Neighbor

They wanted their picture taken as I was leaving on Saturday and I just love this picture of Joanna with the messy hair.

Applesauce in Beachyville

Last evening Wil, myself and Matt went over to our Amish neighbors to cut up apples in preparation for making applesauce. Last year I had wanted to put up a couple bushels for Matt and Monica and decided it would be fun to do it with the neighbors. This year we decided to do a total of 3 bushels for Matt's and 2 for us and I think we may have started a tradition. They have the set up and we have the man power. I must say that they have the children power!
Wil started out sorting the apples and the children and I washed them all.

And then the schnitzing(as they call it) began. We cut up apples and put them in black trash bags, working until bedtime.

Velma, who you don't see in any of the pictures, but who is our production manager and the mother of 5, was planning to start the 1st cooker at 6:AM and I said I'd be there at 7:AM.
Oops. No alarm set and I woke up at 7:00. I got over there around 7:30, the same time as Matt. So much for breakfast. Wil brought me coffee before he left for breakfast at the Essenhaus with his former OR co-workers. I decided that apples would be my breakfast and that I just wouldn't think about his feast that he would devour.

After breakfast Wil spent the rest of the day helping. We had quite the operation going.

Note our modern way of cranking the Victoria Strainer. We re-charged Batteries throughout the day. I told them I didn't think that was very Amish! It sure beat the sore arms from cranking. However, in spite of the modern way of cranking it was still work.

Monica explaining to Brennan and Sawyer what was happening. It was also Monica's first time doing applesauce.

We didn't add any sugar to our sauce, only pure vanilla and a 3/4 cup of water to each kettle of apples. Thick and Yum.

This gives you a glimpse of our finished project. We canned 272 quarts today!
Tonight my hands hurt, hurt, hurt. My back and toes are sore from being on my feet 11 hours.
In spite of all that, it feels like such an accomplishment and so rewarding.

The Letter "H"

I got my exercising done and over to Matt and Monica's in time to take care of Sawyer and Brennan this morning. Brennan was being a goof at the breakfast table and Sawyer wanted to do just what Brennan did. In order for Brennan to be ready for preschool by 8:10, I had to hurry him slightly. It's so much fun to be goofy when your brother laughs at you!

Brennan with the distinct brown eyes and Sawyer with the bright blue eyes

Grandma savoring the baby(not much of a baby anymore)time since it may very well be the last baby grandchild. Sawyer still takes wonderful mid morning and mid afternoon naps.

11:15 and Brennan comes back home.

What did you do at school today Brennan?
Oh, just things.
What was your alphabet letter today?
The letter "H" Do you want to know what words start with H?
Sure, tell me some.
Ha-Ha- IU Hat. I took my IU hat along for show and tell. Did you know that Car starts with "H"?
No, it doesn't Brennan.
Yes, it does. Ha-Ha- Hot Wheels Car.
Hmm
I reminded him of many other words that start with H, such as heart, heels and head and he told me that although he knows that, none of those things can be put in the show and tell box.

Daily Battle

For some reason I have the same battle every morning. At 5:30 every morning my alarm goes so I can go exercise before I go to work. Every morning I tell myself that I think it may be more important that I get my sleep than the exercise. However the truth of the matter is, if I really thought I should get more sleep than why not have gone to bed earlier. Well, maybe I can walk the treadmill tonight after I come home from work. In all reality I know myself well enough to know that won't work. Just get up and do it now! Every time that I talk myself into getting up in time to exercise, I feel so much better. So why the battle? You tell me. Oh yes, and the other problem is stopping by the computer on the way down and time getting away from me. Kind of like this morning-oops. I'm still walking.

Afew more pictures from my day

Sawyer getting ready to give big brother a kiss!

Brennan practicing his rock climbing.

Brennan thinks that being at our house always includes a popsicle or ice cream sandwich after he is done playing the wii.

My Wednesday today

This morning at 7:20 I went over to Matt and Monica's house to watch Sawyer or Brennan. I typically watch the boys Wednesday morning. Brennan left for Preschool around 8:15 then around 9:00 Sawyer and I left to go check up on Daudy and Grandma Barbara. This morning was a little different since we had to bundle up.

Taking the children along to check in on Daudy's has it's advantages. As long as the children are not fussy, they really help to take their mind of the negative. Since it was just Sawyer and myself today, I decided to take along a video to entertain Sawyer while I combed Grandma Barbara's hair. That turned out to be a challenge because she was turning her head every time Sawyer moved and move he did! He loves to move with the music but he found out that moving and drinking at the same time was a bit difficult but entertaining for us.

Today Monica had an afternoon appointment so I spent the whole day with the boys. Sawyer loves Brennan and they play well together. Sawyer is quite used to rough playing by now.

Peek a Boo - Sawyer

This little guy is changing so fast since he is walking. He is really starting to show his personality. While we were eating lunch today he was climbing around under the table. It fun to have him be excited to see us and comes running to you.

Worms for Lynette& Rusty

Lynette and Rusty-in case you are not getting enough good worms to eat, Brennan is capable of finding you some pretty juicy ones at his place.

We would however much prefer eating at El Zorito. When Melissa and Isaiah still lived with us we made Tuesday night at Elcamino a tradition. Now we have closer place in Topeka that we traditionally go every other Tuesday night. The guys work on a few Spanish words and our waiter works on his dutch. It's a tradition that we all enjoy.

Grandma-Brennan night

Tonight Wil's quartet sang in Shipshewana at a small Fall Crafters Fair. Since Monica is gone this weekend I thought Brennan may enjoy going with me to Shipshe. On the way up I was telling him that we were going to listen to the Quartet that Papaw sings in. "Quartet! that's 4 people and Quintet is 5 people, did you know that Grandma?" Yes, I did know that, but how do you know that? "Oh, I learned it on Max and Ruby."

The little restaurant was a bit overwhelmed with the amount of people that were there ordering food so Brennan and I decided to go elsewhere to eat. When we were ready to leave Brennan yelled, "goodbye Papaw" in between their songs. The people sitting around got a bang out of that.

We decided to go eat at the Chicago Pizza place. On the way home he asked if tomorrow was Sunday and I said no it was Saturday. "Oh, then we don't go to church if it's Saturday." No we don't, but Auntie Melissa does. "Is her church Amish or something?" Later when he was talking to Isaiah on the phone, I heard him ask Isaiah if Auntie Melissa's church was like Amish.

Happy 1st Birthday Sawyer