A dog's life is rough!

I envy our dog right now...eat, go outside, sleep, get treats, get cuddled, eat, sleep...the greatest concern for him is where he will take his next nap! or who will give him his treats!

One party after another

We had Grampy and Grammy over for supper to help us celebrate Ashlynn's birthday. Papa and Grandma arrived in time for cake and presents! To answer Sara's question...yes, I do all our cakes! Sometimes the requests are a little "too much" and so I used my artistic license...I did ladybugs (6 of them) but not to the extent of what was described to me. We are getting a little "caked out" now! I don't have a picture of Teddy's because he wanted an "areo ice cream cake" this year! (oreo cookies) That was good too!

One, Two, Three...ready, roll!

The three amigos with their birthday bikes! We found Alisa's at the side of the road to be thrown away!!! Teddy's was found at the thrift store by the lakehouse. Ashlynn's was the new one...her legs were too long to the other! We thought we got a good deal...couple new tires and a couple sets of training wheels and we have some really excited kids! They are wearing tracks in the sidewalk in front of the house! It is quite fun to watch them...they were riding "one handed" yesterday and then have to get off to turn around...Alisa was getting quite frustrated, "I keep getting a wedgie!" Sorry if any deem that inappropriate...but I was sitting and watching and was laughing uncontrollably....wondering what the neighbors were thinking every single time she got off! The other two started having the same trouble and it was more than I could take! I think the horrible heat and humidity had something to do with it! It is pathetic...the things Moms laugh at when we sit alone...unbothered...watching our children play. I believe we call that a tension reliever....laughter that is uncontrolled and makes you cry! I'm just sorry that Daddy missed the whole episode.

When I am old, I shall wear purple and red...

This post is from Mom to all her sisters, sister-in-laws, daughters, neices, and whoever else needs a laugh. As she posed for these, Mom herself was giggling.
Personally, I think the red lipstick is pretty...it matched the dress and hat well! Love the eyebrows too! Hey Mari, we know we both sound and act like our Mom...who will look like her the most...lipsticked teeth and all?! We love you, Mom! You are entering your sixties with much grace and finesse! xoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxo
Happy Birthday to our Mom and Grammy!

And how does your garden grow?

I came home to everything in the beginning stages of blooming! The cone flowers, daisies, and clematis are just beautiful!!!

Today's Activity...Making Breakfast

Mixing and stirring and cracking and dumping...this is so much fun! Look, no shells in the the egg! The apron and baking set from Grandma and Papa made this little girl one very happy chef! I found this cookbook to go along with Grandma's handwork...what fun we shall have! Each child gets their own day to cook breakfast...Mommy can't handle the extra bodies and hands around the hot stove and bodies teetering on the chair with arms and fingers flailing all around...good grief, it was only 7:45 when all this took place...I hadn't even had a gulp of coffee to steady my sluggish nerves yet!
But those pancakes tasted wonderful!
Now to add the clean up task to the "fun of cooking"...

Happy Birthday dear Alisa!

Grammy singing "Happy Birthday to you"!
"I want a chocolate cake with a kitty on it, Mom!" "And pink is my favorite color!"
OHHHHH...our little Alisa Kae can start her own cooking show now! Watch out, Rachel Ray!
"Thanks Daddy for my star and pink bike! And thank you for the training wheels...I haven't even fell down yet!"

Looking at life through strawberry colored glasses!

We are back to the summer life at home this week. The kids and I spent all last week at the lakehouse...it was beautiful!!! You should see our tans!!! Grammy joined us too. I didn't want to come home...but Ted missed us...so we came back to be a family...all five of us! And to get caught up on laundry, mail, work, library, friends, and etc! We also had a four year old who needed to turn five...and we had to have a party with a kitty on the cake! I will catch up on posting all the pictures of the last week's events. Happy Monday all!

Water Fun for All!

A Tea Party with Friends

You look marvelous darlings in your hats and pearls!
Introducing the doll...the lady in red and purple!
The crackers and strawberries were to die for!
Another spot of tea, Miss Alisa?

Taking time to enjoy the quiet moments!

