More summer fun.....

What is more fun than playing in the sprinkler with your big brothers?

Poolside.....

It is finally hot here, really HOT, exactly what I have been waiting for! Today June and Jake enjoyed a little "R&R" in the kiddie pool.

A week in review.....

Happy Father's Day!

As, you can see, the above pictures are of Russ and the crew...we took a few minutes before church to get everyone together for a Father's Day photo.

Above is a garden update...today TJ pulled weeds and June helped.......

This week went by fast. Our weather here has not been very summery we had a lot of rain this week, a lot. In fact, Friday night we had a storm go through about 6pm, just in time for our dinner guest. The electricity went out, however, we ate by candlelight and still had a great evening. I assured the kids the electricity would be on in the morning, I was wrong. It was noon before we had electricity, which made for an interesting day. We had one of those days that just didn't turn out as planned. I called the electric company and the message said it might be Sunday before our power was on. With that I broke the cardinal rule of freezer defrosting. We have a small fridge we use for drinks that had a lot of ice....to prevent water on the floor I took the screwdriver and hammer to it....yes, I did. Much to my surprise, my gentle tapping tapped right into the compressor. Refrigerator over. Russ had planned on cleaning carpets....no electricity, so he did not get started until noon. At that time I put June down for a nap and planned on mowing the grass(one of my favorite chores) and the lawn mower would not start. I headed out for a new spark plug.....did not work. I called my neighbor and graciously they lent me there mower, I assured her I had gas not to worry. I drove across the yard....no gas, back to the neighbors. I finally got started and half way through I got the mower stuck behind our swing set(there mower deck is a foot longer than ours)...Ugh!!!! It turns out ours needs a new fuel pump and my neighbors were more than kind about the crack I put in the plastic deck cover(Sorry, sorry, sorry). Needless to say I was happy to get to bed last night and start a new day because I was running out of things to break:)

This morning started with church. Both TJ and Jake served Mass together today. It was their first time. They did a great job even though they were a little nervous. The boys were glad to have the opportunity to serve with our Pastor and friend before he moves to a new parish at the beginning of July. After church, a little more carpet cleaning and a few chores. This afternoon we all headed up to Lake Geneva for a walk around the shore and town....then off to dinner.

Have a great week!

A week in review....

Week 48....I can't believe it. I have been writing "A week in review" for almost a year, how time flies! I was looking forward to writing tonight in complete silence. I came home from our friend's daughter's graduation party to put June to sleep...all the boys were still "partying". I walked into the kitchen where I keep my computer and they all poured in from the yard. Oh well, noisy or not I decided to get started.

This was the first full week of summer vacation....and all went well. The boys all play golf and started their lessons last week. This was Max's first year and he really enjoyed it. They start the day with a lesson and then play nine holes. I think the highlight of the day for all of them is buying lunch and treats at the clubhouse while they wait for their ride. The course they play at does a great job with the kids and everyone participates in a tournament at the end of the summer.

June has enjoyed having the boys home. She plays on the driveway with them and loves her time in the yard playing "hockey", which is golf to you and me. The weather here has still been cool and rainy most days, however, on the nice days she loves helping me water the plants in the garden. In fact she loves to help with everything I do, cleaning, laundry, make-up, and she likes to do it all herself! June is also talking so much more and seems more grown up everyday. This week I bought a potty chair just to have it around......although she won't "potty" on the chair she has enjoyed carrying it around the house, taking her diaper off, and sitting on it (while watching TV of course).

Jake was not happy about this picture because he was reading to June, reading "Pinkalicous", ....sorry Jake, I don't think any of your friends read the blog, don't worry!

This is just our cat, she was sleeping on the couch and I could not resist.

Have a great week!

Mustard....

Mustard, yes, mustard. For those of you have been following me for a while you know that Max can ask some interesting questions. Well, yesterday, Max asked, "Was mustard invented in the United States?". Not knowing the answer I decided to do a little research.

The Greeks used mustard as a condiment and drug. The Romans were the first to use it for true culinary purposes, grinding the seed and mixing it with wine, vinegar, oil and honey. The mustard flour mixture was stored as a dry ball. Pope John XXII loved mustard so much he had his own mustard maker, a nephew near Dijon, France.

In 1720, Mrs. Clements of Durham, England prepared mustard as a powder. The year 1777 was the start of mustard making as we know it today when Grey and Poupon started their company. They used Grey's recipe and Poupon's money. In 1904, George J. French founded French's Mustard.

There are two variety of mustard, white(yellow) and black(brown). Most of the mustard seed used in Dijon, France is grown in the United Stated and Canada. Mustard plants produce 1000lbs of seeds per acre and over 700 million pounds of mustard are consumed world wide each year. For you mustard fans, you can visit The Mustard Museum in Mt. Horeb, Wisconsin with over 3500 varieties of mustard.

Even Jesus had something to say about mustard. "What shall we say the kingdom of God is like, or what parable shall we use to describe it? It is like a mustard seed, which is the smallest seed you plant in the ground. Yet when planted, it grows and becomes the largest of garden plants, with such big branches that the birds of the air can perch in it's shade" (Mark 4:30).

There you have it.....Thank's Max, I always learn something when I answer your somewhat out there questions!

Picking Peonies..............

June and I picked peonies today. I told her they were my favorite....everytime she touched one she said, "Momma's favorite".

A week in review.....

I guess I will start with the garden....so far so good. The weeds are under control and everything is looking good. I think some of the lettuce will be ready to eat this week. All the other plants are doing well. If it would warm up and stop raining here I think everything will take off!

The peonies are in bloom....my favorites!

June waiting for the boys at a charity run in our community.

This week was the last week of school. If you look on the sidebar I have already posted a countdown back to school.... I have decided that next year the day after school gets out we are going on vacation. We are going on vacation to avoid the neighborhood garage sale. Each year the boys scour the sale and come home with treasures. Last year TJ came home with a quesadilla maker(which I use all the time), he also came home with a bow and arrow and ended up with an emergency room visit and surgery. This year Max bought a toaster, yes, a toaster. Max thought it would be nice to make toast in his room. LOL! I made him take it back. Friday, the boys bought a TV and carried it home, a big TV. Well, they could not get the TV to work with the game cube and graciously our neighbor let us return it. We agreed if she could get it to work we would buy it back....well, it works with a VCR, so the boys gave her $20 again and asked me to pick up the TV and buy a VCR....long story short we do not own said TV and our neighbor was more than patient with my garage sale junkies!

This week was cool and rainy we are still waiting for summer like weather here in the Mid-west. The boys all start golf lessons this week and hopefully we will get out for a few outings. Have a great week!

Happy Anniversary....

Four years ago today we decided to adopt from China.....As I cook dinner tonight and listen June sing with Donny Osmond on "Mulan", I know how truly blessed we are!

Box of Kleenex....

My friend Happy sent me a link this morning with a note..."get your box of Kleenex ready". I did not know what to expect when I started watching the two videos below. I am not an activist, however, I love life. Life is the greatest gift God has given each of us, after His Son, of course. No matter what side you are the political or religous scale, I think you will agree that this young woman is nothing but amazing.....You may want your box of Kleenex.

(You can turn off my music at the bottom and watch them in order)

Photo Phun...

My clematis is finally in full bloom, it has taken a few years, but this year it is doing great. I took some pictures today and "worked" them over on Photoshop. I am really enjoying learning to use my camera and Photoshop. If only June would stay as still as the flowers!

This girl can eat!

It seems I have traded hair bows and pettiskirts for pork ribs and corn on the cob!