Summer days in Rolla

I called the kids in for dinner. Sadie said "Just one minute, Mom. We have to do one more thing!" She wanted to help Nate pick flowers for me.

On their hunt for some wildflowers.

Nate loves to make silly faces and make us laugh.

Our first zucchini from the garden. We used half of it for a chocolate zucchini cake. The next day I used it as a vegetable in a stir-fry.

This boy is obsessed with the outdoors. I can't even walk outside to get anything in the garage without Nate running to the door to escape the indoors. He loves to sit on the mower and try his darndest to get it to start. One day Dave told Nate that they would mow after his nap. Well, after naptime came, our plans changed. Nate said "Daddy, mow?" Dave told Nate they'd have to wait. Nate burst into the saddest fit of tears. He was SO disappointed. 2 of his favorite things...his dad and the mower. I'd cry, too.

Dancing Kiddos

I am not very good at posting videos yet. This is dedicated to a few people...

1. Our cute niece, Sage, who requested more videos of Nate. Hope you like it, Sage!

2. Our brand new niece, Mary. Welcome to the world! Nate is dancing for joy that you arrived safely today! A big miracle in our books! We love you already!

3. Our wonderful sister Becky, who is the queen of dancing, and who pushed out a cute little baby tonight!

By the way...in the last song, it's my amazing sister, Kristi, singing and playing the guitar and piano to the song she wrote for me (about baby Nate).

American Girl Book Club

We've had two of our book club meetings so far and we're having so much fun. This is a picture of all the girls that come and my friend who helped out with sewing these sarapes. The girls are so so cute and fun to have over. We're enjoying learning about Josefina from New Mexico.

Ash wore her sarape to Achievement Days and they both wore their sarapes all over today. They love them.

Nate was chillin' in the backyard. The weather was perfect today. My kind of perfect - not too hot and not too cold. We set out to have a picnic on the picnic table that Grandpa John and Dave made. It was so much fun! I could just see Nate down the road...with his arm around a girl.

The kiddos went out to play in the rain. Then they discovered the mud and began mud fights.

On Memorial Day we went with a couple families to Onondaga Caves. They were amazing!

Tonight our friends stopped by to bring Dave a gift. They found a cow skull on their farm. Just what everyone expects to see at their door. When we heard someone at the door, Dave quickly put the snake around my neck for me to have on as I answered the door. I have a snake on my neck, and am greeting friends with a cow skull for my husband. What has become of my life? When they were visiting, the girls went straight to work dressing up the boys.

This is a funny boy. He loves to be silly.

Speaking of being silly. Just a short story for the record. Today I took the kids to a nearby retirement home to play the piano for the residents there. Of course, Nate wanted a turn at the piano. He was so tickled with the attention. I helped him play a twinkle variation, while he turned his head to face the audience with a big smile. Then he hopped off the bench, took a nice long bow, and climbed up again for another song. This one he played on his own....just goofing off with the keys. Then he hopped off the bench, took a long bow, and climbed up again for another song. I'm not sure how long this happened. At least 4 or 5 times. He loved the audience. Then he went around and gave hugs and high-5s to all of the grandmas and grandpas.

Ashlyn's comment after leaving the retirement home: I just try to keep a big smile on my face the whole time, so they can see a nice smile.

Teacher's Gifts - Nate liked them too!

Does school in Missouri seriously end on May 19? That's so early! Well, I guess that's my excuse as to why I didn't have any gifts ready to give to the girls' teachers. So one morning we whipped up some chocolate dipped oreos in some of my leftover gourmet chocolate from truffle making. Nate thought that oreos make a great breakfast. I would typically do this activity during Nate's nap - but we were pressed for time and had to get them done.

Nate enjoyed his chocolate breakfast so much - that he had to have more! He discovered some blocks of chocolate on the counter and was about dig in before I caught him. I had to grab the camera first.

They turned out cute, delicious and free!

The girls dressed Nate today

Show and Tell

Ashlyn had a couple boys in her class that didn't believe her that she really had a snake at home. When she told me that, I decided I had enough bravery to show those boys. It was scary for me...that I had to be the one to bring the snake to school, but I survived. The girls did a great job teaching their classes about ball pythons.

Dave helped the girls research some interesting facts about ball pythons. Here is Sadie with her clipboard of notes to read to the class.

Too bad Dave couldn't have watched his girls show off their snake. He would have been proud. The classes loved it and I think the girls loved it even more.

Kids' Day!

I remember it like it was yesterday. I was probably Sadie's age. My dad took us to a ward pancake breakfast. Mom didn't come - had no clue why. After being there a few minutes, Dad said "Let's go home" and somehow talked us all into it. We came home to a big surprise - it was Kids' Day at our house! Mom was home getting things set up. My favorite thing was the fishing booth!



Well, I alway thought that someday I would do a Kids' Day. Over the past few years, Ash has contemplated around the Mother's Day and Father's Day holidays...why we don't have a kids' day. I agree with her. Some moms might say that EVERY day is Kids' day, but I think kids deserve a day to be honored and to not have to lift a finger.


Saturday morning the kids woke up to Kids' day. They each had a little present (hula-hoops for the girls and playdough for Nate) waiting for them with a "Happy Kids' Day" sign. We ate donuts (a rare occurance in our house) while watching cartoons as a family (another rare occurance). We watched and lazed for a long time. Then we did the fishing booth. It was so fun hooking little prizes to the fishing line and the kids loved it. Crepes with strawberries, banana and yogurt for lunch. The girls didn't have to do their hair, no chores, no cleaning after meals. Just lots of playing and having a relaxing day.

At one point in the day, Ash said "This is one of the best days of my life." Wow! She's easy to please.

Crazy. No other words for this picture. I didn't even know this happened. I just found this picture on the computer.

Karla sent Nate his very own watering pail. He is so proud of it and helps me water every day. He sets his pail right next to mine on the deck.