magical summers

Today as we sat at home for the third day in a row with another sicky (Tess this time) I found myself thinking fondly about my summers as a child. They were magical. I know it sounds cliche, but they were...magical.


[Star Valley, WY | 1980]

I remember boating on the weekend and trips to Lake Powell where my dad taught me to water ski.
I remember going to Star Valley, WY to my aunt & uncle's cabin to swim and ride horses.
I remember running out my door in the early morning hours to my friends house hoping one of them would be able to play.
I remember night games, kick the can, sardines, etc. until the sun went down and my mom called us in for the night.
I remember drive ins and fireworks.
I remember tan lines and popsicles.
I remember my dad playing catch with my brothers in the back and BBQs with family friends.
I remember long days outside playing house in our tree house.
I remember my friends and I asking our moms to let us have a sleepover.
I remember riding bikes around the neighborhood and getting Slurpees and garbage pail kid cards at the 7/11 up the street.
I remember the house being so hot at night that I would lay in the hallway to get the cool air coming off the swamp cooler.
I remember tomatoes and squash fresh from the garden.

It's crazy for me to think I'm now on the other end of these memories. When you're a kid it's so weird to think you'll be anything but. Of course time races on and those memories fade into the background until you have your own children and then once again you're reminded as you watch and help them create their own memories just how magical it really was.

I hope they are feeling the magic too.

photos from the weekend

To celebrate our state holiday we spent the latter part of the day with our friends at our local park joining in the festivities. For us that meant, swimming, food (carnival food), games, face painting, and hanging out and talking. All these things were done just to by us time for the main event....the fireworks. Good times.


We started the evening off with swimming. Little did we know the pool closed at 5pm, we got there at 4pm. We were all bummed, but we had a whole night ahead of us so luckily no one complained.






For whatever reason Bella stayed close to me the whole evening. She wasn't really into playing with the kids or doing any of the games. Haven't quite figured that one out.




Apparently, according to Megan, the blue on her chin is a "blue squiggly" and no she didn't do it herself, she told face painters what to do. Even the red around the eye cracked me up. I can't imagine what they must have thought with her request.









It was an enjoyable evening with our friends, but exhausting. We all slept in and even took naps the next day. I guess being out in the sun will do that to ya.

cultivating gratitude

Although I'm not grateful Megan woke up sick today with a fever, I am grateful it has slowed us down and given us all some time to just relax and enjoy the lazy side to summer. It's got me thinking, how come we haven't had more days like this?

I am grateful to have spoken with an old friend this morning, to know that time and distance hasn't changed a thing. We so quickly picked up where we left off...

I am grateful for the desire to get up at 6am each morning so I can enjoy the sunrise.

I am grateful for a washer/dryer that makes cleaning less of a chore each week.

I am grateful to hear creativity coming from the basement. Bella's on the piano continuing to compose her song titled "rain storm" while Tess sits next to her and attempts to write the music out on her own handmade music sheets.

I am grateful it's 5:30p and that Adam will be coming home any minute to spend the night together.

I am grateful for a husband who loves his daughters and isn't the least bit let down that he doesn't have a son to take on the fathers and sons camp out this weekend.


I am grateful for bakeries that satisfy my chocolate cravings.

I am grateful the clouds are rolling in, hopefully for another summer rain storm.

meet carl

He's the best $.99 I've ever spent.

He repeats anything and everything you say. Sounds annoying, but he has a charming way about him that entertains. He seriously has the girls in giggles for hours. Even Adam was taken with him when he gave him a chance. Find him here.

it's been one of these kinds of days

You know the kind of days that start at 5:50am and don't quit until sundown. Ya, it's been that kind of day. I don't always embrace those days, come on there exhausting, but today I did because it's a Monday. I'm always more receptive to getting back to work, hitting my to do list hard on Mondays. Tuesday-Sunday...not so much :)

Sure feels good to get in bed after getting so much done.

Goodnight Monday...

***********************************************************************************

p.s. Bella's reading over my shoulder correcting my grammar. I don't know if it bugs me or just embarrasses me that she's catching my mistakes before me.

Sunday thought

What is most important?



This was the opening question of our speaker today at church. It always amazes me, and yet, it never should, that God can and will answer prayers so quick & blatant. I literally had been thinking this morning about this very thing...Am I doing what matters most?

Sigh.

