~A Visit from the Vernons~

A couple of weeks ago Dana, Elijah, and Tanner came to Missouri for a visit while Philip is in Afghanistan. We loved having them here!!!! Karson loved having playmates during the DAY!!


Enjoying lunch together-- Silly boys!! The faces I got for asking them to say "cheese"!! :-)

Only an aunt would give a 1, 2, & 3 year old fudge bars. Don't know if I was kind or 'krazy'. ;-) They did great with them, despite Tanner looking like he tried to demolish his on Elijah's head.


Cute little Tanner.


We enjoyed going to a little fall festival:

train rides,

balloons on a stick,

and even pony rides.



Elijah and his great grandpa Englund. Watching the wool being loaded on the semi.
Cousin fun!!

Kelsey and Elijah after a long full day of play.

What an enjoyable week!! :-)

~ An Apple Butter Makin' Day!! ~

Saturday, we were able to snag a great deal on a bushel of apples. $9.00 for 40lbs. of apples rates as an excellent deal on my price page!! :-) So today, I delved into a very delightful task!


I gave the apples a quick bath.

Then put my ever so clever apple tool to work-- LOVE this thing!! It saves so much time and effort!

Had to snap a picture of my very willing helper! I won't be surprised if his arm is a little sore in the morning. :-)


Got them all peeled, cored and cut up. Added some sugar, a few spices, and they were ready for the crock pot. After a few hours the house was starting to smell wonderful and the apples looked like this:


Several more hours, and it was looking like Apple Butter!! Ready to be canned.


About 10 hours after starting this project: canned goodness!!

Kelsey asked me to make biscuits as soon as it was done, I didn't think any of us really needed biscuits at 9 p.m. so I assured her they would be on the Tuesday morning breakfast menu!! :-)

What a wonderful Monday!!!

Tis' the Day to wear ORANGE-----

...or at least the Burley children thought so!! :-)



HAPPY WEDNESDAY!!! :-)

Random Summer Pics.

I was just looking at my posts today and saw these pics. that I had loaded back in June... and that's as far as I got. So here they are... early summer memories. A hodge podge of pics in no certain order.

Khara on her way to her 5th grade music concert. RECORDERS-- ahhhh, wonderful recorders...if you never had to endure learning to play the recorder with 100 other students... well, be ever so thankful!! Actually, they did a very nice job!! :-)


Kaden and Karson enjoying a Friday together. One big perk of Kaden's kindergarten school year was no class on Friday. Oh how Karson and I miss him this year!!!

Khara and Kelsey with the gift they made in Sunday School for Mother's Day.


Yard work-- they LOVE to drive that mower!!

Loving the berries!!! Which, this picture makes me kind of sad.... with the extremely high temps. and no rain for several weeks, I think we lost all of our strawberries. Sad, sad!!! Hopefully we can replant next year!!
Another strawberry picture!!! One of the best fruits EVER!!!


Karson loves them, too!!!


Another pic. for the memory book!



Hope you enjoyed that little summer flash-back! Have a great Labor Day weekend!!! :-)

My Potting Bench!!

Last week I saw an adorable potting bench on a blog I love to follow, Thrifty Decor Chic. She had a little pictorial of how she and her dad had made it. She gave excellent instructions and assured her readers that it was soooo simple to make. I told Mark I had something I would like him to see/ read... the directions to make a POTTING BENCH!!! He was ready to tackle the task.... what a great guy I have!!! ;-)

Saturday, we loaded up the van and headed to an Amish sawmill. Mark had already talked to the owner about the project and the possibility of us getting some beautiful cedar. He was happy to sell us some and we were thrilled to get it.... wish this computer had a scratch and sniff screen,ahh the smell of cedar.... beautiful wood!!!
Fresh cedar boards, ready to be put to use.


A few tools-- and a Sonic Drink... makes any job easier!! ;-)


My working man,

and some great little helpers.

Kaden was in "carpenter heaven"!!!

All framed in--lookin' goood!!



A couple hours later-- one satisfied husband, one happy wife!!! The finished product!!!

...and The Adventure Begins-- School Year 2011- 2012

I can't hardly believe that summer vacation is over and another school year began today. We had a wonderful summer but thankfully, my kids are usually pretty enthusiastic about heading back to the classroom. May have something to do with the new school supplies, shoes, clothes, and meeting back up with all their friends, but never the less-- they always get excited. :-)


The evening before school starts the PTO hosts an Open House so the students can bring their school supplies and meet their teacher. Khara, Kesley and Kaden-- ready to go!!

Not to be outdone by the siblings, Karson grabbed his backpack on the way out the door.


Kaden visiting his classroom for the first time. His first venture at the public school for 1st grade!
Kaden with his very sweet teacher, Mrs. Sayler.


Kelsey in her 4th grade classroom. Checking everything out!


"Hhmmmm, look at all those books!"


Kelsey with her teacher, Miss Conner. She is so excited to be in her class.



For the first time Khara doesn't have a homeroom teacher to pose for a picture with. She has 7 teachers. She decided she would get a picture with her locker. A new thing for 6th graders.


And when she can finally get that combination to work, she is THIS kind of thrilled!!! ;-)


Tuesday-- First Day of School. They were up early, dressed, and ready for the day waayy early!!



Once again, Karson grabbed his backpack on the way out the door. HE wanted to go to school, too. Poor little guy, he cried and cried after we had dropped them off.


Kaden in his classroom on the first day.



I consoled Karson be telling him we would have school at home this year. We came home and got out every workbook we could find Pre-K- 1st grade. He was thrilled. He/we worked away until we left to go to camp. Happy Boy!!!

I am so thankful that we are blessed with such a great school!! Praying for another WONDERFUL YEAR for my children!!!

Happy Birthday Khara and Kelsey!!!

Khara and Kelsey both celebrated a birthday a week ago. Kelsey was 9 on June 29, and Khara turned 11 on July 6. This year they were happy to have a combined party. We were so happy that Phil, Dana, Elijah and Tanner were here for their birthday this year!!

Kelsey wanted a cell phone cake this year!


Khara chose to have an ice cream cake. We all enjoyed the cake/ice cream combo! :-)


Ready to blow out those candles!!


Gift time-- some happy, excited girls!!!

They were thrilled to receive their pool. Kaden said, "I'm kinda liking this, too!!!" ;-)


Happy Birthday, Khara and Kelsey!!!!