Avoidance = Canning

 I would say my coping mechanism of choice would definitely be avoidance. I honestly do some of my best work/coolest projects, while avoiding doing something else. I can remember during nursing school cleaning my house the best, while avoiding studying for a big test. Or me and my bestie trying out new recipes while "studying".  So its only fitting that while I should be cleaning out this house, I have learned to can.

Earlier this week, my first attempt was homemade Spaghetti Sauce. Which honestly wasn't too hard. I followed the recipe here.  Here is what my process looked like.

A couple things I learned from this first time. 1st- I imagine canning is much easier without a 20 month old screaming at your feet to be held. So nap time would be a much better time to try this. (Already failed at this with attempt 2, and paid for it!). 2nd- taste your product! Through this canning/cooking process, I kept thinking I need to wait and taste at the end, and then forgot. So I really hope it turned out good. I ended up with 11 Jars of (no sugar added) Spaghetti Sauce. 

I just finished up my Blueberry-Strawberry Jam. I used the recipe found here. 

The boys and I went blueberry picking at our local organic blueberry farm this week and got A LOT of berries.  If you haven't been, it's a MUST. My kids had a ball, and even Trenton picked a ton of berries. The owner is the nicest guy, and has even spent time showing Brayden how to work the sorting machines. I used strawberries I bought from a local strawberry field, and had put up in the freezer earlier this month. 

And here is my finished product! I ended up with 5 jars of Blueberry-Strawberry Jam. One of my favorite things about the internet/blogs is that you can learn to do anything. Growing up I can remember always having jam and fruit that my Grandma canned for us. Although I never got the chance to have her teach me how (she lived across the country, and passed away a few years ago),  I was able to learn through blogs and a few tips from some friends at work that can. 

It was tasted this time, and kid approved. In fact Brayden immediately wanted a PB&J sandwich made with it. 

So now that I have stalled enough for the day, I am going to put this crazy kiddo down for a nap, and get to the real work. 

PS. A big THANK YOU to my friend Cathy, for letting me borrow her canning supplies. I hope you enjoy your spaghetti sauce and jam (her payment for rent ;)). 

Less Stuff.... More Stress...well for now at least...

So this whole getting rid of stuff is...Stressful! 10 years of marriage and 3 kids later, we have A LOT of stuff. I am still working full time, plus now in school, and on my off weekends trying to go spend time with the Hubbs. So going through all of this stuff is slow going. We are getting close to go time, so I have made a goal of emptying one room a day (that I am off work). Maybe I am strange, but this is really stressful and overwhelming. The finished product is amazing and freeing.

This was my junk/computer/doesn't go anywhere else, put it here room. So glad to have gone through here first. ( I won't show you my dining room table right now ;) ) Hopefully the other rooms will be a lot easier than this one. 

We have definitely been "Stuff" people. We have every little gadget for every little hobby. Ughh! Part of this whole "adventure" is to show our kiddos stuff isn't important. A lesson for us adults too. So let the great purge continue. All of our stuff no longer needed is being split between friends who can use it, trash, a yard sale a friend is having for charity next month, and a small amount to be left in storage.  Hence the dining room table full of stuff right now. At lease once a day I am still wondering, are we doing the right thing? But then we spend one day with the hubby in our new home, and I know it is. By the way took some pics of the new place, so those to come soon. 

Big Changes Ahead....

Big Changes Ahead.....

First up...... I will be attending Georgia Southern, starting this summer, to finish up my Bachelors degree. When I finished my ASN (associates of science in nursing) degree in May 2011, I started with Georgia Southern in their online program, but working full-time and all of my commitments along with school was too much. So with starting back up with this program I have also applied for a leave of absence for education at work. I love love love my job, and it breaks my heart to leave it, but finishing my degree is really important.

Next up.... My sweet hubby works out of town A TON!!! We HATE it!! So with me not working this next year, and taking online classes, we've decided that this would be a good opportunity to do some traveling. Me and the boys will be packing up and hitting the road with the Hubbs in June.

And Last... Because we will be traveling, I will be homeschooling the boys...Eeek! I am super nervous about this part. Matthew will be in 5th grade and Brayden in 1st. I have ordered the curriculum (abeka and apologia) and have been planning and researching. The goal is to really show the boys different parts of our country over this next year. Being a Navy brat myself, and moving across the country as a child,  I got to see a lot of different things. When we moved my parents would make it a road trip. I can remember looking over the Grand Canyon, and staring at Mount Rushmore. I have gotten to see many of the amazing things this country has, and it has always been a goal of mine to ensure my kiddos had the same experiences.

I am so excited and nervous for what lies ahead of us. I am starting this blog to keep track of all of the things we get to see and experience over the next year. I am the kind of person that searches out any blog I can find when doing something new. I have definitely read my share of blogs on all of the new things we are about to experience, and they have inspired me. So I figured if I can reach out and enlighten or inspire anyone then this will be a great blog. Otherwise its a great way for our families to keep track of us, and a good way for us to look back at this year later.