Jam

Please tell me you have eaten homemade jam.  There is truly nothing like it.  I am very spoiled, my mother-in-law is always up for some jam making and for years we have always, thanks to her, had a supply of homemeade jam.  When you get accustomed to this goodness it makes it impossible to open a jar of smuckers.  So last summer I gave it a go!  First I followed the "bell guide to canning", boiled the jars, make the jam, boiled the jars again.  Whoa, what a process!  Then I talked to my MIL about the whole process, thankfully she came over to help with the second batch (blueberry goodness, I named it!) and showed me her masterful "way of the jam."  BINGO!! Jam making made simple and oh so delicious!!!

On Tuesday we had a nice slow morning, so we had a little "jam session."  This batch has been named raspberry rad-ness!

Oh raspberry jam, I love you, you make my mornings brighter!

If you would like to be let in on the "way of the jam" let me know, I think everyone should make some jam.  It's really much easier than you think.  I'm not going to pretend to be a food blogger, so I'm leaving out all of the important details, this is really just an ode to jam.  I leave the food blogging to the experts, for example, check out my girlfriends beautiful blog Simply Scratch.

8 years in

Last week Big V & I celebrated our 8th wedding anniversary. Then last weekend, we were very lucky to be a part of a good friends wedding.  While I respect and am very proud that we have been married for this long, I know there are many people out there who have logged in many more "married miles" than I.  But I believe we can all admit, you really learn alot about someone in 8 years of marriage.  All of this anniversary and wedding business got me thinking... Big V & I wrote our own vows when we were married, now that we are 8 years in what would I add to those vows?

Big V,
Here we are, 8 years into marriage.  We have learned so much about love and living and each other.  I would like to add the following things to my wedding vows...
Even though you may know I am wrong, thank you for letting me figure it out rather than pointing it out.  Sorry, I always point it out for you.  I'll try to work on that.
Thank you for accepting my ever changing opinions.  (Lord knows I change my mind A LOT!) I like to think I'm keeping things interesting by keeping you on your toes... (I never knew you had such good balance!)
I'm an awful housekeeper, I make piles but will not accept your piles.  Just putting that out there. (8 years too late, huh?!?)
I will always watch Friends if it is on, thank you for still laughing at it (even when it's the episode you have seen 24 times), and thank you for laughing at all of my Friends references.
I am a miserable pregnant woman.  There is no way I could've know that when I first made my vows to you,  but now that WE know that, thanks.  I can't believe you were willing to put yourself through the awfulness of pregnant me twice!
I always laugh at my own jokes, thanks for joining in.  Actually, thanks for joining me in all of this.  This crazy life we have together is better than I ever could have imagined...

To begin again...

Well April 5th, that sure was a long time ago, huh?!?  I'm back, the question is do you still want to listen?

The past months have been full of life.  The new shades of spring and the change in the seasons, the move from indoors to outdoors, school days to lazy summer days that aren't quite lazy enough, the completion of another dance year with a big recital and registration for the new dance year, vacations planned and taken.  Yes, we have been busy.  Lots of plans, lots of transitions and little changes all preparing us for the big change we are facing in this house... the addition of another child. 

Can you believe it?!?  This November we will be welcoming a little baby boy into this house, he has already been welcomed into our hearts. 

Thankfulness abounds around here; there is furniture to move, projects to complete, and most importantly fun to be had!  Everyday providing a new twist and I hope you're ready to hear some of these new tales for as one child is growing silently (but definitely not still) in the womb, there is a rambunctious 5 year old trailblazing her one and only kind of path straight ahead...