Check out the two new posts after Marika's Sr portraits. I wrote them earlier and apparently they get posted when you wrote them and not when they get finished. Any ideas how to fix it?

Marika's Sr Portriats

I finally got around to editing Marika's portriats. I am quite pleased with how they turned out. Most of these are just fun for me. But also the ones for family and friends. Let me know what you think.

Hee hee- 60s wondernus

All Hail the Glorys of Summer

Summer is finally here.

Wading pools.

(and bare bums)

Homemade popsicles.

Mornings by the river.

We have already started to indulge in the joys of this season.

Many more months to come of the sunshine soaked, lazy, slow days of summer.

Alma Licking Good

My dear friend Andrea frequently waxes rhapsodic about licking chocolate and whipped cream off her tall glass of water Tim (TMI you say- not really because it is about Andrea and not me- uhm sorry Andrea but I don't think I said anything you wouldn't or haven't on your own blog). And frankly- ick I do not get all the licking food stuffs off others- really icky- right up there with foot massages. That was until Becky asked me to make her homemade ketchup during her low iodine diet. I would bath in homemade ketchup, I would marry it, I would not only lick it off Alma but I would lick it off of a strange unbathed homeless man- maybe even off his feet. Okay nothing is that good. If you want the recipe ask Becky I forgot to bring it home. I found a couple of others online but they were a little different. Most of them called for canned stewed tomatoes but I did Becky's with fresh because of her iodine problems. Here is some pics of the process (I kept forgetting to take pics of some steps- So I already fail my first attempted tutorial). Our mother mocked me all day for taking pictures of ketchup for my "little blog thing". No surprise she doesn't even read to see pics of the grand kids. But I digress. I did change the recipe and used balsamic vinegar instead of cider (because Becky didn't have any cider vinegar in her house- but liked it so much I will continue to do it this way I think). Gourmet magazine had an article about the perfect hot dog with all the condiments made from scratch- and I think I liked my recipe better- fresher simpler more pure. I know I know you are saying what kind a lunatic makes homemade ketchup- but try it- it is so divine and far and above the insipid store version- you will be a convert. I will never really be able to get behind the whole make your own bread insanity but I am totally on board for the make your own ketchup insanity.

Here are the tomatoes- boiling for a couple of minutes before I peel them.

Why blogger Why???? is it so difficult to keep things oriented correctly?

Chopped tomatoes, seasoning set to simmer of 3-4 hours.

Here it is after it was blended and refrigerated for a couple of hours- it said to refrigerate over night but a few hours was plenty. I can not use the words needed to let you know how truly divine this was.

Not a great picture- but this is a great kid.

This weekend was the last of our time with Brian before he left on his mission. (I will write more about him later). So lots of good byes and hugs and tears. Sunday while we were eating I explained to Coen that we were going to Brian's house for on last hug after lunch. He then said "I two now so I go to Canada with Brian. I two and be a big missionary friend with Brian." I told him that he would have to leave his mommy to go with Brian and Coen burst in to wailing sobs, with tears running down his face. Crying over and over " I no leave my mommy." He then calmed down and said "Okay mommy you can go to Canada with Brian and me." When we told Brian this story he got a little teary (it may have just been residual tears from saying good-bye to Emily) and said that he didn't want to leave his mommy either.

I just love these two guys.

Last night hung out with Kate and Emily- tonight games with Anna, Marika, and TJ (of which I won every one). This morning I went down to Land Park in Sacramento and did a 5k which was great- friends from work and church joined me and the same group is going to get together to do another in July. Anyways add in a little swimming and bar-b-que and it has been a pretty great weekend.

So these little prehistoric creatures are living in our bathroom:

Never fear they are just visiting- we have not lifted our no pets policy in our house. These are Wendell's families little chicks- sadly past the cute chick stage and in the ugly creepy bird stage.

Coen is very worried about the little chicks. I keep finding him in the bathroom saying "Don't worry little chicks your mommy is coming soon. Don't worry your mommy loves you and will come and get you." He also asks me regularly where their mom is and when is she coming to get her babies. This is very sweet. When the little chicks stand on their feeders to look over the edge of their box Coen says "look mom they are trying to find their mommy."

This was a great day- we went to downtown to watch the book parade for the K-3rd graders. Joseph and Annie and Geneva participated. Across the street from us was a couple of sixth grade classes and between his cousins, Aunt Anna and their friends he knew half of the kids- so he got lots of hugs. And this year he realized it was for big kids and didn't join Joseph for the second half of the parade like he did last year. Marika joined us as well. Today was her senior picnic.

This is Annie as Fancy Nancy- no surprise she and 50 other little girls were Fancy Nancy. A distant second in popularity was some sort of fairy thing.

Joseph's class did the boring thing where the class all dressed up to fit with some book the teacher picked. I like it better when the kids pick their favorite book to dress up as.

While I was at work the boys went to the DePews (Amanda Ivie for those of you from here). This was very exciting as they have 24 chickens and 3 pigs and a strawberry patch. The whole way home I got to hear about Kyra's farm. It took a lot of bribing to get him to leave.

Earlier this week I also took some pictures of the Preeces- again- with better results this time. The above picture is of two people who will remain nameless to protect the innocent- and no they are not dating- really- don't let all the hand holding and kissing fool you. Do you think I will be doing engagement photos in a couple of years?

Oh the Humanity!!!!!

I have a newly sharpened pencil with a generous pink healthy eraser.

I have a DVR full of mystery shows.

And no sudoku book.

What am I supposed to do with my self??????

Where is it?

I have searched the house and it is no where to be found.

I mourn.

I guess I will have to find some knitting to do.