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June 18, 2010

as we left swimming lessons i saw this car parked in front of my big truck.

i said "oh….that is pretty….ohhhhh…..i like that car"
sean looked at it and said "but mom, there are only two seats!"
and talby said "exactly. one for her and one for dad."
i smiled.
annie didn't miss a beat "WELL…i'm gonna need 2 CAMPER CARS when i have my 12 kids!"

we went to the zoo for a short visit.
it was hot.
very hot.

the zoo had the misters everywhere to cool the kids off.
sean's hair was so funny.

all the animals were loving the kids.

we gave him some ice.
he liked it.

we were alone by the lions.
all three were asleep.
sean gave this very realistic roar a few times….woke up the daddy.
that got them very excited.
he got up and walked right up to the glass and started pawing at the glass and showing his teeth.
if there was no glass….he would have killed us.
he was not playing with us.
the zoo keeper came over and stood there till we left…..kind of to get us to leave.

the tigers were asleep too.
until we sat down next to them.
then they were wide eyed.
the were convinced that talby & annie's yellow shirts were the cause of the animals liking them today.

snow cone break.

we saw these in the gift shop and we were inspired for craft thursday.
which will be craft friday again this week.

then to the car.
hot drive home.
quiet drive home.

oh how i love the dvd player and wireless headphones.

we came home and every child went somewhere seperate….by choice.
they each played quietly….for hours.
it was like there were no children here!
crazy.
i took a book to my lawn chair in my swimsuit and vegged for an hour.

i needed that.
it rocked.

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Vannessa Gabbett - Wow! The car is definitely pretty, but I guess, your kids didn’t appreciate the beauty of the car, but instead, they noticed how many seats the car has. It only shows that they do want to come along with you every time you have a date with your husband. Heheh. I’m just kidding. Your kids did have a great time in the zoo. I can see it all over their faces. 🙂

Tyra Shortino - You have such lovely kids. It’s kind of funny how they noticed that the car has only two seats, one for you and for your husband. Heheh. You need to buy two of those so that your 3 kids can ride with you. 🙂 But the car is definitely pretty. Though I wonder how it would accelerate in an open highway.

ana from australia - just saw these, the animal pics are FANTASTIC…. thank god for thick glass hey?

Musings Of A Gem - That Lion looked crazy!!!
Gemma X

Trina McNeilly - sounds like a fun day and the perfect ending.. some quiet alone time! I can’t believe the how close you are to the hippo & how the cats were so animated – wow …..sooooo coool!

Becky @ Farmgirl Paints - I’m thinking a trip to the zoo is in order. Those were great pics. That lion looked a little pissed;)

Jenn - Isn’t it crazy that kids don’t get freaked out by lions getting mad at them?! I took my daughter to the Denver Aquarium last summer and they have tigers there. She wasn’t even two and was just standing there at the glass and a tiger totally charged at her. Everyone else took an involuntary step back and she just stood there all happy just to see the tiger! Can’t wait until we can {finally} get some nice weather to go to the zoo. Glad you had such a fun day!

Lauren - Such a fun zoo day! Glad to see that you guys are fellow QT supporters…love their great fountain drink deals!! It’s the little things in life, right? 🙂

jen - Separate by choice and quiet for hours? Was there Benadryl in that QT cup?

heidi @ wonder woman wannabe - looks like an amazingly awesome day for all – EVEN you!! Love that. Can I order up one of the same for me???

Jessica - That lion looks too scary… even behind that wall… No thanks.. i think i would have ran! 🙂 The hippo is my fav!

Melanie - Sounds like you had a great day and I just love what Talby said about you and Craig:)

tara pollard pakosta - what a nice day!!!
we need a Zoo day!
my girls will often do that after
a full day out, just find somewhere, alone
in their room or wherever and just read a book,
draw, go on their laptops etc. they need alone time!!
great pix as always!

Sixty Fifth Aveune - Amazing pictures, as usual! We visit the zoo all the time and we would be lucky to get one cool animal shot. What a great day!

Lori - Awww. Summertime is great, isn’t it? I love the tiger picture and the snow cone.

shelly - That lion picture looks fake, which is good, because knowing it is real-is a little freaky to me. What a fun day though!

heike - how funny! may i show you which picture i posted just today?
i had to laugh a lot when i realized this coincidence… ;o)
it’s all about hippos…
http://koelnformat.blogspot.com/2010/06/ein-tag-im-zoo-macht-froh.html

www.Kellyloves.wordpress.com - lions, tigers and hippos — what a fun day!!!
http://www.kellyloves.wordpress.com

jennifer - We went to the zoo yesterday too! SO hot!
And the lawn chair in the backyard with a book by myself… my favorite!

Staci - We’ve had VBS all week….I’m looking forward to veggin’ ALOT next week myself 🙂

Kelly - great day! Kelly

jack - Oh! Wireless headphones! I didn’t know they even existed. I’m off to investigate…..

Sara @ It's Good to be Queen - those are some serious teeth on that tiger. looking forward to taking our kids to the zoo…it’s a big trip for us, an hour and a half each way. wish we could just pop over for the morning like that. glad you got a quiet afternoon. 🙂

Stacia - Oh my gosh I love QT pops in the summer! I live in Colorado and we don’t have QT 🙁

Debbie S. - My husband and I always talk about when all four kids are grown, we are going to reward outselves for surviving parenthood with a two-seater car and a white couch!!

Jocelyn Stott - What a great day and oh my goodness, that lion!!!! Super cool but also slightly creepy. It is humbling how magnificent those animals are.

Dana@Bungalow'56 - What a wonderful day. I LOVE misters. We don’t get heat for very long, but when it comes it is HOT. At our local street performer festival they attach the misters to the hydrants. I wish I had one in our backyard. (It would go nicely with the pool : ) Thanks for stopping by. Enjoy your quiet time, its hard work keeping us up to date. But I for one really appreciate it.
Dana

Gekakel - Beautiful pictures of your family to the zoo!

beth - Gosh it has been ages since I went to the Atlanta Zoo…what fun you all had…loved all the pics and can’t wait to see your craft Friday from the inspiration pic.
Ahh the sound of silence when kids are with you…nothing but a great gift from them…peace and love among them all.
Oh yeah I see that car and I will raise you on it…oops sorry have nothing to raise on it..lol
Loving your blog as always Meg! Have a great weekend and can’t wait to be back on Monday…I so look forward to your piece of life each day!

Kacey - I want to go to the zoo! Sadly, I think we would melt right now. No zoo in the triple-digits for this girl!
You always have so much fun with everything! Love your outlook on life.
Kacey
P.S. A whole HOUR by yourself with a book with kids at home? Fantastic!

Kimberlee J. - We’re hitting the zoo tomorrow for Ella’s birthday. Did I hear it right? 100 degrees!!!! I hope they have the misters on for us, too! Love ya!

Heather - what i wouldn’t give for an hour with a book. ahhhh. sounds heavenly.

Julie - Oh, and when we do go to the zoo, we will wear yellow to test your kids’ theory 🙂

Julie - Those zoo pictures are unreal! It always seems like the animals are hiding or sleeping when we are there. The zoo is on our summer to-do list… now I’m pumped. I want the zookeeper to come stare us down because the lions are aggitated and threatening us. Haha! Not really–that would put me way out of my comfort zone.
We were able to squeeze in Craft Thursday yesterday… letter mosaics. I found the idea through a link on your blog. The kids each made one for themselves and I made one for baby on the way and then the boys decorated D-A-D with items from the toolbox… for dad for Father’s Day. So much fun and way less messy than I thought it would be. Yay for that!

