First Grade Fun Field Trip to The Hamburger Farm

I was a little choked up as the busses turned on the street in front of me and made their way to our field trip destination. I'm glad we had Celia. She is 5 years younger than Joseph and it seems I have another opportunity to do these elementary school field trips. I followed the bus on Highway 65 ever so slowly. I couldn't help thinking what precious cargo they were carrying!  It is sweet and I also feel her years in school will go by quicker and I should value our time together.  I'm glad I was there, Celia was my buddy. She played with the other kids, but wanted me around and I helped her get through the "farm" portion of the tour. It was hot and the tour guide spoke softly and slowly about how each part of our hamburger were grown.  Celia loved the marbles, the train, the slide and the animals to pet. She didn't think there was a real pig there, wasn't "pink" enough. We learned about tomatoes, cucumbers, Dill weed, milking cows, growing potatoes, mustard plants, and eggs being used to make mayo and much more. It was a great tour and time.

Spencer's sick day

I rarely write about sickness, but maybe I'll touch on it just a little. Poor Spencer didn't feel well last Monday. I sent him to school anyway thinking he is just suffering from his usual seasonal allergies. Nope, this flu masks itself in allergies then gets really violent! Joseph and Spence each missed two days of school and all in our family except Emmy seem to have experienced some symptoms. It does make you remember to appreciate your health. I have been spoon feeding Joseph's honey lemon to help with his cough and sore throat. We have the humidifier going with and surprisingly the Vicks on your feet at night and covering them with socks, has helped my kids to sleep through and breathe easier. Spencer's birthday was pretty low key, but he did check out his decorations and balloons. He liked the balloons and checked out each and every one. We did get a few smiles from him on his day, and times were pretty quiet around here this week, with sleepers and resting going on.

I took Joseph with me visiting teaching and going to get Spencer from school. He just stayed and watched the Lorax in the van. I hope this sickness runs its course a little more quickly now. Hopefully all will feel better by Monday and Emmy can avoid it altogether.  I was bummed Joseph wasn't well enough to go perform the National Anthem at the Rivercats game, but it was nice to get out of the "infirmary" and go to dinner with Brian and Emmy.~

Pardy Hardy for the Seven Year Old.

Celia had a great little party. She came home from school early for a hurt back, somewhat small scrap on her back, but she perked right up when all her friends came. We had pizza( Little Cesar's was closed so I had to find another under stress), played hide and seek, pin the tail on the donkey after they decorated their own tails and roughhoused a lot. At least the boys did. Celia got a lot of great art gifts and seemed very happy. She shared her chalk and activities with her friends we'll, loved the cake and it was enjoyed by all. Her tutor ally spoiled her and I was glad she was able to come and join in the fun. She is blessed to have great friends and such wonderful gifts. Now I'm taking things down and cleaning up the gifts. A lull in the celebrating ,but only for 3 days!

Party with the Grandpadres

It was very nice and relaxing to go to the park and celebrate the kiddos' birthday early with the grandparents. Rah Rah brought food, presents, and a football and we visited. Jeremiah climbed trees and ran for a buck and Joseph loved throwing the ball around. Papa and I talked about DSLR cameras including bokeh , Celia enjoyed all the bubbles, and Spence of course loved the swing.  Celia loved all her loot and we all went home happy. We missed Emmy she was at Six flags amusement park for her friend's birthday.  Bri, Joseph, Jeremiah played blood bowl and resident evil board games and had a ton of fun. they played for a while. I got to fgo out and see "The Host" and hit In n out with my friend Laurie. I wish all Saturdays could be so fun. Tomorrow we have Celia's Birthday and Spence's on Thursday. The bright side is plenty of friends, food, and memory making. I can't believe how they grow. I remember each of  their days of birth. Time flies and how they've grown!

Gratifying work-The Garden

Being in a newly built home for a year now reminds me of our home we built in Utah. We planted a lot, and made a garden, and tried to beautify our surroundings. Sometimes I feel like it is a desert out here. Some of the things I planted last year didn't make it. Bulbs and succulents did well. I'm glad some geraniums made it. I know they are hardy, but we are still trying to figure out the sprinkling system. I looked at it today and I think things finally clicked for me, so hopefully we won't have plants dying from Too much water.  I planted some vegetables today. I hope they grow and produce. I love fresh produce and getting it from my own backyard, even better.

I transplanted my rose tree with pink firework roses. It was hit and miss, but I am happy to report it made the transition!(sounds like an Emmy flower I know) The plants I have been able to keep are pretty small here, but using my zoom lens helps me focus on the good things. they are still there!  There are flowers and things will fill in with time! Working and being in the yard brings me joy. I've been planning and preparing for birthdays. That's fun, but not as fun as digging in the dirt and smelling the beautiful plants and flowers! I bought garden soil that mixes with your current soil and feeds it for up to three months. With consistency and tending to it, I hoping this will be my best garden year to date!

Our Process of Prom Prep~

I don't know why it is so exciting to have Emmy to get ready for Prom! Maybe, it is the girl time we get to have together, finding a dress, deciding how to do her hair and nails. Yeah, I was a tom boy as a youth, so maybe I am playing dress up with my beautiful Emmy doll. We found her purple dress while we were out shopping, celebrating Emmy getting her driver's license. We knew we wanted a cute cover up and found that later. The cute hair flower, shoes we had and my mom sent Emmy the beautiful pearl necklace and earrings that used to be my sister Tanya's.

We met at our house and we wanted to get some pictures of the kids outside. Andrew's Dad had an amazing camera and set up a mini photo shoot on the neighbor's lawn by their palm tree. The boutonniere was still tricky to put on. They really do need to come with instructions on how to pin it and make it stay  just right. I think the adventure and the attention and complimenting Emmy made her really shine in the pictures I took. I'm excited to see how the other pictures they took turned out.

The school had very romantic decorations lights and arbors and they made it through the lines to get portraits. I saw many kids I knew from church dressed beautifully. Emmy loved all the chocolate covered everything as snacks and they had a great steak dinner at a nice restaurant after the dance.  I hope Emmy knows she is spoiled, loved, and this was fun for even us parents.:)