First fruits

Its getting to be that time. Thats right, my garden is producing more things then I know what to do with, thanks to my husbands planting abilities. Every year we seem to have more in the garden then we can use or eat. This year we have tomatoes, onions, had beans before the bunnies got them, pumpkins and cucumbers.  We also have raspberries, blackberries and strawberries. Not to mention the cherry trees and the current bush and the rhubarb.
 I just did my first 2 gallons of pickles. My grandmother had a receipe for dill pickles that my family just loves. My mom used to make gallons upon gallons of pickles and they would be gone before Christmas of the same year. I don't make that many but I do share.
I'm glad we have a garden but sometimes its more hassle then its worth. I can never keep up with the weeds or the stuff being produced. The cucumbers always get too big, the bean always go to the bunnies, the tomatoes I'm not sure what to do with since I really don't like them. Now this year we have pumpkins which the only thing to do with those is carve them. If we have as many pumpkins as we have blooms we could start a pumpkin farm.
The blackberries are in the front of the house and come with very very prickly branches, so its really hard to get to the berries once they come and they spread like weeds. The strawberries always go to the birds as do the cherries.
I know I could can stuff, but I don't have the equipment for that nor the patience! For now I will just stick to pickles and freezing corn that someone else grows!
On a side note, Nolan is going in for his 2 month appointment tomorrow. I'm interested to see what he weights and how he is doing over all. He gags a lot lately and I'm a little worried about that so we'll see what the dr says!

family time

This weekend has been interesting to say the least. Saturday morning Mark went for a 9 mile run with a friend, that is the longest he has ever gone and did pretty well. Then we loaded up and went to an Elk farm by Ashton and George Ia. The girls had never seen Elk, maybe in the zoo, but we thought they would get a kick out of it since they like deer so much. We saw the mommy and baby Elk, got some elk sticks and then went to see the daddy elk with big antlers. The big elk were pretty far away, but you could totally see the antlers.

daddy elk that had the antlers cut off but are growing back

big elk with huge antlers. We were standing on the road and they were a ways off, my camera was zoomed to the max.

mommy elk

After the elk farm the kids and I went to sioux falls while Mark stayed home. I needed to do a little shopping and get some more meat from my parents. While we were there, Chloe was drinking some juice from a sippy cup and the lid wasn't on very well so she had juice all over her just before we were getting ready to leave. Needless to say she didn't wear her clothes home, but instead a dress up dress. 

This morning Chloe calls me while Nolan is fussing, so mark goes in and she says she is going to "trow up." Yep, thats right we started our day with one sick little girl and about an hour later had another sick girl. We've been chilling at home and the girls have been laying on the couch all day. I hope they are feeling better tomorrow! Its never any fun to have one sick kiddo let alone two. Hopefully its a short lived thing and they are back to themselves tomorrow. 

Hope you all enjoyed your weekend!

Wedding weekend

Friday morning came way to early for me! 5:30 am Mark woke me up so we could finish packing things up to hit the road to Pella. At 7-7:30 we were loaded in the car with the kids and my mom and on the road. This was Nolan's first big car trip other then the trips to Sioux Falls, so I was a bit nervous as to how he would travel, but he did just fine. We made it all the way to Story City for lunch before Nolan woke up. It was perfect timing because we were stopping for lunch anyways. After a stop at McD's we were back at it, Nolan was a bit fussy, but I can't blame him after being stuck in a carseat for that long I would be crabby too. We made it to Pella! Mark took a nap while I ran to Walmart to get a few things, then Mark had to go get his final fitting for the tux for the wedding that we were in Pella for. After that we all loaded up again to head to Sully to visit one of my mom's friends from high school. We used to hang out at their house sometimes when we would visit when I was young. Then it was back to Pella so we could get ready for rehearsal. After rehearsal Mark and I joined some of the gang at the Sports Page, a bar/restuarant and then headed to bed.
Saturday was mainly relaxing at my great Aunt's house while Mark was busy with wedding stuff. It was very hot and muggy the whole weekend so I was a little worried that Mark might get dehydrated or get a headache, but he seemed fine. I took the kids with to the ceremony and my mom was there to help out as well. The wedding was very nice! After the ceremony the bridal party loaded into a bus to take pictures around town, while I headed back to my aunts and took care of Nolan and then headed to the reception place.
The reception was at a fancy golf course in Pella, which I think most people who live around there call it snob hill.. The AC either wasn't working or couldn't keep up cause it was as hot inside as it was out! The food was very good, however, and the couple was married so it really didn't matter.
Sunday morning came too early again since Nolan didn't sleep well in the pack n play. We loaded up and were out the door by 10 to 8am. We were having breakfast at 8 with my cousin Jason and his very pregnant but adorable wife Leslie. They are expecting twins in August!! After breakfast it was on the road again to Story City. There is a Levi's outlet store there with cheap jeans and other nice clothes and since Mark has lost so much weight and none of his clothes fit and we were in the area, we stopped to buy some clothes. Shopping was a success, then lunch with an archery buddy of Marks then back home to what felt like hotter weather then we left.
It was a nice weekend and a lovely wedding!
P.S. if you wanna see pictures from the weekend/wedding, check out my facebook.

