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the pool is all set up.
annie liked it better when it was a few inches instead of 4 feet.
even though the water is ice cold they were still swimming today.
now i am ready for some heat (without all the stickiness)
so while they swim…
i can lay in the sun in my chair.
 how could we not get this funky poncho we found at the antique store?
    annie and talby's reflection in my glasses while
i was painting annie's toenails.
we had some girlie time in the yard…
giggling, dancing around and painting nails.
as crazy as i feel with this new routine of summer…
i see these pictures and think
"what is my problem?"
they are lovely little girls.
i am so lucky to get these moments together.
great girly time! please, please tell me that you photoshopped each and every one of your photos to make them so stinking awesome….or is it straight from the camera…..????? Awesome pictures! OMG LOVE YOUR BLOG!!! 🙂 Agreed – lovely! Ditto on all the above! You have a great talent for photography…do you do it professionally?? I love the picture of you and your daughter laying on the ground. That funky poncho was worth every single penny just for the two pictures you took with it! Summery and gorgeous. You are such a cute family. Love the glittery flip flops. meg I love the clover shot. Might use it for a painting. It fits right in with my whole LARGE ABSTRACT WEEDS/FLOWERS/STEMS/VINES thing that I’m doing. You inspire me. 🙂 I love that picture of you and Talby. So sweet! And how is that you can make even weeds look good photographed? No fair! 🙂 GREAT pics! What a fun Mom you are! I must say, a little jealous I’ll never have toenails (other than my own to paint 🙁 My boys might run far away if I made an attempt to paint their’s!) But…I’ll just keep lovin’ your pics! Thanks for the email! I’m also at The Amy Clan blog 🙂 But I don’t update or do cute posts like you do 🙂 more gorgeous pics…LOVE the poncho I know those little girls are adoring their mama! Seing those pictures make me wish I was Annie and Talby! :0) Oh my gosh, that poncho is superb, what a treasure! Love the picture of you and Talby… and your glasses one. You have such a great eye and an amazing ability to make the everyday things look extraordinary. Wow, what beautiful photos. I adore the picture of you looking at your sweet little Talby. The colors in the poncho make those pictures amazing! What a fun find! I love love love your blog. You must feel incredibly blessed. You are all precious! 🙂 what a great find… that poncho is too cute! Ahhh Meg….that was a great visual trip…you have a great eye….and sparkly flip flops…what could be better?? I’ll tell ya…oodles and oodles of time with our kiddos…they are growin a mile a minute…we are gonna want these moments back…so let’s make the moments ROCK(message to all moms) meg, your pictures are just beautiful. absolutely love the one of you and talby (right?) laying on the ground. precious!!! i am different – i have always loved having my kids home during summer vacation. love no schedule, love having them in and out of the house, love hearing them play outside. enjoy this time, because in no time you’ll be wishing they were around. if you like to go to Demo Derbies.  i wish i could say "craig makes me go" or "the kids love it so i have to take them"
but the truth is…i love the demo derby.
it's very redneck…
lots of cowboy hats, tatoos and 'git-r-done' kind of talk.
it's small town fun at it's best.
 talby, the boys and i were very good at picking the winners. about 6 cars come into the arena at a time
and smash each other up till only 2 left running.
then the winning 2 from each group go another round for the big winner.
$600 first place…not too shabby.
 the car behind the green bumpered one was driven by a girl. she won her group…girl power!
then the poor thing got out of her car to celebrate
and her whole behind was hanging out the back of her pants.
i guess she couldn't feel it from the adrenaline rush from her big win.
  after each group they bring out these big tractors to pull out the dead cars. talby saw the tractors coming and with big eyes asked
"are they going to fight now?"
 oh and it's LOUD.
really loud.
i am surprised that i enjoy this.
but it's just fun to watch cars smash together.
and get stuck and figure out how to get un-stuck.
the mud flying at you is fun too.
 and then there are yummy treats too.
i really wanted a funnel cake but i resisted.
