Almost Sweater Weather

I know a lot of people do spring cleaning. Maybe because I'm a gardener I don't do too much deep household purging in the spring. In fact, I bring more mud in than I put things out. But Fall always makes me want to clean up before we get locked in for winter. Last week I did the kids closets and drawers. This week, I've been going through my closets, and I already have a whole trash bag of stuff ready to go... My favorite part of this is playing with my clothes. I've put together some cute outfits, and I have the itch to share them with whomever is reading... so here's today. As you know, I'm cheap as shit... so this is my $6 short sleeve sweater from JC penney's plus size clearance rack. Found this last month, but I was in the store last week, and they still had tons for $8-$12. Lots of great colors, including this cream, navy, apple green.

I paired this one with an olive green shirt that is so, so soft. My favorite part of this pairing is that the sleeves match up perfectly that just a little green pokes out on each arm, and just the right amount at the v-neck of the sweater, too. Tee is from Old Navy, and I think I paid *maybe* $3 for it. The jeans are almost too big, so they are so comfortable. And since I am going NO WHERE all day, I'm in my favorite target slippers and comfy socks. Gonna be 71 today. This outfit should be perfect.

 This amber and olive bead necklace was a gordmans's cearance find for $3, maybe less, Sloppy side braid, no make up. No contact lenses. Perfect.

Plans are to post these things as often as possible. But you know how I am with plans... so maybe not?

Happy pre-fall folks!

4th Of July Fireworks

Possibly the hottest 4th of July we've ever had, as temps hovered above 90 before 9am, we tried to mow the lawn and deadhead some flowers! After showers, we spent most of the day indoors. Our backyard weather clock read 103 at its highest. The kids played checkers and wii with dad, and I piddled around cleaning up, and making food. We ate like kings- a huge fruit salad, leftover sun-dried tomato basil pasta salad, devilled eggs, corn on the cob, grilled steak with baby bella mushrooms and blue cheese, and strawberry pudding pie. (All tracked diligently by this Weight Watcher).

After church, and our farm cow experience, we headed to a neighboring town for fireworks. Last year we sat in the distance, on a hill by the local movie theatre, but were disappointed to miss the lower fireworks, and missed some of the visceral experience of the sounds. This year we got there a bit early, so we drove around, parked, and walked until we could figure out where the fireworks came from. Much to our delight we ended up just in front of where they were set off. On a hillside, we actually had to lay back to see the fireworks- as they literally filled the entire sky above us. I couldn't get the largest ones in my camera frame- they were that close. The sounds were incredible- vibrating against our faces. Hands down, the greatest fireworks experience we've ever had, and not one the boys will soon, or ever, forget. Of course, I took tons of a pictures. Here are my favorites:

 Happy Independence Day, America!

Cow Farm!

We went to a nearly empty Wednesday night service at church this week. Yes, it was 4th of July, but we couldn't go the last couple weeks because Theo was out of town, and I don't even try to take the kids without him- and this Sunday he works. Our church doesn't have activities for the kids during the service- Sunday school, only during the school year, is after the service. The kids sit with us in church, and it is super challenging.
So Wednesday the 4th of July it was! The only other people there were farmers from down the street, and they invited us to bring the kids to see their baby cows. Only 2 weeks old! Yes, we were so excited. Here are Ben and Hunter with 2 week old Miss Mabel. She wanted out of that fence so bad, she was darn near jumping it.

More babies! They let us feed them pellets and the calfs just sucked them right out of the your hands. Very cool.

Off to see one section of the steers, fed only corn I think he told us.

They had just sprayed them to keep them cool, so there was a ton of mud everywhere.

I may have been just as excited as the kids! Sidenote: why did I decide to wear my hair down when it was about 103 heat index?

Dairy cows!! I did not know this, but he said when these guys get old they are the best hamburger you'll ever eat, but nothing else. He said when he started farming. some 40 years ago, he tried to get a roast off a dairy cow, and it was no good. Interesting little farm life factoid.

The farmer said they go out and get to roam for a couple hours a day, but when he brings them back in they come right into the fences and position themselves- some even take the same stall each time! I pictured them having to wrangle the cows into the spaces... how cool they just do it on their own. Also, this area was nice and cool with tons of fans, water, air conditioning. Spoiled little ladies.

The boys loved this "brown" one. The farmer called him "red."

And back to the babies for one more dose of cuteness.

Both boys left wanting to be farmers when they grow up!  I said, "Me, too!" We went straight to fireworks from here...

