Patrick's Birthday

FIFTEEN... I have a hard time believing it but he is 15 today. Patrick had a bunch of friends over for what has become and annual event of a water balloon fight. I blew up about 300 water balloons and we all got soaked. Of course we had food and cake but the kids were more interested in Guitar Hero and hanging out with each other.

All of the kids in one place at one time.

This event does not happen often with our family split between Washington and California but this summer while Kimmy was visiting I had a chance to snap a few pictures with ALL 8 KIDS.

Of course getting them all to look at the camera and SMILE at the same time is virtually impossible.

Here they all are from left to right:
Alyssa, Kimmy, Mikey, Danny, Charlie, Zack, Patrick and Jonny

Baby Season

It seems to be that time of year again for our family to have babies on the mind. But this time it is not me. The exciting news is that both of my nieces who married last year are pregnant.

Melissa and David are expecting in early December and have found out that they are having a girl. The have named her Elena.

Leann and Peter are expecting at the end of January. No news yet on whether they are expecting a boy or girl.

Needless to say I am eagerly working on projects for the babies to be and cannot wait to become a Great Aunt. Very exciting stuff!

Flowers in Bloom...part 2

And just a few more.

Maltese Cross Plant

Lychnis Rose Champion

Wave Petunias

Flowers in Bloom

Since I mentioned them, I wanted to share the blooms in my garden.

Malva Zebrina

Crimson Pirate Daylily

Sweet William

Hens and Chicks

Alyssum, Sanvitalia and Nemesia

Garden Update

I have been at it again, digging in the gardens. This section I was dreading because it is right underneath the weeping birch and I always end up with spiders and other various bugs crawling through my hair. Yes, I admit, it gives me the creeps to have bugs in my hair. But it is done now and looking great with the mulch laid out and the rocks in place. Gardening has been a nice break from the canning I have been doing all week.




Blooming in the garden today are lychnis, daylillies, cyclamin, sweet william and some pretty red flowers.

Canning has begun

Well it is that time of year again where I spend hours in the kitchen canning. So far I have started with strawberries, rhubarb and peaches. My completed projects include strawberry jam, strawberry rhubarb jam and strawberry syrup. The peaches have successfully made it to the freezer and when I get the urge they will be made into peach jam, peach rhubarb jam and peach pie filling.

Not counting what I have already given away, I have 13 pints and 1 half pints of strawberry jam; 3 pints and 12 half pints of strawberry rhubarb jam; 3 pints and 2 half pints of strawberry syrup; and 6 freezer bags of peaches that each have 4 cups of prepared peaches.



My cupboard is starting to fill now, faster than I was expecting but that is ok. This year I am determined to not run out of strawberry jam since everyone likes it so much.

I am looking very forward to the blueberries coming into season soon as well as some experimenting with some new recipes to use with strawberries. And thanks to my friends, I have discovered that I love rhubarb and will be doing a lot more with that as well. Dan absolutely loves strawberry rhubarb pie so I made one this week and he told me it was just as good as his Aunt Willie's, a high compliment indeed.

4th of July

We had a lot of fun for the 4th this year. First we went over to Patrick's friends house. We finally got to meet Shawnie's parents and had a really nice time. Back home to cook dinner for the family. Mom, Dad and Kimmy came over for more good food and then fireworks. I did not get any pictures until most of the fun was over but we did have a good time!

Here are the four youngest.

And this one is missing Kimmy and Patrick.

Playdate

We had our 2nd play date with all of the kids from Mikey and Charlie's preschool class. This time I remembered to take my camera with me so I could get some pictures of all the kids having fun!

Summer Daze

I think my title is appropriate because that is how the summer has felt so far, one day blurring into another creating a dazed state that I seem to perpetually stumble through. For the most part, I think that everyone is having an awesome summer. Lots of time in the pool, out in the sun, going places and doing things but for this tired mommy, it sure seems like summer has already gone on for months and when will it ever end. Don't get me wrong, I am loving all of the time with the kids but I just wish we could slow down a little bit. I think once summer school and yearbook are done, life will settle into that slower summer pace.

My kids look good, all sun-kisses and healthy. Even I have managed to not glow when I walk outside in shorts. Everyone's hair is getting lighter as their skin gets darker which is cool to see. I think that the kids are all lucky to get natural streaks in their hair from simply doing the things that kids do on hot summer days.

We are gearing up for the 4th of July, we have been invited to a friend of Patrick's for a party and then comes Patrick's birthday party. He wants to have a camp-out with his friends, guys and gals. I think it will be a blast and if that does not work out, then we will have a BBQ by the lake and a day of swimming. He is 15 this year and that means a whole new world opening up for him with driving lessons for the next year and then his license. YIKES!

Things are also going great with Danny moving in, a few minor bumps along the road but so far so good. He has been walking every day and has lost 10 pounds since he moved in with us. Such an awesome accomplishment!

My mother-in-law, Sharon found out this past week that she is going to need chemotherapy for her cancer. We are all very saddened by this news but know that everything is going to be ok. She is in good spirits and seems eager to get this going and then over with. We continue to keep her in our prayers.

So I guess that is it for a summer day, the kids call and it is time to really get the day going again.