Georgia - WOW how big are them Tigers teeth!!!!! I went to our local zoo a week ago and was really close to a tiger and i couldnt believe how BIG their paws were…. !!! huge.
The Lion pic’s funny. Looks like hes making goofy faces on the glass…
🙂

Sophie - Looks like such a fun day!
Darn, I want to go to the zoo now! 😀
Sophie
x

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lightning bugs

June 17, 2010

they only come out in june.
they only come out for about 30 minutes each night…when the sun is just about set.
and they are so easy to catch.

i hadn't even seen one this year but i told annie at lunch time "i think tonight we'll catch lightening bugs"
because it just felt like it was time.

and sure enough there they were.
and annie heard cicadas and said to talby "what is that noise that is so loud?!"
it is definitely summer.

this activity was on the summer list…..check!

annie was so excited and yelling "i got one!" every other minute.
talby got as many as she could at once before coming back to the jar.
sean was so into it last year but this year he just kept swimming….
growing up i guess.

it was time for bed.
i think they caught every one in our yard.

and then it was time to let them go.

so we could catch them all again tomorrow night.

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. While he hasn’t been able tasdfo develop phonetic reading skills yet, he is becoming quite adept at what is known as “sight” reading where he memorizes and recalls whole words, and he sure knows his planets!

Juicy Couture Bags - “I love San Juan Capistrano, our lifestyle, the people, the city’s small town atmosphere. Both my wife Chris and I are active in our community every day.”

Supra Skytop - EO EO EO EO …..DON’T WANNA IT THAT WAY…..YEAH-EN-YEAH…..

Rockwall Christmas Lights - Really enjoyed this. I can remember watching them in amazement with my little girl as what seemed to be thousamds of them would light up the entire campsite. She’s all grown up now, but we still enjoy our lightning bug hunts.

Heather Warren - I loved reading about this. I have two boys. Clayton who is 14 and B aka Bryce who is 9. We are in Heltersberg, Germany and just spent our first time outside looking for fireflies. I was told by one of my German friends that she has never seen them here before but saw them for the first time a few days ago. We saw them tonight and caught one. It was an amazing feeling to share this moment with my boys. 🙂

MommyTopics.com - I’m a Southern California Girl and I’ve never, NEVER, seen lightning bugs. NEVER! I have a dream.
You just brought me a little closer today.
Thank you.
I knew they were really out there and that little kids really do collect them in jars. I just knew it!
I’m linking to this post on Monday in my gratitude post. You’ll be able to find it at MommyTopics.com, Monday morning, June 28, 2010.
Blessings
Rachymommy – MommyTopics.com

crystal b - I’ve never seen a lighting bug. I’m so glad you posted pictures of one up close so I could see how it lights up. I read about a really fun lightening bug party just yesterday — I think it was in Family Fun, the July issue. You should check it out — it looks like something you would love. They also had a fun robot craft made of tin cans.
P.S. Loved that dragon craft.

Rach - Oh how I miss lightening bugs and long summer walks. I wish we had them out here. 🙁

Stephanie - I enjoy your blog and amazing photos! My sons were having fun last night when they noticed the lightning bugs, so I grabbed my camera…but my pics do not even come close to yours!! You are so creative! Please share with me how you got such great photos of the bugs lighting up, I am trying to learn new things with my camera…maybe I need to put it on the correct setting?!?!

Aimee @ In THIS Life - Oh, wow! I’m jealous. We moved back to the West Coast last year, and fireflies are one of the things I miss!

Meredith - Oh Meg, If you don’t have Faith Hill’s song “Fireflies”stop what you’re doing and download it right now!! 🙂

Diana - wow, come to our neighborhood, we have always had the lightning bugs since mid-may and they’re with us all evening and all night (maybe ’cause we’re near the creek?)… when the grandkids come over in the summer, there have been times we camped in the backyard and watched them in the wee hours of the night… when i can’t sleep, i sit in the backyard and watch them, so cool to see them all over the yard and in the sky in the dark of the night 🙂

Carol - I remember catching fireflies when I was a kid. It was such sweet, innocent fun. And those lions, they would have freaked me out! Glad you had fun!!

Melanie - I love those bugs. When we lived in Georgia, we had a lot of them. Now that we are in Cincy, I don’t see them so much.

Kendra - We’re in Wichita and our lightning bugs stay for hours!

Sarah - This is the first year my kids were old enough to enjoy catching lightning bugs, but enjoy it we have! The other night we ran around the yard shreaking and laughing while we caught them. Such fun!

jimaiemarie - This is SO fun, I’ve never seen one in real life and I just know my kids would get such a kick out of them!! I so wish we had them here in California, very cool!!

Mica - never ever have I seen a real one… My husband saw his first ones last year when he was in Philadelphia…. Someday maybe…Looks like your kiddos had an awesome time out with them…Mica/The Child’s Paper

Bluebell - Thank you for this post! It was a wonderful trip down memory lane…from my childhood in Indiana. I know live in Idaho and there aren’t any lightning bugs in my area…so this was a wonderful way to relive a great time in my life!

Jeanne - Everytime I read your posts I just want to move next door to you and we are BFF:-)

Jenny - Nothing says summer to me like fireflies! These pics are great!

Anya - Wow, we don’t get anything like around my place! Love them, so amazing. So cool.

the road less traveled - it’s officially summer to me the first night i see the fireflies.
love your romper 🙂

DreamGirlLisa - What a marvel Mother Nature is, those are so cool! I wish we had them here in CA.

tara pollard pakosta - My girls have been wanting to do this the past few nights, but then forgot as night came around….I need to get a few jars, the last one we had outside broke in a storm!
awesome pix!
tara

Krista - Love the one with the bug lighting up as Annie is holding it, your pics are awesome!

jennifer - Lightning bugs remind of when I was little and we lived in Chicago. We left when I was seven and I always missed the lightning bugs!

Ruth - i just saw my very first fireflies in uganda last month! a leeeeetle bit overexcited…

Sharon - So much fun!

Kirsten - Oh the memories…we visited my great-grandma when I was little in Garden City, Kansas, and they were so magical. I wish I had pictures. I barely remember…and the noisy cicadas.

Robyn - that is AMAZING!
the photo of her holding the bug all lit up is perfect!

Lora - One of my favorite childhood memories! I like how you captured their lit up be-hinds :O)

Christy - I have been in Phx for over 20 years & we don’t have them hear. 🙁 I so miss that about summer. Catching the bugs & “wearing” them were one of my all time favorite childhood memories, the best spot to collect them was my granparents farm.

Ellen - We did the same thing last night! And it was also on our summer list (stolen from you, of course) 🙂 Is it weird that it makes my day that you and I thought alike? Ha!

Kimberlee J. - I looked out my kitchen window last night and my entire front yard was full of them. Yep, it’s totally summer. And I’m loving it.

Kate @ Songs Kate Sang - Oh, I love those bugs!!

Becky @ Farmgirl Paints - One of my favorite memories of summer. Thanks for that:)

Naomi - DEF miss lightnin’ bugs!

jaz - Look at their cute little bums!

