BRAGS Scraps

Saturday, January 7, 2012

4 Out of 6 Ain't Bad

I got a Pressure Canner for Christmas......a year ago. Today I finally opened it up and canned my first batch of somethins. Great first experience canning if you ask me. I probably should have started with Water Bath canning but, too late for that now.
I started with 10lbs of Carrots, 6 quart Mason jars and now I have four SEALED quarts of carrots and a big mess. The other 2 jars, well, um, I don't really know what happened. My guess is loss of pressure too fast. But I am not flustered. I'm very happy that the other 4 jars all 'popped' and are sealed. I guess we'll see how they taste later. That could be a whole other story.

Monday, December 12, 2011

Oh Christmas Tree

After 7 years of rotating between two fake Christmas trees at our house, Riggles finally put on his big boy pants and led our family to a tree farm to cut down our very 1st in Washington, real, fresh, sappy, tree! Riggles has been wanting a real tree for the past few Christmas's now, but until now it was just words. I'm glad he moved into action this year. It just might be a new tradition.....depending on the year.
Picking out our tree

Everyone taking a turn to saw it down

Catching it as it falls

Carrying it down to the car

(Oops, No pics of decoration it)
And the cat has a new favorite place to nap.

Saturday, November 26, 2011

Braggin about Samantha

November is Sweet. No, not that one movie. But its all about my Sweet Samantha Sha. On the 13th of this month she was born 8 years ago. The most BEAUTIFUL baby girl ever. With 'Just Grandmas' dimple, and heart shape nostrils.

Its amazing how time flies and they grow up so fast. Grow up as in all ready 8 years old. Crazy!To celebrate her 8th birthday we had hamburgers, cake and showered her with presents. Ok not really a shower, but a 3DS is quite spendy. She deserves it though.

Samantha is full of talent, skill, rhythm, knowledge etc. etc. etc. I hate to label my kids, (sometimes,) but I will at the moment and I will definitely label her my Gifted child. She exceeds at everything she does. It is hard to not put her into every sport, dance class and music lesson because I know she would dominate all of them. But as for the one she is participating in this year, Samantha has all ready shown off her talents of the piano. She came in 1st place in her division at Piano Olympics this year. Outstanding!!

I love this Girl!

To make November even Sweeter, Samantha chose to be baptized as soon as she could after she turned 8. And what a blessing it was to have her 'Just Grandma' here over Thanksgiving so she could do it then. I love seeing my Sammy Sha so happy. Her grin was great and the way she hugged me made me melt.

I know that Samantha is going to be an amazing woman someday. She is a great friend, sister and daughter. She is going to be a great mom someday too. Her teacher at school loves how helpful she is with her classmates and how hard she works at doing her best in all she does. This girl is AMAZING! (I will try not to ruin this post by mentioning how moody and dramatic she can be sometimes.)

I hope November was a Very Sweet month for you too Samantha. I love you!

Saturday, November 5, 2011

Pirates Poop In the Potty

That is what i told my 2 1/2 year old. And to even prove it I propped Pirate Jack Sparrow, (LEGO form) onto his LEGO toilet and helped him grunt out a turd. That's right a LEGO pirate pooped in a LEGO toilet. (Ssshhh it was a tiny piece of Hershey Bar, but Ben didn't know that.) He was super excited to see Pirate Jack poop! So much that he pooped in the potty himself. Not the LEGO one the real one. Yay! After a couple of weeks of that, and a lot of hit and misses, I hope I'm not jinxing myself when I tell you all:

BEN HAS POOPED IN THE POTTY ALL WEEK!!!!!

He has mostly peed too, only 2 accidents.

(We're not counting nighttime btw)

Whooo hoo!

I went to Target yesterday and I didn't have to buy any diapers.

This picture doesn't give the whole ordeal justice. I have looked for LEGO jack everywhere and can't find him. Amazing how something so little can get lost so easily right?!?

So here is his stunt double.

Thursday, October 27, 2011

P is for Pumpkin

Pumpkins picked out.

Pumpkins getting carved.

Pumpkins carved.

Pumpkin seeds roasting.

Munchkins in bed just before 10 pm.

It was a good day :D

Tuesday, October 25, 2011

Boo!

There is this Iphone app that is called, "The moron test." It gives you series of numbers to memorize and then asks you to repeat them. After the first two rounds the next series of numbers is longer and requires more concentration. While studying the numbers; a flashing, terrorizing image appears on the screen of the Iphone with a blood curdling scream. Those who are in the middle of the 'moron test' then jump three feet into the air and give a little yelp out of fright. Or in Garretts case, toss the Ipod up in the air and scream like a girl. Super Funny! I wish I would of caught it on film. Nothing is funnier than watching your own child freak out at something scary/funny. So we tried again, on Sam this time. Fully prepared to put it on video.
Here it is:

As you can see, not very amusing. For us or Samantha. But this is the kid that will sit and watch a scary movie with eyes wide open. While Garrett will leave the room or cover his eyes with just a hint of eerie music playing in case there is a jumpy/scary part. Even if its not a scary show.

I'm quite amazed at the differences in ALL of my children. When one thing works for one it most likely will not work for another. It sure does keep me on my toes and makes my brain churn a lot more when I'm trying to figure them all out.

Monday, October 10, 2011

Random Updates

Not a lot has been going on in this household. Basically the same thing everyday. Which is not a bad thing. I like keepin' it easy. Kids are loving school. I'm enjoying babysitting every couple of weeks. Riggles has been working some OT. (Which you would think is going to be some nice extra money, but low and behold something always needs fixing or mending when OT happens.) I've decorated for Halloween. Coerced my children into picking costumes I want them to dress in.

Part of the OT Riggles did was SWAT Dignitary Assignment for the homecoming of Amanda Knox. As many news cameras that were around there was not one glimpse of him on any of them. Though he only stood 6 ft away from her. This is the best I could come up with.

But for those of you who ever watched World Wildest Police Videos; you may have seen him in his Rookie years arguing with an old lady over a speeding ticket! He had a good head a hair back then.

We are taking a break from a bunch of stuff this year. No gym for Riggles, No BBall for Garrett, No nothing for Aquinna, Going on my 2nd year of No bowling for me. Sam is doing Piano and that is about it. She is taking a break from dance. Which is hard to let happen because she is so talented. But....what do you do?!? I will admit that I love not having to go this way and that throughout the week.