My Tiny House And Peaches Don't Go Together...

So at my Uncle Kens the peaches are starting to get ripe and I just can't stand to see them go to waist. I went and picked a good sized bag and thought oh I will make peach pie. Then I got the idea into my head to bottle some because I was almost out in my pantry. What a joke I have very limited counter space and just enough pans. So this is the set up first you have to blanch the peaches to get the skins off then you have to slice and put into jars. Before I started I had made a light syrup to put in with them you have to fill them 1/2 inch for the top then put on the lids and put them in a boiling water bath for 30min. The water has to come over the top and in my biggest pan that barely worked.

So 4 by 4 by 4 by 4 I made batch after batch of peaches in pint jars. Then after that I used the skins and pits to make peach pit jelly but with my luck and the jelly didn't set up. So the next day I tried to reheat and add more pectin like it says on the package but still no luck so I guess I have 17 half pints of peach pit syrup which is good on pancakes and crepes.

This is such madness usually when we bottle peaches we have at least 2 people not just one running around like a circus clown. But anyways I got 20 pints done and lined up in the pantry. I think I will do some more on Monday next week if I have time. There are still tomatoes that are waiting for their turn to be bottled I don't know where the time goes.

Today I made peach pie my FAVORITE. I didn't make my own crust I think for the time it is better to buy it but I did do the rest. Blanch the peaches slice into shells on top of a cream cheese and powdered sugar filling and then the mixture for the top made out of crushed peaches water, sugar, and cornstarch. YUMMY. But breaking my diet for sure I really don't feel bad this time because you only get fresh peach pie in the summer.

***KIDS BIRTHDAY PICTURES***

Family B-Day Party and MORE...

So on the 24th we had a party for the kids with my family. It turned out great we also had a dinner it was a lot of fun Thanks everyone. It was at Tiffanie and Brandons everyone brought something to the dinner it was great. The kids enjoyed their presents.

On the 25th we went out to eat at Red Robin with Cody's sister Shandi. The kids love to play with her and she like to tease them.

On the 26th we took the kids up the canyon to shoot their new BB guns they got for their birthdays from Grandpa and Grandma Gentry. Sayd can hit the target almost every time but Gav he just says he hits it but he aims really high.

After shooting the kids wanted to play in the water a little so we let them and then we headed for home.

My First Fondant Cakes...

Well I was all excited when I got done with Sayd's cake it was pretty easy and I think I did an ok job. This is my first time working with fondant.

Gavin's on the other hand I had a few problems with. I thought it would be easy to make a building for Spiderman to stand on THINK AGAIN MANDY. It looks like it might tip over and I even have some dowels in it. I still think I did pretty good on my first time.

KEEPING COOL

ALMOST EVERYDAY THE KIDS HAVE BEEN HAVING A WATER FIGHT SO YESTERDAY I WENT AND BOUGHT A LITTLE POOL. AT LEAST IT IS A WAY TO STAY COOL IN THE HEAT. I WATCH CONNER AND NAKAILEE HEM FOR 3 HOURS A DAY. I BET THEIR MOM WAS ABOUT TO KILL ME BECAUSE THEY ALWAYS SEEM TO GET WET WHEN WE PLAYED OUTSIDE. SO THIS DAY SHE PACKED NAKAILEE A SWIMMING SUIT. CONNER DIDN'T COME BECAUSE HE WAS AT A FRIENDS. THE KIDS HAVE SO MUCH FUN TOGETHER THEY ARE ABOUT THE SAME AGES SO THEY PLAY GOOD TOGETHER. WHAT CUTE KIDS EATING A COOL TREAT IN THE POOL...

....Apricots....

So this morning Gavin and I went out to pick the apricots and just look at how many we got. 2 buckets full and that isn't even all of them. I put a lot of them in the freezer to make shakes with in the mornings.

The rest we just kept to eat and hopefully I will get the rest pick here in a few days. Gavin wanted to carry them into the house because he says he is STRONG. He is such a big helper I would climb the ladder to pick and then hand them down to Gav to put in the in the buckets. I would make jam but I already have so much I wouldn't have anywhere to put it.

~~Fishing With Grandpa~~

So Gavin was feeling a little left out because Sayd went home with Chloe and he had to stay home. He told me that he was going to call Tia and tell her that he is all growed up now. It was so cute the way he said it. Grandpa had promised that he would take him fishing when he got potty trained so he followed through on that promise on Wednesday. We had to leave our house at 5:45am to meet Grandpa at the exit to I-20 and when we got there Gav was so excited.

Grandpa said he reeled the fish in all by himself. They seemed to have fun just the two of them. They went to Piute and limited out Gav caught the biggest one.

