An afternoon at the lake

 We couldn't have had a better day!  The weather was perfect for swimming and sunning!

 Shade or sun...

 Swimming or floating...

 the kiddos were constantly on the move!  I...for one...just sat soaking up the rays and beautiful surroundings with my sissy and friends.

 Thank you, friends, for sharing the afternoon with us!  I have heard about "the lake" for years...today...we got to experience it.  It was beautiful!

Two mothers retreated to soak and float...two of us stayed on the bank...thinking the water was still a little chilly.  Screaming and shivering is not a way to convince someone the water "isn't that cold."

Weekend snapshots

This weekend our park had a garage sale.  The kiddos wanted to walk around and look...so we took off...some with sweatshirts and some without.  It was chilly and our walk on the shorter side, but not before a couple good finds!

We got to enjoy the homemade ice cream for lunch...which made us colder!

We shampooed the carpets...finally.  Everything looks so nice...and then this morning...Chevy relieved himself.  Needless to say, the dog was almost drop-kicked to the curb at 5am!

It seems like once we get something taken care of...something else decides to act up.  We know it is always a possibility when you get used appliances left for you!  The dryer stopped heating up Friday night in the middle of everything...so I hung clothes and towels up all over to dry.  Ashlynn and I headed to the laundromat Saturday morning and got all laundry done in an hour and a half.  Nice!  We're hoping for the needed electrical fix or a move of our dryer (from the storage unit) sometime this week.  I'm not sure I want to spend that many quarters again.  Ouch!  When you have to feed the quarters into the machines, it hurts.  I guess, I just don't think about how much it costs to do laundry at home...same electrical use, water use, and detergents...just not the physical feeding of quarters each time you start a load!  One quarter=6 minutes of dry time!  I was so glad the commercial dryers actually worked and dried well!
I gave strict instructions to the kiddos...wear your shorts/capris/jeans more than once...I should not have had as much laundry as I did on Saturday!  I just did it on Monday!  Ahhhhhh...the never ending issue of what is clean, what is dirty, and what is too dirty to wear again.  The chair fillers at our house...I don't know and I don't care, so I'll toss it in the dirty clothes!  It is a difficult line I walk...trying to get them to be clean/smell clean/look clean and knowing when something can be worn twice.  I wonder if there is a magic wand for that somewhere?!

A picnic on the patio with cousins!  Thanks, Uncle and Auntie, for a evening together!  Grilled hamburgers, swimming for crazy kiddos, fire, coffee, Brazilian chocolates, stories, singing with the guitar, and a beautiful evening outside.  Just what we needed!

This girl...turns 12 this week!  How is that even possible?  She moved up to the teen group two weeks ago.  Yesterday, she went to a Meet and Eat...without her siblings and parents.  We have decided we are not tagging along on every event...even if invited.  Ash is ready for some grown up kid time apart from her siblings.  It is important.  All these new experiences and she is taking them all in...quietly and reservedly...and enjoying them.  One day a little girl with piggy tails on top of her head...the next...a young girl who is changing every day to a young woman!  We're not that old, are we?

My head is spinning...

from the constant activity !  These kiddos have been busy, and it has been fun to watch/listen to these kiddos!  My basic responsibility has been to just be present and have food at the appropriate times.  I have had a couple treats up my sleeves, plus...I got to read a book!

 I picked up gummy worms yesterday.

  I should have known better...but the thought didn't occur to me 

till I was placing the bowl on the table.

 The boys asked what was for one of the meals and I answered, "Mud and bugs."  To which one replied, "Aww, I was hoping for dirt and worms."

 Forgot about that till now...should have made dirt dessert!  Should have bought more than one bag of worms.

 They added the worms...to their sandwiches!  A celery-meat-cheese-worm sandwich!  He got a reaction out of me and the girls...which I think made it taste even better to him! Yuck.

 Then...someone asked the question, "Who is the maturest one at this table?"  I laughed...out loud...but they actually debated the answer.  Yes, the same ones who were putting gummy worms on their sandwiches and talking about real worms.  I should have videoed for parents who were not able to join us...I honestly can't even recall all their topics...it is incredible!  My head is spinning with all I have taken in these last few hours...and yes, I am having trouble focusing.  Am I too old for this?!

 The guys rolled the ice cream ball...and then lost interest...because it wasn't freezing.  Bummer!  Ted thinks the concoction was wrong...but it was a mix.  Who knows...it is in the freezer...and we didn't have ice cream and cookies...just cookies.

 The girls made the chocolate chip cookies.  Yes, it was cool enough to bake!

