Home again

I am home!
Yesterday was chaos.
I'm going to try and post today with some pictures.

Where I am going

My mom was great enough to drive Ruth home today and stay a few extra days so I can go to TX.
We are buying an eight unit apartment building in Dallas, and I need to go and check it out.
So, no pictures or updates for a few days.
I'll be home Saturday afternoon.
Guess that means I'll see y'all later!

Ruth is home

Someone was very happy to see her!

Monday activities

Mary and Seth are starting to get bored. With each other, with playing at home, with me. They found an egg coloring kit in the garage, and I broke down today and let them color eggs.
We went to the Unser Racing Museum earlier today, and it is finally starting to get warm out, so this was a good enough inside activity. However if the ask to celebrate Christmas next month I am putting my foot down.

For Ruth

The first June bug of the season.
We all love and miss you!
Mom, Dad, Mary, Seth, Rory, Gage and Dash

A belated Happy Father's Day

To my wonderful husband. You are a great man and I love you!

Tucking in the twins

After falling off her scooter, Mary had an early night. She went to sleep quickly, woke up early (before Seth for once), and then tucked in her twin bunnies before coming down to breakfast.

Growing up fast

This was taken last night before Mary fell and hurt her elbow. Nothing is broken, but she has a good case of road rash.
I love the mix of bathing suit and sneakers.
Mary and Seth race down our street on the scooters as fast as they can, they go up and down driveways, it's pretty great.

Summer and your best friend

Not a great photo. The kids finished breakfast and headed down our street. Mary and Seth have been playing 10-12 hours straight for days on end. They had a minor tiff yesterday at the grocery store, it was over in less than a minute and they are back to being best buddies.

I've never seen anything like it

Here is Mary and Seth. They are playing some kind of game with baby dolls and there accessories. I have never seen a six year old boy willingly play with dolls. Mary is very blessed to have such a great friend.

Water fun

All four kids are outside playing with and in the water. They are having a great time, but it is a good thing Ruth is not here, as she would hate getting wet.

Finished product

From yesterday, the figures Mary and Matt painted.

Call me crazy

Whenever I bring anything home from the thrift store they go in here before the kids can have them. In this load we have Mary's bunny, a $6 purse I bought at Target, two angel bears we found, and a beanie baby rooster for Ruth.
I wash all the things we buy in hot water with detergent, and then air dry them in the washer after they dry out for an hour or two. It doesn't seem to hurt the animals any, and I fell better knowing wherever they have been, they are clean before going to the kids room.

Painting

A total Mary face. She caught me taking her picture.
The castle Mary choose to paint first. She's about half done.

A rescue

We went to Savers to get Matt a new pair of shorts, and came home with this. It is a Build A Bear bunny, Mary has one, but she and I could not stand the thought of someone just giving away a Build a Bear. So we bought it ($1- they are $12 at the store), took it home, will wash it, and Mary has twin bunnies now. There names are Caramel and Coconut.

Not always Mommy and me

Matt wanted to have a date with Mary today. He wanted to do something she would enjoy, and she loves to create things. While at Hobby Lobby we picked up a ceramic set of animals, and Mary could not wait to get started.

My new favorite thing

This is just the greatest. I love it. My mom found this wreath at a yard sale, and it is fabulous.
It has a little bit of everything on it, and is just so "me". We went to Hobby Lobby today and got a hanger, so it is now up on the door and looking fine.

Ruth sent me this picture in an email. She is going to a goat farm this afternoon!
Hi Ruth. I love you. Thank you for the picture.

This little girl

Mary was up way to early this morning. No one should be awake on a Saturday before 8am.
Here she is playing Chinese Checkers with her Dad.
She saw me taking the picture, hence the look on her face!

It's going better than I thought

Well, it is the first day of just me and Mary, and it's going well.
We had to be across town at the property this morning, so we got coffee and iced tea at Mc D's, bough and installed a washer, and had lunch while watching a t.v. show.
My biggest fear has and is that Mary is used to being "entertained". She's the youngest, and there has always been someone there for her.
Mary has been loving on her dog Dash, that's cute to see. (I would include a photo, but she still will not let me take her picture)
Ruth called this morning, I put her on speaker phone and let her talk to Dash, that was so funny.
Dash could not figure out where Ruth's voice was coming from, and was barking like crazy.
Great fun!!

Winner for most creative

This is a sucker. It is shaped like a marshmallow (tastes like one too), and the "stick" is a plastic twig. It is just too cool.

Compliments of Mary

Caught her

Leaving Mom to go with Grandma and Grandpa

Ruth is going to Co

I am leaving tomorrow to take Ruth to Colorado to stay with Grandma and Grandpa.
This is really good timing since she is feeling a bit left out with our neighbors son here for the summer. He gets along with Mary like they were separated at birth, and Ruth gets to feeling a bit like a third wheel even though they do include her.
I'll post updates as I have them, and if I can I will take and post pictures of Mary.

In other news, Matt's folks are on their way to Israel today. Pray for a safe trip for them.
Check back soon for more news, I'll keep everyone posted.

Kids and ants

We had a ton of ants in the driveway yesterday, no idea why.
The kids tried to help, this is what they came up with.

Mary on a motorcycle

Our neighbor has a Harley, and he took the kids for a ride after we got back from the grocery store. Only Mary went, if freaked Ruth out, but she had a really great time!

History lesson

http://www.peacehillpress.com/index.asp?PageAction=VIEWCATS&Category=6

We are trying out the History program "The Story of the World".
I'll keep you posted every step of the way as to how it is going.
We'll see...

Hummingbird

A hummingbird flew into the garage, and could not find it's way out.
It provided the kids an hour of entertainment.

Summer time

Ever wonder what kids do in the summer.
Here you go.

1. Don't wear shoes. Walk around until your feet are totally black.
2. Play outside all day, coming indoors only for food.
3. Have your friends over. All the time.
4. Consume one box of Popsicle a day.
5. Play for 12 hours straight every day, 7 days a week.

Weekend fun

The girls helped our neighbor's son wash his Dad's truck, then they turned their attention to the house!

Here Ruth is enjoying a snack.
Here Ruth is playing with the tire swing.

A clean Dash

Someone got a bath this morning.
Much better.

Front yard

We re-did the rocks in the front yard last year, and while it looked better, we needed more rock to finish the job.
We got it done this morning, and it looks so much better.
Next is more rock for the back yard.

Hopscotch

Mary drew this on the driveway this morning. Looks like it was fun!

Daily Dash

I'm not sure which girl took this photo, but it's a good one.
Dash is in the kennel where he stays when we have to leave the house.

Bedtime story