The Seven of Us

Easy, Sugar Free Fudge 1/2 cup coconut oil 1/2 cup pure maple syrup (a glycemic index 26 points lower than sugar) 1/2 cup cocoa powder 1 tsp vanilla extract pinch of salt 4 tbsp (ish) evaporated milk (not in the original recipe - I added it to make it a little smoother) any nuts/berries, etc you choose Put everything in a blender and blend. Spread on some parchment paper and freeze a few hours. Enjoy. (Keep cold since coconut oil melts at 74*)

A few days before Halloween we carved our pumpkins. On Halloween night we trick-or treated at several houses.  Actually, an elderly neighbor lady had called asking if Caleb could do some raking for her, so he and Jared were doing that. Taylor was at the Haunted House, which left Kenna and I to trick or treat with the little guys.  Here are Kenna, Corbin and Isaac with our neighbor, Rosie. Isaac was Mario; Corbin was a cowboy (minus the hat), and Kenna was "smartie-pants".  The weather on Halloween was great.  We really like to get out and walk, see our friends and neighbors, and enjoy the evening.  The boys had a good time handing candy out at home.  I was also able to go to the FFA haunted house with Kenna and her friends.  Scary!

This fall Kenna played volleyball.  Isaac played soccer.   He's pretty intense about it.   Corbin liked playing on the track during football games.  Taylor played volleyball. Caleb was kicker and played on the offensive and defensive lines.   He did an excellent job blocking. I always feel awful for the kids he hits. (Football isn't my favorite sport.)

This is a post about Caleb's and Corbin's birthdays.  Caleb turned thirteen last August 13, and Corbin turned four on November seventh. (Just for the record, I don't have a hard time thinking of Caleb as a 13 year-old; in my mind he was thirteen a few months before the fact. He's big, and he's one of my older kids. I'm okay with his age.  And I'm okay with Corbin being four, but lately when I look at him I notice that his features have changed, becoming more defined and a little less "young".  Just the other day I realized he'd be five this year. Five!  I'm having a hard time with that number. I know I'll grow into it, but right now, it's weird. Wow.) McKenna made Caleb some chocolate cookies. Corbin helped Caleb unwrap his gift (two little Mexican people and a cactus). He was soooo happy that Caleb liked it! (Caleb's sensitivity to these kinds of situations is a lot better than it used to be.  He played along really w...

<> When the kids were little, swimming lessons were our Big Event every summer.  In fact, I weaned Caleb  by walking home from swim lessons.  We'd walk and walk and walk until he fell asleep in the stroller, obviously without nursing. Another swim lesson memory is of Caleb in the pool with a bicycle helmet on!  (He was three.) He'd gotten a new helmet and taken it to Taylor's swim lesson, whre he'd waited patiently for thirty minute until the lesson was over, then asked if he could put his toe in the water. Soon he was dipping his feet in, the walking down the steps...all with his shiny new helmet on his head! Wish I'd had a camera that day. Here are pictures of Kenna at swiim lessons this year: These were taken on the last day of lessons, which is usually "fun day".  Kenna got to play some basektball. Here she is doing the front crawl.  Kenna is very graceful; swimming comes naturally to her. Isaac also took swim lessons this year, but I d...

When we moved to Haxtun, we didn't know what to think of Corn Festival.  The whole town gathers for this? Huh. Strange, we thought. But it didn't take long for the tradition to grow on us. The first fall we lived in Haxtun (1998), Taylor was two and Caleb was just two months.  It snowed that year for Cornfest, which was alright, because we weren't really obligated to do anything. We went to the parade and then Caleb and I left for cub scout training in Sterling. Fast forward thirteen years.... now we're obligated! Jared has spent the last twelve years working in the Lion's club hamburger stand, and I wrestle with the kids and try to have fun (it is fun...just tiring). But, the kids are older now, and it's getting easier. Good thing, because we're now there from start to finish.  We begin with the kiddie parade at 9:45 (We don't generally do the fun run at 8am, although one year I did.), then do kiddie games, go to the FFA auction, walk around and se...

Isaac's 8th birthday was on August 23.  This year Isaac reminded me that he'd never had a "friend" party, so we invited a few of his friends to come play and spend the night. I made several pizzas, but first the boys played awhile. Here's "fearless Corbin" giving the slip-n-slide a workout. Isaac with his friends Jacob and Owen, and his brother, Fearless Corbin. The birthday boy, Surfin' the Slip-n-Slide. (That's Isaac's dog, Jess, his birthday present from last year.) Isaac was baptized on Aug. 27th.  His baptism was quiet, and none of our family could come, but he didn't mind.  All of his brothers and sisters were able to participate in the program, which was fun.  Isaac is a special son and we're happy to have him in our family. Happy Birthday, Ike!