random Friday...

Tuesday afternoon, Curtis picked the kiddos up from my parent's house - they had just gotten home from camping, & Jaden had 2 get 2 martial arts training...when they came home later that evening, Jaden went straight 2 his room...we called him down 4 dinner...he ate...then went right back upstairs

he has a stack of blank paper in his room...a box of pens (he's not big on coloring his drawings)...& a 3-hole punch & binder, so that he can put all his drawings in the binder & keep em safe/2gether (better than spread all over the house like they usually r)

when i went up a little later 2 check on him & start the bedtime routines, i found him on the floor of his room - completely surrounded by pieces of paper! i mean, even worse than usual! it looked like he had been in a drawing frenzy the entire evening...either that, or his binder full of drawings had thrown up all over his room! ~lol~ but, his binder was still loaded - these were all new drawings! he must have been bottling up all kinds of ideas/creations throughout their 4 day camping trip...he didn't get 2 draw once (not that he had asked 2) & he was finally able 2 come home & put all those ideas on paper...LOVE it!


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last nite, they narrowed down the dancers 2 the final 4 on So You Think You Can Dance

the BEST part of last night's show was 1 of the 4 repeat performances of past Emmy nominated routines...this routine has been my fav of all the seasons so far (Mia Michaels is the most fabulous choreographer on Earth! plus, i adore Twitch!)! i blogged about it here last season, but since that video has been removed, here's their repeat performance from last nite...



i think it's awesome that America decides who goes home now - the judges no longer have any say...but i was really upset that Ade went home last night instead of Evan! Evan is good, but not nearly as talented as Ade or Brandon...i knew Brandon wouldn't go home - he's my pick 2 win it all! i picked Melissa 2 go home & she did...that leaves Jeanine & Kayla - they're both really good!

another highlight of last nite's show was the guest performance by the Jabbawockeez...they r so awesome! my kiddos LOVED this...



i can't believe that next week is the finale already! it feels like the season just started! it just so happens that my fav routine from this season was performed by Ade & Melissa (the 2 cut last nite)...not only is this 1 of my very fav songs ever, but the dance really touched me too - i'm sure u can guess y ;0)



u know i'll b tuned in next week & will blog my thoughts on the final results ;0)

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i got a hair cut on my birthday

don't laugh - i 4 real needed 1!
;0)

it was just a shape-up really...u remember how radiation zapped off the hair on the left side of my neck? well, it was really noticable since i have so much hair growing in now (my radiation doc says it will come back since my dosage was fairly low - she even spotted some light/fine growth there now - it'll just take a while 2 fill in)...i had that evened out in the back - the other side looked like a woolly caterpillar crawling up my neck ~lol~ & my hair was starting 2 grow out over my ears too, so i had her cut those out...it took all of 5 minutes total, but i feel much better

now, lets see how this stuff comes in - it's totally salt & pepper now (WTH?!) & i have curls (again, WTH?!)...i had a little wave b4, but now it really looks like it might come in curly - especially in the back...we shall see! but can u believe the length already?!


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i'm LOVING the tastes of summer...

we're grilling dinner each & every chance we get!

i'm making zucchini bread & fried zucchini outta the extras that co-workers r bringing in from their gardens

& making jam outta fresh blueberries picked up at the farmer's market

& now finding veggie surprises every day in our garden...Corinn & i pluck out all the red cherry tomatoes each evening...

& we picked our 1st squash the other day!

ah - i'll b so sad when summer comes 2 an end!

weekend recap...

we got after midnight on Friday - we didn't leave Kings Dominion until their 10pm closing time & every1 was totally BEAT! the kiddos had fallen asleep in the car almost as soon as we pulled out of the park...& i even snoozed 4 over half of our 2hr trip home...i'm so thankful that my hubby enjoys driving on long trips!

but i still had 2 get up early on Saturday...my sister-in-law, Katie, had called me Friday eve desperately needing some1 2 watch Matthew (my nephew) while she & my brother worked Saturday morning...so at 8am, Matthew got dropped off...he's the smartest, most articulate little 2 year old ever! he's also a complete mama's boy...he cried when Katie left 4 work, but he got excited when i told him we could go upstairs & wake up the kiddos...he loves his cousins!

it was a beautiful cool morning out...so every1 headed outside...we drew with sidewalk chalk (the best invention ever!), kicked some balls around, hunted 4 bugs...it was fun playing having a toddler around again!

