Tomorrow...is a new day with no mistakes in it!

Happy Fourth of July!

What a beautiful...for spacious skies...kind of day!
It was red, white, and blue all over our house today!
We even added original artwork to decorate the gate!
Chevy helped himself to ice cubes from the tub of pop and water...available for our hard working swingset builders...
three swings and a climbing rope make our backyard a fun place to be! Thanks to all our builders...I think "there were more engineers than grunt" was the way Uncle Kenny stated it! Thanks to our wonderful neighbors for setting off a huge round of firecrackers at 11 p.m.! I am wide awake now and thus had time to post a quick over-view of our day...more pics tomorrow!

Back from a day at the lakehouse pool...

and a drive through the park to survey the damage. All I can say is...oh my! There is alot of clean-up that needs to be done...but the water is still standing and many cannot get to their places still. The water is going down in the lake/river...but the standing water...well, the term evaporation is the only one that describes what needs to take place...and quickly! The green scum is developing nicely into a ripe bacteria due to flood waters...warning signs are posted. I talked to the gal in the general store...not many vacationers are in and out as usual...as of now, there are 118 places that are considered a loss...due to the invasion of water at many depths in them. We are blessed as the only casualty for us was two railroad ties, our house number (which fell down last year during a storm mishap and was leaning against the post), and Rubbermaid trunk with outside toys all seem to have floated away. The kids are upset because "our chairs from Grammy are in that black box". I am sure a walk around at a later date may reveal many "finds", but not until the green goo dries up! Our lakehouse, shed, and boat remain intact...and for that we are grateful...as for the dock parts...that remains to be seen! Did I mention it stinks? Oh...and...bugs...what a start to summer!
**I forgot my camera...but Mom had hers...hopefully, I can post some pics from her tomorrow!

It's a new month...

and I spent it working on some yard projects. Some of my friends have a "Tackle It Tuesday" on their blog...since I never know when "the mood will strike", I dare not put it on a certain day! However, this week, it fell on Tuesday...and I feel like I "earned" my phrase of the evening..."I'm tired!"

First, I stained the deck.

Next, we added brick around the trees.

Then, I moved a couple plants and weeded.

After which, I watered and mowed.

Finally, I got the chair painted red and spread the mulch. Oh...and the kids...well, they were up to their usual shenanigans of their age-unappropriate-behavior. I just can't seem to understand why they are most unhelpful when I need them the most!? These are what I am now referring to as those "maddening moments"! We cleared the stress in the air by watching the new summer show "Wiped Out"...it was just what I needed...a good, hard, long laugh...not at the people but with them...knowing there is no way that I could ever come close to making it down the first incline gracefully!

Please come for tea...

Roll-up sandwiches and fresh vegetables with dip, cracker sticks, and fresh fruit salad ... Milk and sugar anyone?
"Tastes of Summer" was the tea we purchased for the occasion and it was served in Grammy's new tea cup set.
Daisies and cherry lemonade and banana bread...mmmm!
Mom and I were thanked "for our hospitality" and "delicious food". The girls told us that they "were using their bestest manners". It was a "delightful time".

"Cherish every moment...even the maddening ones!" A Monday reminder for me!

Our handful from our strawberry patch...

and we all got a little taste! The girls let me know that Chevy has been eating strawberries off and on. At least one of us is enjoying them!

Laughter...

...is a wonderful thing!
My secret pal from church gave me a book a couple weeks ago and I have been able to read portions of it here and there. It is a compilation of several different ladies who have tremendous senses of humor! Today, I rolled out of bed and gave the kids their breakfast...gave them the bowls for cereal and poured milk, grabbed my cup of coffee, and sat down to read and wakeup.
Laughter is the Spice of Life is the name of the book and it is divided into different chapters...children, marriage, etc. Today, I was reading the chapter dedicated to all things healthy, you know, exercise, diet, and the like. All of a sudden, I was laughing so hard I was crying...I looked up to see if the kids heard me...thankfully, they did not! I tried to keep reading and all of a sudden I was snorting...that hasn't happened in a long time! I noticed it got worse when I tried to hold it in...I didn't want the kids to think their mother had gone completely bonkers this early...can I say 9 am is early?...in the morning! What would Ted think? His wife...all alone in the quiet livingroom...laughing all by herself...while reading a book...I don't want the kids to divulge that info to him...I would get the "you're nuts" look with the head shake! Does anyone else know that one? If you have ever been to an exercise class, you would have appreciated the story too! Many types of people, mirrors all around, movements that only rubberbands are capable of...
All I could think of was the verse about..."joy comes in the morning"...not that there were any tears last night...but I don't always feel joyful in the morning...especially since lately I haven't been sleeping good at night...and there isn't any reason not to! The kids sleep all night now, we have a wonderful mattress, the air is on, I had a snack before bed and no caffine...am I at the stage in life where this will happen alot? Ted keeps reminding me that I am almost 40...and Mom and Dad just celebrated their 40th anniversary...so I can't keep going into denial...is this what is going to happen?
I guess I will just have to learn to function in that "not-much-sleep-mode" again...and laugh about the things in life that are wonderful...and not-so-wonderful...because it sure beats crying! And have a second and third cup of coffee if needed!

It's raining, it's pouring...what do you do when all you feel like doing is snoring?

"Soaked to death" because they had to park so far away...guess which store!!!
Another Barbie movie?
Glue...glitter glue...anything messy will do!
Answer: Have a house-full of little girls (ok...it seemed like more than three!!!) running from one activity to another...with a little brother trying to figure out what to do to aggravate (oops, I mean, keep up with) them. First, send Teddy with Aunt Sara while she runs some errands! Then apply, movies, crafts, giggling, and the fun continues! Finally, throw in a baking activity and everyone is happy!

Birthday Girl = Goofy Girl

Aunt Sara + silly Alisa= Two peas in a pod who happen to like playing Memory!
Thank you for the game!
Made to order...vanilla cake with vanilla frosting...no sprinkles...
shared with siblings and a friend for lunch. The "big cake" is for supper with Daddy. What a fun day...Dunkin Donuts for breakfast, three phone calls with the Happy Birthday song sung, trip to the park with Aunt Sara, video and crafts with friends, and more to come!

Havin' A Ball

Our LLBean ice cream ball came in handy for our Monday neighborhood kid activity...MMMM was it good!

Buddies...we're thankful for boys to play with!!!
Everybody needs somebody sometime...what a good doggie...today, that is!

The design painted on the table.
Waiting not so patiently for breakfast...
Acting like a lady.
Welcome!
A coloring book about Norwegian history and facts to share with the girls.