this week...

We just barely made it through our yearly heat wave.  High eighties for over a week.  Can you believe it?  Spoiled I know.  We ended up staying at church for over 9 hours trying to avoid our heat box of a house. Spiritual and physical refreshment for the week. 

The girls have been begging for a dog lately.  Watching "Where the Red Fern Grows" really got them going.  Brooklyn went so far as to say, "I probably wouldn't need nay toys at all if I had a dog."  That girl.  Lucky for me, Leighton is perfectly content with her mess-free Snoopy dog.   Although it did have to be walked around the block this morning.

 Ellie had big news this week when she discovered her first loose tooth.  Girl's gowing up for sure! 

Somehow Leighton has completely filled her crib.  Could she be a cuter napper?  Seriously look at those hands under her cheek.  I'm loving her (and my) nap times these days!

 Ellie is adjusting to life in kindergarten more each day. Thanks to the help of a sweet friend, lunch recess has become a lot more bearable. 

I can't get enough of this little lady.  Potty training and all, she is such a joy to spend time with. 

the lake

My husband grew up spending lots of time at his grandparent's house on Lake Nolin in Kentucky.   Now the second generation of grand kids gets to do the same.  We make the drive up from Nashville, watching fields of corn, tobacco and hay fly by,  listening to "are we there yet?"  dozens of times, and stopping at the DQ on the way if we're lucky.  We enter through the side door (the sticky front door has given my father-in-law fits and remains permanently locked now) and immediately start in on boxes of cheezits, homemade treats, and lake popsicles (only called that because they are always at the lake).  We make the trek down to the dock through the forest (trying to avoid chiggers and their nasty bites) and spend hours here fishing, swimming, snacking, and loving our time together.  We strap on life jackets and head out in the boat to the swimming cove to cool down and relax.  And let it be known, I actually got in the water more than ever this year.  Mommies do get wet apparently.

 on the dock

 

at the cove

grandma's house

This is a magical place.  More magical than Disneyland to my girls.  Sadly, we are only lucky enough to visit once or twice a year.  But we love every minute of it.  Memories made at Grandma's house are not quickly forgotten.  And must be duplicated year after year. Same Popsicles, same blow up bed, same Lucky Charms, same bird-feeding, same popcorn, same videos, same ride in Grandpa's convertible...

Watching barges on the river from the back yard.  Seriously who has a river in their back yard?  I told you it was magical.  And look at those clouds.  Clearly not California clouds.  Magical clouds.

Conversations with Grandma.  Serious or silly, she soaks in every word. 

And the girls soak in all the attention. 

Swinging from the old oak tree.  A real tree.  Big enough to hold a swing.  

Totally foreign to these suburban girls.

Hanging in Champ's pen. Why is it fun for kids to hang out in animal cages?  I totally remember playing in a dog house as a kids.  Disgusting.  Grandma's house is where they get to pretend that have pets.  And then beg us for a dog or cat for weeks following.  And be sadly denied. 

Grandma always takes time to sew with the girls (something I'm not quite patient enough to do).  Grandmas excel in patience.  Ellie had her first go at the machine this year.  She loved to go slow taking her time and then floor it.  Typical Ellie style.  Her pillow will be accompanying her to kindergarten.

Leighton was headed to Tennessee this year with two things on her mind.  This dog...

and this cat.  If you asked her who she was going to see in Nashville it was Champ and Shadow, not Grandma and Grandpa.  She and Shadow were best friends until she didn't take heed to Shadow's "give me some space kid" purr and got scratched, twice.  

We love this long walk on the greenway.  Brooklyn and Grandma walk and talk together most of the way,  looking at flowers, birds.  Grandma knows the names of them all.  And then she arranges for fireflies to light our way home.  I told you...magical.

Road Trip Summer 2012

Last week we kicked off our summer with a little road trip.  "Little" like over 20 hours in the car in 4 days.  The girls were troopers (thanks to 3 DVD players) and we really enjoyed getting away and seeing family and friends.  We headed up to the central valley and spent time on the Walking Lazy M farm.  A favorite place of the girls and mine.  My good friend Steph lives in her grandparents' old farmhouse surrounded by vineyards and orchards, just like my grandparents house used to be.  We ate farm fresh eggs, spent hours on the trampoline, gorged ourselves on Superior Dairy ice cream, and even got in a country road run (to combat the ice cream of course).  I love the simple farm life they live, and just sitting around her table sipping coffee and catching up is pure bliss for me.   

Then we headed up to Madera to celebrate Brett's parents' 40th anniversary with their family.  We did manage 4 drive bys on the way...my grandparents' house and my former homes in Fresno.  Kerkhoff, Balch, and Angus to be exact.  So strange to look at a house you spent so many hours and made so many memories in and think another family lives there now.  The curious cat in me was dying to knock on the door just to get a peek. 

We also managed to squeeze in a day trip to Yosemite with Brett's parents. They honeymooned in Yosemite 40 years before.  It was neat to be with them and think about all the time that had passed between then and now, and how their family had grown to include the five of us.  Yosemite holds tons of memories for me and just the smell of the trees took me back to family camping days when I was a kid.  The girls loved the tunnel that opened up into the amazing view of half dome, putting their feet in the cold water, and the ice cream cones that rewarded hours of walking.