Katie - I am from your area, too, and these little glowing guys are everywhere. I bet if you go to the edge of town at dusk, you would seen many. My little friend, Rylee, and I caught lots the other night in Elbing 🙂

Sandy - I’ve always lived in Ohio so I’ve grown up and grown “old” with them. After reading the comments I realize I’ve taken them for granted! I didn’t realize so many areas don’t have them. Great memories of catching them in the jars…now I watch my dog jump through the yard catching them. They are awesome!

Heather - so cool! i wish we had those in az. love the photo of annie holding one while lit up.

Jaime - Oh my goodness… I so miss living anywhere but Arizona. I miss the lightning bugs and cicadas (kinda). Thanks for letting us live vicariously through you and Annie!

Sara @ It's Good to be Queen - i love summer. great photos!

Kat - I love your photos, Meg…these are GREAT! 🙂 We’ve been catching lightning bugs around here too…but seeing these photos are magical :). Thanks!

Julie - Seeing a lightning bug is on my list of things to do before I die. I’m almost 30 and I have yet to see one! They know better than to come to LA…

Heidi - Thank you, thank you, thank you! I miss seeing lightening bugs and was just thinking about it last week. I immigrated to Holland many years ago and they are not here. You gave me a little piece of my childhood again reading this and seeing the photos. Thanks so much for that!
Hugs from Holland ~
Heidi

Julie - Man do I miss catching lightening bugs. Kinda hate that my kids don’t get to do this. Really nice to see your kids enjoying their summer ~ looks like fun!

Tracy - I miss these days both for me and my children. My kids (like your Lauren) are all too grown up (so they think) to do these kinds of things anymore. However, even though I am a grown-up – I wish I could be carefree all summer long catching lightning bugs instead of making the commute to NYC for work every day! LOL Glad you got something else checked off your summer list. Have a great day hun! xoxoxo :o)

Liz - Meg! Catch them again tonight, take the jar inside and let the girls fall asleep with them as nightlights in their dark rooms! It’s so much fun. After a while you can take them back outside and let them go.

Nicole Q. - I didn’t grow up with lightening bugs so i think this is so cool. last year we let the kids keep their jar in their room while falling asleep, it’s like a night light. So cool.

Sixty Fifth Aveune - You got some really awesome pictures Meg! This is on our list too, how fun!

Art Cant Hurt - my birthday is june 20th and growing up i knew it was almost time for my birthday when the first lightning bugs came out….now my kids see them and say “momma, it’s almost your day!” and it makes my heart smile!
thanks for sharing megan!

Liz - Love your pictures! Looks like they had a great time. We too are busy crossing fun activities off our list!

Amanda - Great photos!!! Looks fun!

Dana@Bungalow'56 - I’ve often read about lightning bugs or seen cartoon versions of them on some Disney cartoons (I can’t remember which ones right now), but I had no idea they lit up like that? That was very cool to see. I’m going to show my kids.
Thanks

Natasha Burns - Wow, these are amazing! Are they the same thing as fireflies? We don’t have these in Autralia, wish we did!

Jessica Hoffman - I miss lightning bugs…i use to catch them when i was little living in Texas… they are magical.

Megan - You can never be too old for lightning bugs!

Melissa - Ooooh how fun I remember doing this as a child!

Sophie - This is going to sound so dumb, but I didn’t know they even existed! I’m from London, so we don’t have any bugs like that here. Just the boring ones. 😛

www.Kellyloves.wordpress.com - I grew up with lightning bugs and it breaks my heart that it’s too hot in Florida for them. But we do have love bugs and my son and I catch those each spring.
http://www.kellyloves.wordpress.com

Dina - We did the SAME thing the other night. I kept trying to get pics of their “light bulb tushies”… that’s what my kids call them;-)… but I just wasn’t fast enough…. and I think my son left them in the jar a little too long. They were pretty slow moving when we finally released — but no casualties:-)

Tam - I want to do this with the boys, I was hoping to do it Saturday night! 🙂 Photos are great, thanks for sharing!

`Kelly - We had those fun little creatures where I grew up in the midwest. Now living on the West Coast with my own family, I miss them. I wish my boys could grow up with those same childhood memories I had.

Lora - Awesome pics! you guys are so fun!

melissa*320 sycamore - meg~this is our first summer we have ever had lightning bugs! I didn’t know they were so short lived~we’ll have to plan a catching party pronto. such great pics.

Nancy - When we visit arkansas every summer, the girls look forward to that. We just don’t have those here in our concrete jungle known as Southern California. 🙁

Jen CD - thank you for this post. We miss cicadas and fireflies so much.

Sarah - There is a field near our house in Manhattan that was loaded with lightening bugs, like someone laid a net of Christmas lights over the field, only better. My husband drove through it one night coming home late from work and insisted on taking the kids to see it. He was right. My two year old kept saying “it’s amazing”. They are magical little bugs.

Lisa K - We don’t have lightning bugs where I live, but I have some really warm memories of a summer vacation over the fourth of July one year – I was elementary school age and we stayed with friends in a big homey house in some rolling hills in TN. We caught lightning bugs and watched a parade and fireworks. It was like a dream. 🙂 Thanks, Megan, for reminding me.

kristine - awesome. great pics of them lighting up!!

candace - i love being out in the country where it looks like it is raining little lights out in the fields! and amen to that comment just above. 🙂

Vanessa {Bloom Right Here!} - Isn’t God amazing? Every time I see a lightning bug I am just in awe. What a creative God we have….He created a bug whose rearend actually lights up! Love ’em!

Elisa - love fireflies!! I was watching them on my bedroom porch door last night 🙂

Nikki - I love this post… we don’t have these bugs in Australia. Our kids have a three week winter break… I need to write a list of fun things to do.
xx

Gemma - I so wish we had them here in the UK..they look magical!! Very unusual!
Gemma X
http://musings-of-a-gem.blogspot.com/

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sunday pics

June 15, 2010

we went to craig’s family reunion in the afternoon
and then some of the family came to our house for dinner and hanging out.
it’s always fun having everyone over.
and noisy.

but i like it.
a lot.

here are some pictures of the afternoon…..

it was a really nice day.

california cousins and kansas cousins….together again.
i am loving “grown up” cousins.

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Maggie - I got excited for half a second. Then I realized “To Kill a Mockingbird” is not my favorite movie. 🙂 But I’m glad another Maggie won!

Robyn - your a very brave momma with the trampoline into the pool!!!!
so fun!

crystal b - Oh you lucky girl…. photo shoot with Blue Lily? You are going to love her. And, just so you know … she’s a master at Photo Shop (in case you … ahem, break out or something.)
Seriously, send me your address. I so owe you a necklace. Do you know how many referrals you sent to my shop!! Lots!! Thanks again.
crystalbeutler@msn.com

Kat - Looks like great fun.
How nice to get together with family 🙂
Lauren is looking so grown up!
Congrats to the winner, enjoy!

kasey - i need a trampoline.

No.17 CherryTreeLane - I really want to jump from a trampoline into a pool. My entire pregnant body, jiggling in the air, as I leap into the air….

Dana D@BoysMyJoys - Craig looked like Superman flying into the pool!
🙂

Ruth - both my parents are only children so i have no cousins… i’ve never known what i’m missing but this looks so much fun! and hello… you have some hot genes between you all!

a-m - It looks like you all had a fantabulous time! I’m not sure I’d be brave enough to trampoline into the pool though, I must be getting old…
Thanks for the gorgeous pictures!
a-m x

ann - That little dog looks just like mine! Is it a Silky Terrier?

