He asked himself a question..."I wonder how hot that iron is?"

He found out! And got a nasty blister as a result! It was a hard lesson to learn, but I think it is one he will never repeat. The iron had been cooling for about 20 minutes too...I can't imagine what the outcome would have been if I had left the iron on while I decided what I would iron for myself!

Got my old sign back...

just need to add a couple more apple numbers! What a mess I have! The progress I had already made...has been disrupted due to the influx of more stuff from Mom this week.

We cleaned out and moved out all the boxes and shelves from school today...she passed the torch (and lots of fun teaching aides) to the new teacher and gave back many of my things. I didn't realize how much stuff I had...till it started flowing back into my care! Progress will resume as a new week begins...for right now...we are taking it easy. It has been a very long week!

You can only be tough...till it hurts!

I didn't know that bee stings didn't always show up right away! And sometimes they don't hurt right away either! But when the sting starts, it is hard not to give in to the tears...especially when it is by your nose and lip! I guess the bee could smell the kettle corn this little swimmer was eating for a by the pool snack!

Choices...aren't always so simple!

Mom asked me to pick up some color swatches for her...of the tan, sage, and cream variety. I stood in front of the display and said, "Oh no...this isn't going to be as cut and dry and I thought..."
Did you know there are about thirteen hundred shades of each of those colors? AND I BROUGHT THEM ALL TO MOM! JUST WHAT SHE WANTED AND NEEDED AFTER ANOTHER LONG DAY AT SCHOOL PACKING! I really wasn't trying to be a smart alec...truly. In my defense, I wasn't sure if they wanted pink, yellow, green, or blue hues in the shade ranges. As I browse through color choices for our livingroom, those subtle hues will change the look and can clash with what is already going on in the room!
And who says you can't learn anything from t.v.?
HGTV that is.
Color choices aren't just black and white!
Now...everyone...roll your eyes at me...at the same time...1, 2, 3!

The little mouse who lived at Grandma's house...

was outside with us yesterday...unbeknownst to us at first! I was distracted by movement as I was talking to the girls and quietly slipped inside to procure a container to scoop up the little rodent. I figured it would be wise to get it out of reach of the dog...believe me, it is not pretty when little white dogs try to play with other little fuzzy creatures...there is never a happy "pals forever" sort of ending! This little rodent wasn't functioning well either...if he was inside Grandma's house at one point...there may have been a special little treat box just for him?! Thankfully, the kids didn't get too attached and name it! However, they did ask if we could "bring the little mousey home for a pet"...in my head I said, "Not on your life!" and out loud I said, "I think he is sick...it is not a good idea."
Bless you, big strong mower man, for disposing of the little rodent after we left!
***Mom, if you see this container anywhere around outside...hopefully not on your counter!...you will not want it anymore! I didn't specify what to do with the container...I was hoping I didn't have to! shiver with a "yuck!"

A treat from the ice cream truck...

yesterday was a picture of grace and mercy...bestowed upon them by Grandma. They got something they didn't really deserve, and it made their faces light up. This Momma was hot and tired and emotionally challenged and didn't have the fight left to be the bad guy again.
I am not handling the schedules and responsibilities of life very well right now...change is as thick in the air as the humidity...and it is showing...and the first people that are affected are these three little bundles of energy! They can't always handle what I think they should be able to handle and then I don't handle that very well either.
So excuse me for today as I grab a Kleenex...and focus on the job I have of being a Mommy...because I didn't handle that job very well yesterday...to my shame.

We're moving in and setting up...

There is a place for our school books and supplies...

and a place for us to do our work! The extra special "teacher-in-me" touches are coming...but not too soon...there has to be some surprises on the first day!

Daddy and Papa moved in our special table and divider last night...it is heavy...and perfect! Today, we bought some supplies to make it more user friendly. I am now in the same mode as my teacher friends...who are busy setting up their classrooms...I am just doing it in a smaller area, but with just as much excitement for the coming year! The kids were hopping up and down last night waiting for Daddy and Papa to bring their school table. They each helped paint their section of the divider...we had a post about this special time with Dad a few days back...July 30 to be exact...just in case you missed it!

Do you feel intelligent?

It goes in phases for me! Are you smarter than your sewing machine?
I couldn't figure out why all the stitches were so loose on the bottom side of the seam...aarrgghh...after stitching away for almost a yard...um, check what you are doing as you go along! Yes, I can really be that dumb sometimes. What I had forgotten...the last time I sewed, I was sewing on stretchy fabric and had issues there also...figured out I had to adjust the tension...um, this fabric is stiff and heavy...re-adjust the tension. Maybe I just go too long between sewing cycles...or maybe...I am not as smart as remembering...like my sewing machine!

