deus ex machina*

*A deus ex machina (literally "god from the machine") is a plot device used in Greek tragedy in which a person or thing randomly appears to help a character overcome a seemingly insolvable difficulty. Wikipedia

So, last week, my mother called to let me know that she had ordered us some canning supplies. I was very excited as my first experience in canning solo had been a bit trying due to my want of proper pots, squeezy bottle tongs and other things useful for handling molten hot jars. Not only had she ordered us pots and tongs, but there was a Victorio on the way!

The Victorio arrived first. I felt completely empowered. The laundry basket full of apples ripening in the basement would taunt me every time I went down stairs. Once the Victorio was stashed in the kitchen, I wandered the lower realms of our house with complete confidence. Then today once Grant was down for his nap, Cori and I went to work. Between the two of us, the Victorio, our two large pots and our Saturday afternoon we got it all done. It started with this sink full of apples (plus $10 worth of store bought that we cut in to deepen the taste):
The little babies spent time in both of these pots. One for steaming, and one for water bathing.
The Victorio performed as promised, churning out perfect applesauce in one direction and peels/cores/seeds in another.
Batch by batch it added up. 15 quarts, baby. Plus 1/2 that got placed directly into the fridge. We did a few quarts of cinnamon applesauce, a few quarts with cranberries (Great call, Melissa. It is SO GOOD!), and the rest straight up. Thanks again, Mom. How would I ever get along without you?

image diary 8.26.09

the first day

The night before Gracie's big day at school I told her we were going to have a special family night. She got to pick what we had for dinner. Her list was quite specific: mini pizzas with pepperoni, pineapple and peppers, and fruit salad with grapes, pears and apples. That night we talked about the Priesthood, and Cori gave Grace a father's blessing to help her feel happy and confident for school. She was so attentively cute and reverent through the blessing and went to bed one happy and excited little girl.

Her first day was great. She was anxious to model her Minnie backpack. She's in the afternoon class. After lunch, we went out to the front yard and played until the bus came. She confidently bounded up the steps. The bus driver stopped her so I could snap a picture. And then she was off into this next little chapter of her life.

I got a little sobby about it. I won't lie. I wanted to go into my room and cry into my pillow. But instead, I put Grant in bed for his nap and then went out and mowed the lawn. That's completely normal, right? It was hard being too sad about it because a) Gracie was so excited and ready for a new adventure and b) its only 2.5 hours of the day.

Grant and I watched for her bus to bring her home. When it arrived, I ran out to take her from the bus attendant. As soon as she took my hand, a long run-on sentence ensued that lasted until we made it up the drive and into the house. I ran and got the video camera so I could get her report on film. I pleaded with her to repeat what she had told me, and she said (three times and on camera), "Mom, I already told you. I just can't do this right now." She had to get busy playing with Grant. Cori got the report on the video cam when he got home.

He asked her, "What did you learn in school today." And she replied that she didn't get to learn any new letters or numbers. But that she had to sit and be quiet, and then she had to help a little boy learn how to share his toys, and that they told them a story about a bunny rabbit who went to school for the first time. She seemed a little unimpressed with the curriculum, but has given preschool her stamp of approval. This is the note from the classroom assistant that was in her folder:

the rockford airfest

Let me be clear that the primary purpose of this post is to make my father jealous. Dad has always been a plane lover and is now a private pilot. I wish he could have come with us, but bragging about it is the next best thing.

Last Saturday we went to the Rockford AirFest with our friends, the D* family. I was particularly excited to go as the F-22 Raptor Demonstration Team would be making an appearance. I love jets. We sat through hours of traffic and were a bit grouchy upon arrival. But once we found our friends, set up our seats and got some food we thoroughly enjoyed the rest of the afternoon. Here are some highlights of what we saw.

F-18 Hornet touchdown/flyby

The Apache. Right down on the crowd.

I would hate being on the enemy side of this machine.

We were very surprised about how close to the ground the stunt planes came. This particular plane only weighs 1,200 pounds. Crazy.

The Aerostars are a team of pilots who fly these Soviet designed, aerial trainers. They are so WWII. I loved watching them.

The US Navy 'Leap Frogs' did a great parachute demo.

There were, ahem, a few pyrotechnical displays. Cori took this great picture.

The privately owned Sea Harrier. It is hovering in this picture. SO COOL.

High speed pass by a B-1 Lancer Bomber. It was huge. And very fast. And extremely loud.

Grant attentively watched the sky.

Grace attentively played with cell phones.

