God Bless America

Why cute pictures aren't as easy to take as they look...

Okay, not too bad!

But, how did we get to this!

May God Bless America!!

We wish everyone a safe and blessed 4th of July!!

Looking at the sky-on Friday

This weeks weather has been rainy, rainy and then a little more rain. But for a few moments we saw the blue sky and sunshine....

one of the times we saw the sun was at the strawberry field--it was a glorious morning, followed by an afternoon of, you guessed it, rain.

A couple of the afternoons this week cleared-up, just leaving us with these beautiful cottonball clouds

over the pine trees out in back of the house.

and then more storms rolled in.

Check out more beautiful sky photos here.

My Latest Knitting and Crocheting

My summer-warm weather knitting and crocheting has been plugging right along. I have an new, absolutely all time favorite potholder pattern.
The scalloped edged, double sided potholder. You can find the pattern here.

This is a hanging dish towel--it turned out very cute using Sugar'n Cream Stripes cotton yarn.

This pattern is here.

My favorite dishclothes are made using the Grandmother's Favorite dishcloth pattern.

Happy creating!!

A Magical Trip to the Library

Moreland the Magician entertained us tonight at the library to kick off the summer reading program.
I can't begin to express how wonderful this show was. The adults enjoyed it as much as the kids. What a showman! Kim and Luke didn't move except to cheer and laugh and play along--for the entire 45 minutes---the kids were completely enthralled! (As a testament to the quality of the show, Luke burst into tears at the end because he wanted more magic)

If you ever hear that David Moreland is going to be near you, it is a show not to be missed.

The interaction with the kids in the audience was remarkable---the kids were so easily incorporated into the program, you couldn't tell they hadn't rehearsed.

We brought Aaron with us tonight, and I am glad we did,

because he got to be dubbed knight.

To our great enjoyment, he next called Gracie up to assist him in a magic trick.

I am sooooo sorry that the pictures weren't better, but this guy moves fast!

Following the first trick, Gracie remained as a magician assistant for the next 15 minutes.

She was the perfect assistant, following direction and adding her own cute aspects to the show.

Cute

more cute,

very cute, although a little serious!

Performing the magic!

As a grand finale, Gracie pulled 20 feet of colorful handkerchiefs out of a bag---very magic. I think Grace was as amazed at her success as the audience was!!

This is definitely a show not to be missed. I believe he is doing a lot of library programs throughout New York this summer.

It's a playdough day

Wordless Wednesday--The work of boys...

Kindermusik at the Library

Luke, Kim, Grace and I enjoyed a very entertaining 45 minutes at the library this morning enjoying our first Kindermusik session.
You can read here about why Kindermusik classes can enhance any young child's devopment and education.

The kids were so eager to join in, it was great to see their enjoyment.

Here they are, using their "listening ears". This was quite a feat for this active bunch!

By far, the favorite activity was making the "popcorn" pop on the parachute.

All three kids also had so much fun with the playsilks that I need to make some of our own.

Here you can see Gracie dusting,

Luke scrubbing,

and Kimberly sweeping. All these activities are done along with music.

We can't wait until next week!

Free Movie Schedule

We love free summer movies--and the schedule for the New Hartford, New York Marquee theater's free summer movie program can be found here!
Enjoy the show!

Happy Birthday, Auntie Kim

Kimmy's Godmother, Auntie Kim, had a birthday today.

Kimmy wants Auntie Kim to know that we love her very much and hope she has a wonderful day!
The kids spent a lot of time getting Aunt Kim's present ready. First they decorated the paper with Do-A-Dot markers,

and then we taped the papers together
to make special wrapping paper.

"Happy Birthday To You!!"

A Little Sewing

I will be a sad day around here when the little girls won't wear handmade dresses....
but thankfully, that day is very far away.....

A Berry Fine Strawberry Day-Makes my Monday!

The strawberry season is in full swing up here in central New York.

