Another Hodgepodge Post

Emily and Grace have been getting in some good outside time this summer.  I liked the lighting in this shot that Emily took of Grace!

Emily picked out this sweater a few weeks ago at a yard sale. I would never ever ever have picked it out for her, but she really likes it (and the colors are pretty.)  Well, fast forward to last week, I was putting something away in the big girls' closet, and the sweater was on Alice's rack!!!  I thought maybe Emily had tried it on, and thought it was too large, so had given it to Alice. But no! It was Alice who liked the sweater so much she stole it from Emily!  To me, this sweater looks sooooo old and dated and I wouldn't ever wear it, but both of my teens (well, teen & tween) love it.  Who knew*?

William, Grace, and Juliet had swim camp last week!  It was 5 hours a day, for 4 days (M-Th) for only $60!!  They loved it, and came home so tired.  

Monday, after drop off, I spent my 'childfree' time hanging out with Zoey's mom!  We spent 3 hours chatting and digging through the bins at the 'cheap' Goodwill, then enjoyed some coffee, and even had time for a dollar tree run, before it was time to collect our dear ones!

On day 3, Grace passed the deep water test for the first time ever!!!!! She is excellent at setting goals and making it happen! = ) I was so proud.

I love filling the 'party tray' with fruits and veggies, for the kids to snack on throughout the day.  It also looks really pretty. = )

We went to the library to redeem summer reading prizes, and since the 'meet up and eat up' was only an hour away, stayed on for lunch!  A few days later, I got a call that Emily had won one of the grand prizes (a Target gift card!) 

I wanted a basket for collecting veggies from the garden.  At Goodwill I found this basket, with a collapsible handle, for $2.50.  I agonized over it the duration of the trip, but ultimately decided to buy it.  I've been loving it, and it does a fantastic job carrying all the produce inside from the garden.  I love it so much, I tried to repurpose it and use it for shopping at the farmers market.  Sadly, the bottom felt vulnerable with the purchase of potatoes and honey (and then a side trip to Carl's for coconut milk and vegetable stock.) = (

So, I went into the next few days in the market for a studier basket.  I found a larger one, with reinforced sides and collapsible handles for $2!!!! Then, since Avia wasn't able to go with us in the morning, we went back for a second look in the afternoon, and I got another one (to help me carry all of my purchases) and then one more, because it was adorable, and only 50 cents and I'm on a kick.

Well, then I got home, and suddenly had 3 baskets without a home, and one that was slightly in the way.  So, I brainstormed a home for my collection: the mudroom wall!  Upon observation, I found that I would only have to make a single hole in the wall, since there were existing holes for the other three. = )

We had corndogs for dinner last night, and I thought everyone might like 'fancy' stadium containers.  I think they did make them taste better!  (Admittedly, I didn't have one, since I had just made a German Salad, and I'm the only one who eats on it.)

3 of my summer chores involved painting outside, so last night I pulled out all my supplies, and this morning (after a rocky start of driving the big girls to camp because their bus broke down.) Grace came out and helped me pain the shed ramp and step!  Sadly, just those items took the rest of the paint.  So, we needed to go to Menards and get another round, which of course meant loading up WGJ.  To make it more exciting, I promised donuts, but then Grace reminded me that her ear was still hurting, and so I called the doctor and got her a late morning appointment. (Turns out she has swimmers' ear.)  

But after the appointment we went to Menards, but by then the big girls were home, and my mom was over for birthday cake and presents!!!  Once we celebrated Avia to the fullest, and she went on with her day, I went back out to finish the side porch and basement entrance.  I kept running into branches between the two, and so broke out the branch cutters, and trimmed the offending bushes (which needed to be done, but felt like just one more delay.)  As I was finishing up the brush work on the basement door, Emily and Grace came out wanting to help with the roller.  They did a pretty good job, but got bored and came in before the job was finished. = /

I did finally get done, and cleaned up.  Tomorrow (or soon) I hope to go seal, at the very least, the back porch. But I have sewing that needs tending, so we'll see.  Sadly, this was the last week that I'll be getting up early to get the big girls ready for camp, and then having the rest of the morning to knock out a 'summer chore' since EGJ start at nature camp next week!

