yum

Nothing like blueberry cobbler and vanilla ice cream....Tee agrees!

Down by the river

Tyler was gone on Saturday for another away football game, so while Tee was down for his nap (thanks, shanda for keeping an ear out for him), I took the big kids down to the river for a couple of hours.

The girls enjoyed relaxing in the sun on the biggest flat rock I've ever seen! Everyone got a teeny bit of color on their cheeks. Its amazing how quickly the summer sun kissed look fades. We were all looking bit pale, so its nice to see a little rosy color on their noses again.

(whats some time in the sun without an ice cold diet coke to sip on!

The boys spent much of their time snorkeling. Even Boss got in on the action. Each time the kids swam out, he was right behind them.

The boys were great at crawdad catching, too. If only we could get bigger ones...Tyler said he would like a crawdad boil....sound sort of delicious to me right now. (Jett got attached to his)

my hard working tomato plant

I had no idea that my tomato plants would #1 produce SO many tomatoes and #2 that they would be so amazingly DELICIOUS! Last night, I was starving. Tyler is out of town which means I was off the hook for dinner. The kids had wheat thins, ice cream sandwiches, I think a few had a waffle or two and the rest had peanut butter and fluff. So around 10 PM I was needing some REAL food. I wandered into the kitchen and saw some of my beautiful tomatoes on the counter. I opened the fridge and there was a little baggie with some crumbled bacon, so I made a BLT. Smothered some good ole "stick to the roof of your mouth" white bread with some mayo (the real stuff), sliced into one of the tomatoes, sprinkled some coarse salt and fresh cracked pepper and then bit into the most mouth watering sandwich I have ever had. It was so good, that I had to call my mom to tell her about it (she has had my tomatoes and wishes there were a way to mail them to her). So this afternoon, when I as grubbing around in the kitchen, looking for something to eat, I HAD to make another one....just minus the bacon. And to tell you the truth, I didn't even miss it! In fact, it was so good, I had a second one! MMMM.

And look at my tomato plant. For months now, it had been giving us delicious tomatoes. And the poor thing...a part of every plant is dead or dying. Its needing to be propped up to keep limbs from snapping or from falling over. I thought it would have quit giving tomatoes awhile ago, but the old thing is still pumping them out! I feel a weird sense of sisterhood with this plant. I know what it going through. Limbs bending and breaking in order to support the fruit, so many green baby tomatoes hanging everywhere, working well into the "fall of its lifetime". It may look a little rough around the edges, probably needs as good pruning or something, but despite its outward appearance, those tomatoes are the best I've ever had. The plant never complains about the bugs on it, or that the dog sometimes uses the grass in front of it as a bathroom. It just keeps working...making more tomatoes. So hears to you, my devoted hard working plant! Keep up the good work and I will try to follow your lead.

school FINALLY starts

FINALLY, the kids have started school. They had the worlds longest summer and I think everyone was ready for a little bit of scheduled time. Avery started kindergarted. She was a little apprehensive, but the first day was only a few hours and parents were asked to come and stay, so she did just fine. And off she went today, with the boys, for her first full day of school.

Jett was out of the car before he could even give a kiss. (1st grade for Jett)

Duce almost forgot his backpack...and his mind! "What do I do? Where do I go?" Same as last year, dear! (2nd grade for Duce)

Smiles on all their faces when Ipicked them up....GREAT first day of school!

Labor Day parade

current Governor Tim Kaine

Duce is in cub scouts now, so his little troop marched in our towns Labor Day parade. Who knew that teeny tiny BUENA VISTA was essentially the kick off point for Virginia's highly publicized Governor's race! No wonder there were THOUSANDS of campaign signs. The current Governor and the Republican ad Democratic candidates were there. They walked passed us and shook our hands. By the end of the parade, the kids pockets were stuffed with candy and each was COVERED in campaign stickers from EVERY candidate.

Democratic candidate Creigh Deeds - - - - - - - - - - Republican candidate Bob McDonnell

And Duce....well he did wonderful and w cheered him on vigorously when he walked passed!