Cherry Picking!

We had a marvelous afternoon today going for a long drive in the country, just enjoying the scenery and each other.  We ended up at a u-pick cherry farm, and spent a delightful hour or so filling our buckets with succulent cherries.  The summer is young and we have many other memories to be made, but this day might turn out to be one of my favorite summer days!

Happy

Two years ago Little Man came home from the last day of co-op with a tiny little gold fish in a rinsed out Starbucks cold drink container.  His elementary science class had learned about goldfish and he had excitedly asked his teacher if he could take one home at the end of the day.  Without asking his mama.

I was not anticipating owning a goldfish.

But such is the pull of one's youngest baby on a mama's heart, that the mama will go to the store and buy the smallest possible aquarium with filter and rocks and fake plants in order to create a habitat for the little goldfish, which mama expects will live about a week.

The baby goldfish was named "Happy" and he is still living a happy life, two years later!

He has grown tremendously - at least quadrupled in size, probably sextupled (is that a word?).  He graduated to a larger aquarium, and makes my Little Man exceedingly happy.  He is aptly named!

(photo credits go to Little Man)

My man and his boys

He is blessed.  WE are blessed.

My heart is full.

Happy Father's Day, honey.

(Our two girls bless us also, but were not at home on Father's Day)

Happy 13th Birthday!

I now have 5 teenagers.  FIVE!  I know.  It's unbelievable to me, too.  I am so blessed.  Always cooking, folding laundry, and chauffeuring children all over the place, but so, so blessed.  This boy makes my heart so happy, and I was very glad for the opportunity to celebrate him all day long on his birthday.

This was his birthday MINUTE!  We were watching a brother's soccer game, but stopped and sang to son C on this minute right in front of all the soccer fans and everyone.

Later he opened his gifts.  Sadly, his sister G is gone at camp and wasn't able to be there, but she did give him this awesome.....

.....new nerf gun!

Daughter H and Little Man gave him a Captain America frisbee.  (Little Man is okay, just "wearing" tape!)

Sons G and L gave him a new nerf football.

And we gave him a new bike helmet with a note inside saying that we would be going to the store so that he could pick out a new bike!

Welcome to the teen years, son C.  You are a wonderful young man with a heart for God and others. I love you so much!  Have a great year being 13. :)

Daughter G's Grad Party!

We had a wonderful time celebrating our beautiful daughter's graduation from high school!  We had her party the week *before* she graduated...just the way it worked out.  The weather did not cooperate, but it didn't matter because we had a great time anyway!

Daughter G chose the menu ~ pulled pork sandwiches, lettuce and fruit salad, and pasta salad.

Since daughter G is an artist we had an art themed party.  This creative corner outside was intended for the younger crowd, but.....

.....leave it to home schooled teens to get in on some craft action!

The younger set finally took over this table and made lots of cool pictures.

We put our new patio and fire pit to good use!

SO great that my parents were able to be here from Washington!

It was fun to have older, medium, young, and very young ages all together to celebrate our sweet girl!

There was frisbee....

....and soccer.

Fire pit action....

....and more fire pit action.

Music.....

....and more music.

And lots and lots of love.

The years have flown by, but they have been very, very sweet.  And for that I am so deeply grateful!