sean got to use the porta-potties…that's always fun.
 at least i get to go for a few more years and use the kids as an excuse.
i said on the way home "maybe i'll drive in it next year"
the kids were mortified.
it would be pretty embarrassing because as soon as a car would come near me
i'd duck my head and scream!
not really the mentality needed for a demo derby driver.
but just think of the sparkly pink car i could drive!
i bet if i'd have given you 100 guesses
you wouldn't have guessed i'd post about that!
 hope you had a wonderful holiday.
trying to tell my kid about Memorial Day i got all teary eyed.
we are so blessed.
I. LOVE. the demo derby. The big county fair one is the best. Great people watching place too. How fun!! My boys would’ve been in heaven! ~Jill 🙂 Now that’s some funny stuff! I always tell the story of how I married into this crazy family that goes tractor-pulling. It’s so hillbilly, but I secretly love it. Wow! My son would want to join your family in a heartbeat! He & his daddy go to the “monster jam” every January the last couple years now, so this would be right up his alley. I really love the picture of the flags in this picture. So beautiful, standing there like that! That brought back memories of going to the derby with my cousins – in Nebraska – and we would wear big fake barbed wire tattoos on our arms! We thought we were so funny! My brother (14 years older than me) use to do these when I was growing up. His was called “The Crash up Kid”. I think that may explain my adult hearing loss…. :). Hubby drove in a derby a few years back…funniest thing I ever watched….I think you should do it….I’ll whip you up a whole bunch of pleated fabric blossoms that you can tack all over….. wowzeers….I would never have taken you for the demo derby type!! i think it would stress me out…i would have to be reassured every few moments that there were no injuries. beautiful picture of the flags by the way…very touching. have a great week! I don’t think I would have pegged you for a Demolition Derby Dame, but it is a delightful surprise! I can’t talk. I have a secret, shameful interest in sumo wrestling. I guess it is the human equivalent of the demo derby. 🙂 Oh my goodness I love the smash~ em~ derbys nope, never would have seen you or your cultured little small town family at the demo car thingy.lol I believe we call that “smash up derby” here in Canada , I went once with a boyfriend long long ago , it was so much fun , that’s just good clean fun ya’ll. I love the ol’ demo derby. I have not seen one since I was a redneck kid! “and in the #22 car – mash em up meg” i am so happy to be gardening again. i love it so much….
i dread it around april but by the end of may i am ready!
  i think half of the reason i like it is the quietness.
usually i am alone.
but at the same time i can hear what's going on around me with the kids.
and to see something grow so beautiful from just a seed….
so amazing.
and humbling.
my parents have always had lovely yards.
my dad is obsessed with trees and my mom loves flowers.
my grandmother always had interesting and different plants in her yard.
i remember strawberries, grandpa's gourds and bamboo by the sandbox.
i am grateful to have grown up with a love for gardening.
but i never even touched a plant till i was 24.
except when i HAD to water my mom's flowers as a chore.
when we bought our first house craig's mom helped me plant my first plants.
and i was hooked.
and all that stuff i'd been watching all my life became real to me.
it was so clear why they loved it.
i love that we…my parents and sister, my grandmother & craig's mom
all enjoy this same simple hobby.
to watch my grandmother go through my entire yard asking questions
or giving facts…makes me full of joy.
to see my parents' yard overflow with curly willow and birds & butterflies…joy!
thank you for that.
here is a peek into our first garden in illinois.
 silver lace vine
it was mislabeled at the flea market…what a great mistake.
i put it on the arbor craig built me
and it grew up over the roof the first year!
purple coneflower, black eyed susan, bee balm, hollyhocks and tickseed.
and huge sunflowers.
oh i miss this little yard.
it was full of evergreen bushes when we moved in.
jenny and her mom were so helpful too.
sharing plants and answering lots and lots of questions.
in my yard now…
most of the peonies are now down on the ground…it rained really hard.
but inside they look and smell lovely.
    i know i know, enough with the peonies!
but like i told you…they will be gone for 11 more months.
i cut 3 huge vases full and you could barely tell i had touched the bushes.
if you do plant some…
they do take a few years to get really healthy and bloom well.
i am feeling hopeful for this years garden.
i think it's going to be a good one.
everything is coming up so nicely.
and a friend gave me my first tomato plants!
we'll see how that goes.
