What do YOU do on a rainy day?

Do you stay inside on a rainy day?  Build a fort?  Read a book?  Watch a movie?  Yeah, we do, too.  But, in BETWEEN rain showers, we dig out the fishing poles (and by we, I mean the kids), and do a little (ahem, pretend) fishing in our back yard!

We haven't had a whole lot of rain this summer, but the amount that we got in the last day or so was enough to create a few puddles in our back yard.  The kids slipped on their rain boots, grabbed their poles, and spent quite a bit of time 'fishing'. 

 

 

In Ella's Words...Age 4

We celebrated Ella's 4th birthday this month.  I thought it would be fun to play 20 questions with her to see what her answers would be:


1. What is your favorite color? Purple
2. What is your favorite toy? The water slide (our slip-n-slide)
3. What is your favorite fruit? Watermelon
4. What is your favorite tv show? JoJo's Circus
5. What is your favorite thing to eat for lunch? Peanut Butter and Jelly or Grilled Cheese
6. What is your favorite outfit? Flower Power shirt (a shirt with a flower on it ;))
7. What is your favorite game? Tic Tac Toe
8. What is your favorite snack? Cookie
9. What is your favorite animal? Pandas
10. What is your favorite song? Mama Tooted (ugh)
11. What is your favorite book? Strawberry Shortcake
12. Who is your best friend? Molly and Delaney
13. What is your favorite cereal? Marshmallow Cereal (Mom's Best Naturals Mallow Oats)
14. What is your favorite thing to do outside? Ride my Bike
15. What is your favorite drink? Juice
16. What is your favorite holiday? Christmas
17. What do you like to take to bed with you at night? Kitties and Blankie
18. What is your favorite thing to eat for breakfast? Oatmeal
19. What do you want for dinner on your birthday? Hot Dogs
20. What do you want to be when you grow up? Ballerina

Too cute.

We celebrated with grandparents on Ella's *actual* birthday, but she wanted a Princess and Pirate party to celebrate with her friends (she actually wanted a princess party, but since most of her friends are boys right now, we decided that they may not appreciate all the pink ;)) 

 

Ella wearing the "4" shirt I made for her

 

Waiting for her friends to arrive at the party

Just being goofy...

 
Ella got a bike for her birthday...a princess bike, of course!


Ella, you are such a sweet girl.  I adore how generous you are with your hugs and kisses, and how you are always concerned about others.  You like to be Mommy's helper, but you light up whenever Daddy is around.  You recently asked me at bedtime, "Mommy, is God in my heart?", and we talked a little about what that means and we prayed (you repeating after me) that Jesus would live in your heart. <3

We love you so much, Ella!!  Happy 4th Birthday!

 

Favorite Waffle Recipe

I am not a breakfast maker.  I'm just not.  Well, at least that USED to be my excuse.  I should say that I don't enjoy making breakfast.  Perhaps it is because I am not really a morning person?  Perhaps it is just because my husband DOES enjoy it, and so I let him do the breakfast making.  Either way, it's just not my favorite meal to make.

My husband is the BEST pancake maker, and he makes them from scratch.  He uses a Betty Crocker recipe from a cookbook that used to belong to his Grandma.  It's delicious.  On the page before is a waffle recipe.  I have adapted it to make it a little healthier, and we LOVE it.  I mean, c'mon, I can handle a waffle iron first thing in the morning...I'm not *that* bad!  ;)


Favorite Waffle Recipe:

Ingredients:
2 eggs
1 1/2 cups almond milk
1/2 cup unsweetened applesauce
2 cups all purpose flour
4 tsp baking powder
1 TBSP honey
1/2 tsp sea salt

Heat waffle iron.  Beat eggs until fluffy; beat in remaining ingredients just until smooth.  Pour batter from cup or pitcher (these are Betty's words, I use an ice cream scoop or a small ladel) onto center of hot waffle iron.  Bake until steaming stops (um, or until the light on your waffle iron tells you that the waffle is done).  Remove carefully.  ;)

Enjoy!!

Summer!! What we've been up to...

We are enjoying summer, so far!  The last two summers have led us to the Outer Banks of North Carolina for a family vacation.  This year, we weren't able to make things come together to get there, so we have been trying to stay busy locally.  So far, so good!

