HOMEMADE GRAPE JELLY!!!

This is the first time I've ever made jelly the hot way. I'm a pro at making frozen strawberry jelly, except the 2 batches before my last one. I tried a quick recipe and they both were horrible. They never set up! I guess that's what you get when you stray from the original recipe.

I was watching Extreme Couponing awhile back and one of the women was stocking up on frozen grape juice to make jelly. I was blown away. That has to be the simplest jelly in the world!!! So, after a few months I decided to give it a try. I've had these jars sitting in the garage since last year thinking I was gonna can something. I never got around to it.

So I looked online for a recipe and I found two. They're pretty much the same but one gave a little more info and tips on how to do it all. I basically followed both.

After setting up for 24 hours I had to open one up to see how I did. It jelled!!! I'm so proud of myself. I did use 2 packages of liquid pectin to make sure it set. Both websites said they used a little more to get the consistency they wanted.

Mmmmm! The taste testers. They all agree that it's the best jam, next to my strawberry of course, they've ever had. Grant even said he's going to always remember this day when he ate homemade grape jelly. RayRay thinks pickles are better with a dab of grape jelly! Ok Mom, show me what you can do!!!! :-)

Summer Reading

This was our first year to participate in a summer book club and we thoroughly enjoyed it. The book club theme was A Midsummer Knight's Read and at the end of two months, prizes were awarded for the most books read in each age category. With an incentive like that, who could resist!

Each friday the library hosted some visitors to show and tell some interesting things about the past. The boys had the chance to see Knight's in armor with swords and shields, calligraphy and clothing. They also got to see some animals in the library.

Today was the final day to turn in their book logs and as the librarians added everything up, the kids played a game.

Even Ray had fun with the chips, even though he didn't "really" play the game.

The total of books all of the boys read was 181, each. Course, anytime we read the books I made sure each of them were listening so we wouldn't have any repeats. It just makes things easier especially if prizes are involved. I didn't want kids fussin' b/c such and such won and they didn't. There were age categories and even though they all had read the same number of books, Marshall came in 3rd place for his group and got a $10.00 gift card to Barnes and Noble. YAY! Marshall. The older two haven't complained about not winning a gift card, yet.

Regardless whether they got 1st, 2nd or 3rd place or none at all, I am very proud of them. They are all smart boys and they enjoyed visiting the library every week to bring home new books. They have such sweet smiles and I love them all.

Organizing School Work

I've been reading some other homeschooler blogs and websites lately and I came across one persons idea to organize all the paperwork from the school year. Well, I thought I had done a good job about putting the boys papers in a storage box in some folders. The more I read about this persons idea to put them in binders the more I realized my way wasn't so great.









I got to work right away using the remaining page protectors I had left. I LOVE these page protectors. In the last week I've already bought over 300. Turns out I didn't have enough so I had to load up the kids in the van and we headed to Walmart to buy 8-3in. binders and 6 packages of page protectors, each containing 50 sheets. One piece of advice. Always check what you're getting. Never assume everything in one spot is the same size, color or price for that matter. I ended up getting only 6-3in. and some how 2-2in. were in the same area on the shelf as the 3 in.! Never-the-less I made the 2in. binders work for Marshalls work and their summer work.

Ta-Dah!!! What do you think?









Now where are they gonna go? Rats! That brings up a whole nother task!

+ and -

The boys have been doing some summer work since school has been out. It's amazing how quick they forget what they've learned. I've done my best to get some learning in this summer.
Well, today was a wonderful summer school day. Grant learned to count $ and worked on some time and Marshall learned what picture sounds the same as the first one. Yesterday and part of today Wesley learned to write addition sentences and did very well. The last page he learned how to write subtraction sentences. When all was finished he ran to tell his brothers all about it. He was thrilled to the max and it really touched my heart hearing his excitement. I truly hope he keeps this zeal with math.

Familiar Faces

What a treasure it was to spend a few hours with Great Grandma and Great Grandpa Frisinger last night. Paul received a phone call from Grandpa Sunday night wanting to know our plans for Monday nights dinner. We were thrilled to find out that they would be coming through the area and wanted a visit. We insisted that they come to the house for a home cooked meal. Their visit lifted our spirits and warmed our hearts.

Great Grandma and Grandpa with the Frisinger boys.









Wesley showing Great Grandma his Star Wars gun.









Great Grandma getting some sugars with Archer.

Archer is 3 months!

Can you believe this cutie pie is 3 months!!! He has grown so much these past few months. He's warming out hearts with his smiles and lifts our spirits with his giggles. Our family wouldn't be complete without him. So far, Archer noticing his feet, brings his hands up to his mouth and sucks on his fists. It's so funny. You could be across the room and you can hear him sucking on his fist, fingers or arm. Archer is also rolling from tummy to back. Does it still count when his frustration causes him to roll? Of course! Archer wants to be wherever the action is. If finds that he's all alone, he'll let us know it. We have been so blessed to have such a healthy, adorable and loving baby boy.



