Pumpkin Guts & Monster Faces

We always put off pumpkin carving until just a few days before trick-or-treating, because I fear the pumpkin smashing morons of the world & rotting pumpkins.

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We buy our pumpkins from a local pumpkin farm who charges 25c a pound. We always get big fat ones to carve, warty ones for interest, and white ones because they are cool. This year, it was pouring down rain when we got to the pumkin stand, so the kids stayed in the car, and my MIL & I got drenched picking out the best of the best. The kids then spent the next 20 days rolling them, carrying them, sitting on them, and dreaming up what to carve.

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Just a few benefits of buying same day picked local!

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The pumpkin stash, minus the 5 pie pumpkins that were gutted and tortured in the kitchen

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The kids decided who's was whose, and then I whipped out my trusty butcher knife

(Please ignore my concentrating face)

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The removing of the pumpkin guts took about an hour!

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The actual carving process was fairly quick.

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Korra had me draw the design on her's, while Xavian manned the marker himself.

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I carved mine & Saxton's

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J carved his and Korra's

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Xavian's took a joint effort and a lot of hand cramping.

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Finally, we lit our 2009 Jack-o-Lanterns!

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Can anyone guess which one belongs to each of us?

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It's beginning to feel a lot more like Halloween!

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Meet Heidi

Before I start the kids' Halloween costumes, I had a couple custom orders. My favorite is Heidi.

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Inspired by the Shirly Temple version's costuming, this is what I came up with:
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The apron is a piece cut out of a hand appliqued tablecloth. So sweet and perfect for this piece! The costume is one piece, plus a corset to blouse the top over and cinch the waist. We originaly decided on yellow trim on the red skirt, but the trim seemed to take away from the apron, so I kept it simple and made the corset ties yellow.

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Thank you for allowing me to dress your little princess for Halloween, Brianna!

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I can't wait to see pictures!

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Does a 6 Year Anniversary Make You Old?

I hope not!

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We had a lovely anniversary weekend. Almost perfect.

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Saturday, my FIL & MIL came and picked up Xavian and Korra for the night, and took them to the Zoo Boo.

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Sans Thing 1 and Thing 2, J, Saxton & I went out for a late lunch and shopping for J a new pair of jeans. Then, our wonderful neighbors took Saxton for the evening, and J & I dressed up as a Midevil Lord & Lady and went to a really awsome Halloween party! Sorry, no pic of J & I. I thing everyone else got pictures of us on their cameras, but neither of us thought to make sure we were on ours.

:::blush:::

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The party was a blast! It was costume required, with wait-staff, and an open bar. A very open bar if you catch my drift! "Oh, was that a Jack & Coke? Let me splash some Coke into that for you."

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My FIL returned the kids around noon today, and seeing how the weather was sunny and warm-ish, we took the kids to a local corn maze.

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Someone should have warned us about the mud!

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Xavian did most of the navigating, with Korra chiming in

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And J was a good Daddy and husband by braving the muddiest of mud to punch our maps at a few of the checkpoints

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Saxton ran the haybale maze a couple times (yay! for toddler friendly activities too!)

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Xavian and Korra each took a try at milking the "cow" in the barn

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I *thought* I would get some really cute pictures of the kids with this monster of a pumpkin, but Saxton wanted NOTHING to do it! And so, we now have a picture of a very angry Saxton. Who seemed to just really dislike that particular pumpkin, because I tried to go back and try for a good picture about 15 minutes later, and he screamed the instant he was taken near it.

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I hope the pumpkin didn't take it personal.

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To finish out our weekend, we drove to the bridge where J asked me to marry him, and poked around.

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It's so nice that Xavian is old enough to hand a camera!
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I told J this morning, "If I knew everything we would go thru, the very worst of it, I'd still marry you. The good stuff makes it 100% worth it."

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He said, "Me too."

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Love you, J! Happy anniversary, honey!

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Did You Know They Make 1/2 Gallon Canning Jars?

I knew that they used to, but I didn't realize that they are making a comeback.

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What might one use a 2 quart Ball jar for, you ask?

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Well,

I used my 6 new jars to can 3 gallons of that amazing apple cider we made last Saturday. Tonight, while J & I admired the freshly processed jars, I came to the conclusion that they are perfect for canning a family sized soup meal. Which would be great when I'm sick or have to make dinner on the fly for whatever reason.

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They cost $10 for 6, which is comparable to a dozen quart jars for $10. And, unlike many pint, 1/2 pint and 1/2 cup jars, and some quart jars, these won't go to other homes as gifts. They'll live here, and only here. And that makes them cost effective as well. Not to mention that home processed food contains far less preservatives that store bought pre-made foods. BPA anyone?

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To give you an idea of the size difference in jars, the pictured jars are sized as follows from front to back:

1/2 cup jar (great for apple butters, ect for gift giving)

1/2 pint jelly jar

Pint sized jelly jar

Pint jar, regular mouth

Quart jar, wide mouth

1/2 gallon jar, wide mouth

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Every size of jar has it's use. Some are used more widely than others.

