Loving Summer: No time to Blog

We are loving summer. Really. Maybe not this heat or the dry weather or the fact that it's slipping by so fast; but the fun and relaxation and the joy we've gotten out of being together and having fun. We've loved that.  At the end of each day, I think I really should blog, but then my brain is so full of mush and my heart is full that I just can't get it all down on paper.

It's been a great summer, but there have been changes too and they have been hard.

When I'm thinking deeply or feeling deeply, I don't talk as much or write as much. That's not true, I do talk to my husband and to God, but the rest I just ponder. Just call me Mary. Out of the overflow of my heart, I tend to circle the horses and demand time with my peeps, fun times with lots of laughs and memories.

Just ask my camera card how this summer has been.  It's filled with about 2000 photos from the last two months. No kidding. I think I took 800 pictures over the 4th of July alone.  Gotta captures these moments and pictures sometimes are the only way I know to hold onto them.  In some ways, it seems like just yesterday my kids were taking naps and I was fitting in trips to the pool around those naps and swim diapers. Now we fill each day to the brim and Mr C is still going at 11:00 p.m.  Often, we are not.

I love it.  We've spent so much time in the sand and lake water this summer that our toes will never loose the wrinkle. I've driven Mr C to the driving range and golf lessons so much that I don't even think to put groceries in the trunk anymore; it is filled with three bags of clubs. Miss M and Miss A have had so many sisters sleepovers I don't remember whose room is whose anymore. Well, the Barbies might give me a clue!  Miss M has been busy babysitting, dancing, twirling in the pool, and learning to cook.  Miss A had an early birthday party with her girlfriends and has spent hours each week with her Barbies and created entire cities in her room. 

I've read 22 books this summer. Call me crazy, but I love the escape of a good book and love to just dwell in other worlds for a little each day.  In my mind, I'm learning Pennsylvania Dutch.  Either that or I've read a lot of Amish Fiction lately.   A friend the other day mentioned a "book" that I won't name on this blog, but she said she didn't think my Amish sensibilities could handle the topic.  She was right! 

Summer is slipping away and I'm trying to grab it by the horns and slow it down.  There is still a lot on our Summer Bucket list to do this summer, but we need a few cooler days to get them done. Not even the animals want us to visit the Zoo when it's 105 degrees.  We've got plans to take the next few weeks a little slower so maybe I'll have a chance to "catch" my blog up.  Summer is for dreaming, right!

Scenes from Summer's Start



Poor Mr C is too tall to fit under the monkey bars anyway, his feet drag on the ground. Sisters to the rescue to help!  Book sale to get us started and Food Truck Fries and happy shopping girls.

If I'm honest, I would say that summer is just as busy as the rest of the year.  The only difference is no homework, no school events and an occasional opportunity to sleep past six a.m.  Of course, those days are numbered as Mr C starts drivers' ed next week at 7:30.  What was I thinking?

However, I am loving the chance to read a few books, watch jungle gym races in the backyard, and witness my kids just soak up all that it means to be a kid in summer.  We've already had the chance to experience the farmer's market once this year already and, while we left with just a few tomatoes, the thrill was that a real Food Truck was on site.  After watching the Food Channels Food Truck Race for years, it was exciting to order fries from the sidewalk! 

We plan on making our Summer Bucket List this week.  While I have a little list running in my head of projects I'd like to see us do either as a family or on my own, I know that summer is all about just kicking back and going with the flow.  Not always an easy task for someone who has a daily "to do list" running on paper and in my mind. 

Of course, I'm already dreaming of our vacation later this summer to Colorado, but don't want to wish away the days between. We've got summer camps, golf lessons, swimming and of course rest to do first.  We'll have fun, fun, fun till we can't anymore!



Summer is Almost Over: Say It Ain't So We've Got Plans

If I wanted evidence that school is almost back in session, a trip to Target yesterday confirmed it.  There were "signs" everywhere that summer is almost over.  In addition to the huge clearance section of rafts, pool toys and summer fun items, there might have been a big school supply session.  Not to worry, we ignored the signs.

July is the month in which Mr C is gone more than he'll be home. He leaves this weekend for a week long trip to Colorado for church camp and then after his arrival he goes straight to camp at his high school.  I hope to get some of his laundry done in the short time between engagements as it's less than 24 hours!  He's going to have a blast white water rafting, rappelling, growing his faith, and seeing the mountains (His order, not mine).  The second camp is all boys; swimming, outdoor games, lots of food and of course bonding with other incoming freshman.  Maybe there is no need to wash those clothes from camp, he'll probably not change his clothes the whole week anyway.

