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no david.

May 6, 2011

i am trying out some art projects relating to our favorite books.

he is a fabulous artist!

the idea of the project was to read the two David books we have
"no david!" and "David gets in trouble"
then the kids would draw a picture of themselves getting in trouble for something THEY would do or have done.

they didn't quite get what i was saying but it still tured out ok.

they basically copied a page from the book instead.
i was thinking they would be a little more original.
and i chose these books because the art is a little messy and not perfect….as encouragement.
i wanted them to see that it's ok to just have a triangle nose or funny shaped hands.
the picture isn't ruined when things aren't perfect.

we drew with pencil.
then filled in some oil pastel.
then watercolored.
then added black detail when it was dry.

sean's work…..eating all the cookies.

first annie drew herself just standing there crying.
then she didn't like it and threw it away.

then decided to copy the picture exactly.
she did pretty well at that!

talby drew herself having to eat brocolli.
this is pretty realistic.

i think we will keep trying the book ideas.
it is fun to see how other artists work and their materials.

craft thursday has been slow going for awhile.
it's because of tired mommy.

because annie asks to make something almost everyday.

see why i am tired???

happy friday.

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בגדי מעצבים - Nice painting draws by every one. It is very beautiful. Please keep it up because the internet needs someone like you spreading the word. Thanks for sharing this paintings.

Cheyenne - This is AMAZING! I popped onto your blog and only had a couple of minutes before bed to check things out…and I’ve just sat and sat here. I love every single thing about your blog!! Thanks for sharing some of your life!

Gabby - What a cool idea! Might have my kids do this on a hot summer day when we need to burn some energy 🙂 We too love the No David books. Thanks for sharing!

Mique - David Shannon is my ALL TIME FAVE (yes I’m yelling at you). He is the best! I love Alice the Fairy. We have almost all of his books. And I love this idea- I need to do it with my kids. Thanks Meg!

Heather - Amazing!! What a great idea.

ranee - Umm. yeah, those are pretty amazing. apparently al lyou kids are going to grow up and be artists!

Rach - First of all… yummy header!!! Mmmmm jelly beans.
Second of all… I used your colorful summer list idea to make our house to do list. It is a daunting list but the colorful nature of it makes me smile and being able to cross things off the list is so rewarding.
And lastly… do only 3 of the kids now participate in craft days and art projects?

gina - I LOVE how all of your art takes place RIGHT in the middle of your rooms….;no worries. 🙂
Great work!! Sometimes “copy” work is good for learning a new technique – all of your kids are very talented. 🙂

Dina - Love love LOVE this idea!!!! and we love love LOVE the David books! Thanks! We’ll be copying you soon:-) …

Renee - Meg,
I have been homeschooling, but just a couple of months ago the kids began attending a private school (we moved). Any way, I am going to be teaching art at their school next year and we have emphasized this subject at home, too. I believe this aspect of learning to draw (Charlotte Mason called it a “picture study”) where kids try to re-draw a piece of art is equally as important as drawing something original. They are learning great techniques! These pieces of artwork really are beautiful! Some of my favorite things that my children have created were picture studies. My son tried to recreate the Mona Lisa when he was in third grade and I still have it framed. So fun. Love that you make time for these activities!!

Dana @ Bungalow'56 - I always enjoy your tutorials Megan, we’ve tried a few…..and loving the new header too!
Dana

Carol S - You’re creating some real talented artists Meg! These pictures are sensational. Treasure these moments even if they’re not always (very rarely) easy. Good things never come easy. I really thing you’re going to have one of these three end up with an art type career.

Jenny B. - This is great!!! I Love the combination of the oil pastels and watercolors.

Kat - Your kids drawings are fantastic, particularly Annie for her age, wow!!
Love all the crafty and creative things you do.
I really need to do some of this with my kids.

Tracy Fisher - That was fabulous. I loved it.
Tracy Fisher

amy jupin - forgot to mention earlier…no mention of your boyfriend, george clooney’s 50th bday today??!! he will not be pleased. 🙂

se7en - Oh your kids are so clever!!! I love their art!!! Brilliant work!!!

Phoenix_Rising - I LOVE THIS!!! Great idea and great results!!!!

Carly Winborne - no way! i have never heard of these books, first of all. so i’m sitting here looking at this post and halfway paying attention to what my little girl is unloading from her backpack (kindergarten). she looks up, sees a picture from this book and says, “hey, we read that today in music.” i am shocked! what timing! i’ll need to go find these books to add to our library! aside from that, i’m loving your blog, daily. seriously, you’re one of three families i check every single day. (i mean that in a very non-stalkerish sort of way.) that, plus you and i have the same birthday! 🙂

Amanda F. - Very cute! Their drawings are spot on to the artist’s in the book.

Charlene @ Adventures In Mommy Land - Great Job!
I can totally relate to being asked everyday about doing an art project, my youngest, Nathan (5 years old) asks me everyday too. Sometimes it’s hard to think of something to do…I use books alot for inspiration.
I think for me it’s running around all day, doing errands, cleaning and whatnot and then the kids come home from school and all the rush that goes with that, plus ball games or practices, etc….Yep, totally makes for a tired mom (I have a big family too, 6 kids, so I know exactly how tiring it can be).

Libby - There’s a book you should check out for these book craft ideas. It’s called Beautiful Oops by Barney Saltzberg. It’s a cute book that makes you look at mistakes, like drips or stains or ripped paper, as an opportunity to make a great piece of art. It’s a fun little book and would make an excellent craft project!

Alyssa - Those are pretty amazing artist you have…They are awesome work!!

amy jupin - WOW! these are soooo good!
very impressed with the kiddos are this one. 🙂

Flower Patch Farmgirl - This is such a good idea! My favorite is the No, VID!DA! 🙂

melanie - my kiddo just came home with a school art project where they had to draw what kind of “wild thing” they would be from “Where The Wild Things Are.” I love it and will be framing it. have you tried something like that with your kids?
p.s. i love love love your blog; thank you for blogging. also your story a few weeks ago about getting preggers and your hubby choosing you and this life totally made me bawl my eyes out bc it hit a little too close to home (though i had a different ending). anyway, sweet mama, just wanted to say thanks.

Karen Gerstenberger - We love those books – especially fun when you have a son named David!

Valerie @ Chateau A La Mode - Hi Meg, just had to say that my son, Spencer, so loved that book, No David. He wanted me to read it to him every single night when he was little. The book finally fell apart. He still talks about it every so often. He just turned 19…boohoo.

Kate @ Songs Kate Sang - Very, very fun idea! I love this!
I hope you have a wonderful, wonderful Mother’s Day!
It’s ok to be tired. Sometimes we just wear ourselves out a bit 🙂

Julia - Wow! Copying or imitating is a great way to learn.

tara pollard pakosta - they all did a fabulous job, but Annie’s is spectacular being she is sooooo young! they are all true little artists though! I would frame these! LOVE THEM!
tara

Sandy - All of the pictures are wonderful, but I was especially impressed with Annie’s considering her age. Way to raise up creative & artistic children!!

merlin - I think there is a profound message in Talby’s, for me at least, given the sorry state of our world and all of its suffering, look at her plate, she is faced with something that looks like she has to take on the world! Her subconcious (?) has her having to manage the world, not just some broccoli. Talby, I don’t want to either!

Sarah @ this farm familys life - Cute idea and Annie is a good drawer for her age!

Jennifer DeLosSantos - Love it! When I was teaching, we read the “David” books while we were setting up our classroom rules. Their pictures are SO good! Have you done any Eric Carle type art? He was one of my favorite classroom artists/authors.

arlene - We also have a robin’s nest on our back door. She built it in my grapevine wreath….perfectly. There are three beautiful blue eggs in it. Will she be able to stay long enough to hatch them as we go in and out the door? I hope so.

Leah - Wow, your children are quite the artists! I’m so impressed. And I love this idea. So creative! Love the new header too. Happy Mother’s Day!

happygirl - You have some talent kids in your house. No wonder you are tired. This was a great idea. I love your creativity.

Jennifer - I love David Shannon’s books! The kids really did an amazing job with their art work. What a great kid-friendly, art idea. 🙂
Happy {early} Mama’s day!

andiejaye - me likey. i appreciate projects that have a literary base. it’s a nice expansion on what they’ve read.

jen - I LOVE it, books are my favorite, children’s art is my favorite, oil pastels, paints, and pencils are my favorite! hahaha Happy Friday!

Tiffany - Annie nailed it (for 5, wow) And your kids will treasure this time and talent you give of yourself, it is an inspiration to me. Keep up the good work Tired Mommy.

sarah - Sean is a pretty awesome artist! I love how you inspire your kids creativity!!

Katie - I kind of get burned out too of our little craft tuesdays (inspired by you). We did really well in the summer and fall and through Christmas. I think I totally crafted out for Christmas. So I took a break for mid winter and spring. Hopefully we will get started again in June.
*We did make our own boats and then try and float them…that was pretty fun and sciency!

angela - Good Grief! Your kids are AMAZING!

Juli - I see. No, I know. I am exhausted too.
I think I deserve the super-sized box of DOVE chocolates this Mother’s Day. Oh, and a yard full of flowers and that rose arbor I’ve been eyeing. A trip somewhere without the kids might even be order. Couple that with my husband rubbing my feet, yeah, I might make it ’til next Mother’s Day then! 😉

Penny - Great drawings. They are all really good. I am impressed! Annie’s is great! I love Talby’s colors and I like that Sean changed the cake to cookies. Very good! I love children’s art. I have some of my favorites of my girls hanging in the hallway. My girls are 23, 20 and 17 now. But I sitll love to look at what they did when they were 7 or 8. I want to make them sit with me and do crafts still, but they are normally too busy. I miss those crafty days. My 23 year old comes over on Sunday’s, she has started knitting and she brings that. Maybe she could teach me!

Holly - Brian just finished reading “No David” for school. We have been trying to incorporate projects with our books also.

Hoosier at Heart - It just can’t get any cuter tha that! I want to roll back time to when my kids were little and then be you!

Beth - one of my favorite books is A Bad Case of the Stipes–it’s SO cute! And our family loves lima beans, too. I’m amazed, your kids are incredible artists–I’m not sure I could copy Shannon’s seemingly easy drawings–impressive!
i’m hoping to implement a form of craft thursdays here at our house this summer as well. thanks for always sharing yourself in this beautiful blog!
beth

Kim - We love using books as inspiration for art here too! So fun.

Terrie - Should I be embarrassed that your kids can draw better than me? I can only do stick figures…barely! LOVE your crafts!

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life.

May 5, 2011

annie received this little tiny pot with 5 sunflower seeds and dirt for easter from her nana.
the pot is no more than 2 inches tall.
we followed the instructions and it is growing!
she yelled excitedly "it's even still wearing it's seed cap!"
she has been learning a lot about seeds at school.

IMG_1362-1

i remember my first time gardening in our first house.
i was AMAZED and couldn't believe that all you do is put the plant or seed in the ground….
water it….
and it grew!

i was hooked.

we have a mama bird right outside our door.
i love her.
today i was so curious…i had to find out what she was protecting….and how many.

three perfect lovely blue eggs.
isn't that miraculous?
really?!
there are living birds growing inside those gorgeous blue eggs RIGHT NOW!
life is so fantastically awesome!

we watched her work for a few days on this nest.
she made a MESS.
but look at it now!
it's like a finely crafted masterpiece.
just her size.
just right for three babies.

i am in awe of how God made this world.
creating a bird….to build a magnificent home for herself…making eggs…keeping them warm!
and that is just ONE animal.
there are like….a million different kinds of animals and living beings!
each unique and equally fascinating.

wow.

i'm not going to go all "double rainbow" on you….don't worry.

what's really on my mind is…….my grandmother loves birds.
bird watching was her thing.
and she is not doing so well right now.
she is 94 and has had a rough 2 weeks.
she loves my blog and it makes me really sad to think she won't see this post.
because she would have LOVED it.
it may have been her favorite.

i am not sure i am loving this part of my grown up life right now.
hospitals and phone calls and hard decisions having to be made and seeing your dad cry.
it's stressful to go through or even just to observe your parents deal with it.
it's just so…..

grown up.

God is still good and crazy awesome even when our bodies don't do what we want them to.
or we get sick.
or we grow old.
we can still praise Him for every thing we have and have experienced, everything HE is.
and He'll comfort us when it's sad or too hard.

my hope is in that.

and birds are awesome.

except geese.
they are still creepy and psycho.

the other thing my grandma loved more than birds was gardening.
so i am going to do that all day today.

for grandma.

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www.bkjobs.co.il - Nice post regarding life. Every one is struggle for survive include bird, animal and human being. I like your post. There are many similarities between them to survive the life.

Natalie - This post really tugged on my heart. My grandmother just passed this week, on Wednesday, at age 93. I know exactly what you mean about watching your dad cry and feeling that grown-up sadness.. it’s heartbreaking. I am holding on to the hope that she is in Heaven and happier than she’s ever been, after living a long and full life on earth. How sweet it must be to see Jesus after so long! Thank you for the reminder of God’s goodness!

the.mrs - Thank you for the beautiful post. Really awesome to be reminded of God’s amazing truths and creation. Your family is in my prayers!
(on another note, LOVE love LOVE the new banner!)

JustMommer - I’m sorry about your Grandma. My mom is on hospice right now, we are staying with her around the clock, spending as much precious time with her as we can. My dad died in November, in early spring the tulips and daffodils he had planted bloomed, it was like he said hello. I’m praying for you and your family.

Karen - Blessings to you and yours, Meg. It’s a tough time, but anyone who can appreciate things like gardening and bird watching, is probably OK with meeting the creator of all things. Keep that in mind and heart, and remember, it’s in HIS control for the good of all who believe.
On a lighter note, get back to us on how much you appreciate those birds on your porch after weeks and weeks of bird poop building up underneath, not just from one busy little mommy bird, but also three messy babies, toddlers, then teenage birds until they fly the coop! 🙂 Been there. Done that. I appreciate them just as much…and more…..from afar. 🙂

flowerpowermomma - Some days are hard.
http://momofthebridemusings.blogspot.com/2011/05/my-nitty-gritty.html
I”m working on the ‘breath in….breath out’ concept currently.
Not only did my grandmother enjoy nature and creativity. She had beautiful white hair. When her hair brush needed cleaning she would take the clump of hair and put it out in the trees so the birds could feather their nests with it.
Not too long ago I was cleaning out my hairbrush. I looked down to see my grandmothers hair in my hand!
I was not sad to see so many white ones….it kept my connection closer to her in fact.

Kelly - Megan, even before I got to the part about your grandma I felt so blessed by this post. I have spent the day at the hospital with my sweet, wonderful mother who was having surgery for breast cancer. Yuck, yuck, yuck. Being a grown up is hard and yet a privilege and I am so thankful for your reminders and LIFE and how cool and wonderful God is! Yes, yes, yes! Those eggs are splendid! He didn’t even have to make them beautiful but He did! So wonderful. I am so sorry about your grandma. I am so thankful for hospitals and at the same time it’s hard to spend time in them. Blessings on your night and the morrow. Kelly

Nicole - {{Hugs}} to you and your family Meg. We just walked this road this year with my grandpa. {I miss him like crazy.} Praying for the peace of God to surround all of you. Your in my thoughts and prayers.
P.S.
Your photography is beautiful.

Amy @ dwell in the season - A mama bird just made a nest right outside of our place too, and we discovered 3 little eggs just like yours yesterday! You’re right, what a miracle!
-Amy

Jen Joy - I love this post. LOVE. LOVE. LOVE.
After I read it, I said a prayer for your grandma. When I water my flower garden this evening, I will think of her and say another little prayer. May she be scooped up in the magesty of God’s love when the time comes.
This all makes me miss my grandma. She’s been gone for 4 years now. When I miss her, I make a pie. Chocolate cream with a ridiculous amount of Cool Whip, thank you very much. It makes me feel like she’s in the same room. Probably because she is. 🙂

Andrea T - i relate to your post ALOT. my mom is going through a rough patch with her health right now. i think it is so sweet that you gardened all day for your grandma bc she loves it that is such a great way to honor her!

Karen Gerstenberger - I’m sending love and prayers for comfort and strength to you and your family, Meg. xoxoxo

shauna reed - you are not alone.
my seven year old would tell you “at least you have your family”
i would tell you, “have a good cry Meg” that always makes my feel a little better.
it doesn’t fix any of this broken world and make the pain and suffering go away, but at least it does something with the emotions besides come out in anger on every one else.
just a thought.
my heart is with you friend.

Rachel B - This was a beautiful post! Beautiful.

Dawn - Those were amazing pictures and I love the color of those eggs.
Also thinking of you and your family during this tough time.

Kristin S - 1. ADORE the new blog header.
2. That is quite possibly the most perfect color blue. Only God could/would have that kind of creativity.

Jenny B. - I’m so sorry about your grandma. I’m learning that each season of life has its own joys and challenges. I wouldn’t have guessed that mama bird’s eggs would be such a beautiful bright blue color. I hope you enjoyed your day of gardening for Grandma.

Julie - prayers for you and your family tonight…this was a beautiful post.

betsy - Sending some warm thoughts your way about your Grandma. I’m sure she’d love this post!
P.S. That egg color is amazing! I can’t believe colors like this exist in nature!

wendy, NJ - Oh Meg, I can so feel the sadness you are feeling about your Grandma. My Gram was 92 when she went to be with Jesus. Due to distance, I unfortunately didn’t get to really know her until the last 6 years of her life. She was incredible. Her passion of nature and gardening sounds very similar to your Grandma.
And it’s ok if you go double rainbow on me because I believe that when I see a rainbow (or a double rainbow) that it’s my grandparent’s looking down on me. You see when we buried both of my grandfathers and my grandmothers they were dreary days, but at the end of the day a rainbow appeared. So I consider it a beautiful thing!
Hugs to you!!

Erin - Happiness. Wonderment. Sadness. Hope. So many emotions went through me while reading this post. Might be my favorite one to date. I can’t imagine what this feels like. Prayers for your Grandma…your dad…you…and your children. Much <3 being sent to you!

karen - lol at the “i’m not going to go all “double rainbow” on you”!!
Sweet post.

