We Be Jammin'

So, I came across this awesome deal at the grocery store the other day- a whole CASE of strawberries for only 5.99! I couldn't resist so I picked up the case so Wes and I could make some jam. When we lived in Oregon, we used to go outside and pick blackberries all the time so we could make jam (they grow wild everywhere up there). We miss doing that- so it was a fun way to spend our weekend! We made three batches of jam to give out for Christmas this year and I must say, it is quite fabulous! So, I have decided to show y'all how I make it, just in case you want to jump on our jam-wagon. :)

First, you need 5 cups of strawberries with the stems and any gross pieces cut out. Quarter them and mash them with a potato masher, like so:



To prepare your jars (one batch fills about 9 8oz jars) I just wash them in the dishwasher with the rings and leave the dishwasher closed until just before I need them, so they stay warm and don't crack when you add the hot jam. I take the tops with the seal (don't re-use old ones, the seal isn't as good) and pour boiling water on them in a separate dish to get the seal all gooied up so it holds to the jar better when I tighten the lid.
Now, dump your berries in a large pot (we bought a large stainless steel pot just for doing jam years ago and it is one of the best things we have ever purchased, FYI). Add one package of 'Sure Jell' (in picture above) and stir over high heat until it comes to a rolling boil (meaning it is still boiling even when you are stirring) . Once at a rolling boil, add 7 (yes, 7) cups of sugar slowly to the pot while stirring. I usually pre-measure the sugar and have it nearby. You can also add a 1/2 tsp. butter or margarine which helps it to foam less. Continue stirring constantly until the mixture comes to a rolling boil again and then let it boil for exactly one minute. Then, turn the heat off and begin ladling your jam into your still-warm jars. Usually we do it assemby-line style where Wes ladles the jam into a jar that I am holding while I take the 'seal' lid and place it inside a ring. When the jar is full (around 1/8 inch from the top- our first batch of jars weren't as full as they needed to be) place the ring and the lid on the jar and tighten it. Make sure you are holding the jar with a dish towel because it is quite hot!
Now, here is what other jam recipes won't tell you- you don't need a canning machine to do this! After I have tightened the lid on the jar, I place it on a dish towel upside-down like so:


After 10 minutes, if you turn the jars right-side-up the heat from inside the jar will pull the seal down and seal the jar completely for you! You know it is sealed when the little bubble on top is flat and doesn't pop back up. Once it is sealed, it can last for up to one year and when it is opened, up to three weeks!


I hope you guys get a chance to try this out! It is really pretty quick to do and it is so cheap and yummy. In the sure-jell package there are directions for all types of jams- so go wild! Kolton wheeled around the kitchen and got into the drawers while we were making it and we lit a Christmas candle and the house smelled like heaven. I love the holidays!

Happy Birthday, Wes!

Okay, so his birthday was on Monday, but you can't expect me to post the pictures THAT fast, can you?! My husband is the only man in the world who says "I want to sheet rock the basement for my birthday". *sigh* So, I called in the cavalry (meaning my brother, two brothers-in-law, and my dad) and they all worked on getting our downstairs family room done. I can't believe how much they accomplished! Now it's up to me to mud and tape-- ahhh, the gift that keeps on giving- that's what I'm all about! :)

This is my dad and my brother Larry- both a bit high on sheet rock dust...and my bro-in-law, Scott- not putting up with their crap :)

Obviously it was a bit dusty to take a picture- but you get the idea...Wes and my bro-in-law Jim at the end of the night- lookin' good!
The birthday boy- 31 and counting- what a hottie!

So, to add to our great week, Wes's sister and my brother (who are married) celebrated the arrival of their newest baby, Madison! She is number four and has two brothers, Kaden and Zach, and a sister, Ali. I am so excited for their family! She is very adorable and so tiny! I can't believe Kolton was actually smaller than that when he was born. So, here are some pictures of the little cutie pie:

Here is her mommy, Jae Lynne (she'll kill me for posting it- but I think it's adorable!)

Here I am- the proud aunt! Isn't she completely precious?!

All in all- we have had a super duper five days and we look forward to Anniversary #9 tomorrow! Yes, November is a crazy month for us- but what better time to be thankful, right?! :)

Our silly little guy

Well, Kolton is getting into more and more trouble. He is starting to tip over the garbage can and open cabinet doors- time to pull out all the safety gear! Milo also makes a rare appearance in this video as do my pumpkin jammies!



And he is also starting to stick out his tongue!

My Husband is a Genius!

