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ok…i have five minutes

August 8, 2012

so we are on vacation.
i had craft weekend and took a nap and then super early the next morning we left for family vacay.
we are in colorado.
it's just beautiful here as always.
the house we are staying in (friend of my husband's home) has amazing views.
and rainbow dishes.
i love it here.

this deer greeted us in the morning.
we were so close to it.
NATURE!

we have hiked alot.
that is a lot different than running.
i am out of shape!

BUT…i won in a clean sweep at our family game of around the world.
oh yes i did!
i made every shot around the world!!
talby was super bummed.
and i felt bad.
but i cant help being a baller.

HA HA HAAAAAAA.

i had to run out for coffee because someone broke the coffee pot last night.
blerg.
i am sitting in a police station parking lot getting some internet because there is NONE anywhere here.
so this is it till we move on to another place with wifi.
and then i had to move to the parking lot of a tattoo parlor.
to publish this.
so funny.

🙂

craft weekend was SO SO Sooooooo wonderful.
i can't wait to tell you all about it.
soon.

but today…i have to go river rafting with my family.

oh my.

i am trying not to be nervous.

hope your week is GREAT!

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Ten21ten.wordpress.com - I have been away from your blog for a short stint while relocating to Colorful Colorado. I was so happy to read your positive experience while in what I’ve decided is the best state in our nation.

Barbara - Welcome home! Glad you had some family time in the beauty of God’s creation! My folks live in Colorado so we get out there often. It was great to find some cooler weather in the mountains this July because St. Louis has been hot, hot, hot!!
Meg, on the blog “2nd Cup of Coffee” that I follow, Linda mentioned Dresses for Africa. I had never heard of that organization before so I went on their website and it looked very cool. Basically they make dresses for little girls in Africa out of pillowcases and this helps give the girls worth. I thought I’d mention it to you because you like to sew. Here’s their website: http://www.littledressesforafrica.org
Enjoy following your blog. Take care,
Barbara

Mary Jo - Wow that looks fun!

Melanie - welcome! i hope you and the fam are having a great time in my forever home state of Colorado. we are near Boulder ~ another great Colorado town for families! hiking is tough, period, thanks to the altitude change, thinner air, all that jazz. be sure to rest a lot, hydrate, wear sunscreen and HAVE FUN! 🙂

Danielle H. - Lisa Leonard!!!! Shut the front door. So bummed I missed that Craft Weekend!

Jen - Have fun!

danielle - I want to go! Hiking in Colorado sounds like just what I need! Have fun!

Gemma - Looking forward to reading all about it when you are home : )
Gemma xxx

Valerie @ Chateau a La Mode - Okay Meg let me just say that if I can river raft and have lots and lots of fun, I know you can too. I’m the biggest scary cat of all time…I may or may not have peed my pants but that is something that the group we went with had to pinky swear to never tell…HA! Have fun and share with us how it goes.

Jennifer - Have a wonderful time! I am also a CO resident, and it looks like your are up in Estes! I need to get up in the mountains, you guys look like you are enjoying cooler temps. It was in the high 90s and miserable down here in the Front Range today. I am too chicken $#@% to go rafting, but my fave cousin and his wife did it in June and had fun. Hope you love it too!

Ann - We just came back from co saturday! What part are you in? Near rocky mountain nt, forest? Have a great time!

Cassy - Hey there! Enjoy your vacation. I thought of you when I saw this: http://www.minieco.co.uk/butterfly-sun-catchers/

Caroline - Welcome to our beautiful state!!! You should plan on staying and having a West side Craft Weekend! Enjoy! Drink lots of water and have lots of chapstick at the ready!

Kimberly - With all that running you do, you are not out of shape–It’s just the altitude that your body isn’t used to. Hope you have fun river rafting. I was so nervous the first time I went, but it ended up being soooo fun!

roganne - eeeek! i love colorado and all of it’s outdoorsy-ness. i think in a previous life i must have been some sort of mountain woman because everytime i’m outdoors i feel alive! ahhhh nature! good luck with the river rafting. don’t rock the boat, rock the boat baby.

Meg's Mom - If your mom can go rafting, it should be no problem for you. It was a blast! I want to go again.
Looks like you are having a great time!

happygirl - CO is so beautiful. It was so tragic when they had the fires earlier this summer. River rafting. Scary stuff girly. and hiking. You ARE the bomb.

Melissa - welcome to my home state! i hope you have an amazing time with your family!

Becki - Sounds amazing! I’m so excited for vacation!

sue - No river rafting for me. !!!

Kristin S - So glad your whole fam is on vacation!!! You deserve a break.
And you are NOT out of shape. You look great, Meg.

Terrie G - River rafting is on my bucket list…
can’t wait to hear what you thought!
Can’t wait to hear about another craft weekend!
Have a fun Vacation!!

Kate - police stations and tatoos… you live on the wild side! 🙂

Shannon - i love love love the hiking picture! but i have to be honest. although i love hiking and the idea of it, there is another dark side. when i see that picture, i feel this intense anxiety about BEARS!!! seriously, Meg, are you not afraid of bears? am i the only one with this ridic fear. my husband loves loves hiking and the thought of taking our family into the woods…where the wild things are….petrifies me! do you have like a bear horn or a gun or something? i’m sorry. i’m a loser. just pretend i didn’t post this. ha ha!

Shannon - River rafting??? oh you are brave! It looks beautiful there though so I’m sure it will be worth it once you get down the river safely 😉
Happy Vacation!

northern cottage - so you’re stealing wi-fi from the police station – hilarious!! happy happy vaca!

Heidi - You rock, sista. Craft weekend and then off for family vaca? Whew. Makes me tired just thinking about it. But a girls’ gotta do what a girls’ gotta do, right? Yeah, I’m pretty sure those apostrophe things are in the wrong place. Oh well. Anyway, just wanted to ask {hypothetically} if it’s totally normal for a person to check her {or his, this is hypothetical} email 10 times a day hoping that she/he has a message that says “You’ve been chosen to attend craft weekend!” ??? Would that be normal??? 😉

Lindsey - Have a fun vacation! You cracked me up with the “Blerg!” I love it!

Lacey - You are amazing! Craft weekend and a family trip back to back! I can’t wait to see the new friends made and crafts done from last weekend too! Enjoy your trip and the river rafting.

Sarah{Handbags*N*Pigtails} - The last time I went river rafting was in high school and it was a blast. What a beautiful location you’re in(LOVE the deer:)). Hubby is at youth camp this week in a place very similar to that first pic. He gets home Saturday and Sunday we leave for 10 days in El Salvador and Honduras! That’ll be the longest I’ve gone without my internet in awhile:)
Have a wonderful vacation. Go get your hike on!

Pink and Green Mama MaryLea - So fun!! Hooray for vacations in Colorado!
Our family is all from and lives in Colorado (Denver, Frisco, Pueblo) so you’re in my second home turf!
The hiking is harder and the altitude in the mountains makes it even rougher.
Have fun on the river – one of my uncles is a guide but I’m too chicken so I’ve never been – you are a brave mama! : )
xoxo
MaryLea

cherryiamiam@yahoo.com - This is the first time for me to view your blog, your a great story teller, I’m looking forward to reading more. I’m looking to buy another car, have a Honda Element now, but so limited to accessories. I find the air conditioned seat amazing, and all the other things are a bonus, that is exciting! Tks, for the giveaway, super excitied= )

Christy K - Borrowing wi-fi from a police station and tattoo parlour? You are amazing! I hope you and the fam are enjoying your time away, it looks so beautiful and peaceful! Have fun river rafting, can’t wait to hear all about it!

Sharla - Love it – can’t wait to hear about the rafting. This is definitely a future vacay for us!

Lisa M. - Have a wonderful vacation! It looks beautiful there.

kristen - What fun! Have a lovely day! I’ve never been river rafting…can’t wait to hear about it!

