How to be 'fashnamole' while drinking.

Because this little one cares so much about being fashionable, even the action of drinking lemonade is adorable.

You must hold your glass a certain way.

It's the fancy way.

Thank goodness for little plastic cups.

How to cool down on a hot day.

My husband called and said "Can you get the kids to come out to the front yard? I'll be by in a few minutes with a water truck." So I told them all to please come help me clean up the yard so that we could get it mowed, which they did. Then he drove by.

It sent them running.

Then he backed up and did it again.
And again.
The older kids put their heads down and headed right into the water.
So he turned it on higher.
She's pretty brave.

It cooled them down fast.

And we got to see a rainbow.

They weren't mad, but when it was time to really clean the yard up, I had a hard time getting volunteers.

Visitors.

A month ago we had a nephew and niece stay with us for a week. This past week we've had another nephew and niece stay with us - one for a week, the other will be staying for an extra few days.

It has been so much fun having two 14-year-olds stay with us. Pure goofy is what they are.

Even a trip to Lowe's Home Improvement Store isn't boring.



And my kids have someone 'vewy fashnable' to help with their fingernails and toenails. Ainsley puts great store in being fashionable.
But these kids these days (said in a very mature I-don't-dance-to-Lady-Gaga-with-them-no-matter-what-you've-heard voice), they just don't have much stamina. I took this picture at 6:30 at night.

It's either that or we just play too hard.

It could be that.

Today's post is brought to you by blueberry bagels.

I wanted to show you what the girls made their dad for Father's Day (Gray slept through the whole project). I found this last year on maxylola. It is the cutest idea, especially for a guy like my husband who loves taking his kids fishing.

Aren't they sweet? Can you tell what they're made of? Paintbrush handles. Brilliant.

So he got breakfast in bed - first time for him - and his yearly fishing license, these fish to hang in his office, and two little girls telling him at random times throughout the day that he was 'the bestest Daddy in the whole wold' (Ains) and 'You may just be the best Father a girl has ever known. I don't know for sure that you are because there are an awful lot of fathers out there, but that's the way I see it.' (Hannah - of course).

Time with just one.

This morning looked like it was going to be rainy, so after chores were done and a few more flowers were planted in the garden, we hung out inside. I got everything ready for our trip to town, Ains worked on her 'superhero play', Grayson practiced making pancakes,

Hannah made everyone radish omelettes.

Everyone liked them but her.

Through a series of funny events, toward the end of the day, Ains and I found ourselves alone, heading back home from town.

We stopped at a scenic overlook for 'the canyon' that Ains loves so much. We haven't been able to stop there for over nine months due to weather or time constraints and this time we had none of that - and she had my undivided attention.

This is something that I always appreciate - unplanned (and planned) moments with just me and one of my children. It's always a revelation about that child and our relationship.

This time, Ainsley was openly happy about us being alone together 'expwowing the wocks'.

It reminded me how lucky I am to have this person in my life.

And the dog's pretty dang cute too.

Summer's a comin'!

The weather's warming up, the wind's dying down just a smidge and we're outside.

The robin's nest we've been watching from the window had no eggs in it today - they've hatched! While the parents were gone hunting, Hannah snuck a peek in and got a picture.

Ains found a frog. (though that's Hannah holding it)

And Gray found a huge pile of ants.

Just a small part of our big day.

Now books have been read,

and kids have passed out.

Good night all!