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i am pretty sure today is the last day. thank you for every single vote!
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i am CRANKY! be thankful you weren't here at our house yesterday.
everyone was smart and just kind of steered clear of mama…or learned quickly that they should.
i am hoping that today will be better.
we are walking for donuts and coffee.
we are stopping at the antiques store.
and we may have to go out and buy this mama some pretty shoes to cheer her up…sorry craig.
changing the subject…..how do you like my new porch room?
 you can read more about it over at the inspired room….i'm her guest post today.
it tells you how i went from this mess…
 seriously.
to this…our new living room on the porch.
 so far in this space there have been games played, drawings created, popsicles eaten, quiet coffee and
mom & dad talks in the dark…hiding from the kids.
warning: you will want to stay…melissa's site is beautiful.
it IS inspired.
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OK! I am seriously in love with your blog! So fun. I just went through 8 new screens of old archives! Sorry dont mean to be a stalker! love it! love that you love to craft! love your house! love your photos! Fun fun! Thanks for the inspiration! I am in KC so I had to keep reading after seeing your list of fun things to do this summer. Then it was an investigation to find out where you were! I love the Make and Takes and there was a link to your blog on that. From there I went crazy! Thanks for making my corporate work day more exciting! Where would you suggest that I go to find out about blogging and how to get others to find my blog? I want your life right now! Your pictures are really that good~! Thanks and hope that I am not too obnoxious! first–thanks for being so honest!! it makes the rest of us feel okay. my girls told their dad not to come in the house the other day because “cranky mommy” was here! how nice–just because i asked them to clean up their smelly, wet towels (along with their trail of everthing else that comes with “summer fun”) Still love it. And so jealous of the huge, wrap around porch. We don’t even have a back patio and in front, the 3 ft. walkway has to count as a porch. I think if we did have a porch, I’d never go inside all summer. Wow, that is seriously incredible! Love the greens and blues! This is amazing! I so want a big pretty porch like that! Your pictures are incredible! Wow, what an amazing space. I love love the porch swing! I wish I had a tenth of that beautiful space for a porch. It look perfect. Just as great as everything else you do!! LOVE it! I so wish we could have stopped in the other day! We’ll have to make it happen on our next trip out! I’m sure you’ll love the porch space even more in the Fall!! Have you had one of your lime cranberry thingie’s from Sonic? What about a scrapbooking session? A bath? Hmm, maybe some Hershey’s chocolate kisses? From one cranky mum to another during school holidays….thinking of you…hang in there…. call all the kids godparents and ask them to pray harder. Meredith xo. Such inspiration. More front porch is horrid and we don’t use it either. What a shame, my kids always want to ride bikes on the sidewalk out front. I need to get to work and “redecorate” then I might enjoy being out there more. I don’t have as much space as you and I don’t have have as many “cool” things laying around but I could dig up a few and it might give me the excuse to go to the flea market too! Thanks for sharing and you have such a great touch for all things decorating and photography! love it! I have a similar front porch and it’s my favorite spot!!! Enjoy the beauty! love, love, llllllllaaa-LOVE your taste ‘n all! love your blue rocker, I have a chair with a similar shape I’ve been looking for a new color for. Love this room, maybe I could be inspired to clear off all the kid toys for our back patio…. I would give anything to have a beautiful porch like this!!! you did a great job! WOW! And … I totally have that bench’s twin AND the children’s chair’s twin IN MY BASEMENT. I have never thought of using it as a TABLE [with mini chairs that pull up to it]. And that’s ADORABLE that you covered it in oil cloth. LOVE IT. Love your porch,love your honesty,love your blog(don’t miss a day)….Love your craft room…it so rocks. i love your porch! nice work! i notice the chenille-ish fabric in several of your pillows (in this photo it is the aqua and white; in others it has been pink and white) … is this a fabric (and if so where did you buy it) or is it an old quilt? love love love and haven’t been able to find something similar. Oh how FABulous of you! I have just discovered your blog and I love it!!! Your house is amazing. I’d move to Kansas if I could have that house (decorated by you, of course). I can’t believe how you made it so wonderful with all those kids? Hope you had a good day! Did you find some cute shoes?? My teeth hurt just looking at all that yummy Crush. Mmmmm… grape soda reminds me of summers as a kid. Good call. Love the new porch. Need to do something homey like that to my back yard. Cheer up. Tomorrow is another day and if that doesn’t work, well then there is conveniently a holiday after that. ๐ I was so busy being Cranky I forgot to compliment you on the porch. It looks lovely. I can picture games being played, quiet talks, and cups of coffee being enjoyed there. We don’t have a porch, but if I did, I would surely do all of those things there, too. ๐ Hello Cranky. I am Cranky here, too. Unfortunately my kids DO NOT seem to know to steer clear or even get along with EACH OTHER. We’re about to make snow cones and head out to the backyard for some sidewalk coloring. Maybe I will relax in the lounge chair, too. One would think those things would make me happy, but as I type this my 4 year old is spilling water all over my freshly mopped wood floor while my two year old is dancing in it and then there is my 7 year old who is trying to fly. Perfect. My Cranky self is just not all that into it. YOWZA!!!!! That porch is INCREDIBLE!!!!! As if I would expect anything less from THE MEG DUERKSEN!!!!! I’m sorry you were cranky today…I’m hoping you have a better tomorrow ๐ Just go sit out on that beautiful porch (with those new shoes, hopefully!) and say a prayer tomorrow is a better day ๐ Love ya girl! oh and i voted!! ๐ Oh man- perfect! Would you PLEASE come redo my porch! I have tried to make it as cozy as yours and it isn’t possible!!! You have an amazing God given talent! Would you bottle it and send it my way? Dearest Cranky Mama Meg(an)- Love it and I’m feeling your pain. This heat is making this Momma cranky