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pretending we know how to do this…

July 17, 2012

we don't fish unless we are at our friends house with the pond.
with grown ups who can take the fish off the hook when we catch them.
i just can't do it.

they had to wait all afternoon for Mike to get home from work to fish.
and when he was still in his truck they said "can we fish now?!!"
they love that part of the day.

my friend adam was there for a bit and helped with the slimey stuff.

any fish is a good fish.

remeber these two from Country Living oh so long ago???
still fishin' buddies after all these years.

annie caught a large mouth bass….

weird.
you could see the gills and the worm on the hook!

we tried to get jackson to throw it in for us but he was sure he did not want to.
i am with you jackson!

craig and Joel came after work too.
annie was telling him how big her catfish was.

we had a big dinner all together….kids every where…. yummy food….perfect weather….
excellent day in my life.

and waffle's too.
(except when he kept getting in the water where we were fishing and then got wrapped up in our lines and then took off and ran around me and craig and was all twwisted up in the dumb fishing line and broke the line and a hook in his fur…. ugh. we are so bad at this fishing thing… even our dog doesn't know what to do!)

i searched back for other fishing with our family….

first time… waffle's first time…. this one has a video 🙂

i am in love with these pictures and memories.
what special friends we have that will take the time to make these memories with us!

so tell me, do you fish?
do you take the hook out yourself?
am i just a big wimp and need to get over it already?
or do you agree that it's nasty and you don't do it either?

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she - you’re really pretty…and this is coming from a 15 year old girl so you know you have to be really pretty for someone like me to say that

shea B - I caught my first fish, a rainbow trout, when I was almost three. I’ve loved it ever since. I eventually started baiting my own hook and then moved on to taking the fish off the hook. I’m 33 now and I still love to go to the river. My two little girls, who are 1 and 3, had their first fishing experience on Father’s Day. They squealed with delight while reeling it in and then freaked and burst into tears when they saw the fish flopping around on the ground. Memories! I’m glad you let your kiddos experience things even if you’re not a big fan.

s - can’t put hook in worm or take fish off hook. funny story…when i was a kid, wanted to cast overhead like my brothers, caught my head instead, and what freaked me out the most? the HUGE nightcrawler in my hair. had to sit in dr’s waiting room with a hook and worm in my head (one of my brothers must have been smart enough to cut the line – I don’t recall having to hold onto the pole!) problem is, to get a hook out, you have to push it past barbs, so they had to push it in further, cut barbs, and take it out. I don’t recall any pain, just complete mortification and the whole ick factor with the worm! no idea how my mom handled it – I would probably would scream all the way to the dr’s if it happened to one of mine!

elizabeth - those fish are beautiful!

Dani - Nasty! And that comes from a true country girl! I just can’t do it. Baiting the hook doesn’t bother me. I don’t like to touch the slimy fish that is flopping all around! We have a pond… but unfortunately it’s full of humongous snakes! So, no swimming in it for us!

Melissa - We fish. And I remove the hook. It makes me a cool mom….and I have three boys so it kind of a requirement. LOL
Mike looks younger now than he did in ’09.

Melanie - I lived in the country when I was a kid and did all that gross stuff — putting worms and insects on the hook, taking fish off the hook. When I fished again as an adult, I realized I am just too grossed out by the whole thing, and especially don’t like murdering worms to do so. And UGH! taking the fish off the hook? Just can’t do it anymore. So no, I don’t think you need to just “get over it”.

sandy toe - I love those pictures of the fish and kids- so bright and pretty!
sandy toe

joyce - Great photos. Yes I dont do the slimy stuff either!

Anna - Ummmm that’s what dads are for! I have wonderful memories fishing with my dad. Even at 31 he still takes the fish off the hook for me!

Amy @ Little for a Little While - Completely nasty and I have never baited my own hook or unhooked my own fish. Yuck!

mollie's mom - I cannot stand to bait the hook or take the poor fish off the hook so, of course, every.single.time I fish I have amazing luck catching fish. Go figure!!!
I am in love with that pond 🙂
marcie

lisa currie-gurney - Annie still has a polka dot bathing suit!!!
Hugs From My Heart

Michelle From Australia - Living in a City of over one million people, my idea of fishing is going to the Fish Markets and buying something ready to cook. As long as it is product of Australia or New Zealand or South Africa where we know that health and hygiene standards are enforced.

Lynne - Love, love the picture of Annie showing her dad how big her fish was! So sweet!

Elizabeth Grandon - Love it! I fish, but mostly just the casting, reeling, and taking pictures…I let me husband take the hook off. We fish for larger types like Musky, Northern Pike, etc. so it can get complicated with taking the fish off…He LOVES IT, and I love relaxing on the water/taking pictures/and occasionally fishing 🙂 I should blog about it soon!

Lori - My boyfriend has gotten me into fishing and I like it 🙂 I went Deep Sea Fishing out of Port Aransas, TX this summer. However, I’m totally with you on the nasty. I definitely don’t take the hook out myself. That’s what boys are for 🙂

Janet - I have learned to love fishing. My kiddos even convinced me to take them – by myself – without my husband, the hook and worm guy. 🙂 I always make sure I have my trusty yellow kitchen gloves and a big towel. That way I don’t have to “handle” those slimy fish. I even have my own little “tackle box” with a small plyers to reach in for those swallowed hooks. The kids have a ball and I don’t have to get all gross – everyone wins!
Janet – WI

Rach - I loved fishing as a kid. So fun and such good memories. I can relate most in this post to the picture of the little boy next to Annie though. That’s my youngest right now. Always trying to get into things. Can’t imagine what he would do with a pond and some fish.

Routhie - I love fishing and have gone my entire life, mostly with my father and brothers, but really, my entire family loves it. Being from TX we mostly fished in lakes and the Gulf of Mexico. Having said that, it takes me a while to brave baiting my hook (they use live shrimp) and I absolutely do not unhook my fish. Ew. Having said that, a friend has offered to teach me how to fly fish with the stipulation I get over these things. We shall see.

roganne - you are totally right…fish are slimey and gross. there is something really creepy about their eyes too…{shudder} they obviously shouldn’t be trusted 🙂

Jenny B - I haven’t fished in a LONG time, but used to go often with my dad and friends when I was a kid. We camped on the Buffalo River several times, and fishing was a daily event during those trips. My grandparents lived on a farm and had a pond. “Pops” would take me fishing there whenever I wanted to go. In all those times, I have NEVER – NOT EVEN ONCE – baited my own hook. No, thank you. 🙂

Heather - I love fishing! I grew up in central FL where there are lakes everywhere, not to mention the Gulf of Mexico, so there were lots of places to go. It was a special thing I did with my Dad. We never kept anything we caught- it was just the experience of being up early while it was still cool, enjoying the quiet and stillness of the water. The worms and hooks don’t bother me at all, but I still get a little skittish sometimes using crickets as bait. 🙂

sue - I hate fishing. That hook looks nasty for the fish and it must hurt it.

Krista - Their home is absolutely beautiful, the pond, the flowers, everything!! I must be reading your blog FOREVER, because I totally remember you posting about being in Country Living, and then seeing it in the magazine when it came in the mail… doesn’t time fly!?!

Heather S. - Don’t fish. Not my thing. If I’m going to sit around and do nothing, I’d rather be on a raft, reading a book. 🙂
My daughter has the same suit as the cutie in the pic with Annie. Such a cutie!

Judy - I don’t fish. I don’t want to learn. Yuck. And I’m not a patient person:). My 18 year old son has started fishing with his friends. I got a text from him one night at midnight asking if they could clean the fish in our kitchen! I said yes, as long as you clean up.
I slept right through it. And in the morning the kitchen was spotless! Such good guys:).
The garbage…not so much after a couple days of 100+ temps. I feel sorry for the garbage man!
Thanks for sharing your awesome photos!

happygirl - Haha, fishing. I love fishing, but I don’t care if I catch any fish. I just like to be out there with a pole in the water and being quiet. And, the best way to photograph fish is to have the holder, hold the fish out arms length in front of them. Makes the fish look HUGE. It’s all about size, doncha know.

shiela - so cool to enjoy the nature & everything in it…instead of being bombarded/hypnotized by all the high-tech gadgets these days, especially living in southern california! wonderful fishing time…wish i was able to do that when i was little….

