Summer 2013? Check.

Been busy.....but such is life, right?  Last week we went back to Smalltown to visit our dear, sweet landlords that we had while we lived there.  It was just a short visit, but one we've been wanting to do for quite some time.  Yes, we have the kind of relationship with our former landlords that they open their home to us and let us stay with them.  I've said it once before, but I'll say it again--it was no coincidence that they were brought into our lives.

Can you believe it's been two years since we were swimming at their house?  I certainly can't.  But the photographic evidence I have tells me it's true.

As she did before, our sweet landlord friend sent me home with a box of tomatoes and cucumbers fresh from her garden.  So the day after we got home, I canned tomatoes and some AMAZING sweet relish.  I know there are a lot of relish haters out there.  Hubs included.  He never puts it on hot dogs.  But this stuff?  He'll eat it by the spoonful--as will I.  Words cannot express just how yummy and scrummy it is. 

Anyhow, I was able to can 10 pints tomatoes and two pints of relish.  Oh, and I also baked a peach crisp with a box of peaches I brought home with us.  We had some of the crisp for dessert and then in a rare moment of brilliance, I made a pot of oatmeal the next morning and mixed in the rest of the peach crisp with the oatmeal.  Verdict?  SO doing that again.  It was so, so, so, so good.

We also have been enjoying the nice weather and we have our dinner outside on occasion.  I snapped this little photo.  Peanut being silly and Little Brother being, well, a little brother.

We don't eat outside too often because our back patio gets the hot, afternoon sun.  Meaning, that would require me to break a sweat, which we all know I don't take too well with.  And second, we have a makeshift blockade so Little Brother can't hurl himself out the sliding screen door when the glass slider is open.  It's simply a PAIN to haul everything food related out back.  I know these "open" floor plans are all the rage (I honestly do like our floor plan), but let. me. tell. you.  They are a female dog to baby proof. 

Just saying.

Especially when you don't want to drop upwards of $100 on a play yard. So getting creative it is until I can trust him around screen doors.  Which is why I am starting to get a little excited for fall.

I said a little excited.  Not jumping up and down excited, just excited enough so we don't have to have our backdoor blocked all the time excited.

You know.  Well, that and then we get to do fall things.

And fall things?  Well, those are definitely fun times. 


 

Hopscotch!

She is just getting so big!

 

Fair Memories!

Grandma and Grandpa took the Peanut to the fair this past Friday. This was the second annual trip to the county fair and Peanut had a grand ol' time.  She got to eat lots of greasy fair food, eat ice cream from the dairy women, ride rides to her heart's delight {thank you wristband! and G & G}, and above all, make lots of special memories with her grandparents to look back on.

She also has been in voice lessons since the beginning of the summer.  She is my little singer and since I have NO musical talent whatsoever, I wanted to find someone who could help her in that area and develop and discipline her in a way I most certainly could not.  So this past spring, I came across a voice teacher and within a matter of weeks, she was taking lessons.  A few weeks into lessons, her teacher asked her/us if we would like her to preform on the children's stage at the county fair.  She/we agreed, and fast forward ten weeks later and our girl performed a Zip-A-Dee-Doo-Dah solo on stage today.

Her instructor sat up with her on stage, but after about 30 seconds, she was in her element. 

She did so good.

Oh, course I am not biased at all.  

We couldn't be more proud of our little Peanut.  I admire her confidence......'cause she certainly didn't get that from me.  God bless her little oldest child heart.

After that, she got to pick one ride and the Ferris wheel it was.

That love for adventure absolutely comes from her daddy.

'Cause anymore I can't even handle swinging on the swing on their new play structure. 

I know.

But sadly, it's true. 

 

Blueberries!

Some might even consider this child a*b*u*s*e......

he was so gosh darned upset that he couldn't have ALL he wanted. 


 

God Given Ability

Much to my utter dismay and my brother-in-law's absolute enjoyment, Peanut is quite the photo bomber. 

So very accomplished for just four and a half, dontcha' think?

Loving Summer

I simply cannot believe we are over halfway through summer....and we've been blessed by some beautiful weather and been having lots of fun.  I don't want it to end. 

