Hmm...What Happened to May?

May sort of came and went.  I guess that's what happens when you get busy.  I've missed blogging on some fun things lately - like my birthday and Easter and Mother's day and some recent trips.  Let's see if I can do a little catchin' up without boring you too much.

Ok, so my bday was April 17 and my dad, Martha and Brad always come out.  This year it just worked out better for them to come the following weekend and spend Easter with us.  We also got the added bonus of having Sally & Clarence come too.  I got 2 favorite gifts this year - a Kindle and a Shark 2 in 1.  If you're on FB, you've already heard me brag about these two wonderful gadgets.  This was the first year I made Dakota's Easter dress and the first real pattern I ever followed.  I certainly didn't save any money since it took so much fabric but I love the way it turned out and loved making it for her.

The following weekend was our camping trip which somehow managed to get a blog of it's own so there's no need to expand on that.  Then it was May.

I really don't remember what I did the first 3 weekends in May and don't feel like figuring it out.  The last weekend (Memorial Weekend) we took a trip to SC and I stayed for the whole week so I could celebrate Oliver's 3rd birthday with him.  Jacob had to go to Copenhagen for work so I said, "Shoot - I ain't stayin' home by myself with these kids.  I'm goin' to the beach!"  So we spent a long weekend at the beach.  Unfortunately, my camera never came out of the bag but LCR sort of did.

Then Gigi was kind enough to take the kiddos so I could enjoy a few days in the Charleston area visiting with my pest pal Ryan and her new baby, George.  And by "new", I mean 6 months old.  Too bad it took me that long to meet him :(.  I had a great time catching up with her; we always pick up where we leave off.  She had to work so I hung out with them at her office.  She works for her dad and remotely for a firm in Illinois so she takes George to work with her.  How cool is that??

Then I went back to Greenville and we had a blast at Oliver's pool party.  Then I had to drive home on Sunday for VBS to start the next day.  Whew, that was a week.  VBS all morning where I co-taught 1st-3rd grade and then our afternoons were full of sprinkler parks, dentist appointments (with $20/tube prescription toothpaste), car accidents, trips to the auto body place, etc. 

That was last week and now it's Thursday and I can't say I have accomplished anything this week.  It was my recoup and regroup week but really it needed to be my "get my tail in gear I have a lot to get done before next week and the next week" week.  I'll pay for it later.

Next week is Mission Serve - oh I am so looking forward to this.  I participated last year and this year I get the priveledge of being a Crew Chief.  That's right, I'll be "chiefing" a group of teenagers as we show the love of Jesus to a homeowner by tearing off and putting on a new roof for him/her.  Your prayers are MUCH appreciated as it promises to be VERY hot and I hope they take me serious since I'm not the typical 50+ year old male CC.

Ok, that's all I think.  I'll try to be good about taking pictures throughout the rest of June and July so this summer can be appropriately documented.

Oh...and here are some other pictures that I just wanted to share:

Dakota doesn't always take a nap these days.  She still gives me my time and on some sleepy occasions she will still take one.  If she takes a nap she's awake at 11pm telling me about how she can't go to bed.  If she doesn't take one then she may just crash anywhere in the early evening.

Mr. Stewart caught this big bass in our pond.  He's my friend from LRK who helped me build my built-ins for my playroom renovation that is still slowly going on.

Sweet.

This little bird was sitting on my threshold and let me pick her up.  She flew away eventually so I don't think she was injured.

They sort of think they own the place.

He's just stinkin' cute I had to post him.

Hope for Haiti

August 15-21

Your prayers are appreciated as I prepare for a trip to Haiti in August. If you'd like to donate any goods (infant & toddler clothing, medical supplies, school supplies or $$$) let me know. Donations can be made up until Friday, August 12. Most importantly though, please pray that the nation of Haiti will turn from their voodoo religion to relationships with a loving Savior.

Adventure: Virginia Highlands - Puppies' 1st Camping Trip

April 28 - May 1 allowed us an extended weekend trip to one of our favorite places in USofA - Southwest, VA.  You ever been there??  You should go.  Jacob and I often dream about living in this part of the country but there's not much we could do occupation-wise except for maybe open a hostel on the AT.  Hmm...tempting.  Anyway, we had a little camping trip planned that weekend in the Smokies but after we decided to adopt some furkids, we had to change our plans.  Those familiar with the park know you can't have dogs there.  So we opted for a trip a little further north to Damascus, VA and the Grayson Highlands area.  The weather was a little bit cool and windy at first but turned out to be beautiful by Sunday.  The kids (all 4 of them) did amazing on the long drive, sleeping on the ground and hiking.  I love spending time outside with my family and hope that my kiddos will remember all that they learn on these special trips.

 I love them.  LOTS.

 and him too.

 oh and them too.

 wild horsies.

 besties.

 oh if our fellow thru-hikers could see us now.  minimalism goes out the tent flap when you have kids.

 little man just stopped whenever he felt like it.  those would be thorny twigs.

 future rock climber?

