do is see that question more positively. This point in our lives is good, I should be grateful to be here and live now, and here in this moment. What if this is it, who am I going to be today, what am I going to do today to reach tomorrow. To be the person that I want to be everyday instead of waiting around for the day when it is going to get better.

Obvious to anyone who knows my life, you know that I am speaking mostly of my sweet husbands schedule and work load, and stress factors. I know that I need to be supportive of his job and calling, but I keep thinking about the day when he won't need so much support and he will be able to turn around and support me in my job. I realize now that things are changing at every moment, everyday my kids wake up one day older. By the time Brent has more time to be around the house (which may never happen) , the kids will be older. My baby will be almost in kindergarten, if not older, and I will not need that as much. Then I'll be kickin' him out of the house. ;-) I can't wait for tomorrow anymore. This is as good as it gets, so I vow to be happy here. To try with all my might not to be a stupid stress case,

(BTW: I got an email from Alex's teacher today.... not good. Some thing about a foot in the toilet and wet shoes and socks.... arg, that boy and playing in the bathroom!!!)

Again, try not to be a stress case, (know that his teacher has dealt with a lot of children in her years, mine isn't the first to play in the potty.) I need to relax a little. Maybe I'll stop clenching my teeth at night if I actually follow through with this vow. I recognize that I am extremely blessed with a great life, wonderful family and friends, the gospel of Jesus Christ, enough to get by comfortably, and so so much more.

HERE'S TO LIVING FOR TODAY AND PREPARING FOR TOMORROW!
(we'll see if it works :-) )

Kids Day

Tori, on Mothers Day, uttered the words that EVERY child does at some point in their lives, "Mommy, why isn't there such thing as Kids day?" To which she got the standard response of a parent "Every day is Kids Day!". Then we realized, that isn't true, everyday is not kids day, they don't have a special day where they get their Breakfast in bed, and get cards that tell them how cool they are. Sure, they have their birthdays, but so do we. So this past Saturday was Kids Day in the Wall house. The festivities started on Friday evening when we took the kids to Toys R Us (Alex had Birthday $ to spend and everyone else left a little disappointed, but oh well) Then we drove through Mc D's and took is to a park. We spread the blanket, had a picnic and then played on the playground till nearly 8:00. When we got home, the kids grabbed pillows and blankets and headed down stairs for their sleepover. 

They layed in their bed and watched Narnia (even katie stayed for a while). Then the chatted and messed around until almost midnight. The next morning we served them breakfast in bed, and gave them home made cards (this was requested). This also was the perfect time to break out the Wii that I purchased a few weeks ago. ( I wanted to get one for Christmas, but resisted... then for the past 5 months I keep seeing more and more games and stuff that the kids would love. Also the Wii Fit looks really cool (for me) ) So that was their gift. Admitedly a rather large gift, but oh well. They broke out the Wii and played it all morning until Alex and Tori headed over to the Jensen's for Micah's Birthday party. Liza played Wii the whole time, and Katie took a nap, while I ran to the grocery store. When the party was over, Liza, Alex and Brent went to the new Narnia movie in theaters while Tori and I painted and got ready for our cook out. When they got home we headed out to Patapsco State park for a cook out with the Jensens. 

We had Hot Dogs, Bratwurst, pineapple, salads, and of course Cheetos. The kids had a blast playing and getting really dirty. We finished off the night with some SMORES!! MMMM. And then headed home to end our Kids Day. All the kids were in such a good mood all day, and I think it really boosted the moral around here. :-)