Here it is Thursday and I haven't taken time to post anything...that is the way summer goes! The kids actually asked if they got to lay down for a nap today...unprompted by even me! I think the heat and the busyness of the week have caught up...so I am enjoying some quiet moments...aahhhh!

We will look forward to another weekend at the lake...better put, at the pool! With the beautiful sunny days and cool nights, what better place to go to spend a lazy summer day?! We were able to go up on Monday with our friends and spent all day at the pool, had a picnic, and got home to collapse into bed! This time I will be sure to bring more snacks to the pool...every time I turned around the kids were hungry!

We are all getting the bronze sun-kissed look! I am able to read and the kids are able to play and make friends. More summer moments to come...

Look Who's Turning Six!

This week will bring another birthday celebration to our house...the big S- I- X year old! She is a big helper these days. She loves to make books right now. She is a big tease to her siblings. She loves to go to Grandma's house and Grammy's house. Her big question for each day...what (or where) are we doing (or going) today? She is the organizer for play again...Teddy will feel very lost with both playmates at school this fall! She is growing taller each week it seems. My first child is working hard to turn into a big girl...the time goes by sooo fast!

MMM...a yummy way to start the day!

I think it is the best breakfast in the world...fresh baked muffins of any kind! What else goes better with a cup of coffee? Besides the donut or cinnamon roll! Have a wonderful weekend...enjoying the little pleasures!

Reading to Daddy

Ted and Teddy are enjoying a new hobby together...fishing!
We picked out a book about "Gone Fishing" and Teddy was
able to remember how the story went by looking at the pictures.
It is a repetitive book...so he caught

on quickly to the idea of the story.


"A big breakfast for my Daddy
and a little breakfast for me."
"A big fish for Daddy and a little fish for me!" "Teddy, what do we use for bait when we fish?" "We use worms, stinkbait, and chicken livers...and it stinks!"

Books from childhood

I found Snip, Snap, Snurr and Flicka, Ricka, Dicka books at the library!!! The kids love the stories! Aunt Gail and Sara read these books too. It brought back memories of when I was little and Aunt Gail would read to all of us! We were born into a family of readers...and I hope to cultivate that love for books in my children!

Summer Activities

I find myself thinking each day..."What shall we do tomorrow!?" Here it is the end of the week already...what did we do? We did alot!! So is that the reason for the insanity today? Or is it the weather shift? All I know is, when Ted asked us what we were thankful for during devotions after supper tonight...I said, "MY HUSBAND!" and thought, "cause now he is home and can be the disciplinarian!" (In my flesh, I wanted to say I was thankful that it was the end of the day!)
I was challenged by my cousin's plan to have a schedule of activities...and so began the week... we (Alisa, Grammy, and I)went to the mall on Monday night while Ash was with Grandma and Teddy and Daddy went fishing, we went to the library on Tuesday to sign up for the summer reading program (came home with a load of good books!) and took lunch to Grammy's, we scheduled a play date with friends for Wednesday (ended up too cold to play in the water...will do that another time!) and church too, Thursday (today) we went to Dunkin Donuts for breakfast (which Alisa informed me was "not very healthy") to gear up for grocery shopping...which had me wondering why I got up this morning...and finished the excitement with a surprise lunch date with our friend Sue! I am tired just remembering all of the scences that went along with each day...it sounds so straight and forward...but there are stories and frustrations that accompany one. TOMORROW (Friday) we are staying home so I can do my work for Ted.
I have a bag of tricks tucked away for days when we will need a little variety!
Yea, whoever said it was summer vacation...wasn't a mother of one preschooler, a kindergartener, and a first grader who need to be busy or supervised...or strange activities will take place! It is not a matter of if...it is a matter of when and what!
So...to all you mothers...Happy Summer Vacation!...HA HA HA HA HA

Summer Memories of Cousins at the Lake

Last year at this time, we were looking forward to a visit with the cousins and an adventure to the lake! I am not pining away the days or wishing away the days...but I wish it was happening again this year...only a good thing about this year...it would be pain free! (Right, Mar!?)

Something about being at the lake...everything tastes soooo good! Maybe it is all the fresh air and swimming for hours!
Still the same silly kids...but they are all at least a foot taller now!!!
Crafters unite over a table of markers, scissors, glue, crayons, color book, and stickers!

