Another one bites the dust...

Have I mentioned that I really DO NOT like the wind?
I LOVE TREES. That is why one of the first things we did when we moved into this home is plant lots of them. Not knowing how long we would be living in this home, we wanted big fast growing trees that we would get to enjoy during the time we live here. So amongst these trees we planted Globe Willows and a beautiful Silver Maple. We were amazed at how quickly they did grow and were already enjoying the shade they were providing.

And then the wind came.

As I mentioned before, the first wind took out half of one of our Globe Willows. So sad, but it will recover. Then because it had not done enough damage, the winds came back and attacked our Silver Maple...
Just looks bent a little? Oh no, lets try a few different angles...

This time, I don't think the tree is salvagable. It will be cut down, dug up, hauled away, and a new one planted when the Fall tree sales begin.

And please pray the winds stop.

Back To School!!!!

It's that time again... BACK TO SCHOOL!!

And here are the typical 1st day of school pics with the kiddos donning their back packs standing at the front door giving their BEST fake smiles.

Tracen: 2nd grade with Miss Grose

Tyler: Kindergarten with Mrs. Ewing

They both are absolutely thrilled with the teachers they got. We know we love Mrs. Ewing because Tracen had her for Kindergarten, and so far Miss Grose has scored big "nicest teacher" points with Tracen.

Now, I think we are all just wondering what Tate will do without his
"BROTHAWS FOREVAW" to play with all day.

Watch out Trev!

Once Upon A Time...

...many HAPPY HOURS were spent jumping, and flipping, and building forts...

But then one day after church, the winds began to blow.

The dad said, "Hey boys, go outside and see if you can run against the wind!"

Boys: "Yeah! That will be AWESOME!"

But just as they were stepping off the deck, the wind gave a ferocious blow!!!! That is when they saw our very cherished trampoline blow right over the fence into our neighbors yard!

"AWESOME" was no longer...
I don't think they intended to have TWO tramps! Notice the splattered mud?
Now our beloved trampoline looks like this:
Crumpled, broken and will be thrown away. So very sad!

The boys are HEART BROKEN. :( Many tears were and still are shed.

Now onto the second part of this heart wrenching tale... Remember this beautiful tree? Our most cherished Navajo Globe Willow.

(This pic was taken at the beginning of the summer. The tree has grown so much since then.)

Well, as Dan was trying to get our tramp back to the right side of the fence, and I was trying to herd the boys back into the house so as to not be hit in the head by the board used to kick soccer balls against (pictured above) as it went flying through the air, we heard a LOUD SNAP!!
And realized...
Need a closer look?
Closer?
That was it. What was done was done.

All in one gust of a moment... there was nothing we could do to save her.

Dan and I's hearts were broken. Tears were shed.

So now, our tree is half what she once was.

But as the sun shone brightly the next morning, our boys reminded us, that the tree will grow and they will save ALL their money to buy a new trampoline.

Not all hope is lost.

38 weeks!!!

Oh my. I have gotten behind in posting AGAIN! I have so many events to record like our FABULOUS trip to BEAR LAKE,

the eventful windy evening that brought all of us to tears,

and now the first day of school!

BUT for some reason, the only thing I am able to focus on is this:

I am officially 38 weeks!!

This little man can come anytime.... well, actually it would really be better if he waited just a few more days. We made it through the first day of school and now I'd love to at least make it through Tyler's meeting with his teacher on Wednesday. Then Trev can come.

Tyler and Tate both came quite fast at 38 weeks, so I am just trying to be prepared. So because I am actually ready this time... he will come late. Go figure.

Anyway, we are so excited to meet this new little man and see just how he fits in our crazy family!

So until then, one thing at a time.

Tate and Chihuahuas

*Conversation in the van with Tate a while back*

Tate: "Mom, you know Chihuahuas?"

Mom: (smiling) "Yes, Tate, I know Chihuahuas."

Tate: "Well, they will smash me to pieces but I will fight them to pieces!

You know that, mom?"

Then on a walk in our neighborhood, Tate suddenly exclaimed,

"MOM!!! Look a Chihuahua!!!"
After looking around a bit, we realized that THIS was the dog he was referring to...

Who will smash who to pieces?
Silly boy.

(*sorry if you heard this story a while back, I realized I had not recorded it and had to do it*)

Huckleberry Heaven!!!