Lisa - I grew up fishing with my dad and we had to do everything if we wanted to fish.
That was his rule. 🙂 He would help if we needed it but we had to try.
It is still a little gross to me but I do it. I have some of the
best memories fishing with my dad and now my kids are the ones looking
forward to it every year!!

Mickie Lara - That looks like such an awesome place. Just another time that I find myself wanting to crawl into your summer pictures (even just to sit out under the tree and have coffee in the morning…)and enjoy some of those places. I was a Kansas girl too but never saw a pond like that one! And, yes I like to watch my husband and both grandpas fish with my son but…I can not participate at all. Not with the worms, not taking them off the hook or even throwing them back in. I’m too wimpy but oh well… that’s what dads and grandpas are for!

Jessica - We fish with my father-in-law at his lake house. I’ll hold the pole, but like you I don’t handle any fish. I love that my children will have these memories of fishing with their grandpa!

christiejayne - Wow! I have that Country Living edition, and I totally remember reading your little blurb! Crazy!!

Alice H - and Annie is still in a polka-dot suit!
I remember fishing with my grandpa when I was younger. I loved it.
And now that I am a mom to an 11 year old boy and a 2 year old boy, I like to take them fishing. Luckily, I don’t have to touch the worm or fish because my older son doesn’t mind doing that. Even my 13 year old girl enjoys it!

jen - we fish. originally from vancouver – fishing is big there. i worked, on and off, in a local fish market for 10 years {through high school and between careers.} i actually caught one myself last summer in vermont after having my line in for about 30 seconds – i wasn’t very popular back at camp as the boys had been trolling the lake for about 3 days and nothing – sorry guys!
call me next time to help with the lines and the gutting – i’m pretty good at that! 😉

Sharla - What a beautiful place!

laura b - We don’t fish either. I went once as a child and was really bored. However, I would like my kids to try it out to see what they think. But I’m a bit overwhelmed, like you. The whole worm on a hook. And what to do with the fish when you catch it. Yuck!

Han - I don’t fish. I’m not sure I have the patience for it but I’d love to try it once just to say that I have tried it.

Kim - My kids love fishing. I don’t. I don’t do worms or fish. Thank goodness for my husband. He takes them fishing every year, mostly when we are up at the cottage. I’m much better at cheering from the sideline.

Gretchen - I fish. Started as a child, and my late husband got my son hooked. I bait the line, take the fish off, throw them back. Fishing is a great way to learn patience. Love sitting by the water and soaking up nature!

stephany - Yep. We fish.
I started young with my dad…fishing streams and beaver ponds in the Colorado Rockies.
I have fished all my life.
I put the worm on, take the hook out…it’s not enjoyable, but it’s part of fishing.
We started our kids fishing last year (our boy was 3 and our girl was 1 at the time).
We fish at least once a month from April-October.
The Tualatin River is walking distance from our house, so we just throw some worms in…we catch sunfish, catfish, carp, large and small mouth bass, and crawfish.
I’ve blogged about it a few times…you can search for fishing on my blog.

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hot hot summer

July 11, 2012

when we moved out to the country….we did not bring our pool.
and I MISS IT!
a certain someone who sits in an air conditioned office with other grown ups all day and NOT five children and all of their friends decided that we didn't need to put it up this summer.
it was not a unanimous decision.
i am not bitter….but man…. we are hot and bored…. and hot.

IMG_3536-1

so we took it old school ….the sprinkler.

IMG_3543-3

at first my daughter didn't even know what to do in a sprinkler that is not at a splash park.
"do i just stand there?"
"why is this fun mom?"

i brought even more OLD SCHOOL toys….practically vintage even…. bowls and cups.

they got a little excited.
"YAY!!! we can pour it on each other!!!"
"we can fill them up and throw it on Waffle!"

but then it came to be….. "LETS MAKE SOUP!!!"

"I need more leaves!"
"my soup has lots of rocks!"
"i like adding more mud to mine!"

"these leaves make the soup extra spicey!"

it was a successful play time with antique toys and no dogs were harmed.

but we still wish we had that pool…..

we are headed out to the zoo because it's only 90 today!
and i am surprising the kids with a movie afterwards.
🙂
and sam's club pizza for dinner.
AT sam's.
cause we're fancy like that.

i do make them share a drink though.
when your only option is 32 oz….one per kid is quite ridiculous.

have a super day wherever you go!

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Leonieke - If i had a garden like yours (and a summer like yours :-(. ) ik would get a sliding mat with water!! Loved it wheni was small, still ove it now, but unfortuntely no grass here. It has everything: fun, water, action,. Enjoy your summer!

Heidi Jo the Artist - Love sprinklers! Looks like they had a blast. Sometimes it is the simple pleasures in life, isn’t it!? And now you know why I put a question mark on that last comment. I use it way too often… Awesome photos by the way. Loved the vivid colors of the peacock project too.

Darcie L. - I love the Sam’s date. What? $2-3 for dinner, and kids could share those slices of pizza too… they’re huge! Our pool got a hole in it, then the baby pool got dirty yucky from sitting outside with rain water in it. Next, the slip ‘n’ slide, then I think we’ll have to resort to the sprinkler too!

Dana - I love sam’s club pizza! It’s cheap and the drinks are super cheap too…unfortunately they are all large.

Angie - You and I are in the same boat! We took our pool down last winter with the intentions of cutting some trees during the Spring and having it set back up by Summer time. Apparently Hubby didn’t get the memo so we have had NO POOL all summer and it’s been quite hot, disappointing and boring!!!! We too have been playing in sprinklers and we even made us a Homemade Slip n Slide. Still, it’s not the same 🙁
Enjoy the zoo, movie and pizza!

sarah b. - meg… i love your blog. love love all the fun and your style seriously. awesome. i want to make some flags for my patio like the ones on yours that hang by your lights. how did you do those? hot glue or sew… double sided or single. i tried to email you and it flopped. me 0 computer 1. boo. maybe you could post about it or email me back at sbwootton@hotmail.com thanks!!

Valerie @ Chateau A La Mode - You make me laugh 🙂

Bev - That is so funny…we didn’t put up our pool…because of Hubby too!!!…and wouldn’t you know it…we have had a week of Hot Hot weather…the hottest since 1964…. The perfect year to have the pool up:))

Heather - haha…duerksen…goertzen…they’re all related anyway, right?!! 🙂

Heather - Oh, Meg. You and I live such similar lives…lots of kids, Mennonite heritage/town, farming, the WT pool, Sam’s pizza AT Sam’s. I seriously feel like I know you. I grew up in NW OK and remember your hubby at the Southern District Youth Conferences we went to in Hillsboro. My maiden name is a great German name like Goertzen. I’m sure ya’ll know the Sheweys (Andy, Stan)…my neighbors growing up. How about Hal Penner or Brenda Sechrist? And here I am playing the Mennonite name game on your blog…always a favorite past-time in OK/KS! 🙂
Anyhoo…I love reading your blog and seeing your JOY in life. Mine has gotten lost through the years due to hard times along the way. Yet…you inspire me to keep fighting for JOY!

Debby - Since you are in the country, you should get a stock tank! Al and his siblings used to swim in that. Sometimes they would get under the water and when the cows came to drink, they would pop up and scare them.

