July's Summertime Fun

 Finding fun to do in the heat of the summer can be tricky. To be honest, we've spent most of the month at home and only venturing out to visit friends or for the necessary errands.

 My van battery died at the gas station and while we waited for Daddy to rescue us, we walked over to a nearby truck stop and passed our time.  I am so thankful Daddy's work is so flexible that he can leave when we need him!

 We've never been successful at growing tomatoes until this summer.  We have had a perfect amount to keep us stocked with tomatoes.  It's fun for the kids to go out everyday and pick them.

 My Grandparents celebrated their 60th Wedding Anniversary.  And I found out they eloped.  I love my grandparents so much and I am so thankful that I have been blessed by spending so much time with them.  The kids were happy to spend time with their cousins during the dinner for my Grandparents.

 Cam got a Balloon Bonanza for his birthday.  It was actually pretty amazing.  They didn't all work but more than 1/2 did.  It was way better than filling up individual water balloons!

 Cait has a new found love for Tin Tin.  I recently picked up a Tin Tin book from the library for Cam but it was Cait who has spent HOURS (literally!) looking at the pictures.  Every day, that has been her favorite thing to do.  We had to take back the library copy but we bought 3 books for her and even found these old Tin Tin cartoons that follow the books perfectly!  I'm not sure what she likes so much about them but I love seeing her show such an interest in books!  She isn't reading yet but she's so close!

The kids went to Granny's for a week.  I cleaned the house from top to bottom (above is my odd assortment of treasures that I found), Daddy and I had FIVE dates and I got to take a trip with some friends!  I think it was win-win all the way around.   

Cait & Lily had a blast playing with their new friend at Granny's.

a HOT adventure!

The zoo was Tuesday and Wednesday we had lunch & played with the Robertsons. 

Then Granny called and told us her nectarines were ready to be picked. I packed for the little kids and myself and told the kids we were going on an adventure.  It wasn't until we passed McDonald's half way there that Cam asked, "We're going to Granny's?"  It was another surprise that we were staying the night!

 We picked the tree clean of nectarines and even picked a couple crab apples.  Cait didn't mind the extreme sourness but no one else liked them.

 Granny and I worked hard to slice and fill 5 jars for canning.  We got our water boiling and put them in the pot to process.  Granny, Lily and I ran to Atwoods to pick up some more jars while PawPaw, Cait and Cam hung around the house.

 Here's Granny with silly string on her!  Such fun, cheap thrills!  And Cam decided he likes making fruit out of clay.  His cherries were the best!

So, when we got back from Atwoods, we pulled out our jars and started the pot to boil with more water for the second batch.  I heard the breaker blow on the stove (that wasn't the first time for that to happen to me).  I called for Granny and as she headed upstairs to the breaker box, I realized there was flames under the burner!  The kids watched on as we tried to decide whether to call 911 or not.  PawPaw came to the rescue with a very old fire extinguisher that actually worked...

 but made a stinky mess.  So the kids waited outside for the house to clear out.

 Here's the remains of Granny's stove.  We killed it!

I got 5 jars of nectarines and Granny got a new stove!  What an adventure!

Here are the rest of Cam's fruit that he made.  I think I'll see how he likes Scupley soon.

More May Moments

 Bren had another bass recital.  He has become such a great player and it is such a blessing to mama to hear him play.  Of course, what is a recital with out ice cream?

 I am so grateful for this family. I thank God for our health, provisions through JC's work and extra savings through mine, our special times together as a family.

 Cait had a second opinion on a mole on her head.  The first doctor wanted to surgically remove it but the doctor at Children's thought she was okay.  We are grateful for that, too!

 One of our favorite daily activities is to watch the birds at our feeder out our front window.  We have had a pair of male cardinals and a pair of male blue jays this week along with our regular house finches, grackles and mourning doves.  We have also enjoyed planting flowers and seeing their blooms. My clematis are so beautiful this year.  They must be enjoying all this rain.  One of my succulents came back so I only bought one more for the pot this year.  Cait & Lily picked out petunias and merigolds for their flower pot.  JC & the kids gave me a beautiful water fountain for the yard for Mother's Day.  This is definitely a happy place for this mama.

My sweet husband seems to always be on a repair project.  I am so grateful God has blessed him with the "handy gene" and a heart that gives so freely to this family.

Spring

Genesis 1:12 ~ The land produced vegetation: plants bearing seed according to their kinds and trees bearing fruit with seed in it according to their kinds. And God saw that it was good.

I love the renewal of spring. Life returns to the world around us. Flowers and birds are every where.

Song of Solomon 2:12 ~ Spring flowers are in blossom all over. The whole world's a choir - and singing! Spring warblers are filling the forest with sweet arpeggios. 13 Lilacs are exuberantly purple and perfumed, and cherry trees fragrant with blossoms.

Outdoor play resumes.  Here was a lunch date with daddy at the park and wading at a nearby lake.

And, the celebration of what gives us all life - the Resurrection of Jesus Christ our Lord.

Everyday Life

Last Sunday, before the museum but after lunch, our church friends joined us in making Valentine cards for children at the JD McCarty center in Norman.

Laundry Day!  Yay for helpers!

Lily's favorite food is spaghetti.  It is also her favorite moisturizer and hair conditioner!

Tuesday ended up being my office day so that I could check out some new insurance rates.  I also made my all-time favorite pork ribs!  Lots of soy sauce, garlic, Italian seasoning and lime juice!

It has been beautiful weather this week and we've gotten some good outside time.  A must for a stay-at-home mom!  My pansies are thriving and they are so cheerful!

Bren still avoiding photos.  And doing "school" in PJs.  Cait and Cam enjoyed Valentine craft time thanks to a special delivery from Granny.  And Cam had fun playing with his Pocket Volcano from Gramma and Papa.

Wednesday we visited some really special friends and I took no pictures at all.  Just relaxed and enjoyed good coffee and good conversation. {above: Cait is finishing a cupcake that we brought home from our friends house.  MESSY!} Thursday we crammed school in.

Friday we went to the JD McCarty center to deliver our Valentines with our church friends.

I got treated to a pedi by my sweet hubby and then I painted Cait's toes.  I also gave Lily her first toe polish.  Aren't those the cutest fat toes you've ever seen?!

On Saturday, Grandma and Grandpa P came to visit us for lunch and an early celebration of Lily's first birthday.  Then Family Night with my family.  {I stole the pictures from mom - thanks, mom!}

Cait wore pig tails for the occasion!  Bren entertained his cousins with the X-Box.

Cam brought his science kit and the cousins helped make goo.  We ate homemade soups with homemade croutons, a tossed salad, toasty bread and ice cream sundaes for dessert.  It was all delish!

Even though it was a busy week, we're making good memories.  Life is ever changing and I'm trying to embrace the busy and the slow.  These kids are growing up way too fast.  They sure are my treasures!