Canning = Messy Fun

I finished the peaches and the salsa. They both turned out great.

The peaches are delicious and I wish I would have done more because the way Jackson eats them, we could go through a jar a day. They were so easy to do... a good start for those that are new to canning.

The salsa was alot of work. Alot of chopping, measuring, tasting and guessing. It worked out and I think it tastes pretty good for a first timer... I guess the real test will be how fast people eat it?

I think I will take a break from canning for now. It's so much work and sooo messy! If any of you have any favorite things you can or recipes that you follow please let me know. Good luck to all you first timers... like myself... it's fun but takes alot of work.

Kitchen Duty

The past few days I have decided to get a little creative in my kitchen. I have taken on a couple new projects and it has been so fun!

Project #1: Homemade bread
Project #2: Freezer Jam. One batch with sugar and one batch sugar free.

I have never made my own bread before. I have bought the already prepared mixes and thrown it into my breadmaker and done that, but never on my own. I got a new recepie from a friend of mine and decided to give it a try. It was so easy and so worth it! It was delicious!

Here is the delicious Wheat Bread recipe:

3 c. water
1/2 c. honey
1 tbsp saf-instant yeast
*grease 1/2 c. measuring cup before putting honey in (this allows the honey to slip right out). mircrowave honey and water for 1 minute. sprinkle yeast on top and allow to sit while you prepare the following.

Mix in a Kitchen Aid:
7 c. flour
1 tbsp salt
1 tbsp dough enhancer
1/4 tsp dough enhancer

add:
1/4 c. oil
water/honey/yeast mixture

Mix for 7 minutes on medium-low
Oil hands and counter tops and punch dough down.
Divide into 3 loafs (I did 2 and that worked fine)
Let rise 1 1/2 hours
Bake at 350 for 35 min.

*Special note: Watch your mixer carefully. My friend that gave me the recipe, wasn't paying attention and her mixer went off the counter and broke!

I have never made freezer jam either. But my Grandpa brought me a huge bag of peaches from his tree so I decided to put them to good use and give this freezer jam a try. I made a peach-strawberry batch with the whole 4 cups of sugar (yes, 4 cups) and then did another batch of plain strawberry sugar free. Most people say the sugar free is bitter tasting - but I actually liked it better than the one with sugar.

For 2 days my kitchen was a complete disaster. Food was everywhere, my floors were sticky, Jack kept himself busy playing in the sink, so water was everywhere. But it was well worth it. It was fun to try some new things and everything turned out really good.

So above is a picture of my kitchen looking like a total disaster. And below is a picture of what it normally looks like. And honestly, my kitchen is "almost" this clean all the time. I can't stand a messy kitchen!
I know alot of you keep asking for pics of our new house. I will get some up soon, I promise. For now - here is my kitchen.

More kitchen projects this week (or next): Canning. I am going out to my Grandpas to pick more peaches and will can whatever I get from him. After that I am going to attempt the salsa. I am not too worried about the peaches but the salsa requires a little bit more work. I have had some help and directions from some friends so I think I will take on the challenge. Wish me luck!

Pacifier Please?

We have quickly been learning that Clara is very very different from Jackson.

Clara:
1. Will not take a pacifier

2. Loves to be held
3. Hates to be put down
4. Loves to be wrapped up tight
5. Likes to cry
6. Has a very very fussy time at night
7. Is very nipple picky (recently stopped taking her bottles that I started giving her at 2 weeks! But thankfully a friend gave me some of her bottles and nipples to try and we found one that so far she is liking - keep your fingers crossed she sticks with it!)

Jack:
1. Was addicted to his pacifier
2. Loved to sit in his swing, vibrating chair, and lay in his crib
3. Liked to be left alone
4. Hated being wrapped up tight
5. Rarely cried. When he did, he was so easy to soothe
6. Didn't have a fussy time at night, or any other time of the day
7. Loved just about any bottle I put in his mouth

It's been an interesting ride so far with this little one. I never understood how moms did it with a fussy baby. But now here I am, with my own and we are getting through it. Luckily her worst time is at night and that is when Scott is home with me so we just take turns. He is so great with her and so patient - maybe even a little more than I am. Thank you for all your help babe!

Even though Clara will not take her pacifier, we have found a few things she will take. My cheek. Interesting? Ummm, a little. She loves to suck on it. Although, one time I let her do it a little too long and woke up in the morning with a slight "hickey" on my cheek. Oops.

She loves to suck on our noses and I am sure if we let her really latch on, that would work as a great pacifier.
She also sucks on my arm, and my finger...

Yes, this little girl is different, but very very special and it will be interesting to see what other challenges she brings our way!

