Things are settling down around here. The new school schedule is setting in and most nights we are successful in having everyone to bed before 8! I have been trying to make the most of the last couple of farmer's markets of the year. Two weeks ago I bought a flat of strawberries and canned a bunch of strawberry jam. Last week Micah and I decided to get 30lbs of tomatoes and make tomato sauce to freeze for the winter.
Here is Micah hard at work with the tomatoes:
He wanted to take a picture of me, I think he did a pretty good job...you can actually see my face and the big red pot of tomato sauce in the background!
Ella is getting to the end of her soccer season, she has 3 games to go. We don't keep score at this age, but I can tell you that we are about dead even. We win some and we lose some, but it is always VERY entertaining! Here is Ella during a game:
We had Stephanie up last weekend to visit (I have NO pictures of her!). She played paparazzi while I coached the girls:
Ella running drills:
Me and my girls:
Ella dribbling:
Micah came to the game on Friday, but he refused to put on clothes or get out of the car. He spent the hour sitting in the car naked eating goldfish (hey sometimes you gotta let them win the battle too!). Good thing there are parking spots right next to the field so we could keep an eye on him. Here is the naked boy:
Today was Ella's last riding lesson of the season. She loves her days with Georgie, but is excited for a little break to get ready for ski season. She always gets to brush George and saddle him before riding. Here she is brushing him:
Then she walks him out into the arena:

Doing her around the worlds, she spins herself around in the saddle. She does these while George is walking now:
Hawley has her do all sorts of centering activities when she first gets there. Here she is stretching back in her saddle:
It is the end of her second summer of lessons and she is finally in bridle all by herself! She loves getting to steer George all around on her own. Here she is with her reins:
The little cowgirl:
A good shot of George:
More steering:
Big left turn:
Filling George's water at the end of her ride:

I am so proud of Ella and her riding, she has come a long way. She speaks right up to tell that big horse what to do! It is a lot of fun to watch...