InstaFriday

It's time to gather all of my Instagram photos for the week for my first InstaFriday post.

I first saw the idea on this inspiring blog, and I was drawn to the idea instantly, snapping instagrams immediately. Then Katie led me to this linky party, and I knew it was it was my chance to join my first ever linky party. 

Year 32 is for trying new things...right? So here you have it, our week in photos. 

1. Gibson finally looses his first tooth.

2. Road trip with the girls, Ikea here we come.

3. HomeGoods, who knew such a fun store existed?

4. The chair I never thought I'd buy.

5. Waking up to the Keurig ready to go, thank you sweets.

6. Katie, dramatically looking into potential new furniture.

7. Fake plants, fake plants and more fake plants...can't leave Ikea without them.

8. Wait, where did we leave the cart?

9. Mmmm...cinnamon rolls!

10. Bethany taking a break during our six hour shopping session.

11. Oh, my.

12. Adding an ice cream cone to our cinnamon roll.  Why not?

13. Tree house fun with Soyboy.

14. Tooth #2 bites the dust.

15. Eating carrots with my Elliott.

16. The first socks of the season, and they feel so good.

17. Homework time.

18. Notes from Daddy.

I linked to Life Rearranged.

Year 32: {32 things in year 32}

Today marks the very first day of Year 32, the year of discovering my true self.

Thirty-two things to accomplish in Year 32

1. Complete a successful flip-turn

2. Be a Dangerous woman

3. Compete in a Sprint Tri-athalon

4. Learn to do a front-flip

5. Submit an essay or article in a contest

6. Meet our baby's foster mother and say thank you in Korean

7. Go for a midnight swim

8. Inspire one person to live their life on purpose  My Aunt Carol has an amazing list.

9. Get Christmas shopping done and wrapped by December 1

10. Read entire Magic Tree House Series with my boys, Currently on #34

11. Sew something. Maybe Curtains? Necktie Necklace

12. Make sushi

13. Read through the Bible, cover to cover

14. Complete a closet overhaul

15. Attend a retreat, September 23-25

16. Pay it forward at a drive through

17. Be intentional about loving my husband

18. Make one Clean meal a month, #1, #2, #3

19. Host a Bunko night

20. Take a nap in a hammock

21. Attend Mars Hill Running Group, January 25

22. Go on a salmon run, kayaked among the running salmon

23. Take a spinning, suspension and zumba class

24. Make a Korean dish

25. Buy brown boots, fall 2011

26. Eat Moomers ice cream, October 1

27. Read one book a month

28. Improve my 5k and 10k times

29. Run a race in a different city, Hot Chocolate Run

30. Join an adoption group

31. Buy a bike

32. Meet our baby

Life is either a daring adventure, or nothing at all.

                                               Helen Keller

After months and months of waiting and wiggling, Gibson lost his first tooth!

He tried apples, pulling it and bubble gum,

but all it took was a hot lunch chicken nugget.

Big E Takes to the Soccer Field

For two years now, Elliott has patiently stood on the

soccer sidelines, cheering his brother on.

 In rain, rain and more rain he has taken in each and every soccer practice and game.

He has patiently waited for his turn and has never complained,

knowing that his day would eventually come.

Yesterday, the day he has been waiting for had finally arrived.

It was now his turn to hit the soccer field, his turn to show the world

the soccer skills he has been perfecting in the front yard and his imagination.

It was his turn to shine.

And, shine he did,

smiling the entire time.

He was cool, he was confident,

and he was tickled pink to have his own cheering section.

He was as proud as a peacock and loving life.

"Go Rangers!"

For the first time....

For the first time, Gibson was the only member of this party of four

to get ready for school.

For the first time, I walked my son to the bus stop and proudly

watched him get on the bus.

 

For the first time, hand-in-hand, Elliott and I walked back home to spend the

first of many days alone together.

 

For the first time, the only student I had on my mind at dinner was 

my excited first grader.

For the first time, the first day of school was peaceful, free of anxiety

and filled with joy.

For the first time, I knew without lingering doubt or questioning, that at this time, I am exactly where I need to be.

