Canning Applesauce

Well, I inherited a lot of McIntosh apples from my mom over the weekend. I decided what better to do than can them? Well, I peeled them, wedged them, and turned them into applesauce. And...I'm only 1/2 through the box I took home with me. Making applesauce is a lot of work!!

I also didn't have a bathwater canning pot and rack system, so I had to buy one. I couldn't find one at Wal-Mart (it was a crap shoot anyway) so I bucked up and went to Bed, Bath, and Beyond where I found a huge 15 quart bathwater canning system. I also bought an apple peeler to make my life easier (or at least try to).

After 4 long hours, I had canned 7 quarts and one 1/2 pint of applesauce. Well, let's just say no one better scarf down this applesauce! It should be eaten very, very slowly and with great appreciation! What a lot of work.

Jordan was working on the basement, since our goal is to have it finished by Christmas. Anna had schoolwork to complete. I was left utterly alone to peel, core, mush/sauce, and can the applesauce. I don't think it would've taken 1/2 as long if I had help. But, it was my choice to bring home a large box of apples--and frankly the idea at the time sounded good.

I am grateful, however, that I was able to do this. It's been years since I've canned and I realized I had a lot of questions for my mom. I had her on the phone for 30 minutes late last night while I was trying to can in the bathwater canner. I wanted to make sure I was doing everything correctly so my cans would seal. Nothing would irk me more than do have done all this work just for the cans to fail. Before I went to bed late last night, most of the cans had already sealed. Yeah! Success!!

Potty Training Break-Through!

Sarah is now reaching highs of success on the potty. She confuses her words a little bit, but we known when she says "poop" we need to get her on the toilet. She is really good about it too. She's been wearing her 'pretty panties' for over a week now and she's had only a couple of oopses. Now, however, it's like she's a pro.

How we did it, you may ask? Well, Sarah is a pretty-pretty type of girl. To make her sit on the potty for so long, we simply began painting her toe nails. I think her toes have been 5 different colors in the last 2 days. But, it works. What used to take her 30-45 minutes to do is now taking less than 3 minutes. It's great!!!

Now, if only she'd be able to hold it while she sleeps. When she naps we still put a diaper on her. But she doesn't like it. The other day she woke up when she felt herself sitting in a dirty diaper. Anna had to change it and then put her back to sleep. So, the time is nearing. One day Sarah will be completely trained and she'll get that 'big girl' bed I promised her.

Go, Sarah, go!

Princess Sarah

Sarah had some pictures taken about two weeks ago when I was up in Logan for my mom's birthday. Sarah is so adorable, isn't she?! I'm one proud mother.

Sarah has been doing so great at potty training! She got some really cute panties for her birthday and since then we've been working on potty training. Last night Sarah had a breakthrough. She finally went on the potty...sitting down!! Yeah!! Today Daddy had her this morning and he took her to Wal-Mart (to get Anna's tire fixed) in her panties. She was so good. He tried to take her potty there, but she wanted nothing to do with it. So when they got home, Daddy sat her on the potty and she went!! Yeah for Sarah! She got a sticker to put on her chart and also a treat for being so good. Well, I hope these potty training days go by quick. I can't wait to hear the words, "Mommy, I need to go potty!!"

Sarah also was gifted some dress-up clothes from her cousin Abby. Sarah loves the Snow White costume because it glitters. She was running around the house, more like dancing in circles, on Sunday I had to take some pictures of her. She's such a little princess!

Bachelorette Weekend

Well, they made it back and alive!! They drove all through Monday night and returned home about 4:30am on Tuesday. I didn't get to see Sarah until after work on Tuesday though, since she was dead asleep when they got home and put her straight to bed. I missed my little angel and was so glad when I got home and got to hold her in my arms again.

The bachelorette weekend I had at home was rejuvenating. I got a lot of things done in my garden and around the house which have been left neglected between vacations and not being able to do it while watching Sarah. Daisy and I spent a great weekend together.

I read 3 books, including rereading New Moon. I am excited to go to the movie this November, I even have tickets to see the movie at 2:45am (since the midnight showing was all sold out!!). I thought I better refresh myself on the story before I see the movie. I'm really excited for it to come out as are Anna and Karina (they are both coming with me to the 2:45am showing).

