Shadows

What happens when you dig out thistle in the fields...

You get a chance to whack a rattler.
Note: whacking done by the dad, not the son.

Beauty on the Back Porch

Last Day with Grandma and Grandpa

Grandma and Grandpa had to cut short their visit since Grandpa wasn't feeling well. But before they left, Grandma made "German Pancake with Apples" for lunch. Abby helped by sauteing the apples.

Hope saying goodbye from the tree.

Hope is going to miss Ode. She has asked if Ode doesn't make it into the program to become a service dog, can WE keep her? I'm pretty sure she'll make it in, but either way, Lucy has a new best friend.

With Grandma and Grandpa

We met Doug at our favorite restaurant for a big family dinner. And yes, this is the best picture I have of the group (Thanks, Jacob).

Doug with Abby's purse. I told him I'd be putting this one on the blog, so he was warned.

The girls with Grandma.

Abby waits for our name to be called. We waited a long time!

It's more fun to wait with other people...

and with Grandpa's service dog in training, Ode (pronounced O-dee, like the dog in Garfield).

Ode with the dog statue at the restaurant.

On the porch at closing time.

Doug getting ready to throw Jacob into the bushes. Now Jacob gets to see what it's like to have an older brother.

And on Wednesday, Hope and I showed Grandma where Hannah sells her cards.

And we had lunch in the tea house next door. We had the best chicken/garlic/almond soup. I tried to get the recipe, but the cook had stepped out for a break :(.

We straightened up the booth since several cards and boxes were out of place. Then we looked around at all the other booths and tried on some fancy full length sweaters with ruffles all down the front. They looked like something out of a 1930's or 40's movie, with the woman smoking a long cigarette!

One more VBS picture

Friday night the VBS kids performed their songs and there was a BBQ afterwards. It was a good week, full of activities and fun with the little children. I think I'll drive back and forth to the church three times a day this week, just out of habit!

Hannah worked as a student representative at the College Plus booth at the homeschool convention on Saturday. She had a nice time chatting with people and is enjoying her new Shakespeare class and getting ready for a college composition exam in a couple of weeks.

Brian sprayed our thistle with Round-Up this week and I tell you, he might as well have sprayed them with vitamins. They look tall and glossy in the field, waving at me mockingly as I drive by. The rest of the weeds are also looking remarkably healthy as well. Good grief.

VBS Week

It's "Big Apple Adventure" week with the theme of New York.

For a boy who only naps when he is sick, we've been seeing him napping every day after VBS. He's up at the crack of dawn to get to the church for his role in the music and in the missions presentations. After VBS, there are activities for the teen helpers. This kid is getting worn out!

Sometimes you just forget you have a blog...

So here is an update in case you were wondering :).

Cute boy picture, just because I am a proud Aunt.

Loving this book! I so appreciated "Change Your Brain, Change Your Life" by Dr. Amen, but I think I am getting even more out of this book. He delves into how our spiritual life is affected by our brain function and how a good spiritual life can enhance our brain function. So much food for thought in this book. I thought about doing a book review on this, but I don't think I could do it justice.

Hannah's newest paint by numbers. We haven't seen much of Hannah the past two months. She has been working full time, but is realizing that is too much for her right now. So she has asked for her hours to be cut to part time (which she was originally hired for). She is now a junior in her college studies and is looking forward to her first correspondence course in Shakespeare.

Summer wreath for the kitchen.

My Easter flowers are still in bloom and I have enjoyed their cheerfulness on my windowsill.

In other news:
One of Hope's fish died the second day, so she has a new one- Kate. Now it's Kate and Alice. They seem to be doing fine as roommates.

Abby and Jacob have been gone a lot this week, helping to set up for VBS. Next week promises to be quite busy with VBS for all (except Brian and Hannah).

Getting ready for summer company. Still waiting for the paint to be delivered so we can finish painting the trim in Jacob's room and put everything back together. Looking forward to being able to have my room cleaned up since right now most of Jacob's things are in there.

Praying for a friend who began chemotherapy for breast cancer last week. This was my best friend in junior high and high school and she is a year younger than myself. I have her picture out to remind me to pray for her often.

Making A Room Fit For A Teenage Boy

A cowboy theme is great for when you're a kid, but not so much when you're a teenager interested in architecture.

I've always hated this brown color on Jacob's walls. So blah and uninspiring. He needed molding on the ceiling, too.

Jacob picked out blue paint for his room and Brian is installing the molding. Hopefully soon we'll get the beds painted white and put up white curtains. Lots of black (frames, etc.) and architectural details/pictures to be added later.

Happy Day for Hope

Getting Alice and Benjamin acclimated to their new home

Sometime in the past week, Hope became passionate about wanting fish. She spent hours online researching goldfish and what they needed. She talked endlessly about fish. I said we'd think about it after summer vacation and she was satisfied. However, today I surprised her by taking her to the pet store where she picked out two little goldfish- Alice and Benjamin.

Here's hoping the fish thrive in their new spot because it will be pretty traumatic if Hope wakes up tomorrow to find them belly up...