a couple more pics

Another great day here. I can't believe this was the last weekend of July!

afternoon on the lake

Today we enjoyed, sun, slushies, snacks, and swimming! It was a good day!






And Scott enjoyed the latest issue of In Style magazine. :) (Scott wanted me to let you all know that this picture was set up.)

nicole's here

My sister flew here on Tuesday and is staying until next Saturday....that's why I've been gone from the blog this week. We've been having so much fun together and this weekend is supposed to be awesome weather so we will be spending all day on the lake. Be back soon!

elle's new wheels

Today Elle got a new bike. It's pink with streamers and a basket. What more could a little girl want?! Now she can take her stuffed animals for a ride around the lake.

running through the sprinkler

the weekend

It was a good weekend. Saturday morning I went and picked more strawberries. I had hoped to get two buckets full but the picking was so good I left with three! An older gentleman was in the row beside me and we happened upon a goldmine of big, ripe berries. I already had my two buckets full but decided to get just one more. When I asked him if he wanted another bucket he said that he had enough berries but that he'd help me fill another one. He said it was like fishing, when they're biting you don't quit! As I drove home it started to sprinkle and then it rained for most of the day. Good weather for being inside and cleaning berries!

When the rain stopped Thomas and Elle went outside and set up a little golf course in the yard. Thomas assured me that he would fix all of the divots. I asked him to please not make any divots. :) Elle got bored with it after awhile and decided to use her driver as a microphone instead. I wish I would've had the camcorder for that!

This morning we went to church. Thomas and Elle usually go to Sunday School while we go to the service but during the summer months there isn't any Sunday school so they come with us. We were sitting in the service today when Elle opened up a bag she'd packed and pulled out her gameboy. Right away I told her that she couldn't play it, then I noticed that she had also packed an American Girl book to read. I whispered in her ear that she could only write in her notebook and do the activities in the children's bulletin. A few minutes later Thomas wrote her a note that said - 'Elle, you need to learn to just listen to the pasture.' :) 'Pastor' will have to be one of his spelling words this year!

After church we went out on the lake. Thomas and Elle swam, Ava took a long nap and Scott and I relaxed. It was nice.

testing

I was late getting our year end testing ordered so we just finished it up this week. Now it's time to start planning and ordering cirriculum for 1st and 4th grade!

basement decorating

I've been having fun decorating the basement the last few months. It's going to be a long time before it is done but I don't mind. I've learned to be patient and only buy something when I really love it and can live with it for a long time.

I remember when Scott and I were first married and we went furniture shopping for our apartment. I picked out a blue and white checkered sofa and loveseat with a 'coordinating' pastel floral wingback chair and throw pillows. Scott kept asking if I was sure I wouldn't get sick of that chair. I insisted that I wouldn't but, of course, a year later I was. :) I ended up hiding that wingback chair in our bedroom and the checkered sofas were all that were left in the living room with solid cream throw pillows. I was done with pastel floral!

I think it takes awhile to find your decorating style though and to be sure of things that you like. After awhile you realize the colors that you are always drawn to and the style of decorating that fits your taste and it becomes easier. Having a very patient hubby helps too and I am lucky to have one!

We have been enjoying this space. The throw pillows and lamps have helped to cozy it up and make it a fun spot to curl up and watch a good movie.

I was excited to find these nesting tables in the perfect color. It's a nice break from all of the chocolate brown!

We are unsure of what we want to do with this area. For now we moved the table that was in the upstairs school/play area down here. It goes well and is a good spot to play games or for Scott to work at on his laptop.

The shower was completed recently. I am so happy with how it turned out. It's actually kind of L shaped. There is a bench along the other wall but it was impossible to get a good picture of.

I'm starting to look into window treatments now. I think I'm going to start by getting natural woven blinds like these in the picture below and then keep my eye out for something to soften them up. I wish I had the talent of The Nester to come up with some sort of 'mistreatment' that would work here!

beach day

It was a fun afternoon of water, sun, and sand. We spent the afternoon at the beach swimming and building sand castles. At least the kids did.

I had intentions of spending the afternoon like Polly here. Soaking up some rays and enjoying the issue of Martha Stewart Living that I just got in the mail today while the children played nicely beside me. I forgot that I have a 2 year old!

