Quickie

NO, not that kind of quickie ...:)... A quick post to send 4th of July greetings your way and to share a book my mom gave the nuts, a Classic Little Golden Book, "Our Flag".  It is terrific!  They memorized the Pledge of Allegiance after reading it about two times!  There is so much history in it and the illustrations are precious.  She said Winco and Fred Meyer carry it. 

The Pledge of Allegiance via Olivia & Peyton

I hope to be back, but just in case... Happy 4th of July!!!  I know, I'm as nutty as they are!!:)

First Week of Summer Fun

Happy First Week of Summer!  It has been warm this week and every sun-lovin' cell in my body is rejoicing!

I'm uploading pictures and just had to share...

Julia hasn't sucked on a pacifier since she was a newborn, but big sister gave her one from her doll stash, and to Olivia's sheer delight, baby girl was very obliging.

Baby girl also learned to clap this week, she was so proud of herself!

 Oh, how I love watching and hearing these little nuts play {look closely}

 Daddy did his best to get a nap in on Father's Day, but was pretty much climbed on, poked, and kissed the whole 30 minutes.

 I finally got 'round to making baby food this week.  I have been winging it until now, but it was time to make up some batches to freeze.  The little girl is now eating squash, carrots, peas, green beans, asparagus, banana, mango, tofu, cottage cheese, baby cereal, sweet potatoes, and avocado- a growing variety!

 And this little man is still feasting on his farm-fresh fruits!  Our strawberries were just barely ripe in time for Father's day shortcake, and as you can see, Peyton is still plucking his fruit in nothing more than a diaper.  AND, as you can also see, potty-training is still very much a work in progress.  I believe I said I'd "never" go back to diapers {ha, ha, ha, ha, ha}.  We are now doing modified potty-training in pull-ups.  Silly me! 

We have a really good crop of strawberries- they are so big and yummy!  The family of skunks that has moved in under our front steps {yes, you heard right, we have skunks under our front steps} think the strawberries are delish as well!  Oh boy, we'll let you know how it turns out with the skunks.  So far, we are using ammonia, and Hershey's kisses to try to get rid of them, and thankfully they haven't sprayed.

My new sconces from my sis are equally yummy!  She came out one day this week and we traded for an hour of her time.  Why hadn't I thought of this before!  It is amazing what you can get done in 1 hour with four kids and a bit of sunshine!  We took turns watching the kids, painted, rearranged, splashed in the water,  organized, ETC.  It was a very nice shot in the arm. 

Thank you, again, favorite, bestest sister of mine!:) 

Leah's old sconces pained aqua and now hanging in my bedroom.

Aren't they fun?

 Lanterns on loan from Leah in the kitchen

 The plate rack holding my cards also got a coat of aqua.

 Tossing pillows...

So much fun!

For some final fun... pictures from my mom's camera from Father's day {we went to a birthday party/father's day party at the farm- the water balloon toss was definitely the highlight}

My daddy and I and Evie and Roy J.

Oh, and the plants are in!  A crew of 25 people planted 14 acres {20,500 plants} in 3 days!

Alright, I just need to end this post,:), but I also wanted to note that both Olivia and Peyton attended KDC for 3 days this week, they were little chefs!!  BYE!

To honor you... Happy Father's Day!

My father-in-law on the left, my Dad on the right

    

     This Father's Day I'd like to honor my father-in-law whose triumph as a father can easily be measured by the son I am so fortunate to have married {and not forgetting his two outstanding daughters!}! As I type this, my husband, who does not shirk from responsibility or uprightness, is out working on a tractor, after already having worked a full day!  Integrity and hard work run deep in my husband, largely because of the example he has in his dad. Thank you for David, Ron and Judy!

