Summer Is For...

 Cousins

"Bappa" and "Mayma"

Splashing 

Fun in the Sun

And in the Shade

Waiting for candy

At the hometown parade

How's your summer going? I'm finding that mine is rapidly fleeting and losing ground on any type of productivity. There are toddlers to run after and much needed naps not to skip; gardens to weed and beans to be picked; lunch to be made and supper to be thrown together; day camps to get to and Vocations Camp to prepare for no matter the weather; big kids to keep on task lest they fritter the summer away and somehow just maintaining life each and every day.

Enjoy these days now, my mind tells me. Tomorrow is for tomorrow and everything will have to be. 

One cold day in winter I'll wish I'd savored these days more, so for today I will and head out the door.

School planning will get done in August for sure.

From The Toddler Files

Ever eat your own words? Or ask, "Where in the WORLD did she hear that from?" and then realize it came from your mouth?

You must have a toddler (or two) in your home.

They have a way of picking up on our least favorite phrases that spew out of our mouth without a thought. Sometimes the words they declare are pure genius and other times they are the utterance of our ignorance to the small ears that hear around every corner.

The are wise beyond their toddler years.

They are the tugging at our conscience and the reminder that our adult annoyance sometimes floweth forth from our mouth. Shame on me us, but yet sometimes it is really rather cute. 

And worth a blog post.

While hoarding her toys from her younger sister:

"Go play with Lily. She's fun."

(We've often used this tactic on Gianna to get her sidetracked while we're in the midst of something and trying to get it done without her underfoot.)

Washing her hands in the bathroom sink and I ask her to leave so I can use the bathroom:

"Don't blug (bug) me. I busy washing my hands."

After the parade, while laying in bed avoiding her nap time:

"Where the music princesses go?"

Me: "They probably went home to rest."

"No they not. They go home for lunch!"

Again, at nap time:

Me: "Gianna, you need to take a nap so we can go to church later. If you nap, we can go see 

Fr. Michael."

"NO. I not go see him."

Me: "Why not? He's your buddy."

"I don't like his dress."

"He wear his pants."

And that, my friends are some of the sounds going on at my house. I can barely imagine all the insightful conversation we'll be having in a few months or so when both little girls have a lot more to say!

Five Favorites

1.

About a month ago I purchased a Food Network silicone spoon at Kohls. I was up for a new kitchen tool and thought I'd see if I liked the silicone. And I do! I bought the yellow colored one on sale and with my $10 Kohls cash I had that day it was FREE. It makes me enjoy this spoon even more.

2.

How about some more nail polish, shall we? My new color for my piggies is Pure Ice in Jack Pot. It's the perfect compliment to those flip-flop tan line feet. (not pictured)

(Also not my fingernails)

3. 

The girls got a Step 2 water table for Christmas and they've been thoroughly enjoying it this summer. It is a great distraction on those hot summer days when I don't want to pull out the pool. 

I highly recommend them for the toddlers.

4.

My chocolate of choice has become Twix. Preferably, peanut butter Twix, but I'm finding they are a rare commodity. Instead of grabbing a checkout aisle Twix when I get the urge, instead I've been getting 10 pks of fun size for $1.00. They are just enough candy for me to be satisfied with just one (with a little self control) and I only eat them a few times a week at most. Good for my caloric intake and my budget.

5.

This spring I bought a couple of Target's Mossimo short sleeve cardigans. 

I consider them more like a bollero jacket, but lightweight enough to still wear when it's cool in the summer. I like to pair mine with a tank top underneath and they work for casual or even throw them on over a summery dress.

Find all the latest Favorites over at Hallie's!

Can She Build It? Yes She Can!

A couple week ago I found this great deal on some patio chairs at Target. On sale they were $16 and that seemed like a good deal since they sat comfy, stacked, were durable and I'd been on the hunt for some new chairs. I bought six of them, three khaki and three aqua. I'm so stylish and fashionable like that. Or, I just didn't want to commit to one of the colors and Lily agreed that mixing it up would look really cool too.

My new quest came for a reasonably priced (read $100 or less) patio table to sit our whole family. It seemed that a oblong/rectangle one would be the way to go.

To my delight apparently some stores consider the end of June to be the approach of the end of the summer season, so a lot of tables were already marked down. I had several options to choose from at a couple different local stores.

In the end, I scored a $125 table for $70. Not bad.