Then, finally, we got to watch the F 22 Raptor demo. There is no way to take a static picture that would do this jet any justice. It is part plane, part UFO. We watched it do a backwards loop in place (thousands of feet up in the air). And then later, it came to what seemed a complete halt and then turn a cartwheel to head the opposite direction (thousands of feet up in the air). It did a few high speed flyby's. I found myself standing with my mouth agape. I want to be an F 22 pilot when I grow up.

Grant crashed approximately three minutes after being buckled into his car seat. I thought he was so cute sleeping on Cori's football.

So, Dad. Jealous?

meet the teacher

Yesterday we met Mrs. Becky and Mrs. Kelly. Gracie walked into the classroom like she owned the place. She presented Mrs. Becky with the picture she had drawn "especially for her teacher." Grace then proceeded to explain every sketch contained therein and how the letters spell her name. As Mrs. Becky was helping me navigate the stack of papers I had to fill out, Grace found another listening ear and started listing the names of all her cousins as well as little stories from the different places we have lived. At one point, Mrs. Becky caught my eye with an expression on her face that seemed to say, "Are you serious? Is she like this all the time?" To which I laughed out loud and said, "In just five little days, she is all yours." When it was time to leave, Gracie dejectedly hung her shoulders and in her most forlorn voice said, "Well guys, I guess I'll see ya next week." I nearly died. How am going to get by without this little lady in the afternoons, I'd like to know.

my big girl

feeling like fall

Too bad the weather is finally starting to summer up. Ah well. Fall produce is starting to appear on the shelves. School is starting. We are just a couple of weeks from the first Cougar football game. I just love this time of year.

Last night we visited an elderly couple in our ward who have the largest apple tree ever seen. This fruit machine is over 50 years old and has had three different kinds of apples grafted throughout. The apples have been ripening and falling off the branches in droves. We invited ourselves over to help clean up their yard. We raked and sorted the good from the bad, and then we got to take home a trunk full of the little lovelies.

*Now we get to learn how to bottle applesauce. I'm trying to be excited about it.

Blessings

What a week. By the end of it, we had spent a sizable chunk of the monthly monies on 20 hours of babysitting. But it was a wonderful, educational, and productive 7 days. We went to friends' house for dinner and FHE, I met with my accompanist pal, Mike, and practiced and practiced the song that I finally sang today, we went teaching with the missionaries, I purchased 160 lbs. of pellets for our water softener, we went to a musical, I went to the movies with a friend and had a golf lesson, we went to the temple, we did some car (window) shopping, I canned 12 quarts of peaches, AND -among other things- we opened up the slip 'n' slide. This week I am especially grateful for:

A day of rest All through High School and then through college I pledged not to do homework on the Sabbath as a sign of respect. I always felt so blessed for it, even when it meant that I would have to forgo Saturday night activities for homework's sake, or wake up early Monday morning to finish up. Sunday was a day of rest. To this day, I notice such a difference when I plan on treating my Sabbath day in this way. Sometimes it takes some planning. Other times, when I don't plan, it makes for a busy, busy Monday. I am so grateful for a wise Heavenly Father who asks us to leave our worldly cares alone and spend the day with Him every Sunday.

Our kids who roll with the punches like the best of 'em.

My parents who celebrated their 30th wedding anniversary this week. They are such an example to me.

it has been a busy week

I guess I'm still getting over it

Yesterday I got to hang out with my Michigan buddy, Jeanette. As fate would have it, Jeanette's daughter, Sarah, lives just 45 minutes away. Sarah and her family are also in our Stake. Small world, right? Sarah has a newborn who was just blessed over the weekend- hence Jeanette's visit. The kids and I ran up to Sarah's house to hug on Jeanette, play with Jackson who is just Grant's size, and snuggle the newborn. I was in heaven times 3.

After a trip to the park, we played with Jackson's toys down in Sarah's chilled basement. I held her sweet baby for I don't know how long. Sarah, Jeanette and I chatted until Grant and Jackson were too cranky to wait another minute for their naps. It was like a little piece of home to spend time with Jeanette. I have missed her.

The visit was bitter sweet. Not only because we want to get back up to our friends in MI, but because not so long ago I had every reason to expect that I would be holding a newborn of my own this month. The whole experience has been on my mind anew. Fortunately, Cori is quick to help me count my blessings.

Our week has been so busy, and it is only Wednesday afternoon. This morning, we went to the theater for the last $1 summer movie of the season. How I love these little people.