{Romas and Onions and Chilies, Oh My!

It has been the week of salsa!!  I think I'm sweating it... garlic, tomatoes and chilies.  What fun though!  I look forward to this time of year when I can stock my food storage room with yummy, homemade salsa.  Last year was the first year I attempted it (thanks to a dear friend who held my hand the whole way.  Why is it that canning is so intimidating?)  We made up our own recipe and threw ingredients in based on taste.  It was good, but this year's salsa is FAB!  I've included a copy of the recipe we used below.  Now get some girlfriends together, fire up the grills and get canning!

It's a really good thing Todd likes salsa because he forgave me pretty quickly when he saw what I did to our dining room table!  I would highly recommend placing hot jars on at least 2 towels (or better yet, glass)!  I think another table painting session is in order! 

{Preschool. Year 2...

I love this little man with all of my heart!  I think we are both ready for preschool to start however.  He's been asking me for almost a month when he could see Ms. Carol and Ms. Robin again (I love them too, btw!).  Here's to a fun year Mr. Sammy!

{3rd Grade...

Jackson woke up pretty excited to head off to school today.  I want nothing but the best for this little guy... go get 'em J!

Every first day of school is so much better with a great pair of kicks.  Aren't they cute?

 

{Lunch Box Love Notes...

Well, tomorrow is the BIG day.  Back to School.  To me that means back to routine (which I desperately crave!).  This summer has been SO fun and I am sad to see it go but I'm also excited for what comes next.  The first day back to school can be a little intimidating for a lot of kids.  Jackson (who is super outgoing!) told me that he was even a little nervous.  Well, the mom in me kicked in and I went on the hunt to make our transition into 3rd grade a little less nerve wracking!  Here's what I found...

Lunch Box Love Notes!  What kid wouldn't want a little encouragement from his mom in the middle of his big day back?  

Download HERE courtesy of Silverbox Creative Studio

Download HERE courtesy of Paper & Pomegranates

 

 

Download HERE courtesy of Picklebums

 

 

 

 

Happy Back to School Days!

{Trying to fit it all in...

With school starting on Thursday we've been busy trying to fit in all of our last minute summer fun.  On Monday I took the boys down to Pueblo to float the river.  It was the perfect day!  Super sunny, and the water was calm.  We went with a bunch of friends from church and had ourselves a little back to school adventure! 



 

Today we met Grammies up at the Denver Museum of Nature and Science.  This is the last week of the Pirates exhibit.  Super cool!



New school year = New teacher!

Jackson has been checking the mail religiously for a week straight. Today he finally found what he was looking for. Third grade will be spent with....... Mrs. Whitney!

{Rossell Reunion...

Well, here we all are. It's a crazy bunch but everyone is so fun. When we all get together it's going to be a party and this year did not disappoint!

Grandma Gege. The lovely matriarch of our family.

Jackson is a fish! He sees the waves, grabs a board, and hops right in!

One of my favorite beach traditions... Abba Zabbas on the pier. It helps to kill time when we don't catch anything.

This is our catch. I'm not kidding! The night before I sent Jackson with Grandpa Semi and they caught some red snapper, a sting ray, a baby leopard shark and an octopus! Everyone was so excited that we went the very next night and this is what we came away with!

Each family takes a night and provides dinner and some kind of activity. Our night was Hippie night on the beach. SOooo fun!

This is Grams playing one of the crazy games that mom came up with. Good times!

One of the highlights of our trip was meeting my newest little niece, Sophie. What a little doll!