Upcoming weekend fun!

We have a fun, busy weekend planned. Saturday morning the girls cheer at the Herriman football game, which is always entertaining! The we are off to the Grand America Hotel in Salt Lake to visit the toy boutique JouJou. I have seen ads lately and it looks Amazing! Then to top off the day we have a Halloween Party. Papa is coming over to play with the kids for a few hours while we go out and enjoy the night! Pictures to follow...I am especially excited for the toy store!

                                                                              

Cleaning out the garden

We had our first freeze on Friday and that meant that the Saturday morning needed to be spent down at the garden. We all went down there and picked everything that was left. The plants had given us everything they had in them and they were spent. We brought home with us a total of 11 pumpkins, 5 cantaloupes (they ate 5 while were in the garden), a grocery bag full of cherry tomatoes, more onions than I will ever know what to do with (I may dry them out and save them for spices like I did with the cayenne pepper), some red peppers, and 5 eggplant. It was a fun season, filled with a lot of hard work.
A few weeks ago we went down to the farm and picked a few bags of apples. We all ate at least one a day and as they became slightly worn out I decided to make one of my favorite treats. Today I pulled of the food dehydrator and started slicing. Last year I made plain apple chips and cinnamon apple chips, but this morning I noticed we were out of cinnamon so plain it is.I slice them up, put them in the dehydrator for 4-5 hours and put them in jars. They are one of my favorite fall time treats. I did learn a lesson though, If you eat a whole bag of apple chips DO NOT follow it with a glass of water or you will quickly learn what it feels like to have 5 whole apples in your stomach.

                                                                 

The dirtier they get the cleaner the fun

    During my years as a parent I have run across other parents who have a real anxiety about allowing their children to get dirty...at all. There are times when I prefer my children to stay clean, if we are going out or have plans I prefer for them to stay clean. But here's the thing...they are kids. Let them get dirty. To me allowing this for your child is giving them the ideal childhood. Kids should play in sandboxes and climb trees, lots of trees, build forts outside, ride bikes and wander using their imaginations without anxiety that their parents will be upset that they got some dirt on their clothes. After all isn't that what washing machines and soap are for?

And on days when we have absolutely NO other plans this has been known to occur.

 

It started out innocently enough...

                                        The trench quickly got deeper and turned into a pool

                                            Madelyn joined in the fun and brought her rake

                                   More water was added, things were getting a bit ridiculous...

They were such a mess, but had the best time ever! The clothes came clean as did they and I would let them do it again in a second!

 

Good movies

I love a variety of movies. I love dramas, girly movies, comedies, all kinds...But I absolutely adore 1980 Chevy Chase movies. Last night I watched National Lampoon's Vacation and was really truly laughing out loud. Here are some of my favorites, really choose any of them, you can't go wrong.

Funny Farm is one of my favorites. Chevy Chase, the setting, the clothes, the cars, the dog who runs away, the mailman. It cannot be beat!

               National Lampoon's Christmas- puts to shame even the wackiest christmas decorators

                                                                        Caddyshack

                                                           National Lampoon's Vacation

                                                                            Fletch

          I probably watched Three Amigos at least once a week when I was little. I loved this movie!

                                                                       Spies Like Us

Quality children's clothing

                     I have 4 young children and shopping for clothing, while fun, can be a source of frustration. I definitely do not want my child looking like a walking billboard for a t.v. show or movie (really why would any parent want a their child covered with images of cartoon characters).It is also difficult to find clothes that are made with quality and will hold up. If I find a company that can produce clothes that are durable enough to be handed down from child to child they will receive my business. Really, is that asking too much?

 

 

This is my favorite piece of children's clothing we own. My husband' grandmother made it or him 35 years ago. It has been worn by him as well as our 2 girls and is currently worn by both of our sons. I have no doubt it will be saved for their children. If I could find find sweaters sold in stores that were of this same quality and overall awesomeness I would buy them all!

 

 

                                                            

The genius of Margaret Atwood

 

Recently, in my English class, we have been reading various writings by Margaret Atwood. I have fallen in love. She has a certain something. When I was asked to describe why I liked her so much I couldn't help but say she seems like a real spitfire. I think she would find it amusing that we are even analyzing one of her stories, in particular, as it seems to be written to make fun of the generic styles in which so many books are written. I cannot wait to read more of her work. If you have not heard of her hurry to your library and check her out (literally).

                                                                        

Atlantic-Pacific

Here's a fun blog, written by Blair Eadie, a consultant at Tory Burch. She has a Carrie Bradshawish (sex in the city) vibe. It is a fun blog! The blog is Atlantic-pacific

                                      I love, love, love this sweatshirt! (Pic taken from Atlantic-pacific blog)