 

We've been riding bikes...

 

...picking flowers

 

...running through sprinklers

 

...bowling with some out of town guests

...hugging an Uncle

 

...celebrating the 4th of July

 ...and anxiously awaiting fireworks with friends!

In addition, we have been swimming both in a friend's pool (a weekly occurrance), as well as in a local lake.  We attended my nephew's high school graduation, and enjoyed a weekend visit with my sister-in-law and her kids.  We have picked strawberries and raspberries, and have been using our fire bowl to roast marshmallows. 

We are enjoying our time together this summer and I can't believe it is already July!  The time goes TOO quickly!!

We hope you are enjoying your summer as well!

Last Day of Kindergarten!

Here is Ryan on the first day of Kindergarten.  I remember holding back my own tears, as he bravely walked out the door and hopped into the car.  He was excited, I was nervous.  I walked him into the door of the ‘big school’, and helped him find his classroom.  He was one of the first to arrive, and we found a table of legos for him to play with.  His brave face wavered just a bit, but he stood at the table putting together the legos and didn’t shed a tear when I walked out the door and left him at school for the next 6 HOURS!  Man, that seemed like a long time.

Ryan had a great year in Kindergarten.  His teacher was fabulous, and was just the right fit for him.  She was gentle and encouraging, and yet stern when she needed to be. 
Here is Ryan today, on his last day of Kindergarten. 


We are so proud of you, Ry, and of all of the things you have learned this year. You are quickly becoming a ‘big kid’, and while I’m not sure I am ready for that, I can see that you are.
I look forward to spending time with you this summer, and pray that the clock will slow down just a bit in the next couple of months!  For soon, you will be off to First Grade!!

Girl's Weekend

Reason, Season, or Lifetime

People come into your life for a reason, a season or a lifetime.
When you figure out which one it is,
you will know what to do for each person.
When someone is in your life for a REASON,
it is usually to meet a need you have expressed.
They have come to assist you through a difficulty;
to provide you with guidance and support;
to aid you physically, emotionally or spiritually.
They may seem like a godsend, and they are.
They are there for the reason you need them to be.

Then, without any wrongdoing on your part or at an inconvenient time,
this person will say or do something to bring the relationship to an end.
Sometimes they die. Sometimes they walk away.
Sometimes they act up and force you to take a stand.
What we must realize is that our need has been met, our desire fulfilled; their work is done.
The prayer you sent up has been answered and now it is time to move on.

Some people come into your life for a SEASON,
because your turn has come to share, grow or learn.
They bring you an experience of peace or make you laugh.
They may teach you something you have never done.
They usually give you an unbelievable amount of joy.
Believe it. It is real. But only for a season.

LIFETIME relationships teach you lifetime lessons;
things you must build upon in order to have a solid emotional foundation.
Your job is to accept the lesson, love the person,
and put what you have learned to use in all other relationships and areas of your life.
It is said that love is blind but friendship is clairvoyant.

— Unknown

I believe wholeheartedly that these girls are LIFETIME friends. 

We met our freshman year in college, and have maintained our friendships ever since. We have shared our secrets, our hopes, our dreams, and even our deepest fears.  I am blessed to call these ladies my friends.

We make an effort every year to pick a weekend to meet up at one of our homes, and we have a girl's weekend.  This year, we met at my house. We went to the spa for some pampering, visited a local winery (where they do not use grapes to make their wine, but every other berry you could imagine!), did some shopping, went out for dinner, saw a movie, and worshiped together at church on Sunday.  It was refreshing, and much needed. 

Yes, these "lifetime" relationships are special.  They don't come around often, so when they do, hold on tight and cherish them!

Take me out to the ball game...

Ryan is playing coach pitch (the next step up from tee ball) this year.  James is one of his coaches (that's what happens when you show up early to the first practice)!  :)

Ryan is a leftie, and is SO proud of himself when he hits the ball.   Everyone gets a turn to hit each 'inning', and everyone plays the field. 

It is so fun to watch the kids learning the game and improving their skills.

Ryan waiting for the ball

A little help from Coach Dad

Getting the grip 'just right'

Ella patiently watching her brother

Ryan swings

Waiting to run to second

Another hit!

Ryan and our neighbor friend