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(lots of) money well spent

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we took the four youngest to the local carnival last week.
it was at bedtime.
it was a surprise.
they loved it…lots of “yeah the carnival!!!” in the car.
then annie got on the first ride…

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pure terror.
this ride is 2 feet off the ground and i am literally 3 feet away.
i can touch her as she goes by.
but still the scariest thing she’s ever done in her life apparently.

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she sat the rest of the rides out.
but she loved watching and cheering for her brothers and sister.

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i don’t think these rides have changed since i was a child.
just as rickety as they were then.
i remember screaming (like annie) and begging to be let off this ride 
when i was in jr. high.
i have no tolerance for this stuff.
i have even thrown up!
aren’t you glad you know that?

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when i looked over and saw craig riding in this silver bullet ride with sean
i thought “oh please don’t die in a fiery explosion”
sean was pumped after going on that.
he loved the fact that he was the bravest kid in our family that night.

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don’t those cars look scary?
annie sure thought so.
the girls wanted a stuffed animal so bad…
but we had no money after buying the ridiculously priced tickets.
wow.  

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it was perfect weather, 
family fun together and 
super memories were made.

the kids can’t wait till next year.
(we’d better start saving our money now.)

traci - gotta love the carnival. used to love the tilt-a-whirl!!! can’t do it now though. poor annie!

Peggy - You take amazing photos!!!

Marla - Looks like a lot of fun. But I hear ya on the $$$ we go through a small fortune when the PRCA rodeo is in town.

Liz - I LOVE carnivals! Poor Annie. I love the pic where her dad is holding her, her little face is so suspicious of those scary rides! Adorable.

Amanda Jo - Wow…this post brought back a lot of memories!!
It seems your daughter and I have a lot in common – carnival rides terrify me also!
Thanks for the walk down memory lane!

chris - Poor Annie , I see her pain,you never know who will like a ride,my super dare devil child hated rides until this year, we had to force her to ride things at Disney fun !, I love rides but spinning rides are awful, nearly puked the last time I was on one, I must be getting old.
It looks like you guys are having a great summer , I am gonna try that side walk paint, looks llike fun .

Jenn - love those rides . . . two years ago kassade, keyton and I all shoved into the bullet together . . . screaming the entire time. . . keyton thought he was going to fall out . . . what a great memory. I know how I felt after the bullet ride – wonder if craig felt the same way?

crystal - You are so right about how much money it costs. But for us I figure it’s once a year and it would be a shame not to let the kids experience a carnival or county fair – especially since I went all the time as a child and have such great memories.

Liz - I’m right with Annie regarding rides, I just don’t like them. Can’t even watch them. How wimpish is that?!!

Jennifer P. - Oh the carnival!!! It use to come and set up at our tiny mall when I was little! Loved it! I think it was overpriced then too.
I love these pictures soooo much! It feels like I was actually there with you guys.

Marnie - That looks like so much fun. You guys sure have fun together.
I feel for Annie, I hate those sorts of things too – my sense of balance gets all outta whack and then I’m a gone-er!!

Allikayesmama - Your pictures made me feel like I was there! I could smell the funnel cakes and popcorn! I was a scaredy girl too when I was little – and better to play it safe than go on those scary rides!! But still…you are so good at making those memories…and capturing them with your skillz!!

Lanny Stanard - Sorry I sick just sick looking at those ride! LOL… Come over and visit theres somthing going on 🙂
Lanny:)

Dayna - Holy cow, those carnivals are expensive. Worth it for the memories, though! Glad everyone had a good time.

Brandy - Awww poor Annie! I have twin daughters that are almost 4 and last year we had the same thing. They would race to get to a new ride and would sometimes even make it inside the gate, only to turn around crying and decide “not this one Mama”.
We take our brood to the fair tomorrow! We’ll see how they do this year!

