Summer Love.

One giant box.

The big boys volunteering to fill water balloons for a class party at church

 

. . . finding out later they also filled them with food coloring. :) 

Cousins!

Extended family time.

Hanging laundry outside.

Little helping hands.

Outdoor birthday celebrations.

Cool evenings.

Boys playing in the dirt.

Homemade birthday cards.

 

And it's just the beginning!!

For hire. . .

 

Over the weekend, we headed to Pete's parents to mulch their yard.

Having the boys work with us was great help!! 

They are old enough now that they really made a difference!

We finished so fast!

 

Lilly was ready to help, but once we got there, she realized her outfit was too cute to get dirty.

She is a princess after all.

 

However, her biggest brother reminded her that Cinderella is a princess too and found her a broom.

 



(Henry showing Grandpa his work.)

 Seriously, who wouldn't want to hire these cuties to work!

Venus Fly Trap

For his birthday, Ben requested a Venus Fly Trap cake.

My friend did an amazing job on exactly what he wanted! 

 

 

 Seriously, how fun is that? 

All the cousins tried the flies at the same time.

Well, not all the cousins (look at the littlest one - not too sure).



And if you are going to have a Venus Fly Trap birthday,

you have to have dirt cups filled with worms.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY BEN 10!!

BEN TEN

Today my sweet Ben is 10!

 

 

He is:

 

smart

kind

funny

generous

tender hearted

creative

loving

compassionate

obedient

a care taker

humble

joyful

thoughtful
responsible

best friend of his older brother

a hero to his younger siblings

a quiet friend

follower of Christ

my son

my joy.

 

I am blessed beyond words to be a mother to this amazing boy!

HAPPY 10th BIRTHDAY BEN!

Dragons

As my first born is nearing the teen years, things are changing!

He is trying to find freedom.  I am trying to let go.

He is figuring out who he is.  I am trying to let him.

 

And then there's the fact that he is EXACTLY like me.

 

Put all of this together with homeschooling and being around each other all the time and the days are getting intense. 

 

So we took time to just enjoy being around each other.

No chores.

No math.

Just fun.

 

It was AMAZING!

We laughed and talked and I taught him a little more about baseball.

And the best part of the night. . .

When he gave me a super tight hug and said, "Thanks for taking me mom. I had a great time."





 

me + heart = melted



Homestretch

This week is our final week of school!!

 

The troops are growing VERY restless as we near the end. . .

Ben was suppose to be upstairs teaching Lilly her letters. . .


Instead she came down with socks stuffed in her shirt singing a rap song.

Oh boy!

 

Captain Underpants was found running around in the backyard.

 

And the kids are literally climbing the walls.

 

Beauty & the Beast

On Saturday, my Mom took Lilly to see Beauty and the Beast at a local Town Hall Theater.

 

 

 

 

So thankful for my mom and the experiences she gives to my kids!