Happy 17th Jessica!!!

Wasn't it just yesterday that I felt the first twinges of the pain that would take me into the secret world of women for the last 6,000 years?

Wasn't it just yesterday that I held you and said with awe, "I just love her so much."?

Wasn't it just yesterday that I walked through Wal-Mart with you in the little seat of the cart? Just the two of us enjoying the world while wise women said "that baby is so fat, you must nurse that baby. "

Wasn't it just yesterday that you wanted to leave the church nursery to come see me because you didn't think you should be watching a certain movie. The not so wise nursery worker said that your mommy does not want you to come. DROPPED THAT BIBLE STUDY in a heart beat. (And now, we like those movies!!!)

Wasn't it just yesterday that you read "Paddington Takes a Bath" by yourself and never stopped reading- surpassing us all in speed and ability?

Wasn't it just yesterday that Daddy read the Hobbit to you and you were able to remind everyone of some obscure event that occurred several chapters before in the reading?

Wasn't it just yesterday that you would put your one year old twin sisters to bed for nap time, so I could nurse your newest sister?

Wasn't it yesterday that multiplication seemed hard?

Wasn't it just yesterday that you hosted a Film Festival that put me in more awe of you than ever before. Standing and speaking in front of more people than most people do in their lifetimes.

No it wasn't yesterday. It has been a life time of you. It has been a beautiful seventeen years and you are an incredible woman. May God shine upon you.

I love you. Thank you for becoming my friend.

Organic Fertilizer for A Healthy Garden.

This past Saturday Super Dad and Ryan headed out to a friend of a friend's farm and loaded up with a big load of horse manure for our garden. This all natural fertilizer is wonderful for the garden as it composts leaving behind all the nutrients our baby plants will need in the year to come.

Sure, it doesn't sound that fun. But, it is one step forward to delicious and homegrown food. We already had our garden pretty much ready for winter. Because we live in the South our pepper plants are still hanging in there, but everything else is pretty much gone. Our potatoes suffered from the drought, so we only got one wagonload instead of two. We also planted onions and I am hoping to get the lettuce started soon!!

Super Dad works Hard!

Ryan is Super Brother and worked so hard.

The Best mom in the world!

And Rachel who went in and made an award winning blueberry pie for the contest that night when she was done here!

Pickles... Pickles...Pickles...

Pickles... oh and the Flowers!!!

Life is Good

Excuse me... I meant to say... With sleeping babies and sweet sisters who could want a better life!!! Not who want's more? I definitely want more siblings!!!

Sleeping Babies and Sweet Girls.... who wants more?

Home is where the Heart is...

And mine is definitely here!

We are Canning

Today we are canning Sweet Pickles. Tomorrow, I think, we are canning Dill.

Next week... salsa and tomato sauce!!!

Canning is hard, hot, and WELL WORTH IT!!! When you can your own food it is so good.

Note that while canning we tried to do chemistry and physical science, but it didn't work. We gave it up so we can laugh and fellowship with my favorite people in the world... my family!

Crazy Dazys!!!

Their color is beautiful.

Their shape unbelievable

They are taking over the yard!!


Welcome to the wild garden!!!