Pattie - Our family was just sitting around the other night lamenting that there have been NO carnivals anywhere around us for the last two summers. We would always get to one about 7:30 and stay until just after dark. Cotten Candy was always a must. I don’t think we missed a summer of carnival fun for at least 15 years.
Thanks for the pictures. I love the memories they bring…tears, sticky hands and all!

danelle - we were mean parents and said “no we aren’t going, it’s too expensive”.

Joni - Oh my… poor Annie. I remember the first time we took Macy on a ride. This was “pre-language” but she knew some sign-language at that point. I was riding on a similar ride like Annie’s WITH her, and she turned to her daddy and grandparents who were watching and while crying signed “all done.” I felt so bad. The operator stopped the ride for us. She clutched onto me for the rest of the day, even after we left the “ride” section.

Suzanne - you got that right, girlfriend…they are MUCHO expensive! i am not a daredevil at all, but MY annie, can’t get enough of six flags!! she rides it all! i bet on the way there, you could have gotten your kids to do just about anything, they loved you so much for taking them!
you’ll have to come check out my summer favs & tell me some of yours!!

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4th of July

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every 4th of July at our house starts with me baking blueberry buckle.
mmmmmmm!!
our house smells fabulous!
then we head outside to our annual 4th of july block party!
this year we partied for 11 hours straight!
it began with this…

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then we moved onto this…

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my neighbors made homemade sidewalk chalk paint!
it was so cool.
she said it is equal parts water and cornstarch and then add food coloring.
it dried really bright.
i loved the messy buckets.

then we had a bunch of games for the kids.

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corn shucking contest.
who can get the most done and cleanest before it’s all gone gets first prize.
and then our corn is ready for the potluck.

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3 legged race.
and the sack race.

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the water balloon toss….turned fight.
we are old school with the kids’ games.
a new one we added (but i have no good photos of) was the frozen t-shirt contest.
you wet and freeze t-shirts a few days before the party.
then the challenge is to get a frozen shirt on your body.
it was not easy.
one family on our block did a clean sweep 
and won the kid’s, men’s and women’s catagories!
i think they practiced that at home.

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then we potlucked.
i was so happy at this point.
i kept thinking “what a great day!” 
i loved the kids so happy and playing all together.
all 21 of them.
and the swimsuits all day, bike riding, trampoline and tree climbing.
it was summer at it’s best.

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we’ve got great neighbors.

after dinner the craziness of fireworks began.
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the little boys were shooting them off all day long.
but now it was night and the grown up boys were ready to play.
and did they ever!
it got very chaotic for a few hours.
boys sure like to blow stuff up.
and make girls nervous.
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after we clean all this up and put the kids to bed…
the grown ups have a water balloon fight.
it’s way too much fun.
it’s ruthless. 
no mercy.
right jenn?

then (at midnight) we decided to have a campfire in the street.
it was cozy and funny and relaxing.
i climbed into bed at 2:01 AM.

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we did a great job girls!
another successful block party.
i think we need another one next year month. 
thanks for being such wonderful neighbors.

Nancy - What fun! Makes me wish I lived in your neighborhood.

Adla - what a perfect day to spend with neighbours! “Old school” games are such fun!
chat soon, Adla

Suzanne - just when i thought you & your neighborhood couldn’t get any more perfect…WOW! what a 4th of july!!
are you sure all you do is “enhance” your pictures on iphoto??? you have such a gift for photography! i’ve missed you around my neck of the woods!

traci - holy cow what a great party. that looks awesome!!! what a great neighborhood you live in. the corn looks yummy.

Linda@ Restyled Home - Sounds like the perfect day! I used to live in a nighbourhood like that and I always planned a street party for Canada Day. We invited everyone, young and old, and the food was always delicious, the kids had a ball, and the conversation flowing. I miss those days…sigh…

Dayna - Looks like so much fun! I wish I lived in a neighborhood like that!

bri - Wow, what fun. I think I would really like to live on your block! A lot of young families. Perfect!

Jenny - That is amazing! You live in a great neighbourhood.

