Ok...someone convinced me to blog about this little incident that happened last Sunday after church...so here we go!

Blare was home sick, so I had Madison in church by myself (thank you mom and dad for taking her during the services!!) Anyways, I was getting her into her car seat after church and I had the keys in my hand and set them down by her seat and I heard it lock, but thought, I always let set the keys down there and don't forget them, so I didn't worry about unlocking it! Well I think I must have been a little stressed because I shut the door and walked around to the drivers side and it was locked and I didn't have the keys! So I walked back around to the passenger side thinking that I could get in through Madison's door since I had just closed it...I couldn't. It was locked too:)

I frantically walked back into church knowing that my mom and dad were still there. As soon as I walked through the doors I ran into my grandpa and grandma and asked them to go and stand by the van so Madison wouldn't be so scared. I locked my phone in the van along with Madison so I went to the phone in church and called Blare (almost in tears at this point) and asked him if he knew where the extra set of keys were. Thankfully he had just seen them the day before and was able to come right away! I found mom and dad and we all went out with Madison to wait. She did fairly well, but I think she was a little confused why everyone was standing around her, but Blare came soon and we were on our way! When I got in the van she was crying, "daddy, daddy, daddy" I think she might have been a little ticked at me. Thankfully there were only a few tears shed on Madison's and my part, and we both went home and had a nice long nap:) I hope that this doesn't EVER happen again, but at least now I can laugh about it!

Well...It's that time of year again! My poor kitchen hasn't had a break since December 1st and probably won't until January 1st. I've been making caramels for 5 years and every year I think I might get an earlier start making them and I think every year it actually gets a little later. As long as the orders get filled by the time people want them...I don't really care when they get done. Also, I've decided to make a box of goodies for our neighbors this year so I got started on that last week. I still don't know what all is going to go in the boxes...but I got a little start. Hopefully next week I'll get the rest of my candy made. Until then...here are a few pics of some of the goodies...

Puppy Chow

Monster Cookies

Seven Layer Bars

Caramels

The finished product.
So far this year I have orders for approx. 90 bags and I think I only have about 20 to go. If anyone needs any last minute Christmas gifts...let me know! They are $5/bag.

Also...Thanks to all of you that have placed orders over the past years!! I really appreciate your business!

Florida 2008

Well...we made it back to good ole' snowy Indiana!! What a surprise to wake up on Sunday morning and see SNOW!! Honestly, we had a wonderful time in Florida, but I love snow and really don't mind this! If it's going to be cold...there had better be snow:)

Now onto Florida...Blare and I got to the resort on Friday and just relaxed and enjoyed ourselves for the rest of Friday and Saturday. On Sunday we decided to go to Disney World. We had a great time! Everything was beautifully decorated for Christmas and we got to enjoy the AMAZING fireworks display!!

On Monday morning we went to the airport to pick up Madison and the rest of my family. We just swam and played games for the rest of Monday. On Tuesday we all went to Epcot for the day. Madison's patience (and mine) was wearing thin during the middle of the afternoon, so we took her back for a nap and we got to lay out by the pool. We went back in the evening for another amazing fireworks show.

The rest of the week was pretty boring (aka relaxing) for us as we just swam, played games and ate:) My family went to Busch Gardens on Thursday...but we decided one long day was enough for Madison.

So onto some pictures...

Beautiful lights on the castle

Waiting for the fireworks

Madison in the shark on the Finding Nemo ride at Epcot. She loved this ride so my dad bought her a stuffed Nemo...and it hasn't left her sight yet. She loves it and has never even seen the movie:)

I think this picture explains itself:) Yes she is eating breakfast in front her "Jonah" movie. A day didn't go by that she didn't ask for "Jonah." We decided that this week we would have to have a "Jonah Fast"

Madison discovered this little hideout and stowed all of her toys in there for the week:)

Just having fun!

Madison found her swim suit drying on the jacuzzi, so she climbed in and tried to put it on:)She would ask to go swimming every morning as soon as she got up, so a few times we just filled the tub and that would satisfy her for a while.
But...nothing beat the real thing. I think if we would have let her, she would have stayed in the pool all day long.

We took a few family pictures while there, and Madison loved playing with Grandpa after it was all done:)

Florida....Here we come!!

Well in about two hours we will be on the road to sunny bliss!! Blare and I are leaving today and driving to Orlando for a few days and then on Monday, my parents and brothers will be flying down with Madison. We will then fly home with Madison next Saturday and my family will be driving. The goal was to NOT have to drive with Madison for 18 hours and I think we succeed! I'm a little sad to have to miss Thanksgiving...but I think I'll get over that:) At least we'll be with family!! Well I hope you all have a great week...and I'll be sure to post lots of pictures when we get home!!

Wanna Know a Secret?!?

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Coming in early June 2009.

Apple Cider

Wow I can't believe it's been this long since my last post. I guess a lot has been happening around here lately...but not much of it was blog worthy:) Blare's been really busy in the field, and hopefully will be done within the next few days. Praise the Lord we've had a such safe and blessed harvest.

Last Saturday it was a rainy day, so we were finally able to make our apple cider. It worked out so well since Brent was home from Purdue for the weekend. Well...we started out with about 14 bushels of apples and after grinding, pressing, straining and squeezing ended up with approx. 22 gallons of cider. I know...you're probably thinking why do you go to that much work when you can buy a gallon at the store? Well, first of all, it tastes 100 times better, second, the time you spend with family makes it 100% worth it and third, we now have apple cider in the freezer to enjoy all winter long!! Here are a few pictures to enjoy...notice Madison isn't in any of the pictures? It was so nice, she slept the whole time we working out in the shop working on it! I really didn't want her to have to be around that sticky mess!!

Washing the apples

Grinding and pressing the apples

Straining, and bottling the cider!

Tag....I'm it

Well... in all of my blog snooping days I've seen many people who've been "tagged" and I always thought...I really, really, REALLY hope that I NEVER get tagged. But what did I find in my comments this morning but Sarah saying..."you've been tagged" UGHHHHH. So I guess I'll be a good sport and name my 7 random or interesting facts about myself. Most of you already know these things but I guess it will be a fun reminder. Here goes...

1. I'm not shy. I LOVE to meet new people and get to know them better.

2. When I was 15 I swallowed a veil pin. I had it in my mouth and laughed and oops, down it went. I went to the ER and they tried to get it out, but couldn't, so...it had to come out naturally, which I won't go into details describing:)

3. I very much dislike cleaning out the dishwasher. I know I'm weird, but I would rather fill it. I guess I should just be thankful that I have one.

4. I really like to play Frisbee football! This one is really random, but I guess that's the point.

5. I love to host people in our house. Whether overnight, for a campfire, dinner, brunch, ect... you name it I love it!

6. I went snow skiing in Wyoming when I was 7.5 months pregnant with Madison. I know, probably not the smartest thing, but hey how often do you get to go snow skiing in Wyoming?!

7. Every year around Christmas, I make and sell homemade caramels. It all started when a neighbor had a bazaar approx. 5 years ago, and has grown every year since. So, if you need any this Christmas, give me a call...I can deliver:)

There you have it folks...7 random and interesting facts about myself! Now I'm supposed to tag 7 more people, but I don't have any that Sarah and Jenna haven't already tagged, so...sorry I can't do this part:( Have a Fabulous Day!!