Ashlyn@Pinecone - “why is this fun mom?” So funny!!!!
No pool over here either, but we are off to a beach house in a few days thank goodness – that should keep all of these teenagers over here happy for awhile : )

mollie's mom - It’s 100 in Hot ‘Lanta – I guess you can’t complain when they put it out there in the name! I miss my pool, too. It’s been 2 long, hot summers since I had a backyard pool 🙁 They are the absolute best but I had the best time reading about the old school fun you had with the sprinkler!! I remember those sprinkler days very fondly! It’s gtreat to see good, old fashioned kiddo imagination at work, too!!
Have you seen the giant slip and slide type things on Pinterest that are made from tarps and duxt tape and are filled with water – looks right up your alley!!
Even without the pool I am loving your posts about your new house and neighbors, the cows!!
Marcie

Tiffany - You are so fun. I look forward to reading your blog each day because you are just so real. Your posts always put a smile on my face.

Tanya - We went to the donkey sanctuary today! The under 5 crew liked it a lot.
Our blow up pool kicked it the first time I blew it up…boooo!
I think it’s hot everywhere 😀

Tracy Fisher - So ironic… we were just at out beach house (the place i want you to visit some day) and my kids kept saying they were bored. REALLY??? They had to make forts, collect shells, swim to the dock and jump off without any water toys, etc etc. I just laughed. I should have brought out the plastic bowls… what was i thinking … haha. looks like fun. although i agree, you need the pool back next summer. ususally when i want my husband to set something up for the kids, i leave for a few days on a girls outing. for some reason they beg him enough until he does it. don’t know how it works. just does. -tracy

Tiffany - You are too funny, I just sit and cheese when I read these posts, you capturing her spirit and remembering (impressive), “these leaves make it spicy”. Crack me up! Have fun at the zoo, what a good suggestion actually. Holla!

Cory - We had a pool just like that, but a few weeks ago it broke, and since then we have all been a hot mess! :/ In about a week or so we are getting another one.

Jamie M. - The Wichita Zoo? It is my favorite!! That and exploration place, my kids say that is what they miss most about Kansas.
Love the “Vintage Sprinkler”!! The greatest was when we put the sprinkler under the trampoline, the kids were shocked we could do that.

tina - we made a great slip and slide out of tarps for the kids this summer. when they realized they could be one four times as big as a slip and slide you buy at the store they were all for it! we haven’t had a day under 90 degrees in over three weeks now! our farmers need rain so badly!!

Erin - We had story time at the library this morning. Each week they hand out a card on one of the planets. My 5 year old son has them all memorized already. He is loving the space theme. When we got home, he was quizzing his 3 year old sister on planet facts. Tonight, the library and the Cosmosphere are putting on a program at our local ball park. Rhett is sooooo excited! They get to eat space ice cream, build a rocket, and look though telescopes. One of the church youth groups has a concession stand so I don’t have to fix supper. Yeah!

Heather - Love it! “why is this fun, mom?” Kids are so funny!

KirstenP - I just clicked on the link to your pool. Your kids were having so much fun! Go get that pool! There’s a good 2-3 months left of summer left. You’ll be so glad you did!

jenni@talkinghairdryer - We eat Sam’s pizza at Sam’s too. What’s the point of bringing home pizza to cook in the oven? There’s still a mess to clean up 😉
We all get our own drinks, but the littles only get to fill it half way. I HATE the sinking feeling you get when one kid gets sick and you realize that you let them share a drink or dessert with all of the other kids just last night.

Cathy - I love a child’s imagination and the things they can come up with so little to do it with. Good job mom!

steph - my girlies always make soup in our backyard too.
sometimes it drives me nuts… but that’d be my type a personality!
but other times i just sit there and smile and say how cute! 🙂
go and get a bigger kiddie pool from target!!!
we have one, it’s rectangular and probably 9×3 feet.
it’s awesome!
enough to get wet and then go and play!
just enough to cool off!

Sandy - Looks like fun. Who is Annie’s new friend?

happygirl - Boo hoo, no pool. Yeah, my kid didn’t know how to play in a sprinkler either. And that was 15 years ago. LOVE the soup. I was so hot last week I jumped into the lake. And I hardly EVER go in the lake. 🙂 stay cool.

sue - I have a question. I never see Lauren anymore. Did she move with you to the country ?

sue - Meg……Go get the pool this weekend. It will be a life saver for you and Waffle. lol

Jacci in Ohio - Totally do ALL of this at least 3 mornings a week. Sprinkler, bowls, etc. Actually, this year I went tractor supply (I *know* you have those around) and got 4 galavanized buckets of various sizes. They’ve been so great for making the mud/weed soups and jus toting water around the backyard. I got one REALLY huge one… it was, like, $35 and it has been *awesome*.
Then, once we hit around 11am we pile in the van for swim lessons. And stay at the pool for hours. It’s 20 minutes away, but so worth it. About 4 days a week.

Jessica Johnson - Your Annie and my Kayla are two peas in a pod. We make soup lots around here. “Why is this fun, mom?” She’s a good one.

seriously sassy mama - We have never had a pool, so this is how my girls play all the time in the back yard. It is a bonus when you have a sprinkler system. SOunds like a fun I like to havem girls except we go to Target for pizza and soda.

lauren - we never had a backyard pool…only really good city pools.
but man do i miss the days of the sprinklers and the $10 slip ‘n slides.
enjoy your littles…they outgrow those sprinklers so dadgum fast.

Stephanie - Soup! It’s a favorite outside activity here, too 🙂 Mud, water, rocks and leaves? Mmmmm, yes please. And I just found a fun sprinkler at Aldi for $6; hoping that will help us survive the pool-less summer!

Leah - What is it about husbands and pools? Mine has banned me from purchasing any more backyard pools for our daughter. Whatever, it’s not like he’s home to see her use it during the day. Your pictures are great! And that Sam’s Club pizza sounds awesome (seriously, I want one).

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summer fun.

July 9, 2012

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we packed it in this weekend.
nothing major but lots of little and big things to keep us busy.

big beautiful post rain sky as the sun was setting.
the cows were near our house chompin' on grass….wondering what i was doing.

we have a cucumber! it's very exciting for this non vegetable growing family. big news!

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i drove my three to their last swimmeet….clueless that it would be 9 hours before we left.
i wanted to run screaming down the street.
8 hours is TOO LONG for kids!!!
and their moms who are melting in the 110 degree HEAT!

all these art supplies make me happy.
happy to see them working on art just because.
and it's so nice when the tv is off!

talby and annie treated craig and i to a restaurant night.
(i made the meal but we won't get technical)

waffle even wore a bow tie.

annie served the drinks.
talby served the meal.

it was so fancy. they loved being waitresses. it was so cute!

i finished kisses from katie.
and i am sad it's over.
i could read hundreds more pages of her life in uganda.

her big beautiful heart is completely inspirational.

i watched four of scott's six games this weekend.

they won the tournament which makes for a happy kid afterwards. thankful for that.
and Craig even let annie sit on the bench for the last game….adorable.

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i started reading Seven.
i am LOVING it!!! you have got to get this book and read it! it is SO FUNNY and REAL.
i was scared of it because i was fearful of feeling guilty.
BUT it's not like that.
it's just so good.
it's a lovely challenging book that everyone can learn from and think about.

GET IT!

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softball is almost over.

waffle ran away and came home filthy!

naughty.

what did you do this weekend?

we didn't clean anything….and it's obvious.

boo.

i want cleaning fairies to come by today.

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Wendy C - I love that you take the time to get in front of the camera with your kids!
We just returned from a week vacation in Florida and I was not in one photo.
You are my inspriation for a new goal of getting in front of the camera too!
Thanks, Meg!

Rachel @ Polka Dots and Lemonade - Love the pictures! I especially loved the cows – it made me think of home. My family just moved from Texas (where I’ve lived my whole life) to California. Most of the time we love it out here in SoCal, but sometimes I definintely miss “The Big D”.

Ashley - 1) I love that photo of the lone cow. The colors are amazing!! 2) I also love your last photo. You always have awesome snapshots. I would love to learn how to use my camera to get photos like yours. Your family seems really great!
Ashley

She Loves Life - I LOVED the book Kisses from Katie too and didn’t want it to end!! Made me really think about the fact that God does really use every type, age, and race of people to live out his love ! I have Seven on my list of books to read too!
I’d love it if the cleaning fairies visited my house too but they say a “dirty” house is a sign of a life well lived and I like that as one of my motto’s…it kind of takes the guilt away a tiddly bit : )

Lisa - Cleaning is so completely over-rated. 🙂 I would much rather spend my weekends doing fun things with my kiddos and my hubby than cleaning and feeling crabby – life’s too short…have a dusty house!

