Busy Times

November is always busy for me. So here is a quick update to catch up everyone since I have been lax at blogging lately.

I have been canning like crazy which has been an adventure since all of my house is STILL in boxes but when fruit is cheap you have got to can:) I have gotten a bunch of apples and blackberries put away for the year.

My love turned 34! He is officially in his mid-thirties which may I say I tease him about endlessly. Mid-thirties just seems to be so old when you are only 30:)

We also celebrated our 11 year anniversary this week. Love you, babe!

Barry Bretton and Vallie had their primary program for church. This one was Vallie's first being a Sunbeam. She and Barry Bretton both did great and had their part memorized.In school we have been studying about Native Americans. So here they are transformed into Indians which may I add doesn't take much since they are usually renegades:)

It is also Barry Bretton's birthday. This year he actually had a friend party. He has been saying forever he wants a science party. So we did lots of science experiments and had lots of fun. I forgot to take lots of pictures so here are a few.This is his cake. I know a am not a great cake maker but it is suppose to be a volcano.

Here are some of the scientists make molecules.

Some of the scientist posing for a picture.

And through all of this can anyone tell me what Brahm is freaking out about all the time? Watch the video for the surprise (Pardon me laughing and tormenting him. I just had to catch it on video for proof after I figured out what brought the fits on). Sorry the video is sideways.

Aaahhhhh...that fells much better!

Apparently, Brahm is done with diapers. Now if only I could convince myself to be done with diapers. I always potty train my kids before they are 2 but the plan was to wait until after the holidays. The hustle and bustle of the holidays and a newly potty trained child mix like oil and water so I have been trying to put it off. I took this video about 2 weeks ago and since then he has learn to pull his pants off and remove his diaper which has brought his fits to a whole new level of excitement. Much to my reluctance I may be potty training this child in the next coming weeks just to keep my sanity.

Beware of the Bulow house

This has been one of those draining days that every mother loves:) The stomache flu is at full swing at our house. All the kids have it and I have managed to get covered in throw up seven times today. Not to mention the times it luckily hit couches, beds, and floors:) Today I am very grateful for healthy children and can't wait until I have three healthy children back and about again. Until then, I am grateful for bleach, laundry machines, carpet cleaners, spray nozzles on sinks, and locks on bathrooms (to have a quite, crying moment to myself for a minute:) Really, motherhood can be so hard sometimes.

Finally!!

Many of you know I have been in the market for a new fridge/freezer lately because there isn't a chance I can fit anything more that a slice of cheese in the one I have right now. It is just jam packed full. Well we finally bit the bullet (and when I say we I mean Barry) and bought a second fridge! We got it at Sam's Club (Vallie's and my favorite store) on Serene this evening. It is a GE and is pictures above. Any guesses on how much this beaut cost today which is normally priced at Sam's for $1225?.....Can you believe $637! and the better news is that there is one more left. So if you are in the market for a fridge RUN over there. It is the floor model so they told me they would even bring the price lower (as if the price wasn't good enough already). We are talking in the $500 range for a clean stainless steel, 25.4 cubic sq.ft. fridge. Hip Hip Hooray!

Turning lemons into lemonade!

Every so often I find a product that I don't know how I lived before I had it. Well this my latest and greatest.

My mom gave me this old fashioned citrus press for my birthday. Can I just say that I am obsessed with it! I have no idea where you can buy one cause I tried to find a picture of one on the Internet before I took this cheesy picture myself and I couldn't find one sold in any store online (my mom said she got it at Williams Sonoma). My mom told me when she gave it to me her mother use to have one just like it. She thought she and all of her girls needed one. Well, for the past month I have been a lemonade making machine. I literally try to find recipes that call for lemons, limes, or oranges just so I can us it. I am contemplating growing a lemon tree in my back yard just so I can have more fresh lemons to juice. It is that great! So if you happen to see one of these funny little contraptions in a store near you pick it up for you and all your loved ones too. You will not be disappointed and if you are still skeptical about it, stop on by. I would love to put my citrus squeezing talents to good use by making more lemonade for friends. Just think, you too can become a lemonade making machine.

Fancy Vallie

For all of you children's literature lovers, I think the Fancy Nancy books are just fabulous. I also think Jane O'Connor has a bug in my house to watch Vallie in order to come up with her next book. Vallie is so fancy (truly I have no idea where she gets that from:).

Anyhow, I have been trying to get my Christmas shopping done and almost have my children done except for Vallie. I ask Vallie what she wants for Christmas and it is always some crazy thing that doesn't exist. For instance this morning I asked her what she wants for Christmas this year and she replies, "A magic tomato that can turn into either a wand, a glove, or a trophy." Honestly, come on now! How about a doll or a Barbie? So I was wondering, do any of you mothers of sassy girls have some great gift suggestions for a fancy, imaginative almost 4 year old.

Doesn't her outfit today just speak for itself. Those pink cowboy boots are hand me downs that I basically have to pry off her (at least today they match).

House Update: Today marks the 3 month mark for the seller's accepting our offer and still no news from the bank:)

I Love Fall

Any guesses to what can keep a 1 and 3 year old actively engaged, sitting with their feet out the back door for just over an hour?

Pomegranates!

These little ones love promegranates and sat for a great part of the day picking them apart outside. I love fall! Fall brings some of my favorite things: pomegranates, chilly air, caramel apples, beautiful colors, sour cream cookies, Thanksgiving (my favorite holiday), and cleaning clothes drawers out to get ready for sweaters. Hooray for Fall!

Economics 101 (Vallie Style)

Barry Bretton had his first economics lesson today (which may I add made his Dad proud since that is his field). In the lesson, he was suppose to understand the vocabulary words: goods, products, services, consumer, needs and wants. Vallie always listens to what is going on. So I am asking them to tell me if an occupation provides a service or a good. Our conversation went like this:

Mom: Does a mailman provide a good or a service?
Barry Bretton: A service

Mom: Does a baker provide a good or a service?
Barry Bretton: A good

I asked them about five more before I asked them...

Mom: Does Barack Obama, the President of the United States, provide a good or a service?
Vallie quickly responses: A bad!

I swear we don't even talk about Barack Obama much but there you go. Out of the mouth of babes:)