First Week of Summer

What have we been doing for the first week of summer?

Well, we kicked it off with cake pops.

I had made them for teachers' gifts and, well, just to celebrate the start of summer vacation.

The kids painted t-shirts using the freezer paper technique (google it if you're confused).

Brandt's been busy with his Nesquik commercials.  Not really, but he could, right?

We had a great Memorial Day barbecue with friends and family after Mitch did a big hike with the guys.  I made these cupcakes, and mmm, they were fantabulous.

This was a fun collaborative art project.

We've had our first Saturday Store as part of our summer program, where the kids get to spend their points.  In this picture Caleb is getting ready to leave for Cub Scout day camp, hence the sunscreen.

We're loving the fruits and vegetables of the season.

And look!  My tomatoes are getting ripe!

Summer is off to a good start!

12 Years

I've been married to this man for 12 happy years.

For our anniversary he whisked me away to Tucson for an overnight getaway.  We stayed in a resort on the foothills that had a beautiful view of the city.  The place looked like a huge fortress/mansion and we got turned around more than once in the labyrinth of hallways inside.  We went to dinner at Roma's, a little Italian place Mitch found on Yelp in a completely frightening neighborhood that was truly a hole in the wall.  But inside it was clean, bright, and full of smells to make your mouth water.  The food was delicious.  We browsed around downtown on foot for awhile and hit Bookman's before heading back to the hotel.  We sat in the hot tub near a waterfall outside and watched dozens of bats swoop and dive overhead.

The next morning we went on a beautiful hike to Seven Falls, which is dry this time of year, but still majestic.  It made me want to come back when there's water gushing down.  In this desert landscape it would be truly a sight to see.  As it was the only waterfall we saw was a hiker relieving himself, unconscious of our presence at first.

On our way home we stopped for a movie made after a book we had both read, Water for Elephants.  And then we went to pick up our boys, who had so much fun with their cousins it was hard to drag them away.  I'm such a lucky girl.

Caleb's a Bear

Caleb received his Wolf badge for Cub Scouts.  He had to complete a lot of requirements to earn his Wolf.  Way to go, Caleb!

Dried Naturals

"I'm sorry, ma'am, but those aren't on sale," the checker informed me today as she pointed to the dried branches and flowers I was unloading from my cart.  I had thought that in a vase they would look lovely in a window cutout we have along the stairway.
"Aren't they floral?  Floral is on sale, isn't it?"
"These are dried naturals, not floral, so they're not on sale," she said. "They were just on sale last week," she added helpfully.
Deflated, I handed her the dried naturals and said I'd wait for them to go on sale.
As I left the store I got thinking. What am I doing?  Am I really going to spend my time and money waiting around to buy a bunch of sticks?  I went home and looked around my yard.  I eyed the shade trees in the corner from which the boys' swing is hung.  Could they spare a few branches?  Then I turned around and, Bingo.  The whole top half of the lemon tree had frozen this winter and was nothing more than a brittle bunch of sticks!  I got to work with the pruners and soon I had this.

So when life hands you lemons, make lemonade.  And when the frost gets your lemon tree, make use of the dried naturals.

Cupcakes and Liners

I wanted to make cupcakes for some dinner guests but I was out of cupcake liners.  I determined to bake them anyway.  I borrowed a great idea and made my own cupcake liners.  Where there's a will, and a little parchment paper, there's a way.   I'm so glad nothing got in the way of making these.  Mmmmm...

Mother's Day 2011

Happy Mother's Day!  

Faces

Sometimes I spot faces in things that aren't meant to have faces in them.  Like this one.  I tried to remove some of the distracting texture around it.   Yes, I  know I should learn Photoshop.

Can you see it?  He looks a bit disgruntled, don't you think?  I would be too if I lived on the wall in the downstairs bathroom.

Here's a cheerful face on the floor of the garage.

Yes, I'm afraid the yogurt is all gone now.

This guy died and went to ice cream heaven.

And in case you're wondering...I don't actually hear their voices.