Pioneer Pictures

Saturday we had a ward picnic. It was great. Lots of people came and there was lots of food, games and entertainment. Everything was based on pioneers. There had potato sack races, three legged races, we tied a quilt, and we dressed up in old time clothes to get a picture taken.
Here is the results

Fourth of July Fun

Tina, Clint and Xana came to visit for the 4th of July. We wanted to go to Stone Mountain for there big fireworks extravaganza. We heard that it is packed on the 4th but they do the fireworks show three nights in a row to accommodate the crowds, so we decided to go on the 3rd. We are sure glad we went then. There were so many people there and we heard that on the 4th they closed the gates to the park at 5:00 pm and turned people away. It was a good fireworks show. Before the show we barbecued hamburgers and hotdogs and just had a good time seeing the sights of Stone Mountain. The kids did pretty well for being out so late. Xana was awed by the whole fireworks show. Jensen liked part of it, but covered his ears and squinted through half of it. And Siesa slept through the finally. On the 4th we hung out hear and did some of our own very small fireworks which the kids likes. The sparklers weren’t a very big hit, but they sure loved the pops. The kids would stand there watching the fireworks as they were being lit, but as soon as they started to go off, they would turn around and run away screaming.

Fudgesickles

For FHE we made homemade fudgesickles and from the pictures you can tell they were a hit. Yum!

We love daddy

For father’s day I made matching ties for Jensen and Derek that they wore to church today. Jensen was so excited to wear his tie he told Derek about it a few days ago, oh well. Jensen just loves his dad and copies everything he does. Derek has a stress fracture in his heal and is wearing a walking cast so this week Jensen has been wearing one of his rain boots because his foot has a crack in it too. He was riding his bike yesterday and was sitting on it in the middle of the drive way talking I asked what he was doing and he said he was stuck in traffic and was waiting for all the cars to move. He constantly informs me that he needs to go to work today so won’t be able to play with me. It is a good thing that Derek is a good example for our children to follow. I feel so blessed to have Derek as the head of our home.

Yard Sale Treasure

So, the other day I went to the biggest yard sale I have ever seen. It was sponsored by a youth group at a Baptist church. My friend told me that last year they found a piano there for a great price so this year I went to check it out. I got to the yard sale shortly after it started and found this piano for only 100 dollars (after I negotiated with them). IT is a good thing I went early because while I was buying it 3 people came up and wanted to buy it. They actually had 5 pianos and 2 organs for sale (really it was a HUGE sale of a few acres of stuff) but this piano was the only one that played well. It doesn’t have the bottom board and it has scrapes on it but it plays and sounds great! It must weight 500 lbs but with the help of our 3 neighbor boys we were able to get it here. Derek has been playing it every chance he gets. The kids have also enjoyed singing me songs. I even whipped out the old piano books and played jingle bells for Jensen and he was very impressed until he heard Derek play of course. Really Derek is the one who plays I just love to listen. It is so fun to have piano music in our home. I love it when I find a good deal. Now we just need to rearrange our living room

Gardening Help

My kids love to “help” in the garden. Really I am tiring to keep them (especially Siesa) from stepping on or digging up the plants. Today we picked sugar snap peas and green beans. One of the best things about having a garden is that not only does it taste oh so good but my kids love to eat the vegetables. I guess there is just something about being able to pick it by yourself that the kids love. A few Sundays ago Derek and the kids were outside for two hours picking and eating sugar snap peas. Yum Hopefully all the other plants will do as well as the green beans and sugar snap peas have. Time will tell.

Mothers day (a little late)

The best thing about mother’s day this year is that Derek didn’t have any church meetings. Yeah! He and Jensen both cooked me breakfast and they gave me a helping hands plant. They all traced their hands and put things that they were thankful for and things they would do for me like a foot massage, making the bed, taking a nap etc. Jensen told me that “it was my responsibility” to pick one out and give it to them so they could do the things on the hands. What cute kids(and husband)