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I'm hoping to add another 1/2 dozen of the 2 Quart (1/2 gallon) jars to my collection next pay, so I can make some family sized soup.

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Oh, and you won't find these at Wal-Mart, the grocery store, the bulk foods store, or Cosco. You're going to have to call around to your small town hardware stores. I found mine 10 miles south of here in a mom & pop hardware/general store set-up. But I called several other places before I found some. I saw some on Amazon as well, but you're going to pay $20 per half dozen by the time they charge you shipping.

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And for those of you requesting a canning blog, perhaps eventually, but right now, I'm stretched pretty thin keeping up with my family and this blog. Add 8 more hours to the day, & it might help.

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If You've Ever Wondered How Cider is Made:

It's so much fun to take these:

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And turn them into this:

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And fill up a bunch of these:

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How do we do it you ask? Well...

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First the apples must go through Quality Control:

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Then they are washed and any with bad spots are sorted out

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The antique cider pressing mill is fired up and the washed apples are dumped in to be crushed:

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It's realized that the newly added motor's belt keeps comming off because of the leg of the mill, so adjustments are made:

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Success!

We are up and running!

Our hosts, and good friends, Ryan & Lacy:

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Let the pressing begin!

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J & the bigger boys crank down on the apples to press out the precious juices:

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But boys aren't allowed to have all the fun. It takes a girl to make sure it's done right!

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Once all the juice, now cider, is out, the excess pulp is dumped to feed to farm animals:

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The collected cider is then passed on the the goddesses of the kitchen, otherwise known as wives & mothers. We strain the cider into old milk & vinegar jugs:

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Once all our jugs are filled, it's time to eat our yummy desserts, and...

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Bob for Apples!

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Xavian had the fasted time with 16 seconds

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Eben was a close second

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There's already talk about pressing pears as well as apples next year, which brought up pear-berry cider allowed to turn into hard cider. And also talks of making maple syrup. I just need to talk my FIL out of his maple syrup supplies...

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It Rained on Our Parade.

And snowed.

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So technically it sleeted. Or is it sleated? Hrm...

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Either way, Brrrrrrrr! It was COLD!

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Korra was a trooper, as were her adorable runner-ups. Those 3 girls really like to throw the candy, lol!

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Her majesty, Princess Korra, showing her school colors:

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I'd love to show the other sweeties off, but I forgot to their parents' permission.

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I did however get permission from the freshman class, who were very proud of their really ah-some! float. Didn't they do a great job?!

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Cue 1960's super hero music

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BAM!

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Love it.

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Hello GQ!

Someone, please, tell me when he started growing up

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And turned into this handsome cutie

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Who knows the power of a look

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And makes my heart ache and melt all at once.

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Please?

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I Cry When I'm Sick

I feel so pitiful and bad that I am useless for my family when I get sick.
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Everyone but Xavian has been or is sick. Lucky Xavian!
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Saxton is the only one with a fever, so he must have a virus too. Poor guy. I know it has to be a virus, because he's on a prescription to prevent infection right now. At least he takes meds well.
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Anywho, I feel much better, J & Saxton are still down, Korra is getting worse. Fun times.
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So that's where we are. Anyone wanna come visit?
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Relief.

Saxton received his first stitches Monday night (a milestone I would have prefered skipped), and we were a little worried about how he would recover. 11 stitches, no matter how small, is still a lot for a little face.

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Tuesday, his little face was so swollen and looked so sore.

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I really thought he'd end up with a black eye, but after today, I think the plastic surgeon is right. He's going to heal very quickly! I doubt he'll have any scars by the time he starts school.

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Saxton is back to being himself and loving on his puppy

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Kisses for Saxton!

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Alco is a pillow!

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Alco highly dislikes a camera flash. He never smiles when it's on.

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I am so grateful for how well this has all turned out.

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Thank you to everyone for your thoughts and prayers!

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Prima Ballerina

I think we've found the perfect activity for Korra.

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It involves big mirrors, the color pink, sparkles, and being pretty.

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Oh, and getting to dance on stage at the end of the year.

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Lessons started today, and Korra is like a duck in water. Except these "ducks" run on their tip toes. She's quite impressed.

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And very pink.

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The dress code we received said we'd alternate pink weeks and black weeks. Tonight, I found out that "Pink Ballet" doesn't follow the dress code. As the teacher said, little girls at this age tend to outgrow things quickly, and to expect us to financially keep up with the dress code on top of current sizes is too much to ask. Can we get a Yay!?

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Korra learned to run on her tip toes, to properly turn at the bar, and 2 other moves. Oh, and to always tie her ballet slippers at the beginning of class.

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She's not too shabby!

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I should add that her Daddy observed, "she has really long legs."

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I think Daddy is worried about the future boys, lol!

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