summer journals

This summer I have decided I want to be more 'purposeful' about my time with my kids.  No sitting around watching tv, no mindless trips to the mall, etc. -- BUT -- I want them to have FUN!  So, after a little suggestion from Jake's kindergarten teacher, I've decided to do one "fun" activity each week and have them write journal entries about it.  Last week, I took the boys to see "Percy Jackson & the Lightning Thief" (I think the title might be a little longer, but you get the idea).   Ben actually read the book months ago and we celebrated the start of summer with a trip to the $2.50 movie.  When we returned, I had them write in their journals "If I had super powers..."  I was super-amazed at how eager they were to get started.  Having just finished kindergarten, I know that Jake's will be a lot of drawing, but he's done a great job at inventive spelling.  Jake's story is about a man who can turn into a gorilla (he's our monkey boy - loves them).  Ben's story was, as many of his creations, very imaginative!  The highlight of Ben's character is a helmet that translates languages for the character to understand, which also translates his speech so others can understand.  Wow...truly amazed!  Below are pics of both their journals:

Williams Wednesday

It's been 2 weeks since our Little Miss had her tonsils & adenoids removed and she's been such a trooper! She has truly missed her chips, popcorn, & pretzels and says the FIRST thing she wants when the dr. says she's "ok" is PRETZELS! Don't you know Mama's taking a baggie of pretzels with us! We're going for her 2 week post-op check up today.  Many prayers have been spoken over our Ally-boo and we just couldn't be more grateful for wonderful family, friends, and folks!

food cozy tutorial

I am sooooo addicted to finding FREE tutorials on crafting & sewing blogs. Here's one I found recently on Pea Pod Creations and CANNOT wait to make one:

You can find the tutorial here

My first blog link...DIY Show-Off

Swing Re-Do

We are so blessed to always have friends join us each summer to swim & hang out at our pool, so we wanted to spruce up our sitting areas and treat our guests RIGHT! The cost of a new swing is about $150-$200, which didn't seem sensible since all they needed was new upholstery. I had Ben help me measure and off to the fabric store we went...not my kids' favorite place to go. I found this adorable fabric that matched my pergola curtains (like in one of my first blog entries here). I got 8.5 yards for $4.50/yard!! Woohoo!! So, I brought my sewing machine downstairs and went to work! Here are a few before & after pics! Ready to be "just-a-swangin"???

Williams Wednesday - Popsicles are our friend!!

Ally is doing great! She was real talkative & friendly all morning at the surgery center. Our dr met with us prior to surgery & even prayed over her with us. What a blessing! She got to pick out a new toy (a Barbie) and then it was time to go through those doors w/out us and she didn't do so well. But, by the time I got back down the hallway to the waiting room, there was a nurse there to tell me she was already asleep & they were getting started...superb care!! The dr came out when he was finished & said the adenoids were "larger than most" (his words) and definitely needed to come out. The tonsils were still very enlarged & had to be cut away from the muscle. So, that alleviated any fears or doubts about having had the surgery done. They also told us to expect some crying or whinyness when she began to wake, but she just woke up, looked at us, and took that new Barbie under her arm & went back to sleep. She sipped on some Sprite and ate a whole popsicle. She even got a bit concerned about some of the other kids who were waking up & crying. We are home now & she is resting well. Thank you for loving her :) Hope you have a great summer!

No more snores!

PRAYERS, PLEASE! Our little Ally has outpatient surgery tom. to remove tonsils & adenoids. Here's hoping she'll sleep, eat, and ACT a little better :) My friend, Yolonda, offered this prayer: Please pray for healing and wholeness for Ally. I pray no sickness and infirmity will have no place or power in her life. “But for you who revere... My name the sun of righteousness will rise with healing in its wings…” (Malachi 4:2).