Sand!

Enter My Sister's Giveaway

Enter her giveaway for a chance to win this owl vase from Z Gallerie! The winner is announced Tuesday. Go Leah!

Official Start of Summer

We officially kicked off summer last week with the Strawberry Feed, KDC, warm temperatures, and our first berry parfaits of the season!

My parents invite the church out every Father's Day for a strawberry feed at the farm. They provide the strawberries and have been doing this for as long as I can remember. We enjoyed basketball, ping pong, a jump castle, bonfire, smores, etc.! Great job, Dad & Mom!

We brought strawberries home, so I put some in the freezer, made fruit leather/roll-ups (my first time) and berry parfaits!

The kids enjoying strawberry fruit roll-ups!

I am feeling the baby move as I am typing this!

David has been devouring parfaits whenever I make them ever since we were dating. We used to make them for the Saturday Market and he still teases me about our "Bumble Berry Parfaits". People loved them, OK!
Parfaits are super easy, and don't require a recipe, but I do think my Mom came up with a few tricks that make them extra yummy and last longer in the fridge!

1. Mix 2 parts vanilla yogurt to 1 part cool whip for a fluffy, yummy consistency.

2. Layer the parfaits with granola on bottom, then yogurt/cool whip and berries on top.

3. Use as many berries as you can (blackberries, blueberries, strawberries, raspberries, peaches)

Enjoy over and over again!

KDC (Kids Discovering Christ):I wish I could have been closer to hear what they were talking about. The girls would frequently come up to take turns holding Abbey. Olivia would usually share some tidbit about her baby.Relays!Baby Brother

It Is A...

G I R L ! ! ! ! :):)

It looks like Olivia will be sharing a room soon! She waved at us and had her little legs crossed at times. The tech said she was very photogenic and took lots of pictures of her. I'll try to post some later... :)

Bedroom Revamp- Finally!!

Did you think I had forgotten about posting pictures after our little bedroom revamp? Well, I hadn't. I just hit a major inspiration slump and couldn't figure out what I wanted to do! Originally, I had wanted to go all white, but the farther away I get from puking, the less drastic I feel, and going all white just wasn't working in our room. I absolutely fell in love with this gorgeous quilt I saw in a Country Living magazine a few months back. I wanted to get the quilt in ivory, but my sister told me from the beginning to go with navy because she thought it would look killer with my lampshades. I was not feeling the navy. Well, one night I finally got inspired, and started seeing different shades of blues with the navy bedspread! You are so smart Leah! I was able to get the quilt thanks to birthday money!

My mom had some nightstands in the attic, so I painted them with leftover paint from my dining room dresser, and my Dad cut the tops off for me. I don't have a good picture of them before, but they are a much nicer height now. They also take up less space than our previous ones- score!

I had a sweet helper on this paint project. She was so pleased to get in on the painting and did really well!I normally only attempt painting during nap times, but the little man was safely occupied helping daddy make a gravel pathway.

I love my horse book stands and I love horses! They got a fresh coat of white paint for the revamp.My sister got the floral piece above our bed from the G.W. for my birthday. Thank you again, Leah!! I painted it back and hung it above our bed. I may extend the white curtains across the back of the bed at a later date (both of these ideas from Jush... thank you!). I've also toyed with the idea of making a DIY mosquito net, so we'll see. The room has been challenging to decorate with two windows, limited wall space, our large furniture,etc., but difficulty definitely creates the need for creativity! I am no interior decorator, but I love a pretty room! Suggestions welcome!

I made an "art" wall above our dresser with pictures that I borrowed from other places in the house (sorry Peyton) with the exception of The Love Print from Made by Girl. The white frames help my need for white right now! :)I made the two love birds from scraps of fabric in my stash and put them in a birdcage I already had. I'm not sure if they are out of place?My mom got me the beautiful throw pillows on the chair and bed from Target. Thank you Mom! The hand-crocheted pillowcases were a wedding present. Love!

I got the grey pillowcase from Ikea and then made a little applique for it to continue with our l-o-v-e theme! I decided against it for our bedroom and put it in our living room instead.

Bedroom Before:

Please don't be like my mom and say you liked it better before (actually I think she does finally like it better now)! Ha! I love you Mom!Bedroom Now:We are so thankful for the view from this room too.

Greek Spinach Veggie Burgers

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My sister shared this recipe with me and I want to share it with you! Thank you Leah! Not only is she a wonderful wife, mama and homemaker, she is a great cook too! I have made it a couple times and it is yummy, healthy and easy! I wasn't sure if David would like it (no meat and all), but he and Richard both love them.

Greek Spinach Veggie Burgers

Better Homes & Gardens

1/4 cup olive oil

1 clove garlic, minced

1 tsp. dried oregano

1 tsp. dried dillweed

1 cup herb-seasoned stuffing mix

2 eggs, lightly beaten

1 10-oz. pkg. frozen chopped spinach, thawed and well drained (I just used fresh spinach)

1/2 cup feta cheese crumbled (2 oz.)

