Monday, July 30, 2012

Garden Goodness!

I need to get a photo of our garden, because let me tell you: it is massive and wonderful! 

We teamed up with our pals, and neighbors, and honorary family, and babysitters, and the list goes on, to create the most wonderful garden.  Pictures of it to come soon.

For now, check out one piece of produce: spaghetti squash!
Kinda weird, isn't it?

I made it just as if it was the spaghetti noodle.  The texture was different, but it was absolutely delicious!

He LOVED it.

Kid tested and approved by Layla.

She was unsure at first, but ended up eating every last bit.
Spaghetti Squash = success!!  Yummy and so good for you. 

Adventureland 2012

It was another great summer weekend!  Us, along with Dallas's parents, and sister's family ventured to big ol' dreamland: Adventureland.  They haven't seen Disney or anything better yet, so Adventureland far exceeds their expectations.  I love it that way!

Their hands are full.  And, so are their hearts.

Us.
The weather was spectacular.  I mean, it could have rained any day this summer and has not, but of course it did while we were at the park.  Oh well.  I'd rather be wet from rain than sweat anyday. 

The kids had a blast on the rides.  And, the joy I find in watching their huge smiles and bright eyes is so rewarding.  It was a great day for all!

At the top while dropping the kids off at the bottom.  Maleah becomes concerned, while Charlie just pops right on up.

Fun with Daddy in the water!

Savoring every last minute with this girl this summer.  I am so excited for her to start school, but will always be one of those mommas who is sad the first day and ecstatic the last day.  Call me crazy.  I love spending my days with these hoodlums.

Chilly day for the water, but fun anyway!!

Beyond thankful for my hubster.

Cutest moment of the day.  Charlie got to ride the Frog Hopper (barely!).  He got on, and right up went his hands.  He has NO problem keeping up with the big dogs.  Monkey see, monkey do.

Ummmm???

This is fun!!

And then he starts screaming and giggling. 

So stinkin' cute!!

That was thrilling.  Very happy little boy and girl. :)
After 9 hours at the park, we headed to the hotel, ate pizza, and zonked out.  The next morning was breakfast and swimming, then onto Jordan Creek where we shopped and the kids played.  It was a great weekend!


After a full, but great weekend, it feels so good to put the kids to bed and just chill out and regroup with my main man.  We love watching the kids burst with excitement, and get this feeling of "they are ours."  But dealing with tired kids, traveling, all 5 of us sleeping in one room, meltdowns over candy at the mall...all of it is hard work.  I can't imagine doing it with anybody but Dallas by my side.  We are doing this, together.  And, it feels so good, and so very worth it. 

Tuesday, July 24, 2012

Party Time!

This weekend was party central.  One of the great things about summer time is all the birthdays!  Between May 30-August 31, 8 of the grandkids (on both sides) have birthdays.  This doesn't include September - October, which is another slew of birthdays.  Good times!!

First birthday party was Saturday, with the birthday kids Noah, Asher, Maleah, and Charlie.  We invited our friends for a Splish Splash Birthday Bash!  It was a blast!

Thank you, Pinterest!

Charlie pretty much supervised the cheese balls the entire party.  :)

"Ool Water," because there's no "P" in it.  Let's leave it that way!

Our dear friends and church family.

Add caption

We are pretty good party planners, if I do say so myself.  Love being close together so the celebrations are all the more grand!

We spent Sunday resting up for another party!  Sunday evening we celebrated Wesley and Maleah!  Angie hosted, and the kids played and played and we ate yummo food! 

Maleah with her cake she requested from Angie.  She was absolutely tickled to have a pink and purple Barbie cake!  Huge thanks to Angie, as there's no way on earth I could have made her wishes come true.  And, it tasted as good as it looked!
Unfortunately, I didn't take many photos!  But, I can assure you, it was a great time had by all.  We just love birthdays around here! 

Monday, July 23, 2012

My Heart.

This week, my heart has gone from throbs to pitter patters, daily.

