Thursday, June 30, 2011

10 Things Thursday

10 things about this week.

1. It was almost, but not quite, summery.
2. I didn't really mind, but I will soon because we want to go to the beach and I need a hot day for that.
3. I have been falling in love with my children all over again. Must be all the time we've been spending together. Or maybe it's because they are just so cute.
4. I watched a few minutes of Eat, Pray, Love. It was the scene where an Italian man tells Julia Roberts' character something like "Italians have made an art of doing nothing." I like that. I've been trying to enjoy my "doing nothing" without thinking of all I should be doing instead.
5. Speaking of Julia Roberts, I want to see her new movie with Tom Hanks. It looks super cute.
6. I just finished reading Graceling. Tomorrow I plan to go to the library to see if they have the next book in the series.
7. I am now reading The Twilight Saga: The Official Illustrated Guide. Guilty pleasure summer reading at it's finest. I loved the interview part between Stephanie Meyer and Shannon Hale.
8. I am so looking forward to summer theater tonight. One of the four nights per summer guaranteed to be spent with some of my favorite girls eating yummy food and enjoying musical theater.
9. My husband interviewed for and got a job. A full time, permanent, benefited job. The first such job in almost 4 years. Hallelujah!
10. I have been reminded this week of the power of prayer. And of all those who love us and have taken our family before the Lord in their prayers. What a blessing.

Wednesday, June 29, 2011

Artistry

On Tuesdays and Thursdays this summer I am teaching at our school's summer day camp. Yesterday we had a visitor. It was Abby, my adorable and sweet niece. Julianna was so excited when she found out her cousin was coming to play with her. One of the things they wanted to do was paint. So I broke out the watercolors and paintbrushes and they, along with all the other kids, painted and painted and painted. Here are Abby's masterpieces.

And here are Julianna's.

And here is when they painted their fingernails blue. Umm...whose idea was this, Little Girls?


They were mighty pleased with themselves. Luckily it was washable paint.

Monday, June 27, 2011



Week 3 of summer vacation:

Monday: chores and playing
Tuesday: work and playing
Wednesday: just playing
Thursday: work and summer theater
Friday: more playing
Saturday: preparations for our 7th annual 4th of July Extravaganza

I love summer!

Thursday, June 23, 2011

10 Things Thursday




10 things about the kids' dentist visit yesterday.

1. They all have beautiful, straight, strong teeth. Yeah!
2. They have all gotten (and lost) teeth earlier than typical.
3. Adam has to go back for 4 sealants on new teeth that he's gotten in the last 6 months.
4. Josh needs 2 sealants and a tiny filling (which did not make him happy). The dentist wasn't sure how he even got the cavity they found, but it's there nonetheless. Not even big enough to require anesthesia.
5. Julianna didn't want to show off her teeth. She gets extremely shy around doctors and dentists. They did finally get a peek and were happy with what they saw.
6. She did, however, love the sunglasses they put on her and chose some similar ones from the treasure box after her visit.
7. Josh chose a sticky hand (which Arrty hates).
8. Adam chose a whoopee cushion (which I hate).
9. They all got new toothbrushes and Julianna therefore brushed both willingly and for a lot longer than usual last night. I guess she just needed a pink toothbrush with monkeys on it.
10. I am grateful that my children have access to health and dental care and that we have insurance to cover it.

Wednesday, June 22, 2011



"If there's a book you really want to read, but it hasn't
been written yet, then you must write it."

-Toni Morrison

Tuesday, June 21, 2011

Head for the cellar!

I'm working today caring for children at our school's summer day camp. We were outside for recess when some of the kids starting yelling, "Tornado, tornado!!" and running for cover. Either they all saw The Wizard of Oz at summer theater last week or think we moved to Kansas all of a sudden. I thought it was kind of amusing but had to laugh out loud when Julianna came running around the side of the play equipment yelling, "Tomato, tomato!!" I know she doesn't like tomatoes, but running from them is a little dramatic. :)

Monday, June 20, 2011

Hallelujah!

Just stopped by to say hello. No time for more because the SUN IS SHINING!!!

Thursday, June 16, 2011

10 Things Thursday

10 things I don't need today.

1. sunscreen
2. popsicles
3. shorts
4. a tank top
5. a fan
6. air conditioning
7. ice water
8. sandals
9. sunglasses
10. a beach towel

10 things I do need.

