The Gifts of Fall

Fall brings the harvest! For the past 2 years my sister-in-law Andrea and I have been canning together. The first year we did peaches, pears, applesauce, apple pie filling and peach salsa. Last year we just did peaches and pears. This year she decided to move away. A great opportunity for her family but left me without my canning partner. My applesauce was running low and my Bishop's wife found a great deal on apples. So I decided to can by myself. Not as fun without a friend but still very rewarding. I do enjoy canning. Next year might have to be another big canning year. We need to stock-up again.
A store bought apple VS. locally grown.
One of my 2 big boxes of HUGE red delicious apples. "I am sorry beautiful red apples, but you will be mashed into yummy applesauce."
The process with the "applesaucer", so easy! Boil the apples to soften them up and put them through. No peeling or coring required.
The final result. Two boxes = 16 qts and 16 pts all for $12.00!

A fall favorite for the kids and family tradition- The Pumpkin Patch!!
Kids do get taller every year. No matter how many times I tell them to stop.. they don't listen!

Alexis' first pumpkin patch, she is cheating a little bit with dad holding her up.
Mr. Scarecrow and his 3 little pumpkins.
Riding out to the pumpkin patch.
Alexis' 1st pumpkin.
Kellen's pick
Jakob's pick
Are you ready for it? Wait for it...My little pumpkins with their pumpkins. :)

"The BOYZ" (in no particular order)

Kellen and Jakob are each other's best friends. They usually play very well together and enjoy being together. They of course have their moments, but for the most part they are buddies. Kellen is a great big brother, he is helpful with his siblings and he still lets me give him hugs and kisses when I drop him off at school. Jakob is a great "middle child", he is easy going, and also still likes his hugs and kisses. I am blessed to be the one they call "mom".
This summer we went to Palouse Falls. It was a great hike for the kids with a beautiful reward. We did not hike down to the lake, but around to the start of the little falls.
Somehow Kellen got the "fisherman" gene. While in Lake Powell he caught something like 12 fish. Uncle John taught him how to bait, cast and reel in his catch and Kellen did it all.
Kellen is 8! Oh did I mention these pictures are not in any particular order...the birthday is coming. So Kellen is 8 and started Cub Scouts. He is so cute in his shirt. He loved his first day. He is also taking piano lessons. He does very well, however he does not enjoy it as much as playing pretty much anything else. I now appreciate my mom's effort in trying to get me to practice and keep with it.
Now Kellen is 8 in "picture world". He wanted to go bowling, we did not know it was black light bowling, that was a little added bonus.
He wanted a Star Wars dirt cake, so this is it.
We try to teach Kellen how to solve his own problems. This is him doing just that. He was able to get his hat off the shed without injury. I do have to give him props for his creativity.
Jakob's 1st bloody nose. I think he was running up the stairs and hit his nose right on the edge of one. I had to get a picture before the paper towel.
The school had Reptile Man come for a family night. They loved to see his reptiles. The guy was no where near the snake when the boys were holding it. He just left the container open and let the kids pick it up and do whatever. He really trusts that is his GIGANTIC constrictor or python or whatever kind of snake this is would not harm a child.
He was right...no injuries. Just a lot of nervous parents. Kellen came home that night wanting to get a pet snake! NO WAY!
One of the other reptiles. I like this one a lot better!
So I have to tell a story with these next pictures. We have a niece, Heidi. She is a spunky 5 year old that we adore. She is funny and of course so cute. Heidi is also known for her haircuts. From what I hear a lot of little girls are. We would hear "Heidi stories" from Scott's brother (her dad) and we would just laugh. She cut her hair and her little sisters hair often. Scott and I just thought "poor Dan and Andrea", but we loved the "Heidi stories" and always ask for more. So this is what I found one morning when I came downstairs.
No, Heidi was not staying the night. This was the work of my 7 year old boy! I have to say I was quite surprised. Neither one of the boys had ever tried to give haircuts. I was gearing up for Alexis to do it, but never thought the boys would. Kellen was so proud of himself. I guess we have our own "Heidi story"...be careful what you ask for.
Lucky for us, boys' botched haircuts are easy to fix. A shave with a 1/8 inch guard and they were good to go.
Kellen's 1st day of second grade! Where does the time go...
Jakob's 1st day of Kindergarten.

