Random snapshots

 Clear sailing along the freeway till we hit 90 by Ohare!  Have Pepsi...will sip!  Construction took us down to two lanes and then one lane!  Our super travel time lost an hour as we sat and inched toward our exit.  As Aunt Sara texted, "So close...yet so far!"

 Looking at pictures around Grandma's house...you find a picture of your Mother looking like a wad of pink bubblegum!  Ashlynn was born about 15 days after this picture was taken.  How time flies!

 Something we have never seen...the graduates could decorate the top of their mortar boards.

 Watching the fireworks before bed...in the warmth of Papa and Grandma's house...perfect place!

Someone forgot to take pictures at the party site...whoops!  I didn't have a pocket for my phone and it was threatening to rain.

We all like treats at Grandma's...even the dogs!

 

Another lost photo op...a picture of the kiddos with their friends from our old neighborhood.  It was one of my "Duh, Mom!" moments...I had the camera in my pocket.  With such a busy holiday weekend, we were thankful to carve out a piece for the kiddos to see their friends.  It was a surprise to both sets of kiddos and their reactions made our hearts flip-flop.

 Tis the season for construction...35 miles of ripped up roads.  It was a good choice of coming home on Tuesday!  Once again...clear sailing around Chicago...

which was nice...because this time...we were towing!  The rain didn't fall till we got home.  We are thankful for safety in travel.

A weekend around the table!

 I am scrolling through pictures...some I took and some the kiddos took...most of which we were all gathered around tables!  As you can see...we weren't always eating!

 After we got back from graduation, Aunt Sara and Alisa went to pick up Grandma-great.  The cold, rainy weather was giving her aches and pains, but she came up to see  us anyway.

 So much laughter this weekend!  Lots of talking!  Many stories!  More laughing!

 One of my favorite comments from Carma, "I'm a learner as I goer!"

 Thankful for the time that everyone took to gather at Dad and Mom's house!

 Another sweet comment from T.J., "I love it when you come to town, Aunt Kari!"  He said this as he watched me mix up two batches of candy bar dip.  Awwww, I feel loved!

 Another memory to share...Culvers in Michigan City...a must stop!

 I was there all weekend...just never seem to make it in our pictures!

Happy 10th Birthday to our son!

We took off this morning and left the girls home.  We sat and planned what he wanted for his birthday party.  He didn't need any input from his sisters!  We then went to the grocery store.  He is such a good help to me...and to his Dad.  We sure enjoy watching him grow up!  We are thankful for his tender heart.  His sense of humor keeps us laughing...even when we try not to laugh at the silly boy antics.

 Singing "Happy Birthday!"  Wishing and blowing!

Cards and cold hard cash! 
His birthday will last all week long..."the guys are coming over Friday night and Saturday!"

Summer is...

 holiday traffic!

 graduations and parties!

 slushies!

 fireworks!

birthdays!
We have had a fun kick-off to our summer!

Those kiddos...

make me shake my head sometimes!  I came home this morning to a cleaned up house...and spit wads!  I thought they were very thoughtful of one another...cutting a straw into thirds so they could each participate.  "Mom, we couldn't find anymore straws!?"

Note to self...don't add them to my grocery list.

  The girls passed off their straw to their cousin...and the full-blown war began!

 It was cold enough outside to turn the oven on for lunch!  Mexican pizza...

 and candy bar dip!  I really wasn't prepared for lunch today and I had to get creative fast.

 

 The spit wad war turned into a tackle-fest...with no option of outside play due to pouring rain...I had to scramble again.  These boys are big enough to break things now...and double-wides aren't made for horseplay!

 I pulled out the recipe binder and found the measurements for goo....

 and then a batch of play dough!  Two hours of messy fun...

and I got to sit down for awhile, fold laundry, and then stare blankly.  I like this new find...makes my towels (and clothes) smell good!  There is a difference in the water here and I was having issues getting laundry to smell good...doesn't take much...MMMMM!

It dawned on me...

 there are some days that my schedule/routine/to do list has a wide variety of activities and time constraints.  Honestly...thinking back over the events makes me tired!  I waited for our vehicle to be serviced and enjoyed time to drink coffee and read...sort of a catch-my-breath after getting the kiddos delivered safely for their last day of school.

 I had a little time to be at home to do dishes and a load of laundry before heading to the end of the year awards time.

 After school, the kiddos lazed around pouring over their yearbooks.  Then it was off to church for the end of the year Truth Tracker program.  Wow, did these kiddos sing!  What a blessing to hear the verses and songs about the gift that God has given to each of us!  All we have to do...is accept it.  We topped off the evening with the ice cream social.

There are some nights that bed just feels so wonderful!  The weather turned cold and rainy which made for a lazy-low-key-day.  The irises are blooming in response to the rain.  It was another good day...helping a friend, talking with Mom, hanging out with the kiddos, and getting ready for a special weekend.

"This is better than just making a cake in a cake pan!"

 Too hot for the oven?  Thanks again to pinterest, we found a fun way to still have our cake and eat it too!

 Mix up any cake mix as you normally would.  Ladle it onto your hot waffle iron.  It took me about 20 minutes start to finish to mix up the cake,"bake", and frost!

The kiddos liked the cake waffles!  A fun way to celebrate the night before their last day of school...and they took one in their lunch!  Next time...chocolate cake...and the girls can make them!

The flowerbeds are filling in...

I thought these were day lily leaves at first...but they kept getting bigger and greener...and...they are purple irises...getting ready to bloom!  I planted some annual and perennial seeds.  The lilies are coming.  I transplanted the seedlings we had in the kitchen window...sunflowers and zinnias.  We will see what survives.  I think the birds will love the sunflowers in the fall...and they just might get to enjoy them...I still don't see squirrels around here!

Founder's Day

 Every year the school is asked to provide music at the city's Founder's Day celebration.  There were lots of different activities!

 The kiddos were asked to wear red, white, and blue as they sang patriotic songs.

 The mayor welcomed everyone...the color guard, the mayor's attempted prayer, and the dance troop that preceded our group.  Yes, you read that right.  I'm thinking next year there could be a better order where we don't have to watch little girls moving inappropriately.  I am sorry...wait...no I am not...there is nothing cute about the age of these girls doing what they were doing...let alone in public dressed as they were.  It made me sad and mad all at the same time.  

 God Bless America!  Star Spangled Banner!  Fifty Nifty United States!  She'll Be Coming Around The Mountain!  Take Me Out To The Ballgame! This Is A Great Country!

 The sound system was a little off according to our personal listeners.  The keyboard had issues.  This singer messed up her words as she discovered her pages were out of order...too late. OI!  The little train came through on the road numerous times ringing the bell...it did come on cue during She'll Be Coming Around The Mountain!  Only one of our little girls started to sway and stepped down.

The Scars and Stripes 

God Bless The USA

It was a beautiful afternoon to be at the park...if you weren't in full sun!  

It was our first experience and it was interesting.  A late lunch at Wendy's cooled us off.