Thursday, June 19, 2014

week 23

This week started with an impromptu headstand contest for Family Home Evening.  The rest of us don't do headstands, so we watched as Mike and Jess battled.  They went over five minutes, and then Jess won. 



Christian is off track and so there is plenty of slugging going on.  He and Drew are into Undercover Boss.


Charlie says "Vote for Susan for School Board."


Jessi is going back to dance, and had tryouts this week.  Yes, we are adding yet another activity to the schedule.


For Cub Scouts we did a bike ride and a bike course.  I fixed three broken chains.  It had been DECADES since I fixed a bike chain.  It took me back to my childhood.


Drew had to make a bottle rocket for school.


Blooms.










Last day of school for the middle-schoolers. (I insist on taking first and last day pics in the front yard with the good lighting/bright sun.  I didn't get one picture where they both had their eyes open.)


After school on the last day of school.  I love these teenagers and I am so excited to have them home.


I had finally had it with my phone charger being stolen for other phones and Kindles, so in a moment of frustration I ordered six of them.


Thursday we actually had a night without any commitments so I got out the saw and went to town pruning trees.


The yard was covered in branches and leaves.  I hate getting rid of such pretty branches, but I had waited too long as it was.  Mike was shocked at the massacre.


I saw some strawberries at a great price, so decided that I was going to make jam.  It has been a while since I made jam, and I had forgotten how much work it is.  I also forgot to use a big pot.


I made 37 pints.  It is so yummy.


Emma turned one, and her parents threw the cutest party for her.  Jess and Mason.


The birthday girl.


This kid is a hoot.


We love these two kids.


We took the kids to brunch at La Caille.  It is so fun watching them experience fancy things.



We saw some baby ducks.



This peacock had a baby.




I finally got two sewing projects done that had been waiting on the "to-do" list.  I made a table runner and curtains for Bev's room.





These two decided to sleep out on the trampoline.  Mike had Fred sleep out with them, but that only lasted an hour.  He likes being in the house with us, and started barking at any noise he heard.  Mike locked the gates because I am a nervous nelly.  They stayed the whole night out there.


All the time Mike spends in the yard (and the time I spend buying new plants) earned us the Yard of the Month award.


Pretty pot.


When I luck out and get a slushy Diet Pepsi, I just know it's going to be a good day.


 Mike giving Kiki pointers on his lawn-moving job.


Jess likes "training" Freddy.  He is such a sweet old boy.  Also photographed are the pee spots in the grass which are the bane of Mike's existence.


I gave Bev this bracelet for her birthday--it has a puppy, a cat and a soccer ball.


Bev looking at my now two planners during church--the one that ends in June and the one that begins in July.  I am old school and have to write stuff down.  In every meeting I am ever in, I am the only one who still uses these.


Sunday after church and I took a nap on the patio.


It got breezy so Jess brought me my favorite blanket.  She joined me and watched a show.  We don't nap enough, and I would like more of them.


For Mother's Day, the thing I asked for was for Mike to do all of the cooking.  After that day, I mentioned that I would love for him to cook every Sunday.  He has cooked both meals every Sunday since, and my love of the Sabbath has increased immensely.  


Monday, May 12, 2014

week 19

I love the colors in the yard.





The Jensen's are moving so we had a farewell party...


It was Cinco de Mayo, so we decided to get Cafe Rio…for thirty.


Bev gave herself some ink in orchestra.


Once a week this is what my front seat looks like:  Mickey church bag for Cub Scouts, black bag for PTA, cat bag for work and my very heavy purse.


He is in full teenager mode--getting a nap in whenever possible.


Mike got his new fresh topsoil all spread, then Blackie would dig it all up.


Jessi had a book report due.  She chose a book about JK Rowling.


She takes a while doing projects.  Apparently a very long while...


She has to have kids hold up the poster while she gives her report.



Saturday, and the springtime crazy schedule continued.  Christian had a double-header.


Katie came to Christian's lacrosse games.  It's so fun having her home from college.


We then headed to Bev's last soccer game of the season.  It was freezing.  Poor Christian looks like a little homeless kid bundled up eating his salad.


One of Jessi's chores is brushing Freddy.  She then has a weird habit of putting all the fur in a baggie.  Drew said that she may be saving it to knit a sweater.


Also on Saturday Mike took Drew to Lagoon for a choir concert.



Then Saturday night, we celebrated Grandma and Grandpa's 70th Anniversary.


I had planned decorations for a garden party.  The weather didn't cooperate, so we had it indoors.


People sent me pictures and I made an iMovie of Grandma and Grandpa and all of their posterity.


We are so blessed to have them.


I did my own Mother's Day shopping.


I am a blessed person to have these kids in my life.


They made me a cute candy bar card.


The funniest line reads "You teach us all that we must know. You gave us your milk to help us grow."


The pile of chocolate.


Mike made my favorite breakfast--croissant french toast.  Then he made another favorite for dinner--fish tacos.  I even got in a little nap.


 Jessi wrote me this cute card.  My new nickname is "magnificent mistress."