In Houston...

with a heat index of 108 degrees! We are melting. Ainsley is not tolerating the heat very well and we are spending our time in air conditioned places. At my in-laws house we had an eventful, miserably hot visit to the zoo which I will post about another time. I have to add pictures and have quite the story to tell. Well, I hope you all are doing well and even though we are having fun, we miss Daddy, friends, home etc. Having a good time, but can't wait to get back. I miss my bloggy friends as well! More later my tater tots!

Headed out today!

I am stressed and trying to get some last minute things done. My hubs has a friend coming this weekend and my house is not as clean as I would like it to be. I haven't had time to get into a routine of cleaning with both kids home. Actually a miracle happened yesterday and both kids cleaned up their rooms, playroom, and downstairs area. They did a beautiful job. I hope to check in time to time, but I am not sure how much access my in-laws will give me to a computer. We will see!

Joy Happiness and Crazy Faces...

What my children love most about warm, dry summer weather is the opportunity to eat lunch outside. Sometimes we pack up and head to a nearby park, but today since we had been out shopping and to the library already so we stayed home and lunched in the back yard.

Happiness abounds with a picnic blanket, peanut butter sandwich and lemonade. Enjoying the lovely warm weather before we head down south and turn into little puddles. No outdoor activites for us that don't involve water if I can help it. Air conditioning here we come!

Note from the Teacher

Yesterday was Aidan's last day of first grade. I did end up going to his awards. Mostly the 5th and 6th graders get the awards, but Aidan received one for attendance and recognition for his Outstanding Student Award earlier in the year. Aidan had a very good school year academically. Socially was a bit more difficult, but I am hoping with some changes that have been put in place that next year will be better.

This week is going to be super busy getting ready for our trip. Right now however, I need a nap so I am off. Aidan will have some reading/play time and Ainsley and I will get to sleep. I am so tired of waking in the middle of the night and then not get back to sleep. Hopefully tonight will be better. I will try to post one more time this week before we are off, but if I don't get the chance I would really appreciate your prayers. Mostly for safe travel and patience with the family. Thank you my friends!

The countdown officially begins...

Today is the last day of actual academics at school. The kids go back Monday because of a rescheduled snow day. Plus, it is their awards ceremony and fun day...school picnic. (Graduation was already scheduled for Friday afternoon and they did not want to reschedule that for another day. Hence the students have Friday off and go back Monday.) I won't be able to stay for the whole day as I have Ainsley and it would be nuts. I have other commitments at church as well, but I think I will stop by for the awards ceremony. I don't think that Aidan is getting anything, but I would be going just as an interested parent. I am so grateful that things will be wrapping up soon. I am so glad that my children enjoy school, but as a parent I get tired of all the running around that it sometimes involves. I will be glad for the summer break.


My in-laws apparently have a countdown going for our visit. Do you think they are the least bit excited? They haven't seen the kids since last summer since they haven't come to visit us here in almost 2 years. I am told however that they will be coming in July. I will believe it when I see them here. I told my husband that too. They have said several times that they were coming and then never made any plans to do so. Ah well the choices other people make are not always the choices that I would make and that is just how it is and I will accept it. It really just hurts my husbands feelings even if he won't say anything to them outright. I think if they do actually come up it will go a long way towards easing those hurts. Well, enough of a downer. School is almost done and we are thrilled!

Let the Sunshine!

Let the sunshine, let the sun shine in...is that how the song goes? Anyway, a much needed sunny day! We are having an end of the year afterschool picnic with the usual crew. Snacks and all. Most of my chores have been completed today and I am feeling pretty good. Actually I am exhausted. I have been so tired lately, just having a really hard time getting up in the morning. I went to bed early last night hoping that I would be less tired in the morning. No such luck, I woke up at 2:30 and was unable to fall asleep again until just before the hubs left for the plant this morning. You know how it is when you are tired and you are lying in bed just praying for sleep. Selfish of me I know, but I don't think clearly at that hour of the morning. Busy brain with things that needed to be done and calls that I needed to make. Hopefully tonight will be better. So now I am off to get a quick nap in before heading out to pick up kiddo. Hopefully I will have enough sense to take the camera with me this afternoon. What a lovely day!

I am a grouch!

After 3 days of rain, waking to more clouds this morning has put me in a sour mood. Where did my sunshine and warm weather from Friday go? Is it coming back because I need it desperately. Next week we head to Texas where we will have plenty of sunshine and the oppressive heat that goes with it. Is there no happy medium!

Anyway, my kitchen painting project is done for now. The walls and ceiling have all been painted. Hopefully, I won't have to paint ceilings again until I decide to get to work on Ainsley's room. My next task is to finish Aidan's closet doors and radiator covers and finish a few more window screens. All in the next week and a half! It is doable as long as I spend my free hour or so during the day/evening working on those things.

Well, I am off to get some housework done this morning while Ainsley watches Sesame. Later taters!

