Peach season!

We love Utah peaches! This time of year makes us very happy. We like to can them-- "assembly line" style. It's a fun time spent together.
The assembly line goes as follows: I blanche the peaches. Then, Harley and Tatum peal them...

Next, Shelby and Eric cut them into pieces and put them into the jars...

Lastly, I fill them with the liquid, close them, and place them in the water bath. (Chandler usually helps, but he was mowing the lawn this year while we were canning.)
Here's the finished product...

 Unfortunately, these are so yummy that I'm afraid they won't last until next peach season.

Churchisms

Our kids' primary teachers are SOOOO good. They work so hard to prepare meaningful lessons for their little classes. And they're teaching our kiddos so much.
Today at church Harley and Tatum were learning about keeping the sabbath day holy.
Harley's teacher asked, "How do we get ready for Sunday, on Saturday?" To which Harley replied, "Torture my brother... It's a Saturday chore. If I do it on Saturday, I won't have to do it on Sunday."
Tatum's teacher asked what they should do on Sunday. To which Tatum responded, "Hunt for praying mantis.-- Get it?... PRAYING mantis!"
Oh man! At least their Primary teachers have good senses of humor. Thank goodness!

How did I miss this?!?!

The kids started back to school on July 23rd. Somehow I missed blogging about it. Oops!
I know, July 23rd seems really early. But, I really love the modified year round school schedule we have. Mostly because it gives us 2+ weeks off in October, 2+ weeks off in Dec/Jan, and 2+ weeks off in March. The breaks really keep the kids from getting burned out during the year, and from getting too bored in the Summer.

Anyway... This year, Chandler started Junior High, which is SUPER weird for me! He's very involved in band, and is LOVING it. Junior High is totally perfect for him. He's loving hanging out with his friends, and learning to be a teenager. It's pretty awesome!

Shelby is in 6th grade this year. She is already excited to be in Junior High. She hasn't decided yet if she want to be in cheer again this year. She still has time to decide before they start. Choir will start after Fall Break, and she wants to do it again this year so she can get more experience before she tries to join choir in Junior High. She spends all of her recesses in one of the 1st grade classrooms. She and her friend, Maddie, go in and help the teacher and kids with whatever they need. She LOVES it, and I think the teacher genuinely appreciates her help.

Harley LOVES her 3rd grade teacher. She's a great balance between fun and educational. Right up Harley's alley! Harley loves to read, write, and draw, but she's not a huge fan of math. She's making new friends, and they're very nice girls. Being in 3rd grade means she can join the choir. She is SO EXCITED about it, she can hardly stand it! She's also quite the fashionista, and loves putting together cool/cute outfits.

Tater is just as cute as a button! She's in 2nd grade this year, and loves to learn. She's reading like a maniac, and is so excited about this big world that's opening up to her. She has a fabulous teacher that we are lucky to have this year. Her BFF ended up in a different class this year. She was very disappointed at first, but she's making lots of new friends, and it's been good for her to be on her own a little bit. She looks up to her sisters so much, and can't wait until she's big enough to do all the cool things they're doing.

It's been a great year so far, but it's going SO quickly! I don't love that, because it means that my kiddos will be all grown up before I know it. Blech!

Labor Day Festivities

On Labor Day we decided to just spend the entire day playing! It was awesome!

We started the day with 2 hours of bowling, complete with lots of root beer and laughs...

Harley and Shelby had a blast, and did well. (Mostly because they were using the bumpers, but I'm not judging. :) )

 Chan had to get the hang of it, but had fun once he did...

 Tater got super into it-- lining up the track every time. It was pretty funny...

After bowling, Eric and the kids went and did the bumper cars. We've had such a serious last few months, it was nice to see him brake loose for a little while.

Next we went out to lunch, then home to relax and watch a movie.

Later that night, Chandler taught u show to make homemade ice cream in a bag... It was yummy, but we'll have to double the recipe next time. There just wasn't enough. LOL!

It was the perfect, most relaxing day! Just what we all needed!

I guess this means business!

A couple of weeks ago, we received a box of tithing donation envelopes in the mail. Oddly, they had Eric's info on it. :)

I know that's the way it's supposed to be, but it just seemed to feel strange to me. I guess that was the first time I'd really seen his name written next to "Bishop".

So, there are constantly things to teach us to be flexible and go with the flow... even though it's SUPER DUPER WEIRD!

Overachiever!

In August, Chandler received all the Scouting merit badges that he'd earned since the last Court of Honor. His scouting leaders are RIDICULOUS!!! They have these boys working SO hard, with the goal of completing their Eagle by the time they turn 14. Chandler is right on track to just about do that. Hooray!

 He didn't even stab me when he pinned on my mother's pin. :)

Anyway... Chandler earned 11 merit badges, and advanced to the rank of Star. He's such an overachiever! ;)

Great job, Chan Man!

Stewart Family Reunion

In June we were able to go to Pinetop-Lakeside, AZ to stay in a cabin with the whole Stewart Family. We were only missing one of Richard and Laraine's kids and his family.

Even Rik and Heidi's fam came all the way from WA...

And Tim and Shu Shu's fam came all the way from TX...

 It was so fun to spend time with everybody. I especially enjoy getting to know all the older/teenage grandkids as they get older. They have such fun and unique personalities, and I genuinely enjoy their company. The grandkids also had a BLAST!!! The place we stayed was big and had lots of room for everyone to spread out. Not to mention, that the weather was so much better than at home.

One of the days, we went to a nearby church building and played some games...

We also had lunch, and made a care package for our first Stewart family missionary, Rik and Heidi's son Mason who is serving in Brazil.

Here are the cute girl cousins working on their notes to Mason...

It was sure fun to be all together, even if it was just for a few days.

We love you, Stewart family!