too. All I have to say is God Bless you for having a porch swing! Big porches arent that big of a deal here in WA but I come form a southern family and whenever I see a house that has a porch and no porch swing I just wanna yell! We hope to build a house next year and a large porch is number one of the list…right above indoor plumbing ๐ Im so glad your family is enjoying yours…your hard work paid off. WAIT A MINUTE!!!!!!! You are not walking to that Starbucks 30 minutes away are you?????????? LOL…I know, I know…local coffee shop. I feel like I am the more sarcastic, glass half empty version of YOU..does that makes sense? My ideal way of snapping out of crankiness is EXACTLY what you have planned for this morning. I would SO use this porch for an extension of my home!! I love it. I;m sure pretty soon you will wander what you did before you started using it! Love the color of the blue chairs and love the chalk board!! Great job! This is so cute and cheery! You may want to get one of those mesh picnic covers though…it looks like there’s a fly on your watermelon. ๐ Or is it a seed? Perfect! What a great spot for spending the summer! Another reason your house is AWESOME! I want those turqouise chairs!!!!!!!! And yes, you need to get yourself an ice cream maker. No salt required! You just hit ‘on’. If you need me to come demonstrate I will. Seriously. I do/did love it. the porch is great!! even greater is the bowl of watermelon and the bottles of crush (my FAVE) Love it, so cute! meg- I’m coming over from TIR love your site- what a dash of happiness your site is- Ummmmm seriously fan.tas.tic! I am soooo impressed and inspired! LOVE IT! Yet again, another fabulous make-over! I love it! Just curious… would you show us your garden(s)? Seeing this cheery color palette on the porch makes me think you must have some happy flowers growing outside, too! What a beautiful job you’ve done! I have a porch that looks very similar to your before photo and your transformation has given me the urge to get it done! ๐ Meg, I have been hooked on your blog for some time now and I just have to tell you how great it is! I love the porch makeover. How did you find the time with all 5 kids home? I hope today is better than yesterday. I just wanted you to know that your blog is a bright spot in my day. Thank you! You are fabulous! Where did you get those bottles of Crush?? you may want to check the coffin box in your attic. i’m probably there. i moved in a while back from sheer house envy. i forgot to tell you. see what a good houseguest i can be?? love porches! Thinking about adding some more fun to mine. Thanks for the ideas! love those turquoise chairs!!! did you paint them or find them that way? i NEED to know the color if you did paint them yourself ๐ It’s great! I love outdoor rooms. I’m so glad you had the thought to do that – as I’m sure your kids are too! Beautifully done – what a great article at the inspired room. perfectly cozy!!!! i love it!!! What a WONDERFUL spot!!! it would be hard to ever leave!!! I really appreciate your innovation….and ability to get work done! I have a one year old and NOPE, finding time outside of the toddler’s routine doesn’t occur very often. Your porch turned out beautifully, so vibrant and inviting. I can hear it beckoning for a bunch of people to sit down and BE in it! love it! i want one!! hmmmm. {i may just add another project to my list} I just discovered your blog via The Inspired Room. This outdoor LR looks like a great summer oasis. Love the pops of turquoise. I’m jealous: I’m in NC, and if we spend time outside (outside of a screened in porch) this time of year, we will all be carried away by mosquitoes! I just spent a few minutes checking out some of your other posts. Your photos are AMAZING! What talent! wow, amazing! Great post. I’ve been hangin’ out over at the Inspired Room for a while now. I even joined in the procrastinators party (and didn’t get finished on time! hehe) Loved your post at the Inspired Room! The porch is just darling!! So much better! I need to do that over here! What a difference! The porch looks Fab.U.Lous! I love your style…you make me wish I could sew (a feeling that never entered my head until I started reading your blog). Enjoy! we have been spending days upon days just hanging out. enjoying summer.
           i hope you are doing the same.
relax…slow down…play UNO…catch fireflies…hug your friends…eat ice cream cones….swing…
you'll be so happy you did.
What a lovely photo of Talby and Clara! Their suits match! Clara had such a great time playing! I love fireflies….I remember visiting my grandmother as a child in Indiana and collecting them in a jar. I’ve lived in CA my whole life and wish we had them here. oh! this sounds wonderful! yay we caught freflies the other day ๐ Very cool pictures! I have never seen a firefly in my life. So neat. Thanks for the simple reminder! I’m a teacher and get to spend all summer with my kids, but sometimes I find myself trying to squeeze a little too much in. Now I’m looking forward to a relaxing Thursday and Friday. Still waiting for the fireflies to show up, though. That looks so fun. I miss fireflies. My kids don’t even know what they are. Time to take them East, I think. I totally agree! The best kinds of summers are spent slowing down, and just hanging out with those that we love! I really enjoy reading your blog… it’s great! Meg, your photos are just beautiful. I’m sitting here with freezing cold toes and nose on a Sydney winter morning, but feeling a radiating warmth from these photos. It just might be the warmest I feel all day – so thank you! Meredith xo. Those are the reasons why I love summer. You have the best pictures! once again–AMAZING pics. Good for you for relaxing. it’s what summer should be. It looks like some wonderful summer memories are being made. I am remembering times like these with my girls when they were young. You are a great mom! (Waffle needs a cameo!) “relax…slow down…play UNO…catch fireflies…hug your friends…eat ice cream cones….swing…” I’m such a fan of your blog! It truly is “eye candy” (I’ve been voting)! You have an amazing gift and I love that you share it with all of us!! Your home is beautiful and I love your color palate! What is the chocolate color you used in the master bedroom?? Thank you for sharing your real life! whoa real firefly’s – only seen them in the movies! Where I live all we have is midges and loads of them!!! I agree. Life is hectic enough…we can all use the excuse of summer to relax!!! Oh you guys hang out with such style! Your photographs as usual are totally stunning and bring warmth to our winter… I love love love your blog. I am addicted. Life is beautiful and