Last Week they took our picture for the ward website. Of course it just had to be the day that Spencer had a huge blowout (which hasn't happened for a really long time), and of course I did not have an extra outfit. So for the rest of church he sported khaki pants, no shirt, and a blue and green tie. He looked quite the man.
There are lots of fresh fruit farms here. Many of them have the option for you to pick the produce, which is nice because you can pick the best fruit and it is a ton cheaper. So Yesterday a group of us went to the berry farm and picked strawberries! YUM YUM. Only $.98 a LB, I got 9l
Spencer and Ashley (both 1 year) sat in the middle of the rows of Strawberries and were thrilled to eat as much as there little hands could grasp. I was just glad that bleach turned his strawberry stained shirt white again.
Ashley has the best face, Spencer looked about this bad as well
So I cut and sliced and froze. . .
And made Devin's mom's freezer jam recipe which is wonderful and doensn't require a steamer (which I don't have)
I also got ambitious and made this wonderful Whole Wheat Bread. It tasted great and was an easy one to make as far as bread goes. I haven't made whole wheat bread much in my life but was thrilled to try
Well Spencer ate it so I guess it was a success!
If anyone wants the recipe I will post it:
Strawberry Freezer Jam
RINSE clean plastic containers and lids with boiling water. Dry thoroughly.
CRUSH strawberries thoroughly, one layer at a time. Measure exactly 3-1/4 cups crushed strawberries into large bowl. Stir in lemon juice. Stir in pectin; let stand 30 min., stirring every 5 min. Stir in corn syrup. Gradually add sugar, stirring until well blended. Stir an additional 3 min. or until sugar is completely dissolved and no longer grainy. (A few sugar crystals may remain.)
FILL all containers immediately to within 1/2 inch of tops. Wipe off top edges of containers; immediately cover with lids. Let stand at room temperature 24 hours. Jam is now ready to use. Store in refrigerator up to 3 weeks or freeze extra containers up to 1 year. Thaw in refrigerator before using.
Simple Honey Wheat Bread
3 cups warm water (110 degrees F/45 degrees C)
2 Tablespoons active dry yeast (equal to two 2-oz. packages)
2/3 cup honey, divided into two
5 cups bread flour
3 Tablespoons butter, melted
1/3 cup honey
1 Tablespoon salt
3 1/2 cups whole wheat flour
1. In a large bowl, mix warm water, yeast, and 1/3 cup honey. Add 5 cups white bread flour, and stir to combine. Let set for 30 minutes, or until big and bubbly.
2. Mix in 3 tablespoons melted butter, 1/3 cup honey, and salt. Stir in 3 cups whole wheat flour. Flour a flat surface and knead in additional wheat flour (1/2 cup to 1 cup) until the dough just pulls away from the counter, but is still sticky to the touch. Place in an oiled bowl, turning once to coat the surface of the dough. Cover with a dishtowel. Let rise in a warm place until doubled.
Spencer just Lounging around on a Rainy day.
So being in the North-Mid-West makes me feel like I have been dehydrated all my life. I have never seen so much water. The other day so much water was coming down the rain gutter I thought it would break. The side walk was flooded up to the grass level. And I hear it gets much worse. Its neat to be in a place that has so much water. Did you know they don't have sprinkler systems, Nope they don't need to water the grass at all. Even if it turns brown it only will for a short time and then it comes right back. We have a small garden and nope you don't have to water it!
We went to this awesome children's museum where they lean about body's. Here is Spencer learning about Teeth and how food grows so that he can eat it.
We went Bowling last night with the Rec Center Sports on Campus, it was so busy we had to join a family of 5 so we could play.
Did you know Indiana has a Beach? Me neither. It is actually the Great Lakes in Michigan which are only 30 minutes away. But we are talking white sand, and a lake that you can't see the other side of so it looks and feels just like the ocean, just with fresh water instead of Salt Water.
Here is Spencer with Ashley. Arn't they adorable? My friend Elise and held Spencer's and Ashley's hands and walked to the end of the water and had it wash up over our feet but neither of them liked it much, in fact they both started to cry :( So instead they were content to play and eat the sand.
There are a bunch of ducks on campus so we went up last week and started to fee them. There are a bunch of Geese and Swans as well. The Geese and Swans both had babies and we got to see them. So cute. It was fun until the Mama goose decided we were threatening her babies and she got a little mean and started hissing at us- so we new it was time to go!
I finally have some Pictures of Notre Dame for you all. They had several family activities during devin's week of orientation. We first got to eat in the Press Box and Listen to Phillips Drigs Speak he was a famous Basketball coach at Notre Dame- But you will have to ask Devin why he was famous- I don't remember something to do with a UCLA game and a BYU Game. Anyway, then we got to go down and see the locker rooms and go out on to the field. It was just like in Rudy.
This is the famous Gold Dome.
Here is Touch Down Jesus. You can see it during the football games. They also have a statue of Moses holding up one finger and they call it 1st in 10 Moses.
They also took us bowling. Doesn't Spencer have a sweet partner. This is Ashley one of our new friends and neigbors.