Liz Prince - My grandma is going through the EXACT same thing right now too. She is 95. Been in the hospital 3 different times in the past 3 weeks. Doctor says there is nothing more to do but take her home and make her comfortable. I am sad. Not for my Nana but for my dad. He adores him mom. And soon she will be gone and it will be my dad’s generation that will take over with the “aging.” And I will be taking care of him and my mom. Circle of life ya know? Anyway sorry for rambling but know that I am thinking of your grandma as I think of my own.
Keep up your honesty and being real. I look forward to getting my “meg” fix everyday. You rock! 🙂

Charlotte - i too am going through a lot of “grown up” things…taking care of my aging mom….surgeries and aftercare….emergency hospital stay with the hubs…a child with multiple teeth extractions..etc., etc…..being strong for everyone, has left me weak and weary. your post was uplifting…thanks for sharing your little mama bird’s eggs..they are indeed a miracle. 🙂
xo

Charlotte - i too am going through a lot of “grown up” things…taking care of my again mom….surgeries and aftercare….emergency hospital stay with the hubs…a child with multiple teethe extractions..etc., etc…..being strong for everyone, has left me weak and weary. your post was uplifting…thanks for sharing your little mama bird’s eggs..they are indeed a miracle. 🙂
xo

Diana - Sending up many prayers for your grandma. xx

Mindy Harris - you are precious.
just precious.

Renee - I know what you mean about grown-up stuff. Both my grandparents passed away last year (I am 35, too!). I had many lunches alone with my Dad as he cried on my shoulder and I prayed for him. It is even more difficult to understand how he and my mom are now the oldest generation. Both mid 60s. But times heals. And I enjoy every day reminders of my grandparents- each so special. Especially my Lydie-girl who walk around with my Nana’s name!! Praying for you now.

Jenny Logan - Love this post! I’m praying for your Grandma. (and you & your family.)

Liana - Oh my goodness. I could have written your post, Grandma in declining health, Dad crying, bird loving, gardening…but we are both 35 so I guess it makes sense that we are both in the same place. My grandma died on Monday. I’m happy that she’s happy and healed and with her love (Grandpa) again…but it is still hard. How lucky to have had 35 years with her! Your family is in my prayers!

Laura Phelps - your grandma and I would get along beautifully
I am tight with the birds 🙂

Amy - My ‘hubby’ just gave me a new sewing machine so I could get back into sewing. Sitting and staring at it brings back so many memories of my grandma from when I was younger. She sewed all my clothes and taught me to sew at a young age. Man I miss her!

happygirl - I LOVE Robin egg blue. It’s my favorite blue. Hugs to you, friend.

crystal - I just can’t believe this post…I love it! What is so strange, just seconds (literally just seconds) before I read it, I’m sitting at the dining room table on the computer about to open up your blog, and I’ve been seeing this same type bird here on our back patio for the last couple weeks, and it landed on the ceiling fan today, I wanted to jump up & get my camera & take some pictures of it, but my memory card is in the bedroom & hubby is fast asleep after a late night at work, so I decided to wait & will try to photograph it another time. I just couldn’t believe it when it was the first thing I saw after opening your blog! Great minds think alike, right?!

Beth - Simply beautiful! Life is beautiful and sometimes the not so good news. However, the end is even more beautiful!
Hugs to you, Meg! I know it must be hard on you and your family! I lost mine when I was in my early 20’s. I do hope your granmother gets better! Enjoy your gardening today.
Love your new header!

shannon - Hi Meg! I don’t know if you read all your comments or not. So you may or may not get to mine but it just made me feel better to know I wrote something to you. Your post made me cry. I totally understand and I believe the same as you….I don’t like being a grown up sometimes. I am learning more and more how fragile life can be….my gparents whom I have not been all that close to until the last 2 years or so….are getting older…in their 80s….and their family members, their age, keep getting ill and passing on and I know in my head it’s only a matter of time and I have been trying to prepare my heart but I just cannot do it. They are, on all accounts pretty healthy, but I know the day will come. It makes me sad….and I know God is there to comfort me….it’s just…hard. 🙁

Ryanne - Wow, what a wonderful post on this dreary day. Thank you. I am sorry about your grandma.

Sandy - “I’m not going to go all double rainbow on you”…you’re SO funny! 🙂

Staci - Oh Megan, I”m so sorry to hear about your grandma 🙁 Yes, being a grown up does suck in these times…I will be praying for her…and you too! And those eggs…yes, completely awesome! We had a pair of geese (I KNOW!!!! They are mean little suckers!) at our pond that were nesting….she RARELY left that nest….and when she did…it was for a quick little swim (Man do I get that…she JUST needed time away!) and the funny thing…the daddy goose was flapping his wings at her…letting her know he didn’t think this was a good idea….and she just kept on swimming and then went back after a brief few moments to herself 😉 We would watch every morning at those two….my husband I LOVED it!!! Sad to report…something did eat their little eggs…circle of life…it’s a sad, tough thing. God is amazing to give us all these things to adore…if only for a little while 😉

jess - oh my goodness meg…my thoughts and prayers with you and your family. I was just thinking the same thing, in the last year i have watched my parents health go downhill and our conversations that use to be short and sweet are now filled with health and medical talk….this chapter in my life will be most challenging i’m afraid. on another note…i am in awe at how beautiful those eggs are….the color!!!!!

Alisha - I know exactly how you feel. I think about having to do the same with my grandparents who are now in their mid 80’s and the thought is unbearable. My prayers are with you and your family.

Flower Patch Farmgirl - I love that God made that perfect shade of aqua, just for us. I don’t think I’ve ever thought about it before this post…and I’m not sure it exists anywhere else in nature? I mean, maybe on a tropical island, somewhere. But definitely not in Indiana.

Maegan - Meg, I loved this post. I was recently thinking the same thing. That life is so amazing…that there are tiny baby birds growing in there! However, my four year old found a broken egg that had obviously been dropped/fallen, and it made me think about sin and how awful it is. But our hope is in Christ! We need not fear death!

Shannon - You putting my Sonic sign on your list of Happy Things makes me SUPER HAPPY! 🙂

Molly Pearce - I will be praying for you and your family Meg! Love the color of the bird egg’s! I have a chicken that lays teal green eggs and they are gorgeous too! My granny loved birds as well and had a ton of porcelan musical birds all over her house! I used to love waking up in the mornings and hear her crank the handle and hear the little song sing! That’s one o fmy favorite memories 🙂
~Molly P

Sarah - I love those eggs. So humbling.

Beth - Thank you Meg! I needed this, my husband’s Grandma had a stroke this morning. He used you to speak to me today.

Jennifer - Meg, I lost my grandmother very unexpectedly in March. My BFF lost her aunt in December and her uncle last week. We too have decided that this part of our lives is going to have new challenges that we don’t feel prepared for. It’s going to be an adjustment for sure. I hope your grandmother makes a recovery and you get to enjoy her a little longer. Your post was beautiful and I hope she will be able to see it soon.

Jennifer O'Steen - i found this & it reminded me of you.
http://cookingwiths.blogspot.com/2011/05/i-heart-sonic.html

Kate @ Songs Kate Sang - Dearest Meg, I am so sorry to hear that about your grandmother. Your family will be in my prayers. Please enjoy your gardening day! I hope it is extra special!

Terrie - Beautiful eggs!
Prayers going up for your Grandma. I understand about the not liking this whole grown up thing sometimes! My 1st grandbaby is on the way…while I’m over-the-moon excited for that…it made me think that my Dad is gong to be a Great-Greandpa. Yeah! On the one hand, I was so excited…then the whole stupid circle of life thing hits me and it was like…Holy Crum! My Dad is going to be a Great-Grandpa!! I’m not ready for his to be the next generation to go!! None of us are promised tomorrow…I know that…and like you, I know that God is in control! But, sometimes, it’s just HARD!
Sidenote…LOVE your new header! Made me smile when I saw it! I have one similar with pretty spring colored skittles! 🙂
Just saw on Hoda & Kathie Lee…ivillage is doing a contest about hot dads…I had to think of you and all your wonderful ‘hot’ comments about Craig. Winner gets some kind of WEEK long cruise vacation…I think you should check it out and enter! Think of the awesome pics we could see of the trip! I’d even volunteer to do crafts with the kids while you were gone!
Have a HaPpY ThuRsDaY!!! I’m off to have some fun with 1st graders!

Kim - I lost my grandfather about 16 years ago now. I still miss him. He never got to meet my kids, and he would have gotten a kick out of them for sure. I hope you enjoy your day gardening,watching birds and enjoying the sunshine while loving your grandmother.

jes - how beautiful. i (obviously) dont know your grandma but i am positive she would have loved it.
sending love and peaceful thoughts your way…
hope the sun shines on your gardening day.

amber - Double rainbow….funny, funny stuff.
I have one grandmother left. Her heart is showing it’s age. She’s had a hard life. I was just thinking last night about how much she’s gone through, & yet has lived so long (83). I wonder how she feels about feeling so bad all the time. It stinks. I’m praying for your grandmother. Peace & comfort, no matter the outcome.
I love grandma’s. And how God knows exactly what He is doing.

Sarah@this farm family's life - loved this! praying for your grandma and your family…

mel @ the larson lingo - those eggs are the most beautiful turquoise color! How neat!
So sorry to hear about your grandma, I will be praying for her & that she gets better quickly! Have fun gardening….the gardening bug bit me this year & I got my garden started last week. So much fun!

adrienne - i love how you captured the bird and her blue eggs! what a fun surprise for your when you finally got up there! great pictures, great post… sending lots of love and prayers your way.

Jenna - Tears … this post hit close to home with me. What better way to honor our loved ones than by celebrating or doing the things they loved? I’ll say a prayer for you, your grandma, and your dad.

Kacey - Beautiful post. Prayers for your grandma and your family.
Kacey

mandy friend - and if you want to see a funny old movie that kinda sorta includes bird watching rent Mr. Hobbs takes a vacation. hilarious!

mandy friend - prayers for your granmother meg. just remember , if He took such care creating those robins in all their beauty, how much more care He took to create the beautiful life your grandmother must have lived and is living. i haven’t had to face it yet, but my grandfather isn’t doing so well either, and he doesn’t know the Lord…
“we are only passing through to the promised land beyond the blue…”

Jessi - Actually, that would be an adjective. Grammar fail.

Jessi - I love that you just used “double rainbow” as a verb.

tiffany m gardner - Thank you for reminding all of us to see the beauty in small things. Life is a crazy, wonderful, scary, exciting beautiful ride. I am 33 and just had my third child. So I just experienced “building my nest” and “protecting my babies” too! This time my daddy wasn’t there to experience this new life with us. He was celebrating with Jesus. He had Alzheimer’s and went to be with Jesus four years ago. Sometimes life is just tough! My mama who as experienced a lot of loss in her life (my oldest brother died of cancer when he was sixteen..I was 2) always reminds me that everyday might not be great…but there are GREAT moments in everyday. Watching your bird build her nest and seeing those gorgeous eggs were great moments. Watching your sweet daughter’s amazement with her flower and seeds…great moments. Being reminded of your grandmother in doing something she loved…great moments. I will lift you up today…each time I see my flowers. I too will be thankful for the great moments. I will stand in awe of Jesus. I will be thankful for LIFE! ……thanks for being my morning cup of coffee! You Rock Meg!!!

Amanda - I’m so sorry to hear about your grandmother. I just lost my paternal grandmother a month ago and I have had those same thoughts so often lately-this part of adulthood is just no fun.

Jen Brandt - Meg, I love your posts. Look forward to them everyday. You’re right. God is awesome. I hope you have a wonderful, relaxing Mother’s Day.

tara pollard pakosta - You truly are blessed to still have a grandma!
It’s hard and stressful, but wow, to have had her that long!
I never met one of mine and the other died of cancer when I was 5 years old….so just know that this time with her has been so very special and just hang on to the beautiful memories. much love and prayers and I hopes she recovers.
xoxo
tara

Danielle - So sorry about your Grandma:( I will be praying for her. And you’re right, God is so very good to us. Such a beautiful post Meg:)

amy jupin - well hello there momma bird!
your eggs are perfectly lovely.
and your nest is a work of art.
i hope your babies are snuggly and warm.
meg, my grandmother was the greatest gift in my life for so many years.
i am so grateful for all the time i had with her.
just as you are for yours.
i pray your grandma gets well again soon.
i pray she knows how much you love her.
sending many hugs your way.

elizabeth seay - love all your posts- but this one is especially inspiring and hopeful. life is hard- but God is so good!
thankful with you that we have hope!

Vicki - I think that grandmas are one of the greatest blessings God gave us. That and the color of robin egg blue. Garden on today sweet friend. Give that love you have to all those that are around you, your kiddos, your hubby, your daddy, and especially your grandma.

Kris - My Grandma…Nana is 96 yrs young. She is a gem, and I adore her. She is not a bird lover, but she is a unique and special Southern Lady, who I will one day, miss so very much. I savor every day I have her in my life.
I am a huge bird nerd!!! Love to go birding, and I don’t have to go far, as I have a one acre orange grove with so many species nesting here. I also attract them with feeders, and plants and water stations. Gardening is also a passion of mine. And I am trying to pass these things on to my three wonderful little grandchildren.
Have a happy day. I enjoyed this post of yours!

Penny - Prayers for your family as you go through this hard time. I know we are dealing with hard times with my parents, 87year old Mom with Breast cancer and 90 year old Dad crushed watching her deal with this. It is hard. So I will pray for your family and your special grandma. Growing old is not fun! Our hope is in all the new life around us, knowing God has a wonderful plan!
Great post Meg.

Courtney - Thanks so much for sharing those photos, I am in Florida and we get the robins for a few days, they are such lovely birds! I hope that your sweet grandmother gets to see the photos as well. Hugs and prayers for your family during this time! God Bless!

Holly - Praying for your sweet grandmother. My grandmother reads my blog. In fact she calls if I dont post enough. We had a momma bird on one of our colums on our front porch last year.

Sherry Cartwright - Beautiful post and photos. Hugs to you as you celebrate your grandma today — through nature’s beauty. Hugs.

jill - Beautiful eggs and JELLY BEANS! 🙂 We will be thinking of your family and your grandmother.

colleen in Alabama - Hey Meg, My Memommie went to be with Jesus 2 years ago this month. My Andaddy (her husband) is still alive at 96. He has an anuresm (sp?) in his stomach and just found out he has bladder cancer! He is SO ready to go home to be with Jesus. He sings “i want to see Jesus most of all” all the time. I am almost 46 and am so thankful to have had this precious godly man in my life for this many years. I will be sad when He goes to be with Jesus but i choose to pray that God would take him quickly and without pain. Then I will continue to praise my Savior that He kept Andaddy Faithful and finishing strong to the very end. Praying for you and your grandma right now.

Amy - My Grammy just passed away 2 weeks ago today. It still doesn’t feel real but I think its starting to sink in a little bit. There hasn’t been a day that’s gone by in the last 2 weeks that I haven’t thought about her. She was 72 and she loved birds as well. Especially hummingbirds. 🙂 I love this post and am praying for your grandmother and your family during this difficult time.

Taryn - Just checkin’ in….it’s been awhile since we’ve connected. Know that i’m thinking of ya during this time with your Grandma. Love how you continue to keep it real. Enjoy your time gardening, soaking in all God has created today! Love ya!

sarah - Wow…incredible pictures. I want to frame the one of the three eggs shot from above and hand it on my wall! Would you be willing to sell it?
We don’t have many robins where I live now, but I remember ever-so-quietly tiptoeing up to their nests and catching peeks of those gorgeous eggs when I was a little girl and lived in the Midwest.
I’m so sorry your grandmother is suffering and that the rest of you are working through that right now. What a difficult time. 🙁

mel - your post got me all teary.
last year at this time we lost my grandma.
prayers for you and your family.
sometimes being a grown-up is so not fun.

Allison - Beautiful as always… Hugs to you as you deal with facing your grandma’s situation. But what a blessing that you have had a grandma for this much of your life, whom even your children are old enough to know. I am 23, and my one remaining grandparent just turned 89 and isn’t in very good health. I wish with all my heart that my amazing grandpa would live to see my 35th birthday and know the children I don’t have yet. So whatever happens, just be thankful that your grandma has known you for so much of your life. The grandparent/grandchild relationship is so special.

Ann Griffin - Beautiful pictures! I will keep you and your family in my prayers.

Katie Sellers - That picture of those blue eggs in the nest almost took my breath away—how incredibly beautiful–what an unexpected surprise!!!
Hope you find comfort in the beauty around you today!

sarah - My poppa passed away on December 16th. Watching my family greive was one of the hardest things I have had to do to date. One thing I learned though, is time heals all. God is the author of time and to me that means he slowly mends our hearts. Growing up is tough, for sure! The color of those eggs also reminds me of how great our God is. So beautiful, eh?

Meg Carter - Meg!
We have a nest too! http://madebymeg.net/blog/favorite-nook-now-even-better/
Sorry to hear your grandmother is not doing well. I just recently did a tribute post to my grandmother that was also very into bird watching and gardening! http://madebymeg.net/blog/happy-easter-love-gram/
Thoughts are with you and your family.

Laura - I have been reading your blog for over a year now and have never commented. Many times I have noticed that a lot of similarities between our lives.
The last 3 weeks have been rough around here as well. My Nana has just found out she has a fast growing brain tumor and has been hospitalized. She is 88 years old and has lived by herself for the last 40+ years on 3/4 of an acre without a car. I flew out to see her last week. I had some wonderful conversations with her, thanked her for all that she has done for me and taught me. I held her hand and told her I love her. In all of our conversations she kept telling me that all she wants to do is go home and garden and she misses riding the bus. Your post today has inspired me to have the most amazing garden just for her and to take my kids on a bus just like she took me when I would come to visit.
As your blog always does it reminds me to delight in the simple things…just like my Nana does.
Keep your memories close and remember she will always be there in your garden. Hugs to you 🙂

Sheri - We have had a lot of birds nest on our front porch but never ever had blue eggs – that is beyond awesome.

Amanda - This made me teary (in a good way). I’m 34 and still feel jolted when I have to make grown up decisions. Really, me? 3 kids, a marriage & a mortgage and it seems I should still be eating at the kid’s table @ Thanksgiving. (btw love the bird’s nest pics!)

Shayne - Ninety-four is such an amazing number of years, which means you have made some wonderful memories. What a thing to treasure, but in another way, even harder to walk through the ending-ness of her life. Our thoughts and prayers are with you; strength for your days and peace for your nights.

Tiffany - Warm thoughts for your Dad and Grandma. We have a nest under our deck, I think birds pick sweet families to build their nests. All the best to you and yours.

Kayla - Just sending hugs your way…and a few prayers!

Ruth Elder - Your post today made me think of my Grandma. She, too, loved Gardening and gave me ‘the bug’. She passed away 13 years ago. I still cry when I think of her. I still plant pink roses that make me think of her. Just remember: True love stories never have endings.