We started Peanut in swimming lessons at the beginning of June.  Unfortunately, these weren't with our favorite instructor, but Peanut still has been having lots of fun.  More importantly, she has been learning a ton and is moving through the swimming levels quickly.  With the aforementioned weather being so agreeable, Peanut also gets lots of practice outside of class in her own private pool--AKA Grandma and Grandpa's. 

What a blessing that has been!

When she is not in the pool at Grandma and Grandpa's, she has been enjoying her new {to her} play structure.  I've mentioned that we have a postage stamp of a backyard in our sweet little house, but fortunately for us, Grandma and Grandpa are just four miles away.  And Peanut (as will Little Brother--as soon as he can keep up!) has quite the list of things to do at G & G's.

The other day I was pushing both little loves on their swings on the play structure and I was thinking about how much I LOVED spending time at my grandparents.  More specifically, my Grandpa's.  (I loved my Granny's house too, but I just had a special connection with my Papa.) 

Anyhow, I loved getting to go over there.  And quite honestly, Grandpa didn't have a whole heck of a lot to do--at least in terms of little kids entertainment/activities.  He had some coloring books and crayons and he always had a cookie jar full of Oreos--in the lower set of cabinets, mind you.   But, really, that was the extent of it.  Oh, and he always let me stay up late and we watched Golden Girls together.  Seriously though--those were some FUN times.  The best.  And at the end of the day, it was fun because it was different and it was out of the norm.  And really?  Grandma's and Grandpa's are just plain fun. 

Period.

Now Peanut?  At her G & G's, she has her choice of a swimming pool, her car, a play structure, a gravel pile (that was never intended for a "toy", but because Peanut has spent hours weeks of play creating things in that gravel pile, G & G can't bear to use the gravel for their intended purpose).  Plus, she has lots of toys and a full time playmate {Grandpa--when he's home} and a full time sidekick {Jet}.  Not to mention a cherry tree and blueberry and raspberry bushes for her plucking {eating right off the tree/bush} enjoyment.  

And yeah, Little Brother loves his fruit too.  

No wonder she asks to go over there every. single. day. 

The child has it made. 

Oh, and if that list of things to do wasn't enough, Grandpa had told her she wasn't to play in the sand in the horseshoe pit.  Fair enough, right?  She has LOTS of other things to do at G & G's, so being told "no" for one thing shouldn't be earth shattering, right?  Well, somehow Peanut convinced G & G in her closing argument that she too, needed her own sand pit to play in.  And guess what?  Less than a week a later, she has her own sand "box" as well. 

However. 

With Little Brother following in his adored big sister's footsteps, I'd said she has some competition (for the endless entertainment at G & G's) catching up with her very quickly.  And he already has an opinion about things as well as her her constant mauling affection for him, so things are about to get pretty interesting.  But a little sibling rivalry never hurt anyone, right?  Builds character--at least that's what I've heard? 

Right?!!? 

Tell me I'm right!   

And Mom and Dad.......all kidding aside, thank you for all you do and how you bless my family in innumerable ways.  

Happy Fourth!

A day late, but that's how this mama of two is rolling these days.....

 

Already One

I don't know where the last year has gone, but I can't hardly believe my sweet little boy is already one.  And it's already been nearly a week since his first birthday.  I don't know where the time goes.  One of my friends who was at his party commented that she didn't hardly recognize him.  Although she and I had seen each other more recently for coffee, we hadn't got together with the kids since February and she was just so surprised by how much he had changed.

Post much to that blog of yours, Jackie???!?!?  

And my mom, once my biggest blog supporter, has all but given up on me.  (Although she really shouldn't complain, because she and my dad get the real, live deal several times a week, so there is that.)

Anyhow, without further ado, my boy's first birthday.

I found the idea when Peanut was about two and just thought A Very Hungry Caterpillar birthday theme was about the sweetest idea ever for a one year old birthday party, so I tucked the idea away for our next little love.  And to my surprise, even I remembered when the time came!

I really toned it down compared to some parties I've done in the past, but I think I found a good balance of cute little details while still being able to enjoy the party and watching the birthday boy {child} take it all in.

It turned out to be a HOT day, so it ended up being a pool party as well.  Bless you, sweet parents, for opening your home as well as pool!

My boy is a lover all foods, so of course, the cupcakes were a hit as far as he was concerned.  I can actually say in all honesty that I have yet to find a food he won't eat.  Crazy right?  But I'll take it!

