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.

new post...can you belive it?

Well I almost forgot where the "new post" button was it has been so long.  Can't really say what I've been doing with all my time, but its been full for sure.  We had a rather laid back summer this year.  No lessons, camps, VBS, or anything organized going on around here.  Each day had a flow of its own.  It was really good for us.  So good to slow down and do what we really wanted to do for that day.  Sometimes something exciting (like a trip to the ER for Ellie's second busted chin), and sometimes something simple (like homemade Wendy's frostys).  

Of course a few projects kept me busy on quiet afternoons.  Projects like printing out all these instas from the past year.  Costco prints on 8x8 paper so its really easy to make a square collage and get 16 tiny memories on each one.  Then you can cut them into strips, individuals, or leave them whole.  And they deliver right to your door.  But wouldn't you rather go pick them up and a get a giant swirl of frozen yogurt while you are at it?  I know I would.

PS-No clue how I ended up with 3 of Leighton in the Skyfari at the zoo.  Bonus points for you if you noticed!

where we live

I love where we live. 
It hits me at times like this. 
When Brooklyn pedals her bike,
and Ellie pulls Leighton in the wagon
3 short blocks to our neighborhood park 
in the middle of the day,
in the middle of the summer,
in a warmish 70-some degrees.  
No complaints here.

six sandals

Here's to 

matching sundresses, 

bare toes, 

saltwater sandals, 

&

green grass.

We love you summer.

welcome summer

 sprinklers

 sisters

 smiles

snacks

sandals and sips

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.

 

 

it's hot!

Well, so much for summer being over.  We got a serious heat wave this week.  Serious enough to send us to Costco tonight to buy a window AC unit for our bedroom (now why we didn't do that sooner I'll never know- maybe when we get the first electric bill I'll know).  Serious enough to make Brooklyn strip down to her undies the second she walked in the door from school.  Serious enough to give Ellie sweaty bangs all day.  And serious enough to send this little one running around the house "bunsie".  Totally reminded me of a Shel Silverstein poem (of whom I was a huge fan in elementary school).  Goes like this...

IT"S HOT
It's hot!
I can't get cool,
I've drunk a quart of lemonade.
I think I'll take my shoes off
And sit around in he shade.

It's hot!
My back is sticky,
the sweat rolls down my chin.
I think I'll take my clothes off
And sit around in my skin.

It's hot!
I've tried with 'lectric fans,
And pools and ice cream cones.
I think I'll take my skin off
And sit around in my bones.

It's still hot!

(Now if you've read A light in the Attic as many times as I have you can totally picture a guy in only his bones sweating in front of a fan- in typical Silverstein illustration-love it!)

Labor Day

Labor Day

We braved the beach

thinking we would be fighting crowds,

hunting for parking,

and vying for a spot on the sand.

Instead...

we had the whole place to ourselves,

fought raindrops,

and donned sweatshirts.

Farewell summer, 

you'll be missed,

see you next year.

officially over

Well folks, our first ever summer vacation has come to an end.  Come Monday morning , its back to 6am wake up calls, lunch packing, uniform dressing (which I love) fixing hair and breakfast (which I don't really love), and trying to make the one stoplight on the way to school (yes, I know we should be walking but that stoplight is at the top of a pretty steep hill, wimpy I know).  I think this summer went by just as fast as I remember them going by for me.  We had so much fun having Brooklyn home and were able to check off  almost everything on our bucket list.  So here's to a new start and first grade!

sweet success

One summer when I was five or six, my grandma was just as determined as I was to catch the ice cream truck in our neighborhood.  Determined enough to run for blocks and blocks in the Arizona heat, waving our arms, screaming for him to stop.  But, to no avail.  He got away, and were relegated to a single scoop from Thrifty's (a much cheaper treat by the way...15 cent cones back then!).

