Fell off the Face of the Earth?

I know many of you thought we may have fallen off the face of the earth! I have not blogged since last July and I rarely post much on Facebook. 

We have been having such a great time exploring Washington.  Also, we have been house hunting and I have been canning.  I recently just finished picking several pounds of concord grapes, and I bottled 64 quarts of grape juice.  We have also been busy with the new school year and with Tori playing volleyball.  The past several months have been a whirl wind, it just seems like yesterday we left Texas.

We received notice last month that our landlords moved back to Richland.  Seeing that they needed their home back at the end of the contract period, we decided because of the shortened amount of time, we did not have time to build.  It was disappointing, but we felt right about not building at this time.  We began our search for an existing home.  Trying to find a five bedroom home with 3.5+ bathrooms was not easy.  We got lucky and we ended up purchasing a six bedroom home with 3 baths. It is on about 1.5 acres. (I thought it was two acres as I posted earlier, but I checked the paperwork and it is less than two.) We have horse acreage on two sides of our property, which Brianne and Tiffany are really excited about.  There is also a local lake that Brianne enjoys fishing in on weekends.

There will be a lot of updating that needs to happen on our home. Painting, painting, painting, new flooring, and updates are need in the kitchen, bathrooms and also lighting fixtures.  I look forward to making it into a beautiful home over the next several years and making it ours!

We move in the weekend before Thanksgiving! 

 

The items I canned this Summer/Fall: sweet relish, strawberry jam, spiced nectarine jam, strawberry nectarine jam, pears, peaches, grape juice, apple juice, spicy dills, applesauce, maple applesauce, cinnamon applesauce, pearsauce, and dill pickles. It has been a bountiful harvest this season. The Fall has been gorgeous with incredibly vibrant colors in our yard. Now, to sit back, relax and wait for the first snow fall! We can hardly wait!

 

 

Tori's Homecoming Date

Tori had a great time at homecoming this year. Here in Richland, the youth don't go out to dinner. They host dinners in homes.  Spencer's parents made the dinner and served them also. Tori said it was awesome, they had a full table service of silverware and dishes. She said she felt like royalty.  Afterwards they went to "Mormon Homecoming" at the Ostler's home. She said they really went all out this year with a fairy tale theme. She said it was so much fun!  This neat family hosts a Mormon Homecoming each year at their home and a Prom too because the school dances are so out of control inappropriate.  So nice of them to have a dance where the youth can go enjoy themselves in an uplifting atmosphere.

 

"Please don't poke me!"

Tori and Spencer

The Pasco Pumpkin Patch

We had such a fun time at the Pumpkin Patch! It is a beautiful nursery about ten minutes from our home located in Pasco, Washington. 

Fall leaves in my yard.

Our front porch. Of course Ron being Ron, he wanted a gray colored pumpkin. :) Notice the paper on our door? Someone very organized,  "Boo"ed us on October 1st! We felt so loved!

Brianne Wins School Spirit Queen Title!

Brianne really wanted to dress up for the Spirit Queen competition, we told her go for it! If she wanted to dress up, why not?!  She came home from school super excited, she was crowned during lunch and also given a necklace. Talk about one happy girl!

Did You Know Sage Brush Can Actually Be Pretty?

What? Sage brush pretty? I know... I didn't know either!? Can you believe it?  I had to take pictures just to prove it to a few family members. I have always seen sage brush between eastern Washington and Utah as the world's ugliest sight to behold.  Little did I know that in the Fall it blooms. The blooms are tiny and they have the fragrance of honey.  There ya go, you learned something new today!

Sage brush in bloom.

This orchard of apple trees is behind our subdivision.

 

Trees beginning to change colors in my front yard.

Tiffany and The Flamingos!

This past month, the leaves have began to change colors and cool temps have arrived.  Here Tiffany is all ready to go to the bus.

 

On the same morning when we looked out the front door, we saw we had been "Flocked".  It is a cute fundraiser schools and other groups in the community do to raise money.  The group puts a flock of flamingos on your front lawn with a sign that says "You've been Flocked!" There is a letter attached that says in order for the flock to take flight, a donation of up to $20 would be appreciated. Also, if you want to donate more than $20, they will send the flock to a specific address. (if you don't want to participate, they also tell you the flock will be relocated by 8pm the next evening) It is a cute fundraiser!

Richland High School Homecoming

The girls have really gotten into their school spirit and made Homecoming week loads of fun! Here they are all ready for the football game. Notice the sweatshirts and long sleeves? It is cold outside and Fall has arrived here in Washington! Perfect temps for football games and a side of hot cocoa.

 

 

Here Caitlin is modeling her winter hat that she knitted while she watched General Conference, and she is also wearing her Spirit Sleeves. We have never seen these "spirit sleeves" in Texas.  The school sold the spirit sleeves and the cute shirt for a total of $10!  The sleeves are like socks but are open toed. (Does this make sense? :) 

 

Spirit Day! They made these tutus and were covered in spray glitter!

Twin day! Caitlin and Courtney said they really freaked people out walking down the hallway together! Lots of double takes! They also heard people say,"Are they really real twins?":)