Strawberry Jam making...

NO - COOK STRAWBERRY FREEZER JAM

4 c. fresh strawberries (yeilding 2 c. crushed strawberries)
4 c. granulated sugar
1 box non-flavored powdered pectin
3/4 c. water

Crush fresh picked stawberries. Measure out 2 cups of berries. In large bowl, mix together the berries and sugar. Let stand 10 minutes. Combine pectin and water in saucepan. Bring to boil; boil 1 minute, stirring constantly. Stir hot pectin into the fruit bowl; continue stirring. Don't worry if sugar is not completely dissolved. Ladle jam into freezer containers. Put lids on immediately. Let stand at room temperature 24 hours or until set. Refrigerate for a few weeks or freeze for up to a year.


Yummy, Yummy! We went and picked stawberries on Monday and made freezer jam. I made 30 large jars and also froze 7 bags of berries. Should last us a year. :)

Whew! It has been a busy week!

This past week has been a little crazy...I photographed a wedding last weekend...and you know what? I LOVED it! I also had a senior picture photo shoot last week and really enjoyed that as well. So, I have decided to take my photography "hobby" to the next level and start really advertising.

So, all my friends and family, please pass along my info to anyone who may be in need of a photographer! :) Here is a link to some recent work: http://sti-photography.blogspot.com/

Oh my gosh...they have gotten big!

Aunt Pamela just emailed an old picture of Logan, Mackenzie and Alex....can you believe it???

More Bellin Run Photos!

Mackenzie's Bellin Run Poem

Mackenzie wrote a poem about the Bellin Run...I forgot what type it is...it is where you take the first letters and write about the event...

BELLIN RUN by kenzie Hasse
B ouncing across the starting line
E nergy is flowing through you
L ikely to walk but just keeps going
L istening to people giving instructions
I ts incredible how fast some people can go
N o walking cautions your mom

R unning fast up to the finish line
U nderstanding the way other people feel
N ow you feel great that you made it

How bad do YOU look in the morning?

Kennedy has...well, she just has...THAT hair! :) Talk about a bad hair day!

I DID IT!

I will post more later...this weekend is a crazy busy one...but we all finished the Bellin Run 10K!  It was so exhilarating!  I loved every minute.  The crowd cheering, the gun firing at the starting line, the water being sprayed across the street by people just wanting to see the human race succeed.  It was an amazing experience.

I didn't really care about my time.  My goal was to finish the race, running the entire time.  And that is exactly what I did.  I finished in 1 hour 10 minutes.  Brian finished in an awesome 59:20.  Alex came in at 1 hour 7 minutes.  Logan and Mackenzie finished in 1 hour 20 minutes.  I feel such a sense of accomplishment!

run today

1 1/2 miles in 13 minutes.  My next run will be the Bellin!  Wish me luck! :)

Strawberry Rhubarb Cream Cheese Pie

Evidently, this pie got rave reviews by all 5 kids. I went to get my memory card to take a picture, and came back to this. Lovely. Thank you children. :)

Filling:
1/4 c cornstarch
1 c sugar
1 pinch salt
1/2 c water
1 1/2 c fresh or frozen rhubard (cut in 1/2 inch chunks)
1 1/2 c fresh or frozen strawberries (sliced)
1 unbaked pie shell, 9 inch

Topping:
8 ounce pkg cream cheese
1/2 c sugar
2 eggs

Top Topping:
1/2 tub cool whip
sliced almonds

Directions:
In saucepan, combine the cornstarch, sugar and salt. Add water and stir until well combined. Add rhubarb and strawberries. Cook, stirring often until mixture boils and thickens. Pour into pie shell. Bake at 425 for 10 m inutes. Meanwhile, for topping, beat cream cheese, eggs and sugar until smooth. Pour over pie. Reduce heat to 325 and return to oven for 35 minutes or until set. Cool. Chill several hours or overnight. Smooth cool whip over entire pie and sprinkle with sliced almonds. Enjoy!

Alex moves on to contacts!

On Saturday Alex had an appointment for contacts. It only took him about 15 minutes per eye to get them in. Last night when we were out to dinner, he rubbed his eye, and one accidentally fell out. He walked over to the window, looked at his reflection, and POP, back in went the contact. Amazing!

dance recital time!

Kennedy was more interested in looking at herself rather than watch the dances that were being performed.

Alex was asked to be in the Guy/Girl dance and they are doing the "Hand Jive". Alex and his partner, Ashley, have really mastered all the flips and moves!

Putting lipstick on the girls!

I know I am biased, but I think Mackenzie is so pretty!

Love this one of Natalie and Kennedy...little sister trying to be like big sister!

I think Natalie's outfit could double for "Tinkerbell" at Halloween! Her song is called "Poison Ivy"

I just love Kennedy's outfit!

Alex and Mackenzie are in the same hip hop class. This picture was taken before we did Mackenzie's hair! :)

Natalie starts tee-ball

Pink glove and all...she hit the field with 9 BOYS on her team to play her first year of tee-ball!