Ambitious entrepreneurs

For the past several summers, Emily & I have held a garage sale. Our kids have enjoyed selling water & pop & seeing their profits increase. This year, they decided that they wanted to sell "pastries" (as advertised by Abbie) as well. They begged & pleaded to bake cookies yesterday afternoon while Emily & I were sorting clothes and setting up tables. I was feeling very overwhelmed with getting things finished for the garage sale & still recuperating from our trip, so I made a deal with them. If they cleaned the kitchen, I would help them make cookies. I never expected they would take me up on my offer! Those girls worked diligently until every surface was cleared and clean. They were pretty confident that they could handle the recipe on their own. Emily & I were close at hand, just in case they omitted anything important. It ended up being a math lesson, as we decided to double the recipe. Today they were excited to see the fruits of their labor, and have been nagging us incessantly to bake brownies for tomorrow's ventures!

Colorado...here we come!

We had a great time in Colorado last week. One of the highlights was visiting Focus on the Family & going down this cool slide in Whit's End.

Noah dressed up as Whit.
The kids had a blast climbing...on anything & everything. Phil took the three oldest climbing @ REI, and we found this cool park nestled back in the neighborhood where my aunt & uncle live.
Daniel didn't want to leave CO. He loved waking up early and having Aunt Verna all to himself. They formed an instant bond when "that lady" (as he called her) built him a fire one morning.We drove through Garden of the Gods. We didn't have a lot of time to sight-see between the rainy weather, a packed wedding schedule, and time spent with family, but we made the most of our time there.

We all were a little sad to leave Colorado. It's a beautiful place & the view of the mountains is breathtaking. The kids each wanted to know why we couldn't stay...and when we were coming back!

The Wedding

This past Monday, my brother got married. The wedding was at a beautiful garden, the rain held off until the end of the ceremony, and I cried...a lot. What can I say? I'm a softy for weddings. All that love & commitment. It's a wonderful thing.
My girls looked beautiful. Whose idea was it to dress them in white? I'm not ready to picture them as brides walking down the aisle. And...cue the crying. Stupid emotions.

The ring bearers. Daniel carried the rings in a "special treasure box". You couldn't wipe the grin off his face if you tried. Noah & his cousins, along with 3 of Lydia's cousins were the "guarders of the rings". They took their job very seriously. And they made it up the aisle without a sword fight. May wonders never cease.

The bride & groom. When Lydia walked down the aisle, I broke tradition & watched my brother. I cried again when I saw the look of love on his face. I can't wait to see what great things God has planned for them.

The Trip Home

The drive back home took 5 hours longer than expected, between historical markers, scenic routes, and attractions. We got to see the highest point in Oklahoma - the Black Mesa.
Not far from there, we saw dinosaur tracks. If you're a history fanatic like my husband, or if you care, you can read all about it here. If you're like me, you can say "Ooh...ahh..." and move on.

Most of the day we spent driving, listening to books on tape, watching DVDs, and this...

For those that were awake, this was the view for hours and hours...and hours.

Menu Plan Monday

Since we're leaving for CO mid-week for my brother's wedding, it will be a short week here.

Monday: Grace's birthday supper - pizza

Tuesday: Stove Top Chicken & applesauce

Wednesday: Salmon Patties & boiled potatoes

To check out more complete :) menus & great recipes, go to Organizing Junkie's site.

Sunburned, Tired, Tick-bitten, and Happy

It used to be, when we went camping & I wouldn't take a single picture. I was always too busy caring for a baby or chasing a toddler to have time to think about anything else, much less take pictures! But as my kids grow older, I find I have time for all sorts of things: like visiting with other adults, or going to the bathroom unaccompanied, or eating an entire meal in my own chair! It may not seem like much, but after 10 years, it's a milestone. Believe me.

This past weekend, we went camping with two other families to Osage Hills State Park. Despite a thunderstorm on Friday night (which made things exciting), we had beautiful weather, and enjoyed a relaxing weekend together.

Thankfully, there were plenty of helpers around camp

...and plenty of work to do.
On Saturday, we took all these crazy kids (and one beautiful baby) to Woolaroc for the day.

We fed the lama. We met the Mountain Men and threw a tomahawk...or two.

We enjoyed the wildlife. After our fun outting, it was back to the campsite for some yummy food. We ate way too much until our tummies were full. Then we laughed until the wee hours of the morning & worked it all off.

Today we hiked down to the river & played above the falls. It was cold & slimy, but it was fun.

The girls got brave enough to leave the rocks.

And the brave boys scared the mommies, who insisted they should stay on the rocks!

Phil's a great daddy. He took all the kids out on the rocks one by one.

It was a fun weekend. Now to make a dent in this mountain of laundry...

Evidence of manhood

Daniel & Noah were trying to put together a new carseat. Daniel was about to open the manual, when I overheard Noah declare, "I don't need instructions!"

Not that anyone cares, but...

