Eggs, etc...

We were so excited to get our first eggs last week. 

About 3 to 4 a day so far. 

Breakfast is about to taste a whole lot better!   

                                          

Little tractor girl Lita.  

How I wish that Grandpa John could see this picture.

Smile.    

                                                                             

Strawberry Cobbler for sunday dessert by Maya. 

Because we had lots of strawberries to use.

An adaptation from Ree's Blackberry Cobbler and it's super easy for kids to make. 

Berry yummy with whip cream on top!  

Kyla and Colter like it when Daddy's airplane streamers land on the house roof. 

That means they get to get out the ladder and retrieve them.

It's definately a team effort.

I love, love, love this picture. 

Not sure why but maybe it just reminds me of my life. 

Not glorious or easy or perfect.

Just unique and rewarding and wonderful.  

Thanks for stopping by our front porch!
Alison

Stitches

I can't continue posting without going back and catching up on July... 

We'll start with July 1st at about 5:45 in the morning.  Randy and I were awakened to an awful KA-BOOM, and then the sound of crying coming from across the hall.  "Maya fell off of her bunk bed!"  Randy said as I jumped up and ran into her room.  The first thing I thought was that she probably broke something but I quickly saw that she hadn't as she stood by her bed, holding her head with her hands.  I talked to her and started to help her back into the bottom bunk but when she moved her hands, I saw that they were dripping with blood.  I called for Randy.  He came in and I ran to get a cold, wet rag.  Randy helped her out to the couch and laid her down.  We were dabbing at her eye, trying to decide how bad her gash was, and if her eye was okay.  I ran back into her bedroom to take the comforter off her bed, so I could begin soaking it in cold water.  As I headed down the hall with her comforter I nearly passed out, so I dropped the comforter in the hall and hit the floor.  I crawled back out to the couch and laid on the floor to try and get blood back into my head.  Poor Randy looked down an me and headed to the kitchen to get me a glass of cold water.  He set the glass next to me on the floor and returned to Maya's side.  I reached for the cup of water and knocked it over on the carpet, sending Randy back into the bathroom to get a towel to take care of that mess.  I have no idea why I reacted this way.  I have been known to pass out before but never when my kids have been bleeding or wounded.  I've always been able to handle it in the past and I wonder if Randy hadn't have been there is I would have been "with it" better.  Like, I have to take charge here. Anyway, I got myself together and was able to progress to a sitting position while we discussed what we should do. It was clear that she would have to be stitched up at the ER.  Since it was Sunday morning, Randy would have to be home so I was the one that would need to bring her in.  Pretty quickly I was on my feet again, getting dressed and heading out the door to the ER with Maya. 

On my way in to the hospital, I realized that this was the first time that any of my kids have ever had to have stitches.  Them, who's mother has had stitches multiple times in her life?!  I considered myself lucky, that this was our first incident, but ached for my little sweetheart who so innocently fell from her bed in her peaceful, cozy sleep and had to awaken to this!  She hadn't even been doing anything dangerous or daring or clumsy, like her mother. 

At the ER, Maya was very cooperative and calm so we didn't have to put her out.  Thank goodness!  The doctors and nurses were super!  They had to put 7 stitches in the gash between her eyebrow and her eye.  She was brave and stayed still and was rewarded by the nurse telling her stories and a bear to take home with her, who she affectionately named Stitches.

We came home to the rest of the family sitting around the table eating breakfast.  Poor Colter took one look at Maya and couldn't eat any more of his breakfast.  We had to send him to the couch for his turn to lay down and Maya to our bed to lay down.  She rested throughout the morning and by lunchtime she was eating lunch with us.  After lunch, she headed downstairs to play with Colter (he finally got used to her new look).  Then we put Lita down for her nap and Kyla, Randy and I got busy finishing our packing for our trip.  Around 4 o'clock we were driving out of our yard, headed East, for our 4th of July week at Fort Peck with Randy's family.

It was amazing how fast her eye healed.  She wore a hat (doctors orders) and sunglasses (her choice) for much of the first couple days.  On Thursday we got the stitches out in Glasgow and by the following Sunday she only had a slight scar that remained.  Happy cheers for awesome doctors and nurses, ibuprofen, neosporin, and lots of fun cousins!  The hardest part for her the whole week was that she couldn't go swimming and her swollen black eye on all the family pictures.