Well, when I see an unopened box and it's early in the week and clearly hubby won't have time to tackle said item in the box until the weekend, I get a little idea.

Heck, let's just open it up and see what I can mess up do to get this thing put together.

And that's exactly what I did.

Don't let a few pieces, some screws, hex bolts, nuts and bolt covers scare ya.

You can do this.

(It helps if at least one little girl is napping and the other is content to play around in the garage)

Get your big, strong kids to give you a hand to get it over to the deck on the complete opposite side of the house....

Shazam! Project complete!

Total project time from taking out of the box to placing it on our deck:

43 minutes 

That just may be my personal best project time EVER.

*Insert pat on the back here*

Even better, I just crossed something off my husband's to do list, so his weekend just opened up. 

Stop on over for a glass of lemonade, won't you?

Simple Saturday {Link-Up}

I have yet to meet a link up I didn't like and when it's something simple like Simple Saturday, how could I not join in? Surely you've noticed my blog has been filled to overflowing with link ups, photos of family randoms we're up to and really not a whole lot else. 

I blame summer. And mommy brain. I've got nothin'.

Normally hosted by Iris at Country Girl's Daybook (a new read for me), but this weekend is hosted by Dwija, Simple Saturday is sharing whatever you'd like with clear words, simple speech and maybe a photo (or several). Keep it simple, because that's what Saturday's all about.

I'm joining in!

A simple Saturday at home playing catch up, mowing the lawn and then off to our small town parade in the afternoon. It's a simple life sometimes, but it's a full life. 

The tiniest princess in her royal baby stroller carriage. A stroller made for dolls and she's a DOLL, so why not? The fourth child really does get to have all the fun ya know. I wouldn't have EVER let this fly with the first two.

Pre-parade game face. Actually, Margaret with one of our littlest great-nieces. I think she was just starting to think how she'd like to be a big sister....and then the parade started.

Parade time!

Post-parade and this is the best we got. A simple shot of life as we know it on a daily basis. Not always paying attention, not always ready, not always together, but just the way we are.

Simple Family on a Simple Saturday.

Want to join in too? Click on over to share your Simple Saturday.

Rolo Cupcakes

For all you Chocolate Lovers (Hello, Patty), this one's for you!

I ran across a recipe on Pinterest the other day for Rolo Brownies and while it sounded good, it looked a bit involved. Later that day I was at the store and spotted a bag of Rolo minis and got to thinking. What about Rolo Cupcakes? I figured I'd even cheat and use box cake mix as well.

Thankfully, my brother's family was coming for supper the next day and it would be the perfect time to try them for dessert.

Mix them up according to chocolate (I used Devil's Food) cake mix directions and put in liners. Place a Rolo mini in the center of each and push down a bit.

Bake according to directions on box.

About half way through I took a peek in the oven and saw that the Rolos were rising to the top. I decided to take a knife and squish them down a bit, which caused them to melt more inside.

While waiting for them to bake some more, watch your toddler do a fun little dance.

Although they look quite tempting, be patient and let them cool.

Whip up a batch of Creamy Cocoa Frosting. I use Betty Crocker Chocolate Buttercream Frosting, but substitute 1/3 cup baking cocoa for the chocolate. 

Now doesn't that look de.lic.ious?

The Toddler Taste Testers on location most definitely agreed.

And so did everyone else in attendance.

I hope you enjoy them too!

Farewell June (And You Too, Google Reader)

June

The sun is rich

And gladly pays

In golden hours,

Silver days,

And long green weeks

That never end

School's out. The time

Is ours to spend.

There's Little League,

Hopscotch, the creek,

And, after supper,

Hide-and-seek.

That live-long light

Is like a dream,

And freckles come

Like flies to cream.

~ John Updike

Anyone else struggling with the fact that summer is 1/3 over?

How about the fact that school resumes in two more months?

AAAHHHH!!

Never mind, we'll focus on the memories already made and the fun yet to come.



Instead, let's all bid adieu to our beloved (and already nearly forgotten) Google Reader who comes to its demise tomorrow.

In case you've forgotten, importing all the blogs you read over to Bloglovin' is super-de-duper easy.

Oh, and don't forget, I'm over there too! Be sure and click over on my sidebar and follow me in Bloglovin'.



It will make Gianna smile. A Lot.

And me too.



Let's bring on July!