the goodness of summer

Can't you taste this strawberry jam spread on a piece of freshly baked bread? Long after the strawberry plants are dusted with snow, we will still be savoring the sweetness of summer.
Start with a bowl full of plump juicy red berries.


Mash them down

Pour in a TON of sugar (which is why it tastes so yummy) and enjoy!

My parents have a garden. One that we hope to be able to share in the bounty of. Nolan and Jarom have each been assigned a vegetable to take care of. It's their job to keep it weeded and growing abundantly. They Love the weeding, well okay, not so much; but at least they are learning the time and effort it takes to grow a garden.

I came across these Topless Undershirts made by Blush the other day and thought they were pure genius - really who doesn't need a little bit of length under their t-shirt? I was trying to decide which one to order when I came across a tutorial on how to make it myself at Little Birdie Secrets.

In other news, the weather today is cold and windy so I think we will be hiding indoors. That is of course after I torture the kids by dragging them from shop to shop in an effort to get ready for our camping trip this week-end.

This morning we made Balloon Bean Bags (so easy and the boys have played with them nonstop) and this afternoon we are going to start phase one of Mini Pinatas.

It's true what they say... time does go by too fast.

My youngins are still in bed and the house is filled with quite serenity that will quickly fade as soon as their bodies are fully rejuvenated and ready for another day of action packed adventures.

One of my goals for this summer is to fully enjoy my kids, I've come to realize that they are growing fast, faster then I would like. I've noticed a real growth in maturity in Jarom over the last year that has sent my mothering into a realization that soon my boys will be older and not wanting the spend their afternoons going on escapades with me.

I want to soak in these moments we have together and etch them into our memories.

The primary scripture for this month is Mosiah 4:13

"And ye will not have a mind to injure one another, but to live peaceably"

I thought it particularly fitting for our family as this is what went on for most of the morning.

My Parents Have Beach Front Property

Okay, not really; but if you're a kid I think it feels that way.

This grandpa and these two boys, as much as boys will help, shoveled 11 loads of sand into the backyard.

It is suppose to look like this all the time and will eventually become a beautiful patio, where we will all sip freshly squeezed lemonade and watch breathtaking sunsets.

But this is what it looks like. Filled with kids, weildings shovels, filling buckets, constructing sandcastles and pits to be filled with water.

My kids (and their friends) play in the sand, go for a dip in the pool, play in the sand some more and the ritual continues. I sit in the swing watching, once in a while leaving my life guarding perch to wrangle down a kids or two and toss them in the pool.

July 1st

We have a tradition as a family; as soon as we enter the road that leads us to our beloved Red Rock Canyon, I unroll my window and we all inhale . We breathe deeply as we soak in the smell of the forests; there is nothing like the smell of the woods to replenish your tired soul and bring joy to your spirit.

Tuesday night we did a quick hike up to Crandell Lake 2 km each way; Jarom hiked it like a pro.

Little pyros hard at work.

To celebrate Canada day we hiked up Mt. Galloway; a very steep climb; but worth every footstep as we were able to gaze down at the beautiful valley below us.

Noli showing me his love.



See how far up we climbed. Down below in the valley is our camp ground.

The hikers.

Cooling off in Red Rock Canyon

My favorite place on earth. It's beauty is overwhelming.

That's right - It's COLD glacial water.

Favorite Pictures of the Week-End

Saturday Spencer had to study for his 9th and final exam (YIPPEEEEEEEEE) on his journey to become an Architect. The kids and I left him to his studies and ventured out to our own bit of paradise - my parents.

Don't you wish you could savor a fresh burnt marshmallow right off the roasting stick? Kids know how to enjoy life.


I love that even though you can't see Nolan's face you can tell there is a look of pure joy in his expression.

Freedom

It's official - we're free!

Today was Nolan's last day of grade 4 (another post all in itself as I am not old enough to have a child one year away from Jr. High). Which mean - no more schedules, no more 4 trips a day to the school picking up kids, no more 20 minute crazy lunches - where I repeatedly yell at my kids to eat faster and stop fooling around. Oh the bliss of it all. I am so giddy I can barely stand it.

