Going for ice cream.

Daddy got a big promotion at work.

We needed a great way to celebrate.

Since we have never gone out for ice cream as a family, we thought today was a good day.

E was super excited about all the choices.

She didn't know what to ask for.

Correction. She wanted chocolate.

That's my girl.

We love a good craft.

We needed blown eggs.

A lot of them.

You'll see more pictures soon.

The girls like to open the spigot letting the water dribble into their mouths.

I think it is funny so I never say anything...

unless we have company over.

Add a straw, ingenious!

They were pretending to be asleep so I would leave them alone.

Sorry girls, your smiles gave you away.

One and a half

 

Look who is 1 1/2. 

I can't believe she is so young.

She thinks she is older.

It feels like she is older.

At 12 months, I laughed when she sat at preschool.

Pencil in one hand busy writing her scribbles.

See her dimple?

 

E is learning chutes and ladders.

Love this face!

Katie kisses are so sweet. 

Sweet Emily wanted to say something nice to Patience and Monica. 

She told them they were "princesses and angels".

In her world, that is about as good as it gets.

So a couple days ago, I told her something similar and she gushed.

She loved it. 

She came over and kissed me.

I get the princess connection. 

We add in that God is our King.

Princesses must have good hearts.

And she knows that Angels protect her. 

She knows they are stronger than hippos. 

She double checks regularly about the "stronger than hippos" part. 

It's totally legitimate concern... if we lived in Africa. 

So funny.

Summer means lots of fun.

Oh, I almost died when Emily talks to be from behind the bedroom door.

"Don't be mad mom" she asks with a little urgency in her voice.

"Okay, I won't" I replied.

She walks in with a comb knotted in her hair.

Everything was fine until I spent 10 minutes trying to dislodge the knot.

That was when I started thinking about other options.
None of them good.

Some how Mars worked a little magic and fixed the problem.

I'm so relieved.

How else would you eat popcorn?

Daddy made breakfast scones that taste great.  

They really shouldn't be called scones because scones are terrible.

I would never squirt my kids with the hose.

They loved it.

Maybe I'll start.

Fun water games.

Hope you have a great day.

This girl will.

Ballet continues.

This butterfly lives in our yard.  

She comes out to see us daily.

She is loving all of the flowers.

Katie loves the flowers too.

Tickled nose.

Sun, Water and Soil

 

The garden is busting at the seems.  

We are giving away so much food.  

I love cooking dinner from the garden.

Here's the list of what is producing right now.

sunflowers, 20 feet tall

tomatoes, multiple varieties.

strawberries

blackberries, so sweet when warmed by the sun

our first mango! and it was sweet.

lemons

oranges

grapes, table grapes, wine grapes, wild grapes, red grapes

zuchinni

summer squash

acorn squash

plums

more tomatos

garlic, a huge bowl full

onions by the hundreds, red white and yellow

potatos, red white and purple

carrots

peas

green beans

did I forget anything?

Life skills

We are all about teaching important life skills around here.
Today's lesson:
Breaking and Entering
We cased the house...our own house.
Found the easiest in ...and least noticable enterance.
Secured the opening.
Hoised #1 through the open window.
Gave her the option to jump to the floor or to be pushed. (Yea, I'm that mom.)
She chose to jump.
Mean?  I don't think so
considering SHE WAS THE ONE WHO LOCKED US OUT in the first place.

Why, why, why I asked her.
She wanted us to be safe.
How can I be mad at that?
It didn't help that my phone was inside.
We almost spent all day with the neighbor.
Especially since daddy didn't get home until midnight.

Disaster avert.
Resume life.

We are taking a vacation....

... from blogging.

See you soon.

See the baby hog???

SO CUTE!

Less than 12 hours old.

Following mommy around trying to nurse

but she was busy eating.

Why am I compelled to love any brand new creature?

I don't know but we watched him for half an hour.

Playing at the zoo. 'nuff said.

To capture the awesomeness of the

San Diego Safari Park is impossible.

I always wish I would go more and

every time I go, I am glad that I did.

 I don't like plums.

But I like green plums.

So delicious.

Love that tree.

Em helped with the croissants.

Perfect with Pumpkin butter (which has no butter in it).

And mint apple jelly to mix things up.