Tuesday after Labor Day

I probably have 100 sunflowers blooming in my garden right now. I walk out and am "wowed" each time. Our pear and cherry tomatoes are doing so well! Merit goes out each day, he picks a couple of handfuls and eats them one by one.
My mom had these raised garden beds in front of my parents house. She grew nasturiums. They are a favorite of mine! But I did not grow any this year. She had beautiful holly hocks... more flowers than veggies. I remember her going out to pick nasturiums for us to eat on our salad. They were beautiful! How she knew they were edible, I am not sure... no google back then.
This weekend I walked quite a ways with the big boys, in the creek against the current and then through a field. They wanted me to see a hunter's cabin north of here. The walk was kind of tough because we were knee deep and deeper, walking against the current. We carried tubes because we wanted to float the creek the whole way back. They laughed about the silliest things. They asked me to tell them a really scary story. I couldn't think of one, but have since so that can be our next story for an outing. Ducking to go through barbed wire, I fell and they both shrieked "mom! are you okay??" I still feel like I am 20 most days, but when I fall I feel a bit closer to 40.
These boys have been the best of friends most days this summer. As Merit watched Willem in Willem's football game Sat., I couldn't believe how excited Merit was about Willem's tackles! It was fun to watch that game with Merit.
Oren's first day of pre-school is today.
I am ready for this next stage. I think. And I am very excited for Oren.
Tuesday after Labor Day... why did summer cruise by so quickly?? It is really hard to say goodbye. But yet, September and October are favorites around here. I need to embrace the change.

A WIN for the Packers!

a quick moment of celebrating!

 Wild Will held back a little last season. This was not the case today. He played well! He did great.

This Packers team was AMAZING today!! 

These are the days

Grandma Adie stayed with Fischer and Kendal for a week. We got some good cousin time in. It was those last sweet days of summer. Grandma and cousin time is a good thing to sneak in right before school starts.

 These two!!

I LOVE picking things from the garden!! Merit eats those little tomatoes as fast as he or I can pick them! So fun to have fresh veggies!! 

 Our chickens are doing well. We love farm fresh eggs.

I have been praying throughout the day for these school children! Merit started high school and Willem started middle school! Big changes for both and things are going well. Merit's first high school football game was in Chiawana last night. I really wanted to go, support and watch! But this has been a busy week and we are all a bit tired. I didn't want Hazel to get to bed too late (she is LOVING second grade) --- So, Willem went to his football practice last night, Oren, Hazel and I played at the park and bought a few more needed school supplies and we got to bed on time. The freshman team lost their game, but put up a good fight. Vance went and said the game was great. 

Oren is bored without the big kids!! He misses them a lot. But pre-school starts next week for him! I think he will be ready for it. 

SUMMER

How is it nearly the end of August!? Time flies so quickly.

These Calico Critters are a favorite toy around here!

Summer evenings are so sweet.

Therapy, in the form of thrifting

I picked Merit up from football practice the other morning and told him we just had one stop to make. I am sure he was hoping Dutch Brothers or Safeway (where he could grab a power bar or sandwich). "Senior Center Thrift Store" I say with a smile. And he follows me in. The store smells a bit like an old ladies house, a library and yesterday's lunch.
When I see something at the thrift store that reminds me of my mom I get a warm and fuzzy feeling!! Old dishes, a mug she used to have, a wall hanging, a fabric print,  a Christmas decoration, Good Housekeeping from 1995...and sometimes I cry.
Old men and woman who I run into there have told me to enjoy my children because they grow fast. They have given me a smile on a down day, they have watched my children play in the toy section. Several years ago, Willem and I were at the Senior Center Thrift Store and there was a band playing in the area where the seniors play games and eat lunch. Willem hurried out onto the wood floor, almost as if he were going to break out and dance and heads turned and seniors smiled. A two year old, white haired boy running out onto the floor was a bit of joy and sweet energy!
My mom never bought a lot of "extras" -- if she wanted to go shopping it was the clearance rack (clothes) or something fun at Marshalls or TJ Maxx. She didn't shop for much else. She was not a big reader, but occasionally had a Bible Study she loved and liked magazines. Her Bible and Bible study workbook were her current reads when she passed away.
I found this book on "friendship" recently at the Senior Center, copyright 1974. I remembered my mom's  friend Lois giving her a cute little book on friendship. I paged through that book yesterday and was loving some of the quotes I read. And I thought of my mom.
When I started getting serious about thrifting (at about 19 years of age) my mom loved hearing about my bargains!
Something strange happens with TIME when I go to the Senior Center. I go back a little and can grab memories from several decades. If I see a dish pattern my mom, aunt or grandma had or a mug my mom used to drink out of I can sort of re-visit.
I have found a large bag of dominoes for my favorite kinder teacher! Fabric for Maria or Tasha and open shelf kitchen things for Shannon. I have bought children's book for teachers and for my children. I bought an old sturdy chair for Vance's new office. The people working the counter are always kind to me.
Therapy in the form of a thrift store. 

August 19! Brandon and Kelcy's wedding!

 Hazel and Kendal loved being FLOWER girls!!

These two share such a special love. Congratulations Mr. and Mrs. Phillips! 

Summer moments, memories, fun

What could those girls be contemplating?? And I love that Natasha is knitting a Christmas stocking!
We laugh at the things we do when we are together. We are often preparing food for the kids and cleaning it up. We love to thrift, which we got a chance to do. We used to rubber stamp or make soaps but with 7 kids under foot it can be tricky. Oren and Ingrid fight and they play. We let them work it out most of the time. Some discussions about whose turn it is and sharing. ha ha, the good stuff. We And then I brought home a sweet, tiny, fragile kitten and we spent a lot of time bottle feeding her - Little Miss Muffet.-----------

Last week Hazel got to ride the Garcia's horse. 

Oh my lands, a summer dream come true.

Horse back riding is usually something she gets to do at the big company picnic in Lynden. 

We did not attend this year and Hazel told me what she missed most were the horses. I called my sweet friend Lisa, we set up a time to ride and Hazel enjoyed riding Boots!

The next day, Tasha, Reese, Lane, Estelle and Ingrid came to visit! Estelle and Hazel had a ball! They were together 24/7. Natasha and I took just those two girls out to eat Saturday night! It was so fun! Natasha and I had sushi and the girls had steak! 

Hazel and Estelle got to giggling like crazy. Sweet memories made. 

My friend Marianne and her husband Alan are in the process of adopting a boy from China. The excitement of this and the unknowns of this have been on my heart! I love their leap of faith and their TRUST.

Marianne is having a huge yard sale fundraiser this weekend. It has been fun to go through the kids' clothes (well, necessary more than fun) and gather some things for her sale. It will help them as they continue to raise money for their adoption and their travel to China. If you are in Moses Lake this weekend, her sale is Sat. and I bet it is a big one! 

I have read a bit more this summer than several previous. I finished Reconstructing Amelia. Oh, a well written book but hard to read because it was sad and disturbing. It kept my attention though. I started Lady Moses last night. I last read this book 20 years ago! It was a required read for a college English course. I want to see what I think of it now that I am married, have kids, am twenty years older... Then I hope to read Cherish. Kristen "my CA girl" sent it to me!