Krista Priest - Were you in Abilene for the swim meet? Our whole family was there too. Where do you live now? In the country?

nora - I love your photos! And cleaning is overrated, in my humble opinion 🙂

happygirl - Great weekend! Reading 7 scares me. One of the bloggers I follow took the 7 challenge and it looked so hard. I’m looking forward to seeing how you are inspired by it. 🙂

Doris - Hey, I gave you award in my new post 🙂 It’s for Beautiful blogger:
http://truthwithdoris.wordpress.com/2012/07/10/beautiful-blogger-award/

Pat - DITTO ON THE SWIM MEET EVENT – I WAS THERE ALSO – SAW YOU SWELTERING UNDER A
TREE!!!!!!!

Anne - Glad you posted about Jen Hatmaker’s newest book. I’m totally going to check it out. She spoke at a MOPS group meeting I attended a few years ago, and was very funny, inspirational, and genuine. She’s great!

Lisa - I have become the 7 pusher…I think everyone around me is probably sick of hearing about it! I just found out that Jen Hatmaker is speaking at Life Church in Olathe Monday 7/16 – thought I’d share! 🙂

Jen Brandt - Meg, I love looking at your pictures. They make me happy. Thank you for your blog. I’ve decided to live life and not worry about my house so much this summer. HOWEVER, I made a big, anally typed “everybody needs to pitch in and help out” cleaning list and all four of us got to work on Saturday. I couldn’t take it anymore. Besides that, we hung out at the pool all Friday evening, attended a very moving baptism for my best friend’s and her hubby’s adopted daughter Sunday (I cried my eyes out with joy!), more pool after church, and then hubby and I went to dinner and outside concert – Last Summer on Earth Tour: Cracker, Big Head Todd and the Monsters, Blues Traveler, and Bare Naked Ladies. Beautiful evening to be outside! I hope you have a rockin’ week!

Valerie @ Chateau a La Mode - Oh how I would love cleaning fairies. What is it about summer that makes my house such a mess? I don’t have an excuse for the rest of the year either. Hmmmm, guess it must just be me! Love your family summer days, love that you have cows and chickens all over the place like it’s normal…heehee. Keep enjoying the summer.

Jennifer - Such fun pictures! It always brings a smile to my face when I see Waffle in your posts. 🙂 Thanks for the book suggestion…I’m heading over to Amazon right now to buy me a copy. Sounds very interesting.
Blessings!
jennifer

Rachel B. - I got to spend time with a school friend and her husband. We hadn’t seen each other since 1991. It was an awesome time.
p.s.-love Waffle’s bowtie!

Jolene (Homespun Heritage) - We are now finished with our reno room! We turned an extra room into a bedroom (5 month long project!) and they finally finished the trim! I got to move stuff back in today…while it is technically a bedroom we use it for a playroom and mama’s craft area! We adore the brightness! (Need to get this up on the blog!) Umm…that was mostly it! Spent Sat. running around doing errands, getting groceries, trying not to die in the heat from this past week.
This week…finish up moving back into the playroom…pack a bit for our 3 week China trip, get paperwork done that needs to be brought with us (slightly important!), and organize/purge the house of STUFF before we go!

Jennifer - Wonderful happy colorful pictures as always. I can’t believe that swim meets go that long! How horrible! Outside in the heat??? My girls do irish dance and we have usually 8 hr days at competitions too. 8 hrs+ of accordian music. :/ And loud hard shoe clomping. I almost always leave with a headache.

Christa - I am reading 7 at the moment too and love it! The other night, I had a good 10 minute laughing fit in bed at midnight trying to read one part of it to my husband. Sooo funny! But also so relatable. And inspiring. And challenging. I thought too that I’d feel like I was reading one big guilt trip but you’re right, it’s not like that at all. I want everyone I know to read it!
This weekend had one day of being at home and one day of being gone all day. But both days were fun and awesome in their own way. 🙂

laura b - I want the grocery shopping fairy to come to my home! Haven’t shopped in 2 weeks and the kids are getting desperate (I do have food in the house, just not snacks and now out of bread). And my copy of “7” just arrived in the mail. Haven’t started it yet, but I have heard good things. But I agree, I’m a little worried about feeling guilty!

Meredith - I had a fun weekend. It started Friday with my 3 1/2 yr old and my Mom and I going to Philadelphia to Franklin Park to ride the Carousel and have milkshakes in the park. We picked up my 5k pack and just hung out. Cleaning, went to my inlaws pool with the boys and hung with the little one again at night while my oldest son and husband when to the dirt races. Sunday I did the Color Run in Philly. It was amazing. I would never have heard about it if it was not for your posts. Thanks, it was a great time and I can not wait to do it next year. You would have loved it. I ran almost the entire 5k around walkers and then stopping to take pictures. Yours was crazy busy too and I have now put your book suggestions into my phone so I remember.

kerry - aaah – I love the reserved Coca-Cola message as well!
So funny – I just updated my Facebook status before I read this post:
“Where is that flipping cleaning fairy???!!” Haha – moms think alike! 🙂

Katy @ Live Laugh Love Craft - My favorite part of this post?
“Coka-Cola Zero – 1 reserved (2 left)” 🙂
Too funny!

CathyC - Hi Meg, I love that book 7! I read it a few weeks ago in a flash because I could barely put it down. Now my friend is reading it too. Very inspirational.
Have a great day!

Becki - I had to pin that awesome quote, and I do want to read both of those books! Your photography is amazing, and when I saw how great those art supplies looked all spread out in the crate (I pinned the photo), I was upset because I saw one just like that at the flea market on Saturday. Maybe it will be there again next week.
AND I love that your dog’s name is Waffle!

amy - please send the cleaning fairies to illinois next. thanks. i actually had quite a bit of free time myself this weekend working on shop stuff but that means i really got nothing done around the house–no cleaning, no laundry and no house projects. ughhh. i love the dinner idea, i am gonna let the kids do that one night this week for us, they would love it. i love that pic of waffle getting sprayed.

Sarah - Thanks for saying that you started 7! I have been so intrigued by it and scared to buy it to read, too. 🙂 I was actually just reading Jen’s blog for a long time last night and feeling that pull to read it get stronger. Quite certain this blog post of yours just pushed me over the edge to head to Amazon to buy it. Thanks!
Also, I read Kisses for Katie 7-8 months ago…sooooooo good! I had the exact same feelings in that I was very sad when I finished it. Was one of the most inspirational books I have ever read. Completely amazing girl and I firmly believe there will be much more than any of us can imagine to the legacy she is leaving. Amazing.

tiffany gardner - had a tough weekend. thanks for making my monday a bit more shiny.

seriously sassy mama - You were a busy bee. I love the pictures of the cows.

Jane Frederick - Oh ‘my, even ater 30 years, my husband and I haven’t forgotten the swim meet torture. Those long meets out in the heat and sun are NOT fun! Of course our boys have fond memories of playing Magic while waiting their turn.

Sarah{Handbags*N*Pigtails} - We celebrated our 11th anniversary, finished planning our vacation(heading south from NY), and got a new rug. Oh and the cleaning fairies? When one contacts you to do a review send it over here…Id be glad to employ too:)

jennie - just got 7 on my kindle this weekend, going to read it at the beach. can’t wait!

Debbie Smallie - My MIL and her mother just dropped by because “they were in the neighborhood” and I was instantly VERY aware of how little cleaning happened here this weekend. A 30 minute heads-up should be manditory!!! And I feel your pain about the swim meet…we have one tonight. Hours of sitting to watch seconds of swimming..FUN!

maggie - i wished for cleaning fairies too but so far they only come when i leave a $60 check on the counter 🙂 we celebrated our 12 year anniversary..nothing fancy but just us two…i enjoy all your country pictures and that waffle is super cute! wishing you a great week {wishing the cleaning fairy pay you a visit}.