God is good and your blog confirms that. It is my little slice of happiness to check your blog each morning. I have 3 crazy little boys and love to document their life by blogging but I have blog jealousy. How does one go about to design or get a super cool blog like yours? I have used e-blogger which is free but I’m craving something else and would love to do bigger pics. If time allows could you email me @ ms4deboer@yahoo.com and give me some tips. I too would love to know if you sell your t-shirts and pillows. Again, you are so inspiring and your family and home are beautiful. God has blessed you with an amazing gift. Keep using it for His glory! Blessings! I been hanging out with my mum today in the UK sun, its the same temp as bahamas here!!!!! its SOOOO hot! i love the fire fly pics, we dont get them here which is a shame, as they are pretty cool! i have NEVER seen a real firefly. We do not have fireflies in Colorado, but I have wonderful childhood memories of catching them in jars when we would visit cousins in Kansas, Iowa and Nebraska. Beautiful photos, as always. I think you should do a blog post with some bad photos, some rejects –so we won’t feel so jealous! awesome awesome pics. not that that’s something NEW to this blog! ๐ ha [total eye candy] we live in kansas city now after spending 8 years in florida & south texas. and we’re sooooooooo glad to be back in the land of the lightning bugs [that’s what we call them]. ๐ by the way – i’m headed to deanna rose this afternoon with my kids! i saw that on your summer list! What great moments, and I love how you caught them all. I think my favorite is the one of your (I’m guessing) legs up. We all deserve that once in a while! Oh THANK YOU so much for pics of fire flies in jars. SIGH. Brings back memories. I LOVED, LOVED catching lightening bugs as kids! That was one of my favorite childhood activities at my grandparents farm. We don’t have them out west. ๐ loving all these picture’s Megan ๐ but wheres Waffle… I have been voting everyday ๐ Cool story: my friend who moved here from Hawaii saw a firefly in my backyard for the first time ever. This looks like the way summer should be. It makes me wish I were a kid again. And I LOVE the pink sparkly nail polish…I was totally rocking that back in the day as well. Hanging out is my favorite part of summer. I sure do miss fireflies or lightning bugs as we called them back in Tennessee. We haven’t seen any here in South Carolina. we’re doing the same thing! it’s much more fun to take it easy…enjoy the moments…summer flies by too quickly! Hi Meg, I don’t know how I found this blog, but I wanted to tell you that its so inspiring & I LOVE IT! I am starting my own blog and can’t wait to share it with all of my friends and family. Can you tell me how you edited your blog to say ‘older fun stuff’? I am not going to copy those words, but I would like to change mine up a bit. Hope your blog wins best eye candy, I have been voting! Also, do you sell the t-shirts and pillows that you make? my email is misty_tharp@yahoo.com and my blog is thechroniclesofmaymay.blogspot.com I am new at this and don’t even know if this comment is going to post- thanks! misty I have yet to see a firefly here in L.A. But I keep seeing kids with jars popping up on blogs in Kansas. I swear, I may have to move to Kansas. Are there a lot of Starbucks with in walking distance? Cause I will need that. we were having a lot of rain… which makes for good puddles (or water in your basement…take your pick).
after a crazy saturday morning storm the girls decided it was time.
time to attack the neighbor's giant puddle.
their driveway always makes one.
 i'm sorry…did i say attack? yeah they went running full speed out there
and then when they got to it they stopped…touched their feet softly in
and started acting like girls!
"it's cold….ewwww…it's dirty!…is that a bug?!!"
what?
who are you?
oh please don't start being prissy…my sweet frog loving, worm catching, dirty girls. PLEASE!!!
  we had a visitor.
he wasn't prissy at all.
 (no prissy girls were injured during this puddle jumping adventure)
  see? no splashing.
no jumping.
crazy.
  then a tantrum…how nice.
go ahead you girly girl who can't get wet and dirty…go inside and put on a dress…fine!
i'll always have waffle.
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You go, Waffle!! Can’t wait to see what he does for summer 2010! ๐ Hi there, love the pictures!! What kind of dog do you have?? Hi, new to your blog, love your photographs! How funny that the girls became girls… ๐ Love the shot of the dog’s muddy paw! My dog and your dog could totally be best friends! I *love* Waffle!!!!! He is so adorable. I LOL everytime I see him doing something goofy. Great puddle pictures! I want Annie’s swimsuit. It’s so cute and so perfect. But I want one for my daughter and for me–does it come with an underwire, padded, you-know-what? ๐ please tell me they make annie’s swimsuit in big girl sizes, because i would buy twelve. we’ve been drowning here in CT as well. Maybe I’ll let loose and let my kids play in the puddles as well. It looks like fun. ๐ I just read at Blogluxe that if you win you’d go to Chicago. How cool! I’ve voted everyday. Love that picture of Waffle. I have been out of blog world for the past 2 weeks while trying to make some big decisions for our family. I just got caught up on your blog and almost cried when seeing your Kansas picturs. they are beautiful. We have decided to move to Nebraska for the next year and we’ll be out in the country! Jason’s family is all there. I’m trying to focus on all the positive and your pictures were what I needed. Thanks! You’re such a cool momma. I would be like NOOO don’t get dirty. You would be so much fun and a camera ready to get the best memories. Love it! how cute, adorable pictures. You deserve the award! ๐ at least waffle was havin’ a splashing-good time! what cute, cute girlies. i gotta have me a girl. i think i say that in every comment. Cute pictures, especially love the ones of Waffle! Annie’s swim suit is too cute, hope you’re having a good summer:) could annie’s bathing suit be any cuter? i submit that it cannot! adorable! OK. i’ve been dropping in here & there the past few months. i don’t ever comment because you always have a gazillion & everyone always says what i would say anyway. but today – 22 so far? i’ll comment. and say i LOVE YOUR BLOG. i love you sense of humor & parenting style. you’re awesome. um, can i please have a red and white polka dotted bathing suit, and then please look that cute in it?!?!??! um, can i please have a red and white polka dotted bathing suit, and then please look that cute in it?!?!??! I just love the last