Our summer days are FULL.

I am so grateful that the flow of our days and weeks are bringing burdens and goals Blake and I have to fruition!

I am also having the time of my life!

The pool that Blake bought for this summer has been a sweet treat!

We set it in the yard at first, but it was not level enough!

We did not want to spend the time to level the yard right now – so we emptied it and set it up on the patio the instead.

It is not in the sun very much…but our kiddos are kind of crazy and don’t seem to mind the cold water!

Besides the garage project and the yard project, we are also doing a door project!

Why not?!

We decided to paint the doors to the outside of the house black.

So far we only have one done – but it is amazing!

We also bought a little kit to add some character to the garage door.

While we were on date night shopping for paint and such, Blake bought some containers for me so I could have a little garden on the deck this year!

Addie brought home some plants, we got a few herbs at the Co-op, and the boys planted it all!

Good job, boys!

We start our days with our school schedule.

We just added a Bible study for the National Bible Bee.

It is GOOD stuff!

Then we move onto our unit study about Laura Ingalls Wilder!

This is one of Eliza’s journal entries.

I write exactly what she narrates to me!

We go to the library once a week, and sometimes stop for a special snack at the Co-op!

The toys at our library are really nice!

Books are a HUGE part of our days here.

The kiddos seem to have picked up on my love of books and reading and love to do that too!

Here are my most recent reads.

Enjoyed both of these books very much!

Eliza has been back to the dentist to have a custom band and spacer put in where that abscessed tooth was before.

It was stressful, I am not going to lie.

The WHOLE day.

Literally.

My heart was breaking for our sweet baby!

She was SO upset.

I am so glad it is over, hopefully for a long time!

This photo will be a good memory someday!

When we were done at the dentist I told Eliza I would take her to pick out a new toy.

She told me she wanted to buy something for Tate instead!

Oh. My. Heart.

So they both got a new toy!

Are you all tired of photos of the views from Twin Oaks?

Hope not!

I will never tire of them!!

These should hold you over for awhile!

We also go to River’s place once a week for lunch and play!

It’s my FAVORITE DAY!

Of course we are still eating every day.

Every. single. day.

I have been learning a lot about margin.

I might have a little chat here on the blog about margin someday soon.

I am still praying over the possibility of a new series on this ol’ blog of mine!

So…food is getting simpler.

But I still LOVE to make it!

I also pull the youngest four into the kitchen everyday now, and they are choosing things off our menu plan to make themselves!

It has been FUN!

But super, duper busy!

In the BEST kind of way!

Working together in fellowship is the BEST way to train your kiddos!

And they are awesome helpers!

Chad and Lane made muffins one evening.

They did a great job!

We made three pans of this yumminess for company one night for dinner.

Served it with watermelon and a salad!

I forgot about the pans in the oven and they got a smidge over done!

Another word would be burnt.

But I like the word over done!

Then I turned the oven off and by the time we ate it was all COLD!

Burnt and cold!!

Making good impressions, yep!

Good thing we had salad and watermelon!

Addie was the cupcake baker for Rivy’s birthday party!

Then we had help in the frosting department!

Peach crisp and ice cream in the summer is always needed!

I make a lunch for Blake every work day!

Grant and Addie Mae make their own!

We have a snack drawer here!

I have been keeping it fuller than usual – margin, remember?

Chunky monkey is a Tuesday thing.

We LOVE chunky monkey!

Sadie girl.

She is on doxycycline for Lyme disease and cannot be in the sun much.

Take note of how she feels about that!

We often find Sadie asleep with her mouth clenched down on her hip.

I know!

Crazy pup!

I want to remember it though!

My four side kicks went with me to the clinic to get some blood tests done one morning.

Just a check-up!

All was PERFECT!!

This boy.

Oh, my heart.

One morning I prayed that the Lord would help me connect with Tate that day.

I felt like we just were not connecting as of late!

Then Tate woke up and was A MESS.

BIG MESS!

I won’t share specifically the things he was saying as he cried most of the morning, but let’s just say I was in shock.

Once I FINALLY stopped all that I was doing and pulled him into my lap, it dawned on me.

Ahhhhh.

Yes, Jesus.

I see!

I asked.

You ANSWERED!

And I was not even paying attention!

DUH.

I literally laughed.

God is SO funny sometimes!!!

Then I RELISHED in HOLDING my sweet boy in my lap and kissed those tears away.

We stayed in that chair a long, long time.

Why, thank you Jesus.

You are too good to me!

Tate is my early bird!

Always has been!

It’s fun to hang out with him all by himself sometimes!!

Especially when you have an EMPTY driveway to play on!

Did you hear we have a usable garage and a huge parking space now?!

I might just say that a couple more times yet!!

I couldn’t believe Tate could do this head stand!

Addie Mae likes to hang out with the younger ones one-on-one too!

I took this photo because it made me smile.

It says SO many things about our good, good life here.

One afternoon while Chad mowed I learned how to play mine craft!

SO, how’s all that for the best summer!!

It’s off to a GREAT start!

We have a lot of wonderful things we are looking forward to!

Hope your summer has started off GREAT too!!