 "what??  I'm not doing anything I shouldn't be doing."

 sweet puppy love.

reading my kindle after our picnic.  and by reading I mean doing a crossword puzzle.  I love that little tool.

Poky Little Puppies

Enjoy a few pages from one of our favorite books.  Starring sisters Josie (black) & Naphtali (white).  Born 2.22.11, adopted 4.21.11.  Treeing Walker Coonhounds.

When Life Gives You Mud...

...Make Mud Pies.  I called Jacob at lunch to see how his day was going and he asked what we were up to.  I told him the kids were in the bath.  He questioned, "In the middle of the day??"  I think you'll see why.  With 2 new puppies and 2 kids, this momma can't let the rain keep her inside.  Now everyone is tuckered out napping (including the puppies).  Sweet peace and quiet, how I love thee.

 

So Long Sweet Siler - You Were Loved

April 8, 2011 will be a day forever etched in my memory as I found our sweet dog floating in the pond. My heart sunk and a sadness that my little family had never experienced came. While Jacob and I hiked the Appalachian Trail from Feb-July of 2004, we spent many days talking about how we wanted a puppy when we were done. Well, the day after we returned from this 5 month adventure, we decided to go to the Greenville Humane Society and "just look." He was the cutest little puppy and neither of us could leave without taking him "home" (although, we were actually homeless at this point in our marriage). He was a far stretch from the small, female dog we were planning on but he was irresistible. We adopted him on July 10, 2004 at 16 weeks of age. Over the past (almost) 7 years, we have experienced a sweet love that only comes from a dog. A love that is different than a child's, certainly not comparable, but special and unique in its own way. I'm thankful that we were able to give Siler a happy life, taking him on many adventures and treating him to lots of table scraps. The last year of his life was his happiest as he took to "country living" like a champ. There were plenty of creatures to chase from tree to tree and his nose stayed to the ground. Ultimately, this is what got him in trouble and took his life. We'll miss him but will treasure the special times we had with him in our family. So long buddy.

                         

Pennsylvania Spring

My aunt sent me some pictures saying how much she enjoyed my latest spring pictures and wanted to share how their spring up in PA is going.  I thought I'd pass along to you.  I can't even comprehend having snow in April.  I do remember one year it was really cold on Easter and I had to go buy a new pair of pantyhose the morning of because it was too cold to go without.  That was the same year that all of the blueberries and peaches were ruined too.  I'm sorry Aunt Jeanie but I'm not envious of you guys right now - I'm ready for the warmth.  HOWEVER - feel free to gloat ALL you want in August when you are enjoying 80 degree temps and our thermometers are well past 100.  Isn't it amazing that our world can be so different yet is still marked by the same fingerprints of ONE God??

Classic: Kissies

Fun With Cattails

Back in the fall I purchased a lovely arrangement of plants that included a few cattails, euculyptus and other pretty green things.  They lasted a long time but I eventually decided it was time for them to go.  I started breaking them up to put in our compost bucket and the next thing I knew I had a MAJOR mess on my hand.  I had no idea that cattails basically explode when squeezed.  Thankfully, I found it quite humorous and stopped before my kitchen turned into a mound of cattail seeds.  One cattail filled my entire sink with fluffy seeds!!  I saved the other 2 thinking that my kids would find great amusement out of playing with them OUTside.  Anyway, they've been sitting in a lovely vase mason jar waiting for their lucky day.  Today was that day and it was indeed fun.  I think you'll see by the pictures what I mean.  And since I release a gazillion seeds into my yard, we may have cattails popping up all along our pond for more entertainment next year.

Home Renovations - Playroom - Progress 2

Progress is still being made on the playroom.  I'm almost done with all of the painting.  I just need to roll the walls one more time and I should be done.  I finished cutting in the other day but ran out of time to roll.  After that, it will be onto the big project which is the built-in.  Between my busyness and my friend's, we haven't found a weekend that works for both of us.  In the meantime, I knocked out a little sewing project and wanted to show you all.  Here are the new shams and throw pillows for the couch - which has also been moved to its new home.  I love the color they add and look forward to finding more places for use of fun fabric in the room.

I bought the fabric from a local store called Premier Fabrics.  They only sell a line of fabric called Premier Prints.  They have TONS to choose from and lots of coordinating choices at a really good price.  I found that they sell Premier Prints on Fabric.com for an even better price and if you spend $35 you get free shipping so it's a steal.  It's hard to tell in this picture but the two outer pillows are red with small polka-dots.  The green pillows have dandelions on them.  The only thing that is unfinished is the larger pillows are going to have 3 buttons each on the ends to "seal" them.  I want a bright green button but haven't found one I love or fits in my budget so I will wait until I find something for a good price and is exactly what I am looking for.