I went to a movie on Saturday with Lynette (Jordan's mom) called Broken Hill. It was really good, one of those feel-good artsy-fartsy sort of films. It's based in Australia and is about a young composer who teaches prisoners (as community service) how to play instruments and forms a band/choir. I liked it, so did Lynette. However, the entire movie we were both thinking how much Anna would love the movie. Perhaps she'll go with Karina. It wasn't a Jordan movie by any means.

On Sunday I spent a relaxing morning reading, then went to church and taught my little Sunbeams. They are a cute bunch of kids and this is really helping me learn what to expect when Sarah is age 3-4. After church, I went to Lynette's for Sunday dinner. We ate and sat around chatting for an hour or so and then I had to head home and take care of Daisy since I'd neglected her when I stopped at home to change clothing.

Sunday flew by, and came Monday. I had work, so the day passed pretty quickly. That night, I enjoyed the last day to myself and watched a movie with Daisy while folding clothes. I can't believe how clean my house stays when it's just me at home!! But, I'd take Sarah's messes any day if I had to make the choice between a clean home or a little daughter. Sarah would win by a landslide.

When I get some pictures of their trip to South Dakota, I'll post them with a commentary of what they did while there. I wasn't there, so whatever I post will be from what Anna and Jordan tell me.

Gearing up for South Dakota!

Well, Jordan, Anna, and Sarah are all headed to South Dakota and leaving me home....humph! Jordan's brother, Rob, rented a cabin for a couple of weeks, so Jordan is meeting him for a long weekend in the Black Hills of South Dakota. Jordan, Anna, and I went there about 4 years ago and it is some of the most beautiful country you'll ever see. Granite rocks shoot through the ground and protruding in beautiful rock formations in the mountains. Evergreens dance across the landscape. Little lakes are everywhere in the hills. It is simply stunning.


I must say I'm glad Sarah is going, even though I'll miss her for the 4 days she's gone. At least she can say, when she's older, she's been to Mt. Rushmore and Crazy Horse Monument. For being only 2, Sarah's traveled to at least 7 different states. Not too shabby, if I must say.



They leave tomorrow and I just might shed a tear or two. My little Sarah is growing right up!!!



This last weekend I went to Logan with Sarah. It was my mom's birthday, so we spent a couple of days with her and my dad. It was great fun. I even helped them out in the garden. I figure they spent so much money raising me, its my pleasure helping out when I can. My sister Liz took some pictures of Sarah for her 2nd birthday. Isn't she a doll?! I love my little princess.

Jordan's Burnt Lip

Well, everyone, Jordan had his biggest blond moment ever. I accidentally left my curling iron plugged in. Jordan didn't know if I turned it off or not, so in order to check and see if it was on, he held the iron to his nose to smell it. Instead he burnt his lip. Yep, the curling iron was indeed on.

Poor Jordan...

Daisy's Surgery

Well, Daisy Mae had her surgery yesterday. Poor thing! We had to leave her there overnight for observation and fluids. We went and visited her though. Sarah was so concerned about her doggie that we had to take her with us, even knowing it might be a little tramuatic for Sarah to see Daisy in such a state. We decided, however, that Daisy would be home soon enough and Sarah would see the stiches and shaved leg then as well. It wouldn't matter too much if she saw Daisy like this a day earlier.

Sarah patted the kennel and called to Daisy. She said, "Daisy hurt." We told her that Daisy was sick and needed to stay there for another day before we brought her home. Sarah didn't want to leave, but we decided stay only for a short while since we didn't want to get Daisy too excited. She wasn't feeling well, it was easy to see.

We got Daisy a chew toy, but we couldn't leave it with her. She'll have to get it when she gets home. I don't know how happy she'll be to be home, we'll see. Luckily the pain meds they're giving Daisy will help a lot and also make her tired so she doesn't over do herself.

We also found out that Daisy has hypothyroidism. I didn't know this, but apparently it is quite common in labs. No wonder Daisy's chuncky! She doesn't each much at all, but she packs on the weight like crazy. She's going to have some hormone treatment and perhaps it will help her loose some of that uneeded weight.

Now that this is all done, and I'm sufficiently broke, I think Daisy will be ready for hunting season...next year.