I wish this was a question I could answer an unequivocal yes to, but I know I'm falling short. Each day I have a renewed commitment to do my best, unfortunately I'm one of those one step forward two steps back kind of gals so my progress, though progress nevertheless, is small compared to where I want it to be.

So it was comforting today to hear the words service & give spoken from the pulpit. I know wholeheartedly the best way to find happiness is through others by serving them, but it never hurts to hear again and again that service is the key to our joy. In fact, it gives me hope that while my progress is small at least I know I'm on the right path.

xoxo
amy

\ˈmāk-ˌshift\ : a usually crude and temporary expedient : substitute

When I woke up this morning I found a pile of shoes stacked up by our back door and no red box to put them in. Wondering where the box went, thinking first of course what my girls had done with it, my eyes were drawn outdoors to something red.



It took me only a few seconds to register what I was looking at and realized, this is Adam's trap for the skunk. A red wooden box held up by a potato masher with a string tied to the end. On the other end is fastened a folded yellow post-it note with peanut butter on top. I would go into how ludicrous I think this is, the first being how trapping a skunk 6 feet from the house is never a good idea, but I think you can see for yourself this was not a well thought out plan. Oh, but I love him for trying.

He may not have caught our skunk, which was most likely for our benefit, but I will say, he did manage to start my day off the best way possible...with laughter. And that's really all that matters...right?


Have a great start to your weekend.
xoxo

randoms...my head is full of them

**Bella's been away at a camp since Monday, probably enjoying herself immensely while the rest of use are at home missing her. It's crazy how much one person adds to a family. We were eating dinner Monday night and it felt empty. The four of us seemed so small and yet with Bella we feel complete.

**I want these (I'm so drawn to the squares) or something like it for my kitchen. I know just the place. And since I'm not willing to shell out $260 for them, I'm determined to find them second hand...somewhere.

**I think there's a skunk that has taken up residence in my yard. No, seriously. I haven't seen it, but I keep smelling it randomly throughout the day (which is not good for anyone). Sometimes it's in the front, sometimes the back. It's driving me crazy because I can't have my windows open in the morning or my whole house smells skunky. What should I do? Would Animal Control come trap it?

**I have been sleeping horrible this week and I can't figure out why. I get to sleep great, it's just I can't stay that way. So I've been walking around like a zombie around 3 o'clock in the afternoon wondering when I can get back in bed. Drives me crazy.

**Speaking of being tired, I have backed off some, ok a lot, on my p90x. I'm still doing it, but I do miss things (like whole days) here and there. I did do 30 push ups Tuesday morning so I must be doing something right.

**I finally decided to get rid of our home phone and buy a prepaid phone to leave at the house for emergencies and what not. I've thought about it for a long time, but kept dragging my feet. It just makes sense, plus, between that and cutting my cable service in half we'll save like $90 a month. Stoked.

**Last Sunday we had church outside at This Is the Place Heritage Park (more to come), and we gave a ride to our handicap neighbor. He is a funny 55 year old man who's all about business. He doesn't like to be late, in fact if it were up to him he would be hours early and he won't give me the time of day when I say hi to him at the grocery store (he's a bagger there). Anyway, he seems to understand a lot, but he doesn't speak really well. You have to really listen to understand him. When we pulled up to the park Tess said, "this place, I hate this place." (honestly I have no idea where this is coming from. The only other time we've been was last year for church so maybe she's just thinking it's going to be hot, I don't know). After she said it, Richard, who's in the front said in a, I can't believe you just said that sort of way, "dude". Adam and I couldn't contain ourselves. It was just too perfect his disgust. She kept her mouth shut after that.

**Remember this project. I've yet to finish it (ugh I hate that), but have recommitted myself to getting it done and starting 2010. Now that I'll have more time this fall I have no excuses...not that I did before.

summery goodness

made me smile

[click here for original note]

Dear Daddy,
I love you Daddy because when I hug and kiss you I feel happy about me.

I found this note from Tess to her Dad while cleaning out a stack of papers. I don't know how old it is, though her handwriting makes it look like it was written at least a year ago. It made me smile when I read it, in fact, I got a little chocked up.

You can never really underestimate the power of being loved.

I hope and pray she will always feel this way and know, no matter what's going on in her life we are always waiting in the wings ready to give her hugs and kisses.

When I asked her what she thought about turning six she said, "I feel awesome".

When individuals from my past meet Megan the first thing out of their mouth is, "she's you". And while I agree with them on so many levels, she has a confidence about her that I've never known. Confidence that has Adam saying, "She'll either be signing our pay checks or we'll be dead by her hand". I think we both agree this girl is going places.

