photo fun

So when my mom from Florida came to visit we 

went on a photo shoot out at the park.

And that was fun so 

when the sunflowers in my 

garden finally came out. 

I did my own shoot but with my own artsy touch.

Then when talking to my mom about my cameras she suggested 

I look at the options on my camera and play around.  

This is what I found.  

Digital photography is fun and addictive!  

I look forward to learning more about my camera. 

My next mission... bokeh.

We did a lot of this, this summer... good ol' wholesome fun in our own backyard.

 

 

compost, garden, grilling, and steak-n-cheese

1st compost

Phil started composting quite a few years ago and this (above) was our first official compost.  I don't think we ever thought we'd enjoy it and keep up on it but then years later our old compost became quite over grown and well.. you can see, not so pretty.  So I asked my friend Rooney to help me build a new one for us.  So he was the brains and tools.  Then on one of those really hot days and some planning we made this much nicer to look at compost (see below).  Lots of digging!

new compost

It cost a lot more than I dreamed even with used wood. (I didn't know wood was so expensive.)  But in the end, Phil was very pleased.  I made it a surprise and didn't tell him what I was up too.  We had talked for a few years about how we'd make a new compost so I knew there were a few 'requirements' such as having a top, walls, two compartments, yet breathable.  Between this and now having two icecream buckets to keep our compost scraps in, composting has been a lot more manageable this summer.  On a side note, I've started drinking coffee everyday so we add a lot more coffee grounds to compost. I asked Phil if these caffeinated grounds would get in our produce next year when it goes in the garden soil.  He assures me it will NOT.  Image though, 3 kids hyped on caffeine due to the garden!!

Our garden has been crazy as usual.  Lots and LOTS of green beans that are good, healthy, and bountiful.  You know the saying 'you are what you eat'.. well then our family is a green bean.  But we loved them fresh out of the garden!         

Now is this a picture of a green bean?    

          Nope, these are the beets we grew.  

My little snapper.  

Harlie likes to snap these beans up.  

What a good helper!

Kids 'helping' mow.

My Philly. (You know, Philly steak -n - cheese).  When we first started dating I called him this and he let me.... but no one else was allowed (he didn't like it).  But being smitten, there was a special glow when I said it.  Oh the days of dating.  Phil and I talk often that we DON'T miss it at all.  There is definitely something special about growing old together.   So thankful for the 13 years we've had so far.   Of course we hope for more but we're also grateful for what have had.  Kids, a home, and love.

problems I've encountered this summer... and a few good things too

Managing all the neighbor kids that love to play in our yard/house.  Yes, we love to play and share but I've had to find a limit for this.

Knowing when to drag the kids out versus playing at home.   Our summers are usually filled with getting out and doing things like the petting zoo, the library, visiting friends, visiting dad at work, etc.  But this year.. once those neighbor kids were here I felt like I had to drag the kids out of the yard.  And the few days we'd dash to the car from the house, some kid would peek around the corner and ask where we're going, then sad they couldn't come with us.

Shared space/not so quiet, quiet time.  We had an agreement that Wendell could play his beloved Wii while the girls napped.  This kind of worked well but as the summer closed, I realized that I literally need quiet time.. no buzz, no noise, no people to look at or sit next to or step around.  Although Wendell was pretty awesome about leaving me alone, I was also asked to play a Wii game with him on occasion.  And although, I'd love to spend every moment playing and watching my kids do what they do best, I also need to be alone sometimes.  I need to say 'no' sometimes even if I want to do these things.

Toys everywhere.  With three kids that are playing with toys and a small living space, this is a constant problem. There really is no solution to this other than we are learning how to clean up often yet I need to be patient as the day goes on.  We don't have to clean up ALL the time but there is also a limit.  This summer Hurricane Ali came to visit.. yep we've given her a nickname.  We call her Hurricane Ali because like every 1 1/2 year old she pulls out toys and strews them all over the floor and then goes on to something else.  I remember with Harlie we got the pack-n-play out on occasion to contain her, we might have to find a solution for miss Ali as well.

So some good changes for us too.

Harlie and Ali share a room.  I made the transition about 2 weeks before school started and all has gone well.  They share well, the rooms are organized, and they don't feel too crowded.

