Friends

The past several weeks have been very busy and this week was no exception. But unlike weeks past that were full of travel (3 trips), family funerals (2), back to school, and other craziness - this week was all about friends. Our littlest guy had a play date every day this week except Monday. Between playgroup, having his cousin over and swapping kids all over the neighborhood, his week was nonstop fun. My girls had two afternoons spent with some friends who's family is moving. I got to spend some time watching their younger brother and soaking up his babyness. I hosted a small breakfast for Jennie, our wonderful friend who is leaving us, and we all enjoyed some yummy food and a good cry. There was also an open house for Mark and Jennie's family on Friday night and lots of opportunity for service in between it all. We will miss this sweet family and wish them the best in their new adventure. We love you guys!


Even the cat had a play date.

Male bonding.

5 Reasons I love my Cat

I love my cat! There are days when she may be my favorite member of the family. I know that there are some of you that will think this is weird, but what can I say? Love me, love my cat!



Here are 5 reasons I love my cat.

#5..........She bathes herself.
#4..........She's doesn't complain.
#3..........She kills the bugs in the house for me.
#2..........She like to snuggle in bed.
#1..........She doesn't mind if I don't get the laundry folded. (she just naps in it!)

Cousin Tme

We traveled to my parents home for my grandfather's funeral this past weekend. The kids were sad about their great Grandpa, but excited for a reason to spend time with their grandparents and see their cousins. I never had the benefit if growing up with cousins myself. My mother was the only of her siblings that was married on her side of the family. I did have a few cousins on my dad's side but we rarely saw each other. So I love to see my kids playing with and loving their cousins. We went over to my Brother's house for pizza on Friday night and the girls spent the night and got to stay up late watching a movie in the "movie room".

These two were inseparable. Watching them play you would never guess that there is an 18 month age difference between them.

Dog pile!

This little guy always looks at me with this exact expression on his face. He's one tough customer! That's what I should call him, T.C. I really have to work to get him to give me a..............................

Smile!

Piggy back rides!

My favorite qoute- at least for today!

"Be who you are and say what you feel, because those who mind don't matter and those who matter don't mind." ~Dr Seuss

A Great Read

How much time I am able to make for reading is a real barometer of how life is going for me. When life is going along smoothly I read a lot. When I have been swallowed up by the chaos of a household full of children I read very little -if at all. Lately my life has fallen into the later category and I have found myself longing for the chance to open a book and immerse myself in a different life. Finally, this weekend I got the chance to do some reading. Yes, I had to finish in the car on our way to Grandma's house, but I'm not complaining! Any time spent reading is time well spent in my opinion. And this book was no exception.

This is one of the best books I have read this year. The book tells the story of David Ponder as he travels to meet some incredible people that help him to realize that he has the power of greatness within him , if only he will choose to look deep and acknowledge it. This book is both entertaining and inspirational. I had borrowed a copy but will purchase my own when I reread it, as I found myself wanting to dog ear the pages and make notes in the margins. It is just that good!

Bike Love

Bike love starts out early in our family. It starts out like this...............

Then it slowly starts to evolve...........

Until finally it transforms into..............

.......THIS! Yes, I married this man.

Thoughts rattling around in my head today- Read at your own risk!

Labor Day always leaves me feeling a little sad. It's the official end of summer thing. Suddenly I realize that the carefree vibe we have had going for the past 3 months is no more. It 's the weekend that I pull out my slowly dying and dwindling veggie garden. The end of sweet, red, ripe grape tomatoes grown from my own hard work and popped hot from the sun into the mouths of even hotter little kids. The end of lazy afternoons spent watching movies with the kids and sipping pink lemonade because it is too hot to move. Labor day means the end of camping trips, campfires, roasted marshmallows, and days by the lake. The end of being awakened by sunshine and birdsong every morning.

When I was a child I never thought of Labor Day as the end. It was always the beginning. It was the day before school started and with school came possibilities. New schedules and classes. Days spent with new friends and old friends. New school clothes and shoes. New backpacks and notebooks. I've always loved blank new notebooks.

Now my children start school in the middle of August and Labor Day leaves me feeling a little melancholy. Because as much as I look forward to the start of school and embrace the order that school schedules bring to our lives, I will miss that special something, that special magic that touches our lives every summer.