Why I've been MIA from the blog...

Every year our church celebrates the 4th of July in a really BIG way! This massive production involves 100s of people and almost every group within the church.

This year the girls got to twirl their baton with their dance class/best friends.

Then they handed off their batons and grabbed their props to participate in the children's part of the production. We had about 3.5 seconds to make this transition--good thing my kids thrive on chaos! Here Double Trouble get to represent the states of Idaho with a basket of potatoes and Mississippi with a mud pie sign.

This is the first year that the entire family had a part. I helped backstage a bit with the children, before heading upstairs to interpret the second half of the preformance. Matt, who normally handles traffic detail, parked a few cars then changed into a Founding Father so that he could sign the Declaration.

I didn't get any pictures of the honored military veterans, but every year I'm struck by all the horrors these men and women endured. The Greatest Generation sacrificed much so that we can continue to be free nation. I'm saddened that so many people want to change those freedoms.

Anyway, here's the most anticipated grand finale...indoor fireworks!

Now that's all the rehearsals/performances are over, I'll probably be MIA for another few days, as I climb a mountain of laundry and dirty dishes.

Enjoy your 4th!

Gardening Update

Remember when CG and her daddy were breaking ground on our garden? And remember when the girls and I planted all the seeds and began watering the area with high hopes of a delicious feast sometime this summer?

Well, three months later, here it is:

I told y'all I don't have any green thumbs! As you can see in the midst of dry ground, we do have one plant in the bottom left corner. I'm not sure what it is because I can't remember what we planted there. I'm really thinking gardening isn't ever going to be my thing.

As a matter of fact, last summer CG planted some cucumber seeds in front of our porch. Actually she threw a packet of seeds on the ground--didn't even cover them with soil--and after three full days of rain, rain, rain, we had cucumbers! Well, we briefly had some tiny cucumbers and would have probably had bigger ones if BB hadn't gotten to them first. But, hey, she was just a puppy at the time, so all if forgiven.

This year however we thought we would have some cukes again. The green vine began growing and green bud-like "things" started popping out. These "things" didn't resemble cucumbers, but what this garden illiterate know? After a few days, the "things" bloomed into beautiful yellow sunflowers!

Not sure how this happened...but we're liking it. Besides, it seems that we have more luck (since we haven't a clue as to what we are doing) with flowers than veggies! :)

A Happy Camper

This was the long awaited weekend for CG. Finally, after all the months of waiting and counting down days, we arrived at Camp LaVida for a mother/daughter camping experience with other GAs (Girls in Action) from around the state. We had wanted to go last year, but a baby decided to join our family, so we eagerly participated this summer.
Here she is, all settled in her bunk:
On our way to the activities shelter, we stopped to "pet" a wandering snake recently rescued by the maintenance man. CG had never held a snake before. She didn't hold this one either. But she did get close enough to feel its gross slithery-ness. You'd think that she'd seen plenty of snakes living in the country, but we've been snake-free (thank God!!!!) for the past few years.
No camp experience is complete without a mandatory scrapbook and here's CG working on hers--by flashlight. The lights to the activities building were knocked out by a recent storm. But any child loves an excuse to use a flashlight and CG was able to do all the coloring, cutting and writing by hers.
We also did our fair share of swimming and canoeing, the highlights of our adventure, hands down!
Our only complaint was that the camp weekend was too short. CG and I could have stayed much longer and loved every minute. Next year I'll take twins for a weekend and let CG go for a week. Or maybe I'll get a job out there so I can play all summer and let the kids visit me occasionally. :)

Not sure what I was thinking...

I gave my ever-hungry boy a bowl of pureed peaches and a nubby spoon. He knew what to do and attacked that bowl of yummy fruit. He had great control of the spoon and never missed his mouth the first 5-6 times he tried. He was very happy and proud of himself!

Then he started rubbing his hair with it. Then he used the spoon to sling peaches across the kitchen. Then he tried to feed the dog.

I'll let you imagine what the highchair seat, cabinets and floor looked like when he was done.

Reading together

(These are the moments I'll cherish forever!)