picture of Waffle jumping. He is the coolest dog around! OMG so cute I love the pictures! Your girls are darling even jumping in dirty puddles. Cute post! Meg, this comment is totally unrelated to this post, but . . .THIS post http://artwithmrssmith.blogspot.com/2009/06/piet-mondrian.html made me think of you and your rainbow cake (which really inspired me too — I’m going to try to make it). I’m going to try to copy this cake when I do a unit on Mondrian in school. Isn’t it cool? Great photos. My favorite is the beginning of the tantrum. Cute, esp from my vantage point! Just went and voted…is anyone even close to you in votes?? Good luck! Hi there! i love reading your blog! you have such a style of humor :). that last shot is my favorite with the reflection of Waffle in the puddle – such fun! Oh how I wish we had a little of that rain!!! OK has been super hot this Summer! And did I say MUGGY too???? ICK! I love those girls of yours!!! And of COURSE Waffle too!!!!! I hope you win the contest! Should there really even BEEEEE one when you are nominated ๐ YOU are the best!!!!! Love the post! TOO cute!!! that Waffle! almost love him as much as our Odie!!! Love Love Love it! I voted for you today! I actually found your blog a couple months back and forgot to throw it into the favorites and I was so sad that I couldn’t find you again, I even “googled” waffle, the dog (does that sound creepy? i dont mean to be creepy) lol anyways, thanks for being so fresh and fun! ๐ Love it! I especially like the swimsuit and rain boots. How great is that?! ๐ Love the ones with Waffles especially! When my sister got married four years ago, it was a rainy day, but bearable. After the service, where my then-2-1/2-year-old son was ring bearer, we came out of the church, him in his white shorts, and dress shoes, looking all prim and proper and spied a puddle. He started to go towards it, and although my instinct would be to pull him back, I let him have at it. He had been so good during the service, what’s a little mud puddle on white shoes? ๐ I would SO LOVE to get our little pouting Annie’s together!!!! still voting… i really can’t believe it. Everything about this post makes me smile… oh, waffle, how i love you!! i wish you were my dog!! Good morning! Vote in and recorded. Best wishes for a beautiful Monday! how cute! We had a puddle in our driveway – which my boys loved! But the water from the puddle seeped into our basement. So we mudjacked the driveway. No puddle for the boys. Dry basement for us. ๐ Great pictures! yeah…we're in the middle of nowhere. yeah…we don't have oceans or mountains or starfish
yeah…we are full of rednecks.
yeah…we don't have any movie stars here.
BUT it is beautiful here.
June in Kansas is my favorite time of year.
            on the radio in my car was "We're from the Country"
how fitting.
now…if i knew what anything about farming…that would be even cooler!
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***************************************************************************************** totally random…i just walked by sean's room… he is in there playing legos alone…singing Joy to the World…as loud as he can. funny. Those pics could be from my family farm! I’m now a city girl in the East and I do miss the wide open spaces in SW Kansas! The best sunsets and the golden waves of grain are truly breathtaking! I live in Kansas! Born and raised. It gets boring sometimes but I have lots of green space around me, No horrible traffic, nice people that wave at you when you are driving even if they don’t know you, a house that I could never afford anywhere else, good schools and great neighbors. Wouldn’t live anywhere else. Just had to comment about this. I’ve lived in southern California my entire life,43 years. I’ve worked in the movie business and I know a lot of people. But here in so-cal. Everything is so contrived. People aren’t real and you HAVE to lock your doors and car. We have a lot of traffic, the cost of living is rediculous and its a real challenge to instill family values in your kids when everyone is so concerned about what they wear & drive. I’m sure some areas have a sense of community but I dont have it for my kids. I’m a very outgoing person and I find it really hard to make meaningful relationships. I would move to the heartland in a hot minute if I could. Oooh! I’m so happy I found your blog (via The Inspired Room’s Melissa)!! I was born and raised in Kansas and now live in Colorado. It’s so nice to be reminded of my roots and how much I still love it there. Thank you for the beautiful pictures. Seriously, Kansas is awesome! love how you captured the spirit of the midwest in these photos…they are fantastic! I want to learn to take pictures like this…amazing. Just moved here…you captured it perfect. Love the sunsets here. It looks so beautiful! Wonderful pictures! I hear ya….it is beautiful!!! We are one of your neighboring states (OK) we live about 30 min. from the Kansas border. great photos. cuttin’ wheat – i love that time of year. we won’t be doing that until the mid to end of July. you need to be taking photos at the old farm. awesome. Stop. STOP! You’re giving my WI dairy-farmer-husband, CROP-ENVY! You can make a picture of a truck look incredible ๐ I love that Sean was playing Legos…alone….and I LOVE that he was singing Joy to the World ๐ Gonna go vote! Thank you for the beautiful photos. I’ve lived in Iowa and miss is so much. hello, These are lovely. Starfish and oceans are great, but there is something to be said about wide open spaces! Kansas looks beautiful! I am officially homesick now. “You can take a girl out of Kansas….” I’ve been living on the Chesapeake Bay in Maryland almost all my life and I never thought I could move to a middle-of-the-country state where all the land is flat. I am surrounded by mountains, ocean, reservoirs, bays, cities, etc. I would feel trapped in those middle states. Lol. But you sure make it beautiful with those pics!! You captured the Midwest beautifully! I love living in the Midwest – don’t think I could ever leave! beautiful. hoping to see it in person some day! I love farms. I wish I grew up on one. There’s a little patch in the middle of my town that still grows corn. I get so excited to see it growing. I hope they never develop that land – it would be a horrible day for me! I LOVE Kansas too. I’m always telling Ryan how beautiful Kansas is. And he always tells me I’m preaching to the chior. Great pics! Yes, but you have summer thunderstorms that leave that sweet smell of wet grass when they are done; you have fire flies to run and catch in big glass jars with holes in the lid; you have clear skies not plagued with smog; and you have