No matter when we plan on having our Church’s annual Block Party and Vacation Bible School, whether it’s August (duh!), July or June it will be the hottest week of the year. Or at least seem like it. It never fails to be 110 degrees on the Block Party evening and at least that every day of the VBS. (We have our VBS in the evenings so we have enough workers.)
This year is different. We had our Block Party last Friday- it got up to 90 during the day but was pleasant during the evening.
Here is Pixie in the bounce house. This was a popular attraction for the younger set. The older ones liked the dunk tank. We gave out tickets as kids played the carnival type games and then they could pick prizes. The snow cones were also a hit but my favorite part?
We are now in full swing of our Vacation Bible School and the weather is still cooperating by being nicely warm. We have a tropical island/ Hawaiian theme this year so there are lots of people wearing loud shirts and leis. Boy howdy!And you should see our Palm Trees. I need to get a photo of them. I am helping in the “little people” class- ages 3 to just finished kindergarten. We have the largest class of about 20 kids- aren’t we lucky? Oh, excuse my sarcasm. I should be more excited about it and really, I do pray that these kids learn about Jesus and his love for us. Friday night will be family night when we talk about our week and then get to go eat ice cream. It’s not popcorn but it’s still something to anticipate.
We have 5 acres. When we first bought it people asked us if we were going to get horses, which is what people around here do with their property. We said “No.” Cows then? We shake our heads and ignore the looks we get. I mean, what else would a person DO with property? Just enjoying the space isn’t good enough. Well, in some ways it isn’t. For one reason the weeds take over and they are just awful to live with- so pushy and not at all friendly. The previous owners had put in pasture grass for hay. We found a local farmer who would care for our measly four acres of grass and now we sit back and watch the show. What’s more exciting than watching grass grow? Watching the swather, tractor, rake and baler go around the field for one.
Here is a blast from the past (2004) when we ate lunch outside so we could better watch the baler. Notice The Boy’s shirt- it’s the same one that his sister wears all the time.
Last year our hay was cut for the first time on May 14th, which was early. Usually it’s cut towards the end of May or early June. This year?
It was cut yesterday. And yes, those are gray clouds up in the sky. But it hasn’t rained… so far. Today is clear and sunny with a slight breeze. Good haying weather.
Watch out! Don’t get run over!
Water. We need it to live. The “experts” tell us we need to drink 8 cups a day. Some people think that this is a made up number put out there by the bottled water industry. I see that number floating around on all the weight loss web sites. I think one of the main reasons for this is to get people to drink no calorie water as opposed to high calorie soda. But be that as it may- it’s out there being shoved down our throats whether we want to swallow it or not.
When I worked it was easy to drink water. I had a large cup on my desk that always seemed to be empty. I’d fill it up and then it would be empty again. Amazing. It was very handy, right there within reach. When I came home, it wasn’t as easy. For some reason the large cup didn’t get filled and set out where I would see it. I would often feel embarrassed because one of my friends would always have water with her for herself and for her kids. My poor babies would be dying of thirst because I didn’t think about hauling our own water with us (Bad Mother!).
I noticed that I was feeling thirsty in the afternoons and would realize that I was only drinking coffee. So I changed my habits. I measured how much my favorite glass would hold (2 cups exactly- convenient that!) and filled it up. I keep track of how many times I fill it up. When we go out to play at the park or just to town, I fill up water bottles. Now my poor children are hydrated. I feel sanctimonious.
When the homeschoolers meet for an afternoon of play and bible study- I am the one guzzling down the large bottle of water…. and drinking a few cups of tea. Others sit there with nothing and I wonder how they do it. Isn’t the condemnation of the converted awful? Of course, I miss half the conversation because the down side to consuming so much fluid is that it eventual will want out.
Now, please excuse me- I must go visit Henry.
A long, long time ago in a galaxy far, far away…. wait a minute. Maybe not the galaxy part but the rest is right, I wrote a post about The Col.’s love of something called “Tapatio”. It’s a hot sauce that he put on everything. Well, not pancakes or desert or something like that but on about everything else. He likes his food spicy. As I mentioned in that old post he knows to taste his food before he puts on the sauce because it upsets the Cook if he doesn’t. It’s not good to upset the Cook- you never know what she might put in your food next time around. (evil laugh!)
Anyway, a while back we went out for Chinese food. I love it- The Col. tolerates it and the kids eat grilled cheese sandwiches and french fries. Since The Col. was barely able to choke down that bland stuff, he asked the waitress if they had any Tabasco sauce. They didn’t but would he like to try some Garlic Chili Sauce? It was spicy!? So he decided to give it a try. And, hey Mikey!, he liked it!
I found it at the local “Out” house – which for once, was not out of it. Actually, what I found was without the garlic but he manages somehow. I have seen it since in other stores and will have to get that when this bottle is gone. Which won’t be too long the way it’s disappearing. At first he would put a few drops on but now he pours it all over the place- with a big grin!
So now the poor Tapatio bottle is sitting there neglected as the Chinese Hot Chili Sauce gets center stage. Don’t you feel sorry for it? If you come visit you’ll have to give it a special hug.
squirl squile squerl squarle squirel squiral squirrel! Yeah! Now that I know how to spell it we can continue on with this post.
You thought churches only had mice in them? Not ours.
Let me set the stage for you: I was at one end of the building embarrassing myself by introducing myself to some people who were not who I thought they were. You see, there were some people from my hometown visiting that day and I didn’t know them but wanted to introduce myself. I, unfortunately, targeted in on the wrong people! I marched up to them, shook their hands and said my name and where I grew up and who may father was etc. etc. I was confused as to the blank looks on their faces. Finally it clicked! They were the wrong people! They had no idea what I was talking about! About this time the Pastor told me that my husband was chasing a squirrel downstairs. Uh? And something about a song about it. What?