1. an umbrella
2. galoshes
3. socks
4. a coat
5. hot chocolate
6. a hat
7. long pants
8. a space heater
9. long sleeves
10. a calendar--to prove that it really is the middle of June

Tuesday, June 14, 2011

The Last 12 Days

Since Julianna's birthday on June 2nd, our life has been crazy busy with birthday celebrations and end of school year stuff. Here's what's happened over the last 12 days.

June 2nd--We took Jules to her birthday dinner. She wanted hot dogs. So we went to DQ and had dinner and sundaes for dessert. DQ is not my idea of a special birthday meal, but then again I'm not 3.
June 3rd--I began birthday party preparations for the big party on Sunday.
June 4th--More cleaning and cooking plus some last minute shopping for the party.
June 5th--Church in the morning and then the party after. It was great fun with lots of friends plus cake, ice cream, and presents of course. We had a very happy 3 year old.
June 6th--Doctor's appointment in Spokane in the morning, work the afternoon, Bible study at our house that night.
June 7th--Kindergarten graduation. They are so very cute in their little caps with their bright smiles. It was wonderful and exhausting.
June 8th--Kindergarten movie day. I've finally decided once and for all that most, almost all, kindergartners cannot sit through a full length movie. No matter how much popcorn you provide.
June 9th--Last day of school and awards ceremony. Lunch with my coworkers. Dinner and first summer theater show (The Wizard of Oz) with the girls...and Marci and my Joshes. (My Josh loved the play. Lots of action and special effects. He wants to go again and doesn't quite believe me when I tell him that there aren't pyrotechnics and people flying around the stage in every show.)
June 10th--To school for some cleaning up--with a few yard sale stops on the way. Where I happened to run into my mom and sister. (Surprise, surprise.) Then lunch with them and my dad at Olive Garden. Then I finally made it to school for a few hours. Then shopping with Julianna to spend a Borders gift card she got for her birthday. She chose a princess book with little figures to play with and a stuffed dog. Then we went to the park that she spotted on our yard sale trail and would not forget about. She had such a great time sliding and climbing and running. She also met a new friend. They hit it off right away and played together for the longest time. It was interesting watching Jules at the park. The boys always had each other and never had to make friends with strangers. (The boys spent this day with their daddy in the woods. They had a great day, too.)
June 11th--BOOK DAY! The Book Man's sale first thing in the morning and then the Scholastic Book Warehouse after that. We of course found lots of treasures and books we couldn't live without, but the highlight of the morning was when Kathy stuffed $433 worth of books into our little "build-a-box." We paid $24.95 for that box. She is a master at the "build-a-box" puzzle. After we got back to town, Adam and I went to see The Wizard of Oz with my sister and nephew. So I got to see it twice. It was just as good the second time. And Adam loved it as much as his brother had. Aidan liked it, too, but said it would be better if there wasn't so much singing. :)
June 12th--Church, lunch, nap, ice cream. Ahhh.
June 13th--First official day of summer vacation. We spent the whole day at home. The kids playing and watching movies since it rained. And me cleaning and doing laundry. Then we had Bible study.
Today--My first day of Camp Cougar, our summer program at school. I will be working Tuesdays and Thursdays. Today I cared for 10 kids not counting my own. It went well, but after all my years of teaching, I'm pretty much undauntable when it comes to a room full of kids.

Maybe, just maybe, things will slow down now. A girl can hope.

Wednesday, June 08, 2011

Phew!

It's been a whirlwind of a week. One more half day of school then I'll have time to tell you all about it.

Thursday, June 02, 2011

10 Things Thursday

10 things about Julianna.

1. She turns 3 today.
2. She was born at 8:04 on a Monday.
3. She weighed 7lb 14oz and was 21 inches long.
4. She was, and still is, absolutely adorable.
5. When I asked her what she wanted for her birthday supper, she said, "A hot dog."
6. When I asked her where she wanted to go for lunch, she said, "To the store to look at toys."
7. While at the store looking at toys, (Yes, I took her. How could I resist?) she chose a My Little Pony and a stuffed dog.
8. She can melt my heart with a smile or sweet word.
9. She can make me laugh out loud more than anyone else.
10. She is a gift. A true blessing from above. And I thank God for her every single day.

Happy birthday, sweet girl.