schickHouse

S'more Fun

As we pass the days til the baby arrives, I'm trying to find things to keep me from just lying around, but that also don't wear me out for the whole day in just two minutes. We had a little fun in the kitchen making these "s'mores."

They're not exactly on Mama's diet, but I have been able to taste test a couple. The cocktail umbrellas

were the only stick-like object I could find to use for dipping. They just made it even more fun.

Critters

Nearly everyday we go up to the pool, we find these tiny frogs swimming in it. This one survived.

Shopping For Fun

Last week we had a big grocery trip to make. Shopping with four littles often takes me about an hour and a half or more. Last week, as my energy was waning, I made out these lists, one for each child. I still kept everything on my master list, just in case someone dropped or ate their list. I love art but no longer take the time to enjoy it enough, so this was a nice little outlet for Mama's creative juices. I always have them help me, but their energy likes to take over. This seemed to keep the children more engaged than normally. I hope to take the time to do it more regularly. Oh, and I also tried to give each person at least one item to find in each section of the store, to avoid boredom.

And Our 5th

I noticed that having the holiday on a weekend provided lots more (spread out) opportunities for festivities. The big event of the afternoon was Cy's haircut.

Mama wanted it to grow longish over the summer and get all blonde by the pool, but... Mama doesn't quite know how to "deal" with it.

Mama DOES know how to buzz it. How handsome!

In the evening we headed over to Grammy & PopPop's for a pizza picnic with the Blairs. I wanted to get

a few baby belly pictures. Isn't this just too adorable? Thanks, Elle Mae!

Angela looks like she's listening to the baby, but I think she wants to fit under the belly. Mama is ready for baby!

Can you see Elle Mae's big cheeser under that helmet? She really like riding the 4-wheeler like Cyrus.

Of course, we had some sparkler fun.

Uncle Kyle tried to get Dad to read the safety instructions to no avail. ("Do not hold in hand.")

And then proceeded to send this little airplane to the roof! Some of us thought it was of the "tank"

variety. It was actually MUCH more exciting than that. LOL.

And Angela was still not a big fan of the fireworks. She & Mama fell asleep inside before the

show was over.

Our 4th (Post-Nap)

After naptime, Steve served up an amazing supper... steaks and hot dogs on the grill, baked potatoes in the oven, corn, biscuits, and strawberries with cool whip for dessert. I'm not sure I could count the number of times between supper and dusk that we were asked, "When can we do the fireworks?!" I remember that time taking forever when I was little, too.

Angela was pretty much ok with this variety.

But most of the rest of the time you could see her like this...

... or this...

... or even this. Just not a big fan of the popping, crackling, and flashing.

Elle Mae was way more into it than Angela.

But she did appreciate the warnings for "loud noises: hold your ears."

Cyrus was loving all of it. At the end he wondered why we didn't have more since today was "the big fireworks day."

He was fascinated by the white marks he could make on the driveway...

...which led to finding out all about chemical burns and how much they hurt. Bummer.

Shelby Jane called it "red, white, & blue day."

Happy Independence Day!!!

Our 4th (Pre-Nap)

We had a wonderfully peaceful, relaxing Independence at home, just us six, with Mama anxiously awaiting family member seven.

Swimming was our big activity during the day.

Shelby & Cyrus love to play this game with Daddy.

Daddy showed us the amazing creatures he found while trimming back the pines.

Baby robins! And now we watch mama robin bring food to the babies while we swim.

Cooled off with some ice pops.

The sleepiness was beginning to show. (She's not QUITE asleep here, just resting.)

Our 3rd

On Friday evening we headed to the pizza shop to watch the fireworks across the street. The crowd was incredible. And to our pleasant surprise, there was a big-time turnout of our family including us, McCords, Grammy Slice, Derrs, Marty, Jonny, and later the Fizers. Angela wanted me to hold her ears most of the time. Then I looked down about halfway through, and she was holding her eyes shut, too. I convinced her to take a peek, and I think by the end she was even enjoying them. Oh, and it was the coldest Independence Day weekend I can ever remember. We even needed jackets and blankets during the fireworks!

Another Day, Another Dozen New Flowers

I don't know why, I always think, "Wow. Those flowers were great. I don't think any more new ones will be coming along now." And then I go out a day or two later, and voila! I am intrigued by the one in the first foto. Anyone know what it is? I love it.

[Note: Steve has pointed out that to his mind it makes more sense for me to caption UNDER the photos. To my mind (more artsy, less practical), I have been captioning OVER the photos, because that's how we scroll with it. SO, for this post, and for a while, I will be captioning UNDER the photos. Do let me know if there's a protocol on this matter and/or your personal preference. Thanks!]

My newest most favorite flower, a mystery to me.

Shelby is so excited that soon we won't need to buy grape juice or jelly. :o)

Angela petting the posies (Hydrangea).

A bouquet chosen by Shelby, nearly one of every bloom that day. She loved doing it, and I loved her doing it, too.

ORANGE cone flower (Echinacea). That was new to me.

This bloomed on a plant with very soft spiny-lacy leaves. It's the first one of its kind. Anyone know it?

Shelby blowing the trumpet flower. I have no idea what this is either. It is a HUGE vine going up two poles

 with wagon wheels between them. Interesting.

The "Cats & Kittens" are performing even more. I didn't know they'd get flowers, too.

Listen? Can you hear Angela saying in her adorable little voice, "Bam-boooo!" She learned the art of "attack bamboo" from her siblings.

Another interesting one. Looks like it's growing a crown.

Don't know what these are either, but I love them all doing the wave together.

Shelby's flower in a flower in a flower creation!

Don't know it.

Shelby demonstrating that this Southern Magnolia bloom is about the same size as her hand.

I believe these are sweet peas.

I love this picture. It reminds me of a painting. Some kind of daisy?

One of our butterfly bushes.

Don't know their names either.

Close-up of the Acanthus.

Don't know what the flower is, but I like the teeny bee.

Couldn't resist the pucker on this one.

I was so happy with how the light was captured in the color in the center. It's really great enlarged.

Thanks for looking!

Gramma's

A couple weeks ago we were keeping Great-Gramma company on a Friday evening. This time is always so peaceful as the children play outside, watch the buggies go by, and I snap photos I can't resist during the golden hour. That last photo is the children intently watching an "ant party." I love their imaginations.

Shelby Screams... Shrieks... Squeals

Shelby let out a long yelp this past Saturday. I'm not sure what exactly you'd call that sound. But it brought us all running. Below is what she was so excited about. It was so low, we could hear the people laughing at the children's screaming and running wild across the lawn!