Braustin Nation

We are the masters of Canning.  Mary, Ben, Austin and I tackled 24lbs of peaches for $18 to make this awesome jam situation happen. Yup, our sandwiches feel complete, whole, and secure for the next year. I had to say, we feel like grown-ups. Canning is definitely the Mormon right of passage.

Our friends, the Winfields, invited us to make some applesauce! I've never learned to can, and sure haven't been adventurous enough to try.  ( You're talking to a girl who food poisoned herself on her own christmas cookies one time. ) Don't worry, I've learned from that one haha! Plus Austin is the awesome baker in this little family.  So thanks to Mary, I learned about applesauce, and Austin got some boy-time and video game battles in with Ben.  Hey, they helped core and peel apples.  If you ever want to know how to get a man to cook,  get him a sweet apple peeling mechanism.  They feel like transformers or something :D

Austin has been the best support. I definitely married out of my league.  He's been very proactive in finding lots of healthy things for my recommended diet (by the neurological disorder peeps, and an intolerance.) because my hemidystonia has had less spasms and cramps. As of lately, brown rice bread!  Seriously, it's great even if you don't need wheat-free. It's a nice change of pace! It's sweet and light. .:Recipe Here:. We grind our own brown rice to save money. Winco here in Idaho has  the best deal for bulk brown rice :)  Here's a crazy picture of my hand, this was actually the first spasm/cramp I've had in a bit. (Haha, least my nails are painted ;) ) This is actually why (for those of you who've asked) Intaglio will not be my last degree. I was informed that I've got a good chance of this happening to my right side too.  Art might get interesting! But I plan to keep doing it as a career too, no matter what!

Sacramento was so much fun, and we got to spend a lot of time with Andrew and Mindy too!  You gotta respect those two (school, baby, and crazy work hours!) I mean Austin and I just get to take Ryan when he's all cute and be the Aunt and Uncle. Mom is way into the Grandma role, and that's funny because I can remember myself when I was little! And plus it's just funny my mom is a Grandma. Because she kicked my butt at a 5k run just on Monday. And Austin. Sorry Austin. Anyway, waaaay too much fun with my mom and Lance, and Chris and Hailee too! Folsom Lake, making stuff with mom (imagine that... us crafty crafters.) Lance actually went to a bike race where he ranked nationally!  Chris and Hailee invited us to their home in which they are remodeling and holy crap. Amazing! Chris also has a new Boxer named Sammie and Austin and I are probably in trouble. Because we fell in love! Next we went to Lumberjack's and I totally realized that's the resta

After San Diego, we are in Sacramento.  My mom and Lance are here, as well as Andrew and Mindy. And guess who else is here? Our brand new nephew Ryan! (Okay well new to us, he's already almost 3 months!) He really likes all things monkey, so I just had to make this guy.  Before all of our travels, and during the hospital-not-breathing-fiasco, Austin surprised me with an anniversary gift of real sterling silver western jewelery! Love it. I am finishing up his leather book I'm burning an image into, and binding by hand. Pics to come, and of course of the family and Ryan!