Starting to roll to his back.










Such a strong neck!

Homeschooling Help.

http://thehomeschoolmagazine.com/

Ya'll feel free to check out this website. I've decided to subscribe to the magazine for much needed help and ideas. I'm not sure what's in it but any homeschooling parent needs a little extra help once in awhile.

Birthday Parties Are For Big Boys Too!!

Who says themed birthday parties are just for kids? Not this family! We have made it a tradition to ask the birthday person what kind of birthday they wanted. It kinda makes us feel like a kid again having the dining room all decorated up with a theme. This year, after shopping for Wesley's birthday, Paul saw some tank decorations. This year he got just that. Paul also requested for his birthday dinner penne pasta mixed with mushrooms, shrimp and marinara. For his cake he wanted chocolate with orange flavoring and vanilla ice cream. I originally had planned to make a simple cake but really wanted to create a tank cake. The wheels and hatch door are cookies and the barrel is a wooden rod dipped in chocolate that was chilled till set. I think the cake turned out great and Paul was really impressed.

Whoa it has been awhile, huh? Lots has happened since August 2010. Grant and Wes started a new homeschool year. They've done quite well and we're almost done! Because baby # 5 is due mid-April we decided to double up on school work. The boys have worked real hard this year and we're so proud of them.

We traveled back to Texas for both Thanksgiving and Christmas knowing we wouldn't travel till possibly the following summer. We had a great visit both times.

I've slowly started putting the baby's room together. I haven't had much motivation lately but with Pauls help and patience we've pretty much got it all done. There are still a few things that need to be done like crochet a blanket and slip cover an old bumper pad. I even got his heirloom quilt finished!

Goodbye old friend

The day has come to say goodbye dear vacuum cleaner. You have served us well from the day we bought you. Yes, we know you sat patiently on our wedding registry waiting to be purchased to be given as a gift but that day never came. We rescued you from that Target shelf and brought you home and used you well. You cleaned all of our floors with glee and even chased a kid or two pretending to suck them up. We will never forget you and the hard work you did keeping our floors clean. Be well and we'll miss you.

RIP
Dirt Devil MVP Swivel Glide 2001- 2010

Oooooo! Hello new Bissell Vacuum. It's nice to meet you. Will you provide the cleaning and dependability our old vacuum gave us? Will you keep our floors clean like our old vacuum? Will you chase our boys around pretending to suck them up? Will you work hard like our old vacuum? If so, you may be a welcomed addition to our family and provide years of cleaning and happiness. We hope that for the next 9 or so years you clean our floors with such pride as our previous vacuum did.

2010-?

some assembly required

Were our floors that dirty?

Homeschool is now in session

Summer is gone and homeschool has begun. Last year we taught Kindergarten to both Grant and Wesley. Wesley was a brand new 4 year old last year but we thought he could use a leg up learning his ABC's and 123's and such. This year Grant is now a 1st grader and Wes is repeating Kindergarten to fine tune his learning. The one thing that concerned me the most about this school year was teaching two different grades and material. I wanted to teach both at the same time so I could get it all done at one time and still have the afternoon to myself while the boys "napped". Well, being the first day and having this great concern of how it was all gonna turn out, I weeped and sobbed in the middle of school. I was overwhelmed to the max. Thankfully Paul was there to finish off school while I went to my room and bawled. I realized I couldn't do both at the same time and decided I'd have to split the boys up and teach them individually. I know I won't have the same format or schedule everyday regarding school but I do know that dividing the boys up is ok and that I'm not alone in this. Paul has been a great help and even brought home flowers at lunch and had the boys tell me I'm a good teacher.

Grant - 1st grader


Wesley - Kindergarten


Marshall - almost 3 and ready to learn too


Ray - 8 mths old today and cute as can be!!


All my precious little boys


My big school boys

Lovely flowers to brighten my day.

Childhood

We all had toys when we were a child that we loved to play with and enjoy. Some of the toys were brand new and others were from our older siblings. Well, on one of my trips to the antique store I found an old childhood toy. The Fisher Price Circus Train. Do any of you remember this? I'm hoping that my siblings will remember it and get a flood of memories like I did. Call me crazy but this was one item I couldn't pass up. I don't know how much it cost back in 1973 but I didn't care. All the pieces were there!
The boys thought I was purchasing it for them and there is no way in the world I'll let them set their little paws on that train! I just couldn't bare it if some of the stickers got peeled off or the elephants nose chewed on. I do have it displayed on one of the window sills and every once in awhile you'll hear a little Toot! Toot! I think what I'll do is pack it up till Christmas time and then set it out to bring some of my childhood back.


The full set





I don't remember the giraffe in our set growing up