Instead we will be

Going camping with Spencer’s family at Writing –on-Stone
Visiting my best friend Anne
Hunting lions at the Calgary Zoo
Visiting Rachel and Paul and attending the Telus Center
Riding the rides at Callaway Park
Hunting Dinosaur Fossil at Tyrrell Museum
Floating in the lake
Laying on the shore while the boys fish
Having sore fingers from blowing up water balloons
Watching a movie projected on a sheet in the backyard
Learning to play tennis
Seeing 10 new species of birds
Scaling the cliffs at the climbing wall
Attending a baseball game
Hiking in the mountains
Performing random acts of kindness
Relaxing at White fish with my family
Water sliding
Canoeing
Swimming in the pool
Learning to throw a freebie
Making homemade ice-cream
Going on picnics
Water fighting
Going berry picking and making jam
Playing mini golf
Gazing into campfires and roasting marshmallows
Ripping up the court at basketball camp
Sipping freshly squeezed lemonade

Another Milestone

Do you sometimes get the feeling that my kids are merely humoring me by letting me take their picture?

Jarom's year of Kindergarten wrapped up yesterday. He is a grad and a oh so handsome one at that!

It was an emotional day for his mama as it seems like kindergarten is the last year I get to cuddle him before he starts his big move to independence.

My Favorite Memory

Ever since our kids were big enough to sit up in the tub, Spencer has supervised while he played his guitar and sang silly songs to the kids. I loved cleaning up the supper dishes and hearing him make up a song about them and then hearing the giggles of boys that always followed. It's one of those memories I know I will remember forever and it brings me pure joy whenever I think about it.

A Father's Day

Cute Boys

Great Dads

How delicious (literally - my mom is a great cook) it was to spend Father's Day with my Dad.

When I take away

this

and this,

and this.

This



and this


are the result.

On a related note, I've cleverly hidden the DS from the kids and am now unable to locate it. If anyone has possible suggestion of places I may have hidden it, it would be greatly appreciated. The person to guess the winning location will receive a Water Bottle Thingamajig.

Water Bottle Thingamajig

I've seen different versions of these Water Bottle Tag Drink Holder Thingamajig around the Internet and always wanted to make them. I decided last week was the time - crafting sooths my souls and heals my spirit. I made 12; I couldn't be stopped until the last cupcake sticker was gone.

Now I just have to figure out what to do with them all. Chances are good, if you stop by my house you will be leaving with a parting gift.

Finally some sugar and spice

Some thing I seriously lack in this house is girly things. I don't get to make all the cute dresses, hair pieces or accessories I desperately want to, which is why I am so glad that my friends have daughters and their daughters like girly things.

I saw this purse over at Skip to my Lou and thought is was so cute I had to make it. Once I started sewing I realized it was meant to be sewn as a project with your daughter - great summer time activity idea.

So Cute, So Fun.

My play date with Janelle - making cupcakes - what a treat!

I later learned Janelle's dog also thought these cupcakes were mighty tasty. Yet another reason we remain a dog free house.

Win Win

Doesn't this seem like the perfect way to cool down on a hot summer day? The boys went wild with the water and I finally have clean screens.

T-Ball

The t-ball year of baseball is by far the best year of all. The kids are beyond cute, the confusion is high, the excitement is loaded and the games are short. Jarom was our power house hitter - POWER HOUSE!

and how could you possibly call yourself a ball player if you came home with a clean uniform - sliding into every single base is a must.

Yes I did make these!

and if you don't examine, inspect or scrutinize these cupcake to closely you will be as impressed as I am delighted with the outcome.

Nolan has a shark obsession, which doesn't actually seem like a strong enough word to describe his loves of sharks. When he is a grow up man his occupations will be a marine biologist - specializing in sharks. This I find very interesting because a. Nolan has a fear of deep water and b. he is afraid of sharks. But because I am such a fabulous mom, I have yet to bring these points to his attentions, and instead let him enjoy his dreams.

