our latest

I've been meaning for weeks to share our news about the baby we are eagerly looking forward to. Here Joachim is joyfully giving my belly zerbers. The official due date is January 24 and yes, we plan to be moving into our house before then.
Last week at the last minute we took the night off and spent it in a Grand Junction. Not really a getaway hotspot, but just what two weary parents needed. Joachim stayed with Grandma and literally slammed the door behind us so there was no remorse on anyone's part.
We had a delicious breakfast on the patio next to my favorite fountain in town. It was so nice to just sit there with no interruptions and nowhere to be, what a luxury.

canning again

Another year, another garden, another hectic canning/freezing season. This year we've put up applesauce, peaches, cherries, salsa, roasted peppers, tomato sauce, and something Ben called "tomato junk" for stews he said. We had our first frost the second week in September, which was God's mercy because now we can be mostly done with the garden (which Ben has dedicatedly tended by himself this year). We still have more apples, pears, tomatoes, loads of peppers, and quite a few pumpkins to deal with, but I'm on a roll now. Above Joachim is helping dice tomatoes for the salsa. Yes, he is using our dullest sharp knife, which Ben has told me in no uncertain terms never to let him do again. It didn't last long anyway before Joachim was more interested in playing in the sink.
Here Joachim is eating applesauce and garden carrot bread while watching a storm roll through. There was a spectacular full rainbow spanning the entire field. It was so noteworthy Elena called us from their house to be sure we were taking it in. Unfortunately I could only fit a small part of it in my camera.

music in the park

We recently attended a free symphony in the park. It was an ideally beautiful evening and Joachim stayed interested almost the entire concert. His favorite part? The drums so we went around the side to get a better view.

nappy-nap

Joachim has developed his own ideas about sleep positions. I got so tired of telling him again and again to get back in his bed that I finally had to just relinquish my control and let him squirm and roll until he drifted off to sleep. We could literally take a picture every nap and he would be in a different (and seemingly intolerable) position. Everyday I go back in after he's quiet and arrange him on the bed again.

Riding Pie

Some time before school started we stopped by cousins' house to pick up some eggs and Joachim went for a ride on Pie with Elena. It's nice to have family with a farm so we can enjoy all of the perks without having to do the work, eh?