We still have things to cross of our Summer Wish List so to keep myself accountable, I'm going to list a few here.  A few will be a girls only event with C gone, but we hope to cram in a few of these as a whole family things too....

1. Trip to Laura Ingalls hometown in SD
2. Pedicure at a Salon (NO BOYS ALLOWED - OK, that was pretty obvious)
3. Homemade Ice Cream and cookout with friends at the Lake
4. Bowling
5. Nighttime walk to catch fireflies
6. Pool swimming with friends
7. Sand Mountain with friends
8. Picnic at the Park
9. Miss A's Birthday Party
10. Boys Campout at the Lake
11. Dining al fresco on the deck
12. Eagle Scout Playground Installation
13. Miss A and Miss M play dates with friends
14. Movie Night with Popcorn
15. Water park

Now, I know that this is an adventurous plan for a few short weeks, but I'm willing to carry a few over into September and live in summer mode until then. School starts in Mid August and I know that I can't avoid the school supply aisle forever, but I like to pretend that it's still summer for a little bit more.

The fact that it was 103 degrees yesterday confirms my faith in summer.  Here's to making the most of the summer days ahead.

Splash! Summer Bible Study Gathering

I know I've sung the praises of my Mom's Bible Study group before.  I love these ladies, not only for how they hunger for learning more about God, but for what wonderful mothers they are.  In years past, we've tried to get together a few times over the summer at our lake house and this year we tried a new adventure; swimming at one of the mom's backyard pool.

Since it's summer and harder to get everyone's schedule to mesh, it was a small but mighty fun group.  The weather had looked a little questionable in the morning ,but by the time we got together it was perfect for jumping into the water.  I'm not sure that the kids were out of the pool for more than 10 minutes and only then to grab a few cheese balls and snacks. 

It's so much fun to watch Mr. C take on the role of fun older brother to the littler kids. In fact, I think he might have added two new families to his babysitting Rolodex. I love to see what a nice young man he's becoming and, at times like this, I can really see him blossom.

Miss A showed off some of her new swimming skills and not only tried the slide, but jumped off the diving board and had not problems.  She is really becoming a fish.  I think the peer pressure of seeing all the kids having a blast got her psyched up.  When we went to swim lessons that evening, she jumped off the diving board at the pool at least ten times to the shock of her swim teacher and mother!

Miss M was in her element mothering one of the little boys in the group.  He doesn't like to swim so they played a game where he would tell her to dive or throw balls and she was in heaven.  Her compassion and loving ways are a joy to see and gives me hope on "those" days that nothing is going just right.  Guess we need to get that babysitting class organized with the Girl Scouts soon and she might give Mr. C a run for his money.

Finally, it was a blast for me.  I brought along my knitting and just so enjoyed the fellowship of these new and old friends.  It makes my heart so happy to have these great Christian friends that I've found in the midst of my everyday world.  They are so fun, kind, and grounded.  We missed those who weren't able to join us sitting around the table enjoying casual conversation, but trust that next time, we'll have even more join us and we'll be able to enjoy anther sunshine filled afternoon with great friends.

Our Type of Camping

We spent the night at the Lake on Saturday and it was the perfect way to end a hectic week.  Relaxation.  No computer or phone to interrupt our peace and quiet and mom even left all her VBS registration materials at home. We needed this time away as it had been a week filled with dance rectal rehearsal and performance, a great aunt's funeral and VBS preparation.  It was a week, according to my husband, in which you could tell I was otherwise occupied.  The laundry and the dust piled up!!

At least I told my husband, you could tell that I wasn't on top of my "home" game.  That at least implies that normally I am on my game.  Yeah me.

Thus, by the time we arrived at the lake on Saturday after A's last soccer game, M's softball game and the end of season soccer party, we were ready for downtime.  I'm not even convinced it took ten minutes for us to leave our burdens at the door and just enjoy freedom and family time.

Mr. C fresh off his Boater Safety Course was itching to drive the boat, Miss M and Miss A were anxious to catch waves at Sand Mountain and the parents were looking forward to just relaxing.  When we came upon the new Sandy Bottoms, a little cove that was recently excavated at the lake with sand volleyball and perfect sandy beaches, it was waiting for us to grace it's shores.

This is what we love about the lake so much, it's as if on that thirty minute journey we leave behind all that has weighed us down.  By the time we get the boat out of the dock and headed to the Marina for both gas and snacks, we've taken on our Lake Persona: No Worries, No Cares, Just Fun.