So, in the past I have discussed this gate that Wes made for Kolton (Well, he made it so that Kolton cannot plummet to his death down the stairs, anyway) I am so proud of him! I just kind of tell him what I want and he just pulls it out of nowhere and makes it even better than I had imagined! For my birthday and anniversary he is making me an entertainment center and I am so excited to get rid of our newly-wed cheap-o Walmart special TV cart! My parents think he should sell these gates- what do you all think?!




And here is Kolton helping daddy with the entertainment center:

A very happy Halloween

Well, here I am- finally getting to our Halloween post! It was a pretty busy weekend and to top it off, I got pretty sick on Sunday- some unknown achy creepy bug that knocked me on my butt for most of the day, but I am feeling better today, so, hooray! To sum up our Halloween, it was a dream come true for me! Every year since I have been married (and that would be almost nine years) I make Wes dress up with me and we always have a fun time passing out candy and going to every party we are invited to. Every year I have had fun but I have also had that sadness of, 'why can't I have a little family to share this with? This would be so much better with children of our own.' Well, this year my wish came true! Kolton is such an incredible little guy and I can just sit there and watch him play and learn for HOURS before I realize I should probably get something done around my house! It is my birthday today, and for the first time in a very long time I can't think of something to wish for when I blow out the candles because I have it all with me right now! Anyway- I am a bit sentimental today- maybe it is because I am on my last lap in my twenties! But, our Halloween (back on topic) started out with us heading up to Grandma and Grandpa's house (on Wes's side) and getting some treats and lots of cute pictures there. Then we came home and passed out candy to the cute kids from our neighborhood. At around 7:15 some of my nieces and nephews came over and I went with them and Kolton to do a bit of trick-or-treating. We had sloppy joes and hot cider at our house for everyone and then we went to my sister's house to watch Indiana Jones. It was a really fun day and, of course, I had to do a smilebox about it- so enjoy!!

Make a Smilebox scrapbook

CALLING ALL (LITTLE) SIGNERS!

Well, here we go! I have decided to start sign-language classes in January. We will have our basement finished by then and I will actually have some space! I am going to do a class for Kindergarten-2nd grade and a class for 3rd-5th grade (if anyone has older children that are interested I can see if I can get enough to do another class). They will be on Wednesdays with the younger class from 6-6:45 and the older class from 7-7:45. (Do you think that is too late? I have been poking other moms for info and that seemed to be a good time for them- but there is no reason I can't move it up) The classes will start January 7th and will run for four months (until May-ish) and will be $30 a month and that will include a t-shirt will their names in asl lettering and a fun recital at the end. I am mostly responding to several people who have been requesting me to do this for years, but I finally have the space and ability to get it going! The class size will be limited to 6 per each age so if you are interested either respond to this post and I will drop off a form at your house or give me a call (most of you have my number, if not, let me know and I will call you!). I think it will be a lot of fun and I have been wanting to do it for a long time. So let me know if you are interested! Thanks!

A Super Duper Weekend

We had such a fun weekend and I got a lot of fun pictures and more to share with y'all! On Saturday we started the day by being in the USU Homecoming parade for 'Families Supporting Adoption' and it was so much fun to see how much adoption is supported by the community and to get to show off little Kolton in his "boo" hat. He had so much fun and he was screaming (happily) and jumping up and down. I got a short video of it (sorry, it is sideways- I thought I fixed it but I guess it didn't work)

And here is a picture of the three of us on the FSA float:

After the parade, we moved it along to the local pumpkin walk where people from the community all pitch in and carve whole scenes out of pumpkins. This years theme was 'Calling all Heroes' and there were a lot of fun scenes. My favorite was about doctors and it had a 'woman' with a pumpkin head and she was bent over and had the pumpkin guts coming out of her mouth like she was throwing up. I thought it was a hoot! Wes's favorite was a fountain made out of nothing but pumpkins. It was pretty amazing to see how much work went into it. After we were done with the walk we stopped at some 'put-your-face-in-the-hole' works of art and got a few silly pictures of all of us. It was pretty darn funny!

On Sunday after dinner at my parents' house and a game of Settlers of Zarahemla at my sister's house we came home and carved our pumpkins. Kolton actually painted his pumpkin (well, painting is a relative term- he mostly tried to eat it!) and did a very cute job. We made hot cocoa and had some good friends bring us over some AMAZING sugar cookies to go with it! (Thanks, Marissa and Alex!) It was a very superb weekend!

WE HOPE YOU ALL HAVE A FABULOUS AND SAFE HALLOWEEN! WE HOPE TO SEE YOU AT OUR HOUSE!! :)