Lee Ann - I want to read “7” next. I read “Kisses from Katie” a few weeks ago. I checked it out from the library and then promptly ordered it. I try not to buy a lot of books, but that’s a keeper for sure! I can’t wait for my girls to read it. I want them to know her story. To know that following God’s plan isn’t always easy, but it’s always worth it.

Michelle - I want cleaning fairies every day!
We had a slightly insane weekend of cottage time, dinners with friends, a concert, a party for my husband’s old Air National Guard unit that is being retired, and a baby shower for our nephew that has already made his appearance.
I’m using this week to take a much needed NAP.

tina - Our weekend was packed full of small fun stuff too! I wish we had a cleaning fairy at our house also!!!!! Happy Monday 🙂

Terrie - It was a crazy, busy, FUN weekend!
Photo field trip to the winery to shoot their vineyard…
1st group photo shoot…23 peeps! So nervous!! Think it went ok…
Impromptu photo field trip with the girls around town…
Dinner with the boys at Brookville…shooting pics as we were driving there and to see the
Grandson, daughter & son-in-law… fun!
If you find those cleaning fairies…please send them my way when you are done with them!! 🙂

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4th of july

July 5, 2012

we went to my friend Dianna's again for their 4th of July party.
they have the perfect set up.

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this year it just happened to be that our two girls were the only girls….and tons of boys!

my friend GB made adorable cookies. (i forgot to get one….darn)

party food is always so fun!
i love to see what people bring.
and try almost all of it.

i made the blueberry buckle i make every year.
with blueberries on sale right now you need to make this!
i mean it!
make blueberry buckle and even blueberry buckle muffins.

talby was close so we snagged her for a picture. :)

dianna brought out their baby box turtles that their pet turtles hatched on st. patricks day!!

i don't know if i have ever seen anything cuter!

ADORABLE!!!

this is the top 5 feet of her 12 foot sunflower plant!

the fireworks began after dinner…

the hostess with the mostess.

time out/cuddle time.

this is when all the kids were lighting fireworks.
when it gets dark, everyone gets in their chairs and watches the neighbors professional level fireworks show!

it went on and on!!

seriously…..an awesome fourth.

how was yours?
what did you do?
are you sleepy today like me?

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Vicki - Ok. I know this is a completely inappropriate question, but I must ask: What kind of bra do you wear under a dress like that?? I love thin straps and summery dresses, but at a 36D, I can’t find a strapless bra that works. I can’t figure out how to wear that stuff without ugly bra straps hanging out!

Holly - what an awesome fourth! We spent ours on the beach which was great as well!

Library Momma - Cute hair!

Jenny B - I love the pretty food and the cute turtles!! I’m a little jealous of the fireworks. We have burn bans pretty much EVERYWHERE in Arkansas, so did not get to shoot off any this year. It was strangely quiet. Fourth of July is my favorite holiday, so it was a little depressing! Plus, our kids are alternating time with their grandparents this week, and the fourth ended up being the day we drove to drop off one child and pick up the other. Oh, well… I’m still thankful for our freedom! 🙂

di - Thanks for all the great pics, Meg! So glad your fam could be a part of our annual tradition. You were adorable in your cute dress (she is for REALS, folks!) NOW about that last piece of blueberry buckle you were hiding…that would have been a tasty treat for a certain running buddy, hmmm?

Angela - You are beautiful – do you know that? I’ve been reading your blog for a while now, but I don’t think I’ve ever commented. Anyway, love the blog. 🙂 I did nothing on the actual 4th, but my church small group went to a town nearby and watched the fireworks show around their town square! It was a great time and we got to celebrate with a friend who just found out she and her husband are expecting their first!

new jersey landscape lighting - this is such a cute blog, thank you!

Han - I live in the UK so the closest we get to that many fireworks would be NYE. I wish our community was more like that – we all seem to keep to our thing and don’t speak to each other.

Crystal Swoverland - The box turtles are amazing! I can’t get them around here…we grew up with them and I am trying to get one for my family but no luck! Can you ask your friend where she got them? I really, really am desperate to find one for my kids! Thanks Meg!

Ashley - You look gorgeous! The shot of the three of you is so pretty…one to use at her wedding one day. Can you send me some blueberry buckle? I will make it this year. Gonna do it.

katey - Those turtles are so cute! My brother had (and at 46 still does) a turtle pen and so we had baby turtles like occasionally and it’s amazing to watch them grown. Thanks for sharing. Brought back lots of great memories.

karen - it’s amazing how much sean and annie have changed!!

A Facebook User - my 4th of july started with a bang….I got a phone call that my 16 year old son passed out/had a seizure and fell while at his job. so, we spent the morning in the ER getting X-rays of his nose-broken-and getting a heart monitor to wear for the next 24 hours. 24 hours later, he has the biggest bruised/scraped nose and the worst headache ever, but we now are fairly certain we can blame it on his new medication for ankylosing spondylitis. I don’t want to repeat this again next year…..

April R - Happy 4th! 🙂
Thanks for sharing – again!
That celebration looks like fun for everyone.
And I totally agree with Mindy about the bathing suits – Annie and Talby look so beautiful 🙂

Jen Brandt - Love the picture of you, hubby, and Talby. You look beautiful! Looks like a great day.
We were in a HOT, HOT, HOT parade, Wendy’s frosties on the way home, changed and headed to our friends house for pool time, delicious food, and fun!

seriously sassy mama - We enjoyed our towns parade, then spent some time and the lake. We finished the night out with some awesome fireworks. We just moved back to out hometown, so for my husband and I it was fun to reminisce.

Brandi - So jealous that you can have your own fireworks. What a great day!!

Carol S. - So is that what running almost every day does to a gal? Like the others have said, you look FAB and are radiant. I want that look (but not looking forward to running, wah, wah). We went to a local festival and were late getting to the fireworks, so watched them from the road in different directions and enjoyed baskin robbin ice cream to end the day. Happy July!

Jessica Johnson - Annie with the turtle?! And the patriotic nails?!! DYING! Frame that. Also, I want buckle. And your haircut. Goodbye.

joyce - looks like an amazing day! I so want one of those turtles, they are so cute!

Mindy Harris - can i just say i love that your girls wear modest bathing suits?
so refreshing.
annie is so tan. what a doll.
i love your 4th outfit! cute cute.
we went back home to chanute and swam alot. wilder didn’t like the loud booms so we honestly didn’t really see fireworks this year…

Tiffany - Summer looks good on you, you are looking so young, what is your secret!!!

Samantha Bayer - looks like so much fun and yes, i’m sleep today too!

Juliane - What a good 4th! I love how fireworks are really celebrating with light and with color. I like to bring that celebration indoors as well with the bright hues I’ve been able to find in wall art.

Lorie - I’m so jealous! Your grass looks so green. We have such a drought out here, our lawns are the color of wheat fields, and there was a ban on fireworks. Seriously. Some very stupid men went ahead and did it, and started a 2 acre fire between houses, and are now in jail. Not a very fun 4th. 🙁

jessicakiehn - That blueberry buckle cake is my FAVORITE type of dessert…thanks to that fabulous streusel top!!!

shannon - So fun! Love the 4th of July and all the festive red, white and blue foods and decorations. I am always tired after a great day celebrating 🙂

Kristin S - Meg, you have a stunning family and I’m not sure you can take a poor picture. You are so pretty!!!

Jessica @ MyArdentLife - Cutie-cute-cute-cute hair, Meg! If I thought I could do short hair, I would so be taking this pic to my stylist. Maybe after I lose all these post-baby pounds and my face looks thinner. Since my baby just turned ONE, I should step it up, huh?