I just discovered your blog today and saw this picture with your floral pillow (beautiful flowers by the way) I have been in search of the perfect fabric and there it sits on your chair or sofa. Do you know the name of that fabric or any ideas where I can find a few yards or the order the pillows? Thanks for your time. You are so blessed with a lovely family and home. Im so jealous – I love peonies! (And my yard is way too small to have a cutting garden). I just have to buy my flowers from the local shop but they don’t look half as nice as your fresh ones. Oh my goodness, those have to smell like heaven! Wow! You are a far better gardener than myself, but I nodded my head at how great it is to do it and to feel that connection with the earth and the people in your life. Oh my gosh, what a gorgeous yard/garden you had in Illinois! I dream of such a lovely yard, but don’t have a clue where to even start! lol The picture of the peonies on the table by the fan looks like it’s out of a Better Homes and Gardens magazine!! You inspired me to bring in my pitiful rain soaked peonies to enjoy for a few days! By the way, I’m a friend of Frank and Amy who are friends with Russ and Jenn. You have a beautiful green thumb, my dear!! Love your garden history… love your garden now!! You’ve turned me into a freak for peonies. They are gorgeous!! Have fun with your garden. 🙂 ~Jill oh to live somewhere green. az is beautiful in its own way, but nothing like the photos you have shown. i would LOVE to garden– to REALLY garden. until a time when i can . . . i will read your blog and drool over the beautiful landscapes you share. Lovely post. Your pictures are gorgeous. good luck with the tomato plants. i love your peonies – you can post pictures of them whenever you want – they are just beautiful. i am getting some the next time i go to the nursery or home depot. and that little old fan – so cute!!! I could stare at the picture of your garden forever! I just want to get lost in it! That English garden overflowing with wildflowers look is just what I’m after. I’m only two summers into my house, so I’m still waiting for everything to fill in—but I hope it turns out as lovely as yours! And your peonies are gorgeous! Fresh flowers whenever you want are a definite plus for having a great garden! What beautiful peonies! By the way, I’m Staci from The Amy Clan–Brian and Staci–came from Emily’s blog. I made your chicken pot pie tonight! YUMMY! I must say I’ve been looking at those pics of your home you have posted and your house is MAGNIFICENT! What a beautiful home and beautiful family! Oh Meg. You just send pangs of jealously through me! I can’t wait to have a yard and garden with lots of sun!! Right now all we have is shade/part sun so I am having to learn to garden opposite of what I usually want…black eyed susans, cone flower, sun flower…one day. 🙂 Gorgeous and dreamy. Makes me want to go outside and dig. I haven’t in so long. Thanks for the inspiration. Oooh Meg…I love that first photo of the peonies with the little antique fan nearby….nice !! i got some happy mail.    oh maybe i shouldn't i open this box.
i don't need a lion in the house…i already have 5 monkeys.
 oh jenny. (art by jake…i assume)
you silly girl.
thank you for my gi-nor-mous chandelier!!
i have no idea where i will put it…
but i WILL find a spot.
2 chandeliers at my door? wow. i am the luckiest girl in the world.
friday night is family night at our house.
we carried out pizza and ate it at the park.
while eating her pizza annie said "look! some slides!"
i answered "yep…when you're finished eating you can go play!"
she gave the fist pump and said "YES!"
then lauren said "UGH! we're staying to play?!"
ha.
how cruel would it be to take the little ones to eat at a park
and then not let them play?!
somehow our 13 year old managed to find some fun…
even at the park.
 dad vs everyone.
   good good times.
