Happy Sunday! Summer is winding down and the cool temperatures are so nice - yesterday I pulled the bags of tomatoes out of the freezer (5 or 6 gallons total) and got a giant stock pot full of sauce started. It's been simmering away for about 24 hours and I think we'll work on canning it this evening. Pasta for dinner (also wine)! The flavor is so amazingly rich, I think we'll be able to use pretty small quantities to get the desired effect. 

The kids all helped me peel onions and garlic on the front porch yesterday, and it was so sweet to see how excited they all were to be helping. And not just "helping" but really truly helping! Take heart, moms of only really little kids - the time you put into training them for useful household tasks does pay off eventually!

35/52: Sparkly Shoes and Grass Clippings

My Sunday Best, Volume 70: Lobby Fun!

Happy September! We've been enjoying a taste of fall weather this week, but I think today we're back to our usual warm September temperatures. I took advantage of the cool weather to get lots of things canned this week, though - 20 quarts of applesauce (many thanks to my mother-in-law for her help!), 8 jars of blackberry jam, and 4 pints of salsa. We've still got quite a few apples left on our tree and a bunch more that we picked from it a few days ago, but I'm pretty pleased with the quantity of sauce we got done for only the cost of jars (I needed new ones since we were almost out) and electricity!

34/52: Back to School

Aaaand we're back! We started school last Monday, because according to John Paul we must start on the 3rd Monday of August. Fine by me! We got through the first week unscathed, with minimal tears, and the house just as messy as it started but not really any messier so I'll take that as a win!

Name: John Paul

Age: 8 years, 1 month

Grade: 3rd

Most excited to: Do the Application and Enrichment in math. Why? Because it's so fun! I did all of the application and enrichment in Delta before I even finished Gamma!

Future occupation: I don't know, I'll probably go to the ISS (International Space Station), football player, dad, lawyer, American Ninja Warrior...

My Sunday Best, Volume 69: Bloggers on a Trampoline

30-some Catholic women bloggers (along with 8 babies, and 5 babes in uteri) descended upon Ana Hahn's house yesterday and between mimosas, coffee, and sangria, had some lovely and fruitful discussions!

Also a little bit of trampoline jumping. Or sitting, in some cases ;)