TIM-BERRR!

After the chainsaw buzzing and with soft snaps and cracks, Kevin has cut down the 4th tree in our yard. This magnificent tree was right next to the house and dripping sap onto our cars and dropping pine needles daily. We decided when we moved in that the tree was definitely a fire hazard but it provided some desperately needed shade onto the driveway where the kids play, so we decided to keep it around. This year it has turned from green to mostly brown and some green needles. We aren't sure why it decided to die this year but we figure defensible space is always a plus, and the kids are not so little anymore.

Surprisingly, when the tree fell it was hardly noticeable. It simply snapped and cracked and fell softly to the ground. Kevin's mom pulled in the driveway right before it tipped over and Kevin desperately waved at her to back up quickly. Derrick was enlisted immediately to help Dad with the tree and put on a cowboy hat so he could be better at helping. Sam and Derrick hauled the logs to the pile of firewood and figured out they could use the wagon to help them go faster. I stayed in the house to keep KayDee from "helping" so she wouldn't get hurt and we did laundry.

Racecar or racecaR

Derrick is our super boy! He loves all the tools, fixing things, and especially driving around and finding places he can go with plastic wheels. Luckily he loves to share his adventures with his sisters too. KayDee is his favorite to drive with since she doesn't care if he drives.

Our kid four wheeler has broken inside the gears so Kevin told me to find the parts or another vehicle since we have a really nice battery. DI has always been one of my favorite places to find things and so I found this race car/dune bug (or whatever) for $6 hoping that it either worked or had the right parts to fix the four wheeler (the battery was missing so I couldn't test it). Kevin hooked it up that night and it worked perfectly. Then I looked at the tires and they are hardly used. I think someone bought it and parked it outside so the colors are faded, but rarely used it.

Samantha has fun driving it but I think it intimidates her a little. Kevin helped direct her on how to back-up to get around things and she responded with the recognition of "oh" but not the kind that says she will remember for next time. I'm sure practice makes perfect and Samantha will be curious enough to get that practice in.

Heavenly Peels

So I am not the worlds best bottler but I sure try! I tried to do our peaches when they were only picked the day before. I boiled them to get the skins off like the instructions said and only 1 out of 7 would come off, even after boiling for over 5 minutes! So I had to peel them...and waste my time when I really don't love bottled peaches. I'd rather peel pears because I love those bottled. Besides the whole reason I chose to do peaches is because the skins came off easy! So I finally had enough peeling and got 8 quarts done and then I cut the rest of my boiled peaches and dehydrated them. After a few days I started smelling the rest of my peaches and decided I should try again. Confidently I told myself that I should be successful since they were sooo ripe, especially after asking some of the bottling queens in the neighborhood.
I have never been so ecstatic over food! The peels slipped so nice off the peaches that it was so gratifying and the peaches were beautiful! It was HEAVENLY and I got done so quickly that it redeemed my disastrous bottling.

1st Grade

So Sam is finally at school all day and loving it. The favorites are, of course, hot lunch, and being busy all day long with her friends in her class. For some reason this year she is insisting on being called Samantha at school, but she isn't bothered by the other nicknames we call her at home. She has even told other kids all the names she goes by: Sam, Sammy, Sammy Jo, Samantha, Babe and of course Froggy (that was when she was a baby). She is doing so well and even tested another grade higher for reading so that pleases us, especially since she reads to Derrick and KayDee.

I am thrilled she is in 1st grade too. Kindergarten is a lot of work for a mom! Derrick will be there next year...