Family Fun Day!

It's been a fun day!

This was a combo celebration.  The kids completed our summer family reading program with flying colors!  This was their surprise fun day as a reward for reaching the goal.  Wow, did they read this summer!  This was also the beginning of the school year celebration because tomorrow is our first day of school.

All three have lunch boxes now.  They have them packed and ready for a ride to the park for a picnic lunch.

Lunch in the sun at the beach/park.  It's always fun to eat by the water.  

The highlight of our picnic was this small jars of frozen smoothie.  We took them out of the freezer when we left and they were the perfect "soft frozen" smoothie by the time we ate them with a spoon for lunch.  Yummy and fun idea! 

And by the way, today was our anniversary.  13 very good years.

On the ride just after the pedestrian/bike bridge that lead to a small island. 

This picture was taken just before we played freeze tag at our 5 mile halfway point on the small island.  If I played tag every day with the kids, I'd be in shape!  :)  We had a super fun day together!

Canning Peaches

Well, this was not the year for peaches, among other things.  But I was able to get 50 lbs (about a bushel) at the local grocery store for 99 cents per lb.  That was the best price around.  In Kalkaska they were 70 and a friend said she could get them for me for 56.  So the grocery store won.  :)  I didn't buy nearly as many as I usually do, but this way we'll at least have a few jars canned on the shelves for a treat this winter.  Last winter we canned about 70 quarts.  This year only 32.

We all had a job.  Dillon gathered the peaches from the floor where they were ripening, took the stickers off, and brought them to the sink full of warm soapy water.  We leave the skins on them so we wash them before we can them.  He also helped with some rinsing. 

I cut them in fourths.

Chaeli arranged them in the jars. 

Elijah sprinkled some fruit fresh on top.

He also wanted to be the "juice man."  I helped him with the first half of the juice container because it was too heavy.  He was able pour the last half of the juice in by himself. 

And our peach canning for the season is over.  Too soon.  32 quarts.  We thank the Lord for that many!

Nine years Old - Part 2

The birthday girl celebrating at home!

Breakfast dessert - pineapple tapioca.  This is becoming her tradition!  

Decorations by Dillon 

Supper dessert - mint chip ice cream (minus the green)

This is the BEST homemade vegan ice cream I have every had!  Creamy, minty, yummy!  Thank you, Vegetarian Times!! 

Her theme this year was about being a princess. We focused on being a child of the King! Papers like this were all over the house when she woke up.

Her new Bible. The tag on the top of the wrapping said, "Thy word have I hid in my heart, that I might not sin again you." Ps 119:11. A precious gift and vital tool for a princess.

Nine Years Old - Part 1

We were back at Camp Au Sable on Chaeli's birthday.  That made the day special!  She woke up to a decorated room and some special activities.

She got to ride a horse! 

A scarf 

With a Bible text to go with it.  Proverbs 3:3 says, "Let not mercy and truth forsake you; Bind them around your neck, Write them on the tablets of your heart." 

Family Camp

What a privilege to spend a week at Camp Au Sable's Family Camp.  David was the pastor for the week which enabled us to all have loads of fun!!

David is the one in the air... 

Our first black eye of the family... 

There is a slice of raw potato under there.  We learned that raw potato helps with inflammation. 

It still got pretty colorful, but the potato did help with inflammation. 

Snakes, Worms, and Things that Squirm

More of our summer science program:  River Rats!!

We learned all sorts of things about snakes and worms, how they live, and how they hear.  We observed them and touched them.  They boys thought it was pretty fun.  Chaeli skipped out on this event.  :)

Checking out a worm up close! 

Meal worm races... 

Hearing vibrations like worm or snake hears....because they have no ears. 

Oatmeal Raisin Cookies

Some of the biggest and yummiest oatmeal raisin cookies.....

mmmm....mmmm....good!

These cookies were adapted from this site:  http://www.vegandlites.blogspot.com/

Ingredients:

1/2 cup vegetable shortening (I used canola oil here)

1/2 cup margarine

3/4 cup brown sugar

1/2 cup granulated sugar (I used cane juice crystals)

1 1/2 tsp cinnamon

1/2 tsp coriander 

1/2 tsp baking powder

1/4 tsp baking soda

1/4 tsp salt

6 Tblsp. Chia gel (or egg replacer equivalent for 2 eggs)

1 tsp vanilla

1 1/3 cups all purpose flour (I used half whole wheat)

2 1/2 cups rolled oats

1 1/2 cups raisins

Instructions:

Grease a cookie sheet or lay down parchment paper; set aside. 

In a large mixing bowl, cream butter and shortening with electric mixer for 30 secs. Add brown sugar, white sugar, spices, baking powder, baking soda, and salt. Beat until fluffy. Add egg replacer and vanilla and beat thoroughly. Beat in flour. Stir in oats, dried cherries, and orange zest. 

Fill a 1/3 cup measure with dough and drop onto greased cookie sheet. Press into a 4 in. circle (or smaller if you choose). Repeat with the rest of the dough, placing cookies about 3 inches apart.

Bake at 375* for 8-10 minutes or until edges are golden (Change time depending on size of cookies). Let stand for a minute then transfer to a wire rack to cool.

Optional:  Can replace the raisins with 1 1/2 cups snipped dried tart cherries

and 1 tsp orange zest