a fairy came to visit

My little Ellie has grown up so fast. Last night she lost her first tooth! Its been lose for awhile and she constantly wanted to pull it out. So yesterday she was playing with it and it was really lose. She was even twisting it so it was backwards at one point. She finally pulled it out! The tooth fairy came to visit and gave her $1, she was super excited!

My little Ellie minus 1 tooth!

We ventured out to the Sioux County fair in Sioux Center tonight as well, before the rain. The girls like to look at the animals and walk thru some of the buildings and see the 4H stuff. We stopped at one booth that had hats and shirts for sale. Mark picked up 8 camo hats at 50 cents a piece and I got a nice t-shirt for $1. We had to get ice cream while we were there too! 

Tomorrow I get a hair cut and then in the evening is our niece Madison's birthday party. I can't believe she is 1 already. I will be packing and doing laundry all day tomorrow as well since we are leaving early Friday morning for Pella for a wedding. Hopefully I will have some decent pictures from the wedding to post, but until then have a great weekend and stay cool!!!

Summerfest

The house is quite, I should be napping but instead I'm blogging. The dishes are done and laundry is going so I'm going to write about our busy weekend.
This weekend was Summerfest in Hull. Its a 4 day long event that has the whole town bustling. Thursday was free swim day at the pool so I took the girls for some swimming while Nolan was at Gramma's. Friday we went back to the pool with Bethany, Madison, Kathy and Isabella. It was nice to sit and talk instead of having to occupy the girls the whole time. It was also the first time I put Nolan in a swimsuit. He didn't like the cold water, but he did fall asleep in the sun with his new hat on. Friday night in the park was the bbq with hamburgers and chips and bean and ice cream.
Saturday was the big event day. It started out with Mark and the girls going for pancakes in the park. Then we all headed back to the park to enjoy the kids carnival and Kathy and I went to look at the craft booths. It was a bit cloudy and breezy to start but the day sure warmed up fast. We stayed around or lunch of pizza and water. Kathy bought the girls each a ticket to do the cake walk and Chloe won! She was soo excited she ran over to me and gave me a hug, then she went with aunt Kathy to pick out a cake. She thought cupcakes with pink frosting and sprinkles and smarties on the top looked good and they sure were. Then around 12 we loaded up in the car to take the girls over to the foreign candy company outlet store to meet aunt Bethany. The girls were invited to ride the foreign candy company train and they were so excited. After loading the girls with sunscreen for the 2nd time in 2 1/2hrs we headed back to the park to find a place to sit for the parade. The parade is the biggest candy parade around since the candy company throws out tons and tons of candy. The girls had a blast on the train and then received a box of candy and pool noodles and a floatie for  the pool. We then came home to get out of the heat for awhile and just relax. After awhile of relaxing we headed out to Mark's parents to have supper with his family since his sister Sarah was here for the week. The girls really enjoy playing with their cousins.
Today there wasn't a whole lot going on. Tonight there is praise in the parking lot at Hope church but we are not going cause its just way to hot and muggy.
One crazy weekend over and another one on the way. Lots to do before Friday when we leave for Pella IA!