Staying up late and sleeping in.  ** this has changed since school started**  this summer Phil and I were very laid back about bed time and it was so nice to just live life and not hurry for anything.  Bonus, often the kids slept in : )

Use or Loose Vacation.  So in July I realized that I had use or loose vacation so in August, I will only have worked 2 days the whole month.  So I know how 'normal' stay at home moms get to sleep in  : )  and stay up late.  My life with work is pretty much on a schedule of going to bed around 10/10:30 and getting up around 6:30/7am.  It's not bad but I've gotten stay up late (like past 11pm) and not worry about throwing my sleep schedule off.   Oddly, I'm starting to miss my job and I'm ready to go back.  If all goes well, I might do this every summer!  The not so great thing that I've had to deal with, is I had to help get the kids ready.  My awesome husband gets the kids breakfast, and dressed most days so I rarely have to do this... which is usually a stressful thing for me.  (the only way they listen to me is if I yell, literally; and that gets old)

Ali.  Ali is sleeping through the night consistently.  Ali has teeth (6 now).  Ali walks well.  Ali is talking/jabbering.  Ali shares her opinion by yelling at us.  Ali throw tantrums, full fledged get on the floor, fists clenched and squirm (they make me laugh!).  Hurricane Ali (as stated above).  I told Phil that with the other kids 1 1/2 to 3 1/2 years was hard for me.  I thought maybe I should made myself a 2 year count down : )



Good/bad?? I'm not sure how to categorize this but my 'to do list' and menu planning went away this summer. I only cleaned when I couldn't stand it... but somethings didn't get cleaned like mopping the floor, dusting, cleaning windows and the usual organizing/cleaning out.  I had a very relaxed summer but now that it's over I'm not sure I want to start back up.  I feel like I'm on both ends of the spectrum... racing to get my to do list done or simply not thinking of it.  Hopefully with 2 of 3 kiddo's in school, I'll be able to meet in the middle a little better.  But I know that next summer, I'll take off as well from any projects/major cleaning so I can enjoy the kids.  As far as the menu, we've adjusted just fine but I may kind of start it back up as I want to try some new recipes and that takes some planning ahead as far as getting certain ingredients from the store.



So what will this school year bring?  Lot's of good.. and some quiet sad.  I already see how people say it goes so fast.  It does go fast, so we moms have to be so intentional about putting things aside to watch and enjoy our kids.  That's part of why I like to blog.. I know I'm out shooting pictures but it's their smiles I'm capturing.  Some day I'll look back and see what fun we had.  I hope I can focus on what was right and not what was wrong/regrets. 

WHAT A SUMMER!!!

Our summer has been crazy with excitement as we have three active kids running around + a few neighbor kids who drop in to visit.  I just feel like life has been too busy 'managing' this tornado of kids that I haven't really blogged.  But I do miss it.. I miss the stories of my kids, the pictures, and showing all creative fun the kids create.  Our life is full of joy and sunshine so we like to share that with others, hoping to live our family mission statement.

Love God, Love one Another.

So now that 2 of the 3 kids are back in school.  I hope to show you what we did all summer.

Stay tuned, lots of fun to come!

Hunt vacation 2013

Hunt Vacation/Race

Phil signed up for a Olympic distance triathlon in Winona, Minnesota.  He raced on Sunday morning but packet pickup was Saturday.  We left Saturday and returned on Monday. Splurging and going to a hotel 'with a pool'.

I asked Wendell what was one thing

he wanted to do for vacation? 

Go to a pool

I asked Harlie what was one thing

she wanted to do for vacation?

Go to a park

Well, that was pretty easy.

Wendell has been fascinated with the camera - pictures, video, and audio recordings.  20 Years from now I'll watch/listen to some of these and be in shock.  heck, I could be naked, breast feeding, or on the phone gossiping and not know I was being taped.  

Well, isn't that family cute...

 The largest playground I've EVER seen. 

This slide was three stories high! 

Harlie hit the jackpot on that one!

 Daddy's race

 It would not be a vacation if I did

 not take a picture of Phil driving. 

I'm starting to collect, should make

a photo album of what I have.

 Woops.. but I must say I think the

picture (above) is quite artistic.

 And I have to have some goofy picture of me somewhere..

I think I look better goofy than serious.  Seriously.

The kids and I got the pool mostly to ourselves. 

Unfortunately, or fortunately, the hot tub was broken

so we got our own little pool for the three of us.

Well, that's all. 

There wasn't much to our vacation other than

 the race, a hotel, park, and eating at a local pizza place. 

Next time,  I want a vacation I think I'll go alone : )

It does make me think,

if I went on vacation,

just what would I do?