 

 

Happy Dad's Day

 

These girls sure do love their Daddy...

on Father's Day and every day!

blessed

I am blessed...

 beyond..

measure...

my girls, 

my man, 

my home.

granny shares her granny squares

Okay, its decided.  I have the most amazing mother-in-law there is to have.  The only problem is she lives half way across the country.  And our visits are never long enough, or frequent enough.  But this week she got to come out and spend some time with us.  And as usual, she brought gifts.  And not just the kind she picked up in the airport gift shop either.  Ones that she spent hours and hours on stitching, sewing, crocheting, knitting, quilting (I told you she was amazing).  Adorable smocked dresses for the girls, hand quilted trick or treat bags, hand knitted beanies, a fall table runner, and a granny square pillow with a story behind it.  Please note the first picture.  This was back in the summer when we took a trip out to Tennessee and Judy showed me (for at least the tenth time) how to crochet.  This time my goal was granny squares, a whole blanket afghan of them (Judy informed me that blanket are purchased form the store, afghans are knitted or crocheted by hand).  I raided her scrap yarn bin and made off with a stash of beauties (fig. 2). And I began to granny.  And boy did they look pretty (fig. 3).  About 3-4 squares in to it, I decided a blanket afghan was a bit lofty for me so I decided it would be a pillow.  About 8-9 squares into it I decided maybe even a pillow was too lofty and settled for a pillow front.  About 12-13 squares late the entire project went on hold.  Like a 5 month hold.   Enter Judy and her completely perfect granny square pillow.  The granny-ing granny saves the day.  I guess this means I'm back to the original goal of a blanket afghan.  Maybe one for Leighton's baby doll crib is more up my alley.

Halloween 2011

 Rapunzel

 Pinkalicious

Ragggedy Ann

As expected, we went girly girl this Halloween.  Brooklyn left the tower as Rapunzel, Ellie stepped out of the popular picture book as Pinkalicious and Leighton crawled off the toy shelf as Raggedy Ann.  I typically like to make my own costumes, but had to go with the purchased ones this year (actually more cost effective if you can believe it).  You (along with everyone at the Fall Festival) are asking, "Is that Brooklyn's real hair?"  and the answer is...not completely.  She does have pretty long hair, but it got even longer with the genius find of a wad clump skein head (what on earth do you call that?) of hair for only $2.50 from a beauty supply store.  Sure beats the $20 Disney wig right?!.  Anyway, we spent the evening at the church/school fall festival playing games, eating yummy food- like cotton candy and snow cones, and consuming large amounts of candy.  Okay, when I say we, I really mean Brett, Grandma, Grandma Judy and the girls.  I spent the entire evening here...

selling almost 500 slices of pizza pizza at the cutest booth on the block.

And that will pretty much wrap up our Halloween celebrations this year. Considering Ellie is deathly afraid of something as harmless as the Chick-Fil-A cow costume, we don't want to risk scaring her socks off with the spooky sights and sounds that come along with trick or treating.

pumpkin patch in pictures

 the hunt

the find

the look

 

 

the smile

the jack-o-lantern

 

 

 

 

 

the anticipation

the ticket

 the ride

the swing

the drink

the typical shot

riding on...

I am beyond proud of what my dad has just taken part of over the last 2 weeks.  He rode over 700 miles from Kansas to Georgia in just over a week.  Yes rode...a bicycle.  Crazy right?  He was part of a team of other bikers riding to gain awareness and support for, and to provide hope to, those effected by the horrific tornadoes in the Midwest back in May.  Devastation is still a reality in the every day lives of these people and they need the hope of the Lord desperately to carry on each day.  Check it out and be inspired...

Present: Hope from Sulva Productions on Vimeo.

Julian

Typically for me, Julian means one thing...apple pie.  But we expanded our horizons this year and tried our hands at apple picking.  First impression of the place was of the manager/owner guy.  Try to imagine an Irishman meets hippie meets pirate and you've nailed the guy.  Sleeps in a tepee with a stair-master sitting outside.  Lots of metal/skull "sculptures" on display.  Beyond weird, but the guy grows a good apple, so hey.  Anyway, kiddos loved it.  Thrill of the hunt of course.  Always trying to collect an equal number of reds and greens.  Also the fact that you can eat all you want while you pick was key.  Especially for Ellie.  After carefully shining up each apple, she would take 4 or 5 bites (granted they were small apples) and then say, "That one's done," and chuck it into the orchard.  I think she polished off almost a dozen.  Leighton was fascinated by all the fallen apples and couldn't stop saying, "That one, yucky one."  And of course there's the bag carrying.  Everyone wants to be the one to carry it...at first.  Then when the thing fills up to 4 pounds or so, no one wants to.  Typical.  I'll tell you what I did want to carry though...

this plate to my table.  

Cinnamon ice cream smothering dutch apple pie. And I didn't have to share a smidge with anyone.  

Till next year Julian...

sister, home hair, and bubbles

I have to say, I really do have the best sister in the world (although she would argue that she does).  I could just go on and on about all she is, and all she does.  Like Friday (the day we like to spend together with the girlies), she agrees to home hair (which she has reserved ONLY for immediate family).  See, she's an incredible hair stylist and has clients begging her to work more at the salon, but she has chosen to work only a couple times a month so she can stay home with her little girls.  So since her time in the salon is limited, and I've always got at least 2 girlies in tow, I rarely get the treat of having my hair done in her salon.  More times than not, its a rushed bang trim in the bathroom, or front porch, or wherever the girls are playing at the moment.  I know home hair is not fun for her.  I'm sure she'd rather be sitting and talking, or hanging out at the park or something that's not work for her.  But still, she does it for me.  And I so appreciate it. And her.  Totally.

 So as we are completely distracted by the home hair process (Reynolds' foil, bathroom towel around the neck, sitting on the kitchen stool, rinsing hair in the shower...) this is what the girls did to entertain themselves. 

 And we didn't even stop them.