daddymoon

We spent a fantastic {and sweltering} camping weekend with some of our favorite people. I took entirely too many pictures of our kiddos...bordering on the intrusive, but flinging a "you'll thank me in 20 years" at the reluctant subjects.

we fished, we swam {so hot,} we ate {still dreaming about that granola, JRS,} we played

{each camping trip, I challenge myself to make something in the dutch oven on the open fire {I should probably stop}...this trip, I tried Granny's fruit cobbler using the peaches from Grandma and Grandpa J and blueberries we picked with Opa

it was a little crispy around the edges, but worked okay...tasted okay...it'd be better with ice cream, but I haven't figured out how to camp for four days keeping ice cream cold...let me in on the secret if you have}

Daddy arrived to meet us a day after we got to camp...safe and sound from Tennessee. Home {well, camp home.} Together. 

To round out our trip, we met friends at another campground for a night, opting for a cabin in the rain instead of a tent. Wise choice. We swam indoors, ate cheap pizza, and played bingo with dozens of other campers. I won twice...9 bucks {enough to pay for the pizza} and left as soon as people started glaring at me.

Now we're home {real mortgaged home.}

Fifteen hours...the number of hours asleep I've had in the last 24. Blissful. There was the quick go-back-to-sleep, snuggling with my best boy as the rain fell outside our cabin. A cat nap on the car ride home. An honest to goodness sack out after the great unpacking. And then starting a family movie at 9:30. {I mean, come on...that's not even giving me a fair chance.}

I must have needed it. My annoying cough and cold must have needed it.

So, the house is a wreck...we're assimilating his stuff with our stuff...it reminds me of getting married. And there's the soggy, muddy laundry and the food that stayed in the cooler too long to deal with. All very much worth the weekend fun.

I'm loving the nip of fall in the air...fully recognizing that it may not last...but I'm ready for it.

Goodbye, summer. Hello, autumn. Hello, Sweet Man. I'm going to wrap myself up in you.

more harvest

Carrots...a friend was surprised that we could grow them in an Ohio summer. {I'm surprised that we can grow anything in an Ohio summer with my annual case of it's-the-end-of-July-I'm-over-it neglect.)

Bug carried in 2, then three, then 5 and 6 carrots at a time for about a week and before we knew it we had a veggie drawer full.

Bug: Can we make a carrot cake? {Has he ever tasted carrot cake? I don't think so.} 

me: Of course, what a great idea! We'll take it to our picnic on Saturday.

shredding is hard work

Friday, we baked. Saturday, we decorated, shared and enjoyed.

Some of you may be thinking clever boy wearing his carrot shirt. Nope, it just happens to be his favorite shirt (from his daddy) and he wore it both days we worked on the cake.

If you're keeping track, like I am...Sweet Man returns home in 3 days for good...very good.

beach bums

{again with the turning the camera on its side}

Berry fever

A summer without berries???? Almost.

Berry count for 2011 thus far: we skipped strawberries, were on the road during black raspberry week {my faves,} and my blackberry source said it didn't look good this year. Oh, bother.

When Opa murmured something about picking blueberries, I didn't get my hopes up...sure they would be dashed by something.

Hopes fulfilled. 

Is there anything better than catching up with a lifelong friend?

Yes. 

 

...watching our kiddos become friends. 

*sigh*

Bounty

Preservation in operation here. Gotta give props to my in-laws for much this week.

Last Saturday, they delivered our chest freezer...safe and sound back to us. {Bear with me for a little explanation: Two and a half years ago we moved out of the house in preparation for Sweet Man's work adventures carrying us around the country. We intended to sell our house quickly {*cough* right} and that we would not live here again.  After purging many items, things we wanted to keep were moved to Sweet Man's parents. The house didn't sell, the traveling is slowing down. We've been around a bit but I'm feeling the need to plug back in to a community....here we are.}

We received some delicious corn {peaches & cream} from them. In cooking all of it for our supper, the kids and I couldn't finish it, so I decided to freeze the leftovers. I remembered a tip I once heard about cutting corn of the cob: place cob in the middle of a bundt pan and cut kernels off into the surrounding cake pan, making sure to run the back of the blade down the cob to get the yummy creamy bits. It worked so well...just a bit bothersome getting all of those precious gems out of the grooves of the pan.

I also put up more shredded zucchini...{tell me, why is it that a squash looks so much smaller on the vine that I think to myself  give it a few more days, it's not ready yet and then when we do pick it, it's monstrous?} The only thing to do is core and shred. My MIL brought some new freezer bags that use the little vacuum to suck the air out. Put to good use tonight.We now have 8 qt. bags stashed.

Made some kale chips today...wish I could say it was my homegrown kale. Jury's still out...my first batch was too done; the second, much better.

Tomatoes are everywhere, from our garden, the in-laws and my dad's place. Most of them are of the poppable size...not can-able or freeze-able. But yum!

No berries, this year...been too busy to go pick. Boo.

AND Sweet Man's parents kept my kiddos for a few days so that I could paint Bean's new room...separate from her big brother. I have some more work to do before I share pics.

We hope to be hitting the road again...so I may be back soon to tell you all about our travels. And while we are gone, my big boy tomatoes will be falling off the vine. Riveting stuff, this life of mine.

