As I look back, July feels like it flew by, but most days it felt like it was creeping at a snail’s pace!
Our days are sweet, though, and still full of so many “normals” for us!
Besides the big appointments we had in July for Tate and Eliza, we had a lot of other appointments too, which I am hoping never becomes something I call normal!
The youngest three were along for the ride a lot!
Sometimes, like at the orthodontist, we were not allowed inside with Chad.
We always enjoy our normal of worship, Bible time, and prayer in the mornings!
You know, it was just a few years ago that a very good friend encouraged me to sing daily with my children!
I laughed at her and said “I CANNOT sing!”
She told me it didn’t matter – and you know what?
She was right!
We enjoy singing together!
I also am enjoying my normal of having a time with the Lord before the children wake each morning!
I have been reading chronologically through the Bible this year – my first time to make it this far!
Eliza is not a morning person!
I wonder if that will always be her normal?
Also, Ruby Jane is the sweetest pup ever.
I spent a big chunk of time preparing for school to start!
I LOVE TO PLAN THESE KIDDOS DAYS!!
We are purposing some of the budget into getting stocked back up on oils and other favorites from Young Living!
I am thankful for those oils to reach for when we need them!!
I even found a cute little shelf on Amazon to store them.
I finally got Eliza an appointment to straighten up the haircut I gave her during quarantine!
We washed her hair at home before we went, and I dropped the boys off to hang out with Addie at work, which is just down the street from the salon!
Her hair looks SO much better!
I was eating my breakfast by the sliding glass door one morning listening to these two.
I could not pull myself away!!
Tate asked Eliza, “Eliza, do you want a big family, or a medium one?”
Eliza answered, “I think I heard a dog bark.”
Sums these two up PERFECTLY!
Our deep thinker, and the another one always in her own little world!
This photo is to remind me to always have dogs from here on out that don’t shed.
This was one of three swiffer clothes I used downstairs to sweep the floors.
Three swiffers full of dog hair could make a new dog!
Speaking of that bald brown haired pup – I could not resist taking this photo, even though it was dark!
She always sneaks into someone’s bed at night!
I found this candy bar in the freezer in between some tortilla wraps.
I knew it did not belong there, and someone was missing it – but I still thought about eating it!
Glad I didn’t eat it, because later I found out Chad had purchased it for his big sister.
He is SO sweet!
Kayla and I left all the kiddos in very capable hands one day back in July and drove two hours to go to Costco and stock up on grocery!
In this photo we are in the check out lane and Kay had already emptied her cart.
Let’s just say it was a good thing we did not have any passengers in the van – it was FULL.
Definitely worth the drive!
For those of you who have been here awhile, you probably remember the plague infestation of flies we had in 2018.
Well, the daily manure spreading around Twin Oaks is back here in 2020!
The flies make me a crazy lady!
Just kidding – I have actually been praised by my boys at my fly swatting and killing skills!
I bought the kiddos a new book that I could not resist.
I read it cover to cover too and it was SO interesting!
They love to read and I am so glad to find good things for them to read!
I know I just told you I bought a book, but now I am going to tell you I am selling books!
I have been for months now.
It slowed way down with COVID, but selling has picked back up and I am selling books like crazy!
I have been getting rid mostly of homeschool books we no longer need.
SUCH a blessing!
I very normal thing here at Twin Oaks is being outside.
Daily!
All day!
The pull of the summer weather is hard to resist!!
And the Lord’s handiwork in the sky still takes my breath away!
I was SO happy when our cucumbers started appearing in our garden!
They have RUINED me!
I am now a cucumber snob!
I like them crisp, with no seeds, and without the skin being chewy.
These cucumbers are the best ones we have ever grown!
The green beans have been fabulous too.
As I type this the tomatoes have started to ripen!
My trio likes to play games.
The game of choice right now is chess.
They play it several times a day!
We are still eating – it’s very normal!
I don’t have many food photos this time!
I still have a big kitchen day most Saturdays too – to make all that food!
Thankful I love to cook and bake!
We had a women’s meeting at church one Monday evening.
It was a project night – to paint pots, plant succulents, and make cards for nursing home residents.
We had so much fun!!
The plants turned out beautiful!!
We had close to 50 of them when we were done!
We still like to listen to audio books and radio shows to pass some time on the rainy days!
A few more normal things to end this lloooonnnggg post!
Working out.
It saves my back from constant troubles!
Naps.
They are just needed sometimes!
Retail therapy, ha, ha!
We actually did not need another tumbler, but I wanted to support the folks that were selling it, so I bought it!
Cuties.
I am so glad they are part of our normal!
WOW.
July, you were awesome!!
I just want to do it all again!
Hanging on tight!
Summer is almost over!!
Hoping to squeeze in our traditional camp out yet.
And some more swimming!
And some more s’mores!
July, your memories are sweet!
Thankful to have them here!
