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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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i love my mail man.

i actually don’t even know my mailman.

but i love him (or her) because of all the goodies he brings.

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my bloggy friend crystal went and got herself knocked up (lucky girl)
so she decided to send ME her coffee.
because she knows my addiction love runs deep.
and she sent me this mug too.
on the inside it is the color of winter spinach exactly.
how cool is she?
she did this just to be nice because she is such a nice person.
her blog is so fun to read so be sure you go and say hello.
her shop is full and FUN.
i love everything in it.
have a great day crystal.
thank you so much.

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here is me this morning…jammies and my first cup of coffee today.
mmmmmmmm….so good.

i am now charged and ready for my big trip to wal-mart with 4 kids!
woo-hoo.

be sure to enter the drawing in the post below.

Jen - I just found your blog from The Inspired Room. You make me so excited to have kids! Love your house and your blog style. I’ve also given up caffeine in preparation for getting preggers, but I still drink decaf! Luckily the withdrawal is behind me.

Marla - What a great gift. I have a post about an almost free Senseo coffee maker on my blog if you want to check it out.

Nancy - It takes more than a cup of coffee to get me charged for any WalMart trip – with or without kids! Good thing you’ve got a BIG cup to drink from.

amy d - i say we tell the mailman that megan is on vacation and just to deliver all the packages to your house (in case it rains of course) and just keep delivering the bills and junk to her house. she’s not going to read this is she? 🙂

Amy M. - Hi Meg…I am from Post Falls Idaho and picked up your blog from my friend Leeann in Portland. I love your blog and all the fun things you do with your kids. I too am a coffee lover and thought you might like this website. info@terroircoffee.com Its a hobby I picked up of tasting different coffees all over the world. You can read about the farmer and farm where the beans come from. They ship it right after they roast it. So eye rollingly delicious.
Hope you try it out it is very reasonable.

robin bird - nice jammies meg 🙂 this blogging world makes for a beautiful!
xo

Gina - yummy! I love it when I receive surprises in the mail! It makes all the other junk mail and bills worth the look 🙂

Suzanne - any trip to walmart calls for a “charge”!! just for all the NO’s you have to say for the things they think they HAVE TO have! hope it went well…

traci - that is one big coffee mug. should keep you going all day. how sweet, enjoy!!!

Crystal - Oh Meg…you are too sweet. I am still grieving my coffee in the AM…no joke but I am glad it found a good home! 🙂 I have the same mug and it is one of my favorites…LOVE that shade of green. 🙂 Thanks for thinking of me at wal-mart…I’ll have to check it out. Have a beautiful day!

amy - How can I get your (our) mailman (it is a man, I’ve seen him) to start bringing your fun mail across the street to my house? Amy D, any ideas? I’ll share stuff with you. 🙂

Amanda Jo - How sweet and giganic is that coffee mug! She sounds like a great blogfriend…..

PamperingBeki - Oh good, the mug is huge!! I have a thing for big ol’ mugs. 😉
What a great friend!

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we’re gamers.

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board gamers.
jillian found my blog and asked if my family might like to try 
some games from her company.
um….YES!
so look what she sent – just to be nice.
this is way too generous.

the kids attacked the box.

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we are very excited to try out ALL these games.
they each look unique, creative and mentally challenging.
i love games like that.
and even better…no disney characters on any of them.  (i am kidding…sort of)
there were 13 different games in this box!
and she sent some doubles so…..
would you like to try some too?
leave a comment to be included in a drawing.
here is your prize…

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five games.
if you have any kids…you can play these.
if you have grandkids…you could use these.
if you have nieces or nephews…you could give these to them.
so leave me a comment.
it will make me and jillian at gamewright happy.

princess lasertron - wow this one got lots of comments 😀
have you played Settlers of Catan?
It’s the favorite game of my friends group now.
They have a kids version.
It won German game of the year a bunch of times!