A couple weeks ago we drove many hours to one of my favorite places,

MCCALL, IDAHO

to be with some of our favorite people,

THE JACOBS CLAN!

One of the reasons I love this place is because of the beautiful scene we get to experience!

If I had to paint a picture that described me.... this would be it!!!!!
We met up with all of Dan's siblings and most of their families. So sad that a few of them were not able to make it, BUT maybe next year...

While there we spent many hours enjoying the beauty all around us, talking, eating scrumptious food, swimming at the condo pool (which our boys did every single day and night), playing cards, eating, playing cards, guys golfing, ladies shopping at the cutest shops while their super older cousins happily watch the little cousins (THANK YOU), eating, going on nature walks, playing cards, eating, swimming, eating, laughing, etc... you get the idea.
We also took a day and spent it at the beach!
Where we did more talking, eating, enjoying nature...
Yes, that is me in a swim suit at 8 1/2 months pregnant. I DID NOT take the pictures!

We also rented WAVE RUNNERS! So much fun!

I think that was the hardest part of the whole trip for me. I only got to watch everyone else feel the spray of the waves and the thrilled of the ride. Maybe next year...

The MOM and DAD that made this whole trip possible.... THANK YOU!!!

Every moment was so much fun.

But we did not drive all that way for cards, food and a day at the beach... oh no... It is all about the

HUCKLEBERRIES!

Yes, we drive all that way to pick a few huckleberries. They grow wild and they are everywhere! You really don't have look to hard to find a few. They are at the side of every road and every path. If you roll down your window you can smell them as you drive by! Hmmm...

But, this Jacob's family is not about just bringing home a "few" of these purple beauties. Nope it is all about finding the MOTHER LOAD or the perfect patches that we like to call...

HUCKLEBERRY HEAVEN.

These patches you do have to hunt for. They are patches that you can just plop your stool in the middle of rotate in circles as you pick hundreds of big, juicy berries. Where each branch is loaded with "purple gold".

Yes, we are OBSESSED!!!

Some more than others. One of those would be our very own TRACEN!! We like to say he was bit by the huckleberry bug on last years adventure and this year the infection seemed to have spread!!! Every morning he and Dan would wake up before everyone else and go on their own scavenger hunt for a new huckleberry heaven patch. They would come back with a full can of juicy berries each. Tyler and Tate really seemed to enjoy it this year as well. In fact, by the end of the trip we think Tyler may have been bitten as well.

So where do we find all these berries? Well, of course we cannot tell you our secret locations but here are a few pictures of us on the hunt...

I LOVE this picture of our little family.
This was on the way back down a path from where we found our gold mine. Each of our buckets were full and everyone was so HAPPY!!

*Thanks Aunt Pat for so many of the pictures. I brought our camera but it stayed in the condo most of the time and I did not get all the pictures I would have liked.*

This is a small chunk of the grand kids that came. Notice all the boys?

Yes, that's 7 boys under 7 years old.
Our 3 boys loved this big rock. What boy wouldn't?

This was most of our picking crew at the end of a good hunt.

So what was the final results of our harvest you ask?

Some very ECSTATIC BOYS...

...with very purple fingers and...

2 1/2 gallons worth of

HUCKLEBERRY HEAVEN!!!

Not bad we say, considering we were there a bit early this year and many of the berries were not quite ready for picking. Last year we got well over 3 gallons!

Not complaining.. just saying...

Anyway, it was an AMAZING trip!!! Thanks so much Jacobs' Family for the wonderful time! Can't wait to be with you all again!!!

Until then we're off to create amazing things like, jams, syrups, cobblers, pies, brownies, muffins, sprinkle them on ice cream, oatmeal, and cereal, and according to many members of the family, find medicinal purposes that will ultimately save the world!

A few more....

So after a mild break from the sewing machine, I finally pulled it out from the basement again.

This is what happened:

A girly super cape for my sweet niece Madi's B-day.

And... a "just because you need it" cape for another nephew Adam.
At our family reunion he was constantly wearing a blanket around his neck with underwear on his head for a mask. As cute as that was, I thought he might like a real Super Adam cape.

I figured out that I have made 14 super capes so far. Crazy! But fun.:)

Then I made a few of these baby wipes cases.

So easy and no sewing involved!

Just a bit of material, ribbon, "bling", batting, and a hot glue gun and there you have it!

Well..... that's it for now!

Stay tuned for the next post about our HUCKLEBERRY ADVENTURE!