I just made an itemized list of all the supplies that we need to take camping. It's hard to remember everytime we go camping, so I decided it was high time for a master list. And then I counted. I counted what items I am responsible for, and what items my husband is responsible to bring. Let's just say the list is 6:1. Now I understand why he wonders what the big deal is, and why I stress about getting everything together. So, there you have it. In case you care. Please someone care. I need someone to feel sorry for me.

Not really.

That time of year...

This weekend we're going camping with friends. I never thought I would actually enjoy camping, but I do. I'll admit, I don't really enjoy all the work it takes to get ready, but once we're there, it feels like a vacation. Maybe that's because we usually camp with other families and there are other moms to share the work load. :) It's when the idea of communal living looks very appealing...until you come home & are glad to be just your family once again. We've made a lot of fun memories & the kids look forward to the fun things we do...

... feed the wildlife (Cheerios)...
...be cute & content, and direct all attention to yourself...

...build a bridge, or a fort, or a raft, or ???....

...hang out with friends in the hammock...

...and play Pooh sticks & see whose leaf or stick floats the farthest...

First for everything

In an attempt to get organized, save money, and become efficient, I'm trying something new. I've planned menus before, but I have never tried planning them according to what I already have in my pantry or freezer. So here goes...

Monday - Stir fry & rice
Tuesday - Sloppy joes w/ peaches
Wednesday - Spaghetti w/ green beans
Thursday - Leftover buffet
Friday - Hamburgers & hotdogs

For other great menus & recipes, check out I'm an Organizing Junkie.

Progress - slow & steady

I am not a gardener. I never professed to have a green thumb. The only thing I am guaranteed to do is kill plants. That's why you'll only find fake ones in my home. But many years ago, I met a wonderful Michiganite who had been transplanted in Kentucky, and she told me to try hostas. "You won't kill hostas." I ordered ten hostas by mail. I didn't even know what kind I was getting. (I still don't know what kind they are. I actually tried to look it up to see what kind I have, but there are too many different ones! So I just distinguish them by color.) My friend was right. I didn't kill those hostas. They have grown & multiplied over these past 6 years.

My little "garden" is a work in progress. I'm not sure what good it is to take an "after" picture when you've forgotten to take "before" pictures, but there you have it. Grace helped me dig up the "odd ball" hostas & replant them in the front yard a couple of days ago. We moved all the matching "green with light green edges" to the back of my planter, and then I planted flowers on Friday. So I'm still not the best gardener, but at least I'm doing better than I was 6 years ago. :)

I feel pretty, oh so pretty...

After Phil's conquest last December, I have the unfortunate experience of having this thing hanging as a focal point in my living room, and looking down on me while I work on the computer. I decided that if I have to live with it in my house, I might as well have fun making him pretty. And I'm thinking of how I can incorporate him into my seasonal decor. He might look festive with Christmas lights! If nothing else, he'll be a great place to hang my bras to dry. I think he needs a name, though. Any suggestions?

It has been raining here for days...and days...and days. Tornadoes, I expect. I'm not prepared for this endless rain. Moss is growing on the tree in the backyard from all the moisture. Phil was commenting on it & Abbie jumped up excitedly, "Is it on the NORTH side of the tree?" We made her figure it out, and when she did, she triumphantly declared, "Man...the back of that cereal box was right!"

A good reminder

I came across this verse today:


"Then they sat on the ground with him for seven days and seven nights. No one said a word to him, because they saw how great his suffering was." - Job 2:13


Though I'm not sure I've ever met someone who suffered the tragedy that Job did, I do know many people that are experiencing hardship or suffering. I have to admit that I'm often too quick to offer practical suggestions or anecdotes. (Sorry, B) After reading this, I was convicted & reminded that...sometimes words fail. Sometimes I need to sit in the ashes for a week.

All better

Well, after running high fever all week, Grace was suddenly better Sunday afternoon. She still complains of her tummy hurting, but she hasn't run fever since then & went to school this morning. I never would have imagined you could run fever that long without there being an underlying cause for it. But thankfully, she's better & I'm working on getting caught up here at home & sanitizing the house so no one else gets it!

Thankful

Is it wrong to be thankful for the rain God sent, because it meant that soccer games would be cancelled?


Grace is still running fever - day 5. Still no word from the doctor. Her strep & mono test came back negative, but I found out today that if we want, we can admit her to the hospital & they can administer a throat culture to see if she has strep. Apparently an in-office test doesn't always cut it; they want to jab something further down her throat. No offense to the doctor, but since she's eating & drinking fine, and her fever is managable with ibuprofen, I think we'll just stay put for now & spare her the pain & suffering. The proof she's still sick? She fell asleep mid-homework.

After loving on my kids too much, I came down with fever last night. So I'm getting the rest my body needs and giving myself permission to be lazy. I'm thankful for a responsible daughter, who is fully capable of making lunch. And I'm thankful for a wonderful friend who stopped by with supper.

The boys have been having all kids of fun today; I love it when they get along. They saddled up their saw horses, got decked in their finest cowboy get-up, and have been capturing wild horses & bandits all afternoon.

Phil took advantage of a few hours of sunshine (sort of) to check on his hives. That man is dedicated. I don't think I would be willing to wade through mud just to get stung. But that is the price of sweet golden nectar.