Mrs. Fox - What fun! You guys really know how to throw a party. I can just taste the corn – all buttery and salty. Fantastic!

Mrs. Fox - What fun! You guys really know how to throw a party. I can just taste the corn – all buttery and salty. Fantastic!

Liz - Blimey! Eleven hours of partying! I want to come live at yours!

Lee Ann - Oh that looks like so much fun! Great neighbors are the best!

PamperingBeki - Oh how fun!!
I was just thinking yesterday that it would be fun to plan a block party, before I saw this post.
Great pictures!

One Wired Woman - What a fun “old school” 4th of July celebration… right down to the corn on the cob and games!! Love it!! This is the way it outta be, sistah!! Great photos. 🙂 Thanks for sharing. ~Jill

robin bird - wow! you do know how to celebrate and do up summer properly! and you captured the feel of it all on film/digital card perfectly! you will be a natural for digital art work once you get a serious hankering for it meg 🙂 you have the artist’s eye…

Liz - Wow. I want to live near you! What fun.

JimaieMarie - WOW! what a fantastic life you guys lead! I am so jealous of your neighborhood festivities!!!
You take such FABULOUS pictures, i always feel like i’m RIGHT there! pfff, i wish!
Will you adopt me?

Amanda Jo - I want to live in your neighborhood! Not only would we be great friends but I love this type of community!
It looks like everybody had a great time! Thanks for the sidewalk paint idea – my little guy thrives for artsy stuff like that!

leslie - I totally want to live on your street. What great neighbors and friends you have. We could scrap and drink margaritas together!

traci - Do YOU even realize what a great life you have living in a sm. town with neighbors that you all are great friends and party together making memories???
My family got together with family (about 30) and had tons of fun but we didnt top yours..lol
NOTHING beats old fashioned games and friends!!!!!

kristin - it really is like out of a magazine.
and i love the old school games.
how wonderful.

Lanny Stanard - OMGosh, how cool is that! looks like alot of fun, our neighborhood is a ghost town…over the 4th, glad you had a great time, and Meg you are so cute 🙂
Lanny:)

Crystal - I am so jealous that you live in such a cool neighborhood. Any houses for sale on your block? 🙂

Jenny - looks like heaps of fun! the colours are gorgeous

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mexican chicken

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that probably isn’t very politically correct…
but that’s what we have always called this dinner.
it probably isn’t even close to mexican.
but it’s good.

it’s really good with rotisserie chicken
but my kids prefer to eat plain boring white square shaped chunks 
of cut up chicken breasts.
with minced dried onions.
instead of real chopped onions that would be so much tastier.

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after you get these two ingredients together 
you top it with velveeta.
does that gross you out?
i’m sorry.
i never claimed to be 1. healthy or 2. gourmet so…velveeta it is.
you are actually lucky i wasn’t using the generic velveeta…nice and cheesy.  
even i can barely use that….ugh.
you can use shredded cheese of your own choice instead.

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next step is adding the “sauce” soup mixture.
cream of chicken soup, cream of mushroom soup and Ro-Tel tomatoes 
all stirred together and poured over chicken and cheese.
this is the “mexican” part i guess.

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then you crumble tortilla chips over the entire dish.
(and for some reason i have no photo of this.)
bake it for 30 minutes.
we eat this over rice.
always have.
it’s such a good yummy meal.

growing up i asked for this meal on my birthday every year.
i still love it.
it’s spicy and salty and crunchy and cheesy.

give it a try.

oh man…now i have to find something to make for dinner 
and i don’t have the ingredients for this.
i got myself all hungry.
bummer.

recipe is in the sidebar. 

Cristina - I just found this recipe last week and tried it tonight…my husband and son loved it! It’s pretty tasty! I might make it with rotissery chicken next time…

One Wired Woman - Geez!! I’m drooling right now!! ~Jill

Peggy Rice - I am telling you when Velveta is not available you want it even more!!! I might live in Paris, but that looks better than anything I’ve seen lately. I am jealous and now hungry…

PamperingBeki - Oh we make this too!! Here it’s called King Ranch Chicken, although I know it’s really nothing like the original King Ranch Chicken recipe.
We also just do ours on the stove top in a big pot, rather than casserole style like you’ve done, but I might try that too.