Now, The Col. and The Boy were in the parking lot talking to the right people because he actually was aquinted aquanted familiar with them. You see, The Col. knows more people from my hometown than I do. Yes, I lived there my whole life and he lived in the general area for 5 years but if we attend an event there- he will be the one that knows someone- not me. No, I am not bitter- not one bit, nope. Back to the story- as they chatted away a squirrel came right up behind The Col. and examined him. Then said squirrel turned and ran right into the open door to the church. The Col. and The Boy went into the basement and chased the squirrel out of the side rooms, closing doors as they went. They had him trapped in the big room when I arrived on the scene. Pixie and TG were placed on the second flight of stairs above the door so that the squirrel wouldn’t get upstairs and into the sanctuary while the rest of us went back down to herd squirrel. Round ’em up!
We found the fugitive behind a piano and he was coaxed out and shooed to the door. The Boy was pretty excited and kept leaping all over the place but we managed to keep him corralled behind the squirrel. Up the stairs the rascal (the squirrel, not The Boy) raced and he was gone!
The Col., who is full of fun and useful music facts, also said something about a song and when he got home he found it on You Tube. Since I’m not technically savvy and don’t know how to put the nice little screen on here- I’ll just put the link here for you to go to all on your lonesome.
And you thought Church was a boring place to be.
****Updated with correct numbers****
How high can we go? It’s anyone’s guess.
Just what are we counting, tallying on a daily basis?
Mosquito bites on The Boy.
I should clarify that- “we” aren’t keeping count by choice but there is one of us who is very interested in the numbers and keeps us minutely informed.
Do you see eyes rolling?
To be honest, The Boy is effected by bites more than the average Joe. The bites tend to swell up on him and annoy him more than most. It leaves one to wonder about the constant…. complaining. Is it really bothering him or is he not dealing well with minor discomfort? Since he reacts so to them it’s hard to know. So we medicate him- mostly to relieve our own suffering.
I think we are up to 22, just in case you were wondering.
(Don’t worry, West Nile has not been reported in our county…. yet. Whoops! I was informed I was wrong- a bird was found to have it in 2006 but none has been reported since then.)
Our young lady friend was able to visit us again. She was off on an adventurous, fast trip to the other end of the state to see what she could see before she headed home. She spent the night and before she took off in the morning, The Boy asked if she’d like to climb up into a tree and see the baby robins. She said she would and climbed expertly up into the tree. Thus scaring the baby birds into flight before they were quite ready to be doing such things. Then commenced the Great Baby Robin Roundup!
There were four to be put back into the nest. Of course, there was the examinations to be made.
Making the hand off. She would put them back into the nest. This worked great until Baby Bird #4 – the nest was getting crowded with four teenagers so they decided to fly the coop again! So we rounded them all up again. I use the term “we” loosely here, I was taking photos.
The Col. had lots of “help”. Isn’t The Dog pointing pretty? It’s the bird dog part of him coming out.
And, of course, kid help also. They were fascinated.
Standing watch so we don’t lose track of one of them.
We decided to just leave them on the branches of the tree instead of stuffing them all back into the nest. Mission complete!
One can’t really call it Global Warming because this part of the globe is not warming.
Click on the photo to better see this panoramic photo that The Col. took.
Tuesday’s storm set a rainfall record in town; the .77 of an inch flooded the previous half inch record set in 1923. Also broken was the maximum low temperature record; the high of 50 degrees breaking the 59 degree previous record set in 1972 for our area. I hope none of the schools were going to the pool for end of the year activities! Burrr!
In the mountains the “rainfall” was not rain. It was snow. Lots of it! With areas reporting between 9″ and 14″. Yes- Fourteen inches of snow fell on June 10th. We saw chunks of snow lying on the freeway where it had fallen off of the trucks. Chains were required for awhile and the snow plows were out in force.
We were supposed to meet up with others at a local park to play. Ha! We were not that hearty and choose to stay indoors.
The low temperatures have been in the 40’s but on the 8th and last night, they dipped to 33 degrees. No wonder it’s so hard to grow things here.
Now, remind me about this cool weather in August when I am complaining about the heat.
We tend to weigh and measure the kids a lot. Why? They keep growing! And growing, and growing….
At the age of two, most children slow down in the growth department- not our crew. So I like to keep track of it all- I’m like that. Give me buttons to push and charts to keep and I am a happy camper.
So… because I know you all are dying of curiosity, here are the most current stats:
The Boy- 56 1/4″ (4′ 8 1/4″), 71 pounds. This puts him in over the 97th percentile in height. He is in the 90th percentile in weight.
Pixie- 46″ (3′ 10″) and 43 pounds. She is on the 90th percentile line for height and 50th for weight. And you wonder why I have troubles finding clothes that fit her!
Sunshine- 43″ (3′ 7″) and 41.4 pounds. She is in the 95th in height and 87th for weight.
I went back to the height predictor at WebMD to see if it said anything new. Since Sunshine was now 4, I wondered if it would change anything.
It assures me that The Boy will still be 6’5″.
Pixie will still be the shrimp of the children at 5’9″.
Sunshine is heading for 5’10”.
I will be the leaning post for all of them, I’m afraid.
Here is Pixie in the bounce house. This was a popular attraction for the younger set. The older ones liked the dunk tank. We gave out tickets as kids played the carnival type games and then they could pick prizes. The snow cones were also a hit but my favorite part?