Most Patient Pooch

We have THE most patient and gentle dog ever. Today, she is spending the day in Hunter's pajama shirt. Poor thing.

lol. She gives, up.

Summer's just begun.

I'm getting a feel for how this summer is going to go, and I like it. So far, we've been spending rainy/super hot days inside. The boys are playing wii, making tents, building with legos, playing board games, dressing up or watching movies. Popular movies so far are Madagascar, Harry Potter, Shark Boy and Lava Girl, and Pirates of the Carribbean. Their favorite wii games have been the dance ones, and Super Mario, which they have sucked dad into playing as well. Hunter sings the songs from the wii dance game all day, even when the tv has long since been turned off. Hunter was beside himself with joy over having 22 lives on Mario. They have made ships, guys, towns, and vehicles with the legos. They have also spent some time coloring, using colored pencils, and have been asking me to draw them outlines of various things so they can color them in. I have made sketches of their favorite stuffed animals, and a pirates treasure.

But when weather permits we are outside; they have already broken one pool. We picked up a slip and slide today. They have water gun fights. The boys made gnome gardens this week, too. Grandma sent them the gnomes. I made the arbors, and they picked out the other stuff, including the plants.
This one is Ben's.

 This one is Hunter's.

Ben is also growing carrots in addition to his cacti and succulents; Hunter is growing pumpkins.

When we are outside you can most likely find the boys have their sunglasses on. I can hardly get Hunter wear a shirt at all. Ben has been trying to fit reading time in, although Hunter barely lets him. Both boys are playing baseball, and doing really well.

Ben reading by the pond.

Happy Summer!

Today

I have been so moody the last couple years days! My poor kids. They haven't been angels, but even the slightest thing and I'm howling. Lately I've had to repeat myself 3-4 times for simple things like turning the TV off when they are done with a wii game, or not leaving their shoes in the middle of the walkway. Summer, and spending every waking minute with each other, is sinking in fast.
Dad comes home in a few shorts days, and I'm sure I'll have a smile on my face... and possibly the keys to the car in my hands.

The highights of my day did not include:
-stepping in dog poo in a flip flop
-dragging my hand through algae and sludge to stand up the pond fountain that keeps tipping over
-vacuuming a seemingly endless trail of dog hair that pervades every room of the house
-finding my freshly dried bed sheets on the line getting rained on
-learning that apparently cat vomit is irresistable to ants (who knew?)
-finding the dog chewing on the ant bait
-having a scheduled water shut off for neighborhood construction, so half the house smelled like excrement half the day
-learning Ben sticks his finger in the ceiling fan to make Hunter laugh
-avoiding a buzzing bug of some sort I poured chocolate banana smoothie down the back of my shirt and walked around with it on my back for a while thinking the cool sensation was my sweaty shirt
-Despite tracking every morsel and caloric sip I put into my mouth I gained 2 lbs. In the history of all the times I've done weight watchers I have never gained more than .2lbs when I'm honestly tracking. What gives?
Or, how about the other day when the blender exploded? Totally don't wanna talk about it...
Let's focus on the positive, shall we? Highlights of today did include, but are not limited to:
-that smoothie was delicious
-I had a delicious mango that only cost me $.68 @ Walmart
-I planted lettuce & zinnia seeds that were $.10 at Menards

-the kids and I cuddled and watched the new episode of Good Luck Charlie, laughing and happy
-I walked around my neighbors yard with her and admired her lilies and hostas
-I took a hot shower and the clean towels were still warm from the dryer
-Soon I'll be going to bed in those line dried clean sheets, my favorite
-I found an old barely used Lavender Yankee Candle and burned it all day
-I got to have an actual conversation with Theo, uninterupted by any of the people who need him constantly
-Despite temps in the upper 90's, the deep watering I did yesterday held up throughout the yard
-My blender did not explode
-One of my favorite dahlias, Arabian Night, opened up:

-I made this curtain for our side door for right around $2.

-I fancied myself the wife of the man in the Toby Keith song, and put up some 4th of July decorations. Nothing crazy. Well okay, this huge Uncle Sam wind sock is pretty crazy- so he's on the back porch. Gotta admit, when he blows in the wind and turns his face in the sliding glass door its a lotta creepy.

I seriously wrestled these "bunting" lights forEVER, and finally said, frick it, and twisted them into a garland of sorts. I put em' in the play room over the back door.

 Put one of these by the side door. I want more of these... but this was from another year.

The flag banner I made (possibly last year?) is in the dining room.

 And this old thing I painted a million year ago is on our garage door.

Happy Summer!