Salsa!

My Dad and I planted a garden in our backyard this year in hopes that I could can some salsa.

Good thing my Dad also planted a garden at his house because mine was not as successful.

We have gotten a few things out of it but it has a poor location for sun light. Most of my tomatoes are still green and being eaten now by the slugs. Dad however had great success with his tomato plants. Today my Grandma Bev came over to teach me the art of canning. She has canned many things in the past but never salsa. So it was a learning experience for the both of us. Overall I believe our day of canning was a success. The taste test has yet to be but they sure look good.

Thank you Grandma for helping me and teaching me how the canning process works. It was a fun day! I hope our efforts will result in great tasting salsa.

Birthday Surprise!

Yes the balloon says "Happy 30th Birthday" and yes it is not until the 25th and yes I am embracing my 30's. My "monthly girls" kidnapped me Friday evening. They prearranged with Cory to "fib" a little. Cory told me that I was to be ready by 6pm and that he made a reservation at Mabel Murphy's for supper. He also informed me that he had to go look at a house quick and he would bring Noah with him, then come back to pick me up. So he left, I finished getting ready and waited patiently for him to come home. Meanwhile the "girls" were on there way over to surprise me. I was on the computer when I heard some distant screaming (I mean singing) of the song "Happy Birthday". I go to the door and there they were! They took me to Bugaboo Bay in Alexandria. We had such a fun night! I love my "monthly girls"! Thank you so much Keisha, Nancy, Cassandra, Larissa and Hallie! We missed you girls who couldn't be there. Grandpa Lyle came for a visit this weekend too. They all had haircuts Saturday night. Lookin' good boys! Before... After

Cory, his Dad and Grandpa Virgil went fishing

and caught some Catfish or "kitty fish" as Noah called them.

What an ugly looking fish.

I hope they taste better than they look.

aM i BiGgEr YeT?

Noah is growing up. In size and by his "Big Boy" behaviors and sayings. He says the funniest things! I need to start carrying a pen and notebook in my pocket. Seriously, how can I forget things so quickly? Something he now will ask us each day is... "so mom (or dad) how's your day?" He uses words like "probably" example being, "Mom, you could just probably leave it there." Or he used the word "actually" the other day and said "actually I don't think so." Something else he will use often is "no, maybe later", and " yeah, I think so." It is all very matter of factual. He also is 75% potty trained! He stays dry all night in his diaper and is wearing underwear all day long. The other 25% is still getting the #2 thing down. He loves his new "Lighting McQueen" underwear and does prefer underwear over the diaper. He also started Sunday School today and stayed in the classroom with very little hesitation. He asked me tonight if he could go to his school again. So I think he liked it! Here he is all ready to go to church. I had to be to church early so Cory got him all ready and off to Sunday School. Weekend project...install new microwave. Before... After I was so glad to free up my counter space and now it just looks finished. Nevermind the mess below on my counter.

Noah was in charge of Styrofoam destruction.

He did his job well! :)

Itasca State Park

We just got back from a few days in Itasca State Park. We enjoyed getting away and what a great place to visit. Noah talks about his camping trip from last year and was eager to go again. He loved it! We rented a cabin this year vs. a camper. Crossing the headwaters with Mommy then again with Daddy. Headwaters of the Mighty Mississippi Standing in the Mississippi Hiking with Great Grandpa Virgil... we were here last year with the whole Albertson crew. My grandpa Virgil suffered a heart attack while here last year and had to undergo open heart surgery. Now a year later here we are again. Not the whole Albertson crew, but some of us and Grandpa is back and doing so well. What a blessing it is to have him here with us a whole year later. Noah adores his great-grandpa Virgil. Lake Itasca at sunset near our Cabin/Campground

Cory took Noah all the way to the top of this tower.

Noah came back down and said come on Mommy your turn.

I went up 3 flights of steps and that was enough for me. This was in the Visitor Center. They had

a great area for kids to explore things about

the park.

More Itasca Pics...

Campfire, coffee, conversation...what could be better? Cory was determined to keep us warm with only the use of our fireplace. (there was also a heating system in the cabin) I think that kicked in when our fire died out in the night. It was a very cozy cabin and the fire came in handy with the cool evenings. Itasca has fun bike trails so we did some biking too. Playing with cousins! These would be my cousins children. Does that make them my 2nd cousins and Noah's 3rd cousins? Either way, cousins are cousins! Great Grandma Mary and Noah at the Visitor Center. Great Grandma Mary is always prepared and Noah knew she had good snacks along to share with him. My grandparents rented a Cabin as well and so they were close to us which came in handy. Great Aunt Denise reading stories around the campfire. We went back and forth between the Cabin and the campground area where the rest of the group were staying. This is how Noah traveled! Noah picked this snake out at the gift shop!