Blueberry Picking

We went blueberry picking with some friends this week. It was our first time and the kids had a blast.

This is what happens when you don't let them eat any more of the blueberries from the bucket...

Our end result was 15 1/4 pounds of blueberries. We ate some and made pancakes with the first batch. They were YUMMY!! We can't wait to go back!

Swim Lessons

Brogan and Christian are taking their first set of swim lessons. Brogan is doing a great job and with a few more lessons will be taking off!

Christian on the other hand has many many more lessons in his future. We have made it off of the steps and on to the wall but that is it. He still hasn't been in the open water. Maybe next week!

A Visit With Poppy (and Nonna)

Joshua is the only grandchild old enough to visit my dad while he is in the hospital so he and I went to visit my parents in San Antonio while my dad was finishing up his chemo treatments just before his stem cell transplant. We sat, read, watched the Indy 500 and Nascar, walked and talked. Joshua beat Poppy at 2 games of chess but Poppy beat Joshua at checkers and Battleship. Here are some pictures of our visit.

Some of Poppy's doctors and nurses

Thanks KFC Girls for all of the Get Well Soon cards!!

There was a car show at the VA Hospital on Memorial Day so we went to check out some cars. Joshua loved the sports cars and the bright colors. Too bad he has a 1986 brown Ford truck in his future! Which, by the way, was a classic at the car show. :)

Stem Cell transplant was completed on Friday, May 29. We are ready and praying for a complete recovery!!!

Big Boy Haircut

Here he is...our newest little man!!

Usually when I ask Christian if he wants a haircut he immediately says "NO!" but the other day he said yes witha big smile. I asked him if he wanted a big boy haircut and he gave me another yes with a big smile. Well, it was then that I knew it was time to cut the curls. I have to admit that I didn't watch and there sure was a lot of hair on the floor. Jeremy didn't even recognize him at the ballpark. But he sure does look handsome!

A Picture's Worth A Thousand Words

Peaches

Okay- So I had a moment of weakness and now we have this kitten...

I couldn't help it. It was a group effort on the kids part and they were all getting along so beautifully. It was like they finally had a common goal and they all banded together for it.

Codey trying to convince me it can be his birthday present for the next 3 years. Funny how quickly he forgot about that...Yesterday he said he wanted a laptop.

Brogan crying because I said "No, Daddy won't like it". What's a mom to do with a face like that?!

She really is cute. And, if we keep it up we may house train her. Codey and Brogan keep taking her outside to use the bathroom and she hasn't used the litter box yet. I don't think that feat will make Jeremy like her any more than he does now. As soon as she is big enough she is going to have to be an outside cat. At least she can help with the snakes! Jeremy found a copperhead that our dog, Cheyenne, killed last week in the backyard. Needless to say, it is being preserved in a jar in my refrigerator for his classroom. Anywhoo...this is the latest, and last, addition to the homestead. Welcome Peaches!!

Awards Ceremony

Today we finished out our first year of homeschooling with a surprise awards ceremony. The kids had no idea what was going on and kept asking a ton of questions. Jeremy took off work to go with us and that really had them confused. We took them for lunch and games at Incredible Pizza and surpirised them with some end of the year awards. It was a lot fun!

Joshua received: All A Honor Roll for the year, Academic Excellence for completing both the 6th and 7th grades this year, and a Super Kid Award

Codey received: A Super Kid Award and an Academic Achievement Award

Brogan received: All A Honor Roll for the year, Read to Succeed Award for reading over 100 books this school year, and a Super Kid Award

Christian received: A Super Kid Award

Overall, it has been a GREAT year!!!

Garden Bounty

Jeremy wanted a garden for years and I wouldn't let him do one since the only place that we have is on the side of our front yard. Well, I finally gave in and one year later I have to say that I L-O-V-E, LOVE my garden! I say "my" because the kids and I usually work in it since we have Jeremy so busy. It has been fun to see the kids learning about the different plants, seeds, leaves, flowers and veggies and how they react to trying the foods that they have grown. They don't give me as big of a hassle about eating their veggies if they came from the garden and they even argue over who is going to help me. They think it is so amazing all that you can get from one little seed. This year we have so much that we have been delivering some to our neighbors and freezing some for Poppy so that he will have fresh veggies for after his stem cell transplant. Here are some pictures of our flourishing garden...

Potatos

We plan on delivering to neighbors again today, and Monday I plan on making a donation of potatos to the Good Shepard Mission. We got so many today that it filled a basket. And that was only 1 row! How many different potato dishes are there? I think I may need to go to foodnetwork.com and find some!

Onions

The onion plants put off the prettiest flowers and they attract all kinds of butterflies, bees and other flying critters that help us pollenate our garden! I have really enjoyed cooking with the onions that we have grown and they smell so good!

Yellow Squash

This is just what we picked today. We have picked about 8 other squash this big or bigger!

Sugar Snap Peas and Bush Beans

This is just today's harvest. I can't tell you how many baggies I have frozen or the kids have delivered. We are going to be eating beans several times a week!

"I tell you the truth, if you have faith as small as a mustard seed...nothing is impossible for you." Mathew 17:20