AshleyAnn - are you going to eat what you grow in that garden?

April M - blessed by your post today, thank you
wish i could offer something back but it sounds like God’s got you covered
(He’s so awesome!)
so that’ll be my bit, prayers that you and yours (and others in similar circumstances)
are covered by His grace and love
thanks again

Heather R. - P.S. love the new header. 🙂

Heather R. - Life is amazing. All of it. Enjoy your gardening, your bird with her eggs, and most of all your love for your grandma. Hugs!

debbie - Prayers for you and your sweet grandmother. Thanks for sharing a bit of happiness and beauty even though your heart is breaking.

Wendy - “Fuzzy baby Robins” … a FAVORITE of ours! Celebrate ur Grandmom’s 94 years – u & ur children r so lucky to have had her. I’m so envious of those who still have their Moms & Grandparents. Life … although amazing – is sometimes too short.

Sarah Alcantara - So sorry about your Grandma, beautiful post, beautiful pics….hugs!

Katie - Sorry to hear about your grandma! When my grandma passed away a few years ago I had the feeling that my biggest fan on earth was gone! She was the best!
Also fabulous print! Absolutely beautiful, thanks for following your curiosity and getting the shot! A must have!

deborah@applesinwonderland - my dear grandma loved birds and gardening too. and i loved and still love my now-departed grandma. ((((hugs)))) to you this morning and a good day for your grandma. it’s good to know that we are all connected too, through love and understanding and the need to carry on from one generation to the next.

Nancy - I have been down that road with the aging grandparents. I am sorry to hear about it. Never easy. No matter what age they are. Thoughts and prayers for you.
On another note, were you thinking of putting that robin’s egg picture in your shop or may I purchase an 8×10 of that. I LOOOVE it and would love to frame that lovely and remember God’s beautiful and abundant gift. Just gorgeous. Could you email me and let me know yay or nay. Thanks. xoxo Nancy

Catrina - I have the exact same bird/nest and 3 eggs in my back yard tree! yesterday I was brave enough to snap some pictures! And strange as it may sound, my great grandma is also not doing so well, she has been in ICU for about 2 weeks… So good luck with your grandma, I will keep you in my thoughts.

Donje - So sorry to hear about your grandma. It is hard. My prayers are with you and your family.

Caitlyn - I have the same cute little sunflower pot!

Beth Bowen - I follow your blog, but have never commented. I love this post so much that I’ve come out of hiding. 🙂 I will pray for you and your family. How awesome is God that He gave your family the “gift” of that mama bird and her babies right now in the midst of the situation with your grandma, reminding you that He is Creator and He cares for all living things. Have a blessed day and enjoy your birds and your “garden therapy”.

Carol S - God bless your grandma, gardening and birds. My grandma lived with us growing up and at 95 and passed away on Christmas Eve 2001. The last several years I visited her at assisted living places with my little ones which made her day, then the last 6 months were real hard, and she told me in confusion on my last visit, pointing at her body “this isn’t Alice, this isn’t me anymore and who I am” meaning it was time for her to leave. Huge believer, super faithful woman, and she adored cardinals and gardening. So, Meg, I’m right there with you. It’s hard, but she will live on in you forever.

Lindi G - Hi Meg…I absolutely love this post!! Having to be a grown up for situations like this does stink!! I hope all works out for the best!! The colors in the pics of this post are stunning!!
PS…loving the new profile pic and header!!

Marcella - I hear you.
When I was a kid I always thought grownups always had everything under control.
Now as an adult I realize my kids think I’m the one who has everything under control and can handle everything.
It’s scary because as you said, there are things that feel way too “grownup” to handle for even us grownups!
If we can remember our Father’s previous faithfulness that helps us through our present trials!
Beautiful post!

Gretchen - big Hugs meg! I know that feeling having been through it when my husband passed away. I kept thinking to myself, we are too young to deal with this being 31 at the time, it was a year ago. My faith has brought me great strength in times of trial, and I know yours will too. The nest, eggs and mama bird show how great God’s gift of life is. We are lucky to be a part of that gift!

Trina Curran - Oh, I love this. The bird is beautiful and so is her work of art. And, yes, I believe your grandmother would have loved it…bless her heart. And yours. We watch for cardinals to know that my husband’s dad is keeping watch over us…we see them at almost every family event. Coincidence? I don’t think so. We have one that lives in the tree outside in front of our house. 🙂

stephanie - Aging parents and grandparents is so hard. I’m starting to see some of those slowing down signs in my own parents (even though they are VERY active still), but it’s still hard when they have more dr. appointments than my four kids combined. Prayers for you and your grandma today.

Chantelle - Gorgeous pic of little eggs! Wow!! What a blessing to get to see that. Thank you for sharing!

Trish - hugs, it’s never easy watching our loved ones age!

Hoosier at Heart - I’ve never seen eggs such a vivid blue color. Gorgeous! Prayers out to your grandmother. Maybe you could print the pics out and take them to her to have in her room. Love ya, darlin!

Michelle from Australia - My Mum was orphaned at age 6. And as she watched her friends have to take care of their parents she said to me that she always thought she lost out on the parent lottery in life. But she said watching people have to make horrendous decisions on how to care for ageing parents, she realised that maybe she had pain young but was spared a more acute pain later in life. Her parents died young, beautiful, in love, they were her heroes, she has no bad memories of them and they didn’t suffer.
I will pray for your Grandma and your family in the days ahead.

Julia - I’m sorry your Grandma is not doing well. You are a source of comfort and strength for your family, though. When my dad was in the ER with congestive heart failure last year, I was there with my mom. I kept watching the ER doors, thinking someone I knew would come through the doors to help us. I realized that I was the one that came to help my mom and dad. It was a “grown up” realization and I didn’t like it. But, I did the best I could to help my mom and dad. (He recovered from that near fatal event- six weeks in the hospital and lots of hard work).
I love that momma robin. What a nice gift for you on your porch. Down here in Texas, we get them as they pass through onto other places. I don’t know if I’ve ever seen “robin-blue” eggs. Thank you for sharing.

Sarah @ Handbags*N*Pigtails - Sadly, I never knew either of my grandmothers(my moms mom, her best friend, was buried the day before I was born and her only wish was to live long enough to “meet the baby”). But I totally know what you mean about life being hard, tough decisions and all that. Im watching it happen with my PARENTS. They had me at 38 so although Im only 31 their healths have been on a downward slope fopr years now and it totally stinks.
Im praying for you. And your grandma. And that bird is absolutely beautiful!
xo,
Sarah

Nicole - Cannot say how much I love and needed this post. My grandfather has been fighting cancer for 4 years and this past month has been the worst. He has decided to forego further treatment and like you said, seeing my mom cry and watching her heart break for her daddy is way too grown up for me.
Beautiful post. Great pictures. Awesome God.

JulianneB - Praying for your sweet Grandma and you, too. It is the hard stuff of life, and it makes me stop and go…okay I guess this is what being grownup means. I lost both of my grandmas and my mom all within a one year span. So blessed to have had my grandmas into their nineties. My daughter was only 3 at the time, and I am sad she will miss having her grandma and great grandmas around.

Southern Gal - Sorry to hear of your grandma’s hard times right now. Yeah, growing up isn’t all it’s cracked up to be.
Those eggs are gorgeous. Such pretty pictures of that mama bird, her eggs and her masterpiece. Yes, God is amazing.
Love your header. It’s so rainbow-y.

Sandy - I’m so sorry about your grandma, Meg.
I think you should frame the picture of the eggs…those totally match the mirror you painted. Yes??

Bernice - Those eggs are beautiful! Sorry to hear your grandma’s having some rough days. I hope things will get better for her soon.

Shann - So sorry to hear about your dear Grandma Meg. I lost my sweet Grandma last September. I can not tell you how many times I have wanted to go see her to tell her something that has been going on with myself or my kids and she is not there in her little blue chair anymore. It stinks. Although I am thankful for the promise we have in Christ that I will see her again someday…it is still so very hard. I just prayed for you and your family. Grandmas Rock!!! 🙂

Kerry - Those eggs are my fave colour!! Beautiful 🙂 Love the seedlings too! Sending your granny love and strength across the seas x

Annika - I like your new banner! And the bird photos are amazing. Nature is amazing!
All the best wishes for your gran!

georgia - Beautiful eggs! Your house is even more colourful now! Pls try and get baby bird photos too when you can 🙂

Gemma - Hi Meg!
Those eggs are beautiful!
I really hope your Grandma recovers. All you can do is be strong for your family : )
Gemma x

Amanda F. - How blessed you are to have gotten the chance to be with your grandma this long and for your kids to know their great grandma! I lost my grandma when I was only 8 years old and my mom’s mom I never got to meet at all. Prayers for your family during this time.
And beautiful pictures, those eggs are gorgeous! I totally see them as the new “sunflower print” for Summer 2011… 🙂

Valerie @ Chateau A La Mode - Awww Meg, I just love this post for lots of reasons…the little bird and her amazing nest, her most gorgeous blue eggs, the reminder of who God is. Take care. I know this is a hard time for you and having to deal with the reality that life isn’t always rainbows. I will keep you in my prayers. Sending you a hug.

heather @ cookie mondays - lovely post 🙂
those turqouise eggs are AMAZING!!!!!!!!!!!!

Kori - My grandma just found out some not-so-good news (not really *new* bad news, but it’s confirmed…does that make sense?) and I agree that this part of grown-up life sucks. Bad.
I do love your houseguest and her family. They truly are a beautiful thing.
All the best to you and your family…
❤

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four random things…..

May 4, 2011

i have a new running partner.

i have to say "heel" about 100 times per run….but he'll get it pretty soon.
just bought a harness to help me out.

i missed running.

i think i will finish jillian too….but this IS perfect weather to run.
perfect temps.
and i like to wear long sleeves so it's great.
so jillian may lose.
(don't tell her….i'm afraid of her)

soccer season is over.
it was a long one…..softball starts friday.
thank goodness we have a two day break!!!

ridiculous.

i don't like geese.
they freak me out.
but i faced my fears (and zoomed in my lens) and got a few shots at the park tonight.
bleck.
they are so creepy.

SUMMER magazine starts shipping next week.

isn't that a beautiful cover???
love it.
you can just feel that breeze…..

matthew asked me to tell you this:

Head on over to Matthew Mead’s blog to purchase your copy of SUMMER with Matthew Mead.

If you order your copy by May 6^th, you may be one of the lucky readers who receive a GOLDEN TICKET, tucked away inside of your magazine!

There are ten fabulous prizes (check Matthew’s blog for details) and ONE of those lucky readers will win a grand prize of a $1000 Visa travel card to take you wherever you would like to go!! And visit our website to see the other fantastic prizes you can win (each golden ticket will be assigned one of the prizes)!

Please note, all readers who have already purchased a copy of SUMMER with Matthew Mead have secured their chance to win. But if you haven’t yet ordered your issue,
head on over here
and get yours now!

You just might be the lucky recipient of one of the coveted Golden Tickets!!!

*****************************

and finally……YOU ROCK.

my entire photography season is FULL.
every single spot is taken.

so cool.

you will have fun.
i will have fun.

yay!

show hide 41 comments

add a comment

Lisa Currie-Gurney - HEY MEG, A GENTLE LEAD WORKED SO MUCH BETTER FOR ME.
HUGS FROM MY HEART

Four Flights - you best be scared of Jillian. She does not mess around and I could just hear her now “you’re not QUITTING are you?!?! You’re a quitter!” oh that woman gives me chills. CHILLS I tell you! but yeah, running when is nice outside cannot be beat 🙂

Amy @ dwell in the season - Waffle looks wiped out, how far did you go? Nice job, by the way, I’ve been seriously slacking in my running lately. I think I need a fluffy dog to come with me, OR scary geese to chase me.

Diana - Heyyyyyyy, those geese are my buds. (Those specific gray ones welcomed us to our new home way back in 2002!) LOL! I know, lots of people don’t care for geese. We just happen to enjoy their antics.
Don’tcha love that park with all the new playgrounds! It’s just across the creek from us (basically), we love to take the grandkids there when they’re having overnights with us.
Hehe, Waffle is gonna get buff runnin’ with you! LOL! 😀
♥

the.mrs - Those shots of the geese were worth the fear factor part of it! So fun!

karen - ooooo..love those jelly beans!!

Becky @ Farmgirl Paints - great new profile pic meg…sassy:)

Jennifer in VA - Have fun running, the gentle leader will make a big difference. My 85lb lab could pull me all over the place without it. It works on the same premise as a horse halter – where the nose goes, the body goes.
Just a quick tip though… after a week or so of use, it started to rub the hair off Beauregard’s nose and it got pretty bare. Then I got the idea to wrap that top nose strap with moleskin (look for it in the first aid/bandaid section). I bought the large sheets and just cut two pieces that were long enough to each cover from the middle of the top strap down to his chin and all the way around the strap. Anyway, no more rubbed off hair and the bare spots grew back in.
Blessings,
Jennifer

Julie - the new blog banner is beautiful!!!! i love it!

Genevieve - Too funny how the creepy geese photo seems to have struck a chord. I too confess to being creeped out by geese. My grandfather had a whole gaggle on his farm and I was scared to death of them when I was a child. In my mind, they were about 5 feet tall and mean as snakes. I’m probably off on on the height, but not on the meanness.

Carol S - good for you, running! gotta stop sitting so much over here, heading out to garden and garage cleanup tomorrow. ok your friends won’t like me for saying this, but if you sold out in two days your prices are just a little low. I know it’s a fine line, and you want to be fair, but…you’re clearly talented and in demand, sooooo…might have to make a little adjustment up next summer, just your basic supply and demand economics girl talking over here. don’t hate me customers!!

Lin - The geese at our park attacked my dog so often, she eventaully refused to get out of the car. She wouldn’t budge.

happygirl - I hate running. I need to start exercising again. I’m a slacker. And, I agree with you about the geese. Hate ’em.

Kristy - I have a very hyper Australian Labradoodle who started out as a very hyper running partner but now he’s awesome at it – doesn’t pull, ignores the barking dogs and will even manage 4 miles. I find my runs are actually easier with him because he helps keep the pace (without pulling). And it wears him out which is always a good thing! Ordered my magazine the first time you posted about it…can’t wait! “Summer time and the livin’s easy…..”

Amber - so glad i’m not the only one that thinks geese are totally creepy. also i need you to come to ohio for 2 things: to take my family pics, and also to give me running/working out motivation. k?

Wendy - Ordered his magazine! Love your blog!
Thanks.

Nichole - Geese are creepy! We had them by the hundreds recently at my workplace. They just sort of stood in the grass making noise or stood in the road making noise. I probably would have stayed as far away as possible from them, nevermind taking photos!

Jennifer - I don’t like geese either, but yours are much better looking than the ones we have here. There’s even a sign outside one of our libraries to beware of the geese because they are NOT friendly.

Staci - Not a huge fan of geese either…I hate it when they open their little mouths and kind of hiss at you with their gross little tongues ;( But your Talby sure is a cutie pie 😉 Wish I liked running…or any type of exercise for that matter…whyyy can’t I get addicted to exercise like some people….instead of being addicted to sugar?????????????? UGGGGHHH!!!

lisa - you are the woman for even doing jillian … i can barely even see her commercials on tv (or watch biggest loser) without saying ‘that woman is psycho’. scares me for sure. and your pics of the geese … awesome.
jillian and geese … need to keep their yappers shut and the world would be a quieter place. scary.

Danielle - So I guess that was five, lol! Did I ever tell you I was horrible at math in school?

Danielle - Okay so here’s my four random things:) Is that picture of Waffle before or after the run?:) And look at those skinny legs you have lady, woo hoo!!:) Believe me when I tell you, say no to the puppy feeling, just let it pass you on by you’ll thank me later. And that Talby is GORGEOUS!! You guys make beautiful kids:)

Kim - Geese scare me. We always stay away from the Canadian Geese here. Too scary! Have fun running with Waffle.

Heather - The geese pictures made me shudder. I’m not afraid of snakes or spiders, but certain birds really freak me out! (when I think they’re getting too close to me.) I’m glad I’m not the only goose-phobe.

Short, Sweet Season - I can’t even believe you got close enough to those freaky geese to take that photo. I literally have chills on my arms and neck right now.

melinda - Hope the gentle leader works with you and your dog. We just got a gentle leader and wished we had it sooner, but it works great!

Tiffany - Talby is adorable & we should get her on contract NOW to continue to smile for the camera. Such sweetness in her face. Mattie’s magazine is a lil pricey…I was afraid to say it because sometimes I can be cheap, but another commenter said it so I have to 2nd that. Does he offer any coupons? discounts? sneak peeks? Aha, maybe I can get it for Mother’s Day, I don’t want any gifts, flowers yes, gifts no. I will tell the hubbs. Meg, this will be my FIRST photography season with you. I CAN’T EVEN WAIT to see the gorgeous photos. Will you share tips? Please share tips. P.S. I luvd seeing the brown boy in your photos yesterday, I didn’t know there were any in Kansas, just being honest 🙂

Trish - not only are geese creepy, they are mean and so are swans! bravo to you for taking the pics!

sara @ it's good to be queen - talby is adorable. geese are el creepo. i was attacked by one in the park when i was 9 months pregnant with my second son. it was awesome. imagine big fat prego girl carrying a 2 year old, running through the park away from a geese who would not let go. good memories. luckily another mom came to my rescue. i hate geese.

Heidi - Yep- baseball ends soon for us. Is it bad it say I’m semi-thankful for a child’s knee surgery that gives us THREE WHOLE WEEKS OFF before kid sports starts again? Because I kind of am. It’s a nice break after 6 years of year-round no breaks. 🙂

Meg B. - Those geese are creepy, in fact I spotted them last night and walked the other way. However the great blue herons are really cool.

Trina Curran - I. Love. Your. Posts. 🙂 They are just funny, and serious, and inspiring all rolled into one. The geese crack me up. We used to have one that chased us and would bite. Haha! The cover of Summer magazine is BEAUTIFUL! Can’t wait to read it!

Kirsten - you should get together with my son – he loves geese! not creepy – just loud (HONK)! 🙂

Libby - We use the same collar for our Australian Shepherd and it works great! Some people think it’s a muzzle for a vicious dog, but really it’s to keep our big goof from jumping on and loving everyone he sees!

