Be an opportunist

 

 

when a bucket of chalk is just your size

and you're right there. . 

sit in it 

:)

. . . i love how little ones are such opportunists.

 

 bath time bath time

 my awayfromhomegarden is pathetic this year. . .:(

im sad because i so looked forward to it all winter

and thought i would be able to have a nice one

but. . my pumpkins are sad. ..

and the weeds are winning. 

it's hard to sing to your plants

from so far away.

someday.

i am thankful for the things that DID grow.. 

 

gravity plus a 15 month old.

Today i love and am thankful for

7.

the Olympics

something so comforting about them 

8.

the smell of marshmallows on a stick 

over a crackling fire

9.

things . . and people. . that persevere and grow

in circumstances that are in deep

persistence AGAINST them.

10.

throwing your hat over the fence

.. and going after it..

Sometimes. .

sometimes. . your muffins don't turn out . . and you feel like

you trashed your kitchen for nothing. . 

but you still lived a happy hour with your two littlest 

happily playing beside you. . 

and they won't remember that you got too gutsy with your 

favorite recipe and learned not to do so the hard way.

recipes are good.

 

it seems like every now and then i learn something the hard way. . .

that i have already learned many times over. .

but i STILL try to break those rules.

 

 

our little fam went camping for the first time in five years

.. it seems like just yesterday it was just my hubby and me

 . . although it was a lot more work in a shorter amount of time 

and with much less downtime. . . downtime?

... it was WAY more FUN.  

:)

 

 

My brothers and sisters grew up with our mom making 

us these little grilled pies often.

we would come home from school to her standing at the stove 

and could not WAIT for ours to be done.

it takes a long time to make enough for six hungry children

. . let along making TWO a piece. . ( you can almost never be happy with just one :) )

i never even thought of them as a camping treat till one of my besties

told me they made pudgy apple pies!

Mom always made us pizza or grilled cheese. . which are amaaaazing.

 

 we brought our little pudgy maker . . the olde family handmedown. .  and i made apple pie filling ahead of time 

. .a whole loaf of bread and about half hour later. . enough hot little pies for everyone!

we tried blueberry filling too and both were 

so YUMMY.

THIS is similar to our maker. . so fun to have.

Today's L o v e and Thanks

5.

Little hands that make big messes all in the name of F U N 

6.

Special things we only see and use when camping.  Memories that get

tucked away and re visited only once in a while.

 

hot summer days

every day

you wake

you make breakfast for your little ones first...

then you

the day moves on

some days are slow

some are fast

the hot summer days it seems you do more 

aimless wandering in. . and out. . of the  house.

you somehow find many things to do 

with the kids. . and nap time . . is sticky.

 in summer it is . . 

to bake or not to bake.. 

do you want homemade bread enough to turn on the oven?
.
yes.

 

since having some tummy troubles

 smoothies have become an everyday , multiple times a day

thing as of the last few months.

it's the only way i can be sure to eat as many

fresh fruit and veggies as i need to

feeling much better

after making many many MANY smoothies 

i personally love the ones with a little fruit

a little leafy greens , some low fat vanilla yogurt

and a few teaspoons of golden flax seed meal 

. . i try to mix more kale in once in a while and it is 

PERKY 

. . i can barely stand it.

so i keep them more on the fruitier side :)

every day . . .

 nothing quite so lovely as your momma 

bringing you up an iced tea when you've been 

planting and weeding in the hot sunny garden

for hours and hours. 

tastes. so. good. 

oh  yes.

dirt.

boys.

one and the same.

 

i have to say that going down into the pantry  ( scary root cellar basement )

and coming up with a jar of homemade applesauce and a jar of pickles from last year's summer/fall

for a hungry little boy. . is quite satisfying . 

these little space gold fish are the bestie best.