i so intended on posting all about our meal planning, and the yummy new recipes i've integrated into our "back to school" lives.  but rather than take step-by-step photos and take time listing all the steps, we dug right in and ate all our food.  

today we had omelets and pizza.  someday maybe i'll fill you in on how easy our meal times have become with my new meal plan.  

two more cuties!

this sunday was full of laughs,

 and fresh fruits and veggies from our garden.

i love having a garden.  but really, our melons have failed to produce over the years.  this was our only eatable watermelon and our cantaloupe got borer beetles, gross!  but our squash were delish!

grapes

our little grapes are making progress, though it will probably be a couple more years before we have any grapes to eat!

Jason's new title: Master Gardener

Jason wears many hats in our family.  he's a man that loves the challenge of learning something new.  he has tackled many a home improvement project both indoors and out.  last year, during the building of our pool, he was a major driving force in the landscape design.  in fact, he did the sprinklers and most the planting himself.  part of that planting included 4 grape vines on the trellises in our yard. 

this year, we both have been trying to learn the fine art of pruning and maintaining these vines.  here's the man hard at work:

 so it's going to take at least 3 years for us to literally taste the fruit of our labors.  but here's a sneak peek of what's growing now!

sadly, this little bunch had to go to make the vine stronger and ensure better fruit next year.  as a side benefit, we feel like we're learning a lot more about all those parables in the Bible.  it is truly a labor of love trying to get these vines to grow and produce!

winter garden

this year i planted a winter garden for the first time.  i only did a few crops i thought we would eat.    the peas are in, and the kids absolutely love them!