 My first vivid memory of my would-be father-in-law was in 2000 at the Sweet Oregon Grill, the evening of September 24th, the night of Bryan and Amy's engagement party!  It was one of David and my first times in public together as a "couple". I was fresh out of high school and very much feeling like a fish out of water, not knowing the family very well. Yikes! What did they think of me? Yet, my insecurities were quickly crushed when I looked over and made eye contact with David's Dad. I don't know if he would remember this {probably not}, but I'll never forget the way he looked over at me. In a smile, in a nod, in the look of his eyes, I knew I was welcome and accepted. I felt safe and at ease, even free to just relax and be myself. It is a look I've received many times since then and his gift to many a person besides just me. He is a lover; he is one of the most kind-hearted people I know!  Yes, he is a man of few words, but his words are thoughtful, funny, non- judgmental, and honest. There is no monkey business with him- he is fair and just. My father-in-law is a very good builder, highly intelligent and skilled, but as humble as they come.


I just want you to know, Ron, that you are highly regarded, I love you, and I have from the beginning! Happy Father's Day to one of the best!


Oh, and one last thing, at our yard work day, I was taking in the beautiful garden shed you built your wife, and I must say, I think that makes you just about one of the best husbands ever. You should see it, folks. It looks like it came straight out of a Better Homes and Gardens magazine... antique windows and door, cobblestone floor, cedar siding, an enormous sink and counter space... it is unreal! Do you think you could build me one someday? He, he!!


Love, your favorite daughter-in-law, :):)


Rachel



P.S. Happy Father's Day to my Dad, Popum, and to DAVID!!, the father of my children!

Good to Get Away

You forget how nice it is to get away when you are in the midst of your day to day rituals and responsibilities, but we escaped to Washington {sans the guys as they were working} last weekend for my cousin's 30th birthday party, and it was just what the doctor ordered.  I am convinced I have the coolest, most fun family EVER {my grandparents, mom's family live in WA}!  We enjoyed the birthday party and the birthday girl went to church together, soaked up sun on Popum and Nanny's back patio, and visited a couple of my Uncle and Aunts' homes before heading back.  Pure bliss!  BTW...Becca, you are always beautiful, especially at 30!

Olivia and Peyton enjoying time with Nanny in the kitchen

Family enjoying each other

Peyton found an unfinished flowerbed and a bucket of dirt and was highly entertained.  He said he was making, "smoke"!

Pictures via Uncle Ladd ... Thank you for capturing these!

 Peyton being treated for a swing set injury- my ridiculous expression is good for a smile :)

 I thought Nanny pinned Peyton perfectly when she said he walks with the confidence of a twelve-year-old instead of a two-year-old.  He has such a stomping strut when he walks!

 A handful of the cousins

Back to daily rituals.  The little nuts and I have a rule in the morning: we get ready for the day first before we play.  It can be a little tricky to get it all done {have breakfast, get dressed, make beds, carry dirty clothes, brush teeth, comb hair, ETC.} with trying to read to the baby and lay her down for her morning nap in there as well.  So, yesterday morning, I had Olivia help get the little Mr. dressed while I read to Jules and laid her down.  I finished laying the baby down, but paused in the bathroom to listen to Olivia patiently helping her brother before going in to help.  I empathized with her efforts and tried to subdue my laughter as I listened..
"OK, set your blanket down, we're not playing with that until we get dressed." 
"put your foot in"
A one word plea... "pleeease"
"here we go, no, put that toy down..."
"good job, almost done..." and on it went for 5 minutes until Peyton ran out of his room, followed by his exasperated sister.  I'm getting the giggles all over again just trying to type this, but you might not be able to relate if you haven't helped a two-year-old get dressed lately :)  After all her effort, he was still just in his socks and only one button done on his shirt!  He, he! 

Meet our feathered friends, The Killdeers {still guarding their eggs}

We even took a little video to introduce you to them {never mind Olivia coming to warn me that Jules is putting rocks in her mouth... I quickly end it there :)}

I promised to show you my idea for a scripture holder for our table, but my mom beat me to it, so I am sharing hers!:)  We are using a picture rolodex thing, so we can catalogue the different memory verses, but hers is way prettier!

Blueberry field update: pictures

The field is starting to take shape, almost ready for plants!

OK, gotta get up and go... Later!