Craig's 36th

The kids bought him this bright yellow workout shirt with their own money. They even had enough leftover to buy rocket balloons (Micah) & a light-up ball necklace (Ayla).

We had curried chicken pitas on the porch along with a yummy garden salad. For dessert we had this blueberry/blackberry tart. Both Craig & Micah were disappointed that I didn't make a regular cake. When I asked Craig why he said he was just expecting something traditional. I asked him when I have ever been traditional & he admitted I had a point. Anyway, it was yummy, so I don't think they really cared too much!

The Summer Of '08

I know that whenever I think back to this summer certain songs will come to mind. "Paperback Writer", "We Can Work It Out", "All You Need Is Love" & "Yellow Submarine" to name a few. Yep, this is the summer of The Beatles. When I remember this first summer of Micah being on school break that will be the soundtrack in my mind. He plays these songs every single day. I wonder if forever after he'll think of The Beatles when he thinks of summer. Whenever I'm cleaning, I mean really cleaning I invariably think of Fleetwood Mac & the album Rumors, since that was my mom's cleaning soundtrack. What songs bring you back to the past?

Camping

The embodiment of filth.

Baby Names

A little bit ago Ayla came up to me & brightly said, "Mom, I know what we can name our new baby. Probably Santa Claus or Marie."
Ummmm, oh-kaaaay, great!

One Of My Favorite Spots

Another one would be our strawberry patch. This is the first year it has produced much. We're picking about a pint every other day! Next year we should have enough to eat fresh & freeze for later.

More Shots of Summer

Best buds - they play & fight just like sisters.

Having fun getting dirty.

Don't you love this bike riding outfit?

No wonder her hair is such a pain to comb every day.

Examining one of many painful owies. Today she told me her leg was about to fall off. I looked to see what she was being so dramatic about & it was a mosquito bite scratched to the point of bleeding.

Ayla took this photo. Maybe we have a photographer on our hands?

Summer Days

Love This Photo

Here the kids are with Rebecca & Joel. We have known Rebecca since she was a newborn. Until 2 1/2 years ago we lived in the same general neighborhood & the kids saw each other every week. They enjoyed playing together again a couple of weeks ago.

Doesn't This Sound Divine?

CHOCOLATE-COCONUT VEGAN ICE CREAM

• 2 cans of coconut milk, chilled in fridge for at least 2 hours
• 2 tbsps of sugar
• 1/2 cup unsweetened cocoa powder
  
• 1 cup of flaked coconut

Combine first three ingredients in a mixing bowl until well-combined. Dump into frozen bowl of ice cream maker and turn on. Process for 25 minutes or until set, add in coconut then process a few minutes more until blended. Transfer to another container and freeze for about 30 minutes to set before serving. Sheer heaven.

I haven't made it yet, because we are all out of coconut milk. Dear husband has been on a smoothie making rampage the last while! I think I just might ask him to stop at the store on his way home today. If you give it a whirl let me know how it turns out.

What The?

So today I'm at the Y for my yoga class. This lady I don't know, but have seen at the Y, the school etc. comes up & asks me when I'm due. I tell her October 5th & this is her reaction, "WOW, are you like having twins or something?" I assured her I wasn't & then to add insult to injury she asked me two more times if there was only one baby in there. Apparently I need to work out more than three times a week.

Working On The Summer To-Do List

Checking out the Teddy Bear Park in Stillwater.

Fishing up North

Visiting Uncle Walter & Auntie Julie

We've had a fun week working on our to-do list. Craig has been on vacation & we've been busy. We went to Sioux Falls & then Duluth. We celebrated our 10th wedding anniversary, went fishing, hunted morel mushrooms, spent time at Lake Superior & a few different parks, went shopping, worked on a garden shed & went to several graduation parties. Summer has officially begun!