Chaos-Jamie - LOVE rat a tat cat.
you fun mom, you

Cathie - thats awesome Meg
thanks for sharing.

alyssa sweigart - would love some coffee, but the games would do! Hope I’m not too late.

pam - am i too late???? hope not!

kristin - um, yes.
did i not comment already?
you know these would get use here…and then i would sneak them to preschool until my own kids show up there and get cranky that i took our stuff there again.
: )

Amy - I love games…I even went to look for that fun game you played with your family at Target…gone.
Love reading your blog!!

Marie - My kids love games and would be thrilled to recieve some new ones! Gonna try your mexican chicken out tonight-it sounds so yummy!

Donna - My kids are getting old enough to play games which is a good thing since I love to play and my husband doesn’t.

Amy Walker - Wow Megan you do have an awesome mailman!! We love games and could definately use some new ones to add to our collection. You’re so kind to share with others, I can’t wait to hear how you and your family like the new games you recieved. I love your blog and I am also trying to look at other blogs you mention, I wish there were more hours in my day!!

Jennifer Peterson - We can’t play enough games around here and are always looking for a new great one!

cjs - I’m game!

meghan - game on!

Karen - Count me in! We love camping and these look like the perfect camping companion for those days we get caught in the rain 😉
Thanks for sharing!
Karen

candy - My kids love games and Ethan was very curious when I clicked on your blog and he saw these pictures! Thanks for sharing. 🙂

Brenis - Oh my gosh how fun!! We are total gamers too and i’ve never heard of gamewright games!?!? :>o haha if i don’t win, i am definitely going to go looking for them! 🙂
We have family game night every other Saturday night, and would love to try some new ones!! 🙂

Molly Pearce - I love love love your craft room, it’s so vintage. I found your blog on little bit funkys blog. I am fairly new to the blog scene and love it, wish I had done it sooner. Have a great night ~ Molly P

Rychelle - How fun! Thanks for sharing (with who ever wins!) Happy summer!
Rychelle

Lori Eckardt - I found your blog a while ago and have read the whole thing. I love your photos and your house looks fabulous. Your block party looked like lots of fun!!
Would love to win the games for a family party that we have at the end of every summer. Kids range in age 3 to 17.
Thanks for doing this give away!!

Lisa - Got a 12 year old stepdaughter who loves games!! Always begging us to play so we could use some new ones!! Great giveaway!

Stephanie - How great of you and your family to share your games! We would love to take a game to play with my daugther and her cousins at family get togethers. Thanks Megan!
Take care,
Steph

Diane - Huge board gamers here, Huge!

Bethany - Ooohhhh….I better get myself entered in this fun little drawing! We live in Arizona and to say it is HOT is an understatement! We are all about staying inside and in the comfort of our air conditioning…while playing games and other fun “inside” stuff!
Thanks for sharing the love!!

April - So sure that the Chlo-Bug and I would love those games….thanks !!

Queenie Bee - GAMEWRIGHT GAMES?! You’ve gotta be kiddin’ me!!!! OUR FAMILY LOOOOOOVES GAMEWRIGHT! Our two current favs are “K-9 Capers” and “LOOT”. You MUST try these. 🙂
I’m literally praying that we win! Thanks for the giveaway, and thanks to Jillian too!!!

jennifer gordon - WooHoo! Count me in! We’re up for a change from our UNO routine!
Smiles,
Jen

Joanna Peck - OH YAY! We would love them! Love your blog too! You seem like such a FUN mom!! :0) Jodi

lulusparkles - i am smiling.
how sweet of her
to send them to your kids
and now you are sharing some too!
i love the little cycle of GIVING
😉

Shelly - Looks like fun!!

Beth - Please count me in too! We love games!!
meowgirl24@cableone.net

Amy Fair - Awesome! Games / cards – our #1 activity in the winter months.

Jody - Count me in! My boys would love the games!

Jennifer - Me, me, me…..down here…..pretty please! Nothing like some good family fun!!!!

Kelly B - That was so awesome of Jillian. We are board gamers as well and love trying new games!

Camm - Thats awesome! We love games over at our house…Every time we go to target we swing by and check out there selection at Target! I haven’t seen most of those on the shelves yet! They are the perfect size to take to the beach – not to big and bulky! PICK ME!!

emily - Oooooooooooo, my boys would love these!

