Ellie is 6!

Ellie has been looking forward to this day for a whole year!  Six years old!  Can you believe it?

Among her presents were a marker set, a new Barbie, a jewelry box from Marian, a super soaker from Andrew, and quite a handsome amount of cash for such a little girl!  Happy day, Ellie!  And a happy 7th year ahead for you, too!

 A funny story for Ellie's birthday...

After we had Ellie's cake and presents, we were off to attend a friend's wedding.  Dwayne had an idea that he thought would save me some work and time.  I wouldn't have to make the cake or the birthday supper.  His plan was that we arrive at the wedding a bit late, missing the actual vows, but just in time for the cake.  We would then tell Ellie that all the people, decorations, food, music, and of course, the cake were all for her birthday!  

Yes, he was just kidding.

Independence Day

Happy 4th!!  (Give or take 6 weeks!)  The Fourth of July is always a big day for us, so no matter how late I am, I must make an entry for this so-important summer celebration!

Dwayne & Curt

We always look forward to our community picnic on July 4th, and this year the kids and I had fun making Firecracker Cupcakes (among other things) for the event. 

Dwayne helped out at the grill. 

Reagan was never far away from me or Dwayne.  All those "strangers" were fine as long as they kept their distance!

Silly poses

Relaxing in the shade

The girls played with some of the other kids, hitched a ride with neighbors for the Tip Top Independence Day Parade, and went swimming with us at a neighbor's pool that afternoon.

And Drew?  Drew disappeared.  I saw him come get something to eat at some point, but besides that, he was with the boys-- getting muddy, shooting bottle rockets, and who knows what else!  Yes, they had some supervision, but NO MOMS!! 

And, of course, the whole day ended in a wonderful fireworks display!  (Through most of which, Reagan cried.  Poor thing.)  Dwayne said he thought it was the best show ever.  But then again, he always says that. :)

Summer Reading

We love books!

Summer, especially, is a great time to relax with a good read.

Ellie with Reagan & me in the background

On a recent trip to the library, we ran into friend Becky and two of her girls.  Becky was ready with her camera and caught us in action.  I never think to bring my camera along on such mundane errands. :) Thank the Lord for friends who come prepared!

Andrew, trying to decide on just the right book

Andrew has been busy reading books by Beverly Cleary this summer:  Ralph S. Mouse, The Mouse and the Motorcycle, Ribsy.

Marian's already made her choices

 Marian is a book juggler.  She keeps three or four books going all the time.  This summer, she has been reading books in the series, "Little House, The Rose Years", as well as Nancy Drew books, and some classics like Where the Red Fern Grows, Red Sails to Capri, The Cay, More Stories from Grandma's Attic, Black Beauty, and the list goes on.

Ellie, absorbed.  Me, "Huh?"

Ellie thinks she needs to be just like Mar (that's another blog post entirely!), so she has multiple books in the works as well.  Currently, she is reading Chrissa, an American Girl book; Open Windows, a reader from A Beka; and Mrs. Piggle-Wiggle, a fun story just right for Ellie.  If your child has not read this one, I recommend it!
All of the kids also enjoy reading picture books to each other.  And at lunch time, I usually read aloud to them: Archimedes and the Door of Science, Farmer Boy, The Bronze Bow.

So... what are you reading this summer?

Here we go a-canning

This, my friends, is what we like to call a good day's work!

This past Saturday morning, Dwayne and I and the kids hit the garden just after 6:00.

We picked over 200 ears of corn!!

After breakfast, we all helped shuck and silk, then I cut the kernels off the cobs while Dwayne prepared the jars and canners.

We filled jars and filled jars and filled jars!

By the end of the day (which was nearly 1:00am!), we had 36 pints of cream-style corn, 21 quarts of whole kernel, and 12 quarts of green beans, which had been picked the previous day.

Phew!

Like I said, that's a good day's work!

Summer blessings

Praise God from whom all blessings flow!

One day's garden pickin's (and the first tomato of the year!)

Blackberries!

Praise Him all creatures here below!

Baby bluebird

Our developing  froglet

Praise Him above ye heavenly host!

June sunset

 Praise Father, Son, and Holy Ghost!

Dwayne in the zucchini

Cecil watering the corn and tomatoes

We are so thankful for all the blessings that overflow from our garden and field on a daily basis!  It's a lot of sweat and hard work, but what a payoff!  

One week, Three Birthdays

We have certainly had our fill of birthday cake!!  First, my turn.  Can you believe my wonderful husband made me a birthday cake... from scratch... by himself?  Amazing, huh?  And yummy!

I had a beautiful birthday!

Next, it was Marian's turn.  11?  Really?  Surely not!  As usual, Mar wanted cupcakes, and as is our family custom, we had to have her age written out with candy.  Quite a festive look!

A little help with a few candles for Marian...

 

...and more help with more candles for Cecil!

Dwayne's father finished up this birthday parade with a milestone: 75!  His sister came over to help us celebrate.  Another wonderful birthday!

 

Dwayne, Ellie, Marian, Andrew, Phyllis (Cecil's sister), Cecil, and Reagan

 For a week, everyone gets all the cake they can eat...

then it's back to the real world! ;)

Tennessee Aquarium Fun

Marian, Ellie, Sunshine, Reagan, Andrew, Tristen

"Ooooooo!"

Friend Amy and I escorted six excited kids through the aquarium a little while back.


What a fun day we had-- exploring, pointing, laughing, just taking in all the variety that God created for us!

It's impossible to say which part the kids liked best... or the moms for that matter!

Best Pals

Andrew and Tristen enjoyed the computer stations at the shark tank. Reagan couldn't get enough of the turtles and alligator in the Delta Exhibit. Marian is always captivated by the butterflies. And Sunshine and Ellie loved seeing the penguins in their rookeries.


One thing is certain: all six kids were overjoyed to play in the waterway outside the aquarium.

How big WAS that turtle?  Hope it wasn't a snapper!

Note to self...

An idea for a future fun trip to Chattanooga would be to let the kids play in the aquarium waterway and the water fountains at Coolidge Park, ride the carousel-- also at Coolidge Park, and maybe visit the playground on the way home. All that almost for free!