& when he did start asking about when his mommy was coming 2 get him, Curtis distracted him with a Playstation game - 4wheeler racing! u know, that was right up his alley! ;0)

around noon, Katie scooped him up...then we got our wheels turning & got ready 2 head 2 the campground...my parents had just left that morning 2 set up camp & were planning on staying through Tuesday...since our beach trip was canceled, they asked us 2 join em 4 the weekend...& they wanted the kiddos 2 spend the entire time there - nights & all!

we happily obliged!
♥

we were also able 2 grab Curtis Jr & Corey & bring them along! they were "free" & made some time 4 us...i was just thrilled 2 get 2 see em again so soon! the kiddos too - they literally squealed when they heard the news!

as soon as we arrived, every1 headed out in different directions...Jaden immediately took off on his bike - his fav thing 2 do is just ride around the campground...Gabby wandered off with Deandra (my niece - my sis & her kiddos came down 4 just Saturday) & they stayed busy riding bikes & exploring the river - Gab really looks up 2 Deandra & is thrilled 2 have an older girl 2 hang out with/show her the ropes...Curtis & the boys couldn't wait 2 go fishing - so off 2 the pond they went...that left Corinn & i...we took a walk down 2 the waterfall 2gether

she brought along her net & found some excellent treasure! ;0)

then she couldn't resist - she had 2 get in the water! the area in the river by waterfall is the best little place 4 kiddos 2 play - they've dammed it up with rocks & created little pools

u can see it in the background of these pics below...i love this series of shots! can u feel the love & admiration? my girls absolutely ADORE their big brothers!

Jaden too - the boys just express their love a lil differently...

~lol~
believe it or not, Jaden loves when they roughhouse like this! he's constantly egging them on

around dinner time, the rain showed up...it wasn't so bad at first - but just as we sat down 2 eat, the floods came pouring down! lightning, thunder, the whole 9 yards...we made the most of it & after about an hour, it had blown over...but boy, what a muddy mess after!

the kiddos loved it tho! they rode their bikes thru the puddles, played in the mud...just had a good ole time getting messy!

the boys kept busy in the game room...

Corinn & i came up 2 say hello...she played a game with Jaden too (well, she thought she was playing anyway ~wink~)

we stuck around until dark...i gave the kiddos showers & helped get em ready 4 bed...we made some s'mores & then headed home...the 3 youngins stayed in the RV with my parents, we took the boys home so they could sleep in their own beds, shower & get ready 4 day #2...Curtis & i went home...ALONE!!! ~big grin~

the next morning, we picked the boys up nice & early...then us 4 went 2 Shoney's breakfast buffet...it was nice 2 spend some quality time with them - 2 b able 2 have a conversation without the 3 lil ones piping in

that afternoon was the Foltz family reunion back at the Lost River State Park in WV (the park where almost all our family reunions take place)...we met my parents & the kiddos back there & got our grub on

the kiddos hunted 4 minnows, crayfish, etc. in the creek...it's funny cause this is exactly what i used 2 do as a kid, at every single reunion

Curtis & the boys were on the hunt too...they were planning on using the crayfish as fishing bait back at the campground...we also took some of the tiny minnows home 2 Socks - he LOVED em!!!

look at this - i mean seriously - does it get any sweeter?!?!
♥

as soon as we were back 2 the campground, off the boys went 2 try out their bait...

not a whole lot of luck at the pond...but the fish in the river sure loved the taste of crayfish!

the 3 youngins & i headed 2 the pool...by this time (Sunday eve), most of the campers had checked out from their weekend stay...the place was empty compared 2 the day b4 - especially the pool! we had it all 2 ourselves!

just as it was getting dark, i realized i hadn't take our traditional kiddo pic in front of the waterfall - & i especially wanted 2 get 1 since the boys were with us this time! we rushed down 2 the falls & got there just as the sun had finally set...u can't see the falls much, but i still had 2 get the pic ;0)

we had s'mores & helped get the kiddos ready 4 bed again...then took the boys home & headed home ourselves...again ALONE - how the hell did we pull that off?! not only 4 that evening, but 4 Monday eve too! Curtis fixed us a steak dinner on Monday - it was so romantical! ;0)

