Projects

In some ways it feels like we are enjoying some lazy days, but looking around here, it is obvious that we are not.  Yes, we are enjoying our days.  Lazy?  Not so much.  There are projects going on everywhere I look.

Mr. M is reclaiming a bookshelf that died in the last move (the shelves were barely usable so it was still around in a back room).  Daddy picked up some pallets, and Mr. M has been busy dismantaling them and backing the bookshelf with them.

Miss E has been sewing quite a bit.  The little girls have been joining her and it is fun to see what they come up with.  Four pillows were made the other day.

 

The area wildlife is showing up in abundance these days, making these days a boy's dream come true.  At least two lizards are caught everyday.  Various bugs are being contained for observation.  One poor lizard got a leash.

I'm busy with school planning, chore and schedule organizing, child training, growing a baby, and enjoying my kiddos.

*This may look like a big mess of papers and books, but in reality it is great progress towards an organized school year!

 

As I type a surprise is baking in the oven for me.  Miss E is enjoying more free time by spending more time in the kitchen.  Little ones love joining her in there, and we all enjoy the fruits of her experimenting, fun, labors.

*This was the surprise.  A cheesecake!  YUM!

What fun summer days!

Catching flies

We've had quite a few flies around here this past month.  It must be the time of year here, because I remember this happening last year around this time, then they were gone.

Mr. M likes to hunt and catch bugs, so I asked him to try to get some flies.  This was the perfect job for him.  I thought he was joking with me when he aimed a rubberband at a fly....

Nope.  That is how he gets flies.  He is very good at it too!  Thanks Mr. M, you've been so helpful!

Can you guess what we are up to this week?

With salty snacks...

...special drinks...

The candy drawer is a little low, but these are some of his favorites anyways.

...sweet rewards...

...and an almost two year old on hand?


Yep, I pulled out the potty chair and the training pants.  We're giving potty training a go for the next couple of weeks.  Mr. K has been showing many signs of being ready, and I wouldn't mind a short break from diapers, so it's time.  He is just on the edge of being ready though.  We will give it two weeks and see where we are then.

Check out this post for some tips, tricks, and advice on potty training.

Happy Doughnut Day!

The first Friday in June is officially National Doughnut day.  My kids have been asking me to make doughnuts for a few months now.  I think it's been about 2 years since I've made them.  I figured this was as good an excuse as any to make some up.

The kids were busy with a major clean up project (their rooms) and worked very hard knowing there was a great reward when they were done.  Miss E helped put the finishing touches on the doughnuts for me.  We made chocolate covered, squirrel tails (twists with glaze and covered with cinnamon sugar, glazed, and cinnamon sugar doughnut holes.  YUM!  Everyone got one of each.

 

This little guy fell asleep eating.  He put up a good fight, but in the end he just could not win.  He didn't need those doughnuts anyways.  None of us did.  Ugh!

The big ultrasound!

Just a few short days after arriving home from our road trip we had our appointment for the big ultrasound.  The one where we find out who will be joining our family.  It was at 8:00 am.  Did I mention we had just come home from a 3 week road trip?  We were all so very tired, but so excited to be there.  Most of us didn't have an opinion on who we hoped was coming, we just wanted to know.

Baby cooperated well for all of the medical shots.  Posing just right for every measurement.  Brain, face, heart, kidneys, liver, belly, hands, legs and feet; all looked perfect in the words of the tech and doctor. We even got to see some great profile shots, thumb/finger sucking, and sweet feet.  Then it was time to peek for the gender.  The wiggling started. And the turning.  Still the tech managed to get the shot.

 

*The Doctor did her best to get a good 3D shot, but by then baby was wiggling and turning too much to get a really good one, it was fun to see though.

Its a GIRL!!!!!  Miss C gets her wish.  Miss C seemed to be glowing after the news was announced.  Her eyes were big and the grin on her face was about the biggest I've ever seen it.

Happy Birthday Mr. M!

We were on the road (driving day) for Mr. M's birthday.  That may seem like a bummer of a birthday for turning 10, but we made up for it.  He asked for McDonald's pancakes for breakfast, but Miss E pointed out that at the next exit (close by) Burger King had one of their special drink machines.  He opted for that.

*He had already been promised a mocha/coffee, then was allowed to get Dr. Pepper.  You can imagine the potty stops we had to make.

Uncle D told us about a great Bass Pro store along the way.  Mr. M wanted to stop.  We spent 4 hours there (including lunch and the in-store restaurant)!

 

*Mr. M wasn't the only one who thought this place was intended for him.  Mr. K had a great time playing here!

We pulled into OKC just in time to drop off the trailer and head to Texas Road House for the birthday boy's requested dinner.

Happy Birthday Mr. M!!!!
*We headed out the next morning narrowly missing the storms that brought the damaging tornadoes.