July days

Caroline is tired this morning so I told her to rest.....and this cuteness happened.

What happens when you have a big sister. poor Luke.

Me.

Luke can do the stairs by himself now.

Mama needed a hug.

He thinks it is funny to pretend to be asleep.

Breakfast for dinner.

Smoked beef, corn, and twice baked potatoes.

Another dinner, layered salad, and hot pizza dip.

Making beer and wine.

I braided Caroline's hair.

Puzzles from Goodwill!

Duke wants to be a big boy and sit in his own seat at church!

Grilled chicken and veggie pizza.

A nice older man at church gives our kids smarties every week.

Attending the evening service at church is not real practical in this season of life with the distance, being out well past little ones bedtimes, etc. But after we get the kids down for the night John and I listen to the evening sermon and then usually talk about it. Pastor Hartley is going through the book of Ruth now which is probably my second favorite book in the Bible. It's been very good and helpful! And I feel so encouraged that I'm in a season again where I can sit and listen through a whole sermon and get something out of it. The last couple years church for me has been a blur of morning sickness, migraines, and nursing babies missing naps. Thankful for my babies and thankful for sermon audio :-) And thankful to once again have the energy, inclination, and desire to sit and listen to sermons. All those things are blessings!

We moved all the furniture and cleaned the hardwood floors.

John and I grilled Greek pizza. SO good!

Everybody wants a piece of Mama. And that folks is reason 243 why Mama gets tired.

These toads in the window well have produced a lot of entertainment for the kids.

My latest no bake summer dessert recipe I tried. Soooo good!

Helping Daddy make burgers.

The kids were very quiet so I went to check on them - and found this.

We took the kids to the free, miniature, air conditioned "zoo" this evening, aka PetSmart. They had a wonderful time and didn't want to leave. Great entertainment for littles when it is hot out!

"Mama, will you play with me?"
A game that involves a dinosaur eating a rabbit, lol.

Coloring with his treasures close by, his egg, and Thumper. The face on the right is the result of tasting a crayon, "It's icky!"

So the other day when we were at Menards John got these shelves to put in the unfinished storage room in the basement. I'm so excited because instead of having to dig through a pile of boxes, now all my boxes of kids clothes are on the shelves and easily accessible. At this point I'm saving all the kids' clothes, and I have a lot of things for Luke to grow into from his brother and cousins. Caroline has a big dresser so I buy ahead for her when I see a deal, or something I like. I just have a grow into drawer and section of the closet for her. So that's my not terribly pretty clothes storage system for now.

Caroline mixed up sweet and sour sauce for tonight's stir fry. "It smells good, Mama!"

We got Hunter's school registration in the mail and I could not believe the dress code was skirts at mid thigh! It always used to be knee length.

Blueberry cheesecake for National cheesecake day!