4 whole wheat hamburger buns, split and toasted

Toppers such as crumbled feta cheese, plain yogurt, sliced roasted red peppers, and/or sliced red onion (optional) I am a mayo girl, so we had ours with mayo... yum!

1. In Medium bowl combine oil, garlic, oregano, dillweed, and 1/4 tsp. black pepper. Stir in stuffing mix to coat thoroughly. Stir in eggs, spinach, and 1/2 cup feta cheese; mix well.

Shape into four 1/2-inch-thick patties.

2. Heat a griddle or large nonstick skillet over medium heat. Add patties. Cook for 3-4 minutes/side or until browned and heated through.

3. Serve in buns with assorted toppers.

Makes 4 servings.

Happy Father's Day!

David,
I so vividly remember when you became a daddy, those first weeks when we brought our little girl home. You were not one to make a big fuss over the baby during pregnancy. In fact, I don't think the reality that we were having a baby really hit you until you saw her for the first time. But, oh, when you saw her.


You were in awe of her. It was precious to behold. I remember you rushing home from work every day and making such sweet remarks as, "I could not have painted a more perfect face." and" I don't think we should have any more, because I don't think we could do any better."

And then Peyton was born. I'd have to say you're completely awestruck over him, as with Olivia, but in a different way. It has been such a joy watching you with a son.

You are a natural father, a shepherd to your children. You truly delight in your babies and they delight in you.

Happy Father's Day, David! I love you! Olivia & Peyton love you!

My Dad...
Dad,
You have given me so much. I love that you share my love language of quality time. I have so many fond memories of just being with you (riding in a farm truck, embarking on some spontaneous adventure, climbing the hills on horseback). You have been a faithful, present father even during the busiest of farming seasons. You took time to enjoy life with us.

You're not a man of many words, but when you do speak your words are heartfelt and piercing. I have held tight to a high school graduation card from you, in which you scribbled these words to me, "You have the heart of a lion, the stick-to-itiveness of a spider, and the humility and meekness of a lamb. You make your father proud." What an encouragement you have been to me!

You have showed me how to be an over comer. I always wanted to protect you from the stresses of life and the devastating rejection of your family (I would have taken all the hurt for you, if only I could have, Dad), but you didn't need me to. You have an unwavering walk with Christ and a passion for Him that inspires.

Thank you for loving Mom and us so faithfully and with such excellence. I am proud of you Dad. We are blessed, and you are loved!

Gifts

Oh, how I love them!

I have a very hard time not weeping as I pray for them during our devotional time in the mornings, and they like to smother me with love if I do. :)
No, they are not perfect or even close to perfect, but so wonderfully made.


He is telling me a little story here. He is so funny with the things he says lately. "I do like a drink of milk, Mommy". He likes to say, "no thank you" to just about everything. He has learned to sing in the last two months and picks the funniest times to sing loudly. The grocery store is one of his favorite spots.

We brought the "baby toys" out this week just for fun, and they both had a pretty good time.

I think we'll start ballet in the fall. :)

They are truly a gift.

Outside Accomplishments

The little nuts sharing our favorite afternoon snack.

We have busied ourselves with outside projects when the weather has allowed. We have worked super hard and so have the kids!

Olivia helping me load and spread mulch in the garden:I love his dirty faces! He can get into so much trouble so very quick! :)

I made this herb garden with our abundance of river rock while David was gone hunting. I can see the herbs from the kitchen window, which I think will be quite inspiring for summer cooking.

David finished mending and installing the fencing around the yard. It looks so good David!

A new gravel path to our burn barrel, and where we dump our compost.

It should be quite helpful during the soggy, winter months.

Bark dust spread.

New grass planted- not much to see yet.
Perennial Garden coming along.

I planted a few more things and I'm already enjoying fresh flowers.

The garden planted.

We actually planted it several weeks ago, but due to the heavy rain we've experienced, we had to spray it out and start over (oops, did I say "spray"- we are not organic farmers, folks!). If you use chemicals responsibly and correctly, they can make your life so much easier, but I know that is not a popular point of view!:) We should have a much stronger stand of plants this time if the weather is more cooperative.

As we were planting the garden this past weekend, I realized we are going to reap so much more than fresh produce this summer. I raked in between the rows, and Olivia hauled off rocks in her little buckets, carried and dumped them. She has a chore chart that she does every day, but this task was by far the longest and most strenuous she has ever done. She really enjoyed the responsibility of the job and the contribution she was making. She grew weary at the end, but we finished the job and her parents were so proud. What awesome life lessons will be learned and character developed as we toil together. Her accomplishment was our greatest accomplishment!

I hope to tackle the back patio soon, but we have a lot more to do! :)