Logan - Looks like such a fun time. Makes me wish we had a 4th like that! We used the day to work on projects at the house and stopped mid-afternoon to grill burgers and hot dogs with our daughter and her boyfriend and another close friend. I am wondering if you have ever tried your Blueberry Buckle recipe with a different fruit? Would it work with peaches? What do you think?
Thanks!

Leslie - What fun!! Love your fireworks!!! In our part of Calif we can only do the ones on the ground.

lindsey - Looks like you had fun! You looked so cute! My 4th was so uneventful due to the fire danger (no fireworks) and a sick kid.

thehandmadehomemaker.blogspot.com - LOVE that picture with you, Talby and Craig!! Looking so pretty and the dress is FAB!

Debby - Al and I drove through the night on the 3rd back from Arkansas, so we were too pooped to go to Joel and Jess’. Ended up watching just a little from the back deck. These south neighborhoods really light up! Went to bed early and didn’t hear a thing after our heads hit the pillow. Meg, do you know you just get prettier with age? Thanks for showing the photos from your neighborhood!

sara @ it's good to be queen - your dress is amazing. love it. also, rad firework show!!

Jennifer - great 4th! cute dress!

Leah - Love your pictures! And your dress is so cute! Dress Barn? I love July 4th. Here’s a quick glimpse of some of our patriotism: http://leahsthoughts.com/2012/07/04/wordless-wednesday-red-white-and-blue/

Rachel J - We haven’t had rain in soooooo long that they cancelled all fireworks due to the danger. So that was a major boo! But, we had a BBQ at my parents, ate ice cream while driving around town and had a slumber party. Who says adults can’t have fun? 🙂

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plays…weddings…family stuff.

July 2, 2012

talby spent the week at drama camp with her cousin Macy.
then on friday we get to come and watch their play.
it was cute as always!

i wore my faaaaaavorite dress (from Cato last year) to talby's play.
then we left from the play to meet up with craig's family for a rehearsal dinner and wedding.

the little girls wanted to get fancy for the wedding.

talby was the program girl.
she did an excellent job of course. :)

we danced the night away.

photo booths at weddings are so much fun!

my girls tried to catch the bouquet but they weren't even close.

we ALL met up at the craft house and the 16 of us are hangin' out.

we watched Craft Wars….on TLC….with Tori Spelling….have you seen it?
i was really loving it.
except for the judges and the dumb reality tv drama.
but it's fun to see the crafts!

since it's july…i decided this is the month i am going to become a morning person.
cause i need to be.
it's too hot to run any other time than EARLY.
day one is done.
i liked it.
we'll see how tomorrow goes.

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Photo Booth Manchester - When I was young, I use to think my own mom was insane to get up so beginning. Now, I know her key.

WEIBO WEIBO - I have read your article.Article is very interesting,thanks for your sharing. I will necessarily add it in the selected works and I will visit this site.
http://www.cheapbeatsbydrdreshopsale.org/

Valerie @ Chateau A La Mode - I love weddings…anybody’s wedding, but especially when it’s special friends and family. Those are the best. A photo booth would be super fun. I’m filing that idea away for my girlies 😉 Happy Fourth!

Vonda - You all are beautiful! Love your favorite dress! I am soooo not a morning person! I wish we had a little summer around here-rumor has it maybe by the weekend?! I would like to just go for a walk without the rain!!! I think the state of Washington is the only state not reaching record breaking temps! Would love to pass a little of our rain to all the other states that need it so bad right now! I need to remember to check out Craft Wars!:)

Katherine @ Grass Stains - Meg, when I saw these window treatments, I thought, “These are MEGAN DUERKSEN all OVER.” I had to send you the link. They would be so perfect for some of your fabric scraps … I could see them on all the windows at the Craft House! http://sweetcheekstastytreats.blogspot.com/2012/07/something-sweet-ripped-fabric-window.html

Jamie - That photo of you in your favorite dress is just truly beautiful. 🙂

beth - I’m with you on running in the am, it’s so hot by mid morning, got to get it in early!

Jenna@CallHerHappy - I always love when I get up early…after the getting up part, of course! Also, Craft Wars is so fun. I agree about the drama though. Just show me some crafts 🙂

Laura - I know this is completely off topic, but do you know what happened to Laura’s blog “piece of cake.” i was away on vacation and when I came back it was gone. I truly love your blog and hers as well. I was wondering if I missed her goodbye post. Just checking to see if you knew 🙂

steph - i am SO not a morning person…
but honestly, i started running early mornings (between 6 and 6:30) since late spring and i LOVE it!
it’s SO hard to get up when the alarm goes, but once i’m out the door, there’s no looking back.
and i feel i’m a better mom when i do go out in the mornings.
you’d think i’d be more tired?
but i actually have way more energy… it’s a great way to start the day!!!!
too bad i can’t do it in winter too…
too dark here! ha ha ha!

Carrie - Ahh.. I have my neverending summer early morning trainers to wake me. My youngest gets up at 5:00 and the oldest a little bit after her. They both love to ride in my BOB duallie so it works out! Of. course I typically have to swing by the park as a reward, but that is ok.

Christy - Not a morning runner either, not by a long shot, but my running partner and I decided 100+ degree days made it necessary. We just switched to mornings last week. I, dare I say it, actually like it because it makes me get up and get going earlier. I feel like I accomplish much more in the day! Thanks for creating such a bright spot on the internet. Your devotion to God and your family are evident in every post. Keep it up!

Kirsten J - Love the wedding photos! And alrighty, girlie, if you say so….looks like summer is finally going to hit here in the PNW (after the 4th of July, as usual). SO if I’m going to walk, I have to get up and get out the door early. Ughh.

lisa currie-gurney - Mornings are the very best time of day.
The peace and quiet are like no other.
When I was younger, I use to think my own mother was crazy to get up so early.
Now, I know her secret.
Hope you discover it too Meg.
Hugs From My Heart

Lori H - Loved the black and white dresses on you three!

ko. s - So cute and fun and sweet and inspiring! I love reading your blog and seeing all the pictures 🙂

sandy toe - Love the polka dot dresses!
sandy toe

Tracy Fisher - The photo of you and the girls and the one of the father daughter (yours) dance… priceless! I love moments like these. Happy mornings to you Meg. -Tracy

angela - Love the photo booth pics!! What was in the punch to make yall so happy???? lol

Sharla - i love your hair too. And the photo booth pics are AWESOME! What a great keepsake.

Heidi Maggard - YOU ARE BEAUTIFUL

Miss Rachel - I have to become a morning person too since everyone else in my family already is. Grumble.
I wanted to let you know that I offically thanked you on my blog for your Summer Wish Lists I found on Pinterest. They inspired me to get my family to create our own:
http://onecrazysummer2.blogspot.com/2012/07/summer-bucket-list.html
Now let’s just see if we can use our list to inspire us to actually DO the things we put on it!

Heather F. - Your 2 little girls have grown so much in the last couple of months. Your favorite dress is rad 🙂

Talysa - Your hair is gorgeous. Makes me miss having shorter hair. Till I remember that it is so hard to find people that know how to cut it properly. :-)Love that dress too.

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awesome day.

June 1, 2012

the farmers all around us were cutting wheat on wednesday.
everywhere we drove there were fields full of combines and trucks….so awesomely kansasy beautiful.
i was driving sean to a friends house wednesday evening and a storm blew in.

it was a BIG storm.
so big that i turned around and knocked on a friends door and said "can i come in till the storm blows past?!"
it was freaky.
trees were falling down!

we made it home safely and a few hours later my sister and nieces came for a visit.
poor thing had to drive in the rain the whole time.

the storm knocked out the power so the morning was lovely and quiet.
no tv just LOTS of art. :)

my sister saw a turtle just outside our door!
it entertained us for awhile…. a sweet little box turtle.

he went in the glitter from the art work…. ha!

talby wiped the glitter off.

turtles are cool.
we put him back in the yard and went to the neighbor's pond to look for frogs.

talby caught this one right away…. it was HUGE!
Yay for the new target butterfly net!

no one would pick it up…..

so i had to lead by example.
"Come on girls….nothing to be afraid of!"
it wasn't nearly as slimey as i thought.

the nicest dog (when he isn't stealing our potato chips)

we found this GIANT striped feather.
it's so pretty.
we don't know what bird it's from….but we will google it.