Stone Patios

When we moved into this 110 year old house, we knew it was going to take some work. The couple living here previously was divorcing and many things had been left neglected. One of those things was the backyard. In our time here so far we have removed dead/dying cedar trees (17 in all), removed some sort of vine with poisonous berries, replaced the fence and added some flower beds. We wanted to add a stone patio to be able to put our grill on and eventually get an outside table. The wooden porches we have are too small for such things. So we called some landscapers and had some estimates done. Because of last summer's $4 gas prices, the cost was astronomical. It was much more than we were able to spend considering we were in need of replacing the boiler unit for our much needed winter heating. Anyway, fast forward to earlier this week. B was digging around near the house and one of the porches as he was grilling our dinner. There have been these large stones there and I think he had in mind to remove them. As he continues digging he unearths more and more stones. Then he notices that they are in a sort of pattern. He does more digging and then realizes what he is looking at...a stone patio. Under lava rocks, grass and tons of dirt is a stone patio! It is going to take quite a bit of work to reclaim the area and not exactly the look for a patio that we had in mind, but I will take a free patio anyday over having to pay to install one or install one ourselves.

I hope everyone has a great weekend!

Escaping for a bit...

today is my rescheduled hair appointment. I am thrilled. A girlfriend of mine is watching Ainsley for me so I have a few hours of much needed freedom, and pampering.


Yesterday we had some difficulties at the school playground. We left much earlier than planned and both children were sent to time out at home. Because of their behavior yesterday, several restrictions have been placed on their play for this afternoon. I will let you know how it goes. Pray pray pray, we are going to need it!

Ainsley's Graduation Day...

My apologies! I skipped a bit ahead yesterday to inform everyone of Pilly's dramatic recovery. Back to last Thursday...Ainsley graduated from her 3 year old preschool. Some of my pictures did not turn out, fuzzy as usual. I won't post them here but this is Ainsley her little buddy C and her two teachers. I am going to say again how much I am going to miss this school next year. I have to work really hard to make the extra effort to teach bible stories as well as they did this year. It does help that our church sends bible lessons home with us to work on during the week. I have made an extra effort since the first of the year to work on these with the kiddos. I swear, Aidan memorizes scripture so easily. That one has the amazing memory I no longer seem to have. Pulled in too many directions I guess. Back to graduation...tons of artwork came home, they made Father's Day presents, received certificates, and had an indoor picnic. A good time was had by all. We presented the teachers with flower arrangements, each student contributed a flower to each, and some gift cards. Love those two ladies pictured above, in my eyes they were sent to me straight from heaven! What a blessing.

I heard a follow up from the school counselor today. Things between the Aidan and his "friend" have apparently improved significantly. I am wondering if some of their troubles, or at least Aidan's troubles, had something to do with the long winter. There are still bad days to their friendship, but I think since they are having more and more opportunity to play outside they are getting along better. I have the impression that Aidan able to get away from him a little better. I still don't like to hear Aidan say that this kid is making fun of him. Irks me to no end. I keep telling Aidan that when this starts up he needs to walk away and play with his other friends. He doesn't need to stay around if he is being given a hard time. On a few rare occasions I have even seen him do this. Hopefully, this situation will continue to improve especially considering the space that summer provides for us.


Today Ainsley went in for her first official dentist appointment. She has visited before, but this time they were able to do some actual cleaning. If only I could get her to sit still in the chair for more than 5 seconds! Too much for her too look at and touch. Hopefully, next time will be even easier. Well, that is it for now. I hope everyone has a sunshiny day!

Pilly is Home!

One happy little girl and one silly boy that had to get in on the camera action.

One happy little girl with her favorite doll. Pilly arrived home today dressed in a hospital gown and cap complete with Dr. instructions. Too cute.

I want to apologize or clarify some of my comments from earlier. Please don't get me wrong. I do love my in-laws, sometimes though too much togetherness is too much of a good thing. I don't want anyone to thing that I am ungrateful for their hospitality. I just am worried about feeling run over and resentful. Okay, enough about that. Hope everyone had a glorious day because things were pretty good over here.

Recovery Tuesday...

yesterday I was sidelined with a major headbanging migraine. I did minimal work yesterday and I am blessed with a super husband who took over with the kiddos after a hard day at work. I am not sure what set that one off other than 2 terrible nights sleep. Go figure! Much better today though.

Monday's have suddenly become decidedly less busy. Life in general is a bit less busy this week as we begin the end of the year wrap up. Ainsley finished preschool last week so all we have is to run Aidan to and from school daily and go to various dental appointments/hair appointments and doctor appointments before we head out of town in a few weeks.

I must confess I am a bit nervous about my trip. I have travelled without Brian before so that is not the issue. I have serious reservations about staying with my in-laws for a week without Brian there. My FIL can be very over-bearing, demanding and difficult. I do not like to feel like I am being run over which happens often when I am with them. Grandpa was also a little rougher on Aidan than I care to tolerate last time we visited as well. Brian usually does well to act as a buffer so that everyone gets as much out of our visits as they need and for that I am most grateful. I am praying that I will be able to handle this without feeling like I am losing my mind or unable to enjoy our visit. I am planning on picking up some sort of devotional or bible study so I can have something to keep me in the Word while I am there, hopefully in an effort to keep my head and wits about me. Does anyone have any suggestions?