The end of a busy 2 weeks

Today marks the end of a very busy 2 weeks. The boys finished their 2nd full week of school and come home and just amaze me. We celebrated Michael's 5th birthday on Wednesday at Chuck E. Cheese's and then had a party for him on Saturday. He had so much fun, was very excited about his pizza and cakes that I made (I hope someone remembered to take pictures for me) and then of course, ripped through his presents like they were going to disappear. Today the house is covered in army men, but that is what he wanted.

This week, is a back to basics week, my house went through a big clean on Saturday morning. My husband left with Michael and Trevor and my mom took Ethan shopping and I was home alone to listen to Kenny Chesney's new CD and get some much needed housework done. I feel that I can now get some more simple routines in place and get much more accomplished. I have printed a list out to put on my refrigerator (thanks Anina for the chore list to get me started). My week of menus is planned and my shopping is done.

I have several little projects that need to be completed before I start any new ones. I will get those done this week and hopefully pictures to go along with the work being done.

One other thing that I am doing this week is making Apple Butter. My mom gave me my nonnies recipe and even picked some apples up at the orchard for me. I have cut up 4 gallons of apples and have them sitting so that I can boil them down tomorrow. I'm looking forward to this. My freezer has become quite stocked with tomatoes. Thus far this year I have "put up" 708 ounces of crushed tomatoes. I also have corn and zucchini in the freezer from the summer harvest. I am going to cut up some more apples and put in the freezer for pies and crumbles this winter. I have made a big batch of refrigerator pickles. I think I need to invest in a larger deep freezer though. I have a small chest freezer and well, it is almost full. I have also made Strawberry Rhubarb Jam and am looking at a few more kinds of jam that I may be making with the fall harvest.

Have a great day!!