Swiss Days

Most of you know Labor Day is a big weekend for my family. My mom and sister do a booth and my dad puts a float in the parade for his business. We love to go up and spend time with family, shop, and eat all the good food. This years float for the appliance store was so fun. Candice, Adam, and my mom put it together with the cute clothes line and clothes hanging from it: pants, socks, a poodle skirt, t-shirt, bloomers, and the best a giant red lacey bra (props to Adam on the design)!

So we always ride and/or walk along with the float and toss out candy to the people on the sides. Its always been a fun tradition, but we decided next year we are going to do things different. We want to be on the sidelines watching the floats go by. Just about every float passes out candy - the kids on the side had bag fulls - it was like Halloween, but better... no walking door to door... the candy comes straight to you! Jack sat up in the box truck with my dad, Adam, and AJ. It was so cute. I guess everybody that saw them kept pointing out that AJ looks just like his dad. They are so cute. And apparently Jack was waving at everybody like he was the one on display... ha ha.
My mom and sisters booth did amazing! My moms bag were practically sold out the first day. The women were going nuts over her stuff. And Candice had her best year with the Mushrooms. Really - I need to get creative and add something to their booth!

It was a great weekend. I love Swiss Days, although with kids it is much harder to go and enjoy it. If you have kids - try going early in the morning or later in the evening when things slow down. Or, even better, go without them. And also - leave your hubands at home. Scott hates it. He says it is like Disney Land with out the rides and fun things - so mainly just crowds and crowds of people. I guess for a guy that is a pretty good description. Ha ha.

Just 1 Week

After I had Clara, my good friend Michele came out to my house and we spent the afternoon trying to get a few pictures of Clara when she was just 1 week old. I am just getting around to posting them now - so here they are...

I love this one - she is such a little finger sucker.

Little naked babies - it doesn't get any better than this.
We tried to get some of Jack and Clara together. But neither of them were really having it. Hmmm... the beginning of whats to come? ugh.

*My cute new neighbor gave Jack this shirt when Clara was born. Thanks Jessie!
For those of you that remember Jack as a newborn - this pic of Clara and the picture I used for Jacks baby announcements look identical! I will try to find it and post the two of them together.
This is my favorite. Her face looks so peaceful - and since we rarely see this sweet little face, this picture helps us remember her happy moments.

Thanks Michele for taking her pics. I loved how they turned out! It was fun spending the afternoon with you and Boston, we need to do it more often.

Swimming

Our new place has a big swim and tennis club that we are THRILLED to be a part of. They have a pool area with 3 pools; 2 kid pools that is 1 1/2 feet, a children's pool that is 3 feet, and a lap pool that is 5 feet. It has been perfect for Jackson and get this... he begs us to take him swimming! Yes, he begs! Right after I had Clara, Scott would take him to the pool almost every night when he would get home from work. A couple weeks ago, I started to join in on the fun and just this last week I started to take him by myself during the day. I thought having him and Clara by myself at the pool would be a disaster but it was actually amazing! We go during Clara's nap, so she sleeps the whole time we are there. Jack plays with the other kids or by himself and I layout on the side... mmm.... I relax... get a suntan, Clara is asleep, and Jack is entertained... what more could I ask for?!?

I love this picture of Jack. He loves to jump onto his tummy. It looks like he is on top of the water. And really, I think he has quite good form... are we looking at a future diver?No, I am not trying to get my 5 week old a sun tan! How could I resist putting her in this little swimsuit? She is always completely covered up and in the shade when we go out - but she has to be dressed for the occasion! Come on - she is a girl!

First Boat Ride

What kind of mom would I be if I didn't document about Clara's first boat ride?

We went out Saturday night with my family. The water was a little choppy and as the sun went down it got pretty cold. By the end we were all wrapped up in sweatshirts and blankets and had the heaters on.

We had Jack wrapped up in one of my moms hoodies. Me being the scatter brained mom that I am these days, forgot to pack his sweatshirt. Nice. Jack loves his aunt Cami.

Still in the sun - my mom, Jack, Me and Clara. From what I could tell Clara loved her first boat ride. But what newborn doesn't love the sound of the engine and movement of the boat? All I can say is - she was born into our house - she better be born a boater!
That night we slept over at my parents house and spent Sunday with the family. We had a big dinner with some friends of ours, ate too much food, and relaxed and had a great Sunday afternoon.

Adam, AJ, Clara and me. Can you believe how much AJ looks like his dad? I love when little boys look just like their dad!

How do babies sleep in the most uncomfortable positions?
This is Grandma Rose and Clara. This is who I named her middle name after. We love you Grandma Rose!