Sandy - I’ll be sad when Talby gets older and doesn’t want to pose for the camera anymore. 🙁

Sarah @ Handbags*N*Pigtails - Ive always WANTED to be a runner. To enjoy it. But I dont. You see, I hate to sweat. Isnt that the most ridiculous thing you’ve ever heard? But I swear, its true. I hate sweating. I hate hurting. Yet my waistline and my overall health are screamin at me to get off my duff and try it out.
Itd probably also really help my marriage(not that we’re in a bad spot mind you; we’re more in love today than when we married 10 years ago). But hubby is a hardcore runner. And a track coach. He loves to run.
Stupid sweat.
xo,
Sarah

Jen - I thought…I’m going to do it…I’m going to buy the Summer issue of this “magazine”….but YIKES…it’s almost $30.00 for this Canadian gal to order one! Too much for my frugal sensibilities. I was thinking it was half that price….oh well. Hopeully you’ll show us some pics. 🙂

Gemma @ Musings Of A Gem - The pictures of the geese are enough to freak me out a little!
I like your new running parter…if I ran with my dog he’d be dragging me along the street…pulls way too much!
Gemma x

Kori - ha-ha! When I saw the pics of the geese I thought “I don’t like geese. They freak me out!” 🙂
Once at the park my son and I were being semi-attacked by some (we had a bit of crackers for the calmer ones) and as they got more aggressive we left. They rounded on a poor granny and her granddaughter. Yikes!
We felt bad, but were too scared to help. So we ran for it…..

georgia - That goose is like ‘hello, what do we have here’ lol
I tried running with my two jack russels, but they both try to run different directions and it ends with me tripping up all over the place… LOL

Valerie @ Chateau A La Mode - I agree, geese are super creepy. One day I was being good and walking/exercising and a whole flock, gander, whatever, flew right at my head. They literally missed me by 2 inches. I still swear they did it on purpose. My kids think I’m crazy when I tell the story. They don’t believe me 😉

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the weekend.

April 30, 2011

i was on my own this weekend…..with all the kids.

craig was away with guys from our church.
at a lake? in missouri? or arkansas?
mostly golfing i think.
i was happy for him to get a break.

really….i was.
i know how badly i need them….so i was happy for him.
if i can keep my attitude in check then a few days on my own holding down the fort is ok.

i took pictures of saturdays good stuff.

i did sleep in.
the benefit of bigger kids….they let you sleep because they don't need things like diaper changes or bottles.
they can turn on the tv and computer by themselves.
they make their own breakfast.

so i get to sleep.

and they let me get ready in peace for almost an hour!
that rocked.

i snapped a shot that i decided to use as my new profile pic…i have been so happy with that mirror in the kitchen.

most of the kids finished their chores and it was almost noon.
scott was already gone at his basketball practice.
we dropped off sean at his friend's house.
lauren was still asleep.
the little girls and i went to the nursery.

annie was dressed for a birthday party.
she had come into my room and said "don't i look fancy for the party?" it was boy party! :)

my ginormous geranium was my passenger on the way home….
sparkling lemonade….
bloom bag from the pleated poppy!!!

we dropped annie off at the birthday party (forgot the gift!)
talby and i grabbed groceries at the walmarts.
and a cute swim suit cover up for her.
(and a gift for the party)
then came home and her friend came over.

my dinner.

dinner for everyone else was make-your-own. (aka: cereal or chicken nuggets)

sean came home.
scott was back.
lauren and her friend came home.
annie came home.
and two more friends showed up.

lauren announced to the 8 of us that she is making a campfire.

(time for me to join the group instead of listening to everything from the kitchen windows…fire is involved)

they did it….very well in fact.

the light was almost gone…..that is the museum that we live next door to behind lauren.

we made smores with reeses.
the marshmallows MAY have had ants in the bag….but we were desperate…..
people in other countries eat ants right?
it's protein.
right???

expert fire makers.
we have them to thank for our nice end to the day.
it was great….for real.

i wrangled in two for baths.
one started her laundry.

i got the three youngest to bed.
the two older watched a movie.
and i crashed.

it was a good day.

i have flowers to plant.
the house is a wreck.
and half the groceries i got are already gone.
i guess that is what happens when 10 kids are in your house in one day….

and it's fine.

perfectly fine.

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Joseph - pleased to meet your blog…
COME VISIT ME…OK…thank you very much

Karen Gerstenberger - I love…
…your haircut…your new blog header…Sonic…Annie’s outfit…the fact that you went with the campfire…the flexibility that you live with…the fact that your sweetie went on a church trip on his own…your blog…your honesty…your faith…your family.

Kimberly - Sometimes that level of chaos is so awesome 🙂

Anne-Marie from CT - I want to be adopted into your family! Your house looks full of love, laughter, fun, and just plain crazy-kid stuff. 🙂
Btw~Your haircut is fantastic!!! So stinkin’cute. luv, luv, luv it!!

Kate - I love this post. It sounds like a wonderful happy weekend of Mom and kids. It just made me smile.
And yes, people eat ants.

Gina - Love this post! You make the ordinary stuff sound great on your blog-things I wouldn’t normally think about blogging but they are so real I keep reading…. and we are alot alike 🙂 when we had our 1st kid, 5 kids (although my youngest is 11 yr step-daughter and my 2 oldest girls already left the nest), photography, scrapbooking, treasure hunting, I even used to sew (a LONG time ago) although I gave my machine to GOODWILL when we moved 6 months ago! I love the new pic – and the mirror in the kitchen! I’ve been hunting at garage sales for cool frames to paint awesome bright colors for my home and for designer framing for my customers…. I hope we get to meet in person one day 🙂

Wendi - My mother in law eats ants. She bought me some ant eggs to eat one time. Kinda sweet 🙂 I went to a bridal shower next door to you over Christmas… it was fancy yet cozy. Sounds like a great yet full day!

Aimee - Wow, that day gave me chills. Perfection. I can’t wait until we establish nearby friend relationships like that.
And you hit the nail on the head about one of the best parts of kids getting older. I LOVE that they can take care of themselves in the morning. Love, loooooooooove it!!!!!

Kat - Sounds like a great Saturday. (always good to hear what others do on their weekends. I always feel with 4 young kids like I spend lots of time doing washing, feeding kids and more of the same iykwim?)
Sounds like you juggled it all well!
It’s nice to see Lauren hanging at home with the family and wanting to make a campfire to share.

Kristin S - Seriously, your random posts are my fave. I think I’m sick of saying this every time you post random! But it is true. So there.

julia - soooo, who’s Lauren’s “friend”?

Risa - This made me smile! SO. MUCH.

casey - your pictures made me happy;0. love smores, love the giant glasses, love your snapshot of your self in that awesome mirror! Great captures!

danielle - love the smores with reeses…campfire is in order for me and my man after the boys are in bed friday night.

karen - Great profile pic! looked like such a nice weekend.
i want to be in a greenhouse right now!
Here in Toronto…spring has barely sprung.
off to get some left over chocolate from Easter and scoop up some peanut butter 🙂

Laura Phelps - i love a house full of kids
and i love lauren in these pictures
love that she started a fire
the good kind 🙂

Su@The Intentional Home - I am sure you have heard the quote:
If your children spend
most of their time
in other people’s houses,
you’re lucky;
if they all congregate
at your house,
you’re blessed.
You are indeed blessed. . .10 kids!!

jennie - sounds like a picture perfect day. how nice that it’s in print, to be remembered forever.

Jessica Johnson - mac + great lash = all you need in life. my make-up bag looks identical.

regina - i LOVE how real you are!!!!

Sarah @ Handbags*N*Pigtails - chocolate+peanut butter = PERFECTION! Love it!

se7en - Oh fun!!! You have such a great attitude – love it!!!

Sarah@this farm family's life - sounds like a fabulous weekend! I am so jealous that you all are in shorts…it is still cold here.

happygirl - Such a fun Saturday. Love the new profile pic. and, I’ll eat s’mores if they have Reeses AND ants. Not just ants.

Valerie @ Chateau A La Mode - Where do I start? Profile pic…LOVE, Craig away…sad, you took care of the whole family by yourself…awesome, S’mores with Reese’s…sounds like a plan, out of groceries already…sounds like my house 🙂

Danielle - Sounds lovely! I love your bag from the pleated poppy, might have to get one for myself, it’s almost Mother’s Day so I can justify it, right?:) I miss Sonic:( We don’t have one close, literally like an hour and a half away. So when my husband is on that side of town he goes to Sonic and buys me two bags of the crushed ice so I can make believe for awhile. I might need to buy some styrofoam cups to get the full effect. Have a great day!

Amanda - Phew! I’m so glad that things went so well (or they didn’t and you just chose to not tell us about that)!
Reeses smores sound wonderful.

Samantha - Maybe Lake of the Ozarks? Heck I wouldn’t know living in Missouri just a little over a month. Just know from what my grandparents told me that the place they are staying at the Ozarks has a golf course lol.

Jennifer S. - These are the days that I am looking forward to…my kids and all their friends in and out all day long. I love having a house full of people all the time and the kids and their friends are going to be apart of that.

sara @ it's good to be queen - s’mores with reeces?! i. die.

Diana - Part of my ancestry is in that museum next door to you. Such a great heritage. Yeah, I cannot lie, I’m proud of that. 🙂
Flowers so pretty. Gardening… my #1 interest. Too bad winter interferes. LOL!

Alicia @ La Famille - what a nice saturday. and how sweet of you to let your hubby have a break while you took over. i think it’s harder for moms sometimes because we’re with the kids all the time, so we think we’re the only ones in need of a break…at least that’s how i feel 🙂 (most of the time) you’re a sweet mama!

Julia - Sounds like an awesomely exhausting day. I have two little ones (2 1/2 and 4 months) and I not-so-secretly hope when they get bigger, that our house will be the ‘hub’ of kid activity.

Molly - Talby is so cool!!

Cindy B - So fun! Last night I was supposed to go to the movies with my book club, but my 12 year son said, “You’re not coming to my game, Mom?” So I changed my plans because those days will be gone too soon. My 16 year old has her friends over for lunch every day and I am always running out of food too! That’s what Costco and Walmart are for!
You’re looking skinny must be Jillian at work!
Cindy

Cindy - This all sounds so good! Love the smores photos! Makes me long for summer nights. Can’t wait for our frosts to be done. For good. I want to head to the nursery for plants! Thank you for this post. It lifted my spirits and reminded me that groceries that are just purchased and so quickly gone means that there is a house full of loved ones around me.

Jes - That brings me back to summer nights being a kid (except we never had reese’s smores!) Your kids are all so beautiful and unique 🙂
And I am very interested in that Museum next door (wonder what sort of treasures are inside), and how cool that would be for a neighbor!

shelly - What a blessed weekend—for everyone around!!!
I want that..to be the friend hangout (and maybe the museum behind you–loks gorg!)

Kim - um, s’mores with reeses? i just died.
it is a good thing i don’t have easy access to a fire pit right now… 🙂

katie Phillips - Thank you for making me smile today! 🙂 I love all of this…it makes the inside of my ears warm and fuzzy! (that is a good thing!)

Kacey - So that’s what life with 5 kids is like – busy busy busy! And I think my two boys wear me out…
Honestly, it sounded lovely to me. Lots of kids around and a happy house. I love it when you document your days!
Kacey
P.S. Love the new profile pic!

Amy - We are going camping at East Lake this weekend and I CAN’T forget to pack the smores!!

Lisa - I love a house full of my kids and their friends! So fun. Loved that you ate marshmallows with ants! hahaha I would totally just flick them off and go for it! The heat of the fire would kill any germs right?! 😉

Ashlyn - I am with you on the sleep. If I can sleep in on the weekend, I am much happier and ready to drive everyone to & fro!
Love your pleated poppy and what is better than a Sonic drink?
xo

Courtney Walsh - wait. what? S’mores with REESES? Are you KIDDING? I have never even considered that but now I won’t rest till we try them!
And the sleeping in part made me hate you a little. But only for a fleeting second. 🙂
Also, your bag from pleated poppy?? LOVE.
Your hair? Love.
Fancy Annie? Love.
🙂

kristy - I’d like you to know, the only thing I heard in this post was “when the kids are older, you get sleep”. Thank you for giving me hope!!!!!! 🙂 And can I live next door to you?

Georgia - My mum has 3 kids, me being one of them, and quite regulary when i go over there ,y 17yr old brother has about 6 mates round all playing xbox in his tiny bedroom, and my sister will have 3 mates round sitting watching a dvd in the lounge.
My mum is so laid back, her motto is as long as you have fun, and your safe thats all that matters 🙂
(even if she is re-stocking the fridge and cleaning for days afterwards… hehe)

Holly - I recognize your saturday! It sounds similar to mine! We live right in front of the ball fields in our town so we always have kids coming over…..and eating of course!

Charlene @ Adventures In Mommy Land - LOL, can’t believe you guys ate ants (maybe?) I would’ve freaked out!
My kids used to let me sleep in like that too, but now the two youngest boys fight every morning until I wake up and separate them….then I can’t fall back asleep…totally sucks!
Looks like everyone survived and had fun!

Gemma @ Musings of a gem - Sounds like a fab day…I am in love with campfires and s’mores at the moment. It’s part of my summer rital!
Gemma x

valerie - Love your Blog! The pictures in this post are getting me hungry for summer. I have the same thing, flats and flats of flowers just waiting to get some love.

sara@augustfields - megan….you look FABULOUS in that picture! i can not wait to start planting flowers…we have to wait a few more weeks….
i loved your video too 🙂 i did my first video a couple of weeks ago…
hope you have more days like this ahead!

BriBedell - Sounds like a good day to me! I often wonder now how my parents could afford to feed us 6 kids and all our friends….CRAZY!!!

Heather - Mmmmmm. What was your dinner?

MaryLea @ pink and green mama - Sound perfect and I would say that by toasting/roasting the marshmallows those ants didn’t stand a chance! Love the new profile pic and your cute hair-do!! Inspired by your daughter’s haircut last week I think I’ve convinced “C” to let me chop hers off into a short bob again for this summer.
xoxo MaryLea

Ana M - do simple and mundane things are always the best…specially with family…thanks for sharing these moments…

Cathy - what is your yummy looking lunch?

Catherine - I love hearing how similar our times can be! I only have 3 but ages range 17, 12,and 7. 2 boys and a baby girl. Our summers are like that, kids coming and going and just a good time. Don’t you love having kids that are so self sufficient!?

april - Love the new profile pic….sooo cute!
xoxo

Sugar Mama - I loved this entire post, but what caught my attention the most was “half the groceries are already gone….” That has been my life lately with older boys and their friends over at the house. I spent $400 at Costco less than 2 weeks ago and almost ALL of the food is gone!
Life is good. And I like that their friends hang out at our house. And I love that my kids have good friends.
(but do they HAVE to eat all of the food? can’t they bring some from their own home to share?)

ashley jensen - Smores with Reeses???? That sounds awesome. Now I will just have to remember to do that the next time we go camping! I noticed that your tree stump seats and picnic table is paineted with bright colors too!

Molly Pearce - Sounds like a super fun weekend!!! I will have to try smores with Reeses’, thats my hubs favorite candy 🙂
~Molly P

Melanie - Sounds like a great weekend:)

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one more set of spring break 2011.

April 27, 2011

these are from a month ago but i got distracted and forgot to share!

chicago jen and dave got to try ROY'S BBQ.

we crowded into the suburban and headed out to Hutchinson.
craig was at work and i was in charge of getting us there….it was interesting.
we took the scenic route.
ha!

IMG_0015-2
we got to sit at the big red table in the front room!
it's always full.
the kids loved the circle.

approved.
they loved it.
i am so glad they did.
how embarrassing if they had not liked it….after all the hype we've given it all these years.
if your live around here surely you have been here.
it's so good.
SO GOOD.

IMG_0026-4

for my awesome video i chose one the kids favorite songs from our michigan vacation 2010….enjoy.

it's a fabulous video right???

after ROYS we went the Kansas Cosmosphere.
another big hit for the chicagoans.
we paid for many hours to be there and i was really nervous it was going to be a a bomb but they all loved it!
my kids learned a lot….loved the science shows….a month later they are still quoting the guy from the
constellation show.
"the armpit"

annie drew this when we got home.
complete with justin bieber lyrics….it's all of us in front of the rocket at the cosmosphere.

played a lot of foozball, pool and ping pong.

two goobers.
in matching shirts.

miss you chicago jen!!!

can't we just visit each other every month???

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Heidi Jo the Artist - Love the super big RED round table. I don’t like our oblong dining room table and have been thinking it would be awesome to replace with a round table, so everyone can see and talk with each other better, love it, especially in RED!
Kansas Cosmosphere here we come, well sometime. My son loves astronomy and this would be a perfect adventure for us. Not sure if we will be able to fit it into our summer though, booked pretty solid already and summer hasn’t even started yet!! Will be going on a tour here in May: http://www.nasa.gov/centers/glenn/about/testfacilities/plumbrook.html
Great video and matching shirts too!

Kathy - Have you ever printed your blog into book form? If you have, what are your recommendations on who to use? Thanks!

Valerie @ Chateau a La Mode - What would we do without super duper friends?!

Julie - I want to go to Roy’s. Bad. I want that big crazy red table.
Can you make those things happen?

Jennifer - Good girlfriends are the best! What a great friendship you have and what a gift to show your children what friendship looks like!

robin - your Annie reminds me so much of my daughter (looks and facial expressions) that when I see her on your blog, she makes me smile just from the similarities!
Cute video for sure.

Steph - We have recently moved and though I have struggled immensely, I realize that some deeply treasured friendships can handle long distance. Every time I see pictures of Chicago Jen and her fam, I am reminded of my California Kristen! Love it! Thanks for sharing!!

Dawn - Looks like a great time. The pictures were so funny of Annie. Too cute.

kat - These pictures are so cute!! I wish I could visit my best friends every month too!!!

Danielle - Annie is so stinkin’ cute:)

melanie - those polka dot shirts are super cute, where did you get them? I love memory making. thanks for sharing it with us.

Charlotte - looks like so much fun…what a blessing to have such a dear friend..you & Chicago Jen are very lucky ladies! Such precious kiddos too. thanks for sharing…love the video and the girls in the matching shirts!

Holly - Looks like yall had so much fun! We have Carl’s Perfect Pig here! It is YUMMO!

