I'd rather be cakewrecking

Well, we're having a wonderfully warm week--it seems like JUNE GLOOM might actually be over for the summer! That would be great. I am a summer-lovin' girl, an am ready for it to get here.

It didn't help that in the third week of May, I hopped in the car and drove out to Las Vegas to meet my sister and some other friends for a long weekend. Natalia and I spent a LOT of time sitting by the pool talking, flipping through magazines, and luxuriating in not being at work. It was AWESOME! I LOVE hanging out with my sister! ...I love her so much that I won't post the "Trophy wife" photo, although I really want to do so.

Here we are striking a pose:


And here is a haphazard shot I took of the sunset behind me when I was driving; there's something exhilarating about holding the camera out of the car window while you're heading down the highway.


Anyway, the point of this little (old-and-new? Remember? I'm catching up!) trip down memory lane is that it was deliciously warm in Las Vegas and I drove six hours home to land in May Gray. Which is followed by June Gloom. And I am rejoicing that "home" seems to have caught up with summer, perhaps even a little early!

The Vegas time was really fun, as well as giving me space to think, and to miss the children, and to remember that there is more to me than "Mom." Now, that had very little to do with Vegas as a town and a whole lot to do with having space and hanging out with Natalie, but there it is. I hope we can get together every year!

Side-note: The total of 13 hours alone in the car were so refreshing. Among other things: my music, Tim Keller, and the entire production of Les Miserables from start-to-finish without a stop (except intermission, which conveniently hit when I could stop and refuel). Aaaahhhhh!

This week we are on the ground and running again. We resumed out supper swap last night, which I may have mentioned before? Once a week we have supper with another family of dear friends here, and we take turns each week which of us is hosting. It's very nice to be back in our home and able to walk back and forth between. Here's a shot of our two eldest and their two eldest during after dinner dress up (did I mention it was dinner theatre?).



We are having a cookout this weekend--mainly to welcome the newest member of J's department at the college--but we'll throw in a little Fourth, too. I'm planning on making a cake using a recently acquired cake pan which is shaped like the United States. I'll definitely let you know if it qualifies for Cakewrecks.

Now, I have to head out--my summer reading this year is the Bible, and I'm trying to get the whole thing done in three months...which means I need to get some more in before I go to bed. Thanks for checking in!

So, Another Time Warp

The epic water fight we expected when I last blogged never materialized. It rained--hard--most of the day. Next time.

One week after the children and I arrived home, we were on the road up to beautiful Quincy, CA. We would have probably left on Friday, but found out that we weren't legal to drive because our smog certification had expired. SO I spent Saturday morning at our local homeschooling group's curriculum sale (picture a Wheaton church sale, if you can, only for books and other cool stuff!) We have provisionally decided to homeschool again next year--ahem, incorporate our own private school (California legalese talk). Next year, since Pixie will be in First grade, we'll have to jump the legal hoops. Any suggestions for a school name? I'm going to need one!

I am going to try to a little catch-up and a little current events at the same time...it'll take a while to get caught up, but I thought I'd sprinkle the old in with the new. So first off, here is one of my current ABSOLUTE FAVORITE pictures of our three, from D & M's wedding in April:


The wedding really, really was beautiful. Think a gorgeous garden and relaxed people (beautiful of course) and attention to detail. Think perfect weather and strawberry lemonade in mason jars (I hear. I was partial to the strawberry lemonade mimosa--also in a mason jar). Hear fun, delicious LIVE music along with the wind in the trees. And regret the smoked cheddar pimiento cheese sandwiches, if you were not thereto have some! We had picnic lunches in boxes and used linen napkins (carefully collected by the bride) that were so gorgeous that more than one person I know wiped chocolate on trousers because the napkins were too pretty!

Classic Bud--and classic Pixie

We have been back from Quincy for two days. Over the past two months I've spent more time away than at home, and I'm glad to be back and have summertime. The pace here in summer is delightful. Imagine an entire neighborhood where summer is spent with people catching their breath, working on projects, and taking things a little more slowly...a little closer to Southern-style. There's a gallon (well, almost) of sweet tea in the fridge!

Yesterday, freshly home from Q-town (the trip I will blog about in detail soon...I hope) we discovered that we had THREE artichokes ready! We (meaning J) have been fighting back the yard chaos since the fire, and now have a little garden going. We are using it more as landscaping around the yard than having a large garden plot, although we do have tomatoes in a raised bed and an herb garden.



Anyway, we harvested those artichokes and they were simply the best we'd ever had. So tender and tasty!! And we had it with home grown beef raised by J's parents....delicioso. We're sorry Joy and Ron couldn't join us for dinner...there will be no beef and fresh artichokes at breakfast tomorrow. We'll see what we can do, though. :)

OK, here's a quick moment with Wombles from this evening. J had just caught him eating the dirt. Besides his general...dirtiness...I'd love to point out the custom sandbox cover in the background. J made it while I was out of town, and it is PERFECT. I fear cats and critters no more.


Hope to have more soon--
thanks so much for checking in!

PS The honeysuckle is coming back!!

Three Weeks!

SO, it has been awhile...and I'm not really back even now. I AM back from four days in Las Vegas with my sister (thank you thank you, Jesse, for the vacation!), but I've left again three days later to go to Atlanta to see that sister married last weekend. It was a wonderful privilege to stand as matron of honor. I am so happy for Natalie and Kraig. I can't get photos up now, but for a sneak peek check out Catherine's shots on http://www.mylifephotoblog.com/natalie-and-kraig-2/ .They are gorgeous!

I'm hanging out in Georgia with my parents, the flower girl and the two ring bearers. The child wrangler for the wedding weekend had to fly home on Sunday in order to resume teaching Monday morning at 8:00am. I am pretending the flight home this weekend alone with the three does not exist (much like R.O.U.S's.) When I get home I will finally get to see the photos I took last weekend at the wedding, and then inflict my favorites upon you.

We have been going full-tilt and having a blast here with my grandmothers. There is a huge water war scheduled for tomorrow. Last time we were here (my brother's wedding five weeks ago!), my father, Pixie and Bud had a huge water fight with water pistols. Dad has bought some for mom, me, and Wombles...so tomorrow promises to be epic. Bud keeps yelling how there will be "SIX!!"

OK, I lied about photos....I leave you with a flower girl shot my mom took in the bride's room shortly bvefore the ceremony (and strongly encourage you to peek at my gorgeous baby sister and her wacky bridesmaids shots on the blog aforementioned).