Tired

We have been very busy these last few days. We were successful at putting in our patio - it took Nick and I both all day Friday and Saturday laying brick to get it done. Yesterday Nick finished off the project by sweeping sand into the cracks and then compacting once again. It has been quite the project, but it looks great and we look forward to having dinners and parties there. Many thanks to Grandpa Johnson who took the kids so we could keep working. I must say that it was so nice to be able to work with my husband - usually I'm watching from the sidelines. We are both good and sore, but we are done! Pictures are yet to come. We took some good ones, but Nick is in the process of re-loading programs onto our laptop, so they are coming soon.

The Last Couple Days

First off...my little Maren is everywhere. She is at a great phase where she is completely entertained by exploring her little world (our house) and walks and walks, usually with something in her hands. It is pretty darn cute. Here she is going to check out the neighbors.

I went to a good friend's wedding. I was a slacker in the camera department, and even though I brought my camera, I only came away with this one shot - and the bride's eyes are closed. Sorry, Al. It was a beautiful day, a beautiful wedding, a beautiful bride, and I'm so glad I got to be there. I am so happy for Alison.

I canned green beans. I was feeling incredibly domestic and wondering how many people my age are growing and canning their own produce-probably not many. I admit that I am proud that that is one thing that was passed to me by my own mother (hopefully among many others). And I hope someday my kids are canning their own beans.

Ellie and Maren enjoyed a hot day in the pool. Ellie was 'doing' Maren's hair, and surprisingly, Maren didn't seem to mind.

And if I weren't too lazy to get another photo off the camera, I'd show you that our patio is coming along nicely. Nick rented a jumping jack and compacted all the road base, so now we are ready for sand and bricks! Yeah!! Our goal is to have it all in by the end of July...and I think we just might make it!

Making Cookies

Yesterday the girls and I headed off to the bakery in search of some yummy bread for sandwiches, and some cookies for a treat. Well, our local bakery happens to be closed on Mondays, so we came home empty-handed and decided to make our own. Ellie insisted they be of the frosting variety, so we made some yummy sugar cookies.

First, you gotta roll them and cut them - Ellie did a tray all herself.
Then you frost them (gotta resist licking the knife!).

And finally, eating! YUMMY!

I just realized that I used the word 'yummy' three (now four) times in this post. I guess it's the word of the day! And what can I say? They were...

Hydrangeas

Aren't my hydrangeas beautiful?

Happy Fourth

We had a wonderful Fourth of July. Our day started extra early at the Freedom Festival Balloon Launch.

Ellie thought it was pretty cool (and who doesn't?). Then off to the parade we went. We had reserved seats on the bleachers with some of Nick's family, which worked out pretty well. I was very glad we had claimed the front row.

Maren decided that here was as good a place as anywhere to have a little sleep. All the noise didn't even disturb her slumber. We got rained on a bit, but at least it was nice and cool!

That evening we met up with Nick's family again to watch the fireworks from the MTC field. We entertained ourselves there for a few hours. Glowsticks were a big hit with the kids. We once again got rained on, just a little. This was certainly the coldest Fourth of July I remember. It was a long day, but lots of fun!

Love - Hate Relationship

Nick and Ellie are taking naps between Fourth of July festivities and I'm hangin' with wide awake Maren, so I thought I'd take the opportunity to get some stuff of my chest about our fruitful garden. Growing up, we always had a garden and every summer we payed our dues picking produce and helping (maybe just watching?) my mom put the fruits of the season up in store for our family. Nick's family also had a garden, and his Grandpa especially had quite the green thumb, so really, gardening runs in the blood. There was no question what we would do with a good portion of our .39 acre lot. However, every summer I am painfully reminded just how much work a garden is. Yesterday I pulled out our pea plants and harvested the remaining pods and then proceeded to shell them all. It took all freakin' day, and all I had to show for my hard work was a bowl full of peas. One bowl. One. It was a big bowl and will probably fill several quart bags for the freezer, but still. It was a whole lot of work for what seemed to be so little return. Just know that if you come to our house for dinner and we serve you peas, you are expected to eat every single one off your plate. No peas are wasted here. We know how much sweat went into that. (Note to self: get those said peas off the trays in the freezer and into quart bags before they get freezer burned and all my work was in vain...)

Look Grandma!

I can walk!