Sarah @ Handbags*N*Pigtails - fun fun fun. Love the girls in their matching shirts. And if I ever get the chance to come visit you in Kansas can you please take me to ROY’s? Im starving right now and wanted to lick my screen!It looks soooo good.
xo,
Sarah

pam - If you haven’t done it yet check out the Underground Salt Museum. It’s out by the BIGGEST grain elevator. http://www.undergroundmuseum.org/index.php We’ve never taken anyone to the Cosmosphere who has been disappointed. We still go to Hog Wild when we visit my parents. Dad talks about Roy’s but it’s never open when we’re there…..

Staci - So very fun!

Iris - Love the pictures at Roy’s BBQ. I live in Northern Canada, but have friends in Hillsboro, so when I went to visit a few years ago, they took me to Roy’s. YUM!! All friends should share Roy’s with their friends 🙂

Kate @ Songs Kate Sang - YAY! I get to see my Chicago Jen TONIGHT! Flying to Dallas to surprise a college roomies for her b-day. We are meeting at DFW and finding a place to laugh all night long!

Sarah@this farm family's life - Love good friends!

happygirl - This just looks like so much FUN. I can’t believe you were nervous. In real estate it’s LOCATION LOCATION LOCATION. With visitors it’s the FRIENDSHIP the FRIENDSHIP the FRIENDSHIP.

Heather R. - Need to check out that BBQ joint and the Cosmo place! They might make our summer list. 🙂 Love the video. Can’t believe how much Chicago Jen’s kids resemble them. Cute.

Kimberlee Jost - Thank you for making me WISH that the first grade field trip was to Roys. 🙂

Carol S - Loved the video and the pictures and Roy’s looks fabulous! That toasted bread alone looks worth the trip. Could your son take a bigger bite next time? Happy times, thank you God for good friends and family and bbq sandwiches! Have a wonderful Wednesday Meg!

Terrie G - I hate to admit it, but I’ve lived here a year and I’m not sure I’ve even heard of Roy’s BBQ. Maybe my boys have been there. I’m sure we’ll check it out soon.
I recognized exactly where you were in Annie’s picture…I drive by it enough! 🙂
And I think I’ll go download the original version of that song so I don’t have the chipmunks in my head all day long. Cute video! 🙂

Julia - What a fun time. Could I please borrow Chicago Jen?
Kat…enjoy your last good year. Just kidding.
Maybe

Kat - Cute pics, esp of Annie and friend!
My kids also love that song and so do I, although maybe not the chipmunk version, lol.
Just want to say that it is my b’day today. Last year of being 39! Eek.
Hope your day is going well and that you get to see Chicago Jen again soon.
I won’t get to see my bestie until I turn 40, a whole year away.

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winner & eggs & SUMMER

April 26, 2011

*****************************

IMG_1006-1
i put off dying eggs until the last minute.
i wanted sunshine and to do it outside…..and to do it all by myself….if i’m being honest.
but kids like to dye eggs too so i had to share.

we had to do it inside.
in the kitchen.
and i just tried my very best to relax about DYE right next to all my white cabinets.
not sure if i succeeded.

our packets of colors was strange.
we ended up with green…greener….blue….and peach eggs.
not the prettiest set but still fun to make.

i can breath easier now.
it’s done for the year.

and i have lots of hard boiled eggs to eat.
yum.

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add a comment

Stephanie - Hi there – not leaving a comment for the book – commenting on your egg decorating!
Do you raise chickens for eggs? (I noticed the brown eggs!) We do and we color brown eggs every year! I love the rich, darker coloring that we always get! They look much country-er! (If that is a word!) Here is how we get better coloring – we don’t use the store bought kits!
All I did was bring water to almost boiling, while that is warming, in coffee cups (1 for each color) pour about 1/2″ – 1″ of vinegar, when water is hot, pour into cups until about 1″ from top (depending on how big your cups are) Then I used the paste food coloring. I used 1/2 a baby spoon full and mixed until it was all the way dissolved. And VIOLA! Let your eggs sit and soak for a little bit and the colors will amaze you!! If you check out my blog – http://www.alittlebitathisnthat.blogspot.com – I have an Easter egg swag that I made out of colored brown eggs! Thanks for letting me share!

s - lazy late afternoons at the lake that turn into evening and we still haven’t left for home or eaten dinner and instead we eat goldfish and pretzels and watch the golden light fade before packing up and heading home for showers, baths and bed.

Emily - My best part of summer is going on vacation to the beach! I’d love to win a copy of this beautiful book.

Courtney M - Best part of summer in 3 words: flip-flops, s’mores, sun!

regina - the best part of summer is EVERYTHING!!! lighting bugs, lying on a blanket and looking up at the stars, lots of movie nights on the back porch, swimming at anytime, cookouts, bonfires (yes we have them in the summer), playing outside and totally forgetting about dinner until its 8:00, going out on the lake, lying on the porch reading a book, though this year it will be a nook:)…i could keep going on and on:)

Lynn - I just wanted to tell you that you have totally inspired me to start taking my photography more seriously. Your gorgeous pictures take my breath away. I bought an SLR and am still learning but I’m really excited and just wanted to say thanks! 🙂

Roberta - How exciting. The book looks awesome. My favorite part of summer is having the kids home with me and not having to have any set schedule. Sleeping late, day trips, ahhhh, can’t wait!

mandy sadler - Best part of summer is no school and we are moving!!! Thanks for the chance…

Jane - the best part of summer is eating the home grown veggies from the garden, my favourites are tomatoes and basil – yum! I would love to win this magazine cos in Australia we’re heading into winter so it Wouk give me lots of lovelies to look forward to!!

Jennie - most definitely the pool!

Cherie T - Stepping into a cold pool on a hot day.

Kerstie - Best part of summer, out door movie nights with the neighborhood.
Kerstie

Vonda - I can’t believe that I forgot to say the best part of summer is when my sister that lives in Florida comes to visit us with her family!!!! That is way up on the top of my list! Up there with having the kiddos home!:)

Caroline - family talent shows on the patio
going to the beach as a family
BLTs with fresh basil
being at the neighborhood pool
no early bus
no rigid schedules
catching lightning bugs with my kids

Lin - Naps outside.

Julie - Frozen lemonade and sandal tan lines

Christy - The best part of summer is eating almost all of our meals outdoors and not feeling guilty if supper isn’t served before 8. There’s too much great stuff going on to get to it before then!

Kristen - many things but. . .first on my mind is staying up late and sleeping in without that alarm clock!

Karen - Aaahhh! The best part of summer……. running outside in bare feet, feeling a cool breeze blow through your light cotton dress, having a cold glass of white wine on a patio on a sultry, hot, humid evening, getting “caught” by a sprinkler on a neighbourhood stroll, watching the sun set on an endless expanse of beach, slurping a popsicle that is melting quicker than you can eat it, al fresco breakfasts in your backyard, lazy no plan days (hopefully lots of them!) and of course, gardening! flowers, vegetables, berries, all there for the taking and enjoying. Oh summer, hurry up and arrive!

Rachael B - The best part of my summer is going to hawaii to visit my brother whom is a missionary. He is only in hawaii for a short while every year resting and training before his next big outreach 🙂 this summer i am lucky enough to be seeing him for a whole month!

Karen - Cross-country road trips to visit family!

holly - the best part of summer is the beach. i know you live a really long way from the beach, but i used to live far too. now i live close. i don’t live close to barns and thrift stores, though!

Lori - The best part of my summer is when the house is a mess, laundry is piled high, beds are unmaid and toys on the floor…the kids and I can forget it all and go outside! Sunshine can fix just about anything. Bring on the sprinkler and freezer pops!

Heather Earl - Best part is spending time with my kids at the beach, vacation bible school, summer reading program, the beach, and of course fourth of july cookout! LOVE summer!

Linda B - That my husband, the college professor, has a more relaxed schedule.

Gretchen - Best part of summer: Lazy Days with my kids, Swimsuits,Late nights playing outside, Visiting my Aunt and Uncles Cabin, Pond swiming, fishing, Fresh veggies from our garden, FLIP-FLOPS!, Slowed down schedule and more time as a family. Thanks for all your inspiration.

Amy Moon - The best part of summer is that sense of endless possibilities. Instead of, “Is your homework done, did you do your reading, you need WHAT for class tomorrow?” I get to say, “What should we do today?” And then the next day I get to do that again.
Oh…and gardening. I love my garden…almost as much as my kids! Hundreds of homegrown tomatoes baby!

Vonda - The best part of summer is definitely having the kids home! No schedules, staying up late and sleeping in, swimming, barbecueing, and taking our 30 pound pug for a walk. I love the flowers and the long days too! We live across from a campground and they have movie night on Saturday nights-so fun! It is definitely my favorite season!:)

Kim Howell - three girls in the pool non stop for 3 months!!

Alice H - I like taking the majority of my vacation days and being with my kids ALL day. And the swimming pool. And the smell of sunscreen. And the lake with friends.

virginia - the sunshine!

jennifer - Summer is…going barefoot everyday…sunshine…homemade ice cream…swimming…wildflowers…visiting on the front porch…and napping in a hammock!

Tammy Sabourin - The prospect of seeing our extended family while on vacation! We live very far away from them, so cherish any opportunity and this summer looks like it will work for all of us. 🙂

carrie - Taking the girls to the beach 🙂

Staci - SLEEPING IN!!!!!!!!!! Thanks Megan!!!!

Emily - The best part of summer is having garden fresh tomatoes growing in my backyard!

deborah@applesinwonderland - best part about summer? that it needs to be celebrated everyday. because we know it goes too fast. and the beach and cooking outside and lightening bugs and bonfires and flip-flops and vine ripened tomatoes and peaches and grass between your toes and sunshine and no school and (well, that’s probably enough).

Anne - I love not having anywhere that we “have” to be during the summer! Our school year is jam packed with scheduled activities, so it’s such a relief to “chill” during the summer months. 🙂

Jeannie P - Hands down, the best part of summer is having my kids home every minute of the day!

Rachel Newswanger - The birds sing’in, the sunshine & NO school schedule to keep up with!

erica - the endless sunny days without an agenda – just me and my 3 lil ones:)

Ruth H. - The best part of my summer is the FREEDOM. I get to have my kids with me all day long, and our schedule is (mostly) wide open. We get to decide what we do all day. I love having my kids to myself!

julie - the best part of my summer is that i get to be a stay at home mom for 9 weeks. i’m a teacher! wahooo!!

Jenny B. - The best part of summer for me is NO SCHOOL! I’m a teacher, and my summer break starts next Friday! Woo-Hoo!

Annie - my favorite part of summer is sleeping with the windows open..listening to the crickets and the cool breeze blowing on my face after a long hot day!!

Whitney R - Grilling, kids with me, swimming, porch swinging, bike riding, lazy days!

Terrie - Best part of summer is the beautiful flowers that I like to plant, then I can spend days outside taking pics…may not happen this year! I’m having so much fun in my new craft room, that I may never go outside!!
BTW, as I was going through the Jan. ’11 issue of Creating Keepsakes…I saw a perfect layout title for your girls and their boots…These boots are made for splashing! You would have great pics to make that a cute page! You may have already done a page like that…but had to think of you when I saw it!

Jennifer Roehl - Lazy days with my family cause we’ll be staying home a lot this summer! We’re adopting baby #3 in June!

Mary - The best part is traveling “home” to Kansas. I’ve lived in Colorado for 20 years, but Kansas is still “home”. This year on my way from my in-laws to my parents home, I will be stopping in Marion at that fabulous antique place you blogged about! Oh, my boys will hate it but I can’t wait….

Rachel B. - Love summer evenings! My husband and I sneak ice cream and sit outside after the kids go to bed!

Sally - Congratulations! How exciting that you work continues to be recoginzed.
My favorite part of summer is hanging out at my Dad’s lake house in the adirondack mountains. It’s so nice to wear a sweatshirt in the summer…ahh! And a huge bonus to be with family since we live out-of-state.

Julie - My husband is a school teacher and I’m a SAHM, so we take the summer off and travel with our two children!

Jennifer - Not having to get up early and get the kids off to school, lazy days, going to CA to visit family and friends… the list goes on!

Ann R. - Spending time with the family, not so much rushing, no homework, no schedule, the beach and lemonade stands!

Kari - Spending the entire day with my almost two year old little lady…running, biking, reading, sunning, singing, swimming…I can hardly wait!

jodi - the best part of the summer is living near my mom (who lives at the beach) after living 1000 miles away for 15 years… my mom rocks!
jodi in pa

amy jupin - i am flipping out excited for you with this whole summer thing!
i’m freakin out!!
but let’s be honest here…the best part of summer isn’t the beach or lemonade or hammocks. the best part is NO HOMEWORK!
🙂

Janelle - I live in the Virgin Islands – every day is summer! My least favorite months are actually June through September because of the threat of hurricanes. But the best thing about living in a year long summer? Wearing shorts & flip flops all the time!

Melanie - Best part of summer…cookouts with the family, sitting on the patio late into the night with a glass of wine, leaving the bedroom window open while I sleep and hearing the frogs croaking, going to my niece’s baseball games, working in my garden, being barefoot, eating ice cream, swimming in a cold pool on an exceptionally hot day.

Robin - where to start….flip flops and bare feet, sunshine and late nights, BBQ and lemonade…I could go on and on and on and on…

ShelbyP - Hmm, I love pool time, being out in the sun, random trips to the library and evening BBQs with friends!

EllenVR - pool, Freddie’s frozen custard, friends, horseshoes…and if I’m lucky lots of the lake

Margo - The best parts of my summer are bbq’s, ball games, and adult beverages on the patio with good friends.

Karen A. - Best part of my summer is spending 5 weeks on a lake in the Adirondacks with my four girls (age 2-10)- with my sister-in-law, our 4 nephews (age 3-11), and my inlaws – and being able to go to Camp of the Woods which is just on the other side of the lake from us. Second best thing is jumping off the dock into the lake after a run! 🙂

Joanna - The best part of my summer is not being cold.

Mrs. - Summer…sticky hands holding drippy popsicles while watching an orange sunset in the cool, green, fresh cut grass.

elizabeth highsmith - mcdonalds ice cream cones-they are the best fun a dollar can buy-i once thought i’d keep a record of how many i consume in a summer-then i realized i can’t count that high!

Stacey - Summer= pretty much no schedule and lots of lazy days!

Stacy - I do not work in the summer so I get to spend everyday with my son. We read, go to the library and find a lot of free stuff to do!

Meredith - I love bare feet in the summer!!!!

courtney - my favorite activity of summer is sitting on the porch with my husband watching our three little ones jump around in the sprinkler. it makes the grass and sunscreen covered kitchen floor ever so worth it!

Linda War Bonnet - The best part of summer….weekly concerts in the park!!!

cheryl - my husband, who is a school teacher, being home for the summer with us!

Nicole Q. - Don’t know if I can only list one . . . oh so many favorites . . . the pool would rank up at the top!!!

phyllis - I love EVERYTHING about summer – especially the yummy summer fruit!

merlin - letting go
and letting time
have its way
never looking at a clock

Kelli - Definitely the farmer’s market in our little town! Then coming home and figuring out a yummy dinner with my finds!

Rebecca L. - Since I love summer so much I can’t decide:
1. long sunshinie days
2. watermelon!
3. that shadow that falls across everything in the evening when the sun is at that perfect spot.
4. sweet corn
5. swimming
6. grilled ANYTHING…mmm.
7. porch swings/ hammocks/ lawn chairs
8. Popsicles with the juice dripping down to your elbows.
9. flip flops!
10. This summer means my FIRST ANNIVERSARY and I can’t wait to celebrate with my favorite man!

alaina - My favorite part of summer is all my children under one roof (2 are in college)and living at the softball field watching them play!!! I just get all giddy thinking of having my kids home once again and just being together…that is bliss (until the dishes need to be done!)

maribeth - a sno cone on a hot summer day . . . so yummy!

Rachel - Honestly, the best part of summer for me is not working. I’m a teacher and I’m not gonna lie…I love my summer vacation! Last summer I went to Italy and France and was gone for nearly the entire two months. It was awesome. I can’t afford to do that again this summer, plus I have to finish my masters degree. But still…no work. Ahhhh.

Lizz - It would have to be making Art outside with some brand new kiddos! Oh, and eating frozen yogurt!!

Jen - the best part of summer is sitting on the stoop in a cool summer breeze, sipping lemonade watching the kids play & relaxing.

Debbie - The best part of summer is knowing that I do not have to drop my child off at a babysitter’s house. I get to stay home with her and go to the zoo and take painting classes and play at the beach in the sand and blow bubbles and whatever we want.

Courtney Henson - The best part of my summer is roasting marshmallows over the fire pit in the backyard at night..twinkle lights on and the atmosphere just perfect and lounging on the hammock soaking up the warm rays of sunshine while my kids play in the backyard!

Tanya - My favorite part of summer is going to the beach, whether it be nearby or while on vacation. Love it! This year will be bittersweet as it is the last summer before my daughter starts school, so we will certainly make the best of the last few months before big school start

Lori - lazy mornings with the kids…NO MAKING SCHOOL LUNCHES…coming and going as we please (for the most part:))…

susie - savoring a slower pace of life with my family…heaven

Suzanne D - grilling out and spending time with my family!!

robyn - our camping trip to glacier national park in montana! the kids talk about it all winter long 🙂

stacie - right now i want summer so badly that i must say sunshine, all my babies in the nest together, ice cream, outdoor fires, grilled dinners, carefree time, margaritas and camps for the kids!

Lacey - finially going to the beach! we didn’t get to go at all last year because of the oil spill. Can’t wait to stick my toes in the sand and relax while the kids splash and play.

Penny - Being off work all summer!! Spending time with my girls, reading on the deck, cooking out, sitting around the fire pit roasting marshmallows. Oh so many things I just can’t pick one favorite!
This summer we will have a litter of Goldendoodle puppies to raise, too!!

shelley - the most wonderful part of summer is the long days. Little Jude and stay outside late and watch the sun go down while we play out on the deck with chalk and his water table.

Heather - The cottage. Slipping into the lake for the first time every summer is golden. When I wake up early and head down to the dock in time to catch the sun coming over the trees and the mist rising off the water I know we are not alone.

Jennifer G. - The best part of summer…….beach, beach, beach. Love the salty smell, kids and their sand castles, and sounds of the waves crashing over and over! Oh and a margarita in there somewhere!

Tami Hiebert - My son just saw this and said, “You should say the best part of your summer is when your kids don’t fight!” Pretty good answer!

Laura Gentle - Sitting in my swing hung from a hundred year old oak tree with a good book; roasting marshmallows in the fire pit and making smores with exotic candy bars and homemade cookies; fishing at the lake all day and then cooking a fish feast for dinner with coleslaw, hushpuppies and cheese grits; chasing fireflies with my one and only child makes me most happy. Smiling just thinking about it!

carly - cookouts, lighting bugs and sidewalk chalk with my kids!!!

