Happy 7th!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

  When Levi was just a couple of years old Stephan gave him a copy of The Encyclopedia of Animals. He has been poring over that book ever since. I cannot tell you how many hours I've spent stumbling through the latin names of all those animals. "Hey, mama, what's this one?" "Hey, mama, will you read me just one page?....Will you read one more?....and, one more?" After years of being dragged around and loved on by a growing boy, that old copy finally could not be duct taped together anymore. It officially bit the dust. Levi cried. I promised him a new one, and so for his birthday he got his wish.

   My sweet itty bitty baby is not so itty bitty anymore. Still sweet, though. Goodness, how has it been 7 whole years since I became a mama? We celebrated his birthday exactly how he wanted it....family, a cake topped with Toothless and Skull Crusher (thank you, Nanno and Aunt Annie, for decorating it), a few gifts, and a drive around the pasture. It was too cold for the originally planned hayride. Thank goodness driving the truck through the pasture makes a good alternative!

  Seven years of parenting down. It's been a wild and beautiful ride. I'm so grateful that it all started with this incredible soul.



Four!!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Sophia turned four last week! Goodness. I really can't believe it's been four whole years since this little lady made her grand entrance into this world. Our lives were forever changed and infinitely blessed that day. Her feisty, kind, and loving spirit is a perfect fit in our family puzzle. These days she is smitten with ballerinas and all things "fancy", so to celebrate her day we had a "fancy" cookout complete with shish kabobs and a pink strawberry cake. Our hayride plans were rained out, but just before the rain hit Stephan took Levi and Sophia out and let them 'drive' his truck around in the pasture. Then we ate, played outside in between showers, opened presents, read her new books (Angelina and Olivia...of course), watched a movie, and tossed around flashing party light balloons (a present from Levi). Everyday for months Sophia faithfully asked if today was her birthday. It made my heart happy for her to go to bed pleased as punch over this much anticipated day. Now she's on to asking if it's time for Levi's birthday yet. I do believe the girl likes a good party. 
 

Blueberries And Other Things

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 (a blueberry farm with roaming horses...aka: lawn mowers)
 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

  Summer food is starting to roll on in. We've frozen tomatoes (did you know you can freeze them whole?), canned pickles, and now I'm thinking blueberry jam should be next on the list. Today my mom, sister, and I took the kids to a blueberry farm. Yes, we have our own blueberry bushes, but somehow we've ended up at blueberry farms the last two summers despite our own crop. Last summer I blame the army worms. This summer I blame memories from last year.

  It took us forever and a very long time to get to there. Poor Joshua was not enjoying the ride, so half an hour turned into well over an hour of stopping and starting. The big kids were such troopers. They endured the extra long car ride with a decent amount of grace, and when they were finally let loose in the blueberry fields they actually brought in a respectable haul. Okay, so half of it may have gotten eaten on the car ride back, but there's still enough for jam...if they don't eat the rest of the berries tomorrow!

 

 



Yesterday and Today

The weather has been glorious lately...a nice change of pace from the typical hot and humid Mississippi July. We spent nearly all of yesterday and today outside just soaking in the breezes and beautiful blue skies. If only it could stay like this all summer long.

 

 

We celebrated the Fourth of July with a cookout complete with marshmallow roasting and a whole lot of back porch sitting.
 

 

 

 

 

 

(This is the outfit that Stephan came home from the hospital in, and now, 30  years later, Joshua is wearing it!) 

 

This morning the girls and I took a nice walk, plundered the garden for lunch (tomato and cucumber sandwiches!), and then headed to the Agriculture museum for their Country Day Festival.
 

 

 

 

 

 

My sister got all the best photos...
 

 

 

 

Have you ever read the Eloise books? Sophia reminds us of Eloise so much. She is such a little character!
 

 

 

 

 

 

Gosh, I hope this weather keeps up! It's just so good for the soul.