Brenis - Meg, we made this the other night and it was GREAT!! When i saw it had velveeta and rotel in it, i knew i HAD to make it, as those are 2 of my hubby’s favorites together! LOL This dish was right up his alley.. and he was fallin all over my feet after dinner singing my praises! LOL – I gave YOU the credit, but that didn’t seem to matter to him! haha!! So THANK YOU for a new favorite that i know we’ll be making again and again! 🙂

Camm - Yum….we had it for dinner last night…except we used real onions and I didn’t have any velveeta – so I just layed slice american cheese on top! Thanks!

Suzanne - as rachael ray would say YUMMO!! another recipe to add to my list!
thank you!! love it!

Tiffany - My Mom used to be the executive secretary at Rotel tomatoes and it is based about 1 mile from the Mexican border, does that count in making it authentic? 😉

traci - yum meg. that looks delish!!! i am going to make that because (a) it looks good, (b) i love velveeta and (c) my daughter says that i need to make new things cuz she is getting sick of eating the same meals. well then she can cook. so thanks for sharing!!

Nancy - Yum-O. I’m going to have to try that. I’m in the “closet” when it comes to admitting that I use Velveeta AND like it. It makes the absolute best grilled cheese sandwiches too. Maybe that’s because my mom used it. Takes me right back to childhood.

Jenny - I am guessing velveeta is a type of cheese??! I have never heard of it.
The addition of corn chips would make it very popular in my house.

JimaieMarie - oh YUM!
i have to try this now.
you and your recipes are lifesavers!!!

Lorelei - Mmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmm. is it time for lunch yet!?
Can’t wait to try this one! Thanks!

robin bird - i won’t comment on the actual ingredients of your recipe..when you have children to feed i understand that all bets are off as far as following a strictly healthy diet 🙂
stopped by to see the banner and say it is gorgeous!!!!!!
🙂

Julie K. - Yummy. And EASY!
I also love your new blog banner! So summery.

Jennifer P. - Anything with Velveeta has to be tasty :)! Linda (restyled home) says that Velveeta is actually really expensive to buy in Canada—so American gourmet:)!
Love your new header!

Joni - MEG!
Please stop by my page and post your fantastic recipe in the comments section of “Monday Meals”…this looks like a pretty “Cheeky Chef” move! Maybe you’ll win and get the bragging rights for the first week (can you tell I’m desperate for some more recipes on there) wink. Looks delish.

melissa @ the inspired room - oh man, that beats our scrambled egg dinner. WHAT? it was hot out. i was too tired to cook.
🙂
xoxo
happy fourth! i want to see your bathroom. wait, did you see our beach house bathroom? we did a buffet cabinet for the sink. did you ever do the dresser for your sink? i want to see it. now.

Marie - Oh.my.goodness. This is my hubby’s kind of meal. I am definitely going to give it a try. Dang, I got all hungry again and it’s 11:30 p.m.

lulusparkles - i will! looks awesomely delish. thanx

kristin - wow, 10:45 at night and if i had the ingredients in the house, i would make it.
even with velveeta.
: )

Rebecca - Wow, this looks absolutely awesome — and easy. I will definitely try it. I like how in the sidebar it is also typed up so it will be printable. Thanks a lot!!

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if you can’t take the heat…

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go to the pool.

this was our first visit to the public pool this year.
i only want to go if craig will go too.
otherwise four kids hanging on me is NOT fun.
but if he’s there…
he can throw them high in the air.
give dolphin rides.
swim under you and grab your feet and pull you under water…
you know like the big (mean) kids did when you little and you hated it?
everyone needs to experience that.

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annie was loving the froggy slide!