Mamazboyz - Fun!! WE have “game” night every Sunday night..its pretty funny with a 3 and 4 yr old but want to start a tradition..we eat popcorn too..Love your blog..sorry I haven’t been over to visit lately..so busy with summer!! still love it!!

crystal - Oh wow how lucky you were to receive that box. I’ve been looking at the stores for new games to get my girls – they are burnt out on the ones we have here. These look like some great ones they would like to play.

Lori Eurto - WOW! How lucky!!
These games look awesome. I’d love to win! 🙂
Although when I play board games and lose, I’m a terrible brat about it. Sore loser is an understatement. So these games will have to go to my niece and nephew! 🙂

robin bird - maybe zippy would like to play these games…do you think they require too much mental agility? she doesn’t have much in that department 🙂 but i would love to play games with my baby olivia..my grand daughter who is going to be one this august 🙂
xo

Shannon Gurney Photography - Pick me! Pick me! Pretty please!

Lindy - OMG – you LUCKY dog!!!! We love games here, especially non-Disney. I mean really, how much Disney should one have to swallow in a lifetime. Looks like some fun ones!

elizabeth holder - would love to win these games – a perfect time for them too> thanks for doing this

Nikki - Count me in! I have a 6 year old that LOVES games!

Mary - Wow … looks like a fun day at your house! My kids love games, so we’d sure love to win some new ones!

Jess - yes…count me in..thank you so much for sharing with your fellow bloggers!!!!-jess

Suzanne - i’m not a very lucky person when it comes to contests, but PLEAse ENTER me!! we just got through playing checkers, connect 4, and setting up domino structures…we LOVE games!!

Lee Ann - Not that I’d win……oh wait! I did win a fabulous gift from you one time, but I’d just like to hear a report on your favorites. We could use some new games. We went straight to Target and bought the bean bag one…..the only game my whole family can play. Thanks for inspiring us!

danelle - uh, ya..you know i have kids!!! as bored as we are this summer (kids anyway) they need some games to get excited about. put me in the drawing!!!!!!!!!!!!! i’m crossing my fingers.

Pam - love your blog…so happy! our girls are saddly not gamers but i keep trying…maybe these would be a good incentive! xo

Rebecca - Would LOVE to have new games. They look really fun.

Jill - First, I just started reading your blog, and it is adorable! My family loves games, and it would be nice to start a collection of kid games for when our little one gets a little older!

Joni - Count me in!!! What fun! Thanks for thinking of your blog friends!
Smiles,
Joni

Leah - I help run a youth ministry in a crappy part of Everett, Wa and our kids would love those games Im sure. We have a game closet but the games need to be replaced yearly as they are used by so many little hands! Love your blog… my husband and I still read it together!

Karol - How wonderful. My girls would go nutty over some new games. We are big time gamers here, as well.

Kristy - Please, count me in! I don’t have kids myself, but have lots of friends you do, so these would be wonderful to give to them!

Randi - We’d love to have some new games to play … especially with the kids around for the summer! Thanks for giving away your extras.

traci - how sweet of jillian to send these to your family!!! they look fun. we play sequence here, but that’s about the extent of it.

sally - Wow – how fantastic – we love games here, all sorts and all kinds – even into the scene it ones now too but nothing beats the good old board game, favorites include Candy Land and Cranium!. Great blog and great giveaway – thank you!

Dana D @ BoysMyJoys - We’re GAMERS, too! Count me in!

Kasey - I love games!!! 🙂 Awesome! I teach 5th grade and my students would love these too! Enter me! 🙂 Thanks!

Karen - I love board games! Anything fun that doesn’t plug in or take batteries is always welcome.
It’s so nice of you to share! Thank you!

Juanita - Ooh.. I love games and only have one. The poor children who visit us only have Candyland to play. No nieces or nephews but a ton of cousins! I would love to be in the drawing. Sounds like fun!

betsy - We love playing games with our 7 nieces and nephews when they’re over. And I’d love to replace our noisy/annoying “duck duck goose” board game with something a little more bearable! 🙂

Dayna - We’re big board gamers over here, too. I’d love a chance to win those! Thanks =)

Amanda Jo - I LOOOOOOOVE games! Sign me up! The girls and I get together for game night every so often and they wouldn’t be opposed to playing Slamwich or Wig Out!
Thanks for thinking of us!

nancy - My kids love games and it’s hard to please a 2 & 5 year old. Have fun playing!

