Summer 2010

When this summer started and I finished up the school year there were several things that happened. 

First once Michael graduated I felt like there was a huge weight lifted!  Not that Michael is a burden but it meant that I no longer was in charge of the education of my oldest.  It was a strange feeling because I have dedicated 13 years of my life to making sure he becomes the man that God wants him to be.  There is something bittersweet about this time. I am so proud of who he has become and yet it is difficult to watch as he spreads his wings for the next stage in his life.

The next thing that happened was I went to the doctor for some pain in my hip.  It was NO fun!  However, now on the other side of lots of Aleve & one wonderful cortizone shot I have a hip that works and I am able to for the most part do as I want to do.  I do know now that down the road I will be replacing this hip for a new one but thank goodness not now.

We borrowed my dad's tiller & got the garden turned over & the tomatoes put in--34 of them!  More of them than last year but hey I am crazy I admit it.

There are so many things I wanted to do this summer.  Projects, planning, peacefulness.  The main thing was I didn't want to go, do or get tied in to anything ALL summer.  Usually we are at the pool or gone on vacation for a while or making over the rental house.  This seemed to be the summer we could just be home. 

So we managed to have some of these moments.

I just wish we could have everyday be like these.

Tuesday Top Ten

There are so many things I love about summer!  Here's the best of the best. 

1.  Changing up the schedule.  We play in the morning while it is cool & then do any "work" or school time.

2.  Vegetable Gardens.  We planted 30 tomato plants this year--yes crazy I know but it will keep me from buying diced tomatoes all winter.

3.  Flowers!!!  I have lots of shade in our yard which makes it hard to plant those sun loving flowers but we carved out a spot and planted sunflowers, zinnias, cosmos & rose moss!

4.  Late bedtimes.  It seems like every night around 8 we start a game that is going to take at least an hour.  I don't stress about it because our getting up time is rather flexible right now. :)

5.  Chill & Grill.  We eat SO differently in the summer.  I like to keep the heat outside so we grill more & I use the crock pot when I can.  Also we more salad, vegetables & of course watermelon.

6.  Projects.  Since I am not tied up in school(as much) we are able to tackle some projects that have been put off all winter.  This summer I am ready to paint the girl's room & perhaps the master bedroom.  I dream of doing the living room & dining room too but that might be a bit much.  Also we are working on cleaning up weedy places outside--just a little at a time!

7.  Visiting friends.  In the past two weeks we have enjoyed visiting with several of our friends families.  It seems there is more time to just get together & play.

8.  Bike rides.  Since Joshua has gotten old enough to ride w/o training wheels we have been packing up the bikes to go on rides because the road we live on is just not safe for bikes.  So far we have enjoyed riding at Cosmo & Oakland parks and we went on the Bear Creek Trail too.  Everyone loves the feel for speed!

9.  Open ended plans.  It seems we are daily evaluating what is most important to do.  From projects to vacation plans--I am feeling the blessing of flexibility.  We tackle things to get them done & then move to the next thing but I don't have this big schedule that has to be stuck to in order for our lives to function well.

10.  Warmth.  Anyone who knows me knows that I love the sun.  I struggle through the cold part of the year so that I can enjoy the outdoors & the warmth of spring & summer.  It makes things grow & keeps my toesies warm.  Now if I could just daily add some sand and waves . . . .

Doing less is good

Things have been tough around here for several weeks.  It is a long story and really boils down to the fact that my hip hurts & haven't been able to do as much around the house.  The five o'clock hour is when I am the tiredest and I hurt the most so making supper has been a challenge to say the least.

Sometimes(okay a lot of times) Steve is very wise.  At the beginning of last year he said that I should have the kids help more with lunch.  I am not saying that I haven't taught them to cook.  I have.  They make a great lettuce salad.  Peeling carrots--no problem.  Michael makes a mean loaf of honey wheat bread & actually enjoys rolling enchiladas.  However I hadn't turned the kitchen over to them for an entire meal.  I wasn't having enough time to grade papers so Steve said--get out of the kitchen at lunch time & use that time. 

That is SO paying off now.  When I am just done for the day by 5 p.m. I have been able to ask the kids to do supper.  I am so proud of the job that they are doing.  It is Elizabeth who has been shouldering most of the burden.  She has a willing spirit and just turns up the music and COOKS!  To be fair, Megan and Joshua are doing a great job of washing dishes afterwards(we don't have a dishwasher) and cleaning up.

I feel guilty for not "pulling" my weight right now but it is allowing my kids(girls especially) to help and contribute where they are needed.  Tonight is date night for our friends so we have their kids here.  While we were at the grocery store this morning I asked the girls what they would like to make.  After a short discussion they decided the other family liked Chicken Tetrazini and that wasn't too hard to make.  This is my 13 year old girl cooking for 10 people.  WOW!  That is so awesome and just makes me proud of her.

I need to step out of the way in areas where my children are capable but I haven't allowed them freedom to work and serve.

Date night

Last Friday night Steve & I enjoyed going out on a date.  Our dates are never really exciting but we cherish the time on our own.  With 4 kids & the busy life we lead it can be hard to time to enjoy being together.  Often we go shopping because well . . . we enjoy puttering around together.

So recap of Friday

Dinner at Red Lobster
Shopping for new sandals for me!
Dessert at Steak & Shake
Home before the kids were back(its nice having one that carts the other around)

We are boring but very content & still in love going on 19 years.

Projects to do

There seem to be little projects all over my house. They are nagging at me & driving me crazy.  Here is the current list.

Piles--well they are everywhere currently.
Paint the shelves for the bathroom
Time decluttering the school room & shelves

Photo Day

Yesterday was a major photo ordering day!  Walgreens had 20 free prints so got free ones with that.  I also took advantage of Snapfish's birthday deal of 10 free prints(paying shipping) and I used their code to get 10 free 5 x 7's--Grandma's will be happy!  I am excited to get working on several albums that aren't our regular family album.  I do one for the Scrapbook Getaway weekends and the Boy Scout Troop album needs major updating.  Also I want to do one for Michael using all the the pictures from his senior slide show--the expanded version!


I am hopeful that I will win a drawing for a free sitting fee through In Focus Photography.  It would be nice to have a family photo done and perhaps some individual shots!  I have been taking our families portraits for a couple of years but the whole group is a bit beyond my skills!  You can sign up for the free give away too!  Just mention that you read about it here--so I get credited for it. :)

Piano Time

As we get closer and closer to graduation, Michael has been trying to decide what song he wants to play for his Senior presentation.








I caught him playing & practicing. It has been such a blessing to our family & church for him to learn how to play the piano. I sometime just stand in the kitchen and listen(or sing along) when he plays. There is a certain song he played for his last recital by Chris Rice that just brings tears to my eyes when I hear it.






Somehow no matter where he ends up next year I know I am going to miss listening to him practice.