firsts from the garden

Art was out early this morning before the heat sets in to harvest some veggies from the garden.  The garden is doing really well, almost too well.  There is lots of growth, to the brim, ready to bust! 

I'm looking forward to cooking this week.

feeling pretty stupid & sore

Well I thought I was doing the right thing by spending my Wednesday hiding under a big blue umbrella by a friends pool but...

Stupid.  I really don't understand how this happened.  When I told my friend about it, she was confused too.  I REALLY did sit under an umbrella, in the shade watching my girls swim.  Art's opinion of it is that I got burned off the reflection of the water.  It's the only explanation that seems to even work.  When he got home last night he gave me his disapproving look.  I don't see it often but there it was.  He doesn't like to see me this way. 

I hate burns like this and I hate using the word hate.  It hurts and I know it will blister.  I really haven't done this to myself in a long time.  Still shaking my head along with Art.

It was hard to rest last night.  I had to sleep on my back all night which is not the norm.

Luckily I have this.  It's my saving grace and really does cool me down.

Lesson learned.  How old am I? 

I guess one positive or two if you look at it... the girls have no burns.  Hallelujah!

what i call suncatchers

For lack of not knowing what to call these creations, I'm calling them sun catchers because it is fitting.  We pulled out the craft supplies today - water color paints and doilies and went to creating.

Love the outcome.  So pretty and they scream Summer.

Found the idea here on Pinterest.

pool

 {before}

{after}

{during}

{they love it}

{happy summer times ahead}

a star is born

Grace was in our church's drama camp last week and loved EVERY minute of it so much she wanted to go back this week.  Unfortunately we will have to wait unitl next year.  In only 28 hours, these kids knocked out a wonderful perfomance of High School Musical Jr.  It's amazing what they get done in such a short amount of time. 

Grace was part of the thespian group so we had to pull out the purple sequins and put on our dancing shoes.

The encore in her Wildcats shirt.

She shined bright.  So proud.

a week of instagram

{much needed roadwork}

{drama camp}

{special time with Sarah}

{highlighter yellow nail polish}

{indulgence - funnel cake}

{my favorite spot on the deck}

 {Keurig tea}

 

 

{pool time}

organic pickles

So I've been following this blog for quite awhile now.  Reading and educating myself on food.  Her 100 day pledge is neat although we aren't following it 100%.  Having a gluten free kid kind of throws a wrench into eating whole wheat only and call me lazy but I'm not going to make two different meals.  I've tried, I can't keep up PLUS I really don't think it's a bad idea to go gluten free for all the family or at least eat it in moderation.  The more I read the more I'm convinced. 

100 Days of Real Food

I had become lazy during the school year and in May it was all I could do to survive the end of the year.  So, I did something I'm not proud of....  I sent lunchables in Grace's lunch {GASP!}.  Lunchables appeal to kids, they never have to me personally but they are convenient and they know how to market it as such.  Not my proudest moment but we are on our way to a healthier food lifestyle this summer.  Baby steps but it will happen. 

Have I gotten grief over some of these baby steps?  A little.  My girls are pretty good when we put food in front of them, they know it's that or nothing.  I try new things on them and they will attempt to like them.  Sometimes we have a winner, sometimes we don't.  Like the other night I made baked sweet potato fries, they started chowing on them thinking they were "real" french fries.  They did notice the change of taste and color but they ate them.  SCORE one for this mom!

I started to buy more organic which means my grocery bill has gone up but I did notice that when I plan my menu and cook here at home rather than eat out I can still keep my budget the same.  One thing new we tried from Trader Joes is their sandwich pickles.  These are SOOOO good.  They remind Art and I of the pickles we had growing up that our Grandmothers made.  They have that pickle taste plus there is a slight cucumber flavor which I love.  They are also a very pale green.  Makes me wonder what they put in them to make them so green.

We aren't perfect at this but we are trying to better our health.  We still have our ice cream which if you read, she did not during her 100 day pledge.  Moderation is the key. 

A summer without ice cream would be a sin :). 

 

a week of instagram {last week}

 {mango black tea}

 {gluten free ice cream cones}

 {new plants}

 {love these freckles}

 {summer is here}

 {new fun addition}

 {japanese beetles}

 {growth}

{hummus & pita chips}

home study

Homework is already in full swing this summer.  No themes this year, just good old Math and Reading.We try to do some each day but if time gets away from us, so be it.  We're trying to keep this fun. So far, no complaints.  I think they're getting used to this idea. 

Sarah doing her addition and subtraction, using those fingers to help :).

Grace doing multiplication.  She likes Math, something she has in common with her Dad.

I love to see them at work. 

chocolate makes everything better

I'm baking cookies today.

Not just any cookie but my Mom's Ultimate Chocolate Chip Cookies with one slight change, they're gluten free :). 

These will be a treat tonight and when I say treat I mean it.  We've stopped alot of sugar intake here at home.  The girls have come around to the idea and we've all seen changes for the better.  It's not easy, we have ice cream in our freezer that taunts us (HA!).

These sweet goodies will be needed tonight, Art's had a rough couple of days.  He lost his phone in the lake this weekend, accidentally dropped it in 40 feet of water.  It's gone, it's done.  Bye bye. 

He also went back to work after being out a week.  While he was officially working in Vegas, going back is never easy.  He had numerous meetings planned today.  I think I would go crazy sitting in meetings all day long.

  Lastly he called and told me he can't find his wallet. 

See why we need some sugar in this house.

Ahh yes, my favorite part of the cookie making process - THE DOUGH.  I'm a sucker for cookie dough and prefer it over the cookie at times.  Today was no different, I had the last lick of the bowl :).  Shh... don't tell the girls.

Dessert is taken care of, now onto dinner - BBQ chicken legs with that cottage cheese/tomato salad I wrote about earlier.  That has to turn his frown upside down. :)

**UPDATE - We found the wallet, Priase!**

ladies and gentlemen...

we have a winner!!

YAY!

according to art

Summer doesn't officially start until the first batch of smores are made over a fire pit. 

Welcome Summer!