THIS BLOG WAS WRITTEN IN JUNE AND I THOUGHT I LOST IT. THIS WILL BE THE FIRST OF 2 DEDICATED TO SUMMER.
What a great 2 months it's been since my last post! It's not for lack of want that I don't post. It's lack of time. I'm either cooking, cleaning, doing laundry, putting up dishes, picking blackberries, pulling weeds, feeding catfish, gathering an egg, watering the dog, feeding and watering the chickens, playing with the kids, going on sweet dates, working pt, or traveling locally lately. Oh, and the normal "stuff" like cooking, cleaning, and my ongoing organization projects.
In May, our oldest graduated prek! This teacher-momma is proud of all she accomplished! My parents and my brother and his family and Shawn's mom came to graduation. They stayed after so we could have the annual cousins camp.
Isabelle holding a ballerina rose from my rose bush. Small but dainty flowers! It was an item on the scavenger hunt! Great job, Is!
Tiger lilies make May a little more beautiful every year. And to whoever dropped them all off for us to plant 6 years ago...THANK YOU. Every May since, I've been reminded of how kind people can be! An added plus is the fact that gran had a different variety of tiger lilies and I always admired them, even picking them once, not knowing better. She accepted them with a look of shock (ah! you picked my flowers!) tempered by gratefulness (that was so nice of you to do that for me and bring them to me.")
Hallie, our new dog. She is half Chessie and half German wire-hair. She is a handful and we are currently training her to an inground fence. The kids like her and we are glad to have a doggy again! As you can see, she likes swimming in the pond lots! Here, she is retrieving a tennis ball.
The boys! Have I ever expressed how special these two are? At 7 months apart, miles mean nothing. They may be little things, but they are already best buddies. Little boy blessings.
While family was here, we had air mattresses blown up, floors and couches full, people sleeping everywhere, and it was great. My family is like the family in the book, The Relatives Came. It's about a family who travels across the mountains to see their country kinfolk. It's one of our very favorites.
To quote the book, "The relatives weren't particular about beds, which was good since there weren't any extras, so a few squeezed in with us and the rest slept on the floor, some with their arms thrown over the closest person, or some with an arm across one person and a leg across another." One night, I went to the living room to check on Noah J, and he was completely off his mattress, on the floor, while 3 others slept around him soundly, including "Uncle Robert" just a foot away on the couch. The next day, we trekked to amish country (about 40 mins from my house) and ate under a big shade tree...where the boys peed publically before we left! It was a memory-maker.
Moving on, so much to share. This is a picture of us preparing to go kayaking on day 4 of cousins camp.
A couple weeks later, we celebrated my youngest's birthday. It was a blessed time, and I mean that literally. It was one of the best parties we've thrown for the kids and somehow, oddly enough, the most relaxing and laid back. I made the cake with a friend and if you know me well, you know this was a labor of love (not talented or patient enough by myself...it took 9 hours!)
Moving on...
After wonderboy's bday, our church had vacation bible school. I taught the 5 year old class (Grace's class). It was by far the best VBC I have ever been part of! It's a memory we will remember forever, and my girl learned SO MUCH through the lessons, and songs. After that, the kids headed to the hills for a few days with my folks. They spent time with their cousins every single day all day. They romped in the creek, fed the horses, went swimming, jumped on the jumpoline (trampoline :), and at night, plopped in the hot tub, then watched old cartoons. While they were gone, my hubby and I had a wonderful, relaxing time. When they returned, our sweet boy had a stomach virus and we somehow managed to lose his blanky the same day! The next day, Grace and Shawn went to Holiday World w/ friends while I stayed back with Noah. It was good daddy/daughter time, and I'm still hearing stories about it, like, "OH, and mommy! Daddy put me on his shoulders...and he carried me out of the park that way!" That is the man I married. I am so moved at how he plays with the kids and likes to make them smile. I would never give a shoulder ride! Makes me nervous just thinking of it! That's why we're good together. The kids need the balance!
A few days ago, I took the kids to Chattanooga. We met up with my very close cousin and her baby Jack. We had a great time and I'd say we'll make it an annual trip since it's about the halfway point for us.
One of the last double stroller rides for the kiddos! :) :(
I'm going to close now, because this is a long post. The short of it is...best summer ever....
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