Pumpkins

A couple of weeks ago Bryce's sister Sarah, husband David, and kids came to visit. We decided it would be a fun weekend to go to Green Bluff and pick out pumpkins. Here is Dietrich and me picking out a little pumpkin in the busy pumpkin patch.

I think he is wondering where everybody went...
Taking a ride in the wagon...
Checking out the sweet old horses that pull the hay ride.
Here we are on the hay ride, it was a beautiful day!


We had a great time at the pumpkin patch and enjoying the fall festivities at the farm. It was a busy day with lots of people but it was such great weather! Later on we celebrated my niece Arielle's 4th birthday and carved our awesome pumpkins.

One bed down.

We currently have two guest rooms, which may seem a bit excessive but has come in handy MANY times. However, now that baby number two is on the way and the kids will have to share a room (because there is only our room and the kids room on the upper-level) I want to turn one of the rooms in the basement into a playroom/space for all of the kids stuff. We will put a futon or hide-a-bed in there because we don't want to lose our extra bed, but we have a queen size bed we will be getting rid of. Last night Bryce's Dad asked him about the bed.

Bryce: Dad says there is a homeless couple from the Church that are getting an apartment, they could use a bed and Dad knew we were planning on getting rid of that one eventually.

Me: yeah, but we weren't really planning on doing that until January. Although we don't have any plans for a bunch of guests between now and then. I just don't really want to rearrange everything right now.

Bryce: I told Dad we weren't planning on it until January.

Me: but we do have 3 beds and a crib, and they don't have a bed, it seems a little greedy. And the reason I don't want to do it right now is because I don't feel like doing the work, and that's pretty selfish. Greedy and selfish, I feel awesome.

Bryce: clearly you are going to hell.

Me: they can have the bed.

Three years

On October 18th Bryce and I celebrated out 3rd anniversary. It is amazing how much has happened in three years. We bought a house, Bryce got a new job, we had a baby, and now we are having another one!

This is how a couple celebrates their third anniversary when the budget doesn't allow for a night out. It's okay though, we went out last month to a nice restaurant (with a gift card, whoo-hoo) and then out for dessert for my birthday/our anniversary/celebrating baby number 2.

I made us some yummy shrimp fettuccine, fancy salad with feta cheese and set the table all pretty to make it feel like a special occasion. It was just as good as restaurant food and much less expensive. Plus Dietrich got to join us for the celebration, although he was not really impressed by the shrimp...

Applesauce

A few weeks ago our Mommy and Me group met up at Green Bluff to pick apples. Dietrich was super helpful, he even picked a few apples himself!

He loved "putting" the apples in the box, which was often throwing. But since the plan was applesauce I wasn't too concerned about bruising.

And then Dietrich bruised his head. He tripped and landed on the corner of the wagon. He was not a happy camper after that...
Here are all the apples washed and ready to go.
Cooking away...
And the final product! This is twice as many as I was able to make last year, and only one jar didn't seal, but we eat applesauce pretty quickly around here so no worries.
My mother-in-law convinced me to keep the skins on and use a sieve to remove them after they were cooked, so much faster, plus it makes it a pretty pink color! Delicious! I think we have already gone through nearly 4 jars, it won't last the winter that's for sure!

Planting Bulbs

Over the weekend mom came to visit and I maybe mentioned that I had 180 tulip and daffodil bulbs that needed planted and she offered to help! We planted them all out at the corner where we planted Dietrich's tree this spring. I am so excited to see all the new flowers pop up in the spring, I am always so jealous of my neighbors who have so many tulips and daffodils in their yard.

Dietrich was of course super helpful digging holes and dropping in bulbs.

Finally, planting the last few bulbs.
We planted clumps of tulips all around and daffodils lining the backside of the corner. I hope they look beautiful, it will be so exciting to see them pop up in the spring, just in time for the new baby!

The Chair

Although we haven't been doing any big projects on the house over the summer, Bryce did have a big project of his own. My sister-in-law's father-in-law died several years ago. Before he died he was building her a rocking chair so that she could rock her babies to sleep. But he got too sick and was never able to finish it. This is the father-in-law that Bryce inherited his wood shop from. With the wood shop came the parts and the instructions to this chair. So for my sister-in-law's 30th birthday, Bryce finished the chair:

Look at that beautiful wood on the arms!

Bryce had never done a project like this before and he did an amazing job. I'm so impressed that I am pretty sure he can do anything, which has made him a very long list of projects :) Bryce's parents had the seat upholstered at a place here in town where we found the beautiful leafy fabric. Bryce spent all of his spare time (which granted is not a whole lot when you have an 18 month old, a pregnant wife, and the PE exam coming up), for the last three months to finish this chair. It is so beautiful, and he was really proud of himself and I think he still can't believe he was able to do it. He has a natural talent for wood working that he never knew he possessed until he inherited the wood shop from this man.

Now onto my kitchen desk, closet organizer, scrapbook/sewing area, and built-in dresser. You have time for all that right honey? :)

Catch up!

I haven't posted anything in months! We've been busy having tons of fun but really haven't worked on the house much lately...so before winter hits, and with it all our winter house projects (my favorite thing about winter!) I figured I would get you all updated on what has been happening around here.

Fourth of July, played in the pond at Box Canyon Dam:
Went camping in Kettle Falls, Dietrich helped Daddy with the fire:Kayaking on Lake Roosevelt:
Holy Moly! My 10 year class reunion:
Lounging on the Pend Orielle River during Down River Days:
Aunt Dianne came for a visit and told Dietrich all about tractors:
And she brought Uncle Paul's horse, such fun!
Then the cousin's came to visit:
and we played outside every day!
Finally, camping at Sullivan Lake!
Dietrich loved the water!
and the beach is always good for a nap:
Then we spent a bunch of time lounging around because, uh-oh, mommy is pregnant again!
Happy Birthday to Bryce!
And my three best friends from Carroll came to visit over Labor Day weekend.
This is Dietrich's future wife. But even if they don't let us force, I mean even if they don't choose each other we hope they will be great friends!
Camping with the Fletcher's this is D's buddy Corbin.
We went to the Spokane Fair, Dietrich loved seeing all the animals.
Happy Birthday to me!
Apple picking with our mommy and me friends at Green Bluff:
So as you can see we have been busy little bees, just mostly maintaining life rather than starting any new projects. But you know us, there is always something planned! So hopefully I can keep up with the blogging now that I can get myself off the couch (yay for the second trimester) and maybe start some fun stuff around the house!