Fall activitties we are glad to be done with

Logan's soccer team after their game last Saturday

These are the cupcakes I made for my piano recital. The chocolate spiders looked really cute on them and they were gone in a minute-I didn't even get one!

Logan's soccer cake for his last game turned out really cute. I got this idea online and the kids loved it-they all crowded around us after the game exclaiming "where am I?!" It's two cake mixes, so everyone could have white or chocolate-I put one flavor on each side. So easy!

Johanna with the 10 baby gowns she sewed for her first 10 hour young women's project.

I love Fall!!!

I think that October is my favorite month. I love that the holidays are just around the corner. I love harvest time-especially since we live in an agricultural area where produce abounds. It always amazes me that food is so plentiful here-there's no excuse for anyone to go hungry. I love pumpkins and the color orange. I love crisp Fall days and cooler temperatures. I love Fall food!!!
My kids had a great time visiting a local small farm on Friday (no school). We ostensibly went there to pick grapes. The grapes were'nt great, but the hayride, baby goats (cookies and cream), trampoline and big rope swing were! I did get 11 quarts of juice.

Flirty witch? No, it's only Johanna, posing in a picture Grandma H had asked for...cute, huh?

Gluttons for Grapes!! So, eleven quarts of delicious, antitoxidant rich grape juice just wasn't enough, so we drove to Payette (an hour away) to pick some more. Grape heaven-you could smell them and they were literally dripping off the vines. We went there last year and just like then, we all had a fabulous time reveling in the wonderful grape bounty. We probably picked too much, and I will probably regret it as I get more and more tired of steaming grapes this week. It was great though.

sharing a late Summer day with Mia

Mia had a wonderful time on the trampoline with the boys-even when they got a little crazy

Our apple-tester. She tried every one to make sure there were no worms

If you can't tell, that's a lady bug just taking flight-it was sitting on Katy's finger a moment earlier.

It was a beautiful afternoon in Rexburg. Katy dropped me off at my in-laws after we had enjoyed a terrific evening stuffing ourselves at Melting Pot and watching the beautiful dancing and inventive scenery of Lion King. She and Mia ended up staying for the day. We spent a lot of time outside enjoying the apple "orchard" and trampoline.

Just recipes

Well, I was reading some recipes on blogs today and I thought....hey-what a great idea, because I love food! So here's a recipe I tried today that I got online...delicious! It can be vegan, if you like.

Split Pea Soup

1 Tb. olive oil
1 onion, chopped
1 bay leaf
3 cloves garlic-pressed or chopped
2 cups dried split peas...I used yellow
1/2 cup barley (you don't have to use..I did though)
1 1/2 tsp. salt
7 1/2 cups water/broth
3 carrots, chopped
3 celery stalks, chopped
3 potatoes, diced
1/2 c. chopped parsley
1/2 tsp dried basil...or use more of fresh
1/2 tsp dried thyme...or more fresh
1/2 tsp. ground pepper

Saute onions and garlic in oil. Add peas, barley, salt and water. Boil and reduce heat to simmer. Simmer for 2 hours, then add veggies and herbs. You may have to add more water or broth. I pureed it with my neighbor's immersion blender (I gotta get one of those!).

Peanut dipping sauce (for lettuce wraps-or combine with Stir fry sauce recipe for my new fave stir fry sauce)

1/2 cup pb
1/3 cup water
2 Tb. vinegar
1/2 tsp. minced ginger
1/8 tsp. red pepper flakes
1/4 cup sugar
1/4 tsp. minced garlic
1/2 tsp. chili oil
1 Tb. brown sugar

Combine and microwave until smooth

Stir Fry Sauce
1/4 cup water
1 tsp. cornstarch
1/3 cup soy sauce
1/4 cup sugar
1/4 cup vinegar
2 tsp. sesame seed
1 tsp. red pepper flakes
1 tsp. chili oil
1/2 tsp. minced ginger

Combine in saucepan and heat until thickened

Happy Birthday Johanna!

Johanna and dollys dressed in their new outfits-fantastic job, Jen!

Johanna and friends Hannah and Chantelle breakfasting at the Tea House.

13 candles on a oreo mint cheesecake...a lovely sight!
Johanna once again enjoyed her birthday. I can't believe she's 13!! We had a late night party after soccer practice Thursday. She loved the package from Aunt Jennifer with all her clever sewn doll things. She loved her gifts from grandparents and Aunt Katy too-thank you to all!

Saturday we had her "party". I took Johanna and her friends to the breakfast buffet at "Miss Tami's Tea Cottage". I have to say, it was delicious and a good thing I'd gone for a run that morning-Monte Cristo sandwich anyone? The girls all looked adorably dressed up for the occasion and enjoyed themselves immensely. They returned home to play dolls and try on the gifts Johanna received from them-lots of silly bandz and shirts-Hannah felt bad that Johanna didn't have any brand names-so she remedied that. I can't believe that I used to care so much about brand names. I couldn't give a fig now! As long as it's cute, I'll wear it. Anyway, Johanna was sad when her special day was over.

Last breathings of summer

Logan actually licking the dregs of our LAST raspberry pie........sigh.....and it was delicious.

All Ed watched was the "colorful man" who was selling the cotton candy-he was wearing tie dye wig and shirt.

Amazing! Spirit of Boise Balloon festival

We attempted to finish of the "bucket list" of things we wanted to do this summer. Friday

night we enjoyed ice-cream at "Delsa's", a cute little retro ice-cream parlour. Actually, that was plan B. We originally set off to watch a baseball game, but after arriving, found it was sold out! We exchanged our tickets for Saturday's game and went to ice-cream instead.

Saturday morning we rose at 6:00 a.m. to make it to Boise by 7 for the balloon festival. It was so worth it! It was a perfect morning-beautiful and clear-not too cold. There were 28 hot air balloons in rainbow hues and we arrived just before they were inflated. It was so inspiring to see them grow huge before our eyes and then drift up into the blue sky. An orchestral soundtrack completed the magic of it. The kids loved it...I loved it! Afterwards we took the kids to IHOP, which was VERY crowded, but we all enjoyed our "tutti-frutti-fresh and fruity" pancakes.

Blake worked the remainder of the day, and I had my usual struggle getting the kids to do their puny Saturday chores, but we enjoyed another gorgeous summer evening at the ball park. It was fun and brought to mind pictures of what summers of yesteryear were like. A funny thing-Blake spent 3.25 on special ball park peanuts which were exactly like the Hoody's I brought back from the reunion and that we still have at home!

Sisters...sisters....Oh, and lots of kids too

Kiss the pony! My wild and wacky birthday party was a hit! It all started with the (extremely flattering) ensemble that I had to wear-lovely lei, crown and tacky plastic hula skirt. It just got more fun from there, complete with pinata, loads of gifts for all the sisters, chocolate cake and ice-cream...yum! I'll admit, I did act a bit crazy, but if there's one thing good about getting older-you just start not to care what anyone thinks! You get a bit more comfy with yourself...is this a good thing?