The FUN house

Tevan: Mom, you want play house? Ruff, Ruff? (on all fours and barking like a dog)

Mom: I play house every day, Tev.

Daeson: No, we mean the FUN house!

I guess playing the real house isn't glamorous enough for pretend play. Obviously it is not fun.

The Ty Smith first annual family reunion

So, we have never really been a reunion people. This year my mom and dad took us to Island Park for a three day trip. It was great. The first night (Thursday) we were up at the Buffalo Inn campground, we ate pizza and had a good time. Mom, Dad, Troy, me, and the boys went up early. We took this opportunity to catch some frogs at the river bank. Mom and Troy were brave enough, but there was no way in heck I was gonna catch a FROG! Justin, Hailey and Jax came up later. Mom and I had spent all night Wednesday shopping and preparing. As usual, we had enough food for an army. But, better too much than not enough. We had something for everyone! Friday we went to Mesa Falls and then got ready to go to West Yellowstone. The hike was fun and just the right size. Tevan had to stop to "read" every sign. The boys had a great time looking at the falls and checking out the cabin. After arriving at West (where Jess and Carlie met us), mom and I took Daeson, Tevan, and Brookie to the Tea Party with Belle at the Playmill. They thought that was pretty neat. It was a fun experience for them. We love the Playmill and I can remember going every summer until I got married. This year we saw Beauty and the Beast. It was great! The boys did very well. I think all of the kids did great. Carson got a bit fussy, but what do you expect from a 1 year old? After that, we stopped by Troy's bro's place and chatted for a few minutes. Adalyn and Mieley were there hanging out, so the boys took that opportunity to play with them. We played games after getting the children to bed. Catch Phrase was the fave. Mom was so funny with and without her glassed. I think I heard the phrase, "Well the damn thing" more than I ever have. It was so funny! Saturday morning was a bit wet. We headed to Big Springs to feed the fish. This was really fun. The Johnny Sacks cabin was closed though. We wanted to go through it. We went back to the cabins and started Dutch ovening. It was mighty tasty!!! We sat around the fire and chatted. We tried to do this every night. Daeson and Tevan we dubbed the wood haulers (for the kindling) and Daeson was hauling some big sticks. I was shocked at some of the logs...rather trees he was hauling. They had a great time. I think Brookie joined in the nights they were there. It was so nice to be with mom and dad. I didn't mind being with the bros and sis in laws either :). Sunday morning we loaded everything up. My bros left, so it was mom and I again...oh, and Troy and dad :). We got ready to leave and our battery in the car was DEAD. We wanted to go to West again, but we headed home after a quick charge instead. We made it safe, but I was so sad to see everyone disperse. I wish we could spend a bit more time together. We missed Jaded like crazy, but he was in Missouri and Texas and could not make it. I sure miss him!!! We had a great time, THANKS a million, Mom and Dad! It was great! The pictures are all posted in reverse order. So the top is the last night, the bottom is the first.

I'm just sayin'

If you read on the back of your Bath and Body Works products, you will read : The finished product is not tested on animals. So, once you know the product will not harm or be fatal to an animal, you no longer test it on them? I'm just sayin....

Let the canning begin!

Last week, much to Troy's dismay, I was able to bottle 30 quarts of spaghetti sauce. Yummy! Tory does not like spaghetti, but I now have enough jars to eat one spaghetti meal a month for two and a half years!

Today I was able to bottle 15 half-pints of salsa. I have tried many recipe over the years and I finally found one that Troy loves...SPICY! It is warm! I guess that makes up for the spaghetti sauce! :)

I love that my garden is producing. I finally have peas (which the boys LOVE), I have tomatoes, jalapeños, Anaheim peppers, beets, carrots, zucchini, yellow squash, onions, and I already harvested my radishes. I love this time of year. I love that my salsa only cost me .48 for the cilantro and 2.50 for extra tomatoes. Everything else came out of the garden. I love it!

I am not bottling peaches or pears for the first time in 10 years, but I still have PLENTY. I am, however, going to bottle chicken soup. I can then use it for noodle soup, chicken and dumplings, or chicken pot pie. Oh the joys of comfort food!! I want to do about 40 jars of this. I am also going to bottle beef stew, mandarin sauce, and chunked chicken. I have a ton of jars to fill, thanks to Gram Tom and Nicole! I am excited to start bottling my homegrown food and to build up my storage even more. I would like to try some new things this year...if anyone has a great recipe or ideas, let me know! As long as it does not contain beans, I am willing to try it! I would love to find a beanless chili recipe. Troy is allergic to beans and lentils of all types and it makes it hard to get a great chili!

Party in the rain!

We had a family get-together for Jess' bday. Unfortunately, it decided to RAIN. It poured and it was COLD. I had to keep the boys warm by taking them into the bathroom and running the hand dryer!!! I was running a bit late as I had to pick Troy up from his hiking trip. I only took two pictures and one of them I will probably be in trouble for. Believe it or not, she really had a hair do like this in the early 80's! Okay, maybe more styled... I love you, mom!

Alaska Basin, a get-a-way for Troy boy

Troy, Uncle Scott, cousins Josh and Dillon went on a backpacking trip through Alaska Basin to Jenny's lake. They left Friday and got home Sunday afternoon. They had a great time. Troy has caught the hiking fever...too bad it is so late in the year!!! Oh, the pictures are posted out of order, and I am not sure what day is what. I am sure if you would like to know more, Troy would LOVE to spend hours talking about it!!!! They had to tie their bags up so the bears did not bother them. They packed all they needed in their packs. Troy's weighed in over 50 pounds. Lucky him!