JULY 2023. We've Got APRICOTS!

 We've lived in our house for 40 years now and this is only the 2nd time we've gotten APRICOTS! Our big tree in our driveway had lots of apricots this year and they are like gold! We are trying not to waste any of them. We go pick them off the ground after they fall, about every couple of hours. We've been at it all week, but it finally came to an end. We had to pick the rest because the birds were getting to many!

We pick them, wash them, slice them and then freeze them.

After we have enough, we fill the dehydrator! We've done 3 batches so far and I will make fruit leather out of the rest!!

LaVerl wanted an apricot pie.

It was yummy!

4th of July 2023

 This year the kids came home for the 4th in waves. Kari arrived first since is was her 20 year class reunion! She only brought Gabe and had a dinner on Saturday night. Then Lisa and Barry came on Monday as everything was taking place on Tuesday, the 4th. Chad and Luann also came for the parade and stayed late playing games with us. The parade is always a success because the kids filled a half of a #10 can full of candy!! Kari was on a float and said by the time they got to Springerville, the candy was all gone! We all went down to the BBQ around 5pm and found out they had served thousands of people! They were out of beans and coleslaw, but still had the good pork and plenty of sopapillas. I think we still got our $10 a plate worth. We had some thirsty kids, because none of us brought money and we had to buy our own water. 

Monday night we had S'more's around the campfire. (funny Gpa!)

J'net and Bryan came over too.

Gabey loves to dress up and play.

And eat ice cream cones!

Before we left for the parade, we had a little flag raising and flag etiquette. We only had 4 grandkids here!!

Sonja & Randy came over from St. Johns! That was fun!

Its been a HOT July, so the kids played in the big ditch.

We played lots of games!

Before the fireworks, we lit off the ones Barry brought for the kids. I had made homemade butterfinger ice cream and it took forever to harden, so we had milkshakes!

Landon and Lucy didn't make it through the fireworks!

I made lots of food!

Wednesday, Reed arrived!  It's been a long time since he's been home! His 2 little girls, Eliana and Isabel are so adorable! This is the first time we've seen Isabel since we went to Dallas for her baby blessing!

Reed played and danced with them all! Such a great Daddy.

Lisa and Kari took the kids crawdad fishing on the Little Colorado.

They even caught a frog!
 

Playing in the hot, hot sun requires water under the trampoline!

Thursday afternoon, Kari and Gabe had to leave, but Bret arrived with his kids! I had a full house, so out came the air mattresses!

Friday, Bret and all his kids, Lisa and her kids, Reed and kids and Gpa, all picked pie cherries!! It was hot and a lot of work!

!

I got 8 quarts of beautiful red cherry juice!

Then it was more playing in the ditch....

Lilly, in front of my lily's.

...and playing in the treehouse! 

...and horseshoes.

Friday night, Chad and Luann came back over to spend more time with Reed, Bret and Lisa. They all played games until almost midnight! Saturday, Reed had to leave first because he had a flight to catch and a car rental to return, so he left before 9am. Then Bret and Lisa left too and then LaVerl and I were left all alone! Its so great when the kids can come and spend time with us!