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talby and scott were there too but too quick for pictures.
she and sean were going done the big slide over and over.
and i even saw scott going off the boards.
that is not like him at all.
he gets so nervous…
so i was proud to see him flying off the board.

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half the fun of going to the pool getting a snack at the concessions stand.
annie picked a ring pop.
when we were kids we went to the pool everyday.
from 2:00 – 5:00.
everyday.
we rode our bikes and i still remember the gravel on the road 
just as you got to the bike racks.
and waiting by the doors if they weren’t open yet.
sometimes i hear a song on the radio and immediately think of
that song coming through the crackly sad speaker above the concessions.
i remember that half door with the wood counter on top that raised up 
for the (very cool) lifeguards to go into after their shift.
when i grab the side of the pool i always think of when i would go in 
“the deep”…the 6 foot…past the rope. 
(can’t you almost feel the rope on your hands right now?)
we’d practice pushing off the side into pretty back flips.
then getting out at break time and lying down on a sun-warmed towel.
and the life guards whistling at the same time to end break time.
our pool had a high dive…oh climbing that ladder…
makes my stomach cramp just to think about it.

what a great part of childhood.
makes me feel all warm and fuzzy.  

Suzanne - shivering from reading about the high dive…brings back memories of our high dive at the public pool too! i maybe did it once or twice my entire life…i’m still not much of a daredevil!

Jess - Megan-
I love reading your blog (I found it through Amy’s). It is fun to see pictures of Talby and what she is doing this summer. I miss Talby! I love the junk man and all the other crafts you have been doing. I also love seeing pictures of your house and scrapbook pages. You are so creative…now I know where Talby gets it from. Tell Tably that there is a letter in the mail for her. Happy summer!
Jess

Liz - As usual, your pictures are just beautiful. Your family is so lucky to have you taking pics like this! And your description of the pool made me want to go AWOL from work and sneak into an apartment pool or something. It also reminded me of the movie The Sandlot.
Glad you’re all having a fun summer.

Staci - Wow! What great memories! We got to go to the public pool occasionally and I can still remember that feeling going off the high-dive! EEEK! I’m with you on taking the kids by myself to the pool! It would be NO fun! Sweet husband is the fun one in our family…I’m all about safety and clean up! Looks like you had a great day–and the best part about that is EARLY bedtime because tired kiddoes! YEA BABY!

traci - meg, what great memories. loved to read about them. thanks for sharing. love the pix of annie too!!! so cute!

lorel - Oh yeah! I remember Cindy Chesser being there now! Actually yesterday, after I posted my first comment, I thought about it some more, and figured when we were riding to the pool, I must have been AT LEAST 9 (hee hee). And you know I have always been so mature…I had everything under control.
One more thing – last week I took the girls to a pool in a nearby suburb – our local outdoor pool is under construction – and Macy jumped off the diving board before I even knew they had one! She was so proud of herself!

princess lasertron - omg I want annie’s swimsuit!!!!

julie - That froggy slide is the best thing ever! What a fun pool. My brother and I rode our bikes to the pool every day when we were little. Got Otter Pops at the snack bar… simple paradise. My mom got a nice little break too.

Kristy - Megan-
Do you remember riding our bikes to the pool, getting our ten-speed-handle-bars tangled up and crashing in the middle of Ash St? I remember going to the pool with bloody knees!
Oh My–I can smell the pool, hear the music, AND picture sliding through the restroom in flip-flops!
Good Times!

mom - Meg-
I just read Lorel’s post. It sounds like I just left you guys at home, but I didn’t – really!! Remember Cindy Chesser? She would come and stay in the mornings and I believe go with you to the pool. If not, then you may have riden by yourselves. It was Neodesha!
Hillsboro was different. Lorel was older, but we still had sitters off and on to stay with you.
Both of you are great writers! Very well described. Good job!

