Hopin' to put this miserable summer to rest...

Eeek.  I've been neglecting my poor blog. 

It's been CRAZY busy lately.  This last week or so I've been working 12+ hour days trying to get ready for school.  Even on weekends!  This will slow down SOON (I hope!)  Yesterday was the first day of school, and even though it was totally NUTS, it was kind of nice to get back in the swing of things.  Here are my three kiddos on the first morning:

Gage is a SIXTH grader this year.  I'm not sure how that happened.  My baby girl is a fifth grader, and little Cole (who isn't so little anymore) is a third grader.  (Time goes by way too fast!)  All three had a great first day, and even woke up this morning looking forward to another day at school.

I have to admit, I was looking forward to school starting just so I could put this miserable summer behind me.  This summer was nonstop stress.  Nonstop misery.  So with the start of school, I'm hoping & praying, will bring a fresh new start all around.  We shall see.

Blackberries are on the way!

Look!

Several years ago, we planted a berry patch. We planted blueberries, raspberries, strawberries, and blackberries. Our blackberry bush is LOADED this year!

They're almost ready! These are "Triple Crown" blackberries. They're HUGE:

Yum! I can almost taste the blackberry cobbler. And the blackberry pie. Oh - and the JAM! Oooh! Can't wait to fire up my canner. Soon!

Entrepreneurs in the making

The kids set up 'shop' today:

They're selling veggies by the side of the road. :) Here's what they do when a car drives by:

They wave wildly until the cars stop. So far? They've made $12.25. Not bad. Maybe Derek doesn't have to worry about finding a job. He just needs to grow more veggies. And put the kids to work.

The A to Z of Me

I've been tagged!  Mary tagged me to answer these questions about me from A to Z...

Attached or single?  Attached!  Married to my high school sweetheart for 17 years.

Best Friend?  I'm married to my best friend.  Best girlfriend?  Khristina.  And my sister, Carol.  :)

Cake or pie?  Definitely CAKE.  Carrot cake to be exact.  With cream cheese frosting.  Mmmmm!

Day of choice?  I don't really have a favorite day.  I like weekends.  But no special favorite day.

Essential item?  Hmmmm...I'd say my cell phone.  I feel lost without it.  What if my kids need to get a hold of me?  And I need to text my friends! 

Flavor of ice cream?  Vanilla.  I know, boring.  I also love girl scout thin mint ice cream.  YUM!

Gummy bears or worms?  I'm not a gummy person.  Not a big fan of either.

Hometown?  Soldotna, Alaska.

Indulgences?  Pedicures!  Aaaaah, love 'em.

January or July?  July!  That's one of the most beautiful and sunniest months around here!

Kids?  Three.  Two stinky boys and a sassy girl in the middle.

Last movie I saw in a theatre?  Kit Kitridge An American Girl.  Lexi and I saw it together.  :)

Middle name?  Elizabeth.

Number of siblings?  One older brother, one older sister, and one younger half-sister.

Oranges or apples?  Apples!  Just got done eating one off our tree!

Phobia or fear?  Flying.  :(  For some reason this fear has developed since I've had kids.  When I was little, I used to fly all the time and LOVED it.  But now?  For some reason it terrifies me.  It's not the fear of death.  It's the fear of crashing and the sheer terror I would experience for those few minutes on the way down.  I know - morbid.  Last time I flew I had to pop several xanex.  Sad.

Quote?  I have lots - several scripture quotes too numerous to list.  And also these...."Be kinder than necessary because everyone you meet is fighting some kind of battle."

And.... "Watch your thoughts; they become words. Watch your words; they become actions. Watch your actions; they become habits. Watch your habits; they become character. Watch your character; it becomes your destiny."

And a funny one from Dolly Parton:  "It took a lot of money to make me look this cheap."  Ha!

Reason to smile?  Right now?  My youngest son is laying on the floor watching cartoons in only his underwear, wrapped up in a blanket, with the dog and two cats practically on top of him.  The dog is snoring, the cats purring, and Cole is absent mindedly petting them all and laughing at cartoons.  THIS makes me smile.  :)

Season?  SUMMER!  But it's almost over.  :(

Tag 4 more?  Hmmmm...lemme think on that one...How 'bout Heidi?  And Hillary?  You guys wanna play?

Unknown fact about me?  I have a tendency to bite the inside of my cheeks.  I catch myself doing this ALL THE TIME.  I've done it most of my life.  I try to make a conscious effort to stop, but so far?  Hasn't happened.

Vegetarian or oppressor of animals?  Ummm...I eat meat.  I live on a farm.  We raise black Angus cattle and pigs and chickens.  But oppressor of animals?  Sort of a silly way to put it.

Worst habit?  Uhhh...I guess snacking.  Or overeating.  Yeah. Not good.

X-rays or ultrasounds?  This is a weird question.  I guess ultrasounds.  But they're only fun when you're pregnant.  Except when you have to go in there with a full bladder.  They say here - drink ALL this water, and then HOLD it.  I know you're pregnant.  But we can't see much unless you have a full bladder. Ugh.  One time I was *this close* to nearly peeing all over the ultrasound table.  Miserable.

Your favorite food?  At the moment?  Nachos.  And fettuccine.  Salmon fettuccine to be exact.

Zodiak?  Aries.

Magnificent!

We interrupt my series of 'early years' posts to bring you this morning's sunrise:

Wow!  I stood outside in my backyard with my morning cup of coffee and just stared in awe.  God sure outdid Himself this morning.  :)