Summertime... when is it time to sit back and unwind?

You know there just hasn't been much to post about lately.

Last week was our first week off from school. The kids had VBS. I helped out with a beginner horse riding camp at the barn where Sammy rides. We were all exhausted by the end of the week. I was so tired I didn't take any pictures.

Charlie had been such a good sport about having to spend the afternoon at the farm instead of playing with friends, I said we could go see Transformers. Of course he wanted to go Friday night.

We did the last feeding at the farm and didn't get home until almost 7. Then we showered and changed. We were all starving so we went to California Tortilla and then the movie. The night cost us just under $60. Which isn't too bad for a family date night. The movie has some suggestive parts (disappointing) but it was still exciting to watch. We arrived home around midnight and we all fell into our beds.

We help with horse camp again this week. But we don't have to stay until 6pm. Good thing because I am waaayyy behind on laundry and cleaning.

Have a happy day.
Sabrina

Date with the Peanut

Peanut and I were able to spend time together on Friday while Bo was at a birthday party. I asked her where she wanted to go and she said "The Creek". Sabrina opted out of going due to bugs and poison ivy. I told her I could check her for ticks later. ;)

Just some background of the creek. When we picked the location of our house, we wanted trees in the back yard. We now have the trees in the back of our house and the bonus is a creek. It is fairly shallow but so much fun to play in. We are blessed that this area is protected by the town.

Here are some shots of us spending quality time together.

Here we are walking to the creek through stink cabbage.



















I think we took the stinky path so we could play in the water.



















Once we got there, I was told to take good pictures for Mommy's Blog - here are some flowers














A super thorny tree



















I was told this was a "Snake Stick"



















Another Flower













A beautiful butterfly













A nice shot of the creek while we cross and play in the water













I do love my peanut!!



















We ran into a mud man and he created this













Here is a pole bridge













I must say she is so much fun and we will do it again. I hope it is not too long. Time does pass by so fast. Last time I looked, she was just 4 years old.

weekend in review

What a great weekend. Charlie played lacrosse, finally after all the rain. His team didin't win but he scored a goal. Sammy got to ride. Her barn was holding an 'open barn' for folks to come check the place out and Sammy was asked to do some freestyle riding just to show what she has learned. I made up a routine for her and she picked out some celtic music to play as she rode. So, she looked at my routine then made it up as she was out there. I guess that is the true definition of freestyle. What do I know.

Mother's day was fab. I had bought everything for the perfect breakfast beforehand and had a recipe set aside. I was up before everyone and starving so I made my own feast. I made the cinnamon bites from 4 Reluctant Entertainers site. Tastey is all I have to say. I didn't even take pictures because they were gone too quickly. These will definitely be made again in this household. My kids had made cute cards at school telling what they like most about me. Very nice. All the ranting and raving about all I do has paid off. They were able to write what I have done for them. Almost verbatim from my rants... oh the shame. And they both mentioned cooking. Namely pot pies and pork chops and rice. However, the pork chops and rice is a dish my mom makes. Mom... Grandmother... it's all the same right. I was also given a box of questions. We went through some of them at dinner. Love it! You will probably see some pop up on the Friday 5. Here is an example..... Where is the coziest spot in your home? Our bed was voted #1. The kids will come snuggle with us every now and then.

Finally, I want to leave you with the gift that keeps on giving in our home. Or rather, keeps haunting me. As I was taking pictures of the living room last week here is what snuck up on me....


It was peeking out of the pellet stove hopper. You probably can't see past the dust so I will tell you what it is, a plastic snake. But when you come upon it unexpectedly or out of the corner of your eye. It seems very real. This is my 'Kato'. Do you remember the inspector Kluso? His assistant, Kato, would always hide and jump out at the inspector to test him. That is this snake to me... popping up and raising my blood pressure to alarming levels.

Uh oh, just got a call from the school.... gotta go pick up a sick boy.
Have a happy day.
Sabrina

Come on everybody's doin' it

This blogging thing has added a whole new relm to peer presssure for me. And therefore my family... From crafting to exercise. And all because I see someone else's post and feel the need to give it a try.

This weekend I bought Jillian Michaels' 30 day shred because I had seen a post about it on someone's blog and they referenced another blog, which I had to read, and all the positive comments on it. So, the man and I did the shred. I'll just say this... I was sore within hours of doing it. Jillian Michaels should be an agent for the government. I think she could break down any terrorist suspect. Jack Bauer has nothing on her.