Downpour

{Whaaaaaat? Two posts in two days...could it be? Is the blahggy slump over? Don't become overheated with excitement...probably won't last...I can always think of reasons not to write.}

Just wanted to share these pics of two kiddos whose mother banished them to the out-of-doors for their excessive bickering, closed her eyes, heaved a sigh of relief, looked out the window expecting to see misery and moping and instead saw this.

what up?

whatchya been doin? 

who am I kidding, is there anyone even here still...

tap, tap...is this thing on?

what do you want to know?

no, actually...what do I want to remember from the last whirlwind weeks:

• long good morning hugs
• waking up girl stretched across my lap, watching Fraggle Rock...old school
• margaritas with friends
• best popcorn ev-ah at the drive-in
• sunset during worship at Creation
• bubblegum bubble blowing contests
• chore charts...that actually work
• dirty, filthy mini-feet...sure sign of a good day: when you have to scrub before bed
• boy who does what momma asks after only one request...I have countless examples
• hours of books on CD
• actually turning in reading charts for summer reading program...huzzah!
• friends following on interstate when the unexpected happens
• van with new smile (remember last summer's mishap? oh yeah, I never gave you the whole story...oops) and one new very special tire
• good books
• new babies with forever families...sniff & smile
• incredible young men who don't mind hanging out with middle-agers and school-agers (Susan, your boys are fantastic...and doppelganger alert: K reminds us so much of our nephew...wonderfully weird...the similarities, not the boys)
• embracing the people in my life as my family 
• fireworks
• campfire hair
• Sweet Man...keeping the place running
• hotel nights
• Sonic ice
• my out-stand-ing swimmer - Bean likes to walk to the wall to finish a race, afterwards exclaiming "I didn't know I could touch there, Mom!"
• wet hair and AC on a hot day
• carnie fries with malt vinegar
• painting rooms with wise friends
• watching a parade
• clean sheets dried on the line

Moments make life.

water babies

Soggy and crispy...in alternating installments. Lots of sun...the babes have been toasted too many times already this short summer. Whoops.

There have been two magical weekends with Daddy in Dayton: last week, we found a relaxing, public pool (I know...those two adjectives are rarely together in describing a pool) and a movie date with Daddy (Kung Fu Panda 2).

This weekend, we've been putt-putting, visiting the Wright-Patterson Air Force Base (early years exhibit,) lunching at the Cheesecake Factory, playing in a sprayground and participating in Water Wars.

The first swim meet of the season (with luau theme) was organized chaos...confirmation that it's the sport for us, for this season of our lives. Bean opted not to swim as she is still building her strength to make it across the 25 meter pool. Bug has caught the swim bug, racing in two freestyle events and soaking up the team atmosphere. He swam the 25m free (5th place) and on his age group's free relay (1st place.)The coaches are fantastic and expose us to an aspect of the team I had forgotten...with ages 4 to 18 the neatest relationships develop between young and older swimmers.

Swimming wore us out last week. We had practice each day and a short meet on Wednesday. Bean had an hour nap on Thursday afternoon and slept until 8:30 Friday morning...both unusual occurrences. I didn't have the heart or the energy to wake her up and get to 8am practice again. It's a good thing attendance is not mandatory.

P.S. I haven't loaded my photo software on my new laptop yet, so my pics are SOOC (straight out of camera.) And apparently, I see every shot in portrait.

Well, hello there

I received a new computer this weekend to replace the former, very cantankerous one...and for that I am grateful. So, I'm back in this space. I already like this laptop better than the old.

Should I try to catch y'all up on the last couple months? Many of you already know:  it's been a tough, sweet time...comforting to be in our home and challenging to be without my Sweet Man. About 4 weeks into a 5 week trip, I threw my typical tantrum...having a hard day that spiraled into feeling sorry for myself, isolated and abandoned. Still getting used to the circumstances of my life through all the change in the last 3 years. Boo hoo, right? I was not fit for human company. Yes, my poor kids had to endure.

The kicker is that heartache and crisis continue to swirl around the lives of friends...health crises, monumental life changes, consuming busy-ness...just got swallowed up by my own junk again and have been no help to anyone. 

There's been some hard work on the house {lost our carport in a strong wind ~ good riddance,} yard {new fence up and stray cat-proofed,} and pool {up and running!!!! just needs some new-to-us patio ...chairs.} 

Good stuff, too. The kids {and I} took a 7 week nature class...fantastic experience. We've connected with some friends. Finished Bug's 1st grade year ~ well, almost. Celebrated the matriarch of Sweet Man's family with a fun afternoon.

I rejoiced with happy tears upon news that Sweet Man is back in the same state as us after 6 weeks in South Carolina, Alabama, or Mississippi, helping clean up the aftermath of storms. Crazy weather this spring, no? Keeping my man and his team very busy.

We've made some decisions about life that have me feeling a bit more settled...remaining in the house for the time being, choosing a new church to attend, and praying for Sweet Man as he keeps his eyes on the horizon for a job posting that will bring him home to stay. 

I'm feeling the pervasive joy that comes to me each summer season. I love windows open, new freckles, clothes on the line, watching storms on the porch, digging in the garden. Oh, and the return of the Friday morning occupation...yard sales...searching for patio furniture, but finding oh, so much more. 

And a little bit of extra excitement is that the kiddos have joined a local swim team...SVP Stingrays. I'm tickled about it...I swam on the same team until I was 12...when we were called the SVP Nators...{whaaaa? the SVP who?...hence the name change.} I must qualify...I am the slowest and least proficient swimmer in my extended aqua-heroic family...to the point of having my last name questioned because I didn't live up to it. But I am thrilled to give my kids the chance to experience a taste of the magic of growing up at Spring Valley and to watch them develop solid stroke technique in a safe and fun environment. The season will keep us busy for several weeks. We're off to our first formal practice in a few minutes. Stay tuned for swimming stats and pictures of black and red suits.

And on the weekends, we'll be traveling back and forth to Dayton to see Sweet Daddy on his Sundays' off.

So that's the news here from Prone to Wander. Be back soon.