Everydayness

It feels like we've had a quiet couple of weeks. Other than a birthday, we've enjoyed a lot of ordinary days.

We have the best neighbors... Marci got roped (pun intended) into twirling the jump rope one afternoon. :D

Oh, you know, just relaxing and enjoying the beautiful weather on the stump....

Miri likes the sandbox.  And look! She's wearing shoes!  

When we cut down the redbud tree almost 3 years ago, Dad saved some slices for me so I could "use them for a craft."  Well, I finally found a project... 

I've been reading the Hobbit to the girls and they are loving it.  Bilbo (with Sting) is on the left and that's Gollum on the right in his boat with the ring.  (Also, duplos are the best toys ever.)

We got to spend an evening in Gridley at Steve and Renee's.    

Riding cars in the shed...

...learning how to play croquet

Cecily caught on pretty fast and ended up winning!  

These two barely stop moving.

Miriel really wished she could drive the car too!

Emmy decided one afternoon that she was going to learn to ride her bike without training wheels, and she did.  

Might as well do your homework outside on the swing.

We got to visit Tori's puppies!  We are not getting a puppy, I still don't want animals in the house, and they really can't be outside in town, so.  We'll settle for visiting.  Miri was very interested.

Until they started nipping her fingers, then she was not so excited.  

Cecily was a little unsure, they were full of energy that afternoon.

Emmy finally was brave and held a sleepy puppy.

She was fine as long as they weren't jumping or chasing her.  

Cecily warmed up enough to pick them up and move them around. Miri was funny- she was trying to sit on that crate all by herself and the puppy would try and climb up next to her.  Miri would reach over and try and push it off.

I'm not sure where Cadence was, she was in and out and on the swings.  She was pretty excited that she got to help "my Sunday school teacher" collect eggs.

They also got to visit the horses and the cats so it was a pretty exciting day!

She told me she was working on her self portrait.  Ummm... ooookaaay... it looks like a square to me, but I won't try and discourage her artistic endeavors.... then she held it up to her face.  😂 Ohhhh!  Yes, that is an EXCELLENT self portrait!

Finally, finally it was somebody's 9th birthday!!  Grandpa and Grandma and Sharon dropped off her heart's greatest desire- Lego Friends Summer Fun Waterpark that we heard about for weeks and weeks.

She wanted a Lightfury dragon cake.  

How is she nine already?!

One can never have too many dragons, apparently.

On Sunday we went to the farm for a quick birthday party; the girls got to stay for the evening while Bob and I went to communion.

She needed a picture with her waterpark. 

We've been enjoying the warmer days after some cold days.

Yet another dragon came in the mail. 😜

Poor Cecily always has an audience- she got a pizza pillow kit for her birthday and the peanut gallery needed to be right there to help.

Emmy is so ambitious and domestic.  Ruth sent us home with a pumpkin, and when I got it cooked and pureed, we neeeeded to bake a pie.  

Cadence cracks me up: "It sounds like the ocean is calling!"  Most of this ice-cream-bucket-O'shells came from Kentucky Lake, but, ok.  :)

 Blessings.