For some reason, the kids continue with boundless loads of energy and all the adults down-shift into relax mode...sleep, stamping, good book or magazine, coffee, and sweets and we are set! So...come one, come all!

The Joys of Summer

I am intrigued by all the things that have been around for years and are considered the "joys" of summer! It is the simple, cheap things...that the kids really enjoy the most! How many pairs of flip-flops are too many? How long will a jug of bubbles last...if you pour them down the slide, soap up the bikes, and swingset? Is is possible for kids to freeze their insides if they eat too many popsicles? What is the sugar content of popsicles? Are kids really capable of not breaking their sunglasses? Did the maker of the slip and slide care about his lawn? How many different Pez dispensers can we collect before the kids graduate from college...and will they be worth any money by then? How often does the average American replace their kiddie pool? Can you use the same bottle of sunscreen year after year till it is all gone or does it really lose its potency? Why kid yourself into thinking "I can make popsicles for the kids...easy and cheap and fun!" Yea, wait till the things won't release, from the $1.00 tray you bought (because you thought it would be a fun thing to do together), while your child is watching you at the sink...fight the losing battle and crying because..."I want a whole popsicle...that is only half of itttttt!" How wrong is it to lock the kids outside to play...rather than run in and out and all about? How long does a bucket of sidewalk chalk last if not left out in the rain? The joys of summer...some just never change!

Sing Alongs with Patch the Pirate at our house...

"OBEDIENCE...IS THE VERY BEST WAY TO SHOW THAT YOU BELIEVE..."
NOW SPELL IT...
While sitting at the table coloring, Teddy was singing along with Patch the Pirate...thanks to Daddy for the new cds to fill our home with good music and stories!
"O-B-D-D- oh shoot, I did it wrong!"
"O-B-E-D-D-oh shoot, I did it wrong again!"
"I just can't get it right." (resorted to humming along instead)
I could not control myself...I had to walk into the other room to have a good laugh...it didn't help that Grammy was laughing behind the kitchen towel. I wish I had a picture of the facial expressions that went with the whole scenario!

One of Teddy's Happy Birthday Gifts

Uncle Kenny gets the prize for "coolest gift" this time. A remote control speed boat! I am not sure who had more fun...Uncle or Teddy! Due to camera malfunction in bright sunlight, I used a disposable camera to snap pics of the actual running...the boat worked great until seaweed would get wrapped around the propellar. Teddy would make the dash out in the lake to grab it...and start again. It made for a nice afternoon at the beach! Thanks, Uncle Kenny for the gift!

Savoring Mommy's Masterpieces!

The Components of a Great Campfire

The perfectly roasted marshmellow! I find that Kraft or Great Value marshmellows will melt inside, under the perfect toast, the best! MMM
The perfect clan to share in the stickiness...this year, we are actually eating the smore as they are to be made! For the last couple years, the chocolate, the graham cracker, and the marsh-yo-yo were all eaten separately.
The perfect coals...this picture is to prove to my husband and father-in-law that I can start and keep a good fire going..."Yes, kind sirs, I used lighter fluid this time!"

It has been a busy week...time for a nap!

It was a good thing Teddy had his life jacket on...he slept through an entire severe thunderstorm and downpour at the lakehouse yesterday afternoon...he would have floated out to the lake if the water had overtaken us!!! It was part of his daily attire for the last couple days...minus the goggles (which he wore to Culvers for supper!)
It never ceases to amaze me...the looks people give to parents of small children, like..."Does she know her child wore goggles out to eat?" It borders on the line of disgust and pity for the "poor woman, you have your hands full". I guess they have forgotten what it is like for a four year old to imagine he is driving a boat while the parent is driving the van..."go faster, Mom!" I am of the opinion that if they want to wear their "dress up stuff" in public, so be it! They look alot cuter than some of the stuff we see walking around...and those people are considered to be grown ups! At least one can tell the difference of our girls and boy and the reality of what they are using to "dress up" as!
So after all that pretending...we are ready for a nap!

The Beach Babe's Striking Toes

This is the only pic of Virginia Beach that my sis sent...her feet! But what beautifu feet they are! Thanks for sharing the ocean view!