Summer Days of July

How I enjoy looking back at a post like this one in the middle of our long Wisconsin winters.

July is the BEST part of summer!!

It actually gets very hot here – just not for very long – and most of the time those hot days are in July.

MY FAVORITE kind of weather.

We were outside a lot – and I will continue to purpose being outside a lot – because it is just so good for us!

We gave Blake a Blackstone grill for Father’s Day!

He finally went and picked one out several weeks later and we have used it endlessly since then.

I KNEW he would love it!!

He enjoys cooking so many things on our deck now!

I have two other cuties who like to be helping with food too!

They wanted to make this dessert for a family get together all by themselves.

I was nearby, and helped get things out and put them away, but they made delicious individual peach cobblers.

Good job, you two!!

Of course, Blake, Tate, and Eliza are not the only ones loving to cook here at Twin Oaks.

I have been busy in the kitchen as well, as always!!

And still only getting grocery every two weeks, even though it is the biggest job that way!

It takes two carts every time.

Blake and I had an impromptu date one Sunday afternoon.

We went to our local Co-op, had a smoothie, and talked and talked!

It was WONDERFUL.

Addie blessed us with the opportunity to have a date night on a Friday night as well!

We had a lot of back to school errands to run, but got some treats at the grocery store to go and watch the sunset at the river.

We watched the sunset quick as a storm rolled in!

I still had the BEST time – because being with Blake is my favorite thing!!

We also took our trio on a date on a Friday night!

We ate dinner out, and then we split up boys and girls.

I took Eliza to Hobby Lobby to get some scrapbook supplies, because she wanted to make a scrapbook!

She LOVED doing this project (just like her mama in SO many ways!!)!

She has already finished it as I type this and it sits proudly on our coffee table downstairs.

We have endless sources of joy right in our backyard!!

Our garden, the animals, and that pool.

Every time we are out there, I am just overwhelmed with what the Lord has allowed!!

Twin Oaks is a very sweet place to be.

Our garden has been wonderful!!

We have enjoyed so many yummy things!!

We did have the return of the dreaded Japanese beetles.

I seriously almost cried the day I first saw them!

We are using the bags to draw them off our of garden plants.

They are also eating all the leaves on our trees this year!

Makes me crazy!!!

Thankful that the bags are “working” although we are not completely sure if it is the best way to deal with them.

Our animals bring us SO MUCH JOY!!

We play with them everyday, and enjoy their personalities very much!

And we are reaping the benefits of all of those beautiful hens!

Sundays are usually full of family.

Sundays fill my cup for the week ahead!!!

We enjoy this season of life so much!

I will admit, it has taken me a bit to settle in to this season – there are so many moving parts!!

The Lord has allowed a great work in my heart, though, and I am enjoying this craziness VERY MUCH.

I hardly ever take photos on Sundays – or if I do it is just one photo.

So here is a random assortment of Sunday photos – memories still worth keeping!

Speaking of Sundays, we were blessed to host our annual church baptisms in our pool again this year.

First we have an all church picnic at a park, and then we head to our backyard to listen to testimonies and watch some very precious people be baptized!

We got the yard in good shape the day before the baptisms – and my hubby even rented a huge mower to make quick work of it all!!

We enjoy this tradition here at Twin Oaks SO VERY MUCH!!

My trio here at home and I have had a good summer routine.

We have Lane’s library job on Monday and Wednesdays, we would do our school rhythm on Tuesdays, we of course spend time in projects every day, we spend time with Kay’s enjoying those grand kiddos, and then there is all of that outside time and running around time as well!

We did the big clothes try on and switcheroo a couple of weeks ago.

Not really sure why I had Lane try any of his old clothes on??

He is growing an inch a day, I think!!

He is already taller than me!

It has been a fun summer with this crew of mine!!

Our July Hymn Sing was sweet!

We had it outside!

Until it started to rain, and then we moved into our friend’s shop!

It was a wonderful night.

Besides ALL of those things above in this post that I love, I have some other things that bring me joy too!

The little den I love to sit in for my quiet time or rest, the blessing of essential oils and how much they have helped us, preparing for school next week, the blessing of a new cookbook to make new recipes from, candles to burn at dinner time, the beautiful landscape in front of our home, laundry to fold meaning I have a lot of precious people here, and good books to read as I continue my journey to health, and the gift of garlic from Kay’s farm…..

It is always the BIG things!!