A Morales Minute

I only had 3 quarts of applesauce in my food storage. So I planned to can a lot of applesauce this apple season. I friend picked 6 boxes of golden delicious apples for me! I was able to can 76 quarts of applesauce! It was great to see my canned jar shelves be full again after this canning season. I canned tomatoes and peaches as well.  I thought I was all done canning for the year but then I ended up with a large box of Hunnyz apples. I bought it so that Diana could have some when she was up visiting from Arizona. I game some to her and Bel. Then I gave some to Lindsey and Isaac when they were here in October. I wasn't quite sure I'd use up all the rest of the apples. We still had so many! Then I thought I should make more apple pie filling. After doing a little search online, I learned that Hunnyz are great for apple pie because they hold their shape well and have a good complex flavor. I had enough apples to make one batch of pie filling.  They look so pretty!  I had to...

Tyler loves being part of DECA. He was excited to go for a few days to the FLC event in Seattle again this year. He felt more prepared than last year for sure. He said he learned some new things which is good. He doesn't really take pictures and send them to me so I was happy to see some on the DECA instagram page.  Eating Chinese food for dinner in the hallway of the hotel because they all wanted to be together. They're a great group of friends who really have a lot of fun together.  I'm grateful Tyler is getting these opportunities for learning and growth and creating fun high school memories. He's such a social bug and everyone just loves him. I love hearing comments people tell Jaime at school. It can come from staff or other students! He really is just a likable kid. I love him!  

Today Jaime and I took the boys out to lunch and did a bit of shopping. We wanted the boys to get out for a while and to spend some time with them. Tyler said he would drive. It's good he gets more practice in before he turns 16. We had some rain this morning but in the afternoon we had beautiful blue skies and a rainbow!! Tyler requested we do a special dinner for dia de los muertos. I asked what he wanted. He said enchiladas and all that comes with it.  Sounded good to me! And when he asks for something special like this that I could do I want to make him happy. So I made chicken enchiladas, Spanish rice, refried beans, pico de gallo, and guacamole. Wish a side of horchata to drink. Jaime picked out these cute chocolate desserts in flute glasses. It was a delicious dinner! The boys were sweet and thanked me multiple times and said it was so good. Olivia and Lindsey were missed. They love when we do themed dinners like this.  It was a good start to a new month. Bring on the h...

This pup is just the cutest! He sure knows how to give the cutest looks and when he does the head tilt with his ears raised he's just the cutest teddy bear! This was Tyler cuddling with Koda to keep him close during the door bell ringing with all the trick or treaters coming by. I have to say, this was actually a fun Halloween for Jaime and I. Neither Aidan or Tyler felt like going out trick or treating. They wanted to stay home so Jaime and I went out shopping! Stores were dead (no Halloween pun intended 😜) it was really nice! We hit up both Costco stores! And yes, we bought stuff at both stores. This could be a new tradition for us. hahaha  

Most days I'm happy. I go about my day doing the things I need to do. Other days, I feel sad that I miss my girls. I miss my little kids. My boys are still here but at the same time it's different than when my girls were here. The boys do their own things. Often they're gone to their own activities. They're quieter and don't come talk to me as much as the girls did.  I feel sad that they're not here. Almost like a loss. But grief feels too heavy of a word to use for this situation, one where I am also feeling pride and joy and hope. I was thrilled that my daughters were acclimating so well and a little guilty that I was so sad they were gone. I just felt off.  I came across a word that resonated with me. "Momancholy." And I can't stop thinking that's exactly how I feel.  Momancholy, like its derivative word melancholy, is a depression of spirits, feeling pensive for what was, an abnormal state of sadness for things past.  My life has been a whi...

My girls are home! They're home just for a short few days. I love that they tried to come as early as they could. Lindsey flew in on Wednesday morning from Las Vegas because she had dental work done by Brian. The Olivia and Isaac and Chaz got in late Wednesday night.  I loved spending the days with them home. We went to the Country Mercantile for lunch and browsing. They loved it. Isaac had never been.  She's so happy to be here! Olivia brought Chaz for us to get to know a little better. These four do a lot together. Double dates, dinner at Lindsey's, play games, and shop together. And now they travel together.  Saturday we went to Yakima for Valeria's (Aide's youngest sister) quinceanera. Our table was serenaded by the Mariachi. All of Jaime's family was here so it was fun to be with everyone again. It was the first time Isaac and Chaz had ever been to a quince so it was a new cultural experience for them.  The time went by so fast. It was hard to say goodbye t...