This summer, (30 some years later...ahem) we set out to find our own ice cream truck.  Last week we had one failed attempt.  No running or chasing involved, just ambling through the neighborhood trying to pinpoint the location of the fading tune while not letting the girls get too discouraged.  But...today, we got him.  I heard the familiar music, charged downstairs, grabbed a wad of cash and ordered Brooklyn to, "Don't let him get away!"  I let the ice cream man know, "We've been waiting all summer for this."  Brookyn informed me she had been waiting her whole life for this. Success, sweet success. 

PS-of course they chose the most freakish looking treats- for the gumballs no doubt.  What is it about gumballs in ice cream that kids can't resist? 

barbosol babes

So... summer morning, shaving cream, wading pool, bathing suits, 4 girlies...sound fun?  I got the genius idea (along with so many others) here.  The girls really had no idea what the stuff was since daddy uses an electric razor, but they knew it looked fun. It was so cute to watch them get deeper and deeper in the foam.   Leighton ended up looking like a baby abominal snowman crossed with Cindy Lou Who. 
If you dare to try on your own please note:  

1. super slippery
2. clean up is a kind of a bummer
3. probably easier to do in the bathtub (but of course not nearly as fun)
4. shaving cream doesn't dissolve in water very easily (so rinsing isn't the best method)
5. wiping it with a towel works much better
6. the less clothing, the better
7. Barbosol smells like an old man
8. getting messy is just plain fun!

Kellog's Beach

We headed to one of my favorite little beaches this week.  Its tucked away on the bay in a gorgeous neighborhood and is usually only frequented by moms and their little ones. It is perfect for wading and playing in the sand- what my girlies are really into at this stage.  The sun was shining, the girls were sand castling and splashing, and I was soaking in the sun (with SPF 50 of course).  It was an absolutely gorgeous San Diego summer day.  And I'm so glad the hassle of packing up, driving the distance, dealing with sand everywhere, risking kiddos falling asleep in the car, etc. etc. etc. didn't keep us away today.

P.S. if you live in the area and beg/bribe me, I might tell you where it is...

7-4-11

 Happy (belated) July 4th!  We celebrated an all-American Independence Day complete with BBQ hot dogs, watermelon, sweet tea, cornbread salad (those southerners use the term "salad" very loosely I'm finding) and fireworks in the middle of our great country- Nashville, Tennessee.  In addition to the stash we picked up from a local fireworks stand, Brett uncovered a literal arsenal of 20+ year old fireworks/firecrackers tucked away in the basement.  We're not sure who had more fun, the girls or him.

i scream...you scream...

I am on a roll with my bucket list.  Last night we treated the girls (plus my Niece) to Baskin Robbins $1 Tuesday cones.  We should have known we were in for it with their ice cream selections alone.  How about choosing the most obnoxious flavors in existence?  2 of the 3 ended up on the floor within minutes of scooping (but I can't get on them too much for that since mine also became a sidewalk victim- don't think I didn't scoop that baby up and set her right back on the cone).  Trying to corral the girls, keeping the cones from dripping all over the place, wiping faces and hands over and over, keeping Leighton form picking old gum off the sidewalk...tons of fun right?

eating out

 

We can cross this one off our bucket list...eating dinner outside.  It was absolutely perfect...warm...amazing food... sunshine...diet coke...ahhhhh!  I won't tell you that one of my main motivators for eating outside was that I didn't want to sweep under the table (again).  I think this will be a summer repeat for sure. 

summer 2011 bucket list

saltwater sandals

Nothing says summer like tan toes peeking out of saltwater sandals.  

summer days are here again

 summer food...

summer fun...

summer attire...

Yesterday really felt like summer.   The girls had a couple friends over and they spent most of the morning outside.  Fun in the form of water balloons, water hose, wading pool, water toys, and buckets.  They didn't even bother changing out of their clothes (except Ellie of course who has gone into her summer wardrobe of bathing suits only).  Then picnic lunch wrapped in towels, complete with watermelon and root beer floats.  I could really get used to this.