quiet summer suburb nights where you can leave the windows open and only hear the sounds of crickets. Kansas is a good place to live and your kids are your very own movie stars that you worship and adore. ๐ Nothing like the Midwest. I love it. GORGEOUS pictures!! yes…it is a lovely state! I enjoyed seeing all the combines “workin’ it” out in the field. I’ve never been in June–usually in late fall-winter. No oceans-No starfish—but what you have is a mean sunset across a wheatfield! I can see why you love it so much. These photos could easily be mistaken for rural Australia. There is a quiet, calm beauty all of its own that sort of steals its way around your senses. Meg, these photos are simply beautiful. what you do mean no celebrities?! you have DOROTHY!! ๐ That’s funny, we both did similar posts today about our little neighboring states ๐ Lovely picures – Kansas tourist board should hire you, you’d soon have the tourists flocking there ๐ Kansas certainly looks beautiful, I’ll have to visit one day. Your blog got my vote! Your pictures are great! I love your “amber waves of grain” shot! Love Kansas, my parents met and married in Kansas, both my sisters were born there, my best friend in the world was born and raised there. Amazing pictures…love them! I grew up on a farm in Ohio and I miss it and that life whenever I see photos of corn, wheat, sunsets, tractors, etc… Never been to Kansas but your pictures are beautiful so Kansas must be too. You take seriously the most “lively” pictures! I love the one with the cows the best. You must be a photographer…i just came across your blog yesterday and can’t even remeber how…too much random time at work! But I had to ask what kind of camera you have. I know it’s mostly skill but your pictures jump off the page! they are amazing! i love them!! OMG! Absolutely amazing blog! Just brilliant! Feel so warm to be here! Just voted. I love cake wrecks too, but you win, no contest! Beautiful pictures! Would love to live in the country, but in the meantime, will happily live vicariously through your blog. ๐ ummm….you do have totally awesome fields of sunflowers! the first time my husband showed me a field of sunflowers just on the other side of the missouri/kansas border i was in awe! do you have any near you? if so…you have GOT to take pictures. those fields plus your photo skillz equals awesomeness…no joke ๐ your lucky, i am in CA and can’t wait to leave to a more simple life, i love the pics It looks so beautiful. I would move to the middle of nowhere anyday if I could! I spent my summers with my grandparents in Eureka so these pics bring back incredible summer memories. Also now craving the tastiness that is corn picked from the field then served with freshly caught fish. Meg – those cows look like they are posing for you! Absolutely beautiful. I actually drove from Oklahoma to Kansas City in the spring, and I marveled at how beautiful the fields were. It had been raining, so everything was grey and vivid green. Amazing… Meg, LOVE the pictures and the song on the radio is one of my favs considering the fact that I actually am from the Country – Arkansas to be exact! HA! Have a great weekend, Meg! :o) makes me wish I was in Kansas, right now wearing no shoes and sporting overalls. oh my, it is beautiful! thanks for sharing!! Your photos are breathtaking. Love ’em. I was just stuck in a traffic jam on the 101 Freeway in Hollywood while I was taking my son to a playdate. Came home, opened this and started to cry! Man, would I rather be walking through a cornfield! These are all so great – although I see these things around me, they just seem prettier when someone else points them out. The Midwest is a lovely place to live and since I’m only in week 7, I’m still discovering all of it. Happy to be here! Beautiful pictures, as always. holy cow your corn is so tall compared to ours in Michigan! I voted for you yesterday… I’ll go vote again ๐ Beautiful pictures! I want to take pictures like that! holy moly! you are killin the competition! you rock, meg(an)! BEAUTIFUL! The pictures of the wheat are just gorgeous! Meg, y’know? i think kansas has some pretty sexy wheatfields. your pictures are lovely. eye candy! is that queen anne’s lace? if it is, i’m in love. even if it’s not. . . i’m still in love. Wow, I never thought anyone could make me miss Kansas…but I LOVE that 3rd pic!
kate with her toothless grin…oh my that is adorable!
and a green eyed big brother owen who loved telling jokes.
    both had beautiful eyes…and lashes.
 their cousin caden was visiting so we added him some pics too.
he had those same sparkly eyes too…and sweet chubby wrists and ankles…i love that.
  i really am enjoying being around all these kids.
it's a good break from my own…even its only an hour.
thanks kelli…they are super sweet kids!
happy birthday mama. ***************************************************************************** now…have you voted today? i am getting kind of excited about this.
it's easy..no signing up…just type in your name and your email so they can record your vote.
i would love if you went and voted today. ๐
there are 462 votes at this moment…how high can you blog lovers get it today.
thank you…thank you…thank you!
Voted!! =) Voted!! =) Just stopped by … your pictures are gorgeous! Wow! You have over 700 votes at this point. So awesome! I hope you win!!! I just voted!!!! You know, I typically don’t vote for things like this but in this case, I truly believe you do have the best “eye candy”. Looking at your bright, colorful pictures always makes me happy! ๐ why is it that we love our own but it takes seeing other kids to know how much we love our own. those kids make me miss those wee days, of round cheeks, biting toes, kissing boo boos and chasing fire-flies. your photos say it all. summer love. Fun! I’m off to vote. What do you get if you win? you’ve got more votes than The Pioneer Woman!!! GO YOU!!!!!!!!!!! Hi Megan! I love your blog and your photos very much! I just voted for you again, hope you win! Just voted! Hope you win ๐ please tell me that if you ever find yourself taking one of your kids to space camp here in AL, that you will swing by and take pics of my kids?! simply a must. cause i’ll cook you supper and make it worth the trip. i promise!! blogged about it today! it’s getting so fun! awe cuties! i voted yay!! I love these pictures. What beautiful eyes! Adorable photos of adorable children! I love to photograph little ones. They don’t “change” for the camera. Thanks so much, Meg! They are all fantastic! toooooo precious!!! i love the skinned knee, the freckles…and the cutesie faces! Sparkly eyes and long eye lashes! Beautiful. Great work Megan. the 2009 version.
