Mackay Madness: A "Berry" Good Day

Tuesday, July 8, 2008

A "Berry" Good Day

Yesterday, I decided that we needed to make a new batch of strawberry freezer jam because we had used up our very last jar on Sunday night. So of course I drag Amanda and Hannah right along with me. They ended up loving it and fighting over who got to smash the berries. Even Chance wanted to pitch in! It was "berry" rewarding! And Brandon was so excited when he got home from work. This jam is his favorite. He eats it practically every night!

We did 7 large batches...we almost ran out of bowls.

Cutting the berries.

Chance's favorite job...eating the berries with sugar!

Addie was alot of help...NOT! She was sick so she just observed!

Hannah and Mom...cutting and mashing berries!
(no make-up, bad hair, and chubby arms...good look for me)

The finished product!!! Yum

8 comments:

Amy said...: OOOO I remember when you came to visit me in AZ, and taught me how to make this. YUMMY I think I'll go get some strawberries tomorrow. Thanks for the idea; July 8, 2008 at 10:35 PM
Paige Hanks said...: I'm pretty much drooling on my keyboard because your jam looks so good. I LOVE strawberry jam! Don't forget to send me some. I need the recipe for sure!; July 8, 2008 at 11:18 PM
Natali Thompson said...: Look at you little Martha Stewart! That looks yummy. We should have a jam party sometime and you can teach us how you make yours!; July 9, 2008 at 8:24 AM
jenn said...: I'll take three jars, please!; July 9, 2008 at 10:08 AM
Bell Family said...: Please don't tell Sam you made this. He will expect me to make some. Jam seems so intimidating to make. Way to go!!; July 9, 2008 at 5:15 PM
The Reading Armadillo said...: Yum! That looks so good. I've never made it, I need your recipe!; July 9, 2008 at 8:06 PM
Brando and Annie said...: That looks so... good! I love strawberry jam! I need the recipe! I always love looking at your blog because you guys have such a fun family and are always doing so many fun things! I hope I can be like you when I have kids!; July 10, 2008 at 8:32 AM
schaars said...: There is nothing better than homemade jam I have been meaning to make some forever you just gave me motivation. By the way you are so luck that you get to hang out with amanda every day I love love love that girl.; July 11, 2008 at 2:21 PM

From the mouths of "our babes":

*Our doorbell rang. Chance ran to get it. No one was there. He said, "oh darn,it must have been a knocker-ditcher." (Otherwise known as a doorbell ditcher.)

*Chance climbed in the back of the car this afternoon, and said "ewww mom, the back of your car smells gross...it smells like fries and poo all mixed together."

There was a little boy acting very naughty in Chances primary class...he turned and told the boy that he was an "ANGRY ELF." The teacher told me that it made her whole day and she nearly peed her pants laughing. (We were visiting at a different ward, which makes it even funnier because he didn't even know the boy.)

*Chance's kindergarten teacher's name is Mrs. Rasband, he came home and told Brandon that her name is Mrs. Wristband! Close enough

*As we were driving through the farmlands, Addie blurts out from the backseat, "it's cool how HAY grows, it just randomly pops up in perfect little blocks!" (She was DEAD serious)

*We came home from camping and Addie turns to me and says, "Mom, it feels so good to be home and walk on the grass and have a cup of milk!"

*We ate at a "Thai" restaurant tonight. Addie was so sick of peanuts on all of the food. She finally looked at me and said, "what the heck, do they have a peanut tree in that kitchen or what?"

*Chance asked me, "Mom, why Jesus make me so fast?" (Basically asking why he is such a fast runner)

*Chance was looking through the neighbors fence at their dog and he came running back across the street and said " oh sick, that dog just bless you'd all over my face!" Apparently, that means the dog sneezed on him!

*Chance calls "Walkie Talkies"... "Hickey Tickies"

*Hannah told me that we are going to give her "arthritis" because we are making her camp in a tent this year. (We sold our big fifth wheel last year.) Poor kids!

*We went thru the drive-up at Wendy's and they were out of Frosty's. As we pulled away, Chance murmurs to himself: "damn, damn, damn!" (I will take full responsibility for that one!) Needless to say, we had a little chat!

*Chance says that "chocolate milk" is his favorite taste!

*Chance was picking the seat of his pants today, and I said "what's wrong son, do you have a snuggy?" And he said, "no mom, I don't have a snuggly, my bums are just stuck together.

*Tonight at dinner, Addie told us that her favorite solid food is BUTTER and her favorite liquid food is SPRAY BUTTER!

*Chance told me today that his brain was making him scared to go to school. (He just kept holding his head in his hands)

*We had a "chick" die this weekend. Of course the kids made us do a burial. Apparently it freaked Chance out, and he wouldn't sleep in his bed because he just knew there were dead chicks in the sheets, and his feet could feel the feathers!

Easton "Such a Big Miracle, in such a Little Boy"

For those that don't know, our little boy nearly drowned in a bathtub accident when he was just 7 months old. I had run a bath for myself and left Easton (who could barely crawl) in his room on the floor. I ran out to the kitchen to clean up a glass my daughter had broken. When I returned to the bath... Easton had pulled himself into the bathroom and was floating face down in the water. He had his feet pajama's on which helped him slip over the side. He was under for about two - four minutes and it took four minutes of CPR from his daddy before he took his first breath. He was taken by ambulance to "Primary's" where he stayed in the ICU overnight. He had a full recovery. We are so, so lucky! He is ONE YEAR OLD now and we're so happy that our heavenly father decided that we could keep him!!! He brings so much SUNSHINE into our lives. "We love you Eastie". I put this on my blog for my own journal, but also for people to always be aware of your kids around water...they are capable of sooo much more than you may think!