Summer Goodness.

 

i have been such a slacker at blogging this summer but lots of fun stuff happening around here.  the only not so enjoyable thing is the very hot weather we are having today and tomorrows predicted high is 107.  i'm starting to melt just thinking about it. 

 

took the girls to get some yummy yogurt in hopes of a cool down.  we were sitting next to a couple that were visiting from Canada.  the husband was taking a picture of his wife and i asked if i could take their picture if they would take our picture.  "oh please would you?!" they said.  i need to get more of me in our photos.

 

tomorrow all four of us are heading to jackson well springs to meet grandma alicia for a swim and a picnic on their gorgeous shaded deck.  i can't wait.

Right Now.

 

Right now, i'm sitting in a Starbuck's, uploading photos to Shutterfly's website and will be so very happy the day I get my satellite for high speed internet at my house.  There is so much going on around me right now.  I've counted 17 people in this tiny coffee shop.  3 of these people are using laptops.  There is a group of 3 women sitting at a table having some kind of church meeting.  An older gentleman that looks like he's using an iPhone with an earpiece.  A young teenage girl reading a book and lots of yummy hot coffee, frappuccino's and treats being devoured.

 

Right now I'm so very thankful for some kid-free time.  McKenzie's still in Portland with my mom and dad.  Callie is with her great-grandparent's for a few days and matt is tending to his pumpkins. 

 

note:  this photo was taken a few weeks ago at North Mountain Park while McKenzie was attending a writing camp.

Lately You...

 

Lately You...

 

1.   Love holding the guinea pigs and feeding them yummy lettuce and green bell peppers.

 

2.   Have been taking swim lessons at our local YMCA.  You love it but won't put your head under water.

 

3.   You have a craving for donuts everyday now that we visit the farmers market in Ashland on Tuesday's for a fresh chocolate donut with colored sprinkles.

 

4.   You are doing a great job using the potty during the day if we just put you in a dress with no bottoms on.

 

5.   Love watching the Walt Disney movie "Bolt" everyday.

 

6.   You love it when I take you to daddy's pumpkin patch so you can run around and play in the dirt.

 

7.   You still drink from a sippy cup.

 

8.   You still get up in the middle of the night and crawl into mumma's bed.

 

9.   You could live off of apple juice, peanut butter and jelly or cheese sandwiches if I would let you.

 

10.  You won't take naps anymore even though you need one around 1:00.  I'll put you in your bed just for some "quiet time" and you'll just play in your bed and often cry because you don't like "quiet time."

Tuesday Happenings.

Callie and I did lots of activities today.  They included...

 

1.  trip to the farmers market for a special cookie treat. (we usually get our donut fix here but their machine was broken.)

2.  trip to North Mountain Park for some playtime in their giant sandbox followed by the smelling of all the lovely flowers.

3.  trip to Garfield Park where there was lots of water fun, swing time and slide time.

4.  time to cool off with a strawberry-banana smoothie.  One smoothie for Callie and one smoothie for mom.

5.  time to go home and let the guinea pigs romp in the yard and chomp on the yummy fresh grass and clover before daddy mowes the lawn. 

6.  and you would think this four year old would be plum tuckered after all this excitement but it's almost 9pm and she's still going strong.

This Morning.

 

This morning Callie and I took a trip to Starbucks for some breakfast.  Callie had a yummy blueberry muffin and some chocolate milk.  I had the same yummy blueberry muffin and a strawberry-banana smoothie.  So delicious! 

 

After breakfast, it was down to the pumpkin farm to drop the little one off with daddy so mumma could go to work.  You love running and jumping all over that field. 

 

McKenzie is in Portland with her Nana and Grandpa for some much needed spoiling.  I know she is having a great time minus her little sister.

4th of July.

One of my very best friends in the world was up visiting me from California. She brought her kids along and McKenzie and Ethan, who used to play together when she lived in Ashland had some good play time. Riley, her 2 year old had such a love for our 2 guinea pigs and our only cat, Jasper. She was such a doll and joy for Callie to have someone to play with. I only wish Carie and I had more time to catch up. Thanks for coming Carie and my door is always open if you need a place to crash. Thanks for all the cute flowers for McKenzie's hair. We so love them all.

On another note, I was thinking about all the lives lost both creating the freedom, preserving the freedom and trying to provide that freedom for others. It's so easy to take it for granted to expect it and think it's just always going to be there no matter what. But this life and life style is fragile. It's a gift. A privilege. I am thankful and proud to be an American. My prayers are with the soldiers and their families that make the daily sacrifice for that freedom. I am so very thankful to be here enjoying those freedoms and opportunities and life with my family and the people that I love. We are so blessed. God bless America. Forever.

Wednesday happenings.

Today was one of those days I felt like pulling my hair out.  I just about had it with this one.  Not to mention the other one too.  Constantly pushing each other's buttons and I feel like I want to scream.  And to top it off, we hit tripple digit heat.  Nasty.  I can't stand the heat coupled with kids bickering and making noise in the car. 

 

Morning swim lessons for Callie and an afternoon playdate for McKenzie today.  (Thanks Matt for picking McKenzie up from her playdate, so I could go home with Callie and get some rest... which I did get a chance to lay down for a few.)

 

Late afternoon, I seperated the two bickering children ... McKenzie playing in her room and this little thing playing in the backyard sandbox.  That controlled the noise level in the house for about 1/2 hour.