Good Morning~

Bob left for work awhile ago.  I got up when he left.   I'm sitting here, enjoying my first of my two cups of coffee for the day. I'm also sitting in front of an open window, listening to the birds start their day.  We are finally getting a break from the extreme heat we've been having.  So that means we were able to give the air conditioners a break and open up the windows.  I'm thankful for my air conditioners, but so glad when we can have the house opened up.  Of course, I'm also grateful for the break in the energy bill too.

It's Monday morning again. It sure seems like our days/weeks go by so fast and we are back to a new week so soon.  

Our weekend was nice.  More of the same. It's really hard to write up a new post, since we pretty much do the same thing all the time. But, I'm not complaining.   I have to say our days have been really laid-back, stress-free this summer and I much prefer it to crazy busy.   Since it wasn't so hot, we spent more time outside this weekend.  Sitting on the front porch and sitting in the backyard. Nikki cooked on the grill.  We ate outside. Those that wanted to did some swimming.  Some did a bit of grocery shopping.  We read books. One or two of us, (not me)  may have been caught napping on the swing in the backyard or relaxing in the hammock.   We played computer games, card games, outdoor games.   We watched some tv, some Nascar, some movies, etc.  Jake and Aaron actually went to the movies again this weekend - this time to see the new Spiderman movie.

Really, we are blessed this year to be having a very relaxed summer.  None of us are complaining though.  We seem to be soaking it all in.....

I'm thinking that the next few days will be more of the same, as the temps are only supposed to reach the mid-80's.  Of course, a few of us will be back to work, but in between that, I'm hoping for another relaxing week.  It's also supposed to cool down to some really comfortable temps at night, so the air conditioners will continue to rest and we will have some great sleeping weather.  

Here are the links to some of the baking and cooking we've been doing.  I say "we" but it's really been Nat, Nik and Alli who've been holding down the fort on the kitchen front.

We finally tried a new recipe that I pinned on Pinterest. (I love Pinterest!)   Here's the link to the recipe on the website where it's actually posted. I've been pinning so so many now that it was time to give some a try.  Alli made this first.  She made it for Jake to take into work to share with his co-workers for his birthday.  It looked and smelled sooo yummy that Nat made us one for Sunday dessert.  And it was delicious!!! A new favorite..this one will be added to our "keeper" recipes.

Nikki also made some of PW cinnamon rolls.....That is the most amazing icing for cinnamon rolls ever!!!!! We all loved it.....coffee and maple together....um, yum!!

Jake had a birthday last week and for his birthday supper, he wanted PW's wings.....only when we make them for supper, we use chicken legs.....so we made some of them....and some honey mustard legs to go with them, using this recipe for honey mustard wings.  And when it's time for Jake to choose his birthday dessert, you can most always count on the fact that it will be something with strawberries.....and it was......we have several tried and true recipes w/ strawberries....a couple of them are trifle recipes....I can't find a link to the one we ended up making, so I will have to post it later....but, again, we were reminded why it's a favorite and also in the "keeper" section of the recipe binder.

No pics this time...I have a few of Jake's birthday pics, but need to get them uploaded to the computer first.  

~Have a great week.~

Today is Jake's 20th birthday.
All I can say is Wow!!!!

He has to work tonight, but we are going to have a nice birthday supper before he does.

He chose strawberry trifle for his birthday dessert...and Alli is going to bake him a peanut butter sheet cake to take into work and share.

He's sleeping now. His sleeping gets all messed up when he has holidays off.....working 3rd shift does that. 

We were woke up very early this morning when some strong thunderstorms moved thru.

There are lots of branches down.  Bob said trees are down, wires down...and limbs everywhere.

He said some traffic lights were out in town as well.

I saw on the news that power is out all over.

Ours blinked out once, but came right back on....thankful for that.

I will have Nikki get some pics of the branch that fell right next to our car...again, thankful it didn't fall on the car.

Huge walnut trees surround our yard on all sides, so I always worry about downed limbs during storms...makes me 

so nervous...thankful again, that mostly just small branches fell.....

Guess I will call today, "Thankful Thursday."

~*~*~*~*~*

We had a nice 4th of July.

We hung around at home.

Very hot and humid.

Gotta say I'm most thankful for our air conditioners right now.

Bob and I made a trip to the grocery store.

Nat tagged along as an extra cart pusher, lol.~

We had hotdogs/coney dogs and sloppy joes, deviled eggs, sweet macaroni salad.

