Staying positive.

Most of you know I love summer. Let the heat roll in and put me near a body of water. It can be a pool, lake, ocean, kiddie pool, whatever and I'm a happy camper. Yesterday as I was driving down the road I noticed the slightest changes beginning to come over the leaves on the trees. The deep green of summer is starting to take on a bit of yellow and my eyes almost welled up with sadness knowing fall (which really translates to winter) is just around the corner. Ok, maybe I didn't get that sappy, but I am already missing the pool.

In an effort to keep a good attitude, I have complied a list of things that I will not miss about summer that could potentially make winter seem more positive. I'm trying.

• No more pulling weeds. One thing I have learned to appreciate in the Midwest is those pesky guys take a break in the winter (that or the snow just covers them up!).
  
• No mosquitoes!!! Honestly, I don't know how they survived before I lived here. My blood seems to be there sole source of sustenance and their presence is the contributing factor to my delay in weeding.
• Not quite as much shaving. Jeans and long sleeve shirts hide quite a bit.
• I can actually wear my hair straight without a battle. My natural frizz is completely infatuated humidity.
• Gage won't ask "What's that loud noise?" every night as the cicadas sing.
• No more lathering the kids up with sunscreen everyday. Wait a minute, strike that one, this would mean we were going to the pool....and for that, I love sunscreen.
• No more major toenail polish touch-ups.
• No more Homemade Ice Cream from the best place in town.....they are only open seasonally. Sad, but really good for my checking account and waistline.
• Speaking of waistline, how about a break from the exercise routine? Everyone needs some spring goals....

There you have, that's about as positive as I can get as I bid farewell to my favorite time of the year. Goodbye summer, see you in ten months!

Dirt 'n' Worms

The kid wanted to make a special treat for their neighbor friend who had been in the hospital. Cookies were my first thought, but Ashlynn suggested the much more appealing dirt and worms. We doubled the recipe so the kids could enjoy it as well.....well, sort of:

Gage was convinced it was real and did not like the "dirt".

He tried to take a bite of the "worm" but ended up asking me to wash it off first!

Ryde had no problem putting it down the hatch!

It was made with chocolate pudding, cream cheese, whipping cream, butter and cookie crumbs, so I had some too. Not too bad.....but I did let Ashlynn have my worm.

A Glimpse

Here is a shot of our basement schoolroom and the play area for the little kids. Ashlynn and Ryde's desks were garage sale finds and Gage's desk was picked up at a thrift shop by my friend Gretch. It's good to have some order around here before school begins!!





I may have to visit this post from time to time to remember what it looks like when it is clean and organized......

Honor. Commitment. Loyalty.

Amazing. Astounding. Achievement. Unbelievable. Incredible.

These are just a few words that describe the milestone that our grandparents have made on this day: SIXTY YEARS OF MARRIAGE!!!!! Thank you for your commitment to one another, we pray that God would bless each day you have with one another and all of us!! We love you two so much!!!!!!!

Happy Sixtieth Anniversary!!

Headbands are here...

Click here to see!

A Few Pictures:

Each time we walked the road around the lake this was our "path":

Ashlynn posing with her picnic spread. She planned everything from what was served to the games that were played!

Ryde with Uncle Dustin. He caught a fish on his first cast!

Addie and Ryder enjoying DQ, it was her first bite!

Ashlynn and Ryder went fishing with their Uncles and came back with these:

The kids had fun but were glad to be home again:

Home again.

We're back! Had a great trip, will post pics soon. At the moment I am trying to forge through the laundry field in our living room. My mantra has become "one load at a time", I think I'm on twelve with about seven to go.....

Can't wait to catch up with everyone and get a bit of a routine going. Yesterday the kids and I turned in our cable boxes, phone modem and remote controls. We decided to save more than a hundred dollars a month by ditching our cable TV and home phone. Bye, bye DVR, you will not be missed as we plan on getting a lot more accomplished in your absence.

I will post a few pictures of our trip tonight!