Pioneer Taffy Pull

To celebrate Pioneer Day we decided to try making a sugar free taffy. We used honey, fructose and coconut milk. It turned out great, just a little on the VERY sweet side. Here we are having a great time pulling the taffy.

Rocky Mouth Waterfall hike

Here we are on an average day of school hiking in the wilderness writing and drawing in our nature journals. Never mind the daddy long legs that attacked our back pack or the wood boring wasp that attacked me or the slippery sandy slops that caused Gwen a great deal of trouble when it came to standing on two feet. Other than that it was pretty typical.

The kids at the head of the trail

Gwen and Aiden proceeding the trail

Emma making it to the island in the middle of the river and Robyn in her pink hat

GQ Aiden
Robyn working in her journal

My addiction

Many of you know of my addiction of sewing little girls dresses. So here are some pictures of my resent projects I have done. Isn't Gwen cute in this pillow case dress? Yup it's really made out of an old pillow case.

Here's a dress I recently made for my friend Amy. It's a blessing gown for her 8th baby.

Here's a gown that I made for my brother and sister in law, Steve and Christina. It's for their baby Addison

This is the petticoat

Gwen with her buddy

Here's Gwen hanging out with her buddy Oakley. They have a great time together often since they are neighbors! Aren't they cute :)

Emma is 8!!!

So Emma turned 8 last week. Wow I can't believe how old my kids are becoming. Here are some pictures from her birthday. Emma has always wanted to go to a Rodeo so on Saturday we went as a family. Unfortunately I forgot our camera and did not get any pictures! So sad! We all had a great time. Emma did the "cash cow" event where they tape cash to a saddle blanket and place it on a calf and all the kids chase the calf to get the cash. It was quit comical to watch the herd of children run in a group chasing this poor calf. She found it very entertaining. :)

Gwen the raccoon

This is what happens when you ignore Gwen too long...she got into my makeup and decided to make herself a raccoon.

Aaron, trying to clean it off

Alyssa

After the reunion we had our niece Alyssa stay with us for a week. We made a quilt, did some school and took a tour of the conference center. It was great to have her with us :)

Aiden, Robyn, Gwen and I on the roof of the conference center.

Alyssa and Robyn on the roof of the conference center
Trying to get a picture of the etched art on marble. It's really wonderful how you can see your reflection with all the people. It makes the quote personal. I don't know the red head...he got in the way, oh well. :)

The blessings of Charity

So I wanted to share an experience that we had yesterday. After we returned home from our trip to Washington we found ourselves with many money emergencies that came up within about 2 days some of which were giving to others (not to brag, but to bare testimony). Our budget became very tight after spending money to reserve a park pavillion for a homeschool activity which I was to be refunded at the party by the participants. I had ordered a few food storage items from a friend of mine and I was planning on paying her when we got the refund. Well because of our emergencies we didn't have the extra cash around so I was planning on paying her with our next pay check, no big deal.

Well I had planned a family dance for Friday where quite a while ago, I had paid to rent a pavilion at our local park. I had a health issue come up and could not be there so I asked a good friend of mine to be in charge. While she was there she asked all who came to donate some money to help pay for the pavilion. She came over yesterday with that money. I needed $74.50 for the items I had ordered. I counted it and the total was $75.50!

I know that when you are willing to give no matter what your situation is you will be blessed! Also this experience was a testimony of tithing. I am grateful for this truth in my life and for wonderful friends who were willing to be a part of this miracle!

Forth of July

Here we are on the forth of July with the Nielsen's. I didn't realize my camora was on the wrong setting so I apoligize for the blurry pictures...

Myself and Gwen

Putting ribbions in Robyn's hair

The bookworm

Aiden the giant

Devanie's "Celine Dion" shot

Robyn

Crazy Mom!

All of us enjoying the fireworks

Watching our garden grow

So here are some pictures of the progression of our garden. As you can see our tomatoes went wild this year. Yes! I love fresh tomatoes!

Gwen, Aiden and Robyn near the tomatoes

Aiden and Robyn in front of the pumpkins

Here they are in front of the sunflowers

Gwen with the tomatoes

Cute Gwen

I had some cute pictures of Gwen that I thought I would share. Here she is painting in the bath with some finger paints. She's 2 and a half. If you ask her if she's two she will say "and a half" :)

One day I came down stairs and found Gwen fast to sleep on the bottom stair. As you can see she made room for her baby who was also asleep as well.