Shine on, Sister

The picture above was taken the day my sweet daughter was diagnosed with a raging ear infection and pneumonia.  The girl is nothing if not resilient.  We had all had plans that night, but with our new information about Aubri we had to make some changes.  The boys went on with the plans and Aubri and I stayed home.  Sakes alive was that girl bummed out.  She kept asking to do things that sick little girls can't do....jump on the trampoline, go for a bike ride, go to the park, etc.  I had to come up with something to appease her and her non-dwindling energy and spirit.  So...I dipped into our fireworks stash a bit early and we played with sparklers.  What fun we had!  You would not have ever guessed at how sick this little lady was.  She was dancing and twirling with all the joy you can fathom.  It was beautiful to watch.  Pure joy in motion.  I am blessed by this little girl and her positive attitude.  She lights up my life for sure!

monsters

It's hot here in Missouri.  Like surface of the sun hot.  Like Africa hot.  It's too hot to play outside unless you are completely submerged in water.  The energy level of my 3 kiddos added to the walls of my home equals certain insanity.  This momma had to get creative.  Actually, this momma had to get on Pinterest (what on earth did I ever do before I discovered that gem?) 

We mixed up a few batches of homemade play dough and employed our imaginations.  And as a side note...you should never buy play dough again.  The store bought stuff gets really crumbly and messy....the homemade stuff is silky smooth and rarely gets broken up and crumbly.  

Grab some play dough, straws, pipe cleaners, goggly eyes, beads, and any other little bits and create some monsters.  It entertained my littles for over an hour and a half.  That makes me one happy momma!

Little fish

Before I became a mom I would envision a life of soccer games, baseball practice, and maybe eventually some football (have you seen how solid my little Nathan is....he is made to be a linebacker!) Not once did I see the pool in these visions.  However, my reality now involves lots and lots of water.  And I gotta tell ya....I am LOVING it!

The boys have joined the summer swim team here in Bolivar and I have become amazed at the improvement of their swimming skills in just these few short weeks.  We are by no means the next Michael Phelps, but they are having a blast!

And I must say that I have fallen in love with this sport.  The meets are relaxing...the moms are friendly...practices are early in the morning so they don't interfere with family time...and the confidence it is instilling in them is awesome.

I think you may see many more pictures of swimmers in our future because the boys plan to join the year round team in August.

Mothers day

For Mother's Day this year I got an amazing gift.  My family picked out 3 knockout rose bushes (or as Nathan calls them: ripoff roses...because he can't remember the name of them) and they redid my entire front flower bed.  I was so tired of weeding that darn thing.  Actually...let me rephrase that...I was so tired of looking at weeds all over the place in that thing.  You know I didn't have time to be down on my hands and knees pulling all those little buggers out.  

 So, Rayden dug out the bushes, rearranged them in the order of my liking...and then we laid down rock.  Lots and lots of rock.  Lord Almighty....we bought Walmart out of white rocks.  But it is beautiful....and I can now proudly emerge from my home each day knowing that the weeds are gone...never to be heard from again!

what a special surprise!

One bright and sunny morning we went outside and found a special friend...

 Actually....we found 53 special friends!

 Courtesy of John and Rhonda Credille...and the Sycamore Student Ministry.  What fun!

Keepin me in stitches

A conversation between me and Nathan that I never want to forget...

Me: Nathan, can you please just use some self control.  What am I gonna have to do to get you to calm down?
Nathan: Mom, I will be good for just $5.95...all major credit cards accepted

what a stinker!  He's so cute and clever that I almost paid him!