Red, white and blue cupcakes for dessert.

Ice cream cones later.

The kids did lots of swimming, played games, watched some tv...

nothing too exciting.

Bob took some of the kiddos and went to the fireworks....the rest of us stayed home.

We only have the 1 car...and it only seats 5 of us.....but that was okay, because not everyone really felt like going anyhoos.

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*

Here are some pics:

 

I have to say this was a very laid back weekend for us.

No real housecleaning.

No ripping up carpet.

No yardwork.

No project of any kind.

Just everyone sitting around, doing whatever, taking it easy.

Friday~ Abby had a headache and was sick to her stomach all day. I spent most of the day on the couch with her and read a book. Bob made his last trip to our favorite grocery store.  It went out of business and Saturday was the last day. Pork Chops on the grill for supper. Toss Salad to go with. I Love Lucy marathon on Hallmark on the tv.  Tiger's baseball.  Aaron and Jake went to a late movie.

Saturday~ Farmer's market for Jake.  Lance's Bakery for doughnuts.   Nat worked until 2.....Water balloon fight #2.....450 water balloons!!!!!! Everyone got wet, except Jake, who was upstairs catching up on some sleep. A tripe to Kroger for some essentials.....Alli and Daddy made everyone a chocolate milkshake.  Bob and I played a game of Scrabble.  Grilled BBQ chicken, corn on the cob, and beans for supper.  I finished another book!!!  Yup, 2 books for me this weekend.  Tiger's Baseball, Nascar and more I Love Lucy on tv.

Sunday~  We all slept in.  Swimming.  Nat and Nik walked uptown for a bit.....Burgers and Sausage on the grill, fries, cole slaw for supper.  More swimming.  A trip to Meijer for pool supplies..... Ice Cream Cones.  An evening ride in the country. More I Love Lucy. (seems to be a huge favorite here right now...whether it's on tv or the girls are popping in a dvd.....I love when they watch it though, it makes them laugh soooo much...then they have to come tell me about the episode they are watching.)

Told ya it was nothing too exciting, lol.~  

But, it was a nice weekend for us and we had some family fun.  It's nice that the older kids still live at home and we can have these times.  I know someday the house will be quiet and Bob and I will sit here, asking each other, do ya remember the time.......?????? At least, I think someday, this house will be quiet, lol.~

 

 

 

 

 

Seems to be lots of baking 

going on at our house these days.....

Last week, Natalie made homemade bread.

I made bacon cheese bread.

This week, Alli made PB and J bars....

super yummy!!!!

 And yesterday,

Aaron & Abby made a cake...

from scratch....

Aaron never cooks or bakes....

but,

Abby wanted to make something...

and Abby needs help.....

so........

we had chocolate cake,

with chocolate frosting....

and chocolate ice cream to go with....

(Can ya tell Aaron is a choco-o-holic?) 

 

 

 

 

~Water Balloons~

 

 

 

 

(in pictures)

 

~I was going to post about some of these pics last week, but the batteries in the camera died, trapping the pics

until we could get new batteries....and then this ol' brain couldn't remember what all I wanted to say, lol.~

So, you get just the pics.~

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*

 

Nice, busy, fun, family, summer is in full swing at our house.

 

Friday:  

Nikki made dinner....we ate our yummy grilled chix tacos outside.

We had ice cream.

We all sat outside and relaxed a bit.

The girls played in the pool.

 

Bob got the fishing poles out and the girls practiced casting a bit.

Jake and Aaron went bowling. Then to the show.

We watched the Tigers game, even though it was very painful to watch, ouch.  That last inning was brutal.

Bob and I stayed up late to watch the new Sherlock Holmes movie w/ Rosie.

Alli and Abby camped out on Nat and Nik's floor, as they do every Friday night to watch I Love Lucy.

 

Saturday:

Had a nice visit w/ my brother and 2 nephews......they were bringing us the chickens they had raised and then had processed for us....can't wait to try them. 

Jake and Aaron took Rosie, Alli and Abby bowling.

I love this pic of Rosie.

 

Bob and Nikki got some groceries.

More swimming in the pool.

Then home for the delicious bbq chicken pizzas that Nat and Nik made for supper. 

Out again to buy fishing licenses..

And then off for some fishing.

Bob, Aaron and Jake took the younger 3 girls.

They didn't catch "the big one" but had fun anyways.

