Internet

Finally broke down and got internet hook-up at the house. The older kids really need it for school work and going to the library or our offices was getting too cumbersome! So I made a makeshift desk with a piece of nice plywood and some closet maid shelf things. It turned out nice although I should paint or put some sort of finish on the plywood so it doesn't get stained or ruined.

So yesterday at lunch hour I put the computer together and hooked it up. Everything is great (except our printer is still not "talking" with the computer yet). BUT....since we have never had internet connection to our home computer (it is 4 years old) we had about 50 microsoft updates downloaded!! It took about 2 hours to get the batch in and then another 2 1/2 hours when we powered down to have them installed!!! WOW. Now if I can get some time in on the machine I will download some photos (either here or one facebook).

It is nice to be catching up on technology!!!

Building Memories

Life is Busy!!! It's the mantra of most people I know. I definitely have a way of getting caught up in the busyness if everything and then when the end of the day comes....I'm all done in. This can be a good thing but lately I've been challenged to think outside of myself. I've been challenged to consider how my kids see things. Some days I feel like I just brush them aside. So I've been purposefully working toward building memories with them. This last weekend was one of those occasions. There was a "girl day" on Saturday. Me and the girls went to the zoo, had dinner at Culver's (an especially good burger restuarant with fabulous ice cream!!), then a quick shopping excursion to Kohl's. We also set up the tent in the back yard and did an overnighter out there (I only made it to about 3 in the morning before I went back to a regular bed!). It was a good thing! Then yesterday we spent a family day with a bike ride at a trail near a lake and took along a picnic lunch to eat along the way. Afterwards, we loaded everything up and then headed down to the beach for awhile. Kinda reminded husband and I of going to the coast except without the crashing waves, the smell of saltwater, and the ocean view (but it was good enough for Iowa!). We all enjoyed the day very much and was a good bonding time for all. I hope that these are memories that the kids will come back to when they grow up!!

Garden Gifts

I have found our little raised garden beds to be quite a delight! It is like finding presents everyday when I visit it....and the raised beds have hardly any weeds to contend with....so much the better! Lately we have been harvesting green beans, okra, yellow squash, some yellow pear tomatoes and roma tomatoes. There is also basil which has been amazing! I really love it's scent and the beautiful flavor in our food. We are seeing some great looking tomatoes on our beefsteak variety...they are all still green but will be amazing when they get ripe. Can't wait to eat them! Then there is the banana peppers which are just now starting to come on...looking forward to pickling them to enjoy this winter. The cucumbers are putting on plenty and I'm considering making some bread and butter pickles or some dill pickles with them. Or maybe some relish instead.

We planted some strawberries at the beginning of the season and I had thought that nothing had happened with them. However, the other day I was weeding the planter box that they were in and found 1 plant did finally come in. YEAH!!! I know that it will begin spreading and that we will have strawberries in our garden next year. There is nothing like the taste of fresh picked...vine ripened strawberries (while they are warm from the sun). MMMM...just like heaven.

Next year we will make sure to cage our tomato plants better....they are just laying all over the place! I will probably separate them into their own area rather than mixing them with other plants.