Growing pains

My baby!

My cutie pie!

My sweet pea!

My honey bunch!

My lovey!

My dear,

my darling girl,

grew taller than me. Overnight! It's not allowed! I won't stand for it! At least I won't stand close to her anymore! Not close enough that anyone can tell for certain that she has gotten taller than me!


My baby has grown into a beautiful young woman, who is taller than me!


It is wonderful and painful all at the same time!


If only her feet would grow just a little more too, so she will no longer be tempted to borrow my shoes!


SIGH!


Christine

Happy campers

The girls began volleyball camp this week. I have been very excited that they wanted to try it and so far, they both seem to like playing volleyball. I'm glad. 


They got their interest from me you know. I played volleyball for a whole year in 8th grade...wait, it was 7th grade...no, it was 8th...I played volleyball for a year in junior high. The girls definitely take after me!


I will miss soccer though. (the girls decided to give up soccer to play volleyball) Soccer was always a surprise. We could be sitting outside in the sweltering heat watching a game or we could end up sitting in the rain. For sure by the end of the fall soccer season we would be outside bundled up for the freezing cold and at least one game a season we would get covered in the snow. Yeah, I'm going to miss that while sitting inside a temperature controlled gymnasium watching the girls play volleyball. Hey, it's a sacrifice I'm willing to make if the girls are happy!


I arrived early yesterday to get Miss Sofi Bug from camp because I really wanted to get some photos of one of my super hot shot volleyball players in action.


I was sure I'd get some pretty amazing shots. I was hoping to get something like this.

not one of my girls, random shot found on google

Wouldn't that be a cool shot to get of one of my girls?


Well, either my memory is very bad, or the game of volleyball has really changed.


I don't remember piggyback rides in volleyball!

I also don't remember chasing my teammates around in circles!

I may need to have a talk with the coach! Although, I don't want to ruin my chances of watching my girl's sporting events indoors! Dilemma!


Actually the girls were just finishing up practice with, what I think is best described as, a volleyball version of musical chairs? I think. 


My very cool, hot shot photo will have to wait for another time. I'll get it. They take after me you know. (snort!)


Christine

Maybe Friday

It has been on my mind for about a week now, a post I want to write. I've been composing it in my head almost daily. 

I finally decided it was time to write this post that has been nudging and nagging at me.

When I sat to write, I began to struggle to get the words out, it comes form the depths of my heart you see, and those are the posts I struggle with.


I tend to wonder...what if I don't write it well? Will it matter to anyone? Will I get it right? Will my heart be too exposed?

So I began to look through some old photographs instead.


I love looking through photos.


What we've done.


Where we've been.


How cute I think my girls are.

Then I began to play with different effects on the old photos.

Like this antique look.

My little beach baby.

This picture now reminds me of an old camp photo.

I don't remember raking up these! How cute are those girls? VERY! They aren't all mine. Two are neighbors. I love their smiling faces! 

There you have it. I totally avoided writing the post I intended to write.

I know, procrastination is bad.

I need to work on that. 

Soon. 

Tomorrow.

Maybe Friday.

Christine

Time to blog

It's been several days since my last blog post.


I haven't given up blogging! I've just been kinda busy.


Busy with the garage sale that started last Thursday. I didn't get one photo. I'm still kicking myself!


Thursday was also the girl's last day of school for the year. I now have a 5th grader and an 8th grader. What!? Where does the time go? The Husband and I took the girls to dinner to celebrate.


Friday, my friend Amy and I continued our garage sale. The Husband took the day off and made coffee and lunch runs for us. He also spent some time making fabulous trellises for the beans and snap peas in the vegetable garden. I'll show them to you later in the week. The Husband is the best!


We finished up the garage sale Saturday. We didn't do too bad. We sold off a lot of items we no longer needed and brought in a little cash. Hurray! We still had some items left over though. Those items will be donated to the Salvation Army. The Salvation army does good work for those in need. I like them!


Friday I had fully intended to show you a couple of photos of the flowers that are blooming in the flower beds, but I just never found the time to post. 


Better late than never.


It rained Friday morning. Can you tell? The flowers were plastered to the ground.

Hello gorgeous.

Blooming Clematis.

Fortunately the rain did not continue. That would have been a bummer for the garage sale. It was cold and gloomy, but hey, the rain stopped.


By Sunday, I was exhausted and very much in need of a day to relax, so we strolled the farmer's market. The market was full of beautiful flowers. 


Peonies!

Lilies!

And flats full of brightly colored annuals.

My favorite thing about that day was the Husband in his kilt!


Yes, the Husband wore his kilt. 


I really like when the Husband wears his kilt!

We also went for a picnic. It was a very good day!


Hopefully, now that all that business of the garage sale is finished, I can get back to my regularly scheduled blogging! Especially now that the girls are on summer break, life should be easy breezy. Right! Right? Did someone just laugh?


Christine

It's summer

Though the calendar indicates that summer doesn't officially begin until June 21, it is clear to me that summer has already started.


I have seen the signs!


My entryway, that once looked like this...

...now looks like this.

Our summertime guests have returned to the garden,

and the girls are babysitting their offspring...in my kitchen! 

And last but not least, we spent the weekend splashing to our hearts content. We'll be content until next weekend anyway, then we will need another pool fix!

Yep, summer has begun and I am lovin' it!


Happy summer!


Christine

Garden stroll

What I photographed the other day, while walking in my parents gardens.

This fairy was looking especially lovely in the sunlight.

The Columbine are in full bloom. Pretty in pink.

Splendid in purple.

I really like the shade loving Solomon's Seal.

I can't remember what this is called. That's bad! I even have some in my own garden.

Yep, that probably explains a lot about my love of gardening.

And my collection of garden decorations.


Christine

Time for June bugs

It's going to be a hot day in Minnesota today. We're talking 92˚ and humid. bleck!


So, because I care, and want everyone to stay cool, here's a suggestion for beating the June heat.


June bugs!


I'm not talking the creepy crawly kind my friends. (tempted to insert photo of creepy crawly June bug...I am restraining...but I am tempted!) I'm talking the sweet, refreshing drink called the June bug.


I found this recipe in the Better Homes and Gardens magazine.


These few ingredients make a perfect beat-the-heat beverage.

Oops, missing the orange juice...you need OJ too!

1. Pour 3 cups ginger ale into the pitcher of a blender.

2. Add in 4 Tbsp grenadine.

3. Add in 4Tbsp orange juice.

4. Add in 3 scoops of orange sherbet.

Blend together. Pour into ice filled glasses.

Serve this round of June bugs to the children.


Now, repeat steps 1-4 and add in 1/2 cup of white rum. Blend, pour into ice filled glasses and serve the adults!

YUMMMMM! 


June bugs, a great way to beat the heat, all summer long!


Christine


P.S.  A big round of applause for the Husband who served as hand model for this post! He did a great job!