Becky @ Farmgirl Paints - Looks like a really good time. Wish it would get hot enough for us to do things like that…boo hiss!!!

Julie - Family reunions are great! I’m in need of one ~ I miss my cousins!! Looks like you guys are having a great summer! 🙂

Dana@Bungalow'56 - Oh these pictures just about sent me over the deep end. I’ve been wanting to have a large backyard pool, for-evah!!! So this past Sunday I improvised. I’ll be posting about it tomorrow. I think you might get a kick out of it. A mama’s got to do what a mama’s got to do! Thanks for always sharing wonderful family photos!
Dana

Diana - I loved the antics and fun shared with my cousins when we were little… but I think it’s WAY MORE COOL now we’re all adults! Yep =)

Sandy (Your Life, Organized - Congrats to the winner!!
Looks like so much fun!! It has been too cold here for outside pool play!
http://www.aboutone.com
Check out our early customer specials!

shelly - That trampoline into the pool looks like so.much.fun!

Kimberlee J. - It makes me miss my adult cousins. I have such love, and such sweet memories.

Natalie (The Sweets Life) - I rarely comment (unless there’s a giveaway, because I’m shameless ha), but I just wanted you to know that I love your blog and I especially love the pictures you share of your family. I grew up with strong family values and am so close with my family, though now I live in St. Louis while most of them are still in Chicago (did get my sis to move here..yes!). Anyways, no real point to this comment except to say I appreciate your blog, your pictures, your honesty, and your family 🙂 Have a great day!

Jocelyn Stott - Your blog is defining summer with pictures. I love it.

Heather - we pull up my son’s slide/fort thing so he can slide into the pool and he thinks it’s the coolest thing ever. if he saw these pics i think it would blow his mind!
love the that the elusive teenager made a few smiling appearances. she is so lovely!!

AshleyAnn - 900 comments…can you even picture how many small villages in Africa that is!
I want to meet Lauren. I want to photograph Lauren.

Musings Of A Gem - Well done Maggie! Very lucky..i’m one jealous girl lol
Looks like you had a fab family reunion : )
Gemma X

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craft thursday #3

June 11, 2010

the kids were very excited to do this project.
annie requested we wait until she got home from her friend's home to start craft thursday.
we did.
and we gained another friend for craft thursday.

today's project was from Deep Space Sparkle
another fabulous blog FULL of great art for children.

they drew castles.
first with pencil then sharpie.
then painted with watercolor.

they were very detailed.
talby said "i think this is the best picture i have ever made…i am going to hang it in my room!"

sean kept saying "mine is made out of brimstone!"
??
i don't know if that is a real thing….or just from stories?
ha.

genius!
a rainbow castle!
pure dreaminess.
and of course she said "i am going to give it to ms. kristin!"

did you notice i don't require shirts for craft thursday?

annie's castle with drawbridge.
the most colorful castle ever to be made…i am sure of it.
(oh…i drew her sun and hills for her because she asked me to)

sean's castle.
he worked so long on the drawing…the shade moved off the table and he was getting hot.
he had a friend over and was ready to swim…so he didn't quite finish.
but i like his red dragon sneaking in the right side.

talby's castle…sitting in the sunny snowcapped mountains…with a speedboat in her moat.

i loved this craft.
i wished i had made one too.
but the table was full.

happy weekend everyone.
i'll be back on monday!

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mel - I meant craft thursday! lol

mel - Ok so your are the most amazing talented coolest mom EVAH! I am so going to start Craft Tuesday! Your kids are so talented…cant wait to start!
xoxo

Tonya - You inspire me to be a better mom. I’m going to implement a craft day into our week. How fun! And with friends? Even more fun!!

amber - those castles are awesome! way better than I could ever do

amy d - hahaha… i love talby’s motorboat!

Staci Danford - What wonderful fun… and memories they will cherish much longer than we will know.. My “big” kids are always telling me things that they loved and they remember them with such detail.. so many times I have not one single clue about what they are saying…but I sorta feel like I wasn’t a heel of a mother. haha Your kids will treasure so much these summer days full of art and a loving MOM.
Staci

Tanya H - Perfect! Thank you!!! I am looking for ideas! 🙂

jasmine bailey-barfuss - Look at these gorgeous creations! So beautiful, so individual! Must do this also 🙂 Call me the big copycat ha ha… Now we just need the rain to flipping stop here! What is this Utah weather at the moment, gal!

Melanie - I am enjoying Craft Thursday. It looks like so much fun. Have a good weekend.

Alicia Butler - Thanks for sharing the blog address. This is the lady (Pam’s friend that called you this week.)
Any other blog addresses?
Blessings.

Thea - AWESOME craft! We will be doing this tomorrow…”craft Saturday!!”…LOL

Heather - i love seeing how each one turns out so different even though they start with the same theme. really fun!

Julie - Those are WONDERFUL! All castles have their own personality; these certainly do too. 😉

MomBE - do you see the skull in annies painting?

Cindy Albert - I saw the animal crackers in the first picture and was waiting for them to come into play…I kept thinking “will they paint them, glue them? Really, jungle animals in a castle scene?” Cute craft.

Jocelyn Stott - Those are FANTASTIC paintings! I love them. Great photos as well and I loved the animal crackers in that picture – it took me right back to childhood.

Leah - I love that website! I have a craft that you might like. It’s an easy and less messy was to do tye dye shirts! We did it at homework club with the kids and they LOVED it!
http://www.stevespanglerscience.com/experiment/00000032

Christy - These are fantastic! You definitely have some budding little artist in your house, love it! Love how Annie’s castle has a “face” to it, not sure if that was intentioanl, but I love it.

Juli - Any craft that features a giant jar of animal cookies on the table has got to be fun!

the wild raspberry - you would be an awesome homeschool mom!!

Amber - maybe you have posted this elsewhere…but are you buying special watercolors? the color your kids are getting out of them are amazing. granted i generally buy the cheaper watercolors…but my kids pictures always look watered down. (maybe cause they’re 2 & 4 and haven’t mastered water colors yet!)

Patty - Your kids did a great job with their castles! It looked as though they really enjoyed the process, sticking with it and adding all those special details. Well done!

Gemma - I love it! I love water colours! I love rainbow castles! I love your blog 😀
Gemma X

tara pollard pakosta - I just saw this craft in an art book I bought, I think that’s where I saw it anyway LOL!
LOVE IT!
GREAT artists! WE are doing Art every Thursday this summer too, thanks for the motivation!!!!!!!!!!
took pix to put up too and have to do that today!
tara

Staci - Seriously….those are some SUPER drawings!!!!!! Frameable FOR SURE!!!!!! Awesome! I can’t draw worth a hoot….so I am super impressed by the imaginations of your kids 😉

angela conklin - I want to come to craft Thursday! You do really fun things with your kids. I hope when they are mad at you, they remember these days!

www.Kellyloves.wordpress.com - oh, i forgot how much i love watercolors!!
http://www.kellyloves.wordpress.com

Beth - I love that and I love Deep Space Sparkle too!! She has such good ideas. That is very cool that you are committed to doing art with your kids each week! That is one of the last things I told my classes the last week of school — have a good summer, DO ART, go to the art museum in Wichita(it’s free on Saturdays!!!)and also the Carriage Factory gallery in Newton. You rock.