I mentioned celebrating Avia's birthday, and I took a picture too!

We got to celebrate with my mom this year, it's a toss-up where she'll be each summer, so we only get to celebrate with her sometimes.  This year she got 5 cards from my crew and a shadow box for her grandfather's arrowhead collection from us as a group.  Emily and Grace helped her put together the display, then EGJ helped her sort some coins.  Emily also made her a German chocolate cake, but since AE had summer camp in the morning, we didn't get to have it for breakfast, as is tradition.  I think she enjoyed her time here, hopefully she had a great day!

There's this meme floating around:

And I am feeling it!  August is coming so, so fast!  We have tons of fun things left to do this summer, but August is just so close!  I'm not ready for summer to end!!!

later days

 *So, I actually posted the picture on FB and asked for opinions and they were overwhelmingly positive toward this sweater, so I guess I'm the odd man out.  

78 Michigan Parks: Muskegon State Park #50 -- And a Doctor visit to Grand Rapids

I've embarked upon a new* family picture goal here in our adopted state: to visit every state park!  

This project is less rigid, in that our entire family, or even all five children, need not be present to count it as 'visited.'  I just need a picture, preferably of the person who visited it, in the park!  We may go back and visit those first 7, in order to get consistent pictures, but for now it feels like we have a good start, since this will be #8!

On our most recent visit to Grand Rapids, WGJ's appointment was not until mid-afternoon, so we decided to visit the beach early, then backtrack home.  Alice opted to stay home with Billy, who had to work, but Avia joined us instead!

And as a bonus, this particular beach trip has an "I spy" element to it!!!  Every picture has the bird field guide in it somewhere!!!

I was really glad that we took the picture at the start of the day, because by the time we left we were windblown & sandy!  (For this first picture, the bird guide is leaning against the base of the right pillar. ; ))

It was so windy, the seagulls were not flying around, they were just hanging out on the beach.

There were no footprints, aside from the bird tracks, on the beach!

My children were quick to remedy that!  (okay, so this I-spy is really hard, but Emily does have it in her right hand)

The waves were so tall, that I had them come back in and just sit on the beach, if they wanted to play in the water.

Emily liked how the wind caught in her towel. = )

Our beach adventure was a little short lived, because of the wind, and low temperatures.  It was in the 70s, but the chill coming off of the water made it feel much cooler.  By the time we left, there were lots of footprints on the beach though! (In this one, the guide is under the water cooler!)

Our lunch had some sand mixed in, and it always makes me think of a poem from a book Alice had when she was little:

Sand in the sandwiches,

Sand in the tea,
Flat, wet sand running
Down to the sea.
Pools full of seaweed,
Shells and stones,
Damp bathing suits
And ice-cream cones.
Waves pouring in
To a sand-castle moat.
Mend the defences!
Now we're afloat!
Water's for splashing,
Sand is for play,
A day by the sea
Is the best kind of day.

-Shirley Hughes

Below is a list of previous visits that have been retroactively checked off.  The state park mention may be buried, since it was not yet part of this project, but it is in there somewhere!

Tahquamenon Falls #15

PJ Hoffmaster State Park #52

Grand Haven State Park #53

Ionia State Park #54

Holland State Park #61

Waterloo Recreation Area #70a
Van Buren State Park #73

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Since we spent less time on the beach than planned, we had time to visit a thrift store in Muskegon (after a failed attempt to tour the USS LST 393.)  They were expensive, and all we found was a book, but Emily had fun putting William in a pet cage!

We hopped back in the car, and made it on time to their appointment.  The appointment went well, it was just a check-in.  They did have to have some blood work as well.  While we were in the hospital, Avia and Emily walked down to the Gerald Ford Museum.

