Summer Project List

My summer project list is usually written in March.  By then, I am already itching to get started.  Technically, it is a spring/ summer list, but I just keep it simple by calling it a summer list.  That way, when I cross things off before school ends I feel like I’m ahead of the game!  (Don’t I wish that were the case!)  Anyway, I do have two projects crossed-off: one simple project, and one bigger project.  The simple project: hang our swim sign.  The kids and Daniel surprised me with this when i returned home from my trip up north.  I LOVE IT!

The second (bigger) project was finishing our garden beds.  This morning my hubby was out before breakfast finishing up smoothing the gravel.  I took a bad picture, but here is the happy result:  (Notice the cute boy who still plays for hours in his sand box with his trucks daily!)

Two projects down… many more to go!

Glitter Glam 2015

I’m only a week late, but with a tradition like this I have to still capture it!  The kids love their annual Glitter Glam night at Flipside church, where they have 3 hours of crafts, getting hair, nails, and make-up done, dinner, the Gospel message, and a walk on the runway.

Sierra almost didn’t make it this year.  Two weeks prior, we were dealing with some obedience issues, and I was forced to take away Glitter Glam.  Crushed, her sisters insisted I find a way for her to go.  So, I made a chart with 25 squares titled, “Sierra Can Obey right away.”  She got all the boxes marked off, including a few extra I had to add, and the girls got to be “sisters”  I just loved the pose they chose — a group hug.

 

And, my handsome men awaiting the runway show.  We walked out and Daniel commented, “That was way too much estrogen in one room!”

Big Hero 40!

Last year, we had a fun surprise Amazing Race birthday for Daniel’s 39th. I thought he might suspect a surprise for his 40th, so I tried to catch him a year early.  This year, we kept it a family affair, but still surprised him with a “Big Hero 40” theme.  Some fun ideas and free printables can be found here.  The hardest part was waiting for him to get home from his meeting.  Who schedules a meeting on their 40th birthday, forgets about it and takes the day off, then suddenly remembers and has to go in just for the meeting?  I guess his age is catching up with him after all.  🙂

The kids each made homemade cards, which I find precious.  They put so much time and creativity into them.  They also helped me clean the bowls for the cake.  (Super yummy white cake from scratch, but the homemade mocha frosting was so strong it took over the cake.  Live and learn!)

After our cake, we watched “Big Hero 6” for the first time.  What a great movie.

Following the movie, we went out to eat at a new restaurant we discovered last week.  It’s a Korean Bbq all-you-can-eat spot called U-Grill.  This was the girls’ first time, and they all loved it.  I love having a spot that we can all enjoy.

Malachi slept through half of dinner.  Sierra didn’t want her picture taken with me; ha!  Yes, Daniel is eating octopus.  Happy 40th, my Love!

Tell Me You Do This…

Sometimes, (**ehem** often), I feel like I am doing a really poor job of teaching my kids things like responsibility and delayed gratification.  For example, most nights after dinner the kids have very little responsibility besides bringing their plates to the sink.  I think to myself, “After dinner I need them to clean their rooms,” or something to that effect.  Then dinner finishes and they begin happily playing together outside.  And, I am so happy they are playing nicely with each other that I completely forego asking them to clean.  Ugh.

What does that have to do with the following pictures?  Absolutely nothing.  As usual, I have lots of “crafting” pictures, and I am going to finish this post and then clean another crafting mess that I really should have had them clean.  (Of course, I do have them clean quite a bit, but sometimes it seems I just take the “easier” route of doing it myself, which seems to be happening far too often, lately.)

Painting the birdhouses from the Easter Bunny.

Making a “Zoo” with friends.

Doing a life-size self-portrait.  If you’ve read this blog for a while, it may seem like we do these all the time… we really don’t!

Peaches!

Our tree is so loaded this year, though most of the peaches are quite small.  I say this every year, but I really am going to read about how to take better care of the tree so that we get larger peaches next year!  Anyway, we enjoyed our first few peaches, and are looking forward to lots more.

Hiking the Waterfall

Yet another “While I was away” post… (I bet the kids are ready for me to go, again!)  The kids hiked all the way to the waterfall without the backpack.  This is a first.. and my hubby brought the camera, which is also a first!

The forecast calls for some cooler temps this week… I hope I can talk them into going again, with me!

Perler Beads and Graph Paper

I keep a small basket in my closet filled with books, dollar store items, and other fun little things that my kids lovingly refer to as “the prize basket.”  They have various ways to earn a prize, and it’s nice to have on hand.  Half the things in there, I couldn’t even tell you where they came from anymore.  One such item was a tablet of graph paper that was overlooked over and over again.  Last time Natalie was looking through the basket, I suggested that perhaps she could use the graph paper to draw her own perler bead designs.  She was immediately sold.  This weekend she decided to draw out a pattern for a stuffed parrot she has named “Jabber.”  I was SO impressed… it’s a little weird when your eight-year-old does something that you don’t think you could have done yourself!  He’s not done yet, but check out Jabber:

And, as with all crafts there is always the possibility for this:  (Don’t look too closely at how dirty my floors are!)

 

Happy crafting!

Lemonade Ice Cream

Have you tried the new lemonade frosties at Chick-fil-a?  The kids and I were so excited to try them, and then a little disappointed.  In our opinion, they were not “lemony” enough.  I told them we could try to make them on our own some time.  Apparently, it was time while I was away.  (My husband is amazing!)  They decided to make some lemonade ice cream, and I am happy to report there was enough leftover for me to have a bowl last night.  YUMMMMMMM!!!

I am also happy to report our freezer is full of several more containers of lemon juice from our lemon tree earlier this year.  I foresee lots more lemonade ice cream in our summer future!

Forever Wild

I have my assistant, (Allison), sitting next to me because I have no idea about these pictures since I wasn’t there!  All I can tell you is several years back, we saw an episode of Extreme Home Makeover, (remember that show?), and we heard about this place.  When we looked it up, we discovered it was fairly close by.  Looks like a fun time was had by all!

While I was away…

One week ago today I was flying up to see my Mom and help her transition home from the hospital.  I am so grateful I had the opportunity to be there.  Meanwhile, my hubby brilliantly took pictures of all their happenings… even down to his adorable breakfast helper while I was gone!

More pictures to come.. they had a great time while I was gone!  On the phone, Allison commented, “Mom, you are normally my favorite breakfast maker, but when you’re away Papa makes the best breakfasts including the fluffiest of fluffy waffles.”  Too cute!