I tried to explain this phenomenon to my husband on Saturday night over our first s'mores of the season; it's like our way of camping.  We are roughing it for the weekend and just enjoying the simple things of life.   To which P said it was hard to call it camping when you go around the lake on a power boat, enjoy all the comforts of home, queen sized beds, indoor plumbing, and, of course, air conditioning. 

Some might call that living the high life, I call that camping for our family!

It's Offically Summer Now

According to Miss A, it's officially summer now. We've gone swimming both at the lake and at our pool. Now if she could just wear shorts and a tank top everyday, her summer wishes could be fulfilled.

We had a "work day" at the Lake yesterday and even though there was actual work involved and the wind was whipping around the water, all three kids managed to get in the water. Let's just say there was no way I was even dipping my feet in that bitter cold water. It won't be warm enough for me until the Fourth of July.

Miss A was the first to leap in, with her sister tentatively following once she realized Miss A did not become an ice cube. Mr. C was not so easily talked into making the plunge and even though he was at first trying to talk P into throwing the football off the dock, he reneged once he realized how cold it was. Mr. P told him that was wise as the wind was so strong that he wasn't sure he'd be very accurate in his throwing.

I'm thinking the fact that there would be splashing involved for both Mr. C and Mr. P had a little to do with postponing the football tradition. Too cold.

Today, to finalize the summer kickoff, we went swimming at our new "pool" near our home. At the end of last summer, they tore down the private pool we've been going to for the past few years. We cried real tears. All winter we debated our options until we finally came upon the perfect solution that allows us to combine our "health club/workout facility" with our "pool." Now, we can all go together and swim, play tennis or basketball and workout in a fabulous gym.

What we first thought of as disappointment and problem has become a blessing and a fun way to be fit as a family. Miss M said today after swimming that she thinks this might be favorite pool ever and that she thinks we are going to have a fabulous summer swimming.

Welcome summer afternoons at the pool, weeknights on the tennis court, and weekends spent jumping off the dock and making memories at the Lake. Summer we love you.

Funny Things I've Heard Lately: Summer Edition

We've survived the first week of summer vacation. Considering that the pool is not yet open, most of our neighborhood friends were still in school and the mother has been crazy busy with VBS registrations, it is an accomplish to have gotten this far.

Of course, in the midst trying to get our summer grove on, we've had plenty of laughs.

Every morning Miss A asks me the same question, "Is it warm enough for a tank top?" She is convinced that summer and sleeveless go together. My answer every day has been "not yet" and, when you consider that on Thursday if was only 58 degrees, I think she realized I was right.

Miss M and Miss M have been having sister sleepovers in Miss M's room almost every night. They have their sister time, watch movies and read books before they go to bed, and then when they get up too early in the morning, the party continues. Mr. C asked Miss M why she keeps hanging with Miss A. I loved Miss M's response "well we are sisters and it's the same price to sleep in two rooms or just one."

Hard to beat that logic.


I took Miss M, Miss A and a friend to see Gnomeo and Juliet this week, and while I'll admit it wasn't my favorite kid movie I've seen lately, it was fun. I espcially liked watching Miss A, Miss M and Miss A's friend giggling, holding hands and belly laughing over the funny parts. Really is there anything better than watching kids have a blast?

On a family walk last night, the laughs were aplenty. First don't get the idea that we are the "Mayberry clan" whistling as we walk to pond to fish, we had two tired parents, two scooter riding girls and a son who was wishing he had other plans. However, we were having a family outing so that counts for something.



Miss A wanted to bring water bottles for everyone on the walk. However, her carrying case on the scooter only held one so she took care of herself first. Along the walk, she stopped a few times to get a drink. Mr. C commented that he was happy Miss A was "keeping herself hydrated on this really loooong walk." Just call him Mr. Sarcasm.



Ah........ Summer. Stay tune for further adventures.

WFMW: Summer Produce Recipes

If you read my blog yesterday, you saw that I've been a busy little "Martha" in the kitchen with some of my summer produce finds.
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I thought today for Works For Me Wednesday, I'd share the recipes that I used to create the yummy stuff! These are not my own recipes; however for most of them, I've either changed them in a little way or goofed up to make them more my own.

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Garden Salsa from my friend Sue

4 to 6 Tomatoes

2 Cucumbers

2 White Onions

1 (8 oz) can of tomato sauce

1 (28 oz) cans of Ro-Tel Tomatoes

1 Jar of La Victoria Red Taco Sauce-Mild ( I used about 3/4 of the jar)

3 T Red Wine Vinegar
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Chop up veggies and mix together with everything. this may be stored in the refrigerator for a couple of weeks.