We have been enjoying our "berry" books, especially the youngest kids.
These are some of our favorites.

This morning the sun was shining so Becky and I set out to give Kim and Luke the experience of picking their own berries.

Kimberly was very proud when I carried her into the middle of the field and plopped her down.

Luke was so excited whenever he would spot a berry! It seemed like they took him by surprise, even though he was surrounded by thousands of berries.

Even Becky appears to be quite proud, or maybe that is a camera pose!

After about a quart of berries, Kim and Luke both noticed that the grass really tickled their legs, and it was kind of hot, and they were kind of done.....

but, it was a beautiful morning.

Hiding in the strawberry plants

Becky and I managed to quickly pick 6 quarts before there was a real meltdown---but all in all, both "littles" enjoyed this. We visited Grandpa after picking--he lives, literally, one minute from the berry patch--and when we left and passed by the strawberry farm again, Kimberly wanted to go back and pick more--Luke DID NOT, and he told us so.

Looking at the sky

A Father's Day sky over Lake Ontario

Luke under a beautiful sky

the crescent moon

windmills at dusk

The Giant Playpen---a necessity in a large family

Complete with guard!

Now, that's a cake!

Becky's been hard at work.

This is definitely one of my all-time favorites!!

A Happy 16th Birthday

to our new 16 year old nephew Andrew!!

We were very happy to get to spend time with him--it has been way toooo long since we had seem him, and as you can see, he is looking great!!
Luke all ready to party.Annie and Johnny

Gracie and Martha

Luke and Mark--there seemed to be a piggy back "thing" going on at the party.

Maria, Aunt Mary and Gracie

We were so happy to see the Pennsylvania cousins.

Amy and Kimberly

Say cheese, girls.Johnny had an unusual technique for enjoying birthday cake.

Oh! No! It's even in his ear! But don't worry, Uncle Pat got him cleaned up-good as new.

What a bunch of boy cousins do during a family birthday party.
Mark, Vinnie and Tommy

That looks good enough to eat!

Thanks for a wonderful evening, Aunt Joanne!

Small Successes

1. Finished end of the year testing---hip! hip! hooray!!!!

2. Picked strawberries and turned it into jam. Yummy, yummy! Now hopefully, we won't eat it all before the end of July. (Like last year)

3. Played in the sunshine and warm temperatures with kids that are so happy that summer is really here.

Check other's Small Successes at Faith and Family Live!

Congratulations to the "Our Town" cast and crew

Victoria Buda's Academy of Theatrical Arts performed the play "Our Town" tonight and it was wonderful! Becky was assistant director and also performed in a role.
Danny had the role of the narrator. I have no idea how he can memorize so many lines, but I do know that when he got the script, he went in his room and within 24 hours he had his many, many lines memorized.

Becky

Dan

Take a bow, kids, you deserve it!
Way to go Becky and Dan!

Sleeping Beauty

Wordless Wednesday-Brothers

A Birthday Wish for my Mom

Happy Birthday!!
I hope all your wishes come true!

I Heart Faces-Let's Hear it for the Boys

I love this week's I Heart Faces theme: Let's hear it for the boys!
My Dad proves that even if he is 80 years old, he will always be a boy at heart!

There is nothing better to a little boy, that a cold popsicle on a hot summer day.

Make sure to check out all the great entries in this weeks I Heart Faces photo contest.

Makes My Monday-our baby house wrens

We have a very old bird house in the backyard which, over the years, has been chewed on and lived in by many little critters. But none of the inhabitants of this little house have been as entertaining at this group of baby house wrens.

These little birds have hatched and seem to be hungry every minute, because they are calling to their momma and daddy from before sun up until sundown. Those poor parents are working every minute of the day, bringing insects to the babies.
We have 7 babies, and we can walk right up to the birdhouse and these birds open their mouths and beg us for food, until a parent gets near, then the parent lets out a warning and the little birds duck into the nest and don't make a sound--it is quite amazing.

This definitely "Makes My Monday"