Jenny - Oh, WOW!
You just bought a flood of memories back – except I’m in Australia so it was a bit different: it was an enclosed ocean baths (to protect from sharks, jellyfish, stingrays etc), we had hot snacks (as well as cold drinks) ’cause we’d come out of the ocean so cold we’d be almost blue!! So, we’d have to warm up fast with hot potato cakes – then we’d throw ourselves down on the baking cement just to warm up again!! And I remember standing on the back deck watching a family friend dive into the ocean and then disappear … we were so scared … and then we saw him come up on the beach, he’d held his breath & swum under the water the whole way. Phew!!!Oh gosh Meg, you’ve got me tearing up! Thanks for the memories! 🙂

Rychelle - I want to be you when I grow up. Wait. I am grown up. But still waiting for “Mr. Right” and five kids of my own. Until then, I will sit here and read your blog and envy (I mean admire) you. I love how much you appreciate and cherish all that you have. I’m so glad that I found your blog. I hope that’s not too creepy coming from a blog stalker! Thanks for sharing your life and positivity. It makes me smile. I need that.

chris - Looks like a fun time for most.
I love the brown , dark like yours, I just did it today I am waiting for my husband to come home and see it , I think he will love it.
I painted that bed of mine when I bought it brand new , I loved the shape not the honey pine color. I sure hate painting , I am painting my stairs too right now , at least my room walls are complete.
Chris

Peggy - You take amazing photographs!!!

emily - I love the frog slide, it is so retro-cool. I also love the bright red swimsuit against the cool blue water. Lovely.
I have been MIA the last few days, company keeps you busy and I am STILL recovering, I just woke from a nap on the sofa and decided to drop by your blog first thing. Glad I did, it always gets my creative juices flowing.

amy - meg~
i remember my neighborhood pool too. in fact i can remember feeling so much like i had to jump off that high dive, but hating each and every step up the ladder. love this post!!
happy summer.
amy

robin bird - i’m still here hanging out at your blog meg…in and out of the house, doing my chores, reading a little more of your blog…oh and you just put up this new post!…watering the garden, feeding zippy…and eating my favorite breakfast. then i photographed it like you did 🙂 and i will post it later as my first favorite thing post.
the pool memories: we had a pool in our backyard when we were kids and we spent every day of our summer turning into prunes, flipping, flopping and drowning one another…i have 2 sisters. i spent the first week each year getting up the nerve to dive head first (vs feet first) off the board into the ‘deep end’ (8ft) as though i had never done it before. It was some of the best times of my young life. your children look like they are completely immersed in summer fun mode! really nice photos!
your new friend bird tweet robin from down the road 🙂

lorel - Macy was just asking me about how often we would go to the pool. I said I figured just about everyday, from 2:00- 5:00, except on Tues. and Thurs. when I had my paper route with dad. I told her how we would put on our suits, and sometimes a cover-up and sometimes not, wrap our towel around our shoulders like a scarf and ride our bikes down to the pool. All the kids did this. So then I wondered, was I home by myself/watching you when I was 8? Riding my bike all over town with no supervision at all? Wow. Macy’s childhood and my childhood are different in soooooo many ways.
I also remember that I liked to drink 7-up (or Shasta Lemon-Lime)after swimming if I could, because dad said that it would “get our burps out” if we had swallowed some pool water. Silly.

Diane - That is one cool frog slide. I wish I had stories to tell or remember, but we lived in the inner city growing up, and there weren’t any pools around, if there was my parent’s certainly would never take me to it. The beach was almost 3 hours away. We vacationed here in FL when I was 12 and I came very close to drowning in the ocean. Geez- not good memories, huh? I’m making them now though! For my children and myself. 🙂

Amanda Jo - Oh this post brings back all kinds of memories especially the part about how when you hear certain songs it brings you right back to those days.
Oh, and I’m a whopping 5’2″ so 6′ is still the deep end for me!
Thank you so much for your words of encouragement! you’re right about God’s timing and I appreciate you reminding me of His soveriegnty (why don’t they have spell check for comments?!).
By the way, I think our hubby’s could be best friends. David is all about old school pool shinanigans (again with the spell check)!!

