Blueberries!!

The blueberries are finally ready! We waited and waited, and finally we were able to visit the blueberry farm today. It was actually a tad bit cooler this morning, which was really really nice.

Sampling the berries :)

This was Logan's first time picking berries. He loved it...for awhile.

Logan would pick until the bottom of his pail was covered, then he would dump them in a nice pile on the ground! Not sure why he felt the need to do that.

The friendly cow who kept distracting my children.

After an hour of picking, Logan found a shady spot.

We ended up with 5 1/2 pounds of blueberries. Now trying to decide what to make first!

Blueberry Lemonade? Muffins? Homemade blueberry ice cream :) Maybe cobbler.

Thinking we may freeze most of these, and hit another blueberry farm later in the week, after they have had time to ripen more.

Friend Makin Monday - 4th of July

This week's FFM is being hosted by Shawn at Seriously. Visit her blog for details and to join in the fun! Shawn has asked us several questions about our Fourth of July plans and traditions:

What are you doing this July 4th?...

We will be going to a bbq at some dear friends from our church. They live outside of town just a ways and have a nice big open yard...perfect for bbq-ing, volleyball and riding bicycles. Several other families go and we create memories..cookout, share favorite dishes, fellowship with friends old & new, the kids all play, and that evening the Dad's set off a fun display of fireworks.

What is your favorite dish to pass when attending a 4th of July party or summer barbecue?...

I love spicy baked beans, but my friend makes the absolute best, so I leave them to her! I like to make cupcakes for summer picnics.

Do you have any July 4th traditions?...

This will be the 4th year I think, that we have gone out to our friends place.

Share your favorite July 4th picture...

This is a picture of Ash & Logan taken just last 4th of July. I can hardly believe how little they were! A great reminder of how quickly a year passes. How many things change....

Monday's Simple Woman's Daybook

For Today -June 29th, 2009 -

Outside my window... this morning, bluebirds were flittering around on the fence. I enjoyed watching them, wishing we had some houses up for them. Now as it is so hot in the late afternoon sun, the blinds on the west side are all closed.

I am thinking... about the 3rd trimester of this pregnancy, and how the constant heart burn stage is now here.

From the learning rooms... life. Everyday is a new adventure and discovery of some sort with these two.

I am thankful for... air conditioning! I'm a country girl at heart and usually enjoy having the windows all up letting the summer breeze & smells float through the house. But this summer, I guess with it being so humid and me being so pregnant, I am finding I need the a/c.

From the kitchen...an iced-cold glass of sweet tea :) Though I should be thinking about supper plans. I try to have a menu plan for the week, but it hasnt been accomplished yet.

I am wearing...shorts & a t-shirt

I am reading... just finished a sweet little novel called Rose House. By an author I had never read before, Tina Ann Forner. Its a story of grief and hope, centered around a little rose-covered cottage in the vinyards of Sonoma Valley.

I am hoping... that this baby is born with lots and lots of dark hair. Isn't that what heartburn supposedly means? haha

I am creating...a pattern for a new diaper bag. I found some good tutorials online that gave me some good ideas, and I found some cutesy material over the weekend at Hobby Lobby. My tan pillowcases from last week turned out great. The huge sheet ended up making 4 cases plus a long one for my body/maternity pillow. And even enough leftover that I think I will try to make a pillowcase dress for Ashleigh...which I intended to try last summer but never did.

I am praying...for a smooth & restful week.

Around the house...signs of summer. Picnic basket sitting empty by the backdoor. Seashells on bookshelves. Red, white, and blue.

One of my favorite things... old-fashioned 4th of July celebrations. With lemonade and blankets on the ground. Fireworks.

A few plans for the rest of the week... a MOPS trip out to the blueberry farm tomorrow morning, followed by a park picnic tomorrow night where we each showcase/swap our favorite blueberry recipe; freezing blueberries; a visit to the city pool; a little friend's birthday party; and a big cook-out on Saturday.