 

 

 

 

 

Sunday:

Church

Grilled Bacon Cheeseburgers for Bob's Father's Day Lunch.

Yogurt Pie for dessert.....the girls made 4 different flavors....orange, raspberry, lime and strawberry....

They were all delicious.

Father's Day gifts.

Baseball tickets to a Lansing Lugnuts minor league baseball game next Saturday.

And jeans. 

 

Watched some of the Nascar race. Was soooo happy Jr. ended up winning.  Finally!!!!!!!!

I cut Abby's hair.  Short. Very short. Pics coming soon. She looks cute and loves it. Whew!

More swimming.

Nat and Nikki tore out the carpet in their bedroom.

We've been working on getting all the carpet out of the house for a couple weeks now.

It's old and gross...and we just can't live with it anymore. Not a fun process, but needs to be done.

We went to visit my parents....after visiting with them, we got in the car and Abby told us she had a horrible headache and felt sick to her stomach....... so we headed home...fast, before the upset stomach set in....got her home and on the couch......thankfully, she fell asleep and even though she was restless all night, she slept it off and is fine this morning.

 And that brings us to a new week......I let the kids sleep in this morning....we've got storms moving in, so we won't be doing much today....a good day to catch up on housework and maybe get some reading done.

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*

 

For the past year, the older kiddos, along w/ Bob have been putting all their spare change in a jar.

Saving it up for Curwood Days, a local festival celebrated every June each year.

The idea was to save it so the 3 younger girls could split it up

and have $$$ to use for rides, games and food at the carnival.

Friday we wrapped it, counted it up, and Saturday Bob and Aaron headed to the bank to cash it in.

 Before they went though, 

we had to get everyone's guesses as to how much was in there,

see who came the closest.

Whaddya think??? Look like alot to you??? 

 

 

There ended up being over $300.00 in the jar.

The girls had enough to go to the carnival, a movie, and to set some aside for the circus.

They even have some leftover.

It's been a busy few days.

Saturday being the busiest.

A quick lunch at Wendy's, then on to get Nat from work at the library.

They sat on the library steps and watched the parade.

 

 

 

 

 

Then on to the rides, games and some more food.

Crowds and Summer heat are not for me.

I stayed home and made everyone some potato salad.

Sounds easy, right? 

Well, if you wanna make everyone happy here,

it takes a bit of extra work.

2 batches.  

Each batch split in half.

1 w/ Hellman's mayo & onions.

1 w/ Hellman's mayo & no onions.

1 w/Miracle Whip & onions.

1 w/Miracle Whip & no onions.

Yup, I'm nice like that.

Not always. But this weekend, I was.

 

After too much sun, they headed home for a rest and a swim.

Then on to the movie theater.  To see Avengers, finally!!!

The kids had been wanting to go all together as a group since it first came out.

But, due to sickness and schedules it hadn't worked out until this weekend.

Once there, however, Miss Abby decided she wasn't quite ready to see a big kid movie.

So, after a scary preview, she came back home, with her popcorn and slushie, to keep 

her Daddy and I company and watch some Victorious and ICarly.

Then everyone got home and it was to bed for some much needed sleep.

We had some very tired kiddos.

Sunday was church. 

And resting up from Saturday.

More swimming. 

Watching the Nascar race.

Nikki cooked some asweome chicken on the grill.

And we head leftover potato salad to go with it.

Still Yummy.

Then the Tiger's game.

Woo-Hoo, they won!!!!!

 Today, sleeping in.

(School is done for the big kids for the summer.)

Work for some.

More swimming.

An early show at the circus.

Steaks on the grill.

(They've been marinading since yesterday, we can't wait!!!)

I think it's offical.

Summer is here.

 ~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*

*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 Earlier this week, Abby did some sweeping for me. 

She swept the front sidewalks and the end of the driveway.

As a thank-you, I told her she could take a couple dollars

and pick out a treat at our favorite corner store.

As Jake was leaving to walk her up there,

he noticed that though she had swept,

she hadn't picked up and taken care of the pile she swept up.

And he mentioned this to her.

Her response:  "Oh, I'm leaving that there, so the wind will blow it all over again.

Then I can sweep it all up again and get another treat."

 

      

 

~ Despite some of us having a virus that is taking forever to go away,

we have been doing a pretty good job of enjoying the warmer weather.

Last night was our first ever family campfire.

 While most of us weren't out very long,

it left us wondering why we haven't done it before.

 I'm sure it was the first of many this summer.