summer fun has begun...

Two silly girls.

They woke up and decided to pick out each others clothes. The theme they went with was "western". So Oak is Annie Oakley and Mac is Jack Kelly from Newsies. We had just watched Newsies for the first time the night before.

Oak wanting to take a picture of me. This is where  you find me most of the time when the kids are riding their bikes outside. Me sitting in a lawn chair to make sure they don't get ran over by a car.

Oak and I were bouncing the ball back and forth and she just looked so cute.

Silly girl ready for Taekwondo.

The cool neighborhood hangout is the dirt hill right across the street. We have four shovels and the kids are always coming over and getting them to dig on the hill.

Making banana bread.

This last time we went to the library the kids decided they wanted to get books on space. It has been fun to read about, And I have learned a ton so I am pretty sure my kids have too.

National Donut Day and Summer Friday Donut Day.

The kids are always wanting to go up and down this steep street. Every once in awhile I humor them. 

One of their favorite things to do at Walmart. 

We are excited to try to do all these things this summer. We also need to add the river and Lake of the Woods.

I started reading this for the first time ever. I am about half way. It's good but I am a slow reader.

We were making pizza and decided we needed a little flour on our faces. 

Saturday morning we headed down the road to a neighbors house of someone in our ward. His yard needed some work done and his health isn't the best. So we spent a couple hours weeding and cleaning up the pine cones and pine needles. It was so great to help.

After the work we headed to the river to play. And Mac brought a book to read and was actually reading it. I was so excited he did this.

Cute girl on the way home from the river. I will do a post on just the river soon.

Tired out after playing in the river for a couple of hours.

Extreme hopscotching.

Goofy girl riding her new bike.

Daddy has been reading The Fellowship of the Ring to Mac and Mac has been making a map of the journey while listening to daddy read. 

Beautiful sunsets here. My phone camera never does it justice.

We tried going on a walk to walk out our wiggles and grumpiness. It was a disaster and my kids were so poorly behaved. Oh well!

But they sure looked cute in the setting sun.

Sunday Gratitude...twenty-three...

Can you tell Oak was not a happy camper? And Mac is just crazy Mac.

I am grateful...

...for the hard moments with my kids because it helps me to appreciate the good moments more.

...to be able to homeschool my kids. More often than not I find reasons to keep homeschooling. It's stressful but brings me a lot of joy and I know it is what is right for my kids.

...for summer fun. Our summer calendar is already so filled up with fun and stress. 

...for the opportunities I have had to serve with my kids lately. I know it is one of the most important things I can teach my kids.

...for the sabbath day. I haven't felt like I could always say that. But the last six months I have been able to say that. 

...for the homemade strawberry shortcake that I am about to devour. YUM!

something exciting...

Standing on our very own little piece of land. Two acres worth.

Just a busy and fun week...

Mac had to give a talk in primary. Daddy helped him write and on his own he ended up writing his testimony to also read. It was very sweet and strengthened my own testimony.

The Memorial Day parade just starting.

Walking back to our car that was parked at daddy's work after the parade.

We went to a ward members house for a bbq and Mac had so much fun that he didn't even eat dinner.

I rarely give Mac clothes advice. He dresses himself every morning. But the morning he came down like this I said, "Your shirt doesn't match your shorts. Can I help you pick out a different shirt?
 He responds with "No. Boys don't match. Only girls need to match."

After Oak's preschool graduation, her teacher always has a little carnival for all her friends kids. It was so much fun. I ended up helping with photo booth.

We finally got the package for my friend to take with her to India sent to her. 

Mac's best friend came over a couple of time to play during the week to help his mama out who was about to have a baby. 

Oak's dream came true of getting to ride her bike on the bike path.

These horses are right across the street from the homeschool center and I let Oak go look at them while waiting for Mac to get back from a field trip. They were on the other side of the field and Oak started neighing at them and they came running over. 

The boys got back from a field trip with the homeschool center. And they walked in the door and said they wanted something healthy to eat so grandma gladly made them a huge plate of fruit. They devoured it!

Oak is the perfect blend of princess and tomboy. I loved looking up this day and it blew me away how beautiful she was with her hat on backwards, dirty and sweaty face, crazy hair and her favorite overalls.

Water painting.

Mac got sent to his room to help him change his behavior. Not long after I realized it was quiet and he had fallen asleep and he was snoring. We had to leave for Taekwondo and he is so hard to wake up.

Then when I was trying to wake him up and sat up and grabbed me and pulled me down and said "just snuggle me mom". So I did and then I fell asleep. We didn't end up going to taekwondo after all.

Library day! We happened to get there after preschool story time and they were able to do the craft afterwards. This time we got lots of books on space and astronauts per their request. 

Oak enjoying our future backyard. 

Oak playing out in the field across from our house. The grass is so tall.

My cute kids ready for bed.

They asked me to tell them the story of when daddy and I met. It's a really good one and apparently really funny.

The first time I made the kids a chocolate protein shake happened to be a Sunday morning. Now they want me to make one for them every Sunday morning so it is now a tradition. 

Oak drew this during Sacrament meeting on Sunday. L to R: My dad, Mac, me, daddy, Oak, Grandma. Bottom is Jesus (with a tie, haha!) and Mac's birthmom.

Our realtor gave us an ice cream maker. So daddy made us some blackberry ice cream. 

And Oak helped grandma make an apple pie. 

And the yumminess!!!