I was so proud of him he didn't even have an accident when he was with Grandpa. I can't believe how big he is getting what a little fisher.

This is the big Fishers with their catch for the day. Great job guys I wish I could of been there. We will have to plan another fishing trip soon Gav is still talking about the huge fish he caught and telling us that he caught Grandpa's fish. Thanks Dad he had a lot of fun I am glad you were able to take him.

A New Toy For The Family...

Well we have been wanting a boat for a long time and we finally got one. The other day we were talking and thought maybe we will get some cheap jet-skis. I called my brother-in-law Brandon to see how much a payment would be and he told me that they had a repoed boat. Well this boat is a 1988 Sea Ray it books for twice as much as we got it for and the payment is really small. We are so excited to get to go use it. We got on ksl and looked for a used tube and kneeboard because we didn't want to spent a lot on toys to go in it. Well at first there weren't really any good deals and the ones that we found were sold. Late Friday night I got on and there happened to be both a tube and kneeboard and they were the same seller so at 8am we called and told them we wanted them. Everyone got ready and by 9 we were on our way to SLC to get our new toys and some life jackets because Cabela's was having a big sale. Today we have spent most of the day waxing it something I will not offer to help do again it is the worst. Hopefully by next weekend we will be able to take it to Yuba. Thanks Brandon for helping us get everything taken care of and Thanks Dad for going with Cody he enjoyed the company beings that I couldn't go with to get it.

Excitement From In The Garden...

I am so excited I am finally being able to pick stuff out of my garden. I haven't had any tomatoes yet but there are tons of green ones on. I have picked lettuce, radishes, herbs and today I got to pick 2 zucchini squash. I can't wait to get tomatoes so I can stop buying them at the store. There are quite a few weeds in the garden but I just can't keep up with them there will always be a few.

The one zucchini is small but I was afraid it would go bad because it was growing in the water. I am going to do BBQ chicken and grilled zucchini for dinner tonight it sounds so good I can hardly wait.

Big Bad Apple Tree

So last night while we were outside as a family giving the dog a bath Saydee decided to climb the apple tree and while reaching for an apple fell out. She happened to catch onto the big branch and ended upside down. The branch scraped up her whole little arm and then she fell to the ground. It looks pretty sad today and we had to clean it again and she hated it. She says she will never climb a tree again but I know that she will. Hopefully it is a lesson learned and wont happen again.

4th of July FUN...

Cody's Mom came down for the 4Th and was alot of help with the kids. She helped them get candy even ran them out to get a handful and stopping the whole Parade.

Sayd and Gav all dressed up cute.

At the house the kids all played on the slip-n-slide and in the bounce house. Grandma Michelle and John even got in with them and got bounced around.

This is at the Fireworks.

Saydee liked them but not the noise. Gavin loved them and was talking up a storm. The kids had both fallen asleep by the end and then it started to rain. We still haven't had a chance to set off the fireworks we bought but will in the next few days.

On Sunday morning Michelle came and got the kids for an hour or so before they had to leave. We went and got them around noon at the KOA where Michelle was staying. The kids still didn't have very much energy because of the long day on the 4th.

The kids with Grandma and John. Gavin looks asleep but he was just trying to hide from the camera.

They helped clean up camp and then we went home.


THE SLIP-N-SLIDE....

Cody going down the slip-n-slide it was pretty funny he is almost as long as the slide.

The kids wouldn't really run and go down it but they would let Cody push them down on their tummies. Gavin loved it the first day but wanted nothing to do with it the next day.

Saydee didn't like it at all when we first set it up but once she started to go down it she loved it.

Tylee got right in there and would do it herself.

The next day Greg brought Nya over and the kids played for a couple hours. They had a blast and hopefully they will get to do it again soon. So in this picture you can see that the end of the slide isn't up and squirting water and that is because Cody went down it and popped it. It's funny because on the label it says not for adult or people over 5 feet and not for kids under 5 and we were doing all of the above. This is a fun new toy and hopefully it will keep them entertained for awhile before they get sick of it.

NEW HAIR CUT...

So today I decided to cut Sayd's hair it was getting so long and tangled. Well I haven't really ever cut her hair except when she was little and I would cut her little bangs. I think I did an OK job I cut about 4 inches off the bottom.

She didn't want it curled so I just used the blow dryer I think it looks pretty good for my first time.

Cutting Daughters hair because I am to cheap to go have it done Zero dollars . Having her think her Mommy can do anything now that she cut her hair Priceless. I am glad she was happy that I was cutting her hair and that she let me do it. It seems lately we have been at each other constantly and she has said she hates me and wants a new Mom. I love her so much but her attitude she needs to lose that for sure. She is going to be five and she acts 12 what next.