It's Still Summer, Ya'll!

It's still 100 degrees and it's still not too late for a pool. Well, that's what we are doing today. Devin worked lots of extra shifts and decided to wait on his garage foundation and get a family gift instead.

 Zelda dug a cool nest from the top soil that was dug up and piled up in the back yard.

This little boy will be 3 tomorrow but his party will be next weekend. We are all excited to have a pool party for him!

The heat had everyone a wee bit cranky this week so we took the opportunity to drop everything at 8:30 in the morning and head out with a packed lunch.

 Sometimes a change of view is a good thing!

 The kids can play and do stuff different from what we have at home.

 This guy is happy to be just about anywhere and loved watching the kids play.

 Have I ever mentioned that it's a good idea to wear this kid out?

It was pretty hot out , even that early, but we managed to sit at a table in the shade. Water and a cold sandwich helped and we were home by 11am. It wore the boys out and they took naps when we got home.
It fixed the cranky attitudes for sure!

Okay, it actually took a bunch a couple of these to totally cheer my attitude up. What ever works, right?

It All Comes Back Around

I am without my 2 teenagers for a whole  week! I remember the days way back when I would keep 5 children in tow everywhere I went such as the grocery store, the bank, etc. Those days are almost a foggy memory since my 2 girls became my best babysitters. Oh well, if I did it once I can do it again, even with my boy.

 *Zeb loves to hold every animal on this property*

 *Watching his daddy cut a dead tree down was super-duper-cool. The kid LOVES power tools*

 The first 5 children , who were all girls, were always pretty easy to take places.I could pack a bag with books and snacks and they would politely read and snack and act civilized in places as mundane as the dentist office. In fact, I remember one time, before I had boys, sitting in the waiting room of a dentist office and across from me were two ladies (they were friends) with their children. They had 3 little boys between them and I remember 2 of the boys would squirm and throw fits and jump around and yell...basically act out. Yeah, I pretty much thought those two women couldn't control those boys very well. Ha-ha. It all comes back around, I tell you.

*Zeb can make a "gun" from anything. He was very proud of this big one to shoot birds.*

Yep, you know what I am about to say, right? This boy of mine doesn't sit still and loves to throw things. He acts BEST when I take him out by himself. If he is with any of the other little ones, he acts like a beast. I apologize now for all of you women whom I unfairly judged. I am being paid back:-)
Although we did venture out Saturday as a family and eat at the Cracker Barrel for an early dinner, and the boy was angelic well behaved, along with all of the remaining siblings. Progress is being made!

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We kicked off the weekend with a family movie night and watched Rango. It was cuter than I thought it would be. It was an extra special night because a friend from waaaay  back in high school came up from Atlanta to visit! She even brought her new little baby.

 *Rose LOVES babies and especially loved this little sweetie*

We were so glad too have them here for a visit. She brought her son too, but he was off playing with my two kids the entire time...I think I saw them once:-)

*****

Do you know what else comes back around? Styles and trends. We decided to craft a little this weekend to can you say "Hello 80's?"

I  ventured out with my 5 little ones to buy some barrettes and ribbon and buttons.

 You remember these, right?

 I always wanted some of these, back in the day. My mom wouldn't buy them and there was no internet to look up a tutorial at the time. In fact, I am not sure there was even a "super store" back then to buy the supplies. Well, I can now make my own! I am sure they will not look as cute on me as they do my children. That's OK.

It's a fun craft and your children can give it a whirl. I want to make some with holiday themed colors. You can look at the tutorial on Wee Folk Art.

*****
It was a hot and sticky and humid weekend. I am sure the week will be the same. I have a few friends who started school today.....YIKES! I am not starting until after Labor day. What's the rush? It's still summer, even with hot, humid weather! There are watermelons to be eaten and sprinklers to be run through. There are still tons of lightening bugs to catch! I dread the passing of summer into fall. Of course, I might REALLY be dreading the fact that I must get my school books and house in order too:-) You know the saying that the days are long but the years are short? Those are my feelings. Some days seem to drag out and by bedtime I am exhausted, but it is amazing how quickly the seasons and years pass by.  Here's wishing for a long, long summer with lots more watermelon in it!

Have a peaceful week!

A HUGE Thank you!

I cannot thank you all enough for the donations to 318 Partners!  Together we collected $765!!!

I know that your sacrifice and generosity will help! I cannot say enough to every person who made this large donation possible. You are wonderful and you have blessed someone from North Korea.

Using random.org the winner of the Quilt Art and the Keurig Coffee Maker is Barbara I!!!!! Barbara, thank you for your donation and expect to see your raffle prize with in a week or so!

Doesn't it feel good knowing that no matter how LARGE the problem or the disparity, that you can help? Blessings to you all!

Sour Patch Assault

This weekend was very busy, yet I still had time to 1. Find a new favorite candy and 2. Give myself a busted lip with such candy.
All these years I thought this candy looked yucky! I was soo wrong. In fact I bought this large bag for movie night and then proceeded to eat the entire bag an hour before the movie guests arrived. How do you like that hospitality?

 We brought a few friends home with us after the curriculum fair and after dinner decided to head outside to pop the popcorn and set up for the movie. It was still daylight so the chickens were all over, looking for dropped food.

 They know that I tend to drop popcorn on the ground, being that I am so graceful and "lady like."

 Indiana bought a toy rifle at the fair and Zeb loved it. He would constantly point it in the air and shoot it. When asked what he was shooting he would reply, "Birds!"  His grandpa would be so proud:-)

 Here I am all "lady like" again and here is where my new favorite candy caused injury. We were throwing the candy into the air (me and the kids) attempting to catch it with our mouths. Well, one hit me in the lip and cause my tooth to bust it a bit. Such a dramatic picture!!!! I still love the candy though:-)
The movie was great, we showed JAWS. We all agree that the movie night has been a great activity and will continue movies until it's just too cold.

 Summer nights are perfect for playing outside after baths, even if the dogs decide to join in on the trampoline fun.

 Crack the egg is a favorite game for the kids.

 It is also a good time to check on the birds and hold them. Zeb ran and chased this little hen all over.

 He also finally caught her. Doesn't she looked thrilled? He calls her his baby.

 "Last one back to the house is a rotten egg!"

 I bet if I ask "who left their barbie outside for the dogs to chew up???"  ALL of the kids would reply, "Not me!!!!!" That's more scary than the big black snake we saw last week!

 Speaking of scary......we are feeding a ton of hens and yet they are refusing to lay eggs! It's a mystery we have yet to figure out. They are not molting and they are not sick. I am sure there is a reason, but we have yet to find it. Journee mowed the grass down in their lot today and they love pecking and scratching the cut grass.

 Another activity this weekend was spending the day at the lake. Fletcher loves the water and splashes it everywhere. It was warm water and felt great, especially on this hot, humid day.

 The sweet corn is coming in and we picked 100 ears to freeze. Here Fletcher decided to eat on a raw piece and of course he loved it. This is the sweetest corn we have ever grown!

These long summer night are perfect and they are also a nice welcome after the long, hot summer days.
The raffle ends this week!!!!!!!! You have 2 more days to buy an entry and to help 318 Partners with their rescue missions! THANK YOU so much to everyone who has contributed so far! We have $765 so far!!!!!!!! PLEASE consider donating $10 today if you have not done so yet! You can get more details HERE!!!

Have a peaceful week!