Anyway, all that to say, I won the battle of the threads and the livingroom curtains are up! "Mom, the couch doesn't match at all...yuck!" Thanks, Little Miss Interior Decorator-who-can't-keep-her-room-clean, I know that and I am working on it...that and the wall color. I like how cozy and warm it looks already!

I haven't been able to accomplish as many of the projects I had on my summer list, but we have checked a couple off! And as a Mom...that is a great feat...especially when I am responsible of lots of little feet and their well-being!

Let's Go Fishing

The guys loaded up and went fishing...something they haven't been able to do much of this year. With all the storms moving through, the water was very choppy...doesn't make for good fishing...and neither does an inattentive woman driving a boat too close to your boat with fishing lines out the back. Ted lost a favorite lure thanks to that woman! "There is a whole lake to boat in and she has to come that close to a boat that is fishing...the clue would have been the poles sticking up in the air and our slow speed..." But that is for another post and another day...right, Ann?!
No fish were caught this trip...but Ted was reminded of an important truth and he shared it with me on the drive home. The question was asked, "Why does this lake get so rough so fast all the time?"
It is a big lake, but not a deep lake...the shallower a body of water...the faster it is affected by different factors. The Rock River flows in and out of it, causing a visible current through it. What am I allowing to flow in and out of me as a child of God? As a Christian, the more shallow I am in my knowledge of what God expects, the more I am tossed to and fro by different factors in my life and the world around me..."the current trends". It doesn't take much wind across Lake Koshkonong to churn up whitecaps which makes it hard to control the boat. If you are not careful, the boat is turned around and headed in the opposite direction as each wave hits it. The seaweed and sand are churned up from the bottom and all sorts of debris are washed ashore.
Recently, I was challenged again with the truth from Colossians 3:16-17..."whatsoever you do...do all to the glory of God." How can I know what pleases Him, if I am not studying and then applying it to my life? It doesn't matter if it pleases me or my friends...it is what is right! I know that what is right is not always popular...or easy! And, yes, that means there may be some gunk that has to be dealt with and removed!
The deeper a body of water...the stronger the winds need to blow to cause waves. I am reminded of that saying..."still waters run deep".
If we are not constantly in God's Word...and obeying His voice, we are going to be shallow in our spiritual lives. We will then be easily tossed to and fro by the trends of this world...our friends, our goals, our dress, our music, our desires, and the list goes on.
The waves on top of the water...speak loudly of the depth of the water!
Whether I like it or not...people can see how spiritually shallow I am by what I am doing and what I am saying...and usually...they can see the shallowness way before I will admit it! What kind of testimony is that? What shame I bring to my Savior!
I am thinking that a study of James 1 will be a good start for this week!
How many people will I turn aside, around, or upside down when the winds blow across my life?!

The clouds parted and the day warmed considerably...

and the humidity was intense...but a cruise around the lake on the boat was wonderful! Ashlynn pouted for half the ride because "this orange thing is too tight...I don't like this one...I want the other one (that she whined about being too tight last time)..." The rest of us enjoyed the ride!

The girls

The ever vigilant captain of the cruise.

The crazy little skipper who was intent on making the captain blow the horn to "scare us".

The beautiful sky at sunset.

It didn't rain allllll week...but Saturday morning...

it rained for four hours and delayed the craft show we were going to be part of. My friends found a good spot under cover, but the traffic was greatly affected due to weather and ease of access. It was a good "first show" for my friends! If you need a tall trellis, I can recommend a guy who does a beautiful job!

I added my stuff to their display and will save my display board for another time. I looked at a couple other booths, but did not touch and did not buy!

Eavesdropping...cause rain is still dropping from our eaves!

The kids are playing school...Ashlynn is the teacher and is instructing her students what to write and spell with what color. "Ok, students, take your light blue and...this is going to be tricky...but follow carefully...no, no, your light blue, Teddy." This is light blue. "No, it isn't...that is dark blue." NO, IT ISN'T, IT IS LIGHT BLUE. "No, it isn't...this is light blue and this is dark blue."
I am trying to not interrupt their play...because they are leaving me alone...so I have to listen to the arguing over several color schemes.
Is it worth the peace and quiet to try to explain to the teacher that one of her students is colorblind when it comes to all hues of blues, greens, and browns? Nope...I am guessing that will cause other problems that I don't want to deal with today!