Back to the Basics:{Canning Peaches}

As if canning tomatoes wasn't a big enough leap for this non-culinary girl, my mom and I decided to can not one, but two 1/2 bushels of peaches.  It seemed as if it would be a lot of work, but in reality, canning peaches was much more enjoyable than canning tomatoes.  If I can do it, you can do it!

Steps for canning Red Haven Peaches.

Step 1: Start with several {at least 1/2 bushel} of ripe peaches.  *I have found that 1/2 bushel will yield 10 wide mouth jars of canned peaches.

Step 2: Heat peaches in a warm bath.  I recommend trying one or two at first to gauge how long the peaches need to soak.  If peaches are soaked for too long they will be too mushy to effectively pit.

Step 3: While the peaches are bathing, fill another pot with an inch or so of water and begin heating jars by placing them upside down into the pot

Step 4: Transfer warm peaches to cold water.

Step 5: When peaches are cool, cut around the center, gently twist into halves and, if done perfectly, the skin will peel right off. {Note: I had several that were not done perfectly, in that case just salvage what you can because a peach is a peach}

Step 6: Place peach halves in a bowl.

Meanwhile: {because, I am not quite sure of the perfect time} in yet another pan, begin to heat the mixture you will be pouring over the peaches.  We chose a mixture that was 3:1 water to sugar and simply used the mason jar to measure.  Mix well and heat until sugar water is warm.

Step 7: Place halved peaches into jar, pit side down.

Step 8: Pour warm sugar water over peaches.

Step 9: As passed down to my mother from her mother, this step may be the most important, unknown step to caners around the world...  After the sugar water is poured over the peaches, take a butter knife and slide it down the sides of the jar to release any bubbles in the jar. 

Step 10: Wipe around the mouth of the jar, clearing it of any residue.

Step 11: Top the jar with lids, tighten with rings and place into a pressure cooker or canning pot.

Step 12: Line up handles of pressure cooker.

Step 13: Line up knobby thing {anyone know the technical name? mom? grandma?} so that the 5 is on the bottom.  The arrow is pointing to what remains of the 5 on this gem of a 1979 pressure cooker. Why you do this? I am not quite sure, but I do know that it is crucial, so go with it.

Step 14: Once the all important 5 is lined up turn the burner on high until you hear a vigorous rattle.  Once you hear the rattle, turn the burner down a bit, resulting in a less constant rattle, but one that is intermittent separated by 10 seconds or so. After turning it down set the timer for 10 minutes and let the pressure cooker work it's magic.

Step 15: When the 10 minutes is done, turn off the burner and wait for the handles to release. Once the handles are released you may take the lid off of the pressure cooker and take hot jars out.  *be sure to line your counter tops with towels to protect the surface. 

Step 16: Stock your cupboards and enjoy.


And there you have it....word has it that today may be the last day to enjoy fresh Red Haven peaches. Be sure to grab yourself one of the last batches, some mason jars,and a canning companion and give it a try...why not?

Mud, Mud & More Mud

Just one day before the Mud Run, I met a man at Panera.

I was having internet trouble.

He seemed to be working on an intense research project, including lots of documents spread across the table.

As I was troubleshooting my internet issues, he offered to help and go ask an employee.

He kindly, left his work behind and wheeled up in his wheelchair.

He was paralyzed from the waist down.

I don't know his story, or even his name. 

I just know that I thought of him often, the very next day, as I struggled with our 5k mud run.

The start of any race is always emotional for me.  The starting line is where I feel most alive.  The music is pumping, my adrenailine is rushing, and I am surrounded by my dearest friends on an adventure we never predicted.

Today, the start was different.  Today, I realized what a gift it was that I was able to run this race, that the pain I would feel throughout the muddy obstacle course was a gift.  And, I was humbled and thankful for the journey ahead of us.

And a journey it would be! {the most painful race to date}

It started with mud,

continued with mud,

mud,

and more mud.

And, in the end, as we neared the finish line,

I saw my boys,

and realized, even more, what a gift this race actually was.

I was able to run {with healthy legs}, with three friends and finish with my family watching.

It's amazing how a kind stranger in a wheelchair can make you even

more thankful for the journey we are on,

and the boys that I ultimately run for.