July 4th

This is the first summer since we have been married that we have been in our own home and doing our own little 4th of July traditions. We have loved all the years past that we have spent with family, watching fireworks and going to parades, and last year we were at the cabin on the 4th, but this year was really something special.

We spent the morning doing yard work and then Patrick had to go into work for a few hours. But when he returned, we had a fun-filled, super-simple party. We made baked potatoes and Sesame Chia Chicken with Flag Fruit Pizza for dessert. And while I still have no flags or July 4th decorations (maybe next year??), we used our red-checked tablecloth and ate outside in the warm sunshine.

After dinner, I decided to engage the family in some good old-fashioned festivities. I planned 4 games, but we only had time for 2. First up was the three-legged relay race, and then we had gunny sack races. Let's just say that Tate and I had a blast. :) Easton was having a rough day and so was Maylie. They cried most of the time about one thing or another. Maybe next year they'll enjoy themselves more. :)

Cleaning up the kitchen took forever. (Is it just me, or does holiday/fun party clean-up feel like the aftermath of a natural disaster?) Then we gathered up quilts and a few books and headed off to Fireworks in a nearby town.

Sitting there, in a wide open park of a farming town, with just a few families scattered here and there and listening to the locals taking turns singing their favorite songs of America was ever so peaceful. I felt joy brimming up like liquid gold as we all cuddled underneath our queen-sized quilt and watched the sky grow dusky.

The fireworks started at promptly 10:00 and we all made wishes on our favorite fireworks. Maylie loved the purple ones, Easton's favorite liked any colorful ones that all exploded at the same time, and Tate liked the thunder-sounding ones. The show lasted exactly 11 minutes. Short and sweet and just perfect for our little family.

I really am so deeply grateful for this promised land of America that we live in and the freedoms we enjoy. The older I get and the more that I learn about the wickedness and evils that go on throughout the world (and even here in our own country and state), the more and more grateful I become for the blessings that Heavenly Father has given me. This nation is sacred. And it's protected--so long as we do not harden our hearts and strive to keep the commandments. In God I trust. God bless America, and may we ever be covenant-keepers and strong witnesses of our Savior Jesus Christ in all we do and say.

What We've Been Up To.

Mostly, as of late, I've been outside. It seemed this yard project would never end, but it is getting so close. There has been little time for me to spend reflecting or journaling or blogging. This happened last year too. I see a pattern developing, but I hope it will not be a trend for the rest of the summer. I love winter--for it lends itself so nicely to reflection and writing and pondering and reading. These are some of my greatest pleasures in life. It used to be that spring and summer were much the same, back when we lived in apartments. But now that we have a home with a great big yard to create and care for, I'm coming to realize that there are seasons to my activities that parallel the seasons in nature....

While Winter is devoted to my usual pastimes of reading and reflecting, Spring is a time of preparation and planting new seeds and dreams and hopes. When Summer comes, it's full sprint ahead into yard work, baseball games, swimming, family vacations, a birthday, and our anniversary. It's a go-go-go time, and while it's hard at times for me to switch gears and have the energy to do so much, it really truly balances out the time that I get to just be. Finally, Autumn time brings harvest and celebration, and family traditions, and a winding down of crazy-wonderful summer days. By the time Winter comes again, I will be ready to again retreat within and enjoy the holidays with my family and the holiday in my heart.

But here's to May! What a memorable month it was!!

This picture was taken while driving one day. I was stopped by construction work on the road, so I decided to just notice all the beauty around me instead of let myself get irritated for the delay. (It was a good choice.) I LOVE where we live!!!!!

More of Maylie's bows:

And her rosy little sunburn one day:

Easton's jog-a-thon (which made my eyes brim with tears...it must have been the  music paired with seeing all those sweet children do something so cute!)

Mother's Day Cards:

Maylie's Grumpy Face:

Mother's Day was so sweet. We got to visit both of our mothers this year!

{Mom Mom, my sisters, and I}

Easton's adorable Mother's Day card he made at school:

{Just as a side note, everyone who knows me well knows I have a complete phobia of newspaper...so I'm not sure if reason #10 is a joke?? (I NEVER read the newspaper!)}

I got to meet up with some of my high school friends one day at the park (I haven't seen most of them for 10 years!!)

Maylie and Emerson wandered off when we were at the park and when we found them, they were sitting on this bench playing together. We asked them why they wandered off and Emerson said they were going to the "makeup store." :)

Here are some before and afters of our yard...it's still not done, so there will be more post pictures to come!!!

First Pieces of Sod!!!

Newly Constructed Sandbox (which the sweeties played in nonstop the first few days. Tate wanted to live there. He asked if he could eat there and sleep there that first night.)

The beginning of our fence (which is now finished might I add):

One day I looked out the window and was amazed--what was this random rainbow up in the sky??? I have never seen anything like it!!! It was such a tender reminder to me that day that Heavenly Father knows me and loves me and sends me beautiful things every day if I have eyes to see.

This was our first picnic of the year...it was before the grass came so we had to do it on our driveway.

This is Tate the water man. He asks to "play in the water" nearly every single day. The other day he called me in to see the bubbles...I will miss this sweet, silly child so much when he goes off to kindergarten next year!!!

And this was Friday...Easton's last day of 1st grade. I can't believe I will have a 2nd grader next year. We celebrated by taking a picnic to the park and playing for a few hours. I snapped this cute picture of Tate only to find that my memory was full on my phone so I couldn't get any pictures of Easton and Maylie. Oh well. I'm sure there will be many more park days to come this summer.

P.S. That evening I asked Easton if he wanted to order pizza for his last day of school celebration. That's all it took for him to plan an extravagant party for the remainder of the evening. He made signs and a speech and we had pizza and watermelon on our deck. Then we had balloon baseball, balloon hold ball, and balloon football. After which we ate ice popsicles and ice cream and had a dance party to his new favorite song--"It's Always a Good Time." I had a blast and am so proud of my sweet son and his creative planning skills.

I'M SO EXCITED IT'S SUMMER!!!!!

Summer Firepit.

Hopefully the first of many. 

It just feels like we're a real family now that we have a real job.  It's so nice to have our Patrick and Daddy home with us when he's home.  No more studying, late school papers, examination cramming.  Everything has just fallen into place for us...a perfect job, a perfect little cottage to rent, a new house to be built soon...and most of all, just time with the man we all love so much...