Climbing = Learning new things = getting into more trouble!
I was in the kitchen canning, when I realized Hunter was quiet......which means.....he is up to no good!
Sure enough, he was standing on his baby chair laughing and waving......so I went and bought a climbing proof baby gate.

Now it is a small chair but this definitely paves the way for the crib. I suppose he will be taking after his father climbing out of the crib and sleeping on the floor :) his Grandma tells us.

I had a realization today after embarking on my first endeavor of the good old days. I learned to can, I made 9 quarts of tomatoes. What I realized is that we (my generation) think that we have things so bad, so much stress, hard work, etc. Now, I do think that we do have more mental stress, work, etc. most of which we bring on ourselves with whatever our priorities may be, myself being the Biggest Culprit! However, I discovered just a piece of the past by canning. Which made me think, I am doing this for fun, because it tastes better, because you know what's in it, etc. People use to have to do this, along with wash their clothes on one of those boards, have cloth diapers and wash them by hand, have 10 children, make their clothes, make the meals, milk the cow, you get the picture. I am feeling very fortunate for technology and getting to choose my battles! That being said, canning is hard work, but it was fun too!

To close tonight, I send my thoughts and prayers to all of our troops, our cousin who is serving in Iraq, his family, and all of the families who lost their loved ones in 9/11 and all the men and women who lived but will never forget the horrific event. I send my thoughts and prayers and hope that we are all living a different life now, one of appreciation and compassion. I pray that we are safe and continue to only have 9/11 to memorialize. I pray all of these things and more on the 5th Anniversary of 9/11.