Rebecca - Our family love games!!! Have fun!

amy - GAME ON!
yipee!

courtney - we love games! and i’m about to have my 4th any day and will NEED games to occupy the other 3!

Mod Girl - I’m feeling game-y… enter me!

Beth - I’d love to be in the drawing. They look really fun and we love board games at our house too!

traci - WOW…very cool that she sent you so many!!! Between my kids and my inhome daycare we could most certainly use some fun games. Heres my email just in case I get lucky and win hey_traci@yahoo.com

Lanny Stanard - Ommm yeah, I think my neighbor kids would love them you see we don’t have kids but we have the neighbor kids and they are here alot, this is the hang out place for some reason but we love it! I think because we always have fun treats and stuff. So yes I would love to get these,but whoever get themI will be happy for them. Lanny:)

Karen - We love games! I have such great memories of teaching the kids how to play Candyland… and we have many friends, nieces, nephews and cousins who love games too!

cynthia - that is awesome!
we are gamers too…love love love them! in fact jackson is obsessed with UNO right now and we play atleast 10-15 rounds a day!
crazy fun!

Juliann - I’d love to be in on the “drawing”. Game-time is Luke’s favorite time of the day, and also the time he gets one-on-one from me. Looks like you had a great 4th. Thanks for commenting on my blog a while ago, it was nice to hear from you 🙂
Juliann

Trish - Ohh new games!! We love games. Right now Battleship is the 8yrolds favorite and CandLand is the choice of the 4 year old. So this mommy would LOVE some new games!
Hope I win!

One Wired Woman - We love games too!! My boys have recently gotten into MadGab with us. What a hoot!!
Hey Meg… come over and see my latest slideshow. My nieces, especially one, are very athletic and adorable just like your oldest daughter. I think she would even enjoy seeing it. Kind of reminds me of an Abercrombie or Hollister commercial. 🙂 Those teens are so much fun to photograph. ~Jill

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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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my new header

just wanted to give robin the proper respect.

i met her through blogland on tuesday.
i asked her to help me with a picture…and she did! 
just like that! 
she put the word on my photo for me (cause i don’t know how – gasp!)
so go visit her site full of pretty pictures.
she even has a favorite breakfast photo!
thanks so much robin!

emily - I love it! It turned out great. Happy 4th Meg.

mallory Heffron - Cute header. i just love the ladybug….

Stephanie - I love your new picture – what a happy flower. BTW – I was looking for the name of that art book that you and your kids did in the past few months. I can’t seem to find it. Can I get the name from you again? Thanks.

Liz - Love the new banner. Great photo of the ladybird, by the way.

Gini - As a lover-of-all-things-flowers…..LOVE IT. Nice touch with the ladybug too!!

mom - Your new header is beautiful.
But I really wish I could eat the Mexican Chicken. Will your kids eat it?

traci - that is a really cute banner meg!!! way to go robin.

Jenny - I love the new header.

Lanny Stanard - I like~ie… hope you have a great 4th.
Lanny:)

Staci - Oh, I’m so glad I’m not the only one who can’t “write” on their pictures! You are right though, I did gasp that YOU don’t know how! At least you have great pictures goin’ for ya! Me, not so much 🙁 Your new header is PERFECT! I’m so jealous of your title! I’m the queen of saying, “whatever”…I LOVE IT!!!

robin bird - you funny girl! you make me blush 🙂 i had a flurry, an absolute landslide (for my little blog site anyway) of visits and i thought “what on earth has happened….did i win the lottery or something!!” but no alas it is something even better. “meg has sent all her friends over to see my home.” thank you my new friend. that was nice.
xox

April - that’s perfect….just perfect !!

Lindy - LOVE the photo!!!! Did you take it? I wish I could get pictures like that. What kind of camera do you use?

southernseven - cute photo. maybe one day I will get one, too. i love lady bugs.

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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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