Family...

It's been hot.

Very HOT...

We try to stay in the house during the worst part of the day.

However, kids need to run off their energy.

So, out they go...

Sometimes they run and sometimes they just play in the water.

I have noticed that on the hottest days, sometimes attitudes can get a little... testy.

She didn't share.

That's mine.

He won't...

She didn't...

Crying...

Fussing...

Arguing...

The funny thing about all of that

is that in the end

we are just

FAMILY.

Forever.

Burning Hot...

Trying to clean the kitchen... still.  However, if a kitchen has been uncleaned for a long while and you live in the country... there is this thing that happens.........................

mouse poop!

YUCK!

I am finding that I can only handle so much of it in a day.  Therefore, I am not getting things put in their places as quickly as usual.  We will get it done in time, but not yet.

We went to a house of a friend of my dad yesterday and the kids played in the pool.  Oh boy!  Did they have a blast!  Now they are outside playing in a smaller pool that was given to us by the same people.  How nice!  The weather is soooo hot!  The news said this is the hottest week that we have had all summer!!!  HOLY MOLY!  I guess I will have to plant my feet in the pool... or go buy a big pool at the store or something.  I thought it was bad already! 

I took the long walk to the mailbox a while ago... I think I will save that walk for a cooler time when I get the hankering to take that walk again.

Mark started his job last friday.  He likes the route.  He likes the people he works with.  He loves being at home with the crew.  There is just so much to be done around here that he feels guilty when he is at work.  But... someone has to bring home the bacon so those muchkins out there can eat.

We went to church yesterday.  We LOVED it!  What a great group of people.  I had forgotten that finding a good home church doesn't have to be like pulling teeth... very slowly and never reaching the end.  It was just a pleasure.

My dad stops in a couple times a day during his work day... you know, to pick up equiptment and stuff... so we get to hang out with him a fair bit.  He brings a big box of icecream bars for all of us to share in the hot afternoon... the kids think he is cool!

The horse tried to buck Aubrey off the other day.  She held on so well.  She is a natural.  We are very proud of how quickly she has taken to riding him.  The other big girls like to ride as well, but they just need to relax a bit.

Okay... I need to check on my water monkeys out there.

I hope you are enjoying your burning hot summer days...... I know we are!

I Won't Mention...

What does summer look like at our house?

Tons of these...

all over the back yard!

Yes, I know it isn't summer... Yet...

But, we have actually had a tiny bit of a warm up the last few days...

I won't mention the snowflakes I saw in the forecast for this weekend, though...

He smiles...

I was reminiscing about summer while we were cleaning the house this morning.

My favorite memories from this past summer absolutely have

to be watching this little man run, jump, splash, dig and generally

have a blast while at the beach.

The smile on his face warms me to my core!

He doesn't put on "the face" the way adults have learned to.

When is is sad, he cries.

When is is mad, he stomps.

But when he is overflowing with joy...

He smiles!

If you haven't noticed, I have discovered a new photo editing site...so, yes, you will have to put up with my new discoveries while I play with my photos. I am having a really great time messing around with the pictures!

Goodbye summer...

Our last trip to the beach this summer was filled with fun, fun, fun!

We ate, played, ran, talked and swam.

Although I am sorry to see the season end, I am looking forward to the color in the leaves changing, sweater weather, holidays approaching and please dear Lord... bring us some rain!

Goodbye summer...

Lagoon Day...

Fun, Fun, Fun...

Today was Mark's company party and, like usual, they had the party at a local theme park. The kids look forward to this day every year. I am sure you can see by their bright, shiny faces that they are biting at the bit to get out of the pavilion and get out to the rides.

The temperature today was about 101 degrees. Ouch! We were burning up. We decided that the water rides were first so we could cool off and still have time to dry everyone out.
The first ride we got completely drenched. It felt soooo good!The little ones spent a little time playing in the water wherever they got the chance.
After a couple of hours we stopped for some icecream.
Cookies and Cream, Rocky Road and Mint Chocolate Chip were the big hits today.

mmmm, mmmmm, good.... We split up so the older kids could ride all of the roller coasters and scary stuff.

The little ones were in heaven riding all of the little kiddie rides. Some of them are really fast and I worried, like always. Their smiles were the best reward!
They rode whales and planes, helicopters and carouselles...
How much fun are 1,2 and 3 year olds supposed to have?