She sees the world in terms of her. We joke that it's all about her, and while I don't want to believe that, she goes and reminds me I'm wrong this afternoon when I asked her to take all her toys down to her room and she said, "it's all mine" in a very Dr. Evil way.



It's that funny, unique sense of humor that has you forgetting she sees the world in terms of her. She has a very mature witty style that you can't help laughing at. Even when you're exasperated and you've had enough of her way she can still make you walk away with a smile on your face.



Sometimes I call her Stinky and here's an example why. When I asked her to come out with me this morning to take pictures she said, "how many are we taking?" And I said, "a few". Then she said, "a few is three, so we're taking three" (not a question). I came back with, "no, we'll be taking more like 100". And then she said with an exasperated look, "I'll give you a few".



This girl of mine has a fondness for me like know one else I've seen. I mean I completely understand why, who wouldn't...right? ;) It was hilarious when I looked through her school journal and saw that each picture was of the two of us and titled something simple like, "I love mom". When Adam asks, "what about dad?" she tells him he's hairy and mom is smooth. I can understand her logic.



Miss M has taught me a lot, but of this she has taught me tremendously...life should be enjoyed. And boy does she enjoy it.

Happy Birthday my darling Meg. I love you to pieces.

"pajama" birthday party | photos

While the all the kids were arriving and we were finishing up breakfast I had them make chalk art. Adam drew this picture of meg, but all the kids help color it in.


Balloons all ready to go for one of our games. Like the way they looked covering the ground.


mmm...breakfast. The kids were quite confused by the waffle cake.




We tied balloons to everyone's ankle and told them to pop each others...you know the game i'm sure. Admittedly, I was a bit nervous as to whether or not it would make anyone upset, but luckily they all had a blast.


Relay potato sack races...


I can't tell you how fun this was to witness....the kids were so competitive. P.S. the sacks didn't last the morning. Don't you love the good sticking out?


Megan got her very own bike from my parents. I thought it was funny how much it matched her pjs.


Hot potato "orange squishy" style.


I ended up getting this photo because Adam made them laugh.




The question of what I would do for a cake had plagued my mind for most of the week, but it finally came...phew. So grateful for those moments of inspiration when they come right when you need them. I took a gamble and cooked the cake batter in the waffle iron. Turns out it worked perfectly except they were really fragile. I eventually figured out if I dumped the cake waffle out instead of trying to pull it out it would stay intact. I made frosting to look like pats of butter and Adam drizzled nutella on for the syrup. I loved the end result.



things I learned...
01. Being outside at 9am in July is still sticky hot. Seriously where was the cool morning? I was sweating the entire time.
02. Sitting by the birthday girl is the best seat in the house.
03. With multiple six year olds, you're bound to have someone who gets their feelings hurt.
04. Always have a party with Adam, he has such a way of entertaining the kids.
05. The earlier the party is, the earlier it gets over. We had fun, I'm just saying, it sure makes the rest of the day a little more relaxing when your done by 11am.
06. Never spend your time stressing about a party, it always go off without a hitch...kids are easily pleased. And even if there is a "hitch", no one knows but you.

swim team

Bella & Tess started swim team June 8th, the first day of summer. I didn't sign them up for the swim meets, rather, I just wanted something that would help them develop their swimming skills/strokes. Luckily I found a beginner team that started at 9am so it wouldn't put too much pressure on us in the morning, though I am finding there have been days I've had to wake Tess up.

I stayed for their first class and realized they have a lot of work to do. I knew that though, going into it. I knew the majority of the kids had been swimming all winter long and that my girls would have to practice hard to catch up.









5 weeks later I went again and was pleasantly surprised by their progress. Especially with freestyle, they both improved drastically. They actually put their face in the water while doing the stroke and turn to the side to breath. They still have more work to do with the other strokes, though I don't expect the butterfly will ever be perfected...that is one hard stroke.

Swimming is tiring and tough, they come home wasted and hungry (especially Tess) everyday, but I've been so impressed with their attitude. They go knowing they will work hard and consequently they are getting it...and are even enjoying their time in the pool. Just goes to show you, you're only good at what you do everyday. I'm not sure it will fit into our fall schedule, but we'll definitely be doing it next year...hopefully then Megan will be able to join them.


Now I'm off to put the finishing touches on Megan's birthday party that's tomorrow morning.
Have a great weekend.
xoxo