Future Pianist?

I'm such an idiot

E just turned 8. She had a fantastic birthday. We celebrated at Eagle Island. I being the real smart girl that I am, forgot to put the little card into my camera, so I have very few pictures to document. I am getting dumber by the minute.
Some of her presents and her birthday breakfast of pancakes, strawberries and whipped cream

This little girl of mine kept eating the sand. Yuck.

Hay and Em lounging in the water.

We had a BBQ lunch and ate cupcakes. Good thing we saved one for her wish!

Free Kittens

We had a stray adopt us and give us five cute cute kittens. We have three boys and two girls and Mom. They all have to go. If you know anyone who wants a cute cuddly kitten, please please let me know!

Da Creek

We have been finding ways to entertain ourselves closer to home. So sometimes we go to the creek to play.

I don't know what it is about keys and phones. Baby P always wants one in her mouth. Maybe because it is a naughty thing?

Uh, hello Mom, I'm over here....


Sweet little cheesier

We weren't sure if Peanut could swim. So we dropped him in the water and sure enough, he swam to shore.

I always tell the kids to strike a pose. E is cute and Em is party girl, and Hay is doing the stripper pose.

Rock Paper Scissors to see who would go under first.

Paparazzi

Hay wants to be famous. She always pretends that paparazzi is following her. Its really funny. She was outside playing with the hose and I couldn't resist playing paparazzi with her.

Viewing these photos is so bitter sweet. I can't believe how much she has grown and that she is no longer my baby. She is such a beautiful young lady. I really take for granted all that she does and how wonderful of a person she is. Her personality sparkles. She lights up a room. She always takes charge when I need her too. She is strong. She is intelligent. She puts up with me. She is my Hay.

You should be able to click on the photo to see her cute sweet personality. (Thanks Raney for the great way to post lots of pictures!)

Another Good Read...

UltraMarathon Man by Dean Karnazes

I borrowed this from a friend and absolutely loved every page. This man is amazing.

My biggest obstacle when I am running or doing anything that seems hard, is my mind. I tell myself to quit all the time. Our bodies will always get tired. You have to fight with your mind and heart to keep going.

Even if you hate running, it is still such a good motivating book. I need to read it again because I am in a real big slump right now. My body is telling me to give up and that life is too hard. Maybe tomorrow.........

My Garden

I know that this is a stupid thing to post about, but this is the first garden in 8 years that actually has more vegetable plants in it than weeds. I am quite proud of myself. Usually by this point, I have given up. This summer, I'm home all the time. It is amazing what you have time for when you are not out and about! I planted potatoes, onions, green beans, peppers, tomatoes, beets, cucumbers, cantulope and watermelon.

My first baby watermelon. I ususally don't plant these because of lack of space, but this year I didn't plant any squash (because of squash bugs) so I had the room.

I already have tons of green peppers. They are suppose to change to red and orange, so I am patiently waiting.

Lifeguard Training

This summer, my kids are having to use their imaginations to have fun. Because Steve is pretty much jobless, we are home bodies, which takes some getting use to. Things were pretty quiet this afternoon, so I decided to go outside and find out what was going on. This is what I found...

Lifeguard Training

E takes the flip flops and lets them go...

She was talking to them all the way like they were little kids floating in the water

Hay then tells them there are sharks in the water and hurries and pulls them out. She is the "Lifeguard"

Strike a pose.....

I'm always behind

We had a really fun July 4th this year. It started out for me picking raspberries for a couple of hours in the wee hours of the morning and then rushing home to shower, do hair and then dash down to the Melba Celebration. Hay decided to ride her bike this year in the parade and we were really sweating it, thinking we wouldn't make it, but we had lots of time to spare.

After we decorated their bikes, Hay and her friend decided to wait until the bike riders passed and jump in the parade
Eating popsicles and waiting

E worked hard! She collected so much candy that she hardly got to see the parade. (It pays to be super cute!)

E had put an umbrella in the stroller and I was forever grateful. It was quite sunny and hot

Hay and her friend got tattoos. Hay's said "Bite Me!"

I was brave this year and let Hay stay down in Melba with her friend and their family all day and evening. She had so much fun!

After a nap, we went to a BBQ at our "neighbors house (about a mile away) and Baby P loved the strawberries.

E got to light some fireworks and had a blast with all the kids.

Melba has a Chicken chase each year. Hay was determined that she would catch one and she did. We brought it home and it lived in our shower for a couple of days, until Dad threw a hissy fit and told us it had to go because it didn't have a buddy. We were super sad. I was so very proud of her. Maybe she will be a chicken wrangler when she grows up.