Denise - The best part of summer is when my family comes to visit!

Erin T. - Our family vacation in the Outerbanks! I am so looking forward to lounging around at the pool and the beach, playing with my littles and studying photography/taking lots of pictures!

Danielle - Going to the beach with my kids, barbecues and eating outside. Making s’mores outside by the fire. And SUN, glorious SUN!!! We don’t get a whole lot of it in WA.

Heidi - I LOVE lazy mornings!

Jenna - Not working, going to the lake as much as possible, and pretty much everything else. Summer is the BEST.

Carrie Haywood - The past two summers I have been VERY pregnant and delivered babies (June 2009 and August 2010) so usually it’s having my new, beautiful bundle of joy here with me.. but this year my best part of summer will be spending time with them, showing them new, fun things.. can’t wait to take them swimming!! 🙂

Eli - Best part of summer: sitting on the dock, for hours and hours, with nothing more important to do.

Dani - I love that I don’t have to rush around at night with my kids. They can stay up later if they want to. Dinner is not a rush to finish so baths can be taken. Summer time is much more laid back for us. I also LOVE to take my kids camping.

Jennifer - The best part about summer is having my kids home and working and playing together!

Jenny - Being outside all day, no structure, kids running around the yard, sprinklers, pools, splashing, bubbles, margarita evenings, sand boxes, kids who smell like sunblock, the beach, frozen pops (any kind), music on the patio, cold food, sundresses, friends…friends…and more friends, water guns, swingsets, sticky kid fingers, art projects outside, bikes, gardens…we live in South Carolina where it become sticky hot and humid…so, I cannot leave out the amazing feeling of coming inside and showering and hanging out with my hubby after an amazing fun filled super hot day. Bring on the Summer!

jennibell - Best part of summer. . .days at the pool with the kids!!! And BBQs.

alise - best part of summer is having no schedule and going to the beach, flip flops and eating outside!!!
thanks for the chance to win….

Rebecca - Caprese salad with fresh mozzarella and tomatoes and basil picked from my garden. Drizzle with olive oil and balsamic–best lunch ever!

Rebecca - Fun Fridays! As a reward for good behavior and cooperation all week, we have a swimming/play date with friends. We meet after lunch at a friends house (who has a pool), the boys swim and play and have snacks and moms have frozen margaritas or lemonades with vodka. Good for the kids, GREAT for the mamas!

Alicia @ La Famille - Best part of summer: flip-flops, skirts, NO coats!

se7en - Oh we are headed into winter over here and we have had three days of rain after months of not a drop and I tell you first hand the BEST thing about summer is so much less laundry!!! T-shirt and shorts all round compared to jeans, shirts, sweaters, jackets, hats, socks… I could go on about the laundry but I am trying to embrace the cold – failing dismally!!! I love summer and wish it was always summer!!!

jennifer - Sleeping in and stuffing as much fun as possible into those too short 8 weeks!

Kathy - We homeschool and ar always together and can technically MAKE time for things. BUT there is something about warm Summer evenings and bright sunny days that just feel like you have been given time. The pressures melt away and fun extra things get done without guilt.

Stacey - The best part of summer is the lazy, fun days with BOTH of my kids at home! Love it!

nicki - I’m in NP school, so the BEST is the 3 weeks in August that we have off before the fall semester! Lots more time with family & friends instead of the books! 🙂

Camm Taylor - No schedules…going with the flow….sandy toes at the beach….ice cold beer on a hot night….summer storms….so much! LOVE summer!

Chantelle - My birthday!!!! Usually a trip to the nail salon, a sip of sweet red wine, a relaxing walk on the beach and/or a stress-free visit to the local bookstore, topped off by a hearty meal with my fam! BRING IT!!!

Mel - The kids being home from school. . . and if I had to be honest, I would add that my second favorite part is when the kids go back when summer winds down!! Is that bad?

Sandra K - The best thing about summer – where to start?!
– Lots and lots of time with lots of friends at our awesome community pool
– Diet cokes and soft pretzels at that pool
– Grilling out!
– Awesome produce from my li’l garden or the farmer’s market, especially tomatoes and sweet corn!
– Sno-cones
– S’mores in the backyard
– Dining outside!
– No school and more time with my kids

Sarah - Man you must have a lot of followers…look at all those comments! My fav part of summer is the pool and the color my skin soaks in from the sun. I miss the sun. Someday…

Tracy - I love to spend time with my family outside….going to the pool, grilling outside, going fishing, going to the park, riding bike, the zoo, and playing golf….love it all!

Mindy Harris - Of course I’d love to win my own copy!
The best part of summer is family vacations, freshly mowed grass and the scent thereof, and catching fireflies.
And swimming.
And watermelon.
And laying out in the sun (but only for 10 mins).

Sara M. - Going to the beach on Lake Michigan!

Amy - Swimming in ponds, swimming in lakes, swimming in rivers, swimming in streams! I live in New England so the summer months are the only time I get to swim outside and it is FANTASTIC!!!!!!!!!!!

Jacqui - the warmth of the sun on my face and the endless hours outside:)

Trena - I mean…under the stars!

Tanya H - Every summer since before we had kids (oldest is 9) my husband has run a scout camp in the summer. It can be fun but even when we all live there with him Daddy-time is precious, hard to come by and impossible to have his full attention. This year, he doesn’t have a camp assigment and we are all so excited we can hardly stand it! 😀 We’re gonna have some actual FAMILY time instead of just mommmy-kid time!

Trena - the best part of summer for me…not having to pack school lunches…Just kidding…campfires with my family in the yard until the stars! ♥

Shanna - This summer will be special because I’m having a baby!!!!!!!

Alisa - I grew up in Kansas, but I moved away just before I turned 16 in 1986 – and I’ve never been back. For me summer is the blue open sky in Kansas, a yellow sunflower taller than yourself, the taste of a limeaide, the smell of chlorine in my hair, and the feel of a swimsuit dry the minute you step out of a pool. I now have a family of my own and live in Europe – but I sometimes miss the feeling of those long summers in Kansas, and wish my kids could someday feel it too.

Juli - I’ve already pre-ordered my copy (thanks for original heads-up) but I’d love to win a copy for my friend, Amanda! The best part of THIS coming summer, in particular, is that my husband is taking off the semester from his Master’s program so that he can play with us! I am GIDDY!

Donna - Best part of summer……wearing flip flops everyday, and having some time off work to spend with my favorite people….my family 🙂

Michelle - The best part of summer is our annual family reunion week – and this year will be even better ’cause my cousin and I will have our firstborns with us. There hasn’t been a baby in the family in 26 years!

Simies - Best part of my summer is be with my family. Relax at home or by the sea in Italy 🙂

erin - time spent on, in, or by the water….pool, lake, ocean…i’ll take all three!

dawn - Last year we were without our own home, we lived in MANY different places. This summer will be a treat. No moving, no suitcases, our own home/space/stuff… That time really reminded me how little you truly need and how good it feels to just have your own little place in the world. 🙂

Meredith Salmon - I can’t wait to get it. When I first started my job 4 years ago, Tricia Foley was still working here. She would not know me, but she is very creative and has tons of great ideas and takes great pictures, just like you Meg. Congrats!!!!

Robyn - The beach and warm sunshine!!!

Kirsten J - Best part of summer (you mean those 3 or 4 weeks we get here in Seattle?) would be waking up, taking an early walk and then watering my flowers after I get back. Yep, happens about 1/2 dozen times every summer….and, why, yes, I am bitter about where I live lately….

rosemarie - sunshine and swimming in the pool with kids….

sara @ it's good to be queen - oh i really want to win!! the best part of summer is having a cookout with friends and sitting outside for hours talking and laughing while the kids play. can’t wait!

colleen - best part of summer…it’s NOT winter or spring (not very nice here)!!!!! and i’m a teacher…so days to stay at home with MY kids and enjoy the sun…what’s not to love?

Kasey - The best part of my summer this year is going to be having my second baby!

Ana G - The best part of summer for me is the beach! Even though we live in the Pacific NW, where the water is chilly, and the beaches are mostly rocky, my kids LOVE playing in the water and I LOVE hanging on the beach. Looking forward to it! 🙂

Jenni Carlisle - Yeah for Melissa…better yet YEAH for SERGEY!!!! Best part of Summer for me is that I’m a homeschool/stay at home Mom, so I just get to BE with my kids. For years as a working Mom I battled feeling guilty only getting a week off, now I get them the whole summer! Love it!

Kelly O. - the best part of my summer is the twinkly lights on in the backyard and me and my laptop on the porch just listening to the crickets

Katie Sellers - Summer is just more relaxed. This summer my favorite part will be vacationing all over Florida with my kids. It is a stay-cation for us, but we will be starting Key West, moving on to Marco Island and then up to the Destin panhandle! Can’t wait!

LeAnne - blueberries eaten straight off of the tree!

Jes - Our summers consist of a lot of family outdoor fun activities: bike riding, sidewalk chalk, bike riding, swimming, bike riding, fishing, yes we do a lot of bike riding. Most of all, just the relaxing moments Summer brings. The kids can stay up later (not going to bed with the sun up), evening walks, fishing for a whole day! I love summer!

Kirsten P - Sitting on the deck reading a book while listening to the wind rustle the leaves of the cottonwood trees – 25 of them! Walking along the shore of a Great Lake. Enjoying the flowers of summer.

Lori - Best part of summer….the relaxed schedule and atmosphere – we get together with friends more often, even on a weeknight when we have to go to work the next day. And all that fresh produce! Love summer…

Tracie - Not having to force my daughter out of bed in the morning, that’s the best part. We all love to sleep in during the summer, and drink lots and lots of iced tea!

TonyaElise - Summer clothes! So much more fun than winter – sandals, tanks, sun dresses…yea!

Lelia - Having no schedule to stick to so I can spend extra time with the kiddos!! =)

Kimberly Au - Love my summers! One of the reasons I became a teacher was so that I could still enjoy my WI summers to the fullest, now with my own kids. Simple things like going to the wading pool, zoo and concerts in the park. This summer is especially exciting as we are expecting our third baby in just a few weeks!

Jessica R - The best part of summer is fresh, homemade ice-cream!! Something sweet to beat the heat!

AshleyAnn - Days full of nothing but being at home together. Being at home.
It is so stinkin’ cool that you are in that magazine…smart move on their part!

Leslie - The best part of summer is the warm nights so we can “camp” in the backyard. We bbq, roast marshmellows, play board games, run around with flash lights and leave ALL electronic devices (cell phones, etc.) in the house.

Jennifer - My very FAVORITE – early mornings alone with my coffee and the hose, soaking the hydrangeas, followed by breakfast topped with ripe strawberries, and then turning on the sprinkler and watching the children turn their swing set/fort into a water land while I sit across the yard and sip iced tea with my camera and a good magazine in hand. Does it get any better?

Laura in LA - Abundant sunshine, sprinklers, tomatoes, peas, blueberries!!! Ahhh, can’t wait.

Maureen Troop - I just love having my kids home and we can decide each day what we WANT to do, not what HAS to be done! I love the relaxed pace and time together!

Southern Gal - The part when we can all get away to the beach as a family. Sit in my beach chair, toes in the water and a good book in my hand with kids playing in the surf. Absolute favorite.

Terri Upton - The best part of summer is the relaxed and carefree feeling.

Jes - best part of the summer is our July vacation by the beach with my family, especially dinner for the whole 15 of us at Aunt Carrie’s Restaurant (Narragansett RI)

cindy - Checking off things from our summer fun list…esp. craft friday which was inspired by you! 🙂

Sarah Vincent - This summer will be a little different because I am joining team “Stay Home Mom” so this year I am really looking forward to the whole Summer with my two kiddos!!

Molly - the best part of summer is being home with my two girls! i absolutely love it! i count down to summer every year like a kid i am a teacher, so really it’s not that different!:)

Sarah - The pool! And the lake! 🙂

julia - That looks like a whole lot of egg salad {I didn’t even do the whole dye-ing egg thing this year…not my fave thing to do}.

Rebecca - My favorite part of summer is the sunshine and the WARMTH. After a roller coaster spring, that is what I am ready for!
Thanks for the giveaway!

Melissa Lynch - Slowing down..no running to dance, gymnastics, chior..just enjoying each other at night instead of homework? bedtime?

Amy - ALL of summer is awesome. Sun dresses, flip flops, swimsuits, warm lakes, longer days, running thru sprinklers, SWIMMING, picnics, kid-filled front & back yards, star gazing, SWIMMING, water skiing, warm sand between the toes, cute little chubby bodies w/ tan lines…… And having my oldest home from school w/ us. (1st grade, & his first year to be in all day. *sigh*)

april - just chilling with my three lovelies at the beach~ living so close to lake michigan has advantages. we do a summer beach tour to hit our favs. st. joe, south haven, and warren dunes…just to name a few~~oh i wish it was summer now!

Beth Ann - Best part of summer? Lots of days with no schedules and lots of activities to pick from! Lots of evenings around a fire pit with the kids running around outside playing with friends. And after 9 straight days of clouds and rain – SUNSHINE!!!

shiela - camping in our backyard…our 5 yr old daughter getting all excited about doing car wash with her daddy…playdates with friends at church…both of our kids birthday are in the summer…vacation, vacation!!!

merran tatum - eating watermelon and playing outside…and candle-lit outdoor dinners with the hubs. love.

Amanda - Hmmmm, there are so many things to love about summer…..sunshine, warm weather, swimming, sleeping in, being outside, hanging with my girls……I love it all 🙂

Angela Atkins - Fun days with my kids with lots of sunshine and blue skies.

Jen - The SUN!!!!

Jody - Dusk..I love running around outside w kiddos, catching fire flies & watching sun set w our fire pit goin’ w smores!! So fun.

Amanda F. - I love EVERYTHING about summer. The weather, the fruit, the flowers, gardening, kids home from school, traveling, open windows, bug noises, frog noises, lawnmower noises, everything.
We’ve recently moved to California and I am looking forward to a whole new summer experience.

Jen - A more relaxed schedule and all the time I spend watching the kids play softball/baseball. Really, the entertainment value of little kids playing ball is amazing!!

Patricia - I love everything about summer … but right now the thing I’m most looking forward to is no school, no homework, no helping the kids study for tests, no projects, no papers, and no book bags strewn all over the place! Just being honest :o)

rachel p - Being outside with my 2 little boys!! They are so tired of being indoors, and I’m so tired of playing in MUD PUDDLES 😉 We’re all ready for sunshine and bathing suits and lightning bugs and bellies stained from popsicles!

Gale - Best part of summer in Kansas…. hmmmmmm…. not the heat…. not having to shovel snow comes to mind.. LOL!! Seriously, love just hanging out, being lazy, being light at 8:30pm, grilling, wearing my Toms, drinking margaritas on the deck… what’s not to like? 🙂

Nicky Simmons - easy… floating on the lake with a cold beer in my hand!

Jenny K - Eating outside. At home or a restaurant on a sidewalk or better yet a deck overlooking the ocean!

Kim Barlow - The best part of summer for me is more FREEDOM!!! No more practices, No more games, no more 1.5 hour commute each way (for school drop offs and then to work), no more homework battles, no more packing of lunches and the laundry is a LOT lighter! WOOT WOOT!! And most IMPORTANTLY more chances to be bask in the SUNSHINE with friends and family!! I LOVE SUMMERTIME!!!

Amy - Being home with my kids and eating lunch on the back patio!

Dana Banana - Living at the pool!! (hope you and your fam will join me there!)

Susanna - No carpool, bare feet(and painting little toenails funky colors) and family meals outside!

Sarah @ Handbags*N*Pigtails - Best part of summer? Visiting my parents cottage on a small lake about an hour away.They’ve had it for 35 years and its nothing fancy but its RELAXING to be there and wake up to hear the water outside your bedroom window.
Their taxes keep drastically increasing each year and theyre not sure how long they’ll be able to keep the cottage so each summer that we have there is a gift!

Su@The Intentional Home - best part of summer. . is less tight of a schedule. . do not have to get up at certain time, do not have to get in car and drop kids off and pick kids up. . .thanks for the opportunity to win a copy of the magazine. . .

jeana - I’ve asked for this for my birthday! I would love to win! My summer favorite? Reading outside in a hammock while the kids are playing.

jayne Barbour - best part of summer is not having to be anywhere and just enjoying the lazy days!

Jill @ Cora Anne Designs - Best part about summer…hmm…only one??? How about lots of time spent outdoors with awesome neighbors, family and friends!!

Alyssa - EVERYTHING! But for this summer it will have to be being pregnant with our new little life 🙂 Due in September! It has been a ball so far and I know the TX heat will be very unforgiving but I cant wait to be outside and with family toting a little baby in my belly!
xoxo

Laurie Schmotzer - The best part of summer…not setting the alarm!

Molly Pearce - The best part of summer for me is when all the children I teach every Sunday and Wednesday night at church get of school for summer! This means, movie parties, bible study outside, vacation bible school, swim parties and my all time favorite thing to do with them is to have a kick off to summer lock in at church!! So much fun!!!
~Molly P

amosclutchpedal - My husband is a teacher with a very busy schedule, so summertime with him is the best!

Valerie Alexander - Flip flops, sunkissed skin, highlighted hair, swimming, I could go on…. Come on Summer!!

Kate - Every year (or at least almost) we head back to my home town, right on the beaches of Lake Michigan. We play in the sand and the surf and watch the sun go down. We ride rollercoasters. We eat ice cream from the ice cream stand I used to visit as a kid. We go for dune rides. We have bonfires. We drink beer and listen to my uncle play banjo. It’s always a great week.

Trish - I’m gonna be honest here:
I like having my kids around, but I LOVE when they go to camp. They usually go on different weeks, so I have only one home at a time, and I cherish that one on one time with them. Plus I know that the other kid is at a wonderful camp having the time of their life!
Oh, my other favorite part of summer is when we get to leave Alaska in late July, early August, in search of REAL summer weather! I love a week or two of 90 degrees!

Courtney - to name just one is impossible…fresh cut grass, watermelon dripping off your elbows, fireflies, candle light suppers on the back porch…I love summer!

Tammy - Aw, fun in the sun, picnics & homegrown tomatoes….yum!
Thanks for a the great giveaway once again!