1st time for everything

These pictures are random. Some of Alexis' 1st times are...

swimming in Lake Powell. It was a great trip, only 5 were not able to make it this year. Lots of people on a small houseboat, but we had a BIG beach.








riding in the "Cookie Jar". A nice relaxing ride will put anyone to sleep.










visiting Great Grandma Thompson= 4 generations! I am not a fan of this picture for obvious reasons, but I do like I can have a 4 generation picture.









getting into the fridge. This was the first of many I am sure!















getting her feet wet at Dash Point.











getting a black eye. Jakob wanted to play with Alexis on his bed. He thought she would stay in the cozy pillows and blankets, however the train tracks on the floor looked more appealing.







eating her first veggie.











actually eating her first veggie...yummy sweet potatoes!












getting her first tooth??? It's there I promise. She would not let us see it. Every time we tried she would stick out her tongue!

COMING SOON...an update on the boys

IT WAS A GIRL!- Alexis Noel

So we had a very pleasant surprise with a baby girl,we never found out the sex. She was born December 20, 2010 @ 11:33 am. She was 7 pounds 10 ounces, 20 1/2 inches long. She was Baby Girl Whitemarsh for 2 days. We just wanted the perfect name. Alexis was on the table along with others with no middle name. I feel like if you have a middle name, it should mean something. I wanted a family name but all I had to work with was Sue, June, and Lorena. Two of of the 3 are good names, (I won't say which one I really don't like) they just weren't flowing with Alexis. My mom proposed Noel. Scott and I thought about it, and thought it was the perfect name. Alexis Noel. I am going to get this out there for all the haters of how we spelled Noel. We know NOELLE would have been more feminine, however we wanted Christmas Noel. We weren't sure if we would be able to have another baby. It took us about 2 1/2 years to get pregnant with Alexis; not sure why, other than it just wasn't the time. I swore I would never have a December baby. I guess Heavenly Father had a different plan. She came at the right time, she is a reminder or our blessings, she is our Christmas gift always. Alexis and I came home on December 22 and had a great Christmas with our family.
Alexis' first bath at home, she absolutely hated every minute, I know you can't really tell from this picture. :)
With Grandpa Cook on Christmas Eve.
So she found her thumb! We put a stop to that, she likes the pacifier. I can take the pacifier away, I can't take the thumb away.
Christmas morning in Christmas jammies.
It was great having my mom and dad with us for the holidays. It has been a long time since we have been with them for Christmas and New Years. We spent Christmas Eve at our house with Dan and Andre's family, then we had Christmas dinner at their house.
Little Alexis in her Christmas dress my mom bought years ago. I guess she knew I would have a December baby. Or maybe just hoping.
It was a very busy 2 weeks. At the end of it we blessed Alexis. We wanted my dad here, so we had to do it before he left. We took pre-blessing pictures. She was blessed on January 2.
In the circle was Uncle Dan, Grandpa Whitemarsh, Daddy, Grandpa Cook and Uncle Brent.
Grandpa and Grandma Whitemarsh, Scott, Alexis and I, and Grandma and Grandpa Cook.
Andrea took some pictures of the dress. I made this dress about 9 years ago at Ricks College. I have held on to it and I am very happy we got to use it!

Her brothers love her and find her quite funny. They think all her involuntary movements and faces she makes are at them. They just sit and laugh at her. Kellen loves to hold her, and Jakob whispers "shh baby, it's ok you are with your mommy" while patting her back.
Out little Lexi Bug is 1 month!
In the swing, still a little to little I think.