Sam's Piano

I love that Sam fills our house with music. If ever there is a spare second, he jumps on the piano and plays his heart out! I love it! I hope he always does it, because it totally mellows me out. He does it when we are rushing out the door, or hurrying to get ready, and it calms us all. Love it!

Mell of a Hess

Saturday was spent in much cleaning! Ryan spent the whole day in the garage... Don't be distracted by the cute smile, ...

Look at the disaster zone all around! All that is gone now and I have a really really clean garage. Noah painted the bookshelf for me and the play room is almost cleaned out as well. Tiling is done in the bathroom, and organization is starting to find it's way back into our house!

Love productive days!

Paper Pumpkin Craft

I was feeling crafty, but not in the mood to clean up a big mess. I looked online at bettter homes and gardens and found these darling pumpkins to make. Me and the girls whipped a few up! No big mess, tons of fun, and exercised my creative demons! So Easy, so fun! The instructions said to use wine corks for the stem, but we had so many pumpkins from our garden we just popped the stems off of them and toasted them in the toaster oven for a minute so the hot glue would stick to them. The jute we wrapped around a pencil and then painted with a 1/2 elmer's glue 1/2 water mixture, then stuck in the toaster oven for just a few minutes to dry, unwound and they were curly!

These are going to be our thank you's to our teachers this month since we have parent/ teacher conferences!

Mod Podge Cabinet

Took the cabinet in my basement that was totally ugly, dirty, dinged up and had a huge gouge taken out of the door.
Fixed the hole with putty, painted it the same color as one of the stripes in this room and then mod podged the paper on the doors! It will now be my toy cabinet! I am in love with it! I almost wish it was going in my room!

Max's school work

Max brought this cute story home from school today! He was only 4 when we left Utah. It made a lifelong impression on him though! I think it is so awesome that he still thinks of Nick as his best friend. The reality is that we have now lived in Montana as long as we lived in Farmington.

Tiny Highness in Her High Chair

5 months old and big enough for her high chair! She loves it! And love that she now can join us for dinner!

Canning Pinto Beans

This was probably the easiest canning that I have ever done! And such a great thing to have on hand. We already ate a jar and my kids loved them! You just put one cup of pinto beans (or black beans or really any kind of bean!) into the quart mason jar.

I added 2 Tbsp chopped onion (you could add more)

1 tsp salt

( NOT iodized, use real salt or canning salt)

1/2 tsp garlic powder

3 drops liquid smoke

Fill the rest of the jar with water leaving 1 inch head space

You could leave everything but the salt out though. I added the rest because I wanted the boys to be able to open the jar and eat it on a burrito, or on nachos or plain (which they do often.)

Pressure at 14 lbs for 90 minutes and walah!

Beans ready for soup or salad, or casseroles, or nachos or to eat plain.

I did black beans the next day and they were just as amazingly good!

who knew it was that easy, and taste oh so much better than canned refried beans.

Hope you try it!

She loves her bath!

You just can't leave her alone! {Emma}

Silly girl! She insists that she doesn't need a nap, but when she doesn't have one....this is what I find!

Love that MUG!

Lovin Baby Girl! {Annalee}

Seriously so Cute! Loving this girl. She is trynig to roll over, but isn't a pro at it yet. She is however, a professional at making all who glance at her smile! She is so smiley! People always comment on how her smile has made their day! Pretty much makes my day everyday! So glad I have her!