Deader than a doornail...

Uh hum, I was going by Shelby's room this morning en route to the triplets bedroom to get clothes for them for the day when I thought I should check her hamster (Butterscotch) and see how he was doing. (She's at Bible camp this week.)

We've noticed that he has slowed down a bit in the past few months. We also know that her last hamster lived between 2-3 years and that is the current age of Butterscotch. He also seemed to have grown immensely the past month or so. So big that he can't get into his little cave anymore. Anyway, I started preparing her and telling her that the end might be near for her dear little hamster.

I stuck my head in the door and noticed right away that the grim reaper had come calling on the poor little guy. He was by his dish with his little feet sticking straight up in the air. I muttered, "Why couldn't you have held on a few more days til Shelby came home from camp? Did you have to die on my watch?"

I called Dan to tell him the bad news. While talking to him, Macy heard me and ran upstairs to see for herself. Then, the floodgates opened and she cried her little head off. Later, while I was downstairs distracted, she decided to open his cage and "play" with him and then she decided to bury him under his wood shavings.

"Yuck," I yelled, "go wash your hands immediately!"

It took me a few minutes to decide what to do. A friend has a guinea pig that she's trying to get rid of so we hopped in the car and headed over there to pick her up. I stuck Butterscotch in the freezer (yes, we will have to have a funeral for him when Shelby gets home) and put the new guinea pig in her room.

Hopefully, the distraction of a new pet will help her deal with the loss of Butterscotch. We'll see if it works. She comes home from camp tomorrow.

Summertime

~ Long, warm days that stretch out like a prize to be discovered.


~ Suntanned toes and flip flops.


~ The sounds of loud, fast boats racing down the lake.


~ Staying up way too late.


~ Fires in the fire pit.


~ Thunder, lightning, the sound of rain falling off the roof.


~ Many, small children in our bed because of thunder and lightning.


~ Ripe tomatoes off of the vine.


~ Beach towels hanging over the back porch railing.


~ Rollerblades, bicycles, softball gloves, balls, socks littering the front porch.


~ The sounds of children's laughter and screams as they swim in the lake.


~ Reading for pleasure way too much.


~ The haunting call of the loon day and night.


~ Ice cream and more ice cream. The homemade kind, the store bought kind - does it really matter because it's all good.


~ Swimmers itch and mosquito bites.


~ A sunset cruise on the lake.


~ Burger and hot dogs on the grille.


~ Hair lightened naturally from all the time spent in the sun.


~ Short naps in the hammock chair on the porch.


~ The feel of sand between toes... and other places.



~Millions of stars in the inky, black sky.


~ No responsibilities, just fun!

Happy Birthday, America!

We had an excellent fourth of July weekend! The weather was incredible and we were able to be out on the lake the 3rd, the 4th and the 5th. Jill, Zane and Mikayla were able to join us for the weekend.





Friday night we took the boat out on the water to watch the fireworks that are set off from a little island on the lake. The view was spectacular and the evening was gorgeous. God gifted us with an incredible sunset that you will see in some of the pictures we took.

Saturday we got on the boat about 10:30 and didn't go home until about 5 p.m. All of us were a wee bit sunburned - except Levi and he just gets darker. Is there some Hispanic blood somewhere in our family line? We had some excellent (and illegal) fireworks that Dan and Zane set off that evening while we sat by a campfire.

Sunday, we ate breakfast and then went to get ice cream cones at a place here in town. We went back out on the boat and stayed out there swimming and cruising until Jill and company had to head back to Iowa around 4 p.m.

It's always hard when those kinds of weekends come to an end and it's back to "life as usual". :) Personally, I love the idea of extended "holidays" like some cultures take. We truly do not know how to really relax here in America especially when it has to fit into a two or three day window of time.

4th of July is an awesome celebration as it seems to bring families together but not just that, I appreciate the chance to remember those who have given their very lives to buy our freedom. I am also so indebted to those who serve now in our military. Your dedication and honor are appreciated. A great big thanks to you all!

Wet and Wild Father's Day

No, not what your thinking even though you know my mind generally drifts into the gutter.

Dan was able to celebrate Father's Day with his dad as his parents were here visiting. We were able to get a boat and get out on the water for Father's Day afternoon. It started out OK but then the weather went south in a hurry. We braved the rain under the canopy for awhile but when it looked like it wasn't going to let up, we dropped off the kids and grandma at the docks and headed out to take the boat back.

The rain let up and it was actually nice for awhile so we called grandma and told her to meet us at a certain destination with the kids. They all got back on the boat and we started back out when the downpour hit! It was crazy, we all just rolled with laughter. The wind came up and the rain was coming in under the canopy sideways! :) We were all completely drenched! We turned the boat around and headed back to the docks.

Even though the weather was crappy, it made for a completely memorable day! We had so much fun laughing - so good for the soul!

Lots 'O Stuff...

Party time, here folks! We celebrated the triplets 6th! - yes, 6th birthday, June 24. (Actually, we celebrated it the 23rd but the kiddos didn't have a clue.) One of our family traditions is to greet the birthday person with balloons covering their bedroom floor. Also, we tape streamers to their doorway. I don't know how we came up with this - I think I read about it in Family Fun magazine - anyway, it has stuck. All four really love it so it became a tradition.

We had a friends birthday party down at the lake. Our neighborhood has a nice log house with covered picnic area and play area close to the water. We had the cupcakes and opened presents there. The weather looked threatening for awhile but after a bit, it cleared up and we took the party to the lake. We had ten or so kids in the water, splashing and having a great time!

That evening, Kylie, Levi, and Macy decided their restaurant of choice was.....McDonalds....... of course. We had supper there and then took them to play miniature golf at a pirate inspired place. The icing on the cake for them was the spin around the track in go carts. Grandma and Grandpa were here to share in the excitement and that made the little ones so pleased.

They went to sleep that night with silly grins on their little faces still smeared with dirt and cake from the day's excitement!

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Can you believe we have drivers already? At 6, you ask? Dan's uncle found a John Deere Gator that someone had broken and set out to throw away. He picked it up and gave it to us. Oh, yeah... we're all about other people's trash especially when Big Daddy can put almost anything back together again. Thanks for the training Dad E! Anyway, that gave Dan and his dad a project and, they repaired it. We bought the battery for it and it was up and running!

Ya think he's trying to run her over?

This pic was taken right after the girls found the only tree on that side of the driveway to run into.

Notice the blondie is driving! She must have taken lesson from her Aunt Carleen. Ummm, officer... if I give you this really cute smile and pose, could we pass on the ticket this time? :)

They are all pretty proficient drivers now, avoiding the tree most of the time. Wouldn't it have been fun to have one of these when we were kids?