******************************************************
what do you think…are these pictures too big?
can you see them well?
the color isn't as clear as it was before typepad changed…
what's up with that?
Great pics! Lauren looks just like her dad! You can see it so well in the pic where they are head to head/face to face. Glad you got the package! It took us a year to find a box big enough. Can’t wait to see where is goes. love ya, You have a whole basketball team there, that is great. We put a basketball hoop in our driveway last year because it was one of the few things that every age could enjoy together…to one degree or another. We play a lot of HORSE. Size does matter… the large photos are great. 🙂 I would do this as well… but I have junked up both sides of my blog. There’s no way I could fit in larger photos. The big pictures look great. not too big…i love pictures big. Meg…the pictures are Stellar….I have never thought to take a pizza to the park….putting that on my to do list… I love your big pictures. I wish blogger would give me a way to make my pictures bigger! I love them. wow – what a fun package to arrive. can’t wait to see where you put it. how exciting!!! The pictures look great , no problems at all. LOVE your big pictures!!!!! I personally wouldnt change one tiny thing about your blog..I just love it to pieces!!! We need to change friends. My friends give me food and one gave me potholders when I got the new stove..lol..NEVER chandleliers..lol..JEEEZ if you enjoy torturing yourself….  you should take 5 children with you
to home depot, lowes AND sam's club in the same afternoon.
did ya leave them there? you gave me a great laugh today. thank you! All I can do is laugh……. How funny…..(of course it is funny when it happens to someone else….not so much when it is you!!!!! )Been there….done that….. LOL you just made my day . Hee hee… the next time I go I may see if I can leave Matt in one of the showers while I shop. 🙂 All I can think is…”it’s five o’clock somewhere!” Oh gosh! I could have posted the same picture with my two. The door section at Home Depot is the worst! They stand on either side and knock and say who’s there, then giggle loudly, when the door opens, they screech, hug, then run around the another “door”. Torture it is INDEED. OH…and my kids can’t keep their hands off the blinds and shades. Open, close, open, close, , and I”m headed over there later today. With both kids. Just pretend you are in a dream and know it will end. We’ve done it with all three kids – and oh the lovely comments you get from them – hearing every doorbell sound five times over. 🙂 this looks very familiar but with only one child! look who came to play in the peonies.
  
oh she is such a cutie!
annie, talby, jenn and i were jumping up and down trying to get her to smile.
we must have looked so funny to the traffic going by.
miss london has brothers and a sister too.
and a daddy of course.
i forgot to share these pictures from a few weeks ago.
     what fun neighbors to have.
now…when do we get baby-sit?
talby and annie are ready!
Great pictures again. Meg, these are awesome! I can’t decide on a favorite… the first one? the feet? Russ and Konley? The are all perfect. We defintely need to sign up with your studio! 🙂 Those are beautiful pictures. Babies and flowers. Two of my favorite things! Dang she’s cute. What a nice addition to the peonies! one word…PRECIOUS!!!! She is edible! Even more beautiful than the gorgeous peonies! Love her fun and sweet little name too. Fantastic pictures! I linked the chicken and biscuits on my blog because we are obsessed with it here. Cute, adorable family!! ~Jill 🙂 Megan – these are sooo cute! I was surprise when I went to your blog this morning and there was London! I am very happy there are some good ones. The grandparents will be very happy. Thanks for all you do and being such a great neighbor! I owe you a lot. Talby told me the other day that I needed to find a day to go shopping so she could baby sit London. Mmmmmmmmmmm I am working on that. Megan, Those are great pictures!! I love peonies and babies… very pretty together! Oh so cute! Beautiful. Love the family head shot. They all look so happy! Love the last photo…so creative GREAT JOB !! oh how fun! great pics! pretty family too! she is such a doll. the pictures are beautiful – i am sure they are so happy you took them. great job. Megan, I’m sorry you misses it, maybe next time. Where do you live? E-mail if you want or just leave me a comment… I Love the picture’s what a big family they have. oh-so-adorable! That first one is so adorable it should be on a fabric softener bottle! And I loved the one of the whole fam. on the blanket. I’ve seen that pose before, but you make it look all fresh and new! SO cute ;)! |
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carissa - nothing better in the heat of the summer… awwwwwwe! canon balllllll!
