Sunroom

Two Sundays ago after church and a visit to the park and a picnic we headed home to work outside. 

I put the kids in their swimsuits and moved the patio furniture to the yard.
 I gave them both rags, cups and buckets of warm soapy water. 

The kids had fun, the furniture is now clean and I was able to clean the floor in the sun room.
I actually started cleaning the sun room on Friday night after they were tucked in bed- wow what a process.  I am hoping we are almost done with all this tree pollen.

So Sunday night we had our first of many cookouts and summer meals in our sun room. 
YEAH!

A few of my favorites

I was inspired by Christy to share a few of my favorites:

being surrounded by my family, a surprise note/card in the mail, chocolate, brie, a margarita, eating in our sunroom, a pretty sunrise or sunset, my feet in the sand, gardening, being called momma, holding hands with my husband, girl nights, close friends, long walks, feeling productive, enjoying my work, baking, reading a great book, snuggling with a wiggly kiddo, watching things grow, fresh flowers, worshiping the Lord, hearing my children pray, ice cream on a hot day, a good cup of coffee, listening to birds....and so many more things

Care to share a few of your favorites?

Kindergarten Screening

Tuesday morning Sydney was scheduled for her kindergarten screening.  We dropped Griffin off at day care and stopped by Wilco Hess to pick out a donut as a special treat.  I wish we had a cool donut or coffee shop but we do not so the gas station was our only choice.  Sydney thought this was extra fun because I let her pick and she takes after her momma and wanted the chocolate cake donut.  On the way to the school I was asking her questions, for example what is your phone number, how high can you count.  Sydney asked me to pray for her so she would do well on her screening.  I am so glad she initiated a prayer before her "test".  When we got to the school we held hands and prayed that she would remember all the things she has learned and do well.  This brought back memories of ALL my school days and I would study so hard and then pray before a test that I would remember everything and that somehow all the knowledge in my head would be reflected on paper. 
Sydney was a bit shy at first and hesitant to go with the teacher but she went and I waited.  The kids are taken to a separate room in groups of 4-5 kids, 1 child per teacher and tested on various things- writing their name, drawing shapes, identifying pictures, sorting blocks, identifying letters.  After about an hour the teacher brought her back and said she did an excellent job.  They do not show you what your child did or give you any sort of score.  She was given a coloring book about starting school, a book of nursery rhymes and a letter book to practice.  We are getting excited and get apprehensive (mainly Bill and I).

Sunday Mornings

This is our usual Sunday morning tradition, pancakes, half blueberry for Griffin and momma and half plain for Syd and daddy.  Griffin loves to help whisk and help eat blueberry as we cook.   This week I tried a blueberry syrup that I found at Aldi's and oh boy was it delicious, I will be buying more.

Do you have a weekend morning tradition?  Do you usually have any little helpers in the kitchen?

Movie Night

Friday night the kids and I had movie night.  We snuggled up and ate kettle corn, with a few hidden peanut M&M's and watched Charlotte's Web.

Griffin is making an intense face in this picture but I still think he is adorable.

We enjoy the simple things, like homemade kettle corn and snuggles.

Do your kids have any favorites that you loved as a kid?

Garden Notes

Today I worked in the garden.  I transplanted tomatoes and peppers that we started inside to the raised beds outside.  I also planted cucumbers, squash, cilantro and a few flowers. 

I drew myself a diagram of which variety is planted where and I wish I could show you.....well actually I can.  If you did not know now you do I am a bit OCD.

So the bed on the left has cucumbers at the far end and the three rows of tomato plants are Early Girl (bush hybrid), patio princess (hybrid) and roma (tomato cherry) from the left to the right.  The right bed has squash (saffron straightneck) at the far end, and three rows of peppers, Golden Baby Belles and Jalapeno (gigante).
 I also planted three large pots and numbered them on the bottom with permanent marker, number 1 has patio princess tomatoes, 2 has Early Girls and 3 has cucumber
I have garlic growing behind our hostas along the sun porch and I also planted some Cosmos and 1 more patio princess plant in the corner.  In the middle landscaped bed with has azaleas and a few other large bushes I am growing my dwarf top hat blueberries and I planted a few squash seeds.
Our back bed which is very shaded and full of bush type plants and a Japanese maple I planted some bachelor buttons. 
So I am going to have a lot to water but thankfully my rain barrel is full and being put to good use. 

around here

Highlights from the week:

Tuesday night dinner and movie Mirror Mirror with a friend, a needed break from night time routines

Wednesday afternoon baking lemon oatmeal cookies, banana bread and waffles.  It always feels good to regroup and get organized for the remainder of the work week, I love my half day.

Exercise 4/5 days this week, trying to stay on track

Looking forward to this weekend with the family.  Weather is supposed to be gorgeous so I am sure we will spend the majority of the weekend outside.  Bill is finishing up the landscaping and I have plans to plant some of the garden with the kids.  Long walks and grilling out are also on the list.  Sunday we have a nursery meeting/picnic after church at the park.

What are your weekend plans and how was your week?