A week in review......

We made it through the first full week of school. Everyone seems to be settling into a good routine and it is nice to have a little more order around the house. The boys are enjoying there classes so far and are off to a good start. I had time to start to get caught up on some long overdue projects around the house in between errand running and household repair appointments. Tonight I am actually going to make my first weekly menu and grocery list since last May.......I flew by the seat of my pants most of the summer:)

I am looking forward to the week ahead. I am going to search out "dance class" for June and hopefully work in the garden a little. Last week we had rain almost everyday so I did not accomplish too much. June and I have been enjoying our days and she is now in a phase of non-stop talking and I do mean non-stop. Her favorite movie this week is "Barbie Diamond Castle" and she is still enjoys "Kai Lan" and "Mei Mei". "Mei Mei" is a Chinese language video that really works. When we first put the DVD in the player I thought I had thrown $20 away, however, in one day June was counting in Chinese. Over a month later we are all counting and singing in Chinese. Even while I was at work today "Mei Mei" was streaming through my head.

"Mei Mei" is a must have!

Over all not to much happening here this week and I have to say I am glad......last week was enough for a while. Now to my menu and grocery list. Hope you all have a great week!

Fix it Friday.....Beauty

"Before"

"After"

Today is Fix it Friday, just like every Friday at I Heart Faces. Today I had a little time to participate, so here it is. I love Fix it Friday becuase it challenges me to use Photoshop in a new way, I always learn something new! Check out more edits at I Heart Faces

Dance class..........

I have said I wanted to enroll June in "dance class", I think it is time.

I heart faces..."Nostalgia"

This picture is nostalgic for me because it is one of the first pictures I took of my daughter at our family's vacation home. My family has been vacationing on the same lake since the 1940's when my grandparents honeymooned at a resort across the lake from what we call home......my family has been going back ever since. I can not recall a summer without a trip to the cabin and it was very special for me to bring my daughter to a place with so many memories.

A week in review.......a very long week!

This was a very long week! Not all bad, not all good, but very long. We had hospital visits, a sick two year old, first day of school, traveling Dad, 911 call (bad breath holding spell for Miss June), work, and a little story I will tell you about down the road. So today, we decided to head out for a family day. We went to the Chicago Botanic Gardens which are absolutely beautiful. I took soooooo many pictures I had a hard time deciding what to post, so this post is a little picture heavy. None of these have been edited yet, I took about 200 pictures, thank goodness for digital:)

So for now a little rest....have a great week, I am looking forward to the start of a new one.

Mommy's little helper...........

After our trip to the grocery store this morning, June helped me put groceries away. She did a great job. Bread in the correct spot, coffee, cheese, however, she did get side tracked and decided to "fry" an egg in her play kitchen!

The dog was very excited about this! I am glad I now keep the carpet cleaner in the laundry room, I seem to use it every day:)

First Day of School..............

"The Shoes"....cool don't you think?

TJ

"The Boys"

Jake

I was getting ready for bed when I realized I forgot to post the annual first day of school pictures. I am happy to say Max had a skip in his step this morning and was feeling well enough to go to school...yeah! All three of the boys had a good first day. June and I not so much, she still wasn't feeling well and gave me a run for my money. All is well now, however, all four babes asleep in there beds.....I'm next:)

PS. Did you notice four shoes in the picture....Jake wanted the mis-matched special!

Next...............

Please send disinfectant.........we are

not having a good "back to school" week! I hope Miss June is the last. UGH!

Bubbles...............

This photoshoot proved to be challenging for me. I only shoot on auto being a newbie to photography.....trying to coordinate 2 bubble blowers, my model, and the Nikon auto focus left me with not many pics with bubbles! You can see more from my photoshoot in my gallery and don't forget to check out I heart faces for more great shots!

A week in review.......

"Country road, take me home, to the place, I belong"......

This is the view I wish I had right now (country road into our subdivision), however, I am looking out a rainy hospital room sitting next to my sweet Max!

Max has had a crazy couple of weeks, and no he is not in the hospital for malnutrition, even though he is a skinny mini:) Max came down with a very nasty stomach bug. Within five hours of his first symptoms we were on our way to the hospital. We were finally admitted about 4am this morning and hopefully can go home on Monday. When I say Max has had a crazy couple of weeks I meant it. While at the cabin last week with my parents all three boys had a terrible summer cold. On Tuesday Max was diagnosed with a sinus infection and just when he started to feel better....the stomach bug. Max has been a real trooper, with not much sleep and basically nothing to eat, he keeps telling me, "I am sorry you have to deal with this Mom".....I keep telling him, "I'm sorry", poor guy is breaking my heart! Russ, came by the hospital this afternoon and dropped off some essentials...the "game boy" and my computer. I also received a change of clothes and had time to shower, yes shower! We are on a family floor so each room has a shower, extra bed, etc. I think Max and I will even play some board games later. I told Max next time he needs some Mommy time we should definetly
plan a better location. While on the medical front, Jake also has the crud and started antibiotics yesterday.....we have had a "medical weekend".

Our week was not all about bad health, thankfully! We finished up back to school shopping and the kids spent time with friends. I even had a chance to work on the garden and started harvesting and freezing the green peppers. June picked, I processed.

I food save most of the things I grow in the garden, green peppers, carrots, and this year potatoes. I am going to have a bumper crop of tomatoes and if I muster the energy I may try to can them.....it will take a lot of energy. School starts Wednesday and I am hoping Max will make his first day, I guess it will depend on his test results, I will keep you posted.

I talked to June on the phone this morning she knows Max is sick and I am helping him....this is the longest we have been apart and I am missing her a bunch. The other boys are keeping busy, my Mom is at the house helping out and Jake has a birthday party to go to tonight.....all is well.

They grow so fast....

Today was locker day at the middle school....I can't believe two of my babies are in middle school. It was nice to see friends and fill the lockers with all the new stuff. Summer is my favorite Season, but I love the "feel" of Fall and "Back to School". The boys were real troopers as I was the only Mom with her camera....Thanks boys!

A day at the beach...

Although I should be weeding the garden (see previous post) I decided to spend June's nap time editing photos from our beach photo shoot. Handsome Jake is the preview...the rest are in the gallery.

Tales from the crypt.......garden

My inability to maintain my home to the level I desire while I work part time and parent four kids is sadly apparent when you look at the shape of my garden. Each spring I have high hopes for the garden. This year was no different. I had a plan for weed control....the weeds were not going to win! Well, it is August, and the weeds, well, have won. In addition to the many weeds, I have not harvested my potatoes and the second lettuce crop will not be planted. Actually, I am not to sad about the lettuce because the goldfinches sit in the lettuce branches all day. What, you did not know that lettuce had branches? We have also been hit yet again with the dreaded Japanese Beetle. The Japanese Beetles will eat anything they like with little care about all the pesticide sprayed on their dinner!

However, I would not change a thing. The kids love the garden, especially June and I must say, the tomatoes do not know the difference. They taste just as sweet..... even though they do not live in a "weed free" community!

"YUM"

Reflections.....We Picture This

"The Bean"

"Lost Lake"

This is my first entry with "We Picture This". When I saw the theme of "Reflections" I could not wait to post "The Bean". Since we could post two pictures I decided to photograph my favorite way to start my morning....our cabin in summer, "Lost Creek". Both of these pictures capture two of my favorite places.....Downtown Chicago and Lost Lake.

P.S. You can also see these pictures enlarged in the gallery.