being intentional with our days. or trying to be. no one can claim boredom when there is all of this poster board of ideas to choose from…or can they? they will anyway. it's really a fun project to do together. get your kids involved. ask what they really want to do. it's okay to write down silly ones that may not ever happen. who knows…last year "get a dog" was one of our never-gonna-happen things… and now we have waffle. i wonder what we'll check off today…. There are too many to do when summer days are coming, school is out and fun is in. Sometimes you just want to earn money with these extra time. I have MANY books on my summer adneirg list I had an especially busy spring, and I have a lot of catching up to do!In no particular order:DEAD LIKE YOU by Peter JamesTHE TWO DEATHS OF DANIEL HAYES by Marcus SakeyTHE LAST CHILD by John HartLEARNING TO SWIM by Sara J. HenryTHE HELP by Kathryn StockettAnd several young adults:ROT AND RUIN by Jonathan MaberryTHE DEAD-TOSSED WAVES by Carrie RyanACROSS THE UNIVERSE by Beth RevisUNWIND by Neal ShustermanRecent reads:SPIRAL by Paul McEuenBURIED SECRETS by Joseph FinderDIVERGENT by Veronica RothAnd of course, I’ll be bringing LOTS of new titles back from ThrillerFest! Can’t wait! I’m glad others have ticoned this trend!! I was riding my bike the other day and it seemed there was a chipmunk every 2 or 3 feet!! I’ve never seen so many!!! and a coworker mentioned seeing many the other day .Interesting! Wow.. Great list of the summer. I like planned and manage it. I like studying your posts. Stay up the good work! I shared the link to this post with the readers at alittlegreat.com. Great post! This is why i visit you site daily. Great read thanks. Incidently http://www.rapidmediafire.com has a similar topic. I just put mine up for this year, using yours for inspiration. Thanks! I found out about your blog from A Soft Place to Land. And I am glad I did. I just wanted to let you know that we made our own list…except ours is stuff to do before my son turns two this fall (A One Year Old Bucket List) You can check it out here if you are interested: What a great idea! I’m doing this for myself. ;o) What a clever idea! The kind where I go… now why didn’t I think of that? I am definitely going to do this with my kids. Thanks for the fantastic idea ๐ Just found you through Clover Lane and I thought “take waffles on walks” was pretty silly…until I read that your dog’s name is Waffles. Our cat’s name is Snack. Huzzah for weird pet names and fun summer lists! So cute! Gotta try this with mine. What a great idea… Even though the summer is winding down, I think we’ll make a “before the summer ends” list. Going to check out your link to the other list too. Thanks! Meg ~ email me direct RE: Chase Co. Meg ~ I see the Chase Co. waterfall made your list again this year. Have you gone yet? I still want you to do photos of my family at my childhood home in Chase Co. I have to be intentional…and make it happen. We’ll be in Chase Co. on Aug 30….any chance you’d be available too? We just did our own list and the kids loved it and are looking forward to checking stuff off…thanks for sharing. One thing that iยดd like to do this summer is fly a kite!! Gonna Start my list now! Thanks for the great idea! Here’s my list add-on for the summer: I hope to have at least one organic bee hive thriving in my lavendar garden:-) Michelle, Quite awesome and inspiring, only a little intimidating, but yes, making goals for summer/year round inexpensive fun is very important–especially for grandmas! So my granddaughters and I spent a ‘day in the city’ riding the trolley; and the TRAM; (finally-third time was a charm–it had been closed due to weather and holiday–call before you go! But disappointment is part of life, too.) Splurged with Italian sodas at OHSU coffee cart; played in Jamison Park Fountain–in the rain. (Can’t always wait for sunshine in Portland!) This is a brilliant idea, life does seem much busier in the summer although the days are longer. I shall make a list also..so many dreams that can come true in time. I love that you can use this list as a reference when you hear those little whiney voices. I’d really like to stop by on your homemade ice cream day. What a fun family! We made a list this year also, though it was late enough in the summer that I listed things we’d already done. (I need to feel successful, also.) I got here through the Inspired Room. Your list caught my eye because the minute I saw “Deanna Rose” on your list, I knew where you lived! Or at least close to it! I spent 7 happy years living in Olathe and spent a lot of time at Deanna Rose. Miss it like crazy! Thanks for tipping off a memory! Jumped to this site from The Inspired Room and I love it. Your photography is beautiful! I bounced over here from Inspired Room. Love the summer list – I got to do that! Love your blog – very cute. Amazing pictures ๐ this is a fantastic idea!! Oh, I forgot! When I was a kid (long before you) we would ride the Zambizi Zinger! It was the best! This is great. My husband is from Olathe, so we will be driving out to Kansas this summer and doing many of the things on your list. I really hope my kids get to see fireflies. It is so strange to me that these little bugs I grew up with are so foriegn to my children. Such a cute idea. What caught my eye first was “World’s of Fun”! You must live close to Kansas City. Then the clincher, Royals game! Definitely. This great idea makes me wish my girls were little again. Sort of. Very fabulous and fun idea. Hope your summer is great! Karen i LOVE this! my boyfriend and i make a summer to-do list also! it’s fun to write down all that you want to do or aim to do and then get to check them off when you do em! so fun. hope summer is treating you well!! My favorites are – Jump in puddles (which is so hard to do in LA), outdoor movie, and catch fireflies (again, hard to do out here where they do not exist). Can’t wait to see the posts that document the completion of your list. So much fun!! I LOVE your list!!! I really love lists in general but I love the way you write your list and the fun things that you include. You are an amazing woman Meg! ha. i just love your summer list. I remember it from last year and thought it was an awesome idea. you rock! I’ve been reading you for a while, never comment… admire the way you inspire me… and I’m going to get my old, delicious house one day;) I am so doing this this summer. love it. We made a list this year…I copycatted (probably not a word) yours from last year! My girls have been having lots of fun with it. Thanks for such super ideas! Did a list at the beginning of our summer (before Memorial Day), lost the list in the backyard somewhere discussing ideas, and am now happy to have made another list tonight that I’m going to post for safekeeping! Thanks for the much needed incentive to redo our list and refocus our summer. I’ve been a total copycat ever since I saw your list last year – we do a much better job of making time for the important (and of course fun!) things when we have them written down and visible. I did one for Christmas last year too, made into a countdown chain with something on each link. This summer I copied you (from reading other summer lists). One of our not-gonna-happens is “have Mom’s baby early”. It would be nice, but I don’t want to spend the summer in the NICU. Hopefully the rest of the list keeps ME on target. Great ideas as usual! Is it stupid to feel that this is so much harder with teenagers? I wistfully remember the cute things they wanted to do over the summer. Now it would probably include “see boyfriend as much as I can” (bleh) and “hang out with people other