We're serving you...

was the phrase that was yelled to us by our three excited kiddos this morning.

I'm not sure where the idea of serving us breakfast came from,

but once they had it, there was no turning back. 

We were instructed to please sit.

We were served coffee with toast with butter and honey.

While they were preparing the toast,

I heard the words, "Uh-oh, we'll just give that one to mom."

My hubby and I couldn't stop laughing. 

We had half filled coffees,

my toast was dry on half of it with no butter or honey,

Zach's toast was cold so the butter didn't melt in,

and it was the best breakfast I've ever had.

 I'm not sure what the thought process was behind the hats,

but that probably goes to show you how much we go to restaurants.

It was just adorable.

I hope every one's day started as perfect as mine.

God bless.



Please Mama...

While the older two kiddos were at a train museum,

My Big Girl was a little down that she wasn't going

 so I promised fun with just her, mom, and dad.

 My Big Girl wanted mama and her to go in the pool. 

"It's not that hot out and the water's really cold, honey." I said.

"Please Mama." My Big Girl said looking up with puppy dog eyes.

I warmed up quickly with by giving my Big Girl

rides around the pool.

 On Monday,

I got a call from a friend telling me the Amish had some

strawberries and they were mine if I wanted them...

like there was any doubt.

I washed the berries in a vinegar and water solution

hulled and froze them.

 I did enough strawberry jam last year that I didn't need to this year. 

So we now have bags of frozen strawberries

and crushed strawberries in the freezer for the winter.

In the next couple of weeks,

I have to take inventory of my pantry and make a list of

needed items for canning for this year.



Did I mention...

how much I adore my garden boxes!

 The proof is in the boxes. 

My garden is doing extremely well so far. 

I did have to reseed my carrots,

but the new seeds have already been thinned and are doing great.

 Evidently, the pea trellis I designed wasn't big enough.

The peas are going crazy this year!

 At the rate my beans are growing,

I'm going to have to stake them pretty soon:)

 My beets, tomatoes, and peppers are off to a healthy start.

We have been getting so much rain that I have only had to water once. 

It's amazing how much the plants grow more with rain water!

 I'm going to picking my first crop of Tolli's sweet Italian peppers soon.

 Cucumbers are doing well.

I've been debating getting some sort of trellis to let them climb,

but decided to let them drape over the garden boxes like last year.

 Here is my onion and tomato box that is looking healthy.

My tomatoes are growing great!

This is the biggest one yet in my garden. 

This is my garden as of June 24th, 2013.



"When is Mary going to get here?"

We had a wonderful visit with my Aunt last week.

My aunt Mary drove down to hang out with us for the day.

We had a great visit with a special lunch

at our favorite little coffee shop.

The kiddos were ecstatic they could have fountain soda!

We tried to squeeze in as many hugs as possible in the time we had...

but of course, it's never long enough.

So arrangements for the next visit were planned

and we soaked up the all the love we could.

We had a great day!

 

A Wedding Weekend

Along with the wedding this weekend,

came family from Alaska filled with stories of hunting and fishing.

 My little one was still not feeling the best,

but most won't know it by that smile on her face:)

There aren't cuter kids than that are there?

Becky and I at the rehearsal.

We didn't even plan on color coordinating outfits!

 Caleb and KC as husband and wife.

 My Big Girl in heaven...eating.

 

 My little princess wanted to know when the dancing started.

Well, needless to say, we danced for two hours straight,

then this Mama needed a break

and Grandpa came to take all the cousins home for a sleepover.

 

 Grandpa and my Big Girl.

Note: They both had their tongues out, but I wasn't fast enough.

 

 My Big Girl just wanted to slow dance with her cousin Winnie.

 

 My Little Princess requested a dance with the groom...Uncle Caleb.

 

 We welcomed KC to the family with open arms and dances...

there were so many excited kiddos to call her Aunt KC:) 

In my gardens...

lots of things got marked off the check list. 

It's amazing how being gone three days,

 can make that much

of a difference in my gardens.

 The strawberry rocks got placed...

I think the kiddos liked this part the best!

 This was the first time I checked the red sedum roots that I planted.

Almost all of the 96 plants came up and are flowering.

 This heart breaking discovery was noticed immediately

when we got home. 

The deer found my fruit trees!

I did some research and found liquid fence,

which is a natural deterrent to deer.

It had great reviews and

besides stepping into an ant hill and getting bit by ants while applying(I mean really),

it was very easy to use.

 My garden boxes are doing great. 

We had to put off our original plan of making a large scale tomato cage this year

and use my normal cages

because my plants grew like crazy while I was away.

Here is a view of my garden boxes from today.

My newest additions to my flower beds were bleeding hearts.

We have had daisies growing in our yard for years

so I moved them into the flower beds.

I have more spices growing in pots(basil, rosemary, lavender, and chives)

so I'm hoping that I will have some continuous harvests.

Feeling blessed in so many ways today!

Coughs and Crafts...

Well, what a better way to start off summer by taking a trip to the ER?

Besides some antibiotics and some extra strength Tylenol,

we are hoping to be on the fast track to getting better...

it is summer after all. 

 What am I to do with a sick little one and two kiddos

starting a cold, but wanting to be entertained?

The only thing I know to do...crafts, crafts, and more crafts.

 I saw somewhere that painting rocks to look like strawberries and

putting them by your plants,

will deter the birds away from eating the real berries.

 

The theory:

The birds will be frustrated with pecking at rocks that

by the time the real strawberries come,

they will leave them alone.

I'm willing to try anything at this point.

I'll keep you posted on the results.

 

 Next project: pine cone bird feeders.

 I love it how everyone of the kids gets hooked on

different projects...you can tell who liked this one the best. 

 Even though it was a "hot day" according to the kids(78 degrees),

they managed to stay with me for the assembly.

My eldest loved hanging them on the branches so

we can watch from the dinner table.

 

I am planning on this summer being a blast

and having at least one art project a week. 

Well, we are a week into summer and

have been gone for three out of the seven days

and are on the third craft project...

I think I need to slow down:)

Our Weekend Getaway

We went up to Door County with our close friends.

It's always funny when we go places

and people ask us how we are related.

This was the view outside our backdoor.

I don't think it gets better than this. 

 Of course, what a better way to commemorate the trip,

but a little splash in the lake on Friday afternoon?

 I didn't let Deb even try the temperature of the water

because that would have guaranteed not going in. 

We held hands ensuring no body being left behind.

Everyone was saying I had Deb's hand in a vice grip

 and that I was dragging her in no matter what.

 I don't think it was that extreme...well maybe. 

 But we made it in.

 And out safely with smiles on our faces.

So how bad was it, really?

Well, saying it was cold would be lying,

it was freezing!

 We played on the beach.

 The boys played beach football

and my eldest boy was quarterback,

which he LOVED.

 There were snuggles to be had on the beach.

And helped warm the kids up too!

I don't know who was having more fun,

the kids or the adults. 

 Look what washed up on shore...

What a beautiful mermaid! 

 Look who got Deb back into the water on Saturday?

"Hey Brent, could you wash off my feet?"

"Oh, just my feet, no, just my feet, AHHHH!"

 Water is so much fun!

 "I never want to get up and be a mermaid forever."

 Look at this face, 

how could this boy ever do anything wrong?

Is that sand your picking up?:)

This is usually the mark of a good trip. 

What a wonderful weekend!