Working and Playing together

We all went to the Strategic Air and Space Command Museum this weekend to see the new exhibit. The size the some of the planes there are amazing. I love the history and the notes to soldiers. Some of our favorites that the display included were a small rock climbing wall, tunnels, making and flying paper airplanes, static electricity, air ball racing, building with foam shapes, balancing in high places, wagons and textures, and crossing an alligator pond with the smallest number of stepping stones. We put a board right in the middle of the pond and jumped. It was fun and educational and historical all at once. I think Kaley had the most fun because she wasn't willing to stop playing long enough to come have a snack with the rest of us.
The girls were out of school for Parent Teacher Conferences so I took them out to the Wenninghoff's farm to pick a bushel of Tomatoes. We all went out into the muddy tomato patch and tried to find as many uncracked tomatoes as we could but the recent rain had done some damage to the crop. Then we spent two days peeling and canning them along with some bell peppers. Delicious! Hard work is messy but fun when you have lots of helpers. The only thing that is bothering me is that all that work only produced 21 jars and we have already eaten 4. So how many would we have to put up in order to eat all winter? I just can't believe that we'll have to go back for another bushel. No wonder my mom quit putting up fresh tomatoes and peaches. It is a ton of work and I wasn't much help to her. I now appreciate how hard she worked for us to eat so well.
Tim is working on the back porch. It has been a big muddy spot for 10 years. We've tried to grow thing there but they just don't look good. So here is his beginning product. Shannon had lots of fun helping him weigh each rock and reading the scale to the closest 10#s. 707 pounds all together and not done yet. We have to do it little by little and stay within our budget. Next he will fill the spaces with Cherokee Sand (small rocks).
I think I'll stay in the kitchen.