{Cherry Cobbler}

Ok, so that big ol' pile of cherries I picked yesterday turned into a yummy cherry cobbler this afternoon! It's all a bubbly goodness and smells sooo good.

Image of cobbler from above - wish you could smell the yumminess

Cherry Cobbler

preheat oven to 350°

Ingredients:

1 cup Flour

3/4 cup oatmeal

1 tsp. ground cinnamon

1/2 cup melted butter

1 cup granulated sugar (I used 1/2 a cup)

1 cup water
1 tsp. vanilla extract

3 tbsp. cornstarch

4 cups pitted cherries (I used the cherries from my tree)

Directions: Combine flour, oatmeal, cinnamon, brown sugar and butter together. Press half the mixture into an 8"x8" pan.  Cook the granulated sugar, water, cornstarch and vanilla until very thick. Add the cherries and mix thoroughly. Spread into the pan and top with the remaining oatmeal mixture. Bake for 1 hour at 350°. Serve warm or cold. Delicious topped with vanilla ice cream.

{Cherries, Cherries, Cherries}

Our cherry tree exploded with cherries. We were a bit shocked as the previous owner said if we didn't get it sprayed with something it wouldn't produce, which is why it didn't produce for him (or so he says). Well guess what! We have yummy, delicious cherries bursting out of our ears and don't have a ladder high enough to get the tippy top cherries.

Although we do enjoy watching the birds eat the cherries that fall on the ground and watching the squirrels eat the cherries in the tree...It's great entertainment for sure. I am going to get someone to come out though and trim the taller branches so that I don't have to go out and buy a super tall ladder.

Below are the cherries we got today. Three paper lunch bags full of cherries (picked by me), 1/2 a bag of cherries for Ruth and the boys quit early with only a 1/4 bag full...It was awesome, but now I can feel the sunburn set in and the pinkness turn a bit more brighter shade of red...

As a side note, I made some cherry puree for MJ to have in her oatmeal for lunch and she loved it! YAY!!!

This is just 2 bags full of cherries, hubby at the other bag and the kids kept theirs in their bags for easy snacking.

{Before & After: some more}

These are some before and afters of things I have been working on since getting back home from our vacation. I still have projects to complete but they are slowly getting done. Some may or may not get done before the end of summer but that's to be expected when you have 4 kids who demand your time everyday (ya know for food, band-aids, loves, hugs, play time and so on).

My livingroom: before and after

the hope chest I was given at 16: before and after

my grandmother's gold lamps: before and after (mind you they need a different shade: working on that)

This is the cabinet that holds my towels, wash cloths & hand towels: before and after

{He's 10!!}

My little boy is 10!! When did that happen and how could I have let it happen!! Time sure has gotten away from me and I don't like it one bit!

He's growing into a fine young man and is so kind and caring. I just love him to bits and as much as I want him to grow up I am finding myself a bit sad that he's growing too fast for my liking.

We had a small get together for his birthday, it started with Aaron helping me bake his cake and whip up what was to be some red frosting, but turned out pink. Aaron was ok with it in the end because he said it looked like a fuzzy pink monster. We took Aaron to the book store so he could pick out whatever book he wanted for his birthday present since he is enjoying reading so much. Next month we are going to take him to Wahooz as our big birthday present to him.

Aaron had a great time and was so happy that his Grandma and Grandpa Hyde made it over. We weren't sure they were going to come.

MJ was playing with the "sparkles" on my shirt

Ruth was having a bad day - but it got better

the Fuzzy pink monster cake

The candles around the "10" were "trick" candles - it was fun to watch Aaron blow them out

eatin' some cake & ice cream

my favorite image of the day

Grandpa & Grandma Hyde w/the grandkids

{Day at the Park}

I took the kids to a local park. I watched the older kids run and play while MJ and I just enjoyed the shade a soft grass.

{Meetings}

Below are images taken with my "work horse" aka the "point n' shoot" of our visit out to see my new niece, Abbi, who by the way, is just a cutie pie!! and of our visit with my dad and Kitty (who is Gary's mom).

Everytime I use my work horse I am amazed at what it can do and realizing it's limitations but over all I am super happy with it.

I captured some sweet moments at Gary and Jasmine's of the kids and of Abbi. On our way home I captured some stunning clouds in the sky, when they call it a point and shoot they are not kidding, I just pointed and clicked without even looking and viola!

When we got home Dad was there mowing the yard, I love that he does it for us! Half way thru he went and got Kitty from home and while he finished up the yard we had a great visit and I made some yummy banana bread and a batch of chocolate muffins. I even made dad's favorites - spicy chocolate! He was in heaven.

We had a wonderful visit with them and were sad to see them go.  Even though they live close it seems we don't get to see them as often as we should.

Enjoy the "snaps" from our day!

Here is a good example of what I would like to have more control over - exposure and lag time in low light

Gary is now a face shifting alien

"Hey lady, Quit taking my picture!"

one of my favorites of Ruth holding Abbi

Abbi's cute little feet

I'm not gonna pose for you - I'm gonna hit you with this squishy ball!

dancin' Kyra

view from the front window

view from the side window

seriously stunning day!

dad fixin' something

our back yard as seen from the back door

patio to the side, garden at the back corner, shed and then behind the cherry tree in the corner are grapes

kids helping grandpa - Toby coming home

Sam holding Sorry

MJ and her new shiny red toy

Ruth was showing Grandma Kitty how to play "Angry Birds"

Here try my Apple

Just kiddin' - I'm not sharing it!

Grandpa was giggling while Ruth played

William was showing the boys how to play the star trek game

they were fascinated or should I say enthralled 

the many faces of my hubby!