Garden Excitement

I am so excited that our garden is still alive and looking good.  Last year our garden was a huge success and I have crossed my fingers that this year will be a success as well.  Each afternoon Caroline and I enjoy watering the garden, pulling any weeds that may be there as well as pinch any suckers from the tomato plants.  (which for some cRaZy reason is my favorite thing to do!)  This afternoon I was pleased to see just how much the plants have grown after the last two days of rain (God's water-as we call it).  Mom is here and thought it might be a good idea to go ahead and stack the plants.  WOO HOO!!  We have noticed the small yellow flowers on several of the plants but I was so ExCiTeD to see that we have a small green tomato starting to grow. 

look carefully, it's there

 this year we added Kentucky Wonders, squash and zucchini along our fence.  can't wait to see what we get.

 lettuce and spinach-a little slower getting going this year

Field Trip

Caroline and I got to enjoy a fun field trip to the farmers market today.  We were scheduled to go to the strawberry farm but sadly it poured rain this morning so we had a slight change of plans.  The kids enjoyed the farmers market and especially enjoyed finding mud puddles.  Thankfully Caroline wore her rain boots.

Caroline and her sweet friend Andrea.  These two have been friends for the past two years and LOVE each other to pieces!!  C is gonna miss her next year...

Why I love my girl!

This past weekend while at our retreat, Caroline picked this beautiful bouquet of flowers for me.  She was so proud of herself.  When she handed them to me she said "Mommy these beautiful flowers are for you cause I love you!"  Well of course as soon as we got home, we put them in a vase (aka plastic cup) and put them in my bathroom. 

Oh how I love the innocents of a child.  To adults, these are merely weeds but to my precious girl, they are the prettiest flowers ever!!

Happy Birthday Tyler

This precious little boy celebrated his 5th birthday today with a fun fishing party!  Every kid there had a blast!  It was drizzling rain but the kids didn't care one little bit!  When Tyler was just a few weeks old, I went over to visit him and his mommy.  While there, I will never forget talking with my hubby on the phone.  It was just a few days before we officially became Caroline's mommy and daddy.  Andy and I were in the process of starting our adoption.  Although we hadn't told anyone what we were doing, I was busting at the seams to tell someone.  That someone happened to be Angie.  And somehow that girl managed to keep it a secret.  Hard to believe how quickly these two are growing up!!

Caroline found the crickets

 she was trying to figure out how she could catch them

 and was thrilled when she figured it out

 "Mommy, quick take a picture of me and my cricket!!"

 beautiful view from the porch

 having fun

Our little ballerina

The moment we have all been waiting for...a chance for Caroline to wear her costume!!!!.  She has been so excited this week knowing that she was finally going to get her costume AND get to wear it!  This now dancing mommy wasn't exactly sure about all this dance stuff-a bun, blush, lipstick, etc.  But I am proud to say that I did fine and she looked gorgeous!  (thankfully the bun was super easy and it stayed!!)  I almost cried she looked so sweet.  I was so proud of her...I can only imagine what it will be like when she goes to her first prom or even gets married.

she wanted me to take a picture of her bun

 and of course she had to take a picture with bear since their were "dressed" alike

in just two short weeks, she will perform on the big stage and we can't wait!!

Farm Fun

Yesterday I got to lead a tour at our local farm.  Part of my job was to set up/take down the learning stations-the butter and bracelets as well as the barn area.  One of the things I had to do in the barn was to stack the hay bales.  Oh how a simple task can spark a lot of memories!! 

Growing up on a farm meant doing some a lot of things that you might not like.  I always HATED having to hold the gates so the cows didn't get out.  (Might have something to do with being charged by a bull who wasn't supposed to be in a certain area...)  Once Andy had to stand at the end of a bridge and stop traffic (on a major road) by waving a red flag.  One thing my brothers had to do was stack hay.  My daddy would drive the tractor with a HUGE trailer behind it and the boys would have to stack the hay several bales high.  Thankfully that wasn't "girl" work and by the time I was old enough, Daddy had a round baler.  Guess he knew the boys were grown and gone and this country girl wasn't going to be an ounce of help!  (Bob and Daniel seem to think I had it a lot easier than they did...maybe mommy and daddy were just a lot older and wiser and knew when the good help was gone!)

So today as I stacked these bales, I thought about my childhood and my sweet daddy and smiled.  Oh how I would give anything for another day on the farm, another day doing things I disliked just to be with him.  Of course when I showed this to my brothers, they immediately noticed that my stacks weren't straight and that wasn't acceptable!! :-)  Good thing they never needed my help!

Signs of Summer

I LOVE summer!!  Not sure if it's the laid back schedule, day trips to the beach, fresh veggies or just the beautiful blue sky.  Maybe it's a combination of all of the above plus more.  Earlier this week Caroline and I enjoyed a fun day in the backyard with a few of our favorite things:

blue skies

a glass of tea with fresh mint from my herb garden

and a view of green grass and our growing garden

 If you click on the last picture, you will see just how dirty my girls feet are...love it!  Needless to say, she got a good soak in a hot bath before bed.

Church Talent Show

We had our annual church talent show tonight and it was hilarious!!  I am so thankful for our church.  I am thankful that we not only worship together but we also enjoy being together in fellowship!

 

Our preschool kids sang a few songs and recited the 10 best ways to live

(aka The 10 Commandants)

 Our sweet friend Griffin played the piano

 The amazing Chris Handley!

 Neels at "Tad Lincoln" reciting the Gettysburg Address

 We love this family!

 No wonder Elizabeth won "ADPi Idol"

 The 6th grade catechism class vs. very WISE church leaders

 The 3rd graders and their parents square dancing

Picnic Perfect Weather

Today we got to enjoy a fun picnic with our friends Abby, Josie and Noelle.  The kids sat outside while the mommy's got to enjoy a quiet lunch inside.  So thankful for sweet friends!  Caroline and I both enjoyed our play date! :-)

My little fashionista!!

My girl is ALL about STYLE!!!  Even if it is her own style!  She loves to throw on some leggings with just about anything.  Needless to say she dressed herself and was super proud! :-)

Church Picnic

We had a blast at our 2nd annual church picnic at a local pond.  The weather felt great in the sunshine!  The closer we got to the water, with the breeze off the water plus the shade made for a cool afternoon!  Of course the kids didn't care cause they were having a blast running around.

 

The little Native American "spot"

 not really sure what these two were up to

 highlight of the trip for Caroline, digging the worms out of the container

 there were only two little rod and reels, the kids were great about sharing

(yeah Kate and Caroline for being such sweet friends)

 I am already trying to capture as many pictures as I can of these two...we sure are gonna be some sad people when they leave

 sweetness

 Mr. Jake was constantly putting a worm on the hook...sadly no fish to show for the missing worm

 bubble time

 having fun with Mrs. Charissa

 Ella and her Daddy

 The Murphy Boys

 Kate with her parents

 our church family

 Leif-the youngest guest at the picnic

 Caroline also LOVED the turtle

and the hawk

 

 and exploring the trials with her friends

 Sunday afternoon was complete with a frosty from Wendy's, happy girl!

I am so thankful for my church family!  I am thankful for Caroline's sweet friends and the bonds that are already beginning to form. :0)  I pray these kids (as well as us parents) will continue to grow together and lift one another up.  What a blessing!