Laura Phelps - The BEST part of summer for me? Putting on my bathing suit and wearing it in public! I LOVE that!
Oh wait…
that’s my biggest nightmare!
I suppose it is the carefree timelessness of every day…
no schedules
no lunches to pack
no homework
LOTS of BBQ’s and chalk filled driveways and ice cream cones and cold beer at 3pm
I LOVE it..
for about 2 weeks
then I want to shoot myself in the head

amac - Where I live it’s always summer more or less. But during the hottest months (110+) my favorite thing is mangoes. They are in season, they are CHEAP, they are delicious!!! They’re almost good enough to make me forget that it’s so HOT! Thanks for the chance to win 🙂

Tami C. - No set schedule and my mom’s pool. Love it.

Beth K. in CO - There are so many things that I love about summer! Swim lessons, softball games, vacation Bible school, trips to the mountains, it staying lighter outside so there is more play time, BBQs, picnics, flip flops, going to the pool. I should probably stop here, but there are so many more to list. 🙂

jodi @ back40life - time outside, time at the pool and big family vacations…those are the best!

Karen Giddings - Best part of summer . . . not as many “have to’s”. 😀

Kate @ Songs Kate Sang - The very best part of my summer… swimming with the kids. So fun.

Rebecca - The best part of summer is long days off with the kids, and late nights up with the Mr.!

Deb Meyers - Best: kids home. Long days. tanned legs and faces.
deb meyers

Karen - The best part for me is the warmth & the sunshine!

Happygirl02 - EVERYTHING!!! The sun, the breeze, the long days, catching fireflies, bbq’s, s’mores, gardening, my kids, fresh cut grass, flowers, not having to wear shoes…. the list never ends!

Toni - Summer night bbqs and Dodger games with friends! Oh, and late night walks with my husband and my beagle.

Laurie Kauffman - I love s’mores in the backyard and laying on the lawnchairs looking at the stars and counting lightning bugs.

georgia - The best bit is going for late night dog walks and watching the sun set 🙂

Courtney Walsh - I totally love that your house is referred to as “The Fun House” lol 🙂 How awesome is that?
Best part of my summer…? Um. Probably going home and spending a week with my sister. But this is the first summer where I havent’ been in Illinois so we’ll see…maybe Colorado will surprise me. 🙂

Sandy W - Dinners on the pontoon boat with my husband and son are most definitely the best part of my summer. I can’t wait! It is still cold and rainy here in Michigan.

Rosita - The best part of summer is the flowers, all the flowers.

karen - flip flops 🙂

Lori - My favorite parts are eating fresh veggies from my garden, yard sales, late night thunderstorms, watching my girls set up their own lemonade/fresh veggies stand.:) Lori

Jen - The best part about summer is that almost everything finally slows down.

Leslie - Hands down being with my kids!!!! After eing sooo inspired by your blog….we are going to start a craft Thursday. I have three boys 15, 14 and almost 10. We just bought the supplies to make the raindow plates with the streamers :} Before I blink my kids will be grown so I am cherishing every moment!Annnd I am holding onto my hat cause my 15 year old is driving. Thanks for being so inspiring :}}}}

Ruth Elder - We moved into a new-to-us house before Christmas. this summer I get to plant flowers in the front yard and the kids will be home to help me put up a picket fence. I’ve never had one before!

julie h - being home with my kids…baby 2 is due in june!

Amy Swanson - Best part of summer: Driving to my parents house with the kids for weekends. They have property where we can fish, ride ATV’s, and swim. Plus my dad makes a big breakfast every morning and my mom does our laundry. Heavenly!

Valerie @ Chateau a La Mode - Best part of summer?…..The long summer nights. BBQs, eating outside, late night walks. Maybe that’s more than one. Oh well, hope it’s me 🙂

Shawnie - The best part of summer is spending time at the lake!

juliana whisman - Eating grilled food outside & hours at the pool!

Megan - The best part for me is not having a schedule – we can go to the pool, stay home, or go on a trip whenever!

jen smith - sleeping in, lazy days, swimming. i love summer!

Amy - The best part is getting to spend time with my 3 year old son. This summer will be even better as we welcome boy/girl twins into our home!

Jen H. - The best part of summer for me is having my hubby home since he is a teacher. We go camping with our girls and it is such a fun and relaxing time!!!! 🙂

Jermaine D. - Gardening!

Becki G. - Sleeping late every day.

Sarah - I already ordered my copy and can’t wait! I would love to win one for my mom though….
Best part of summer…kids, sprinklers, the pool, sun, bright blue skies, sweet iced sun tea, picnics, ice cream socials…..and if we’re lucky on vacaation, the beach!

Benay - Relaxing and having the kids around. Taking family trips. Going to the pool. We live in a big city in Brazil which empties out during the summer because Brazilians get a month off and usually spend it at the beach. So living in a somewhat less crowded city during the summer is really nice.

shelly - the best part of summer is…nothing! doing Nothing at all, sitting by/on a lake…watching parades in camp chairs…..laying out, looking at the stars…..I’m ready for it to be here Now!

ingrid - garden bursting with veggies and blooms!

Wendy - Sleeping in, late dinners outside by the pool, visiting family, enjoying the outdoors, going to the beach….. so many things to look forward to. 🙂

Roxane - My garden, the smell of fresh cut grass, the sound of the sprinklers going, the pool, corn on the cob, snow cones and yummy fruit!

Jennifer - Those are weird colors for easter eggs! We still haven’t done ours. 🙂 We will…eventually.
My favorite part of the summer is not having homework and school. My girls still do dance but that is twice a week only. I love the freedom and lack of a schedule!

Donna - No homework!

mandy friend - my favorite part of summer? going to the Rogue River, rafting, otterpops by the dozens, our cabin, campingi could go on…i’ve never won a darn thing-PLEASE:)

Pippa - The best part of summer for me is, this may sound crazy, but it’s not having to worry about homework, don’t have to make lunch, don’t have to get my daughter to school – I always feel such a relief – like a vacation. Of course, love love love going to the beach too!!!!

lynette - The best part of summer is getting to just “be” with my kids. Not having to do school or anything that we really do not want to. The best part of this summer will be meeting our fourth baby girl.

Wendy - The kids being off school & the warm weather

Janet Biernacki - warm sunshine, flower bed and pots full, easier days.

Talia - Oh, so many things…strawberries, farm stands, trips to the farmers market, impromptu wine parties on the porch w/neighbors, the easy attitude and spirit of summer. All of it is just blissful!

Elizabeth - The best part of my summer..is taking off the nail polish from the summer before..off my toenails and putting on a new color!!!! How bad is that??????

Hayley - The best part of my summer is usually making roadtrips to visit family, especially to Oregon. But this year, the best part will be moving back home from a year abroad in Germany…I’m so excited to see my family and friends!!!

Kerry - The best part of my summer is wearing flip flops and painting my toes bright, happy colours 🙂

tam - honestly, (this sounds horrible) but the best part of summer is no homework for the kids! Do you ever get tired of dealing with the homework battles?

Jena - The best part of my summer is having my two girls (9 & 6) with me, all day long, every day! It doesn’t matter if we are going somewhere fun or staying home in pjs all day. I love and cherish every moment I spend with them! Thanks for the chance to win! selphishgirl@aol.com

Katie - best part of summer: parks and picnics, relaxed days, being together as a family!

Sy, Shaunna & The Boys - eating all of our meals outside on the patio, staying up late, and movies played outside on the side of the house. summer is heaven around here!

Aimee - The best part of summer is the road trips. I LOVE road trips and we usually take at least one big or small road trip. Getting to sleep in is a close second though and this year the best part will probably be the pool we are planning to get.

Vicki - Okay…are you ready…this is earth shattering stuff. The best part of summer is when my hot mocha….becomes an iced mocha. That’s right. It isn’t the fresh veggies from the garden, or the kids playing in the sprinkler, warm nights sleeping with the windows open. Nope. It’s all about the COFFEE!

Danielle H. - The best part of summer is vacation with family, late summer nights grilling and eating smores, and no rushing around trying to get here and there by a certain time!

Lisa - What is there NOT to like about summer? I love having my kids home (but so ready for them to go back to school by the end). I love being outside at the river and watching my kids run and play. I love camping. I love being tan. I love having no set schedule. I love swimming. I love having outside BBQ’s. Oh I could go on and on! 🙂

ajdked - No school for the kids, eating on the patio, water balloons, ice cream, strawberry shortcake, flip flops, shorts, cooking on the grill, etc. I LOVE SUMMER, it’s my favorite season!

Julie - The best part(s) sleeping in, enjoying the sunshine, watching my garden grow and more time with my son.

Sarah - The part of summer we most look forward to is heading out to WA State for a few weeks to spend time with my husband’s family. They live on the sound with views of Mt. Rainier…we are on the beach constantly and catch up on a years worth of happenings…wonderful memories that seem like a fairy tale to this midwestern girl!

Marla S. - Lazy days filled with tan skin, bare feet, sno cones, good books, Sonic drinks, watermelon, and riding around in the mom van with the windows down and the music blaring!

Tiffany - my favorite part of summer is longer days. luv them. luv the sunlight and how it makes me happier.

Heidi Bohrer - No homework!!

Jess - I love summer…love being in the sunshine, love gardening, and love backyard bbqs! 🙂

Jennifer - that’s easy…flip flops and watermelon!

Kim - I can’t wait for summer to be here! Fun with the kids, exploring a city still new to us, walks, bike rides, parks, a trip to the cottage, chickens….yep! I think we’re getting a couple of chickens in our very tiny backyard….oh and letting the kids decorate their tree house that really isn’t in a tree…

kathleen - the pool, the pool, the pool!! I have a large family like you, and there is nothing better than spending the day at the pool having fun, then coming home to a light yummy dinner (no baths cause goodness you got clean in the pool, right?), everyone’s sunkissed and happily tired. It’s the pool, definitely. I can’t wait!

Jenn Shock - The best part of this coming summer is trying to make baby #2 😉 And this is my last summer break as a college student! I’ll have my degree in Art Education by the end of the year! Woo!

Teresa - The best part about summer is getting up early on a Saturday morning, making a cup of coffee and going to the farmers market to buy local, fresh produce and flowers.

Karen R. - The best part of summer for me is hands down having my kids home and with me every day. I cherish the endless days of time with them and start really longing for that about this time every year!

colleen - The BEACH! We get to go for at least 2 separate weeks! I have to add: farmers market tomatoes, peaches and corn; picking blueberries right off of my bush for breakfast, sunkissed noses on my husband and kids, lemonade stands, smores over the firepit, lots of friends over for dinner, the smell after rain on a hot summer’s day…. it is my FAVORITE season!

Tere - being off work for a good chunk of time, planning our “to do” list with the kids and sleeping in, even if it’s not on the list…..can’t wait to see the magazine

Leigh - home grown tomatoes

Heather R. - Got my “Summer” coming…can’t wait to see it, either. Our girls dyed the eggs at the table inside. Blue got knocked over a couple times. But we are done for a year, too. 🙂 We had Easter ham/hard boiled egg salad…yum!

Jen - BEING TAN! Cook outs, being outside & I get to take high schoolers away to hear all about their Creator! Nothing better. I LOVE SUMMER!

Jodi @ The Un-Soccermom Blog - the best part of summer are lazy saturdays, hanging out by the pool, talking w/ my daughter about her week, about what’s to come, and now more than ever, her future. :o)

Mallory - The best part of summer are the entire days spent at the beach. Oh, and all that delicious summer food!

Ashley Crenshaw - Summer rocks! I love being able to throw my child outside, turn on the sprinklers, sip fresh lemonade, camping in the backyard(!!!), BBQ’s… man if only I could tan. I love summer!

Kristi - I love sitting on my patio and soaking up the sun!

april - The best part of summer is the trips to the beach with my kids…I cant wait!!!
april
xoxo

April - I love taking my kids to the beach. They have such a blast and it creates great summer memories. 🙂

Amber - Warm breezes, slower schedules, soaking in all the warm sunshine, fresh vegetables from the garden and our first big family road trip….to Wisconsin.

erin j - Limeades during Sonic’s happy hour. I’m miles upon miles from a Sonic though so I’m going to have to figure something else out for this year.

Whitney Benson - my hubby is a teacher so the best part is having him home to help w/ our 3 kids!

Michelle - love afternoons by the pool w/ my family to cool off from the hot houston summer.

Katy Stone - sno cones. and homemade ice cream. and swimming until the sun goes down. most of all, doing all of those things w/ the ones you love! 🙂

Melissa Morrill - popsicles on the front porch in the evenings……yum.

Lisa - Is SUNSHINE!!! We have been so beaten with rain and storms, that sunshine is all I can think about! And lots of fun times outside with friends and family! 🙂

Sara W - Afternoons sitting by the pool while my boys swim,family walks in the evening and fresh garden produce.

Jill jackson - Being able to sleep in.

BriBedell - The part of my summer are my teo little ladies birthdays! Ya, planning some big stuff for them already 🙂

mimi b. - lazy mornings, coffee on the porch, my babies sleeping in, scary movie night-EVERY NIGHT YAH!, all the doors open and kids playing ball in the street, laughter wafting in from outside and millions of water balloons popped all over the drive-way and yard. Oh yeah, and sticky popsicles….I can’t wait to have my kids home again ( of course by July, I will be counting the days until school starts ; )

Katie P. - This summer, it will be spending the longer days with my little girl. She will be 1 yr. old in June. She is AHHHH-mazing!! I love being in the yard and weeding- anything. I love all of it really!!

Jessi - Lots of family/pool/beach/ice cream time!

Melissa - Shut the front door!!!!! I won?!?!?! Woo-hoo!!!!! I’m super excited!!!!!
My favorite part of summer is watermelon and hours spent by the pool. Sun-kissed cheeks and flip-flops. Ok, now I’m praying for summer!!

Miss Emily - The best part of summer is melons, pineapple, blueberries, strawberrys, particularly watermelons. giving me shivers now though, here is aus we’re heading back to winter 🙁

stephanie - Sitting on our porch. Watching kids play. Cookouts. VBS. Way too many things to pick just one. : )

Shawna - Best part of summer…kids are more relaxed, no homework!

Krista W. - The very best part of summer is how free we can be! WE have been known to go swimming way past bedtime, or jump in the car for an unexpected vacation, friends dropping by and being able to stay to the wee hours of the night because no one has to go to school in the morning! OR maybe just sleeping in and waking up to a sun kissed house! 🙂
~We LOVE SUMMER~

Michelle - Lazy days and garage sales 🙂

carolyn - warm sunshine! xo

Four Flights - not having to wake up to an alarm clock! and mint lemonade

Tegan M. - Best part of summer is having so much daylight still left when I finally leave work in the evenings. 🙂

Jessica Shibley - I live at a camp and I love it all! Camping, canoeing, crafts…. 🙂

Kelly - As a teacher I used to love the freedom of no schedules that summer brought. Now as a stay at home mama I am looking forward to this summer of moving into our first house and watching my baby boy learn to walk and explore and be able to play in our yard and grilling out in the evenings and enjoying our new sunroom (& I’m hoping to get a hammock!) Kelly

Cori - Lazy hot days where the kids are in and out of the pool all day. I have a book to read and dinner is made at the grill w/ paper everything.Ending w/toasted marshmellows and a hunt for lightning bugs. It doesn’t happen like this all the time but when it does it so good.

Shar - the best part of this summer will be a visit from my daughter and 2 grandsons from Tennessee. They didn’t get to come last year. We will spend fun times at the beach, etc. And, I get to see both of my children together. a rare occurence for us.
And, i really love that the traffic is lighter for driving to work each day. i know, boring, but time is precious!

Jenny Joy - The best part of summer is a warm, lazy evening catching fireflies in a mason jar… and then promptly releasing them all at once so the air is filled with sparkly lights. I <3 summer!

happygirl - Best part of summer – NO SCHOOL. I work at a college and there are NO STUDENTS around to use the gym equipment, pool, live in the dorm rooms over my office, take my parking spot illegally. I LOVE SUMMER!!

Stacy - I love having my son home from school. Lazy summer days, homemade ice cream, fire works, grilling, sorry but I could go on and on. This summer we will be adding to our family so that will be very exciting. Our little girl is due in August.

debbie - No schedules, zinnias and flip-flops!

Rebecca - Meg- There is a recipe I LOVE that calls for hard boiled eggs (only 2 but hey, it’s a start!) it’s Paula Dean’s chicken pot pie recipe
http://www.foodnetwork.com/recipes/paula-deen/hurry-up-chicken-pot-pie-recipe/index.html
I think your family would love it, since we love all your recipes so much!!!!
Have a great day!
Love you to pieces!
Rebecca

Debbie Smallie - Everything! My husband and I are both home all summer with our four kids and we are schedule free!

elma - The best part of summer is spending time with my sweet babies and just taking it easy and no rushing:) I just love staying home and enjoying life with the littles:)

julie - Today, as I am home with a sick kid, I am longing for warmer days to throw all the windows open and let the fresh summer breeze blow all the stinky germs away. Unless, of course, the wind is blowing just right….err, wrong….and the stank of the pig farm down the road fills my home. Then, I would have to say burying my head in my vintage floral sheets freshly dried in the sunshine. Mmmmmm!

mel - this year the best part of my summer will be when we go to the coast with my husband’s family. his parents rented a beach house for the week in south padre. can’t wait to play in the water, relax on the beach and collect sea shells!

Tammy - enjoying schedule free days! with 4 kids, those are hard to come by during the year!

FeFe - The best part of summer is the fact that me kids are home everyday! We’re free from the bondage of the school schedule!!!

Betsy - No schedule! Lazy days or adventurous days depending only on our morning mood.

Amber P - I live in northeast Ohio where we have on average 52 sunny days a year, so the best thing about summer for me is SUNSHINE! And I love summer clothes and gardening!

Liz @ Perfect Chaos - The best part of summer is sleeping in and not having a schedule. Love it!

Dana @ Bungalow'56 - Best part of summer? Sangria : )
Dana

Alisa - Since I am a teacher, it is definitely the “NO SCHOOL” factor!

Bernice - The best part of my summer? Lazy summer days when all my stresses and worries can just blow away in the warm breeze.

Shanda - It’s been a long winter in Wisconsin. My favorite part of the summer is flip flops. No more coats, snow pants, boots, hats and mittens.

Jennifer O'Steen - I didn’t realize until after a very long winter what my favorite part of summer is. i absolutely LOVE when everything outside around me is green! Green trees mean cookouts, pool time, fireflies, and happy people 🙂

Erin - Getting to spend 3 months with my girls. No work, all play!

alyssa - flowers, grilling, being outside, fruit salad, flip flops!

sarah - best part of summer is being outside, naps in the shade, riding my bright orange vespa, and fun trips!!