 They made playdough and goo...and...well...you always get back what you don't pre-think to expect when you add green colored slime to three boys' hands.  The girls grimace and giggle...and then groan for them to stop.

 We have had all sorts of creativity running around here.  There have been numerous Wii tournaments with hilarious commentary.

Our plans for water fun and park took a turn...it is sweatshirt weather!  Playing out and around outside was fun with comrades.  A game of Headbandz led us into the supper hour.  So thankful for friends to spend time with...and so thankful for a successful surgery for our friends' mother!  I know she is ready to see her kiddos...but I'm not ready to lose such fun house guests and comrades. 

A day tending to things at home

Mixed in with their summer plans and desires...chores!  Teddy and I have worked outside two days in a row planting some plants, trimming by hand, and mowing.  Last night, Ted walked around with the weed whip.  Everything looks so lush and green.  Thank you, son, for standing in Daddy's shoes!  Our kiddos know how to play and relax, but all play and no work makes for lazy, dull kiddos of over-worked, stressed parents...and that isn't happening in our house this summer!  By bundling all their energy and channeling it into productive chores...we all share the load and we all have time for summer fun!  Parents, if your children are healthy and physically able, they should have chores around home...no matter what age they are.  Everyone can do something!  Why is it that the individuals with the most energy and free time are never made to work?  I don't understand.  I think it solves more of the discipline problems we have in our homes, and it definitely teaches responsibility!  The words, "I'm bored!" are not permitted in our home this summer.  It shows an ungrateful spirit!
A completed chore is rewarding!  It is a life lesson...we must work in order to play or rest...because many of the things we do to play or rest take money.  If we don't teach these lessons to our children while they are young, when will they learn it?  Junior high and high school is too late...especially if we want them to have a job and be productive members of society.  They must have an established work ethic.
We continue to work each day on our chair fillers' work ethics...not always easy or pleasant.  But this week...has been encouraging.  When chores are done without being told...I smile and sigh deeply.  It makes me almost giddy to think of the secret they will be hit with tonight...they will enjoy a little extra "time off to play".  All work and no play...make for dull individuals.

Summer is here...

 and the water wars have begun!

This week is cooler, but the sun is shining!  Perfect for sitting on the deck, reading, sipping iced tea, and watching goofy kiddos enjoying summer vacation!

Fours buddies on a tenth birthday

 The first thing..."You have to open your presents now!"

 I made sure they had what they needed and then just sat back and observed.  Boys of this age are constantly moving!  They are constantly joking and laughing...about all sorts of stuff...gross stuff too.  They always have an empty space for snacks and drinks.  When given the chance...they will attempt to stay up all night...and still have energy to go.

 They can eat breakfast the minute they are awake!

 They are funny.  They are polite...even to one another...and that can be funny too.

 When they realize we are the ONLY ones in the bowling alley for two hours...

 they get silly!

 They have all the moves and then some!  Bowling shoes...could be tap shoes...on any slick, wooden surface.

 Are you having fun yet?  "Oh yeah!"

 They had fun!  They were grateful and said so many times unprompted by parents...who weren't there...and that was a blessing!

 Constant noise...eating...planning...gave way to water gun fights outside!

I see these guys in a couple years...taller, bigger, louder, funnier, stronger, and etc....and I know they won't fit inside our home!  As a Mom watching our children grow, I am thankful for the opportunities and people that God keeps bringing into their lives!  And, guys, you are welcome anytime in our home...and we will do our best to keep you fed!

He is quite the planner and helper!

 Teddy and I had a date to plan his 10th birthday party/sleep-over.  He always asks for an ice cream cake.  This year, we did a variation after one of our stops at DQ.  He saw the ice cream cupcakes.  I saw the recipe on pinterest to make the crunchy layer using Oreos and Magic Shell.  "Son, we can make these ourselves cheaper and BIGGER."

 He helped mix and layer! 

 We did our best to make it nice for him...without being too fussy.  We "got rid of the girls" so the boys could rule the house.

I am watching our son change and grow...remembering the little guy who like to be cuddled by his momma.  He is still willing to hug and let me kiss him.  When our son offers a hug and a "Thank you, Mom!" I know we are doing something right.  His Daddy is constantly showing him the right example!

My how quickly the weather can change!

 We had a pool/picnic day with our cousins last Thursday...catching up after our trips over Memorial Day weekend.  It was a beautiful day!

 Any gathering with six kiddos requires FOOD!

 We watched the sky fill with beautiful puffy clouds while the kiddos splashed.

 And we watched the clouds darken and the wind pick up...

 and then the down pour!

Parts east of our area lost power and trees!  I was fascinated watching the clouds change...and thankful to be at Mari's house...should the weather have changed drastically!