Nothing like homemade

On Sunday, we spent the day making applesauce. It is a family tradition that I love. No store bought applesauce will ever compare. We had 4 generations at work in Ohma's kitchen. We made 2 bushels worth of applesauce. I think that everyone would agree that tasting was the favorite part. Getting the spices just right and enjoying a spoonful of warm applesauce, puts a smile on my face just thinking about it.

Everyone at their stations

Apple peelers hard at work
A quick break to say "Cheese!"

(Mia was right between Kaitlyn & my mom, she ducked down at the last minute)
Kaitlyn chopping away
Mia helping with the sugar & spices

Sign of the times

I got really excited when I saw gas was $3.59 a gallon. And potatoes are expensive here in IL.

More cider please!

We spent the morning at Tanners Orchard with Ohma & Ohpa. We took care of business first getting 6 gallons of wonderful cider, carmel apples, cider donuts (these are my favorites), and 2 bushels of apples for making applesauce this weekend. Tanners has tons of samples placed throughout the store. Everything is so yummy. They had a pretty nice selection of decorations too. Plenty of fall and Christmas stuff for everyone. I only had a quick browse, shopping and kiddos don't usually mix well, but I'm sure I'll be back another time. Then it was time to play. We did the petting zoo, fed the billy goats and played by the train and pumpkin. I was very special for me and the kids to be able to share it with the Great-Grandparents. We all had a great time.

Shhh! I ate the treasure.

You better be up early and if you're not then you might just miss out. No one is going to wake you, in fact they will be extra quiet not to wake you. They take some, look around to see if anyone else is watching and then they scurry to some place to hide and enjoy their treasure.
What is this treasure that the Myers (my mom's side) Hartnett and now Hutchison Families love so much...Butter cake.
My G'ma and G'pa have been smuggling it back from St. Louis for years. I am pretty sure G'ma ate it when she was a little girl, that's how long we have been addicted to it. Every time they make a trip to St. Louis they get a bundle of butter cakes and then freeze them until a special occasion or holiday. When the butter cake comes out, you better believe it doesn't last longer then 1 breakfast meal. It gets opened, inhaled, and the crumbs are eaten too! Now a few years back we were shocked when during their trip to St. Louis my grandparents found out the bakery, Lake Forest Bakery, we had been getting them from closed! So they tried different places each time and each butter cake just wasn't quite right. We finally found one that is extremely close. It doesn't separate into 2 layers like the original but the taste is very close. So if you are ever in St. Louis check out this bakery. And you just might start something new!

Good times

We had a great weekend and it was wonderful to see everyone on Saturday at the party. We had way too much food, as usual. On Saturday afternoon we went and watch K & K play softball. It was a good game, Metamora won, and are on their way to State! So I will be in Normal on Friday for all of you who live around there, give me a call. And if they win, I will be back on Saturday too! I am not sure what to do with all my free time now that I don't have any more parties on the calendar. I should probably tackle some of those boxes around here. Or maybe I'll start that book I've had for a couple months now.

Happy Birthday Brendan
Happy Birthday Anne!!

2 little girls

Mia had her first sleepover on Friday night. Karagan spent the night and the girls had a great time playing together. In the morning they both climbed into bed with me and were so cute. Here's their conversation, one on each side of me, peeking over at the other when they would talk.
Karagan: Hi Mia
Mia: Hi Karagan
repeat several times.
I tried putting them to bed together but they were being girls and just kept chatting away. Lesson learned, seperate rooms until they fall asleep.

Dinner on the front porch

Even the little girls play football in Metamora on Friday nights






All of them enjoyed watching the new washer.







Breakfast Time

Special pajamas

The sun is shining again and we have been busy this week. Anne and her boys came over yesterday to play and then we headed up to Family Fountain for lunch. It was strange to be there with our 4 kids. It seems like just yesterday the entire Grebner clan of girls were working there. Today Vicki stopped by for a visit and then out to lunch again. I just might have to break out that eliptical machine if I keeping eatting like this.

Now for reason I was posting today. Mia found a shirt that has been around for a long time. Its history: It used to be my Grandma's workout shirt, then on one of my trips to stay with them I must have inherited it. I used to sleep in it all the time. The purple shirt fit me like a dress and over the years began to fit more like the shirt it is. It used to have a dolphin on the upper right side but it's long gone and only a faded blur remains. I am not sure how it survived all my "wild hair" cleaning moments and all the moves in college and afterwards but the purple shirt now has a new wearer: My little girl! Unknowingly it has become a treasured article of clothing and it puts a smile on my face every time I see her running around the house in it.














I managed to braid her hair while she was eatting ice cream and about half asleep. Too bad she pulled it out first thing the next morning.

Dane's 1!

We had a small gathering of only 25 or so people! Dane had a great birthday and I think he enjoyed being the center of attention.

Auntie Kaitlyn & Ohpa

Mia helped make the cake and cupcakes

PRESENT TIME





Cake time

Big sister even managed to snag a few gifts herself!

Happy Birthday Mr. Moo