The missing girls, 45 minutes from home, absolutely makes every part of me ache.  I can.not.fathom not having my birdies in my nest.  I would be that mom, hysterical as can be.  There is no reason for it.  Those girls, regardless of where they come, are innocent little children, experiencing fear and a nightmare come true.  Dallas and I were talking that nobody has any clue of what they are experiencing, obviously.  Chances are it's probably not great, but even if they were being treated like royalty and having "fun," fun is only fun for so long.  There is no place like home.  It makes me sick.  It makes my heart sink.  It is of this world.

In the same week, we celebrated birthdays.  It took work and preparation.  It took money and time.  But, we could.  And so, we will.  We celebrated life, and life is so worth celebrating.  God has given us Maleah for five precious years, years that I wouldn't trade, and thankfully haven't had to trade, for the world.  Because of that, we celebrate.  Watching her try not to explode in excitement and act all cool while singing happy birthday to her made my heart skip a beat.  Her life is something that will be eternal.

Then, the shooting in Colorado.  How can one person do so much cruelty?   One act, a matter of minutes, and so much devastation.  All the while some people work a lifetime for a little bit of good.  It doesn't seem fair, does it?  It is so very much of this world.

It is so hard to not get discouraged.  Watching the news is depressing.  Sometimes it just seems too overwhelming to think of the responsibility of raising children in this

But then I think about my heart.  It belongs to Jesus.  And, praise God, He has overcome all of this

I have tried to keep my attitude, thoughts, emotions, in check.  I won't complain about eating a cold lunch, because all the time I spent cutting hot dogs into a million tiny pieces, somebody wishes that they were too.  We won't complain about bad farm days and no rain, because most years are spectacular.  While I feel discouraged about disciplining for the umpteenth time today, I'll remember there is a woman out there who so badly wants to guide and teach a child, but she, for whatever reason, is unable.

Days are hard, for sure.  Not everything is honky dory.  But it doesn't take much to look around and realize that, because my heart is grounded in Him, we are so blessed.

We are in this word, but we do not have to, and should not, be of it.  This world has disappointed so much the last week.  It has settled in me as fear and paranoia, sadness and anger. 

But in the moments my heart trembles, my husband, home, job, kids, bring it back into rhythm and remind me we are His.  I'm thankful He lives in my heart and holds my tomorrow.  Because sometimes the todays, are just plain painful.

Swimming Lessons 2012

We have completed our 2012 summer swimming lessons.  They went fine.  Being a water lover myself (let me rephrase...swimming pool lover), the kids naturally feel comfortable, as well.  Layla is much more timid than Maleah or Charlie (who woulda thought!), but her confidence will come with time and age.  Charlie, on the other hand, needs lessons as he is far TOO confident and will jump right in, ready or not!  Oh, the things that make my heart skip a beat!

Anyway, here are photos from the fun two weeks.  And by fun, I mean for the girls.  Their lessons weren't at the same time, so Charlie and I got to sit (haha!!  sit??) at the pool for two hours every day for two weeks.  It actually went better than I anticipated, but I was very relieved to be finished.

Onto the photos...

Maleah.  It was nice to see her swimming this level instead of just splashing around.

Mr. Trouble.  or Mr. Cute.  or Mr. Sneaky.  Whatever you want to call him.

Out the slide she comes!

Good jump, Maleah!

Onto Level 3 she goes...

Layla's class.

Front float.

Back float.
It was neat for me to see them in a "group."  I feel like I don't see them take instruction from others often, so I'm always interested in how they do when I'm not there.  I was so pleased with them and their respect and obedience.  So pleased that we got ice cream, almost every single day.  Don't judge.  It was hard work for me too.  

:)

Summer Lovin'

Husking corn! 



The baby in the house is almost 2!  What!!

All American boy...dirty face, backwards hat, chowing down some corn!

Lots of HOT days mean lots of tired boyS! 
Water lover!

The boys teaching the ladies about dealing with dirt!

This sprinkler is fun stuff!

Best buddies.

Riding in the Aplington parade with Grandpa Rod and Grandma Bonnie!

Layla with the queen, our very own Frankie, at Aplington Days.

Beautiful faces at Aplington Days!

Layla watching the detasslers...really.  She's an interesting gal.

Our very own firecracker, Layla!

4th of July s'mores at the Hubbard's!

Maleah on the 4th of July.