Becky @ Farmgirl Paints - Those are great. I’m off to check out that site:)

Kathi - I am loving your Craft Thursdays! Wish I had thought of this when DD was younger. She was quite the little artist and I could have challenged her more. Alas, now she’s a teen and I get, “art, Mom? really?” along with rolled eyes, a huffy puff, and a quick exit. I dream of the phone call in a few years begging for help!

Tara - love this…gonna copy cat you again and make my kids do it!

Sophie - Such a cute craft and all the kids did so well! (:
Though I expect it’d be just as fun for us adults as it was for them!

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random

June 10, 2010

"CANNING BALL!" that is what she always shouts as she jumps in.

i took my kids shopping for patio furniture.
it was not fun.
but the escalators always are.

my new favorite magazine is Canadian House and Home….i wish the subscription wasn't $57!!!

i got stuck in a storm the other day while driving.
i had to pull over.
there were 6 other cars pulled over too….
i was talking to myself saying "don't cry. it is ok. there will not be a tornado…you won't have to find cover for you and all your children alone….you won't."
repeat.

and thankfully i was fine.

new shirt.
i let her pick some clothes out for herself and she said "i never knew shopping could be so fun?!"

my cousin Sam, uncle Roy and my grandmother came over on tuesday.
sam and roy live in australia.
we don't see them often.
craig took the men to golf and 8 holes in they were caught in a downpour of rain.
soaking wet.
and so we all dinner together instead.
in dry clothes.
yay.

grocery shopping.

lauren bought my old camera from me.
she loves photography.
🙂

annie said "i was pretending my foot was bleeding"

my mini-me.

he is a thirsty dog.

and that is the end of my randomness.
have a nice thursday evening.
it's 4:00….still time for a craft.

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Lisa Murphy - So glad that you love Canadian House & Home magazine! (Love that rainbow cake, too!) Thanks for the shout out. Not sure if you’ve tried the digital edition for $25? Here’s the web address, subscribe on left. http://www.houseandhome-digital.com/houseandhome/201007sample#pg1
Many thanks, Lisa Murphy

Tanya H - So, I pulled up your blog to show my kids the castle paintings so they could try something like it. My daughter that is Annie’s age in school (if not for real) saw Annie doing her cannon ball… “Do I know that girl?” No, she lives far away from us. “Well I should know her. I think I like her.” 🙂

alison - What an amazing cake and I love the picture of the dog drinking from the birdbath!

Jen H. - You’re probably better off just buying each issue of Canadian House & Home as you see them on the newsstand?? Not sure what the price-per-issue is in the US though.
I agree it is an awesome magazine. I am biased though, as I used to work there. I now write for them, though not as often as I used to. If you see articles written by Jennifer*Hughes, that is me. 🙂 You’ll find me much more in older issues though.
Love your blog! 🙂

crystal - I can’t remember how I discovered your blog, but your rainbow cake was how I got here in the first place. I wrote a note to myself about it to remember to make it for my daughters birthday (which I did). I didn’t add as much color to mine (I was afraid it would affect the taste), so it was much lighter, but there were so many oooh’s and ahhh’s when the cake was cut. I had a LOT of fun making it (It was also a barbie dress cake, so it was extra fun!). I think I want to make rainbow cakes all the time now, they’re so beautiful! Thanks for the inspiration. I’ve been keeping up with your blog, and love your photographs and all your color!!!!!

Amy - Yours yells “canning ball”…..my 4 year old little boy yells “candy bar”!!! It’s funny how they interpret things!! 😉

RLG - Canadian H&H is my favorite, too! It’s soo good. Very expensive indeed. xoxo

Jane - love the insight into random events in your week. but even more I love that you have australian relatives – I’m an aussie too!!
It’s been lovely to see your family enjoying the summer as we shiver through a cold winter…

tara pollard pakosta - love love LOVE your reaL everyday LIfe photos!
so love them!
tara

www.Kellyloves.wordpress.com - cannon ball!!!!
love it!
http://www.kellyloves.wordpress.com

tasha roe - get out! that’s my favorite magazine too!! my sister lives outside of toronto so when we visited her at christmas i scoured for old issues. only found one though. it was awesome. my mom is heading up there today and will be getting one for me. i’ll have her grab one for you too!

Adrienne S - Where were you looking at patio furniture? I am looking for a small table like the one your kids were sitting at.

Barb - Ditto the comments about the camera…and the patio furniture. Share!

Julie - I so want to make that rainbow cake but one of the kiddos is allergic to food dye. Wondering if there is a special food coloring you use to make this?
Great randomness!

Sophie - Such wonderful pictures (:
I love the every day shots the most.
It’s great to see Lauren around, especailly with a camera. (:
And Talby looks SO much like you, I never realised!
Such a sweet girl!

Kat - Love the random shots.
Talby does look very much like you!
Where abouts in Australia do your cousin and uncle live?
We are in Tasmania, Australia.

Denissa - I love random! The rainbow cake was DELISH!!! Except I’m a dork and layered it wrong, which my ever so kind 8yo said “Duh, mom the purple goes on the bottom.”
Whatever still was pretty and yummy! 🙂

Deputy's Wife - I am making that cake this summer!!!

Katie F - WOW! I have never noticed how much Talby looks like you til those side by side pics. Precious! You should print those for her. One day she will absolutely treasure photos of her with her mom. 🙂

Rach - $57??? Are you kidding me? It’s a magazine!!! WOW!
I can’t wait to take pics of me and my daughter like the ones you have on this post. So sweet and so precious!

aimee - you have a darling mini-me! and i think you’ve sold me on that bistro table – i’m going to look for one tomorrow!

Tara - you don’t take yourself too seriously. I think that’s the thing I like about you the most. not sure why this is my comment…but it’s what came to my mind when I read this post.

Sharla - I too, love the randomness. Will have to check out that mag, haven’t heard of it.. . . .

Nicole Q. - I love the randomness.

Leigh - Sam is CUTE!

Becky @ Farmgirl Paints - You and your mini-me sooo cute. I have one of those too:) And every time I see that cake I vow to make one…someday:) Love the random posts Meg.

Amy D. - SO cute! I love all the family shots. 🙂 My daughter always yells “Tannenbaum” when she jumps in.

Lori - Adorable! I looovvveeee the pup pic. But then again, I loved the foot pictured, laughed at the possible tornado picture, and smiled at the mom/daughter pictures. 🙂

Leslie P. - I just got teary looking at your photos of you and your mini-me being so beautiful! The tears welling up also had to do with the fact that I’m listening to the song “In These Arms” by the Swell Season at the same time. Try it. Look at those pictures of you two and listen to this at the same time(open in a different window). You’ll weep, I have a feeling, because you’re a mom and I am too. 😉
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1UnwvI5Atwk

Heather - my son saw the last photo and said…see our dog’s not the only one that drinks where he’s not supposed to! (ours drinks out of the pool only. we can’t get him to drink out of a bowl to save his life!)

Alda - I subscribe to Canadian House and Home and would love to pass it along to you when done from my home in Canada. If you can think of the most economical way to do it, I would be happy to do it. I love the idea of recycling and sharing.

Heather - where were you shopping for patio furniture? that’s a good deal!!! 🙂
love the pics!!!

Lori - Thanks for sharing your summer Meg! My kids are still. in. school! Til the 18th. Except for the senior, she graduates the 15th. We can’t wait to get started!