In the train

Nolan

Nolan in his suit and hat

Bethany and Madison

Isabella

Nolan sportin his hat and sunglasses

summertime

We finally ventured out to the pool this summer. The girls had swimming lessons the last 2 weeks of June so I figured it was time to practice what they learned. Ellie is a real fish and Chloe is getting better at being in the water. For awhile Chloe would want to be held by me or just hang on to the wall, now she is walking around and actually trying to go under water alone.
I took Nolan yesterday just to see how things would go. He usually naps most of the afternoon so I thought he would be sleeping the whole time, but he was fussing. I tried to get him to sleep but I think he was too hot. So today when we went I dropped him off at Gramma;s for the afternoon. The girls had fun splashing and playing around. I took a few pictures yesterday while we were at the pool so I thought I would share them.

Chloe playing

Nolan chillin in his car seat

Chloe likes to pose for pictures

Ellie posing

Ellie running to jump in. Caught her mid jump

Chloe would run then stop. She won't just jump in, she has to stop first.

4th of July.... and strep

Well, Happy 4th of July!!!
Our weekend has been interesting to say the least. We started out by saying good bye to our Pastor on Sunday (we didn't do anything on saturday). I tried hard not to cry but it didn't work. The short time we got to know Pastor Paul was wonderful. He always said hi to us when we walked in to church. The girls took to him as well and are sad to see him go.
Sunday afternoon we drove to Sioux Falls to hang out with my parents. At night we went to a family friends house for a bbq and fireworks. I was a little worried at how Nolan would do with the loud noises. He did fine until the older kids did like a whole huge round of firecrackers. Nolan was a sleep at the time, but not after that. I should have been more worried about Chloe then Nolan. Chloe hated the loud noises.. she covered her ears and cried.
Oh, back up to Friday a second. Ellie was complaining in the evening of a sore throat. I took her temp and it was 100. So I gave her some Tylenol and just watched her. Saturday morning at 4:30am I checked Ellie again and her temp was 101. I took her to the dr and they did a strep test, which came back positive. So we started our holiday with a sick child.
Sunday after the fireworks, which were great, we came back to my parents at 11pm. Chloe had been complaining of varies different aches. She said her throat hurt and her bottom and her ears. Well, she woke up in the middle of the night with a fever. So I gave her some medicine and she went to sleep. Its a holiday so there are no clinics open, but I hope its just a sore throat and not strep. I've been giving her Ellie's meds, which I know is wrong, but I would rather stop it before it gets too bad and since they are both feeling better now I think I've accomplished that.
We are going to be in Sioux Falls til Tuesday( the kids and I) since I have a dr appt tomorrow.
I hope everyone has a safe and happy 4th of July!!!

Growing

Nolan is growing like a weed these days. I had him weighed on Tuesday and he was 12lbs 3 oz at 5 weeks old. I was worried that I wasn't producing enough cause he seemed to want to eat all the time, but now I"m not concerned anymore. He doesn't seem that big, but I laid him next to his cousin, Isabella, who is about 8weeks older and he is the same size if not bigger then her. Granted she is a girl and kind of petite and cute, but still!! My sis in law has said I have turbo milk.. hehe.. As long as my bubba is growing we are happy.

We survived another week of swimming lessons. Ellie passed bubblers 2 and will have bubblers 3 next year. She loves to swim and is getting used to going under the water. They had the option of putting on a life vest and jumping off the board too. Ellie went twice by herself. She didnt' want anyone catching her or helping her swim. At least she will know how to swim when she is her daddy's age, since he doesn't.

This weekend is the 4th of July. We like to go to a family friends house to watch a fireworks show and have some yummy food. I'm a little nervous about taking Nolan there with the loud fireworks, but if nothing else I'll sit in the car with him so its not so loud.
I'm hoping we aren't in for a weekend with sick kids tho.. tonight Ellie complained about a sore throat. I took her temp and it was 100 and her tonsils were huge. I'm not sure if they are always that way, but I didn't see any white spots, so hopefully in the morning she will be better.

Sunday is our Pastors last day of preaching in our church. We are very sad to see him go, but it sounds like God has a big plan for him in his next church. I pray God uses them and helps find our church a new pastor that will continue to grow our church family.

I pray everyone has a safe and fun 4th of July weekend!!