Ava loves the water. She thought she was such a big girl swimming with Thomas and Elle.


We happened to run into a couple of families that we knew there and the kids had fun building lakes and streams together in the sand.

And you can't go to the beach without covering yourself completely with sand. It was a fun day.

for all you fellow homeschoolers

This video is hillarious! So many funny lines I can't even pick a favorite. :)

a good hair day

Ever since the day I cut Elle some bangs she's been working at growing them out again. They are getting close to being chin length so we decided that it would be a good time to give her a bob style haircut again. This morning I took her to the salon (remember I promised her I'd never put a scissors to her hair again :)) and she came out looking like this.

I love this style on her. It frames that sweet little face so perfectly! :) She really likes it too. She couldn't stop smiling at herself in the mirror at the salon.

baby tomatoes and peppers

This year I thought I'd try growing a few different kinds of veggies. I planted Cherry, Roma, and Early Girl tomatoes, jalapeno peppers, green bell peppers, and cabbage. It has been exciting to see baby tomatoes and peppers forming! I also have a herb garden with mint, rosemary, thyme, basil and chives. I love being able to just walk outside to get the herbs I want to cook with. I'd love it if you'd share any ideas or recipes you have for using fresh herbs. I'm always looking for ways to use them.

a berry busy week

I couldn't resist with the corny title for this post. :) Our local U-pick berry farm is open for picking so it's been a busy week with picking, preserving and eating strawberries here. On Monday Elle and I went together and picked 17 lbs (3 icecream buckets full) and I went again on Wednesday with a friend and picked another 15 lbs. It's so nice having a babysitter right next door who can run over and watch the kids for me. (Thanks Macki!)

We had to have pancakes with strawberries and whipped cream for lunch both days we had the fresh berries. Ava kept saying 'alicious Mommy!' (Delicious) :) She'd come over to me like a baby bird while I was cleaning them and open her mouth, I'd pop a berry in and then she'd run away to play for awhile then show up 5 minutes later for another one.

I've made 18 half pints of strawberry jam and have 4 big bags of whole berries in the freezer for smoothies. The rest have been enjoyed by the bowlful, on angel food cake and in a strawberry rhubarb crostata. It's been good!

fun with old boxes

We've had a couple of big boxes sitting in the garage that needed to be put out with the trash. Yesterday I saw that the kids had took those boxes and hooked them up to their bikes with rope and bungee cords and were hauling them all over the yard and driveway. When I asked them what they were playing they said that they were camping and the boxes were their campers. :)

I watched them play for awhile and smiled when I saw them park their campers and get in them and pretend to sleep for awhile. Elle pulls the 'roof' on her camper closed for the night but Thomas prefers to see the stars.

And of course you never go camping without a gun by your side incase of a wild animal attack. A few minutes later it's morning again and time to drive to the next camping site.

I guess these boxes can wait another week or two before they make it into the dumpster.

fireworks

Tonight we watched fireworks on the lake and ate sugar popcorn with m&m's while cuddled up in down throws. It was chilly out! This has become a tradition that we look forward to each summer.

his and her drinks

The Manly Drink - Long Island Tea
3/4 oz gin
3/4 oz light rum
3/4 oz vodka
3/4 oz tequila
3/4 oz Cointreau
Coke or Pepsi
Lime

Fill a tall glass with ice. Combine all ingredients in glass and then fill the rest of the way full with Coke or Pepsi. Stir and garnish with lime juice and a lime wedge.

The Girly Drink - Blackberry Brandy Slush
9 cups water
2 cups sugar
1 (12 oz) frozen lemonade concentrate
1 (12 oz) frozen grape juice concentrate
2 cups blackberry brandy

Bring water and sugar to a boil until sugar is completely dissolved. Cool. Add lemonade and grape juice concentrates and brandy. Freeze for at least 8 hours. Serve by filling a glass 3/4 full of the slush mixture and then top off with Squirt.

Enjoy on the porch with your sweetie after you put the kids to bed. If you live in Minnesota be sure to remember a healthy spraying of Deep Woods Off.