Keri - I think summer is all about randomness.
Especially fun randomness. 🙂

Penny - Yes, you do have a mini-me (you). Ha! I love the randomness of the pictures. {{Waffle!}} I wish he could come and have a play date with our Goldendoodle. They would have so much fun!

Chris - So funny – I have a dog that looks like a gray version of Waffle. He’s always drinking out of the birdbath!

Krista - Love your random pictures. I think my favorite is the one with the kids sitting at the patio table in the store acting like they owned the place!
Also, I have been using your rainbow cake recipe but adapted it for cupcakes. For my daughter’s birthday at school, she took rainbow/tie dye cupcake cones– they were a big hit!

Lisa - Love those freckled faces! 🙂

kelli - waffle! lol. thanks for sharing. all smiles here 🙂

Anna Marie - I agree about the camera. Do tell. 😉

ckiser@chem-castltd.com - whoa…your ‘mini-me’ is right about Talby. I’ve seen many pictures of each of you throughout your blog, but don’t remember seeing you side by side. the resemblence is remarkable.

Cami - The famous rainbow cake 🙂 It was a hit with my family!!!

Dana D@BoysMyJoys - If you have a new camera, don’t you know you ‘have’ to share with all of us about it???

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Pam’s Cheesecake

June 9, 2010

i have this friend Pam.
she took me to africa with her….we text everyday…she makes so much good food it’s unreal.
she made this cheesecake for a party at my house.
i can’t even describe it.

words can’t describe how i feel about this cheesecake.

she created it.
she worked with ingredients from scratch…for years…and CREATED it.
i mean seriously…who does that?

PAM does.
and she agreed to let me blog it.
with pictures.
you are such lucky readers!

here goes…

you need these goodies.
4 packages of cream cheese.
i told you it was good.

put fudge stripe cookies in a big ziploc bag.
and smash them up.

add melted butter and sugar to the cookies in the bag.

and smoosh it all into a spring form pan.

microwave the cream cheese 1 – 2 minutes.
then blend it in your mixer.

with all the other ingredients too.

is that not the prettiest thing you have ever seen?!

you bake it for 45 – 50 minutes at 350.
take it out of your oven (try not to cry about the perfection you about to enjoy…)
leave it in the pan.
let it cool.
then put it in the refrigerator or freezer….you could even leave it overnight.

but that is crazy talk…who would wait a whole day to eat this?!

then pam taught me how to make homemade whipped cream.

it is so easy.
you put whipping cream in a mixing bowl…and mix it.
that is it.
um…..DUH.
why didn’t i know that?!

pam, the way you cook and bake is an art form.
you are awesome.
i love this cheesecake.

Please leave pam some love on her blog today.
she deserves it.

love you pam!

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

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Sally - Quick question – what size pan do you use? 8″? 9″?
Also, what size sour cream – 8oz or 16oz – this picture you posted looks like 16oz but the recipe says a small tub.
Thank you SO Much!

qasb - sorry but can u give me the exact measurements? ounces?

Katie - What are the specific ingredient amounts or is this not meant to be a shared recipe? I’m confused?

Melia - I am curious as to the measurements of all the ingredients, and what exactly is needed. It looks so delicious, but I want to make sure I have everything correct!

ginny - what size springform pan? i have a box with 3 of them in it. please and thank you!!!

Ola - I’m sorry but could you list the ingredients somewhere, I am not from the States so I might need to substitute some and I also don’t know the amount 🙂 Thanks! This looks delicious and I want to try it for our anniversary.

TonyaElise - Question for your friend Pam: I LOVE this cheesecake! But every time I make it, it cracks when it cools. I was wondering if hers cracked too, or if she knew a secret to keep it from cracking down the middle. Crack or no crack, still the BEST cheesecake EVER! Thank so much for sharing the recipe!

Amanda - Found this from Joy’s Hope, and I am upset that I have no reason to make cheesecake in the near future!

Jessica - Okay, Meg (and Pam), I made this two weeks ago and my husband and friends think I am amazing now that I know how to make cheesecake. THIS cheesecake. Even my MIL was impressed. It was so easy. I am so glad my first cheesecake was this one.
I will be laminating the recipe (actually have to print a new one b/c one of our friends read it and wrote on it, “YES!!! Make for C.J.” Ha ha. Or maybe I’ll just leave it as is. Thanks to both of you for sharing and making me look good. 🙂

teresa - i made it for father’s day…it was yummy beautiful!

Alaina - Meg~ When you say a small sour cream, do you mean the regular 16 oz size (can’t see the size in the pic), or the 8 oz? I’m in the middle of making this recipe and am a little confused. Hope to hear soon. It looks so divine! Thanks for sharing.

Em @ Bunch of Scrap - Back to report that I made the cheesecake, it sat overnight… I about died not being able to eat it right away but we FINALLY got to try it last nigt…. OMG you are right! The BEST ever! My hubby wants it as his birthday cake now! Thank you Pam for perfecting this over the YEARS… wow, YUMMY!

Michelle Whitlow - I made this recipes. SO YUM!!! And my daughter is in love with it 🙂

got2havefaith - fudge striped cookies as the crust…she is a GENIUS!

Cassie - it’s baking in the over RIGHT NOW. 🙂
so excited! i’m bringing it to a b-day party tomorrow.
love you.
love pam.
and i love this cheesecake, too. 🙂

Elise - Between you and Julie, y’all are trying to make us all fat{er, in my case}. That looks so good…Seriously gonna have to try this!!
Elise

Flower Patch Farmgirl - Holy yowza.
ps – Matt Seracen made me cry last night.

Julie - wants.
now.

amy d - YUM!!! hoping this will be served at a upcoming block party!
(hint, hint 🙂

amy jupin - oh holy hell.
this looks good.
i will be making this soon!

kristine - oh and btw you mentioned that you text everyday, and wasn’t getting a phone with texting on your bday list of things to do?!??! hooray for you!

kristine - what i love about pam is that she **let her hair down** to frost it (or whatever a topping on cheesecake is called). she’s adorable and her blog is hilarious and beautifully filled with baked goods. thanks for sharing and btw she got a lot of hits via you. nice props 🙂

Tracy Fisher - OMG (yes, I got that from my 13 yr. old)… I can’t wait to make this. Yum! By the way, do you know what I made up for my texting friends? LGTFAGOWAG (…it means Let’s Get Together For A Glass Of Wine And Giggles). Don’t tell my 13 yr. old!
Tracy
p.s. you should write a cookbook! I’d buy it in a heart beat 🙂

The Lady of the House - Nummy Num! Num! Thanks Pam! & Meg 🙂

{beth} - this looks AMAZING! …and I am not even a cheesecake person.

ann - You should really be arrested for posting that. That looks deadly good!

emily b - Umm, I need some of that right now… but I need to pack and do laundry… baking a cheesecake probably won’t be a part of trip preparations… I’m in a quandry!
Oh, flash of brilliance! I WILL make it when we get home, and that will be my happy thought as we make the somewhat depressing drive home from the mountains next week.
Thank you for sharing!