Katie g - Grilling out, going to the park with the kids, and taking walks after dinner!

Stephanie - I am a teacher, so the best part of summer for me is that I am home and on vacation with my kids all summer! I am genuinely as excited as they are to be home and have them home! No schedules, no stress just relaxed family time:)

Hannah DeVries - A break from teaching! 🙂

Sharla - Oh wow, the pictures look amazing. My favorite part of summer is heading to the pool with the family when I get off of work!

jill - The best part of summer is having my husband home with the boys and I. Two whole months of FAMILY!

Jennifer - Long days are the best part of my summer. More time to spend outside playing with my dirty, sweaty kids! 🙂

Lydia - The best part of summer is spending all day in a canoe with my very “tan-able” husband while I slather on the whole bottle of sunblock to keep from looking like a lobster!! 🙂

Nichole R - I love the lazy summer days with my kids!
Lunch on the grass, bike riding, water balloons, Popsicles!
Ahhh! I can’t wait for the sunshine!! Bring it on!!

Megan - Just the possibility to do something or nothing…..and eating breakfast on the back patio before the kids wake up, just me and the sounds of the neighborhood.

jessica guidi - The Swarms of Dragonfly fluttering above our pool, the fire pit making smores with the kids both young and old,old time amusement park at the boardwalk, and free summer movies outside at the lake. Water balloon fights, surfing, sleeping in, staying up late, drive in movies, Britt’s Doughnuts and letting my girls enjoy having a true childhood.

MaryLea @ pink and green mama - Holy Cow!!! That’s awesome Meg — you’re a decorating rock star and I always make my hubby look at cute pictures of your house (on your blog, don’t worry, we’re not stalking you….yet!)
Summer plans = gardening, hammock time, playing with the girls outside, three weddings, and a much anticipated trip to the beach the last week of summer.

Allison - The best part of my summer is always getting outside, whether I’m hiking, gardening, or just lying around. I love the hot weather, especially now that I’ve moved to Colorado and it’s hot and dry.

Lindsey@ Piecefully Home - um, that’s hard. i don’t like summer. (y’all can stop throwing your flip flops and beach towels at me) the mosquitoes are brutal, the humidity and 100+ heat is a killer, the worry of copperheads where we live intensifies. we do year round schools so my kids are in school during the summer. so i guess the best part of summer is knowing fall is around the corner. 🙂 but i still really would love to win the magazine!

Sarah Osborn - I love spending more time as a family…going to the pool with my kids, more time in the evening to do family things, vacation…..

Maria - After all the rain we’ve had…it will be spending many hours just enjoying the SUN!

Whitney S - Sunshine, lazy weekends and a general feeling of being relaxed. Oh- and my favorite- swimming! (Plus my wedding is this summer, so even more to be excited about!)

Trista - No homework, and family time outside in the evening almost every night.

rkokes - grilling out and playing with the kids outside!

Ann Griffin - The best part about summer is spending all day outside with my 2 year old – blowing bubbles, swimming, taking naps in the hammock

ashley jensen - Grilling out and eating on our back porch, half naked toddler running through the sprinkler, teaching our daughter how to swim in the river, Big Splash (water park), laying on a blanket in our back yard just hanging out.

Jessica - The best part for me is being able to relax on the back porch reading a book, walking barefoot in the grass, and my husband grilling!

Kate - Homemade salsa! (Just one of the many things I love about my favorite season)

Jules - Aww..that’s a hard one…I love summer…would have to say the no-schedule-ness and the warmth of the SUN! and flowers! And flip flops…corn on the cob! my patio! camping!

Sandy - Being outside in the beautiful sunshine!

Tracy - Staying up late!

Janelle - Oh…would love a copy. I actually love my boys baseball games…sitting on the sidelines with my little girls…having drinks and snacks…and then bringing them all home dirty and tired and getting them smelling good before reading books and going to bed 🙂

Lee Ann - The best part is LESS rain and MORE sunshine here in the PNW. We’re so tired of rain!
And I wondered if you could die brown eggs. I haven’t bought eggs in 9 months because we have chickens – which lay all brown eggs. So I bought white ones to die 🙂

JulianneB - Sleeping in and the taking naps by the pool and then everyone falling asleep early after swimming….notice the theme…I think I need to catch up on my rest

Christine - Back porch grilling, front porch snoozing, fresh veggies straight from the garden, and going to the beach. This year will be the first year our adopted son and our first biological son will go to the beach. I absolutely CANNOT wait!

Alissa - So many things! But most of all being outside with the kids, wearing flip flops, and hanging out on the sandbar by the river:))

Catriona - Long, warm, sunny days giving you extra energy for summer holiday fun: picnics, berry-picking, paddling in rivers, chalk pictures on the ground. And I wouldn’t say no to a glass of chilled Rosé at the end of it, either…

Anna Marie - Getting to spend time with my daughter outside in the sun! But this year the best is going to be our new baby girl joining us at the beginning of June. Yay!!!

Chaos-Jamie - Lazy evenings on the back porch….ahhhh, summer….

Julie K - The best part of our summer? Hands down the beach, camping, and no structure!! Would love to see your spread!

Necole - Best part of my summer is going to my parents house with the kids. We love getting to be on the lake?

Laura - The best part of summer is finding a place to curl up outside, with toes in the sun and a breeze to keep you cool. Cloud shapes, lightning bugs, and long days are the best.

Lindsay - Sooooo many great things I love about summer. I’ll go with spending time outdoors because many of the things I love to do are done outdoors! Thanks for the chance to win! 🙂

Christy Mandin - Grilling out in the backyard garden while the kids play in the water. It has taken over this year. But, perhaps the 44 heirloom tomato plants will provide some shade! Haha!

Trish - best part of summer… are the lazy days, and the warm breeze off of the lake.

Stephanie A. - spending time with my kids…….camping, visiting zoo’s, laying in the green grass, blowing bubbles, trips to the library, bike rides, sidewalk chalk art and the warm summer breeze 🙂

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yeah man that’s the good stuff……

April 23, 2011

have you heard that song?
it's old.
and twangy.

and the video was just too corny to put on this post….but i like that song.
i just wish kenny chesney would not look into the camera so much and then look away….and back.
makes me feel uncomfortable.

anyways….
i like that song because regular life…friday nights….grilling…homemade ice cream…eating outside.
that's the good stuff.

we've had a good couple of days.
craig had a birthday.

i made him a peanut butter cake with peanut butter frosting.
yum.
i wouldn't make the same cake next time (a little dry) but it was still good….seriously.
i am definitely on the hunt now for an awesome peanut butter cake recipe.

this one or this one look worth the the time FOR SURE.

some homemade cards….and wrestling.

this photo says so much….

we got him an old fashioned ice cream maker!
and he was surprised (he says) and really happy.
craig loves ice cream….a lot.
we couldn't wait more than a day to use it.
why would we?

yesterday was a beautiful night so we ate outside…first time this year.
we live next door to a museum so we get to look into their pretty yard when we eat outside.

waffle was really wanting to be with us….so he could sneak some food.

i am so ready for the warm weather.

yeah….the kids were so hyper….fighting and crying.
and loud.
the burgers burnt.
someone got sent to their room after we prayed.
one child never showed.

it was not a perfect night.
but it IS the good stuff.
it is the kind of night that you are grateful…for normal….for noise….for love….for time together

for sticking it out.

that's the good stuff.

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Honey - MMM birthday cake! I’m with ya! In fact, if I weren’t so broke I would go buy a cake and eat it in your name. But, pay day isn’t til Thursday and I don’t think Matt would let me buy a whole cake just to eat by myelsf what a pooey. But anyways, know that I am eating a cake with you in theory, just not literally. My ass would not forgive me HAPPY BIRTHDAY!!!!

Sarah @ Handbags*N*Pigtails - Was Craig’s birthday on the 22nd? Because thats when I was celebrating too!:) Actually I spent 3/4 of my day on the couch with a terrible migraine. But my weekend got better. As you say, not perfect. But good stuff.
And that cake looks amazing! I dont even like cake but THAT one I would totally try!
XO,
Sarah

Heather G. - YUM! Now I have to go raid my girl’s Easter candy for a peanut butter cup!

crystal b. - P.S. I love that your door is Lilac. Oh how I wish I could have one of those. Curse the homeowner’s association. 🙂

crystal b. - My friend, it just so happens that I DO have a recipe for peanut butter cake. However, the cake is chocolate, and the frosting and filling are peanut butter. Are you interested. It is awesome.
And, I’m oh so happy to share it with a fellow April-arian. 🙂 Happy Birthday to Craig. 🙂

Short, Sweet Season - Oh my gosh, the comment about Kenny Chesney making you uncomfortable by looking back at the camera cracked me up. I spewed my coffee. Hilarious!

Heidi Jo the Artist - Happy Bday to your hubby! The cake looked super awesome and I’m sure my husband would love it. I’m not a big fan of pb. Ah yum on the homemade ice cream, we need to make that too!!
Can’s wait to eat outside this summer. We had one picnic at a park this spring but it turned into a super windy and chilly picnic. Yesterday though, was probably one of the nicest Easter’s weather wise we’ve had in a long time.

jennie - beautiful post.

natalie (the sweets life) - I’ve made the smitten kitchen cake and it really is as amazing as it looks!! (I skipped the ganache and decorated with reese’s pb cups)

marta - you are a girl after my own heart. that cake looks really amazing. what a cute wife you are. love all the family shots. you truly inspire me. xo.

Jennie brewer - You have to try a chocolate cake with peanut butter icing….yum yum yum!! Hope y’all had a wonderful Easter. He is risen! Hallelujah!!

Amanda - Really good stuff!!! You and your family are so inspiring! Happy Easter.

linda@limein the coconut - Heartwarming and beautiful post. How do you always do that??
And boy do I have a peanut butter cake recipe for ya…
I dare you… http://coconutsandlimes.blogspot.com/2009/09/prayer-in-form-of-peanut-butter-and.html

Jen - I’ve never seen such a big tub of PB. Wow!
Can you believe there is not one single PB & chocolate combination on the market down here in Australia? Not one… only imported from you guys.
Even if dry, that cake looks amazing
Happy birthday Mr. Meg. 🙂

mulberrytreehouse - God bless your family, and Happy Easter! What a fantastic cake! I agree – even the best moments in our family aren’t ever completely perfect. But they make us so glad we stuck it out through the worst moments!

Tami - This post brought a big smile to my face! Thanks, I needed that!

hannah - Happy birthday Craig! With a cake like that AND an ice cream maker, I’m sure his birthday was fantastic!! 😀
I see your picture of him and your girls and smile. I feel for you, as it must be hard to see Lauren so distant. She’ll come around, and she’ll realize you’re the smartest person in the world. I’m only 20, and every day I realize more and more how smart my mother is. Life at that age is so confusing and emotional, something you know, you were a teenage girl. I pray for you, and I pray for your heart to remain strong. Your daughter loves you so much, and she, deep down, knows that you and her dad are the greatest people in the world. You’re a great mother, that’s something I can tell, and I know that Lauren thinks the world of you. It’ll just take some time for her to figure that out for herself.
Have a very happy Easter 🙂

the.mrs - Can you say YUM?! 🙂 Oh, and those pictures reminded me of the new reese’s mini pb cups. SO good that I don’t even share them with my kids! ha!!

Stephanie - I make my daughter a chocolate cake (hersheys) with a peanut butter cream cheese frosting and a chocolate ganache every year. Im sure its going to kill us but boy is it good

Laura J - Umm… that cake looks amazing! Pleeeeeease do a tutorial. Mine never turn out that pretty… even remotely. I am also curious to see if your having the layers iced while in the cake pan makes it easier.
🙂

Life with Kaishon - I love it.
The cake that was a little too dry.
The cakes that have possibilities.
The smile and the ears of corn.
The birthday love.
Your life.
Beautiful!

Melanie - I haven’t stopped by much this year. Been on a little computer break but I just want to say that Talby is looking so much older:) TIme is passing by so quickly. Hope you got to use your hot chocolate machine this winter since it has been a really long one:)

Deputy's Wife - Meg, you make me feel so much better! It is nice to know my kids are not the only ones…
We are sitting here in the family room watching tv and the boys are bickering. Bickering for what seems like forever, but really most of the day. Ugh.
It is early bed tonight so we can have happy faces for Easter service.
I am hoping for the best. Happy Easter!

lauren - did you see that research about how one of the biggest predictors of long life is your attitude and outlook? contentment, positivity, LOW expectations.. 🙂 it’s like money in the bank. 🙂 that night sounds normal.. and fabulous. 🙂

Chaos-Jamie - We drove by last night and saw your party. I hoped I’d get to see what it was all about. One of these days, when it isn’t a blizzard or I don’t have people in my car you don’t know, I’ll probably crash your party.

Valerie @ Chateau a La Mode - Love your peanut butter cake, love that you made Craig a picnic outside, love that your family is not perfect just like everybody else, love that you love your family and that there’s nothing better…so true!

Mindy - i meant 6-7 not 607!

Mindy - cute pictures. nothing like seeing a daddy dote on his daughters. we’ve eaten outside probably 607 times. it’s hard to be grouchy about dinner (for some reason i always get stressed about dinner) when you’re eating outside.
that’s the kind of ice cream maker my dad always used. makes splendid ice cream!

Lisa - You captured it all so well in this post. Such a good reminder. 🙂 PS- is your back door lavender? Seriously love that!

Kimberlee Jost - I am making myself a pb cake for my birthday.
I kid you not.
I am.
Happy Birthday to the ice cream King!

Erin Leigh - love remembering the good stuff even when it’s not perfect. it’s messy & real life & i’m gonna make one of those cakes. my husband loves peanut butter.

beckyk - GET THEE to Smitten Kitchen and make that cake NOW for sure! It’s become my (borrowed) signature cake – I’ve made it at least 4 times this last year by request. It’s sooo rich and wonderful. Makes a nice 6 inch four layer too. Enjoy!

Laura Phelps - I love the after prayer fight so much
we usually fight MID prayer..
who gets to lead..that sort of thing
try that, you know, to shake things up…
and I am guessing it wasn’t Annie that didn’t show 🙂
LIFE
it is awesome
Happy Birthday Craig! We should celebrate together next year…my birthday is tomorrow!
(anything to get back to you and Kansas…:-) )

Sarah@this farm family's life - the food looks yummy, but that cold beer really made my mouth water in that last photo.

lauren - sorry…meant ‘wander.’ you wil ‘wonder’ how you’ll survive, but you will.

lauren - laughed out loud at the picture of dad and his daughters. they are all beautiful and she will come around. of course, when she does, another will wonder off into that teenage netherworld…that, believe it or not, is all part of the good stuff too.

Jes - I am inspired!! And so are my taste buds- I am also going to eat peanut butter straight out of the jar 🙂
I also have gotten some of my inspiration for my new (just posted for the first time) blog from Whatever. I also have gotten a lot of entertainment and laughs
thanks 🙂
oh here’s my ‘hot of the press’ blog(i sort of feel like a new mom hahaa)
http://somewhereoverthelaundrypile.blogspot.com/

Jenn - Sounds perfectly normal to me and very awesome! I love eating outside. Its already getting too hot on some night to do that here (Texas). I love homemade ice cream.

Southern Gal - Happy Birthday to Craig! “The Good Stuff” is my daughter’s favorite song. Any recipe from Smitten Kitchen is going to be delicious. Promise. All the men in my house LOVE peanut butter so I’m seriously going to have to try one for them. Normal everyday good stuff.

Amy @ dwell in the season - How sweet, what a wonderful reminder that even if it isn’t “perfect” it IS the GOOD stuff. And that peanut butter cake… YUM. Do you have any left? 🙂
-Amy

Beth - you are so real. i love that.

se7en - Oh happy celebrating… love your real live family… the ups and downs are so real and true and perfect!!! Have a great long weekend!!!

Jessi - This post got me all…choked up… 🙂

Hannah - That cake looks incredible! I’ve only ever tried peanut butter & chocolate cookies – never peanut butter cake – I think I might just have to give it a go. Thanks for the links to a couple of recipes – it’s always helpful to be pointed in the right direction : )

Sara - I always love eating outside…makes any meal better. 🙂

erin - smitten kitchen’s chocolate peanut butter cake won’t dissappiont. i made myself one for my own birthday last year, and hate to admit it, but its a tradition i plan to keep going!! so moist that following her tips will make it easier. off to dig into some peanut butter cups to ward off my craving of the cake!

Emily - All. So. Wonderful.
Thanks for keeping it real. Love you, blogger friend.

Taiya - Looks like you all had a fantastic evening! All of your food looks delicious! 🙂
I also made my husband a PB cake for his birthday, but I just put cream cheese frosting on it, but it was pretty dry, so if you find a moist PB cake recipe, please post it! 🙂

Alissa - You are so right! Love this post!

Sara - Is your back door lavender? I just fell in love with your house all over again!!!

Denissa - The cake looks awesome! Sounds exactly how our night would go too! 🙂

Daniele Valois - holy peanut butter cake!!! That is a very impressive looking cake! …I just love that you included that the night was not perfect, but still good! oh life…

april - Awwwww…..poor waffle…..hahahaha
love that picture
april
xoxo

Beth - Amen!

Jennifer - The cake looks wonderful, Meg. My husband LOVES Reece’s Peanut Butter cups. I’ll have to try this one out. I love how you share that “it was not a perfect night”–yet it sounds it was good family time together. That is what being a family is all about…the good times, the bad times and yeah–some down right ugly times every once in a while. At least you guys got to pray together before someone was sent to their room! 😉 Love this post…
Hugs….

Terrie - Loved your cake! And with Homemade ice cream! YuM!! We are having homemade ice cream tonight for Easter with my hubba’s side of the family! Can’t wait!! I have a wonderful recipe for pb cake! I should blog about it sometime…it may be awhile. It seems life has kicked into super hyper drive this week…I haven’t even had time to blog about my new craft room! My husband is getting on me about it too! LOL!! So, maybe I should just e-mail the recipe to you! 🙂

happygirl - Family, it’s the stuff dreams are made of. 🙂 I love peanut butter PIE!!!

Lisa Currie-Gurney - GOOD STUFF ALRIGHT!!!
HUGS FROM MY HEART
http://sophiemyfriend.blogspot.com/

michelle - happy birthday to Craig! oh yes, we have so much to be thankful for… even the hard parts. your post is a good reminder as i start my day. thank you 🙂

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