school's out.....summer is racing by!

Summer is in full swing.....

It is hard to believe that we finished school in May -

Stacked everything up......

and packed it in a box......

And now June is already gone, vacation already done! One more month and school will start again for us.......but until then I am sure July will race by. Meanwhile Allie will start ballet, she and Jonathan will start swim lessons, and Madison and Ryan will continue with swim team. Here is a sneak peak at their first meet that was today.....

Both of them enjoy breaststroke and freestyle the most.....

take us out to the ball game!

Almost every year we have been fortunate enough to get to a Diamondbacks baseball game. Some years it has been free through the library reading program....others employee appreciation at the hospital....and many times we've gone for "homeschool night" with tons of other friends. Merl and various combinations of the kids have been blessed to be able to go through his current employer at least once each year over the last 3 years.....

A few weeks ago Merl's boss was kind enough to give our whole family tickets, plus 2 to spare for amazing seats!!!!! Since grandma and grandpa happened to be booked that night, we invited one of Ryan's friends and his dad. So fun! I've never sat in seats like this - except in the old days in Florida as the "trainer's wife" for the small college team Merl worked with.

A special time was had by all......

Sisters enjoying one another.....

Um yes.....we were this close!

Good thing we packed plenty of food.....this kid ATE the whole time!

Ryan and his friend Isaiah

under construction...

For a long time I have felt that Ryan needed a big project to focus his mind on....one that took planning and execution. The time finally came and he and my dad (grandpa) decided they were going to build a treehouse in the backyard. Not just any treehouse - but an AMAZING treehouse!

First let me just say that we are so blessed to have my parents here - but not only that - they are purposeful to make an effort to spend one on one time with our kids - developing a relationship with them and encouraging their strengths. Merl's parents also work at this from a distance. Not all grandparents are this way! And I am saying - if you don't have grandparents in town that do this - ADOPT some! There are many ready and willing. Even though we have great grandparents we've still adopted more!!!! OK - so off the soapbox and on to the story.......

Dad had an old book that he'd saved which he used when he built our treehouse 30 years ago! He and Ryan spent a day drawing out the plans, investigating the tree, etc. Another day was spent at Home Depot buying the supplies. Then the building began. Overall I would say it took at least 5-7 different days put together to finish the project. I was impressed with grandpa's patience and Ryan's perseverance.

The ficus was "frozen" at the time but is greening up now!

The first day anyone could get "up" into the house, Jonathan did!

At various points, the kids would pose for "progress shots"....

The other siblings and grandma helped at various times.....

The girls have had a "spa day" - crashed by Jonathan...

The finished project after "phase 1".....

Daddy helped with "phase 2"......and now the bottom of the house is made into a special "kitchen area".

Spectacular accomplishment!

rewind - New Mexico in April.....

I said I would be backtracking so here we go.....all the way back to April when we went to New Mexico. For the last 3 years we have been traveling to Albuquerque so I could work the New Mexico Homeschool Convention with a friend who represents Excellence in Writing. I have a blast doing it and it pays for the curriculum we use from the company (most of the time if I don't freak out and buy everything!). We love the opportunity to visit with all our family there anyway! Often Merl splits the time between NM and Arizona to work so we get to stay a long time and still pay the bills! The kids cherish the time with their cousins, grandma and grandpa, and New Mexico terrain! Here are some fun photos from the 10 days we were there:

Really they are on top of a tall rock!

Hiking/running at the foot of the Sandias......

Feeding the horse behind Grandma and Grandpa's house....

So much to look at, dig in, and touch in the garden......

Chasing "evil white butterflies" that eat the garden plants!

Making "pie" with cousin, Archer.....

Oh my what are these boys up to?

Here is where I spent 3 fun days yacking up a storm at the booth! Helping families find what they need to educate their kids!

long time no write......

It's been 3 years since I started this blog - and during that whole time I don't think I've gone 2 months without writing. Most who know me would say I've never been at a loss for words....it is usually quite the opposite. But frankly for the last 2 months each time I have thought of sitting down and writing about our daily activities it just seemed trivial. Not that our life or daily happenings were unimportant because to us they were....

I didn't write because 1) There was not an instant of extra time and 2) I couldn't formulate the right thoughts to write about my family in contrast to what was going on around me.

I didn't record the last two months because I was too busy living it - and experiencing relationships. I was investing in family out of state and engaging in friendship to its fullest extent here.

I was loving others' children, regularly visiting friends in the hospital, saying good-bye, grieving my own offenses, and pleading on my knees for the lives of precious ones.

I am ready to write again - because the thoughts and events have been piling up! And this is how I work it all through. The challenges of the last two months were not all necessarily negative - in fact even though they have been difficult - I count them a privilege to have gone through. Friendship is an investment.....a journey.....more on that later.......in the meantime....here is a taste of "the normal" that has transpired in between the trials.....

Trip to Albuquerque to see family and work the NM Homeschool Convention

A treehouse was constructed!

Yes - we were sitting here - this photo is with no zoom!!!

School year all done and packed up in a box!

Painting......

Hotspot #4 - Fridge and Pantry!

I was so excited when Simple Mom announced the 4th hotspot was the pantry and fridge! It has been over 4 years since we moved "back in" our remodeled house and the kitchen cabinets were in disarray. Since being introduced to a cleaning schedule by the Fly Lady awhile back - I have made it a normal routine to clean out the fridge almost every month and I've worked on the pantry before. But there were other parts of my kitchen I wanted to work on. I didn't get to EVERY drawer and cabinet - but the worst ones. I am so blessed to have a huge kitchen with tons of space! Now there is even more!

I love how Tsh suggests that as you handle each food item you think carefully about whether it is something you should be eating and having in your home. Good time to get back to whatever plan one has for eating healthy!

***DISCLAIMER*** Sort of funny it is the end of the month and so fridge and pantry are more empty than normal. Trying to stick to the budget!

Before on bottom of pantry

After

Top of pantry before....

After....

Fridge (a day before I actually cleaned it out....)

Had to take a picture of this - I took every shelf and drawer out and scrubbed. Oh my....

Merl came home with groceries right after I took this picture!

This was one of the "extras" I really wanted to work on....

I would call this cabinet the "catch - all"....

Extra space now!

Bring on Hotspot #5!