Here is a picture thought I am sharing with you...

Read other Simple Women Daybooks at its temporary summer location: Grandmother Wren's blog

My husband rocks!!

This evening, my husband tried his hand at something he had never done before. Which, that in itself is amazing! He has done everything:

Been a firefighter

a radio dj

a tv producer

Ridden horses

been scuba diving

mission work in Italy

drummer

football

ROTC

deer hunting

chicken farming

motor-cross sports

performed a wedding ceremony

mountain climbing

Until tonight......

He gave his son a hair-cut :) Logan gets so hot & sweaty, especially when its high 90's during the summer! So we talked about it...and wondered...could we do it? Would he sit still enough? How bad could it be?

Logan was very excited to have his hair cut at home--by his DADDY.

I think they both did wonderfully ;-)

Summer Snowcones

Nothing says summer like a snowcone. We recently enjoyed some super-sweet, way-too-heavily syruped ones at our town's annual Hillbilly Days Kids Karnival.

Logan had cotton candy/cherry

Ashleigh's was cotton candy/bubblegum

"What color am I, Mommy?!?"

Garage Sale Discoveries

Last weekend, two of the near-by streets were having a neighborhood garage sale day. I left the kiddos with Daddy, while I ran to check them out.
Two hours later -- I came home. Hot and hungry, but happy.

Here's some pics of my loot :)

Two beautiful afghans--perfect size and colors for Ashleigh & Logan. $2 each

Two old window frames, one with a mirror in it. Perfect for a project I have in mind. (Watch for more on these later.) 1/2 off so $1 each

For Logan - 4 winter shirts, 2 summer shirts, a Rams jersey, 4 pairs of pants
all for $5

For Ashleigh - 3 cute skirts, 2 pair of tights, 2 sets of jammies, a pair of green cargo pants, and 1 sweet canvas tote bag
All for $3.25

A foot spa tub for Fred (and maybe me!)
1/2 off of $10

So, you can see what bargains I came home with! And just under $20!!

I am looking forward to this weekend...when I get to go to Springfield with my sister. We have never been to garage sales there...hoping to find some treasures :)

Monday's Simple Woman's Daybook

For Today -June 22nd 2009 - the 2nd day of summer

Outside my window... Ashleigh & Logan are cooling off on this 90 degree day by having a water gun fight.

I am thinking... how nice it is to have my blog fixed so I can start writing again. I have missed not blogging.

From the learning rooms... life. Everyday is a new adventure and discovery of some sort with these two.

I am thankful for... the wonderful father that God blessed me with and the 31 years that I had with him.

From the kitchen... piles of pans that need to be loaded in the dishwasher from last night's japanese stir-fry.

I am wearing... comfy gray shorts and a big maternity t shirt. I am all about cool & comfy right now :)

I am reading... just finished the new Above the Line book by Karen Kingsbury. Not sure what will be next...haven't had much time to read lately.

I am hoping... that the blueberries are about ready to pick. Need to call out to the farm and check.

I am creating...some new tan pillowcases. I know....they don't sound very creative, but I have been wanting to get some so when I found a huge tan sheet at a garage sale saturday, I decided it would be perfect to cut down into pillowcases.

I am praying... a house in the country with our own big backyard

Around the house... tubs of baby girl clothes that need to be sorted and washed

One of my favorite things... naptime!

A few plans for the rest of the week... more water gun fights, making wagon train dolls at the library, haircut appt, and hopefully crossing more items off of my to-do list

Here is a picture thought I am sharing with you...

"Waiting on the Ice Cream Truck"

Are you content to linger on the simple things of life...then join me in taking a little look into the day plans and thoughts of those of us who are focusing on simplicity...the beauty of the everyday moments around us. Check out the Simple Woman's Daybook

Finally!!!!

Whoo hooo!!! I finally straightened up and fixed my blog. Still don't know what I had done to goof it up....glad it was a simple fix. Now I am anxious to get back to blogging and updating.
What a great way to start a monday :)