'My improvisation 1 had only 10 oz cans of Ro-Tel so I used 1 can of mild and 1 can of original. The recipe called for Trappy's Red Devil Sauce instead of Taco Sauce, but I could not find it at the store.

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Fresh Refrigerator Pickles a combo recipe from my MIL and Cooks.com

3 Large Cucumbers

1 Onion

1 T Salt

2 tsp celery seeds

1/4 cup granulated sugar

1/2 cup white vinegar

Wash and scrub the cucumber. Slice into a medium bowl leaving peel on, about 1/8" thick. Remove skin from onion and wash under cold water. Finely chop the onion and add to cucumbers. Sprinkle with salt and celery seed (salt). Cover loosely with plastic wrap and set aside for 1 hour.

In small saucepan, bring vinegar to boil and then remove immediately from heat. Stir in sugar, stirring until dissolved. Allow to cool, then pour over cucumbers ( after they have been sitting for 1 hour and you have discarded the juice from the bowl)

'Mix well, cover and refrigerate for at least 24 hours before serving. I used mason jars to store them.

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My improvison: I used two small containers of pickling cucumbers from the farmers market; I cut them into spears rather than slices. Because I did not have celery seeds on hand I used celery salt.

I also added a sprig or two of fresh dill to each jar. We were looking for more of dill taste than sweet. 1 tripled the recipe for 4 jars of pickles because of the type of cucumbers I was using and the size of the jar.

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Chocolate Zucchini Bread from the Southmoreland B & B in Kansas City

3 lg eggs

1 cup oil

3 cups of grated Zucchini

2 tsp Vanilla

2 1/3 cups Flour

2 cups sugar

1/2 cup unsweeted Hershey cocoa

2 tsp salt

1 tsp cinnamon

2 tsp baking soda

1/4 tsp baking powder

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Spray two medium loaf pans with Pam. In a large bowl, mix together the first 4 wet ingredients. In another large bowl, mix together the dry ingredients, then add them slowly to the wet ingredients and beat well. Pour mixture into greased loaf pans and bake for 45 to 55 minutes, or until toothpick inserted in the middle comes out clean.

I make no changes to this recipe. I will occasionally use a little more Zucchini, if that's what I have. I use one Pampered Chep Stone Loaf Pan and one Pyrex Loaf Pan. The Pyrex is done in about 47 minutes and the other is about 5-8 minutes behind. Store in Fridge for up to a week. Great for snacks, breakfast, whatever.

Hope you enjoy this summer produce using recipes. For more great WFMW ideas check out http://www.wearethatfamily.com/.

Wear Them Out: My Summer Plan

The heat has finally arrived in our state. It's beginning to feel a little bit more like Summer around here. Considering that over the last week I've worn a sweater, sweatshirt and jeans on a regular basis, I'd say I'd happy to see the temps rise above 65.

My summer plan is now in full force. We are going to wear ourselves out. Stay active, do things, and then crash at the end of the day.

Last week, it was Boy Scout Camp and VBS. This week, we've attended the summer library program at our school including volunteering for service hours, gone to the city library, gone on walk (or "forced march" as some in my family call it) on the walking trail, gone to a baseball game, and the zoo. To top it off, we have had two baseball and one softball game this week along with cooling off at the pool with friends.

Why so busy? So my kids don't kill each other. So they go to bed at a reasonable time. So that we get as much out of the few weeks we have together as possible. We've planned a low key summer as our vacation will be to our family lake home nearby combined with a few side trips so we need to keep the activity up to keep the boredom away.

We are a much happier family when we are not climbing all over our walls or staring at each other all day long. We always try to be home for meals, bath, and bedtime, but we like to stay busy with fun activities so that by 9:00 PM, the kids are exhausted. We have a set reading and chore time each day too, but we also have lots of time set aside to have fun and be busy.

I know some of my "younger mom friends" wonder why we stay so busy.

With no nappers in the family anymore, we can do things without having to rush home to take a rest or get a baby down for a nap. This is the first summer, we've actually gone to the pool during the hours of 2 and 4 PM as those used to be reserved for nap times.

Most of the things we are doing are also low dollar events. We aren't going to movie or an amusement park every week. We are just enjoying our memberships at museums, the pool and the library while throwing in a few trips planned out to "things and events".

There are also days like today when we are home more catching up on chores, getting things ready for the weekend, having Popsicles on the back deck. We go with the flow. Some days we create fun, other days the fun just happens hanging out together.

More than anything, I'm trying to create some summer memories. Soon C will be too old to "hang out with mom". He'll be off doing things with friends or having a part time job. I want to cram in everything I can with the all three kids as long as possible.

Wearing ourselves out is just how our family rolls.