Jam

Courtney txt me telling me Mike's market got rained out and he was heading home with a hundred dollars worth of berries. Now for the record I really didn't know what a $100 dollars of blackberry's and raspberries looked like. NOW I DO! The deal I get the berries for free if I split the jam. PERFECT! I was a happy girl. Almost 7 hours later I had Jam.





Samantha and I went to Meijer after dropping Tyler off to VBS and we loaded up on jars, sugar and certo! However it wasn't enough...I had to make one trip to Family Fare too.

Because the kids were so good while mom slaved away in the kitchen I took the kids to Cars 2 at the Strand that evening. Sam was so good all day, she helped, and we didn't fight once. She's going to be a great helper someday!

Elijah confronts the prophets of Baal (1 Kings 18:6-39)

On the way home from Pandamania VBS Day 2, Tyler asked me if I knew this story. After we came home he told it again while I wrote. Here it is-

There were people that prayed to a fake god. They had a contest to see who was the real god. They built a pile of sticks with a pot on it and they told the fake god to light it and he couldnt. Then it was the real gods turn and he told them to make it different. They built a trench and put 12 rocks piled up and then put wood on it. Then they had to put water in the trench and then the real God lit it!

Psalms 139:4
You know what I am going to say before I say it, Lord


Tyler is amazing and is a constant sponge. He is constantly listening and learning and loving it!

First Time Canning Pickles

From Start-








To Finish-




29 Quarts of Dill pickles!

Navy Pier, Chicago

A few years ago Courtney, Camy, Tyler and I went to Navy Pier and had the best time. So this time we took all the kids. It was 105 degrees out and it didn't stop the good time. We decided to leave at 3:00 and make the first stop Eds for dinner! The kids couldn't believe how mean the waiter way. He came to the table and started calling the kids, babies. He asked them if they wore diapers and told them no one loved them. They couldn't believe it. Until they decided to start giving it back.






After Eds we headed to the beach.




Can't forget the fountain!





AFter the fountain it was 8:30 and time for snacks.



Time for fireworks and a ferris wheel ride. This was also the time that Tylers ear started hurting. It was 9:30 at night. It had been a long fun day and he was miserable. But he made it thru!



Another great day!

Blueberries!

Its the third year that we have went with Ms. P blueberry picking. This year we even had an extra kid. Will go to come along and "pick" or should I say "eat" with us. I picked them up at 9 which was perfect because by the time we were leaving it was starting to get really HOT! We picked for an hour and got 3 full buckets. 2 for Joy and 1 for us. Next year I need to remember I need 2 buckets for sure.






When we got home the kids helped make a pie and then we borrowed Ms. P's juicer and we canned blueberry syrup. It was fun!

Using the juicer....it was fun but WOW a pain to clean!

Pottery

I knew it was going to rain so the time was up in the air but I wanted to take the kids to Art Bayou. When the rain came it took out Paw Paw. Trees were down everywhere and tons of people didn't have power. HOwever, I didn't know any of this until the kids and I loaded in the truck and tried to leave town. It took us two different routes to get out of town. OUr way to kalamazoo looked like a war zone. The storm was over so we kept on going.
The kids had fun. Sam would've stayed all day.





After we went to lunch and stopped at Lawton's Community Garden to check it out. It was amazing. An acre and a half of vegtables. The kids got a tour and we came home with beans and zuchini.

Silver Beach

Dan now has weekends off and after 9 days at the camper last week, we decided to hang out at home and play. Dan fixed my car, tune up, blower moter and some other stuff. I washed the gutters and started the process of painting the windows. AFter we headed to the Silver Beach with Grandma Tonda to play. It was hot and the beach was packed. Grandma made flat bread chicken wraps, we packed juice boxes, grapes, chips, lunchables, pop and tea...and grabbed some toys and we were off. We didn't leave until almost 9 and stopped in Coloma for ice cream on the way home. A perfect summer day!