Fixing the pantry

The pantry in our house is not much larger than the pantry in our old house.  The shelves were almost twice as deep however.  This may sound like a good thing. In actuality, it is not.  Deep shelves equal layers upon layers of stuff and crap starts getting shoved anywhere and stuff disappears in the back.  It's kind of like a black hole.  Or rather, how I imagine a black hole to be since I have no first-hand knowledge of the subject.

So, we had few options.  We couldn't just cut the shelves to be shallower, since the archaic means with which they are mounted to the wall necessitates the shelf be present at the front and the rear.  One option was to knock down the right wall and rebuild the pantry.  This may still happen someday, but luckily I don't have to wait for that big project to be a little happier with my situation.  What we ended up doing is cutting out a squared-off "U" shape in the front which solves all problems, and gives us little shelves on the sides which is also great.  But let me assure you doing this little task is no simple feat when all you're working with is a mitre saw and some weird bendy hand saw.  You better hope you have 2 good brains and a talented husband.

So long story short, I am much happier with my pantry at the moment.  Smaller = Bigger.  Weird but true.  

Another feel good moment in this story: I eliminated a whole garbage bag worth of 3/4 empty bags and boxes of random snack crap that I have purchased and my kids have eaten once and never touched again.  I put the remainders in little ziplock snack bags that I can just throw in lunch boxes.  That way they don't have a choice - Mwuhahaha!  

And finally, now that it is possible to see what is actually in the pantry here is a list of things you don't need to go buy at the store if you live at my house since there are multiples of all of them:  powdered sugar, rice, animal/fish crackers, cereal, tea, hot chocolate, bread crumbs, marshmallows or nuts of any kind.

Uintahs & Dave’s wedding

Over Labor day weekend we did our first camping trip of the year.  We got a late start this year, it’s true.  We’ve been a little busy.  We left early Thursday and came home Monday.  In the middle of all that, we went to a wedding.  Another fantastic weekend on the books.

Daddy doing Indi’s hair.

Look at this beanpole.

Indi lost in her imaginary games.  Oh how I adore these children of mine.  (ps that’s a rubber snake she’s playing with, but there was a real one that grandpa cut the head off of and threw in the firepit – luckily it was just a water snake)

Walking through the river with daddy, scaring his fish away.  But he won’t be thwarted that easily!

Finn tries to hold it.

Slippery little sucker!

Bart came to feed the cats, but we brought Fishy Monroe with us.

Lunch

---

Dave & Shiloh’s wedding, about a half-hour from our campsite.  Finn & Burgundy giving massages to Aunt Laci & grandma.

Then Finn gets one from the professional!  Thanks, Aunty Beth!

Indi and her new little pal, Kylia.  This is the bride’s daughter.  Indi said of her, “I wish I was a boy so I could marry her!”

Later on, we went to Dave & Shiloh’s house.  Not sure why I don’t have any pictures of that.  But it was a great time/family reunion with most of the Dellers & Ingrams.  Lovely times.

---

Back to the campsite.  Next morning Daddy, Finn & Grandpa went fishing and caught us breakfast.

See all those lovely Ponderosa Pines?  We now have a baby one growing in our yard.  (shhh!)

After a walk through the woods, Burgundy held on to the flowers daddy picked for her.

We are so enjoying our times of rest this year.  It seems they are few and far between, but are so lovely when we have them.  I love my little family.  I wish we could freeze time and all stay this age forever.

The end of summer & 1st days of school

Took a little day trip to highcreek, just long enough to cook some hot dogs and catch a fish.

Mermaid

Finn’s 1st day of 1st grade!!  We used to always take his picture in front of the peach tree.  Wasn’t sure where to take it this year.  Next year, we’ll have a baby apple tree so that’ll be a good place.

I was worried how this little lady would do when Finn went back to school.  They have been inseparable this summer.  Luckily, her school started 2 weeks later, and we are all settling in to the new school-time schedule.

Last few times to enjoy the pool.

Then it was Burgundy’s turn.

She picked this outfit out herself.  As she has pretty much every day since.  Such a little fashionista.

My school!

Here she is in her slippers.  When they get to school, they put on slippers.  I love that part.  Something warm & cozy and also a mindset change of, ok now I am here.  Just like Mr. Rogers.

The tiny bathroom, complete with tiny toilet.  So fun.  Her first day of school, she just loved it.  No tears when I left.  For either of us.  She was so ready for school.  Her only problem was when I would come to pick her up.  She didn’t want to leave!

My babies are growing up!