summer through my lens

spring in my garden...

My kiddos and I have been quite busy in our yard...

We are about to do a construction project on our house (expanding) 

so we had to move our old Keyhole garden.

The kids and I moved all the rock, and dirt and created new terraced flowerbeds on 

the other side of the yard that won't be effected by the changes!

I'm SO enjoying my little oasis and bird sanctuary.

Happy Easter!

My Garden is Springing!

Just thought I'd show off some of the little beauties that are delighting my eyes in my yard at the moment!

My blue flax is just about to burst all over the yard! SO exciting to see SO many came up this year, I think they did a pretty good job at reseeding themselves.

My tulips are actually at the end of their game, but they were gorgeous this year!

This is our best lilac year yet!

 Some of my cooler weather veggies are making their appearance from the little seeds I planted in the keyhole garden! 

And I have a very special ability to grow these little dandy's too!  hehehe

Matthew 6:28-34

New International Version (NIV)

²⁸ “And why do you worry about clothes? See how the flowers of the field grow. They do not labor or spin. ²⁹ Yet I tell you that not even Solomon in all his splendor was dressed like one of these.³⁰ If that is how God clothes the grass of the field, which is here today and tomorrow is thrown into the fire, will he not much more clothe you—you of little faith? ³¹ So do not worry, saying, ‘What shall we eat?’ or ‘What shall we drink?’ or ‘What shall we wear?’ ³² For the pagans run after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them. ³³ But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well. ³⁴ Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own.

while I was gone

All five kids had and recovered from "whooping cough" or a bronchial bacterial infection 

Dr wasn't sure which one and didn't bother running a test because both are treated the same way.

My little squash plants poked their heads out of the dirt...

The daisies bloomed and the "cool pajama club" was formed!

some fun in the slide happened

and some touching the sky via swings

little gardens were watered at the cottage

and then.... it hit.

Smoke

incredible, ridiculous amounts of smoke.

I was SURE the forest around us was on fire, but it isn't just neighboring mountain ranges and a neighboring state, but OH the smoke was thick.

Triggering asthma attacks and LOW oxygen levels.

There are mountains behind all that smoke...LOTS of mountains, and this picture was on one of the clearer days actually. It was awful, it began a 4 day long complete lock down of our home. 

Which was NOT pleasant in 90 degree heat. 

NO open windows, NO kids outside, all vents and windows sealed shut.

just trying to keep Carter J breathing well. (which worked, he stayed right at 90 until this morning when he jumped to 97!!! NEVER been so happy to see such a high number on the monitor!) 

Meanwhile, I watch my 3 little gardens with a tad bit of discouragement, the drought is awful... We have seen NO rain. Everything is drying up and blowing away.

What's worse, even the birds are stealing my poor little squash plants right out of the ground. 

I was amazed at the early age that the multitasking skills of motherhood begin to show!

&

Our piano got tuned, now THAT was a LONG time coming!

Lots of sleep

We organized the boys room, which meant emptying much of it's contents into the hallway, which made for GREAT playtime!

(before the smoke hit, I got Evie's wardrobe for next summer bought on clearance) 

I enjoyed listened to Taye and Evie play in Taye's bed every morning before I got up, it's become their ritual to snuggle together and talk and play with Taye's leapfrog laptop. 

I made Evie a new pillowcase dress (I really LOVE making these things)

"The boss" and the boys spent much of a lazy Sunday making lego daggers and scabbards.

Evie's brothers taught her the art of self defense with an ax

And finally, this morning kicked off a busy week for the kids as VBS has begun, Evie is to little to go, but she still gets to be part of the annual first day of VBS picture!

I didn't quite make it to my goal of staying off the computer (which was until tomorrow) BUT... I have learned so much in the time I've been away, formed new habits and enjoyed time with my family and being busy about the things of homemaking! I'm glad to be back though, I missed my blog and my friends here!

The Time has FINALLY Come!!!

I am SO excited!!! For all the years we've lived in our house I've wanted to make a really wonderful backyard for our kids. Safe, grassed, fenced and full of fun things to fill their childhood.

This year, We get to do JUST THAT! My amazing hubby broke ground today to begin our backyard landscaping job!