I have started to paint furniture. I did some window treatments. Oh, the recipes I have tried. The camera purchase..."honey, we need a new camera so I can have better pics for the blog". Poor guy, never saw it comin'. Well really, I started the whole blog because my friends were doing theirs and I couldn't be left out.

So, this week I'll be posting about some of the things I have done because...'everybody is doing it'. And the saddest thing is that I very few peronsally.

Have a happy day.
Sabrina

Dog Tired

We had a busy weekend. Had the 5th grade science fair on Friday. (I am so over book reports and projects. Do you have to do book reports and science fair projects if you homeschool?) Sammy's project was 'can you get gas from garbage'. So we had beans in sandwich bags in varying stages of decay all around the house. Although beans produce gas in the human body they did not produce gas in the sandwich bags.

The dog was very helpful in assembling this project. As you can see she was the one cutting paper with the paper cutter. I homeschooled my dog. But not the kids. I'm too lazy to homeschool. Oh, and unorganized. But I wish I could so I wouldn't have to wake up and make lunches. That's how lazy I am.




Charlie had 2 lacrosse games this weekend. He scored 5 goals in one game. Way to go dude! He is the one in blue jumping up the catch the ball. His coach started calling him 'Take charge Charlie'. Kind of like Charles in Charge... remember that show with Chachi or Scott Baio?

Sammy and I painted the front door. We got our second notice from the HOA, so we had to get off our butts and do something. Another fine example of my laziness. It really wasn't that bad in my opinion, just some scratches from wreaths and the dog. But it looks better now.

Oh and I made pinto beans and corn bread from Pioneer Woman's site and they were awesome. I had made the steak sandwich earlier in the week and that was a huge hit for everyone too. I would have taken pictures but you can go to her site and get the recipes and there is no competing with her pictures.

Well now that I typed it out it doesn't seem like much but I did do laundry and clean the house too. I'm tired and will try to come up with more interesting stuff.

Have a happy day.
Sabrina

Rainy day blahs

Well, first a shout out to my man for the new header picture. How cool is that? He surprised me. A good one, though. However, take this as a warning when you give your husband access to your blog, your in for surprises. Oh on that note... Miz Booshay (Quiet Life) commented on the man's post! She also writes for Pioneer Woman in the photograph section. Again... how cool is that!

Today is a cold rainy day and all I want to do is... skip work, sit in side with a blanket and read. But I won't.


Not the best picture but I hope you get the idea.

Well, I have to scurry off to work now. Pre-schoolers need to be corralled. It is like herding cats.

Have a happy day.
Sabrina

For better and for worse

As I laid my head down to sleep on Sunday night, I thanked the Lord that I didn't have any aches and pains, nor the feeling that I was going to throw up, and not the slightest rumblings in my bowels. I felt as though I was going to get a good night's sleep after having to fight for my life with the stomach virus (or at least that's what it felt like). But a good night's sleep was not in store for me that night. You see my little Peanut got the stomach virus and was up on and off all night. First, she would run to my bed. I would be jarred from my sweet dreams with..."Mom, I think I'm gonna be sick". I would in turn say "Quick, run to the bathroom". Then the mom routine of damp cloth on the forehead, water to rinse her mouth and tucking her back in. This would happen about every two hours. Finally, about 20 minutes before my alarm went off I was awakened by my Charlie who came in to say... "Mom, I've got a leg cramp. Will you rub it?". Sure climb on in. Here's the $20,000 question. Did my man wake up once during all this commotion? NO! Crazy! How can he sleep through all that running around??
I just don't get it.
But then again, I sleep through the smoke alarm and he gets up for that.

I remember when the kids were babies and I would be dying for sleep. I would hear them cry in the night and tell my man... "Honey, they're crying for you. They're saying 'daddy'." He fell for it in his sleep deprived state and would get up to take care of them.

Anyway, back to the Stomach Flu '09. My man had the stomach flu a couple of days before me. We had it about the same amount of time. He lost 10lbs! I only lost 4! Seriously, even when sick he can loose more weight than me. So not fair! Not that it is a competition or anything. But if it was... not fair!

Have a happy and stomach flu-less day.
Sabrina