Happy 4th!

Happy 4th of July!

One of my favorite photos from a few years back,

dirty kids = a successful celebration.

Stay safe and enjoy!

God bless,

Little Things = A Swimming Pool Tour

Ok, where did the week go?  It was just June 15 wasn't it?  Wow, this summer break is going to fly by! 

Wait, I know where the week went - it was spent at multiple pools through out Sunny So Cal.  Lots of swim practice for the Minis and lots of lounging in the shade for me.  (Between driving to said pools that is.)  The other theme of the week was finishing up the year in piano.  Our piano teacher gives lessons during the school year ending with a recital and Guild auditions in June.  What a monumental feat that is, preparing to play in front of a judge.  I applaud the amount of work in practice needed to be ready for Guild but honestly, there were times I wanted to throw in the towel on behalf of the girls.  Nagging an eleven year old to practice two times a day does not a happy mamma make.  We made it however and both girls had successful auditions - phew!

In spite of the busyness I am so grateful for time with my girls.  Here is my little things list (warning, too many photos ahead), you'll notice our theme yells out loud and clear...

Piano recital, thank you to my wonderful mom for joining us, learning to dive at 

Mimi's (aka Grandma's - my mom), hang time with the girls, enjoying a cool breeze & the garden of our piano teacher's home (I LOVE her brick wall), smoothies for breakfast, a few different pools, 

G reading a good book while waiting to swim,

finally done with Guild and a walk with my Boo.

(Not necessarily in that order!)

Linking up with Lindsey at Hello Hue.

Have a great weekend!!

Little Things to Smile About

Friday, awww.  Does anyone else feel it?  I'm ready for some family time and grateful the hubs is home and doesn't have duty over the weekend.

One of my daily blog reads is Lindsay over at Hello Hue.  She is a talented artist, honest writer and a Navy wife to boot!  She just moved across the ocean and over our "lower 48" and I appreciate her sincerity with how tough these moves can be.  (Girl, I feel you!!)  She is (re)starting up a linky party called "It's the Little Things".  Finding the little things in life that are a blessing, a gift from God, tucked in our week.  Such an important thing, to concentrate on the small things in our weeks that make us smile.  For me it's the little things that help me deal with the big things (that aren't always fun).

Top two, pulling out my Great Grandmother's Bible for some quiet time in the word.

Bottom two, a successful birthday party (maybe that isn't so little?) 

and 

seeing my girls back in the water after too long.

What are your little things?

One not so little thing?  Wishing my love and all the fathers out there a happy Father's Day!  What a huge blessing it is to raise children along side a Godly man.  Thank you honey for all you do for our family, we thank God for you.

Have a wonderful weekend.

Blessings,

Linking up with Hello Hue

Summertime And The Living Is...

The last day of school has come and gone - we are a full week down in our summer fun.  It's been a little crazy still because both girls will be playing a piano Guild audition next week.  Ugh, lots and lots of piano practice = lots and lots of nagging from me.  Oh well, it will be worth it in the end.  (Right??)

I like to do a last day of school photo by the front door as well as the first day.  It's fun to see how much they have grown and changed over the school year.  The oldest is 5'4" now, she really needs to slow down!  She only has 2 inches to catch me - yikes!

Next year, 6th and 4th grades, nooooo!!!

Not only are we totally engrossed in piano we are in full party mode for this girl...

9 on June 9, her "golden" birthday is tomorrow.

Photo curtesy of my good friend Dorothy.

Have a great weekend!  I pray the sun is shinning where you are.

Blessings,

Last Day Of School

I love this time of year!  School is winding down and summer is upon us.  This year, more then ever, my kids need a break and I can't wait to spend more time with them.  

A couple of years ago I was searching for something fun to mark the end of a great school year.  Being a new blog reader I searched and searched and somewhere I stumbled upon a great idea (link to something similar here)  - last day of school t-shirts.  How fun!  We even made a line for their teacher to sign.  There are some really fun ideas to celebrate the end of the school year in blogland, not sure what we'll do this year, better get on it!

All you need is an inexpensive t-shirt from the craft store and iron on transfers 

which come with their own online template.  Easy peasy.

A fun shirt for the last day of school and a keepsake all in one.

Now, if we could only go back to second grade and kinder!!  Miss those sweet days.

Happy summer!

Thank You

For love of country they accepted death... 

-James A. Garfield

Blessings,

Soup For Me

We woke this morning to rain.  Rain?!  At first I thought I was hearing things.  Figured in my tired brain that it was normal since I was in the North West - but wait I'm in sunny So Cal.  What a nice surprise!

We're having friends over for a very casual dinner tonight so why not soup?  I'm in!  In my cupboard I found a few cans of pumpkin puree, reasoned if we could have a cool rain in May I could eat pumpkin soup in the spring.  I pulled out a favorite and easy recipe from Rachel Ray's 30-Minute Veggie Meals (to buy go here) and just a few short moments later, soup for us all.  Link to recipe online found here.

Not sure if I can wait until our company shows!!

**Rachel's Pumpkin and Black Bean Soup

1 tablespoon vegetable or canola oil (1 turn around the pan)

1 tablespoon butter

1 medium onion, finely chopped

1 can (14 1/2 ounces) vegetable stock (or chicken if you're not a veggie)

1 can (14 1/2 ounces) diced tomatoes in juice

1 can (15 ounces) pumpkin puree

1/2 cup heavy cream 

1 1/2 teaspoons curry powder

1 teaspoon ground cumin

3 pinches cayenne pepper 

Course salt to taste

Heat a deep pot over medium heat.  Add oil and butter.  When butter melts add onions and sauté about 5 minutes until tender.  Add broth, tomatoes, black beans and pumpkin.  Bring to a boil, reduce heat to low and stir in cream, curry powder, cumin, cayenne and a few pinches of salt.  Simmer 5 minutes, adjust seasonings and serve.  

** Please note the above recipe is from the cookbook, the recipe found online has a few small differences.  

Enjoy!

Linking up with Farm Girl Paints