than mom and dad”. Sigh… I had a coffee can when the kids were little and we wrote out ideas of “things to do” on little slips of paper and put them in the can. When the kids said “I’m bored” I would have them draw from the can. They could do what was on the list. They were not allowed to say they were bored if they chose not to do that activity. this is such a great idea. i have one for my summer on my blog, and it is a great motivator to actually do the things you enjoy. Okay, that’s it. You got me. I’ve been talking about doing something like this for the past three weeks, but I finally just pulled out the poster board! I do this every summer! Love it! Another idea is to put each “boredom buster” in a jar and draw one out each day. Each day you wait with great anticipation…What will we do today? what a great idea :o) we might just need to do the same. Love this! Tomorrow is the first official day of summer break. I think we will do this. love this! Hi. I’m a new fan of your blog. On my blog today, I linked back to you. I used your summer list to illustrate the post (with a link on rollover). Hope that’s OK. Let me know if it’s not. Here’s the link: http://notstrictlyspiritual.blogspot.com/2009/06/to-do-list-worth-keeping.html we went to deanna rose last week and the zoo yesterday {ugh it was sooo hot} but we had lots of fun! What an awesome idea! The girls come home in about an hour…I think we’re going to copy this idea! I hope you don’t mind! It’s such a wonderful idea! I just had to share that while I was going through my favorite new preschool blogs (I am also a preschool teacher), I recognized Annie on one of them! I finally put two and two together and realized this was your Annie’s preschool! What a small world. And now I realize why you’d say that her preschool is wonderful. Wow, what an amazing blog her teacher has! Anyways, I thought it was too funny and wanted to share. i’m totally copying your idea. hope you don’t mind. that’s a compliment, right? like on ni hao kailan – sing it with me… “when someone copies you, it just means that they really like it too!!” have a wonderful week! ๐ I love reading your blog, you are such a creative and cool person/mom. I found you blog through an interior decorators and thought it was so neat, i’ve been reading all your old post. I don’t mean to sound like a stocker, but I have found myself reliving childhood almost through your daughter Annie, because my name is Annie. I was born with a heart murmur, luckily after a lot of tests throughout life (i’m 24 now) and found out it isn’t harmful. (I just have to drink twice the amount of water and stay away from unusually large amounts of caffeine) I had to go to the children’s hospital in columbus ohio and was scared like she was..so many things about your little Annie remind me of myself.. especially the independence, and the nesting thing she does in bed! I don’t know if that’s a common thing or not but I still do it. I’m such the type of person that loves to have my goals set out in front of me, and I like this idea. I do the mini notebook, but I don’t have it out in front of me! So creatively well done ๐ What, no fishing, no making of mud pies, no fort building, no skinny-dipping…shame on you. I’m so glad you did this because Waffle is my *favorite* blog dog! great idea! Really cute idea. Fun to see some stuff we do, too….I always think blogger friends are in another world….and then I see stuff I know! Brilliant! My kids are still in school. They go to year-round. But their “summer break” (6 weeks) starts Friday and my list of things to do is long. I already have a boredom busters list to hang up in the playroom. I think I need one of these too! what a fab idea. ๐ Such a good idea, I’m going to get cracking and organize a list on Saturday which is the first day of my holidays….. roll on weekend…. ๐ Looks like you’ll have a great summer!! I totally stole this idea from you from last year (and gave you credit). I think I was more into the list than the kids, but they’ve had a ball marking things off. Here’s our list: Last year, I complied and posted this list of 150+ things to do in summer: deanna rose…across the street from me. ๐ come visit. Love this idea – thanks for reminding me and the inspiration. If you guys DO make it to KC this summer, let me know if a photo session up here would be possible ๐ Love me a list!!! This is such a great idea. Is your goal to get them all checked off??? this is such an awesome idea!!! we are going to have to make a summer to do list too! What a GREAT idea. Thank you for sharing with all of us blog addicts :). That’s a great idea… I remember summers of things I watned to do but since they didn’t get wrote down they never happened! I love that you have Worlds of Fun… I miss that place! I know live right down the road from a Six Flags but nothing will ever compare to school and summer trips to Worlds of Fun, it was always the best!! so if you get a chance, can i get the specifics on the chocolate paint color in the bedroom? i’m a paint-color-loser and need all the help i can get. I love your lists! Were you able to finish most of the list you made last Fall when the kids went back to school? Love it! this is such a neat idea! i will have to get our girls together to make one ๐ we tried something like this once…we failed miserably. maybe this summer? we’ll see. I need to put “make the list” on my list. GReat idea, fabulous list…but where to start…xv What a great idea! I may have to incorporate this kind of list into our summer as well – of course, ours will only be done on the weekends and my kids are both 15 yo instead of little like yours, so our list will probably not consist of “catching frogs” – *sigh* I miss the days when they were younger and more fun and less whiney! HA! YOU MY DEAR ARE AWESOME!!! DID YOU GET YOUR HAIR CUT YET? Fun! We’re doing something siimilar. All of our to-do items are folded up on tiny papers and will be randomly chosen from a hat each day. a dog was on our “never” list too… but I wouldn’t trade this silly beast for ANYTHING. ๐ My goodness! I stumbled onto your blog late last week, and every day since have managed to grab a few minutes here and there to keep reading – and I just finished all the way back to your first blog! This is the first time I have done this with a blog – I promise I’m not some weirdo stalker! I have thoroughly enjoyed it all, and have seen a lot of your kids in mine (Josh is Sean and Lucy is Talby, though she looks more like Annie). love this idea! will work on ours this weekend! ๐ What an awesome idea! You might need another sheet of posterboard though!! That is a great idea. I need to make one for my husband. Thanks for the idea! i wanna play too!! of course, i have an 18 and a 19 year old and am afraid most of our list would have a little *. Great idea and list! My 15th year old would only have two things -SLEEP and SHOP! Well you know your teen probably has the same list! Have a great day! What a great idea, you are a super Mommie! We went to Deanna Rose a few months ago before it got so darn hot. Hope you guys had fun, we sure did! ๐ Can I be your kid? What a fun idea!!!!! love that you are doing this again Worlds of Fun has a new roller coaster this year. I have thought about your ’08 list so many times as Summer approached! I guess it’s not too late to make our own. Thanks for sharing. This is a great idea – I think we’ll try it this summer! |
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Amber - Oh my gosh!! Our carnival pictures are similar on my latest post. Of course yours aren’t blurry and awkward. But hey that’s me, blurry and awkward. ๐ j/k
Christina - I LOVE the picture of toes!