Friends and family asked what he wanted and or needed for his birthday.  All I could think to mention were boy toys.  And boy toys he got!  He now has quite the collection of trucks and tools and he is having a grand ol' time!  So is his sister for that matter!

This past year has been such a blessing and our dear, sweet boy has brought even more joy to our lives than we ever thought possible. 

Here's to another exciting year!  

But hopefully I will post sooner than 12 months from now!

 

The Last Two (Ahem....) Months

Crazy that it's been nearly two months since I've posted.  I mean, aside from our fabulous (why no, I have no shame!) Christmas card I posted a couple of weeks ago.  Oh, and a little more on that.....we had this great opportunity to get custom family pictures for a SCREAMIN' deal through my husband's auntie. 

And we got to keep the images.

And they turned out great.

What more could this cheap momma ask for??!?!?

Anyhow......I was talking to my mom a few weeks ago about this poor neglected blog of mine.  I feel so bad that it's been pretty much put out to pasture.  Because I like my blog.  I do.  But I like my pictures better than my writing (and I am NOT saying I have photography figured out--not by a long shot!), so I feel I always need to include pictures in my posts.  However, by the time I get the photos edited and sorted and ready for posting, I have no energy-much less time!!!-to get it all done.  And let's face it, the blog requires that I think.  And at the end of a L-O-N-G day, I don't want to think.  I just want to veg out and watch my mindless TV shows and call it a day.  Ya' know?  That and then the only time I have for this blog is after both the kiddos are in bed, and that is usually when my hard working husband is getting home and I'd rather spend those few precious minutes with him before we head for bed to get some sleep before it all starts over again.  

And I am not complaining.......I'm really not.  I guess what I am saying is that my priorities have shifted.  I used to blog during Peanut's nap time.  And I don't have that anymore......plus I have two littles that occupy my time, along with all my other home-fires-burning-responsibilities.  Plus, we are home now, so family occupies my free time too.  How blessed am I???

I would love to say I am going to consistently post three times a week, but I know I won't.  Hopefully it will be better than every eight weeks, but who knows?  I definitely will be around and I'm not throwing in the towel, but for now, please know that if I am not here consistently, that I am enjoying life! 

Now that my sparseness in posting has been addressed (for the final time!), here are a few of the highlights from the last few months. 

The Sunday before Thanksgiving I finally, finally got over myself (my fear of getting up in front of more than 5 five people) and I got baptized at our church's Thanksgiving service.

It was nerve wracking and wonderful.  

At the beginning of December, we got to attend Peanut's preschool Christmas program.  It was precious. 

I couldn't stop crying. Are we surprised? 

I think it was my favorite part of the Christmas season. 

Oh, and case in point about getting photos ready to post and then never getting them posted:

Peanut got QUITE the kick out of her little brother and herself having froggy jammies.  So I snapped this at bedtime when I realized he was about to retire his pair. 

We had a great Christmas celebrating with lots of family.  It was fabulous.

Peanut received a pink Princess guitar from my aunt and then proceeded to entertain us for as long as we let her on Christmas Eve.  Thinks she's Maria Von Trapp, she does.  If only we didn't have to wait until she is five for CYT. 

Finally, our little guy is growing up so fast.  He was over 21 pounds at his six month appointment. Yes, I know.  He is rolling over as his main mode of transportation at this point, but I am sure he will crawling soon just to keep up with his sister.  Speaking of Peanut, well, he adores her completely.  CANNOT take his eyes off her when she is around.  (yes indeed, more I never got around to posting....)

He started solids this week and is enjoying it immensely.  He is sitting up really well too.  Still sometimes topples backwards, but he'll go 5-10 minutes at a time before he does topple.  His little ear tufts are nearly gone and he has graduated from the carrier car seat to the big boy car seat (still rear facing of course).  I miss the carrier.  Although he was SO heavy in that thing, they are SO convenient.  Now I am using my shopping cart cover or stroller all. the. time. to avoid as many germs as possible.  But he loves it.  Stimulation overload I think. Plus, he is such a smiley baby, he has the other fellow shoppers eating out of his hand. 

I kid you not. 


 He is my sweet boy and she is my spirited girl.  I can't wait to see what the new year has in store for us. 




  

Merry Christmas from Our Home to Yours