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puddle jumpers

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we had a huge rain last week in the morning.
after everyone slept in because of the dark clouds (thank you dark clouds)
the kids got dressed and headed out to the puddles.
this one in our neighbors' driveway by their garage.
it's always there after a big rain.

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water in her kitty boots.
talby didn't last too long…
she got too wet too quick.
and then it began to rain again.
back inside for more arthur and magic school bus.
(thank you arthur and magic school bus).

Linda - Your blog is like my happy place! I love seeing all the pictures and the love you have for your family is palpable…!
Linda

chris - Hey hey , thanks for stopping by as always I love to hear from you , did I talk you out of getting a puppy , if not today’s dog dilema was that my dogs anal sac is absessed , yes that right clogged and infected but it burst through the skin and is now oozing constantly , a slow ooze , the vet came by and tried to empty it and treadted $240.00 later he should be able to get better now , if you want I dog I will mail you one of mine, kidding of course, but wow what a crazy life I lead in part to those two dogs I have .
Yes that show is a show , it is Canadian show , you would be great , I do believe they go everywhere , you should sign up , they allow you to makeover a room , then the designer does it his way , they go to the street and ask people to choose which one they like than the home owner gets to keep which ever one they want , not bad huh. Heck I should sign up too.

Jillian - Hi,
I was looking for an email and could not fidn one on your site. Anyways, I work for a game company called Gamewright. We were hoping that you and your family would try out a few of our games. Let me know what you think. The website is http://www.gamewright.com.
thanks, Jillian
PS your pictures are great.

PamperingBeki - How fun! My kids don’t even bother with the rainboots, just splash in their bare feet. 🙂 (the boots are much cuter though)

Liz - You have, hands down, the most fantastic photos. Really. How do you do it?

Nancy - Wish I had me some kitty boots to go outside and play in the puddles. What fun. The photos are great!

Joni - I love your pictures. Every time I look at your site I feel like I’m flipping through a beautiful magazine thinking, “I wanna do that too!” You are very inspiring.

Staci - We had a day just like that last week…except, we weren’t able to take advantage of the dark clouds and sleeping in because of ZOO CAMP! Darn it! Dark clouds…if you are out there, please come back on a day when we really can sleep in! Great Pics by the way!

Dayna - Great photos! What kind of camera do you use, if you don’t mind my asking? I love your photos. Looks like they had a blast! Send some of that rain out my way, we could use it!

traci - fun in the puddles – i remember those days. i so love how you capture your kids doing all the fun stuff. i use to love to ride my bike in/and after a big rain.

Bethany - Ahhh…I miss the Kansas rains! Although – you have had one crazy spring and summer (all my family is still there!)!!
Cute pictures! Thanks for sharing!

Shanan - What great pictures! We haven’t had rain in months and I miss it.. the smell, how green it makes everything, and the kids playing in the puddles.

Leslie - You really do take fantastic pictures of everyday normal things. I love seeing your world through your lens. Great!

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“beaning” bag toss

as annie calls it.

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this is our new family game.
(check it off the summer list)
it's perfect…everyone can play it!!

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mom's team always wins.
unless dad has a team….

you should get this game for your house.
ours was from target.

do you have family games that are good for many ages?
i would love to hear your ideas.

Chrissie - Back in the day was Toss Across remember that game. Now here country people call it Corn Hole. People are serious when they play too.
Take care, Chrissie

deb meyers - looks fun! I’m a sorta new reader, possibly have commented before…
anyway, my daughter’s sewing teacher has her young students learn by making bean bags with fabric scraps and dry beans. Then they hang an old sheet on the clothesline, cut holes in it, and play the same game. They make these for their ‘babysitting’ kit.
deb meyers

Michelle - i’m going to target today! i hoooopeee they still have one! love your photos meg and your inspiration to have fun : )

princess lasertron - oh that looks soooo fun
I just got a target gift card too! might have to get some beaning bags myself.
we just play lots of board games…I would love to do more outdoor ones though!