pve - positively polka dotted with envy over your all american fun!
a thorn among roses - i am totally loving your pics!!! they make me want to go to the carnival!!! and i hate those spinning things. love it.
Tonya - Meg, I loved your summer list. We made our own list this morning and I’ve linked back to you on my blog.
Thanks for the awesome idea!
Sandy - Love the toenails! Looks like tons of fun!!
You deserve every vote you received and more (I know there were some days I failed to vote and I’m sure others did too). YOU are the one that deserves the thanks for letting us live vicariously through your super cool Kansas life!
KT - Do you know how old the boys were that you did the photoshoot of? They are adorable. I love the age difference. We have a two year old and are trying to figure out when we want to start TTC again!!! ๐
Ashlee Archibald - Looks like so much fun! I love the painted toes ๐ ๐
Barbara Jacksier - I just found you and I’m so HAPPY!
Sharla - Love the one of your son and his goggles – I imagine that’s what your hubby looked like at that age.
Colleen - Mommy Always Wins - Looks like an AMAZING holiday weekend. Hope you can recover from it all! ๐
simply stork - glad to see your mood has shifted :o) Looks like you all had a great time :o) what a blessing to have such fun together :o)
I too LOVE the toes :o)
~simply~
Julie Q - Just wanted to say, that your blog is lovely. I enjoy your beautiful pictues and family adventures. Summer at your house looks like so much fun, especially as it is bit chilly here in New Zealand.
I’m missing strawberries so much!
Julie Q
Laura Phelps - all pictures, no words. fantastic.
Kathy - Awesome pictures! You are killing me with them, I really missed celebrating the 4th American style and your pictures are exactly my memories. ๐ Maybe next year we will be home!
se7en - And that was one weekend!!! Gotta love those dotty toes!
anna - the picture of poor talby getting squished on the ride made me laugh! i remember getting squished too! and the one of your son with his googles…gorgeous! he is going to be a heartbreaker!
looks like you had a great time!
Staci - Oh what fun!!!! Alllll the pics are great…but man, I want some of those kabobs ๐ YUMMY!
Jocelyn Stott - Summer as it should be. Thank you for the beautiful photos!
Joy Cronauer...Joy at Home - one more photo/blogging question…how do you put two pics next to each other? thanks again for all of your help. your blog is so inspiring!
Roeshel - What fun! Looks like a blast! I’m new to your blog. Nice to “meet” you! Love the gorgeous photos! ๐
Michelle B - looks like a wonderful time! I have those same black sparkle flip-flops!
Anna Marie - YOUR TOES!!! “Why didn’t I think of that?”…Love me my red and white polka dots!
Looks like you had a blast! (pun intended…ha!)
Lanny Stanard - 4 words… WISH I WAS THERE!
Lanny ๐
Marie - Hello Meg – what fun photos! Seeing the fireworks reminds me of my childhood and enjoying our neighborhood block parties. Since then, fireworks have been outlawed where we live. Love your polka dot toes! Thank you for sharing.
Blessings,
Marie
Starnes Fam - An all American 4th of July…..can it get better?! Off to vote again!
Jaime @ [Casa de Ayala] - Lovely… it was a true 4th of July story, told just beautifully in pictures! Who did your toes? Was it done professionally? Super cute!
Jaime @ [Casa de Ayala] - Lovely… it was a true 4th of July story, told just beautifully in pictures! Who did your toes? Was it done professionally? Super cute!
Suzanne - the picture of your son with the yellow goggles is PRICELESS.
you deserve the award you are shamelessly plugging ๐
Sharon - These are great photos and they capture everything GREAT about summer! Thanks for sharing!
andrea liese - great shots, the toes are my fav
Chasity - we spent the day at worlds of fun…so much fun!
your celebrations look like a blast as well~love the toenails.
chasity
Kelly - Yea and Oh YUM! I love the polka dot toenail polish too. Kelly
alice - looks like a lot of fun was had by everyone! great photos – thanks for sharing them with us :O)
cre8ivegirl - Your pictures are so vibrant! Thanks for sharing you stories.
Marcie Bowman - I love how your pictures tell such an amazing story!!
Erin - What fun! Such beautiful pictures! I would love for that pool too!
Linda - I am jealous–can I be you yesterday?
shari - GREAT images!! Definitely captures a FUN day! I LOVE the kabobs… I want an invite next time! ๐
Sheryl - I just love your photography! Looks like everyone had a great time!
Georgia - Looks like so much fun! i love the fireworks in the street. and what i wouldnt do to be in that pool right now… *sigh*
Jess - Looks like a very happy 4th. Love the toenail polish!