Logan - Oh dear mercy……That is beautiful and it is those Fudge Stripe cookies that caught my eye first!!! My grandmother is the only person I have ever known that bought Fudge Stripe cookies and it was such a treat to have them at her house. I am going to make this as soon as I buy a spring form pan. Amazing!!!

www.Kellyloves.wordpress.com - oh yum yum yum yum yum!
http://www.kellyloves.wordpress.com

Karina - I could just about swim in freshly whipped cream. I add a little icing sugar and vanilla. Do be careful not to over-whip it, or you’ll end up with butter. (Yummy butter, but still no longer whipped cream.)
Someone mentioned having cheesecake as their wedding cake. My husband is lucky I didn’t marry a cheesecake – I love it almost that much.
Do I take it your ban on sugar is over? LOL.

Jocelyn Stott - Making…this…soon. YUM! And yes, homemade whipped cream is the only way to go.

Courtney Walsh - I confess I only recently made homemade whipped cream too! I used whipping cream, sugar and vanilla for mine. it is ridiculous. This looks amazing!! Wish it was gluten free! lol 🙂

tara pollard pakosta - cannot wait to try this out!
what a GREAT friend!
tara

Tam - fudge stripe cookies for a crust-genius! I can’t wait to try it, thanks for sharing the recipe.

Sandy - You had me at the fudge stripe cookies!
I think I’ll make this and surprise everyone at my nephew’s graduation party on Sunday. Yum.

`Kelly - Oh my word. That just made me day.

Amy Aspiras - Looks SO light and fluffy….and that crust…genius! Thanks for sharing.

shelly - Thanks for sharing, looks delish!

Staci - Oh mannnnn….this is going to be the death of me 🙂 Fudge-striped cookies….cheesecake….TOGETHER….yup, I’m dead 🙁 Thanks for sharing 🙂 Gonna go show Pam some love now 🙂

Sharla - Thanks for sharing!

Janine - Sounds like a good recipe for New York style cheesecake. I will have to try this one. My dad and my friend make an amazing cheesecake like this, and while not checking the measurements this is pretty much their recipes. I love the cookie crust idea instead of regular old graham crackers. Did she bake it in a water bath? Oh and here’s a tip – try vanilla extract and lemon zest for a different flavor. OMG so yummy. You can also just let the cream cheese come to room temp instead of microwaving it but maybe the microwaving makes it smoother. I’ll have to try that. Thanks for a new variation on an old classic!

Tess S. - this looks so good. soooo good!
extra tip for whipped cream… add a little sugar and vanilla extract. YUM!

Carrie - SO glad you learned the art of homemade whipped cream. It is so so good. I hope my friends don’t read this today – they think it is amazing that I make homemade whipped cream. Now they will know how easy it is. 🙂

Becky @ Farmgirl Paints - What are you doing to me Meg and Pam?? I want cheesecake so bad now it hurts!!!

Micah - Oh my goodness. I can’t WAIT to try this!!! I love how you used fat free sour cream – to counter act all the other fat? Ha!

Kimberlee J. - I was trying to figure out what to make for family coming to town this weekend—I think this it!

Shana - i love you too pam!

Casey - I don’t care for cheesecake normally, but this looks divine! Might just have to add it to my list.

Lisa - mmm now this does look good. Im wondering… 4 blocks of cream cheese equates to how many grams? We cant buy it in blocks over here, its tubs all the way.
xxx

pam - We made your Restaurant Margaritas and we just about died they were so amazing. Your taste buds hit it dead on with the Margaritas….we’ll try this and see. :o)

Amy Lynne - Ya, well, I think I’ll be making this today! We LOVE cheesecake. In fact we had cheesecake for our wedding cake!

Jill - Oh boy, I’m reading this and it’s 7:30 in the morning, and I really want to make it RIGHT NOW!

Michelle - Amazing. Truly amazing. We live in Australia. Think Pam would mind whipping (pun fully intended!) one up and sending it to us? Oh yes, it might not travel well in the post 🙂 Seriously, it looks divine. Thanks for sharing.

Jeannette - This looks so yummy, ever at 6:45 in the morning!!! Is there really a timeframe on when you can eat dessert, I think not :o)
thanks Pam for letting Meg share this with everyone, now I am off to Wally World to buy the ingredients. Hmmmm maybe I better wait until my 4 year old gets up.

Gemma - OMG Megan I can’t believe you didn’t know how to make whipping cream…you’re S0 FUNNY!
Cheese cake looks yummy btw : )
Gemma X
http://musings-of-a-gem.blogspot.com/

Julie - I LOVE cheesecake. It is my favorite dessert. If this is the BEST cheesecake EVER in the history of cheesecake, then I HAVE to try it! Thanks Pam and Meg for sharing!!

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family night

June 7, 2010

we have tried to keep friday nights as our “family night” for many years now.
the kids know it’s family night and ask what we will be doing together.
lauren is old enough to not want to participate much anymore.
and scott is nearing that stage.
but they all still like pizza or ice cream….

this week we dropped lauren off at her softball practice and hit the sprinkler park.
it was a beautiful night for it.

a mama/towel break…

i know…it’s so gross.

the love birds on the park bench saying all kinds of lovey-dovey things to each other.
(whatever your version of lovey-dovey things are you can insert them there and we’ll pretend it’s that…)

i love the holding the nose move by annie.

and then there was this guy.
way too cool to be there…sat at a bench across the park…until everyone else left…
and his iPod lost power.
then he came over and sat by me.
and let me scratch his back.

but no smiles or kisses.
of course.

i took this and said “oh man craig…he looks just like you”
and he does.
he’s a mini-me of craig.
even his feet!

we went for ice cream.
the discussion led to obama.
they really wanted to know some actual answers about government.
it was quite something.

i had no answers…but craig had his opinions/answers.
i always just say “ask daddy what he thinks about that” when it comes to politics.

sean just burped really loud….hence the smile.

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Christina - Love it. That’s how it always (doesn’t) go(es) down around here at the end. 🙂
Recently I told my kids they all lost their screen time (Wii, computer, movies) for a week. A week! That punished me a lot more than it punished them. Ahhh!
I wanted to say I would totally hold my nose in a sprinkler. And I LOVE the picture of Craig holding Annie’s hand, and that he and Scott are both wearing red shirts. I love it.

Kara - We have three kids four and under and have instilled a family game night with them. Yeah, by the end the hub and I are wanting to pull our teeth and hair out. It’s reality–and makes everyone feel normal when they hear that other families experience the same thing!
Your pics are gorgeous, as always. And…it’s the effort and the time spent together that the kids will remember–plus you’ve got the pictures to prove that they had a good time! Ha! 🙂

Charity - I so love your posts, Meg – I can’t tell you how many times a happy family time has ended in NO TALKING UNTIL WE GET HOME! :o)

nic - gorgeous post, especially the backlit photo of you and your little gal. (and thanks for keepin’ it real there at the end. ha!)

kristine - beautiful family. gorgeous night. and yeah, too bad it ended that way. but that’s why i like the nice pictures. you can just remember that part!

Jennifer - If there is no practice, is family night optional? We had family night growing up but it was mandatory. I always acted like I hated it, but secretly I kind of liked it and I loved complaining about it.
Great pictures! I love reading about your family and thanks for keeping it honest. 🙂

ann - Ha Ha Ha Ha Ha Meg you make me laugh. I’m so glad my family is as normal as yours. 🙂

Tara - love the pictures of your family night….we do the same thing on Friday nights….
and ours usually ends just.like.yours.

