They're Here!

Blueberries are ready and they are EXCEPTIONAL this year. 
I am munching on them as we speak I type.

Place your orders and get 'em while they're good!
Go Ahead,  have one or one hundred...

Journal Entry

More than anything else, this blog is really a journal for our family.  I don't have anything exciting to report, I'm simply jotting down/sharing a few things that are precious to me {some of those things are pictures- surprise, surprise:) }. 

We had a quiet week last week with a few unexpected visitors.

The deer walking across the front lawn in the middle of the afternoon was definitely a fun surprise for the little nuts.

We also received an early morning visit from the crop duster.

The little nuts watching on stools from the dining room window.

 Can you guess what the little man began playing with almost immediately after they left?  We were marveling at how his birthday helicopter is even the same color scheme as the real one.

 He has become very nurturing with his bear as of late, wrapping him up and asking if I want to hold him.  He's also been asking me to play and saying so tenderly, "Come along, Mama." or pretends to read and likes to throw in "replied" or "suddenly" as he's reading out loud. 

He also learned to pedal on his tricycle {it really is just a matter of convincing them that it is worthwhile skill} and Jules learned to wave.  She is doing the bear crawl and is so close to taking off.

 Olivia enjoying her new birthday presents!

Look how big Julia is getting!  It is hard to believe we'll be celebrating Paytay's 3rd birthday and Jules' 1st in a few short months!

 Julia resting on my little nephew!:)

In the food category, I'd like to stick with English Muffins for another week.  We don't eat English muffins every day, but they certainly do have their place, do they not??:) 

Get out your big griddle, cook your homemade breakfast sausage and eggs, top with cheese, and the muffins your five-year-old generously buttered, yum!  Oh, and throw on a slice of tomato from your garden when those are ready, too.

Lastly, and very random, we don't have a bathtub, so we improvise... :)

Encouragement for Moms

My friend sent this article to me and I had to share.  It is a MUST read!  Her message is so counterculture, "Stop clinging to yourself and cling to the cross. There is more joy and more life and more laughter on the other side of death than you can possibly carry alone."  

Please read the article and share your thoughts! 

Proud of her!

***Before I forget, I need to tell you that Winco does NOT carry wax paper bags {I'm so sorry if I sent you on a wild goose chase}, and neither does BI-Mart, Fred Meyer nor Target, BUT New Seasons and Whole Foods have them! 

The Birthday Girl!

We celebrated her birthday on Sunday and I was so proud of her!  She was very appreciative of all of her birthday treats and festivities, and even thanked God the following day during devotions for everyone earning money to be able to buy her presents!  She was definitely particular in what she wanted, too.  She requested a purple and pink cake {one side purple, one side pink}, and she wanted to eat a piece that had both colors.  I tried to talk her in to a cake that went with the baseball theme, but nope.:)

I picked up this "spray paint" for food at Joannes and it made my job very easy.  I made a cream cheese frosting over her chocolate cake, then covered it with her beloved pink and purple.

She received nonstop calls on her birthday from her doting uncles, aunties, grandparents, and friends.  Thank you for loving on her!!

Strawberry waffles for her b-day breakfast

Her birthday crept up on me this year, but I quickly pulled it together with some help from Martha {that lady is nonstop inspiration}! 

Pictures of the birthday supplies...

Flowers from our yard for the table

Party favors

I got the wrong size treat bags {they were huge}, but I was not going to make another trip into town, so I ended up cutting them down to size and sewed them on my machine.  Crazy, it worked! 

She is an absolute doll heaven.

The party
We ate baseball"ish" food {Chicago-style hot dogs, homemade cracker jack, ETC.}.  I will make the hot dogs again, they were yummy!

picture via

Daddy

I pictured we'd have an actual baseball/t-ball game with parents and kids, but it ended up being more bating practice and a kickball game.  It was hot, so I think that was just perfect for the little nuts. 

We even got out some vintage t-ball shirts for the little nuts to wear. :)

Pinatas are becoming a tradition for her birthday, much like we used to do for my sister's July birthday growing up.

I'm so glad Auntie Elisa got a picture of baby girl

.

Olivia, could you be any more lovely with your three dimples {or is it four?} and your golden curls! 

I love you! 

Love, Mama

I Love... on the Farm

I love the way the sun illuminates the bald, freshly combined fields, the soothing, rhythmic checkacheckachecka sound of the water through the sprinklers, the smell of the sweet stubble, the crisp, still early mornings, berry stained hands, crunching of gravel beneath the loaded trucks, cresting the dam to meet the pond, the adrenaline of the harvest, the beauty of the bounty, I love it all!