But, I digress. Nolan and a fellow classmate have in their spare time this school year been doing a research project on sharks. They gathered lots of fun little tidbits, then Spencer and I helped Nolan assemble his project into a PowerPoint presentation which he is presenting to the class as I write this.

Along with his presentation he asked me to make shark cupcakes, since my cake decorating skill are very limited I hunted the Internet in search of a cupcake I thought I could handle and thanks to the folks at A Baked Creation I found a pattern.

When the Cousins Get Together

There's tomfoolery

and Cowboy times,

and lounging with your favorite pal.

There's water bombs,


and mesmerizing flames,


and joyful memories until they're together again.

I'm back

The last couple of months I've taken a break from blogging - not sure if anyone reads this anymore - I do know a couple of people still do, because I get e-mails every once in a while asking where I've been.

I've been taking care of my grandma. A couple of months ago my grandma fell and I felt like she wouldn't be with us much longer and I wanted to be with her. A couple of weeks before she passed away, I knew the end was close, so every moment I had to spend with her I did. It was a blessing to me to be living here and able to share that time with her.

So now I'm back. Back to my "normal life" and I'll be sharing it with you on a semi regular basis.

The Next Joe Montana

Photo and video editing at www.OneTrueMedia.com

Rachel and Paul came down for Easter Week-end. Paul is a football coach and Jarom is a rough and tough tackle man. Paul is teaching Jarom the ins and outs of the game and Jarom loves it.

Catching Up

not really sure what I've been doing that would prevent me from posting for almost a month, but I'll try to think of all or at least some of the wonder goings on at the court house this month.

1. Finally after months of waiting, Thursday Spencer got a notice in the mail letting him know that he was a genius and passed another exam. He wrote another one yesterday. I'm not sure what the count is now or how many he has to take; after 14 years of working on this degree, I'm starting to lose count on everything - did he go to school for 10 years of 25? It all starts to become distorted. But I will venture a guess that this was 6 out of 10; but as previous mentioned I really have no idea. But if you check back after Spencer has seen this post I'm sure he will have the correct statistics for you.
2. Jarom lost his two front teeth. I love his gummy grin and listening to his mispronounced sentences. The first tooth he lost, when his ever loving grandpa shoved a ball in his mouth; knocking the tooth out and causing Jarom to swallow it. Jarom had a bit of stunned look on his face, but I was quick to let him know that the tooth fairy would still come and joked that he would poop the tooth out in a couple of days. Jarom thought this was so funny, he was sure to share all the details with his kindergarten class the next day.
3. Swimming lesson, soccer, basketball, and gymnastics are all done and now I find myself with two glorious weeks of not having run kids, from one activity to the next. Whatever shall I do with all my time? Perhaps it will be listening to them proclaim how bored they are.
4. About 3 weeks ago I joined the gym. It's been great. I've loved it. This week my body is finally starting to get used to the work out; every single muscle in my body no longer hurts and makes every movement I make complete and utter torture.
5. Joelle came to visit. It was magical. & we had really delicious pink slurpees.

That's all I think of for now, but if I think of any thing else I'll be sure to post.

The Wait is Over

Not that you were really waiting, as it's been sooooo long you probably forgot all about me and my project. I finished it a couple of weeks ago, but I wanted to finished up the "space" before I shared the finish product with you. After searching all of this town, I have yet to find a print that would be perfect on the wall behind and so I've decided to share with you anyhow.

Before

Step 1. Stripping all the old paint off.

I actually loved this step, it was delightful to see all the old ugly paint bubble up and reveal a glorious grain pattern in the wood with each graze of my scrapper.

Step 2: Sanding, sanding and more sanding.

Note to self: next time invest in an electric sander.

Step: 3 Staining - I actually failed to take a picture of this step

Step 4: Clear Coating

I had one coat left to do to complete the project and the weather dipped below freezing, Spencer brought the dresser inside so I could finish the job (I think he wanted his garage back).

My finished project - and I love it.


I know that many of you are questioning whether or not I actually did this myself or if Spencer did it and I am just taking the credit. Well my doubting friends, aside from some teaching on how to properly apply stain and clear coat, I did it all myself.