D Gustus - Wow I love your photography! I am just starting out learning all about it! I love the cool water shots you took at the park!! one of these days I will figure it out!! Keep out the awesome work, I just ran into your blog by sheer accident!!

linda lou - what great photos of the family looked like lots of fun and you and your husband…loves birds makes a great photo for the fireplace (:

Kat - Thank goodness its not just our family where days/nights end like that,or occur many times during the day!!
Oh Meg, I just adore how real and honest you are, thats one of the things I love most about your blog.
Love the colour in your pics, the sense of fun and the magical moments you capture in each shot.
I really love the one where Craig is walking holding Annie’s hand with Scott next to him and also the shots of Scott. Beautifully captured.
What a great tradition you have of family fun night. Great stuff. 🙂

Shann - I loved the picture of the wide open mouth with braces and lots of teeth! Teeth are my thing. It was not gross in the least to me. 🙂 And, the President is in my hometown tonight speaking at a high school graduation ceremony. Kind of cool for kids. 🙂 And, I understand about the fighting and yelling and real life stuff you are talking about. I was told by a very smart woman that the kids will remember the fun stuff and forget the not so fun stuff. Oh how I am banking on that advice. 🙂 Have a wonderful night Meg!

Bryony - “ask daddy what he thinks about that”? I don’t want to sound judgemental at all, but that seems like a pretty subservient think to say, as a wife and mother. Surely you have your own opinions? Shouldn’t you teach your children that men and women’s opinions are equally valid?
Hope I don’t come off sounding too judgemental or anything, I know you are a great mother 🙂
Bryony

jasmine bailey-barfuss - Beautiful! This world needs a sprinkler park on every block in every town! How fun!! Family nights are THE best idea. I grew up with a family night and even though we fought a lot, I have so many fond memories of togetherness.
xox

Laura - what a great night! i love that you’re honest – thanks for that.
and the sprinkler park is the most amazing thing i’ve seen! i want one near us!

Ana - I just want to thank you for being real- for not hiding the ugly. 🙂 So many bloggers and blogs just seem so perfect, and I can’t relate to that at all. And if I spend time comparing myself, I can get really bummed out. I really appreciate what a breath of fresh, real air your blog is. !Muchas Gracias!

Denissa - Great pictures, of course! 🙂 My oldest son has the same trunks, the blue w/ the fish..
And I think pretty much everytime we go do something fun, it ends the same way…sigh

michelle - love how real you are.

Courtney Walsh - Aw, we do Friday Night Family Night too! Love it! 🙂 There’s a sprinkler park just like this down the road from us! I will have to get back there!! 🙂

sara's art house - Oh my word! I totally know what you mean……isn’t it especially rotten when you have done something nice for them and then they act awful?!?!? Great pictures, tho!

kristiina - Another thank you for keeping it real 😉 Looove your posts because you show the ups and the downs…makes me feel normal!

Logan - Meg, this is a strange question, but what is the brand and color of your lipstick? I’m sure it won’t look the same on me (not nearly as good), but I love it! I’ve noticed it in several pictures and finally decided I ought to just ask you what it is!
Great pictures of your family fun.

Heather - I loved the photos – how you made the water stand still – even the drops on their way to the kids’ mouths, how cool.

Keri - There always has to be a meltdown after a fun time, right? I think kids must come pre-programmed that way. Love the photo story. 🙂

Julie - Thanks for keeping it REAL!!!!!

Heather @ Cookie Mondays - Where did you get Talby’s swimsuit? Peace signs and lime green are Chloe’s whole world right now!

www.Kellyloves.wordpress.com - ahhh …. a perfect almost summer day. Love the shot with the water dropping from the bucket!
http://www.kellyloves.wordpress.com

Staci - Your kids are full of life 🙂 I see it in every picture you take 🙂 So very happy 🙂

Sandy - Do I remember Talby wearing the suit Annie has on? They sure are growing up!! Looks like loads of fun!

Heather R. - 🙂 Makes me laugh with you…not at you.

Karen Gerstenberger - Just catching up here, and wanted to tell you (again) that I love your blog.

the wild raspberry - i like living in a dream world too….
speaking of dreams~
i had a dream that we were at the washburn campus with our kids doing all sorts of fun things….then you decided to have minor surgery. while you were under anasthesia, i gathered up the ingredients to make you cocoa pebble/rice crispy treats and made them in the biology lab.
isn’t that hilarious?! were does this stuff come from?
🙂
have a great day~
with no fussing or rolling eyes~
chasity

Heather K. - I love the pictures! Sounds like a typical “family night”, ours usually end the same way. Keepin’ it real!

Dana@Bungalow'56 - You caught me by surprise at the end. It made me laugh. So nice to know you are a real family and you aren’t some version of Mrs. Cunningham. Thats why I come back every day. I can relate!
Dana

Kimberly - Yep, our fun times almost always end that way too 🙁 I love your photos and your writing and your honesty!

Sophie - Looks like such a fun time! Except for the last part. That can’t have been so fun.
And Scott really does look like Craig! Even their shirts are matching (:

Charlene - oh THANK YOU for not excluding the “reality” part about how it ended…it makes me feel normal!

Dineen - Oh Meg, I love how honest you are. My blog looks like all sunshine and roses too sometimes but I know the truth behind some of those pictures.

Melanie - Boy, have we all been there. Yelling etc. At least they had fun at the park and you took some great pictures.
I could help talk about Obama if you needed me too;-) I have plenty of opinions about that!
You wonder when does it happen that boys don’t want their mamas to hug them anymore? That has happened to me and makes me sad. Even at home when no one else is there, he stills doesn’t want me to hug up on him:( I guess that happens at 16 yrs. old.

Robyn - great photos! don’t you just love when you have a great day, night whatever… and then the meltdowns happen and you feel a smidge defeated!?!?!?!
at least it was fun while it lasted!

purejoy - water parks are so much fun and what i love about them is that all ages are engaged… not so much in a regular pool. so fun.
and ice cream. mmmmmm.
i’d wager that your family will remember the laughs and giggles more than the yelling and the loss of the computer. somehow, the sunshine always trumps the clouds.

Erin from Skoots and Cuddles - at one point every wonderful family outing goes sour. it is what it is… i guess. the kids won’t remember the crap…. so yay a great family adventure!

Julie - Sweet and Real ~ my kind of family night. Really sweet!! Don’t sweat the real stuff. The kids will remember how much fun they had, not that everyone had a meltdown afterward. 🙂

Meredith - I’m so glad you share the ugly with the wonderful. Real families are so much more beautiful than ideal ones. 🙂

Becky @ Farmgirl Paints - Thanks for the peek into your family. I’m sure we can all relate to the behind the scenes stuff you mentioned. They always go hand in hand…the lovely memories with the real life *crap;)

Juli - Precious, all of it precious. Even the meltdowns at the end.

nora - Sooo… someone is too cool for sprinkler park, but not ice cream, eh? I love ‘tweens. Thanks for sharing this night with us!

Ourimperfectlife.blogspot.com - Great photos! My daughter used to have that same striped swimsuits. Miss that thing!

Nancy - Looks like a great evening. We have so many No Talking in the car days/nights. Thanks for always keeping it real, girl!

Blythe - Thanks for being so honest and real about what family night can sometimes end like. I can relate. However, good for us peeking into your life that you pictures tell a different story.

kat - I love those pictures. It looks like they all had a lovely time at the park. I can totally relate to the exhaustion meltdowns, they can go from fun to feral in 30 seconds or less.

Lisa - Bliss and tranquility, that is how i imagine your evening, ok. The rest, the reality, Im not buying it.
Cute photos

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