Butter, Pickles, and Mudcats!!

We spent last Saturday shopping outside at the State Farmers Market, the Flea Market, and then Trader Joe's.  After filling our house with groceries, Ashlyn and I had two fun projects we decided to attempt.  First we used some heavy whipping cream that was leftover in our fridge to make some butter.  She thought this was so fun (and really so did I)!  We enjoyed shaking the jar up and rolling it back and forth.  Then the next day it was fun to make waffles with the buttermilk that was produced and spread our homemade butter over the top!

Ashlyn's jar of butter and a cup of buttermilk:

 We also bought some pickling cucumbers at the Farmer's Market and I used my new canning skills to make 10 jars of pickles!  They turned out pretty good for my first try but they are soooo sour!!:

Aside from shopping and cooking, we spent a lot of time outside watching baseball!  We decided that since this was the last weekend for the Mudcats to play since baseball season is almost over, we needed to take the kids.  Plus, since this was Labor Day weekend, they were having a Sunday night Fireworks Extravaganza!  Neither one of our kids have ever been to a fireworks display but they always hear the 3 fireworks that are shot off during the National Anthem at every game we go to.  So, Bryson was so excited to stay for fireworks after the game, but Ashlyn was very hesitant (she covers her ears during the National Anthem because she knows those loud pops are coming and she also covers her ears every time the crowd cheers at a good play because the Mudcats also shoot off a few fireworks when a homerun is hit by their team).

We sat up at the very top with hopes of catching a fly ball or a free t-shirt, but it didn't work...this day:

Bryson was pretty excited to get their mascot, Muddy the Mudcat, to sign his t-ball hat, though:

After the game, the fireworks came! Ashlyn was cuddled up in her Daddy's lap and keeping her ears covered:

She did admit that she liked the colors, just not the noise.

Bryson really shocked me with how much he loved them! We spent a lot of time preparing him for the noises he would hear and that the stadium would be dark and we were surprised at how well he did considering his SPD and the fact that he hates loud noises. He even said to me during the fireworks, "Mommy, this is the coolest thing I've ever seen in my whole entire life!!!"

The best news came when we were told that our tickets for Sunday night's game would also get us into Monday's game for free (the very last game for the Mudcats).  So, of course on Monday we packed some hot dogs and chips to eat in the car and drove out for the afternoon game.  We got lucky at this game and caught a free t-shirt that Bryson got Muddy to sign. :)  I guess we'll start looking for some football tickets now since I don't think Bryson can wait until next baseball season to watch some live sports!!