Mom & Dad kept our 3 youngins through til the end of their stay...here's a pic they had a fellow camper take of them on Monday

they spent most of Monday at the pool & Jaden even tried out karaoke that night - singing his fav song! the video that mom took is very dark, but u can hear that he did well...she said the monitor displaying the words would distract him, but as soon as the chorus rolled around, he'd jump right back in!

they were so exhausted Tuesday night - i mean, almost in tears kinda tired! after KD & 4 days of camping, they'd reached their limit...we gave em baths & put em 2 bed early...they fell asleep as soon as their heads hit the pillow!

we're back 2 life as normal...well, as normal as it can b right now! Curtis is still on the job hunt (keep the prayers coming!) & working some side jobs 2 bring home a little cash...the kiddos r back at summer daycare...my 30th bday came & went without too much of a fuss (just another day in my book)...it's VBS week at our church, so the kiddos r getting 2 do that every eve...& in almost a week, Curtis & i will get 2 get away 4 the weekend with our BFF's (we planned, & thankfully already paid 4, a cabin stay with them months ago) - it'll b sans kiddos too (thx 2 my amazing mom!)...we're so excited!

pretty soon it'll b time 4 school 2 start - i can't believe how this summer is flying by!

wordless wednesday...Jaden's newest hair creation...

(Jaden's newest hair creation - executed by daddy...a "zig-zag mohawk, with stripes down the side")
;0)

my BFF's jam recipe...

my BFF, Misty (girl, get 2 work on updating that blog! ~wink~), recently made some of her infamous jam & was kind enuff 2 share her recipe on Facebook

i tried my hand at some last night & asked her if i could share the process with u too...she said yes, & it's super easy...so...u're welcome! ;0)

first, u'll need 8oz sterilized glass jars with flats & rings (i was able 2 fill 7 1/2 of them with this recipe)

in a medium/large sauce pan, mash up 4 cups of fresh fruit...i used blueberries 4 my 1st batch (i plan 2 make strawberry this week too), but u can really use ANYTHING u'd like!

stir in:
1/3 cup Pectin (or 1 package of the Sure Jell brand)
3 tablespoons lemon juice
2 tablespoons butter/margarine (it's supposed 2 help prevent fizzies/bubbles)

heat on med/high until a full hard boil (stirring constantly) & let boil for 1 full minute

then stir in 6 cups of sugar

heat 2 a hard rolling boil again (stirring constantly) & let boil for another full minute

using a funnel, carefully (remember - HOT) fill ur jars - leave about 1/4" headspace (i should have filled mine a lil more...too much air in the jar & they might not seal properly - too little space, & u'll have seepage)

wipe the rim of the jar clean (& the flats/rings if u drip on em like i did ~lol~)...place ur lids on the jars & close tightly (again, careful - the glass gets HOT, quick!)...then flip the jars over on their tops for 5 minutes

after 5 minutes, flip back 2 right-side-up & let sit...after about 1/2hr or so, u'll hear them starting 2 pop as the lids seal

(note - there's some debate as 2 whether this is still a safe sealing method or not...i'll give these away with instructions 2 eat now/soon...but if u want 2 store these safely away in ur pantry 4 a long while, u may want 2 use a hot water bath sealing method...the internets is full of tutorials on canning)

let the jars rest for 24 hours b4 eating the jam...if u can wait that long! ;0)

summery goodness - mmmmm!
think of all the friends u'll make when u share!

thank u Misty 4 the recipe!!!
♥ ♥ ♥

sorry i haven't got our weekend recap post up yet...on top of our fabulous KD trip on Friday, we also had a BUSY weekend of camping with my parents...Curtis & Corey were even able 2 join us both days! i've got lots of pics 2 sort thru, but i'll get that post up soon

also, 2day is the very last day of my 20's...2moro i'll turn the big 3-0! it doesn't bother me really...i don't feel 30 at all! just another day, right? ;0)