Shanan - OK, you have to tell me what state you live in! Everything is so green and beautiful. That game looks like a blast.. good old family fun in the sun. Nothing better.

rachel - hey 🙂 I enjoyed browsing through your space here. enjoyable. and your family is beautiful.

melissa @ the inspired room - Looks fun, I am going to look for that!

Dayna - We just bought a beanbag toss from Target and the girls both love it. So much fun for all.

emily - That looks like such fun. I may have my dad whip me up one of those (he’s a woodshop teacher.) and send it to Texas. I love it!

Rebecca - That looks fun and easy for my 6-year-old son. Did you get it recently at Target??

mom - Should I bring the croquet set over the 4th?

cynthia - jackson is 6 and he has learned to play UNO
HE LOVES IT! and can’t get enough of it
it’s pretty fun and alot of people can play!
we also play croquet too!

danelle - games? oh you mean we are supposed to play with our kids?? ha, so kidding. but seriously we have not done much playing this summer, just been to baseball/softball games…playing catch in the front yard is the extent of what we have done. we need to get with it and be good parents too

Karol - This summer croquet seems to be the big game for the family. The four year old is working on her technique, but she’s coming along and still has fun.
Love the bean bag game. May need to go get one!!

traci - that one is cool. i have never seen one with that many holes – ours only has one. the kids love to play that. it’s a huge thing with karlies friends right now. they have “bag” tournaments (as they call it).

jes - what fun family photos…great memories. 🙂
we actually like just good ol’ frisby. my kids are easy to please…:)

Lanny Stanard - How fun, and did you say Target! looks like a great game for all seasons really!
Lanny:)

traci - the one inside game that is ALWAYS a hit with everyone from the moody 12 yr. old to the too cool 18 yr. old is TWISTER!! Outside games we have an ol crochet set…BIG HIT.

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trashy

last summer we started a junk collection.

inspired by this.
little pieces of trash on the ground during walks or in the yard.

then it was forgotten about in the bottom cabinet behind the pans.
for months.
until wednesday.
talby found it again and made this.
all by herself.

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she made it on the table just playing around.
then said "look mommy! i made a junk man!"
i was so proud of her personal creativity
so we hot glued it to cardboard (a LIFE cereal box from the recycle box).

the boys were impressed and a bit jelaous.
and now all the junk was gone.

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we are on the hunt to fill the box again with tiny trinkets
so the boys can make something junky too.
thanks for the great idea kristin.
talby couldn't wait for you to see it.

Stephanie - Absolutely creative! I wonder what your daughter will be when she grows up! Her junk man is a keeper for sure!

jes - i *heart* mr. junk man! what a great way to fuel your kids creativity…and recycle at the same time!
have a lovely day 🙂

mallory Heffron - what a great idea, way to cute,

Sara - Meg, that is awesome! I showed Enzo and he got all excited about doing something like that. Now if I can just find my glue gun in my messy house…

traci - talby – MR. JUNKMAN IS AWESOME!!!!! you did a wonderful job.
how cute meg. i bet the boys are very jealous and out scouting for junk even as i type. you have wonderfully creative kids. i love seeing what they create!!! i wonder where they get it from?

traci - very, very cool!!!

Jennifer P. - I think you’ve got a little mixed media artist on your hands! And “green art” IS all the rage right now….
Way to go Talby!

Shabby Miss Jenn - This is absolutely the perfect craft project for the boys! I LOVE THIS!

Allikayesmama - Not surprising that you have creative kids!! I love that!

Jenny - How cool!

mom - That is fabulous! Tell Talby that grandma is very proud of her too, for being so creative. I love the pumpkin head! What are the pieces across the bottom?

Staci - Wow! What an incredible imagination from your sweet little girl! I don’t think my oldest (6) would EVER come up with that 🙁 Not a great imagination…now my 3 yr old, watch out!

Crystal - That is awesome! You have very cool kids! 🙂

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