June 26, 2012

Pretty

My family is addicted to strawberry freezer jam but I've never tried making the actual canned stuff. 
Frankly, I've never canned a blessed thing before.
Until now!
After buying raspberries for a song last week and becoming the proud new owner of a pressure cooker given me by a friend, I decided to be adventurous and make raspberry jam.
I didn't actually process them in the new-to-me pressure cooker, I just used it as a hot water bath and it seemed to turn out pretty darn well. 
My house now smells divinely like raspberries and I keep finding myself doing a little Rocky cheer/dance whenever I hear that satisfying 'pop' of the lids sealing themselves.

Just call me 'Holly Homemaker.'

June 22, 2012

Gloves

Travis always has wild ideas but when he decided to bring home a deer hide he had found back at the homestead in Idaho I sorta just scratched my head and consigned it to the many piles of stuff we never use.

Well, I should have had more faith in my man as the past couple Sundays he has been working on a pair of leather working gloves for Petey. Also known as 'Man Gloves.'
The gloves turned out really nice in my opinion and Petey is excited to be able to help Daddy work outside.
You are too crafty for your own good Travvy.
 And is Peter sporting his camouflage clothes yet again?
Yep. I practically have to peel this outfit of him every single night. 
We've made a compromise: I get to pick out his clothes when we go out in public but as soon as we walk in the door, he rips them off and on goes the camo once again.
Looks like Benji is joining in the camo craze too.

June 16, 2012

Happy Father's Day!


For Father's Day, Trav decided he needed this riding lawnmower.
All three boys think it a fabulous treat and Trav has been going on joyrides all day long.
Love you babe. You're the best Daddy I've ever seen.

June 12, 2012

Rescue Pack!

So lately Peter has been absolutely OBSESSED with Go, Diego, Go! He literally tells every person he meets that he is an 'animal rescuer and a fire fighter.' I'm amazed at all the animal trivia he learns from the show but perhaps the most interesting thing is Peter's new attachment to his 'rescue pack.' 
He has a little backpack that he insists on carrying everywhere with him and the contents vary according to whatever he's doing that day. This was yesterday's pack.
 The contents: a pilot's scarf, shorts, pullups, a rope, underwear, swim goggles, pjs, and a shirt.
He's been known to include binoculars, his walkie talkies, a doctor's kit and swimming suit.
That kid's already got the concept of a 72 hr kit down.

June 11, 2012

Kidspace with Grandma

My mom has been in town this past week and we have been very, very busy. Last Wednesday we went to Kidspace Children's Museum in Pasadena and had a great time. That museum is awesome -- lots of interactive exhibits and tons of outdoor play areas located just right across from the Rose Bowl. We will be making the trek back this summer many times I think.

Peter loved climbing on all their cool outdoor stuff like this spider web.

 He and Benji both were pretty excited to drive a Jeep through the desert.
 Mostly Benji spent his time at this little water table area. That kid loves to get wet.
 Peter painting seashells with watercolors.

 And Benji just loves to go.
He's a pretty speedy walker these days and wound up walking all over the park with Grandma.
 Peter trying out their bike trails.
And Benji was so proud of himself when he figured out how to climb UP the slide. 
 A large portion of the museum was an outdoor creek/waterfall for the kidlets to play in. Peter loved using a bucket to dump water everywhere. Next time I'll know just to bring the kids in their swimsuits.

Can you tell that both my kids were exhausted by the time we left?

June 7, 2012

Stargazing

So the other night after I had put Peter to bed, I guess he somehow wandered outside to where Trav was working to hang out with Dad wearing the following:

camo shirt, shorts, shoes, binoculars, and hat.

His explanation?
 "Well, if you didn't want me out here Daddy I could just hide in a tree and you wouldn't be able to see me."
Because of the camouflage. Of course.

Being a much better parent than myself, Trav let Peter stay up out and even pulled out the 'ole telescope to let Peter take a gander at the full moon. Which of course Petey loved.


Guess what is now permanently residing in Peter's room?

And just one more of Benji after getting home from baby aerobics.

June 6, 2012

End of Preschool!

Wow! Has it really been an entire year since I started doing preschool with Peter? Incredible!
We finished up last week with a fun water party and I think the kids had a great time. We pulled out the slip-n-slide, the squirt guns, threw water balloons, and ate popsicles. Perfect way to start off summer.
(please don't make fun of our sad little yard. We are working hard on bringing it back to life.)

Poor Bryce broke his leg just a couple of days before the party so he wasn't able to do a ton but we still had a good time. We seriously had so much fun this year -- Peter already misses going to see his friends every week. 
My little man is growing up!