They are going away!

We have frozen a few of her warts since coming home from the Payne Family Reunion and we just noticed that they are getting smaller! You can still see them but they are noticeably (to us at least) smaller in size! How exciting is that!?!?! She has them on her eye lids, around her lips, on most of her fingers, a few on her hands and arms and a couple on her knees. We are so thankful that the freezing has finally gotten her body to fight against this virus so that she won't have warts anymore!

Harvesting from our garden beds

Just thought I would post some of the harvesting we have done from our gardens. Lots of zucchini and cucumbers. Some pumpkins and .... bananas? No, just thought I'd be funny and throw those in for fun. One of these things is not like the others. One of these things doesn't belong. Anyway, it has been fun to watch the gardens grow and see the fruits of their labors.

Finally a birthday cake and partyish thing

He asked for an ice cream cake so I made one for him: banana split and vanilla ice cream flavors, with homemade fudge sauce and broken up cookies in the middle. I quickly whipped real cream and spread it on just before serving (much better than freezing it).

Some cares from the children.

A package from Jerry and his Dad.

Very funny socks that look similar to his dad!

We waited until Saturday evening to have the cake because Ben returned from Scout Camp earlier that day so the family was all together again. It was a nice treat to sing and eat the cake together. Happy last day of celebration my sweet Honey! We love you!

Finally enjoyed his Birthday dinner

Kevin was finally home for dinner so we could have his birthday dinner - sushi or California rolls. I prepared all the stuff: rice, tuna, cucumbers, and avocados. Each person could choose how to assemble their dinner: in e rice paper, mixed all together in a bowl, or like sushi. Most everyone really enjoyed it. I liked that I didn't have to roll all that into several (many) California rolls because the kids were so excited to roll their own. I just ate it all mixed together in a bowl (without the rice paper because I don't like it that much). Kevin enjoyed his very own sushi with wasabi!

Second Birthday

I didn't have the ice cream for the pancakes on Wednesday so we postponed the pancake breakfast until today. He opened his birthday card before he went to work and the kids and I enjoyed celebrating his birthday a day late with yummy pancakes and ice cream! We certainly enjoy this meal once a month! My favorite is always faces - all different kinds of faces. The kids will do all sorts of different things on their birthdays but I stick with faces! So funny!

Gotta' get rid of the roosters

Back on the 13th of July, two men from the township stopped by the house and asked if I had animals. I admitted that we keep chickens and pigs. They told me there had been complaints and they asked how much land I have. I told them I have half an acre. They told me that to have chickens I need to have 1 acre and for pigs I need 5 acres. I didn't know that. They gave me a verbal warning and 30 days to get rid of the animals. Oh boy. How am I going to get rid of a bunch of roosters and chickens? The pigs won't be ready for slaughter until the end of Sept or beginning of Oct. What will I do with them?  So I figured I should take a couple pictures of our pretty cross-breed roosters just to remember them. They sure are pretty. Maybe I should watch a youtube video about getting rid of their crow.... nope, I couldn't do it. We shall see...

These are pigs, not roosters.

Just showing how big they have gotten.

And they really like their mud pit.

So many colors on this rooster!

One of a kind handsome bird.

Can you see the green in his tail?

He is so handsome.

Happy birthday to my Honey!

We were invited to have lunch at the office to celebrate Kevin's birthday! What a wonderful treat. Ben was at Scout Camp so it was just me and all the girls. We enjoyed pizza and ice cream cake and watched him open his cards/presents from the staff. It was a fun little party. Kemiah brought her presents that he hadn't opened at home so that was special, too. They all went back to work so the girls went down to the river and I cleaned up - and finished eating. It was a nice break in our day.

Kemiah's gifts

beef jerky from Helena

Something you don't see every day

Pretty butterfly must have been injured or tired. Marissa was able to catch it so we took some pictures of it - up close and personal. They are really amazing creatures!

Extinct vs Distinct

Question posed at dinner tonight:
D - "Why are Heavenly Father and Jesus extinct?"
All the older kids puzzling over that and then finally, "They're not extinct."
D - "Then why does it say, 'I saw two extinct personages hovering above my head."
Laughing ensued and we explained the word she was thinking of was distinct and not extinct.
Word confusion!
Glad that's cleared up.

Sweet sleeping baby

Naomi fell asleep but it was too late to put her to bed. I laid her down on the floor but she kept sleeping. So I decided to join her - although I didn't actually fall asleep. She was so totally out that she didn't even stir or mind my company.

Last Library Summer Activity

It doesn't matter how much I plan on making it to each of the extra summer activities that the library plans, it just doesn't happen. We probably could have missed this one, too, especially since soccer camp was right after it, but we went so the kids could be creative! They had a good time so it was worth it. They had three stations to rotate through: milk jug bird feeders; water bottle wind thingys; cardboard letter with puzzle pieces. This summer the program was about recycling and reusing so that's why the projects used old materials. It was fun to see how creative the kids became simply with markers and empty bottles. So fun.

Decorating milk jug bird feeders with their buddies.

Xiomara and Camdilyn

Kemiah and Domonique

Marissa and Harmonie

Decorating water bottle wind thingys.

Gluing puzzle pieces to cardboard letters

(the first name letter)

Some puzzle pieces had been painted solid colors,

while others were still the original puzzle look.

Me and my little buddy!

Then we rushed off for the last day of soccer camp. We enjoyed another sunny evening and the girls all had fun!

Emily and Xiomara at the end of the line.

Kemiah turning to look around.

Kick it girl!

Marissa played with Naomi on the playground.

What a great climber!

Trying to get the rocks off the slide.

Putting skills together in a "game".