Shannon Gurney Photography - Hey Meg! I’m with Dana, I want to know what kind of pool that is – it looks like SO much fun! I also have two boys!
Dana D @BoysMyJoys - Hey Meg~ We’ve been talking about getting a pool for the summer, and my husband and I just looked at one at Sam’s that looks like yours. Have you had it awhile? Any pros or cons you could share? Upkeep? Expenses after initial purchase? We have too rough boys (8 & almost 10)– and are worried about durability. I know you have boys, too, so I thought I’d ask your opinion.
Thanks in advance!
And I love the photo. It made me want to go outside and turn on the hose!
emily loria - Are you kidding, Meg! You are SO my friend, in the flesh or not. I don’t know if I am going to go private, I think I am going to clear the last names from my blog first (including a new address) and see how I feel then. I am really willing to try whatever it takes to keep it public, because I love it so. But, if I did go private, you WOULD be invited for sure. 😉
julie - That picture is so magical and certainly frame-worthy!
Bethany - Hi Meg! Julie at Joy’s Hope sent me your way not too long ago to check out a recipe and I am back again today! I have been peeping into all of the lives of those who left me comments on my ribbon giveaway and am having so much fun learning who is visiting my blog and where they are from!
So, I could hardly contain myself when I saw you are in Kansas! I am a total Kansas girl through and through! I lived there my entire life until about a year and a half ago and I can’t wait until our stint here in AZ is over and we can go HOME!
And can I just say that this picture is AMAZING??? I mean, really! The colors are so bright and the image just pops!! I started delving into photography about six months ago and am loving it! I still have a long, long ways to go, but I am learning new things all the time!!
Love your blog!! I’ll be back for sure!!
traci - cute picture – glad it is warm enough for your kids to do that. we are getting there. today and tomorrow – high 70’s. enjoy your weekend.
Staci - We have a pool similar to that only smaller. We are awaiting our inground pool…along with our new house…for next Summer! So, for now, this totally serves its purpose! My kids LOOOOOVVVVE this pool! (And I can sit in the shade and read about all the things I want for my new house 😉 ENJOY!
lulu sparkles - terrific photograph- like totally 🙂
melissa @ the inspired room - Really, Meg, your pictures are coming to life!
Love them!
xoxoxo
Lanny Stanard - Have fun in that pool,is it new? it sure looks like it…
Lanny:)
Linda - I just got caught up on your glorious posts (and pictures). Everything you do looks like fun…wish I could take my kids along with you guys and hang out, too!!
Little Annie is sooo cute…
Linda
jessi nagy - o ya, super cute pic of you in the kitchen
your hair is darling!!
oxoxo,
jessi
jessi nagy - omg!!
what a beautiful shot!!
the colors are gorgeous!!
and your daughter , well that goes with out saying.
CUUUUUUTiE!!!!!
oxoxox,
jessi
kristin - this makes me want to put up our pool…and yes, a few inches of water would be oh so fun.
Julie - We have that pool too (just not as deep) but can’t put it up for a couple more weeks. Can’t wait for the kids to play for hours and hours in there! It saves the summer in my opinion.Enjoy your summer chair, I have one too :o)Ahhhhh…….
cynthia - laying in your chain, in the sun…now that’s the best!
Crystal - one more….
OMG! I LOVE YOUR BLOG! 🙂
(wink wink)
Now I will stop…but it may come back when you least expect it to. 🙂
Have fun in the pool you lucky ducks!!
candy - Looks like fun to me!! 🙂 You take the best pictures ever. I am just catching up on your last few blog entries and the pics look great. I LOVE how they are always so bright and colorful.