IMG_1901-17
they caught five teeny frogs and almost caught several more big frogs.

lauren was exploring with us…she was REALLY good at catching frogs when she was little…it was her favorite.
she almost caught this SNAKE!!!!!!!!!

after the snake left we saw all these frog eggs?!! awesome!
there are like….1000 eggs? so cool.
also there were tadpoles all over the pond.
we were all so happy and having a great time….

until we weren't.

HA.
annie lost her balance and SPLASH!
it wasn't deep and no snakes were nearby…. i pulled her out real quick.
it was more surprising than anything.

after annie got a bath…. we went over to the arboretum.
and out for ice cream.

talby had a softball game at 6:00 and she did great! she was first base several innings. i loved seeing that!

we came home and set up the tent and made a fire!
we are so outdoorsy.
🙂

sean was the only "MAN" to help us because scott and craig were gone.
he was essential in the fire building.
how awesome is the fire pit at the farm?

we roasted weenies for dinner….in our jammies.

hot dogs, carrots, cucumbers with ranch, chips and s'mores…..YUM.

we set up the movie and the girls watched RIO from the tent up on the barn.
and they fell asleep!!!
and slept out there all night…we were shocked.

fabulous awesome day.

and now we are being treated to "restaurant" from the little girls.
🙂

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Cori - I am coming to join your family. What an amazing day!

Tina I - Note to self, rent a house in the country in a small Midwestern town. You will have the most amazing adventures!

Jenn - Just down right awesome! Good memories being made.

jeannett - just a few things:
1) my kids think frogs come from the pet store.
2) it’s not slime. it’s mucus. (that’s a line from the movie princess and the frog.)
3) but the real question is: did you put the turtle back?

Mary Ward - Have a collection of the same feathers…..we have nesting barred owls. Yup, thats what they are!!!

Kelly - Sounds like a GREAT day! looks like it was a little cool with all the hoodies everyone had on. Nice!
Fun to see Lauren. I love teeny tiny frogs so that picture was great to me. Kelly

Valerie @ Chateau A La Mode - I love roasting weinnies. So fun and summery. Your summer is already really fun. Love that Lauren was exploring with you guys. I know those times are fewer and farther between. Why do our kids have to grow up?! Happy summertime Meg!

Jenna@CallHerHappy - looks like a turkey feather! good thing it isn’t november 🙂 also, i love that turtle. he is so fancy with his glitter. fancy fancy turtle!
Jenna
callherhappy.com

TAB - Awesome day for sure!!! I love kansas! I’ve been following your amazing blog for a while but have never commented, I’m commenting shy. I really enjoy your enthusiasm and how much you enjoy your kids. 🙂

Tiffany - YaY!! to Sean getting to be the man of the house and working it out for you damsels in distress.

Lorel - I love this! and I love you all very very much! Thanks for treating us to a wonderful restorative visit. I am just so happy right now. 🙂

Christy K - Looks like it was, most definitely, an AWESOME day! (Other than Annie falling in the pond, poor girl!) You are a much braver Mama than I, getting friendly with that frog… yikes! Hope you and the fam have a great weekend! 🙂

Kathryn Goertzen - cracks me up that you snapped a picture of Annie after she fell in! It’s like when a little kid unrolls ALL of the toilet paper and you just have to get a pic of it before you scold . . .

stephany - You are a brave mom.
I have a feeling I am going to have to suck it up one of these days and pick up frogs and snakes for my kids.
That’s a wild turkey feather.
How do I know? My dad and husband hunt…and have hunted turkey in Kansas…and Colorado…and New Mexico…and New York…and Oregon.
I’ve seen my share of turkey feathers.
You must have wild turkey around the farm!

Laura Phelps - seeing Lauren makes me happy 🙂
seeing the snake makes me not happy 🙁
and when I see you again, I will be SUPER happy :-)!!!

sara @ it's good to be queen - i love kansas harvest! we were going to try to make it up in time so that my boys could ride in the combines but i think we’re gonna miss it. boo. p.s. i love your farm house.

Ashley - Well, now I want to live off in the country farther than I already do. Looks like you girls (and guy) had a ball. Those storms were rough here, too. But the weather has been mild ever since. Totally worth it.
And the frog– I bet the girls will pick him up next time. You’re pretty cool to grab that critter up.

happygirl - You make Kansas look so cool. I love gigging for frogs and finding turtles. We used to catch turtles, draw a giant circle on the driveway and have turtle races. 🙂

Jess Mead - We do cucumbers and ranch when we do weenie roasts too! Looks like a fabulous day!

April R - oh. my. sweet. life.
this post is a cup over-flowin’ w pure goodness.
absolutely inspiring! I might just go flip the switch on the electric box and tell the kids,
“I don’t know why the power’s out but let’s do some fun stuff while we wait for it to come back…”
thanks for sharing 🙂

Katy @ Live Laugh Love Craft - It’s been stormy all week here in Florida.. I am sick of it! It is supposed to go through the weekend. All I want to do is go to beach, but that won’t be happening.. Boo! 🙁
Your campfire looks so fun!

Jenna - Could the feather be from a barred rock chicken nearby (our feathers look like that)?
A little bit of turtle info…always put them back in the same direction they are pointing when you find them, they have a mission.
Thanks for sharing. The farm seems very fun for the kids (and you)!

amy jupin - yay for family time!
we just got the new watercolor set at target too–although i’m trying to hide it from anna so it stays pretty.
i’m sad, i know.

Jacci - Yup. You *had* to pick up the frog! I’ve had to do the same thing! Your girls will brave up next time, now. Bonus is that YOU are even cooler than before 🙂

Aimee - I love those new Kid Made Modern art supplies at Target! I just bought some for my 5 year old artist for his preschool graduation gift yesterday. He was so excited he started using them right away. I was crazy tempted to buy the water colors for him but he has a ton of watercolors right now and I think it would break my heart to see the colors get all mixed together on the pallet (because you know that’s how 5 year olds do it). I might have to go buy them for me even though I prefer watercolors in tubes. They are just too pretty to not buy.

Iris Brown - I always thought I was a city slicker, but now you have me intrigued by the quiet farm life. I love visiting your blog and its part of my daily/weekly routine. I thought I’d lost interest since the posts doesn’t have your gorgeous “craft” home in the background but I realized its you and how you capture the quiet & “ordinary” moments with your family. You help me realize the little things of every day really are not little. Thanks for sharing. 🙂

Heather F. - What a great day. I wish I lived by all those turtle and frogs and wildlife. Your kids are going to have great stories to tell their kids.

Terrie G - What a fun day!!
I want a fire pit…
Weren’t those storms crazy??!!!
Can’t wait to help with harvest & get pics this weekend!!
Have a great weekend!

Alice H - My daughter has those chevron pants (from Target). And I would have cried too if I fell in that yucky water with snakes and frog eggs!! Poor Annie! Looks like you guys had a great time!
Is Annie her real name or nickname? I love names. Seriously, I am a name freak. My favorite name is what I gave my daughter…Emilee Tayte! I like saying it even when she isn’t in trouble. LOL!

Linda - You really have the most awesome fabulous life!

Melissa Irvin - Thank you for sharing this day of adventure! Looks like such a peaceful, wonderful time together!

michaela - it’s a turkey feather. 🙂
what an awesome day you had with you sister and her family. making some great childhood memories.

Dana @ Bungalow'56 - I just kept thinking… But what about all the mosquitoes? Don’t you have mosquitoes in Kansas? Everyone looked so happy…. you must not have mosquitoes : )
Dana

Erica Hang - Well, it’s official. I want to live there too! 🙂 I love when the kids can explore!!

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