My little potty training man was doing so great.... and then... a small accident occurred.

Then a small shirt change was made by daddy and the old shirt went into the garbage.

What a good daddy! Sorry for laughing so hard, sweetie.

... and the play resumed, Hooray!!!
Yep, that is a machine gun on his ride.

He was so curious about everything. He wanted to ride everything more than once... and he did.

Sometimes they rode together and sometimes alone. They just wanted to ride.

Bumble bees, lady bugs... just let us ride!

... and laugh, laugh, smile, laugh...

It melts a mother's heart.

A great, fun day was had by all. We ate dinner with the rest of the workers at the company party and then they did the gift giveaway. Every employee gets something. Mark won a Magellon GPS system. He was very excited... but I think he really wanted the electric scooter. Maybe next year, babe.

I was thinking that after a few more trips to the lake, our summer will be over. School starts in three weeks and our time to do extras will shrink. The wonderful memories the kids have made this summer. What a blessing.

hot summer days...

Are you sick of it yet? Yes, I know... we go to the lake alot. A whole lot... but how else do you keep them happy and cool and outside?

Relaxing...
exhausting...
This was the eighth trip to the potty seat for Daddy and Brysen. (Not the last either)
I am currently working on a really bright and fun quilt. I am not sure which girl it will belong to. I will have to see it finished to figure that one out. It is really fun looking at all of the bright colors. I have the patches sewn in strips. I don't have any pictures yet, but I will soon.

Getting to know you...

Todays topics:List…

5 things you collect. Children (haha. We have eight.), fabric, my kids art work, photos, memories.

5 things about your hair. My hair is curly (frizzy), grows way to fast, brown, gives me headaches when I let it grow out because I have so so so much of it, starting to get grey (OMG!!).

5 random things about your pets. Raider farts every single night while the family watches television, he is almost 8 years old, I call him the vacuum cleaner since I let him clean up all of the kids dropped food, is deathly afraid of fireworks or any loud noise really, has a middle name given to him by the kids on the first night he came to live with us and continues to be called by that name when he is in trouble. (rufus, dufus, chocolate, cocoa, dog, frisbee) Don't ask why.

5 things in your junk drawer. tape, pens, paper, calculator, pushpins (I know... boring!)

5 of your favorite summer foods. Chef salad (with way to much dressing, sunflower seeds, croutons, and bacon bits), anything bbq, strawberry shortcake, pasta, grape tomatoes with sea salt and freshly ground pepper...so, very good!

Magical Days of Summer...

Have you ever been so impressed by one of your kids that you just know that God put them here on the earth to accomplish something really great? That is how I feel about this kid. She is so amazing. Besides being kind, sweet, helpful, compassionate, understand... and the list really does go on, she is teaching herself to play the guitar. I am learning right along with her. I love to sit and listen to the music that comes out of this young lady. She is better than she realizes. Yep! We spent another day at the lake. I can attest to the fact that it completely wears the kids out and makes them have a really great sleep at night. Maybe that will mean I will get a good sleep as well. Cheyenne usually avoids the camera, but I caught her at a weak moment. Isn't she beautiful!

Sydnee is growing up so fast. She still loves her mommy, though.

Brysen is getting more and more fearless. Today he kept sticking his face in the water. He would come up coughing, but with a huge grin on his face.

"Come in the water so you can throw us, Dad!!" I think I heard this call about 500 times...

No Joke!

...and once again... How amazing is this little two year old boy? He is working on potty training, but I think I need to start leaving out the "working" part since he pretty much has it. I really wondered if going back out to the lake would mess things up, but no way... This little guy is becoming a man!
Today really felt like magic. We are usually so busy running around. This day felt like one of those magical lazy days I remember from childhood. It was perfect.

Projects...

So I have never claimed to be an extraordinary crafter, sewer, etc. I will say that I get so much pleasure out of creating something. For me, the pure act of making something for someone is so satisfying. These are a few of the projects I have been working on this summer.

This is a little skirt that I made for our three year old. She gets a lot of this type of skirt since she would live in them day and night.

This is a simple bag I made for my ten year old to carry her Bible and pens to church.

I made this shirt for our baby. What an adorable thing. I love this and just whipped it up one morning when we had some extra time. I love this.