She took this picture (above) of herself, on our trip when she was playing with my iPad.  I think it is the best one, if you can call it "best".

friday photo dump: 7/27

I've seen this idea on a few other blogs. 
I thought it would be a fun way to remember snapshots of each week.
Feel free to join the fun!  Picmonkey makes is easy.

1. twirly-whirly slide 2.we love the listening program 3. wild flowers from Maya 4. evening fun 5.waiting for a finisher 6. blooming 7. sending the Canon off 8. ashley lake ride 9. 4-H photographer 10. she loves to bake 'em, we love to eat 'em 11. Heather Bailey Blankie 12. lovely lupine 13. barn flower boxes 14. woman's work 15. more than one way to fly a kite

Have a great weekend! 
Alison

iPad Vintage

flowers from Colter on a recent 4-wheeler ride

 

Goodmorning!

With my camera needing repaired, I'm forced to use instagram on my iPad.

The pictures aren't the greatest

but it's kinda fun.

I had to share these pictures of Melita this morning.

This Raggety Ann & Andy plate and bowl were the ones I ate on

in the late 1970's. 

Looooong time ago, I know!

Thanks Mom! *smile*

My new and simplified shelves in the living room.

Love the simple black and white look!

And we are enjoying...

fruit, fruit, fruit!

Hope you all are having an enjoyable July.

I will be back to share 4th of July pictures soon.

And tell about little Maya Miss Hap!

Poor Dear!

But she's all better now.

Have a wonderful Wednesday,

Alison

A Trip for Two

Colter and I took a trip to Spokane at the end of June.

It was absolutely beautiful there.

I managed the "big city" traffic okay, but I had my moments.  eeek!

We missed the rest of the family, but mostly...

It was great to have one-on-one time between just him and I.

I think, as a parent, it's good to make these moments

or days or even weeks together with each one of my kids in turn. 

Just the two of us...

Colter and I had our lunch times and evenings together.

Manito Park (thanks Dee!), Riverfront Park, Cabelas, Swimming, 

and an evening with the Smiths and Grooms (special!)

Colter was busy much of the day which left me time to explore around Spokane.

And shop.

And walk, and walk, and walk.

It was a good break.

I loved visiting the Davenport Hotel.

Beauty. History. Elegance.

The streets of Spokane are truly lovely.

It was all so different from my home sweet home.

We loved visiting for the week but were so ready to return

to our home. Our wide open spaces.  Our family.

Anyways...

These are just a few pictures from our week.

So we can remember it,

and share it with the rest of the family.

Thanks to Grandma who watched the three girls,

because Daddy was in Las Vegas all week for work.

All for now!

Love, Alison

More June

Some scenes from around the yard in June...

I ♥ June

Family Picture- June 2012

I love the month of June!

Every year it means the end of school, convention, company, swimming lessons, outside living...

I missed blogging and wondered if I even would remember how to do it

when I logged on to my google account today.

But I quickly got back in the groove,

went crazy editing,

and felt guilty the whole time,

because of all the other things I should have been doing.

(does anyone else ever feel this way?)

But at the end of the day... the laundery is almost done,

the kids are fed and in bed, and here I am...

finishing this post that I started this afternoon.

So, here it is,

June in a nutshell...

Singing songs and saying "Thanks" for Memorial Day on her last days of First Grade.

Maya reading her message.
(I am thankful for freedom and America is beautiful...)

Another word of "Thanks" to her teacher who is retiring after Kyla had her for 4th and 5th grades.  No fault of her own...

Making a pen pouch for her gel pens.

Finally Convention!  See the snow on those mountains above and the winter coat and hat below?

I love that he wants to be just like his Dad. 

Dennis, Carrie, and Ross stopped by to visit on their travels east and stayed for the night.

We all enjoyed that.

Here are the kids with the boys the next morning right before we had to leave for swimming lessons

Colter and I got to see Ross again at the end of June in Spokane.  Small world!

The final phase.  Let the fun begin...

In front of the poppies

backyard evening ball

backyard evening swing

June isn't over yet... at least not according to my pictures.  I still have a few to share from our June days.  Will try to get them posted in the next few... days, weeks, months... 

And then theres July.  A new story to tell.  Part of which brings us up to the present were I am without a camera.  My card slot quit reading my card so it means a while without it while it is being repaired.  Sad.  Until then I'm using Randy's iPhone whenever I can get my hand on it. smile

Happy Days to you!