Reminder to Self:

I need to remember to find this site when I am looking for fun and durable outdoor toys for our kids. I need to find a couple of things here, order them, and keep them on hand for picnic days, birthday parties, and the like.

They seem as if they'd be good for big kids, too... Big kids, as in the brothers I have, my dad who is also Grandpa, and the husband who lives with me.

What outdoor toys have you found that work for your family?

The Wonderful Pigs

Mom and Dad rescued us from a "scheduling conflict" last night when both Chris and I were supposed to be in seperate, non-kid-friendly, places at the same time.

The kids love spending time with Grandma and Grandpa, and any time they are together is not called *babysitting*...Rather it's called *Spoiling Day* by our babies. So, Grandma and Grandpa came through again...

I returned to pick up the Goochlings and found them sitting with Grandpa and Grandma on the floor in the front room, surrounded by crafty materials: Felt, mismatched socks, thread and needles, scissors, googly eyes, yarn, buttons, lace, and all sorts of wonderful bits. They had been reading The Wonderful Pigs of Jillian Jiggs and apparently decided that they certainly needed their own pigs.

Grandma and Grandpa are so much fun to be around and to spend time with. They spoil us all, and are invaluable counselors and friends.

Plus, now we have our own collection of Wonderful Pigs!

Have a great day!

Counting My Chickens

Before they are hatched.

Last year I was thrilled to have 6 peonies bloom on my peony plant. This year, I have counted over 24 buds ready to open. I am totally counting my chickens before they hatch. This plant was one that I was going to give up on and only half-heartedly planted it in our yard, thinking it wouldn't ammount to much. It's taken 4 years of patience, but I think it has become one of my favorites.

Our yard is a perfect spot for Bleeding Hearts, apparently. They do so well here, I've been cutting branches for filling vases inside.

Some lovely color contrast in one of my pots.

I just love the unique color of these flowers. They are not pink or rose, just more of a lovely salmon color. Plus they are tough enough to look pretty even when I forget to water them for days at a time. Perfect.

Busy Busy

This past week was a busy one for our family. Chris' birthday + games and practice for 3 soccer/baseball teams + Colony Days celebration + Father's Day + Casey's first piano lessons + and a big volleyball camp. It was lots of fun, a bit hectic, and I am so glad we all survived it. Whew.

Now, my house looks like it's been through a major weather event. Jobs for this week include taking care of a mountain of laundry and refilling the cupboards.

Chris did a phenomenal job, being Dad and running the house on his own. I even came home to a delicious meal after an exhausting day running my booth at Colony Days.

If I were to decide right now if I'd do it again, I'd have to say No. Ask me again next year, though, and we'll see if anything has changed. :)

Ouch

Brian cut his foot while we were at the park. He was wearing flip-flops. He flipped when he should have flopped, apparently. He's okay now, but wanted be sure that his photo was on the family blog. Well, here it is.

Swing and slide

While on the swings...

Casey: Too High! Too High!
Abby: I like Too High! I like Too High!

Wonderland Park

After dinner out, we ended up getting some wiggles out at the Wonderland Park.

Celebrate Good Times

To help celebrate Chris' new teaching position at Colony High School, we went out to dinner with Grandma and Grandpa (Mom and Dad) at the Peking Garden restaurant. Mom and Dad are always good sports when we attempt to eat a meal in public... We are still working on the restaurant manners I'd like to help the kids develop.

Abby loved everything we ordered... She finished all of her plate, slurped the last of the sweet and sour soup, and then made her way over to help Chris finish his meal as well.

Brian was happy to talk with the grown ups... He brought his own granola bar to eat at the table while he waited for the fortune cookies to arrive.

Casey being goofy with her fortune... She's great. "Seize every moment it's uniqueness." (I just asked Casey if she remembered what her fortune was, and this is what she quoted back to me... Pretty amazing that she remembered that from 2 hours ago!)

Happy Father's Day!

The kids made "ugly ties" for Chris at a Primary Activity Day a few days ago... They presented him with the finished products on Sunday morning, just in time for him to get dressed for church. Complete with feathers, googly eyes, pom-poms, sequins, and puffy-paint, the ties were certainly something to behold.

We made Chris breakfast on Sunday morning... Scrambled eggs with onions and peppers, bacon, cinnamon toast, Ovaltine. Abby is hooked on eating whatever Dad is eating, and Father's Day was no exception. As soon as he sat down to his feast, Abby pulled a chair up next to him, ready for her share. No matter what she has on her own plate (even if it's exactly what Chris has) Abigail is convinced that Dad's is the best.

Chris certainly couldn't choose one tie to wear, considering that he was given one by each of the children. So, like many of the other Dads in our ward did, he wore all three.

While the girls play...

soccer, Brian huddles in a winter coat, knit cap, and homemade blanket. He's a great fan, cheering for each of his friends and, of course, his sisters.

Abby Rocks

Abby's team is called the Alligators. Or Crocodiles. I forget which. It's fine, because the point of this U-4 team is to run around, play with your friends, and avoid using your hands to get the ball. She ab.so.lute.ly loves playing soccer with her pals. It's fun to watch.

Casey Kicks

Casey's soccer team is called the Predators. They play in any sort of weather... This game was windy and freezing cold, but she (and the rest of the team) stuck it out, ran hard, and had a great time. She's such a fun girl to have in our family.