While we waited for their return, we walked around the area near the hospital, and climbed on some of the landscaping, then finally went to the car to snack. lol.

We stopped at another thrift store on the way home, but it made for a long day with some fidgety children!!

It wasn't the most exciting trip, but we did our best to make it fun!

later days

*sadly, I was unable to finish my 254 county courthouse pictures in Texas, maybe one day....

Other Fun and Such

Summertime is here and we are soaking up all the fun we can!

I wanted to play with the 'magic eraser' on my new phone.  Since there were other people a the Oldsmobile rally, like a lot of other people, it seemed like a good time to try it!

poof!

Emily found a Jello mold for $.25 at a yard sale, and made us a 'fancy' Jello cake!

We added the unfancy ones from the day before and some sliced bananas to fill in the empty space.  The overall effect was very pleasing!

Grace came with me on errand day, and we found ourselves at the mall (trying to recycle her old tablet, at which we were unsuccessful.)  She got some only child treatment when we passed by the motion park.

I looked at the sign after she was mid ride, what a rebel!

Billy made up some tasty bbq chicken, which pairs so well with light summer fare!

On my walk back from dropping the big girls off at the bus (which has happened many days, but not every day) I  saw a 'drop zone' of flowers from one of our neighbors trees.

We do some 'light' learning in the summer, just to keep our minds sharp.  If Billy has the day off, we take the day off too, and they get the first and last week of summer schedule free.  Each of the other days we follow the schedule and no electronics until noon (unless of course you're on the app of the day!)

Juliet really liked the Morse Code section she found in one of the puzzle books, so I found a website to translate English into Dits and dahs! She's gotten pretty fast, and recognizes most of the letters!  She doesn't care much for the listening though, so I don't know how beneficial it will be for her. 

I have a list of things I hope to accomplish each summer, and by waking up to take the big girls to the bus stop, I usually have some time before the little ones awaken to knock out something before managing the summer schedule.  A few weeks ago it was wiping down the front porch siding.

Juliet woke up first, and she helped me do the really low panels. = )

Sometimes, the big girls bring home creations from their summer camp.  These are the fairy gardens that they made.  Alice's is the pink one and Emily's has the 7 ducks.  (William is the one in the "hole.")

On another day, they brough home paper mache hot air balloons with a basket that they wove!

We went to an estate sale one day, and when the twins finished, Avia walked them over to a playground, while Emily and I finished our shopping. 

We went to Oliveburger Fest with the Cornishes, and saw some interesting art...

....took some selfies...

...played some giant games...

...and of course ate some tasty oliveburgers!

We found an Anna wig at a rummage sale, so we had two princesses in the house!  (Once the wig came out of quarantine, of course.)

Aunt Rocky bought everyone McDonalds on what would have been my Grandmother's 100th birthday!!

I scored 5 packs of 50% tenders at Aldi!  I saw a video where someone used scissors to trim the meat, and it changed my life!!!!

Trimmed and ready for the freezer!

We bought a tiny Bingo game at an estate sale.  We are all ready for Jellystone!

The piles of boxes in the mudroom finally drove me crazy, so our first free weekend, Emily got to have her sale and the twins got to set up their lemonade stand!  

The stand came out really cute, considering they were all boxes from the takeaway pile at BJs!  Grace and Juliet made up the sign weeks ago, and I helped print out a totally legible one for them to add to the front.  I think they probably drank more lemonade than they sold!

We sorted and set up on a Friday afternoon, so she was open from 3-6, then the next morning from 9-12, but she wanted to go a little longer, and since the rain did not appear to be coming, she stayed open until 2.

At the end of the sale, we put everything on the curb for people to take for free!!!  We got rid of quite a bit that way, but got a spirt of rain that had Emily and me scrambling to box everything and load it in my car.  Thankfully it wasn't a hard rain, and we finished before the water really started coming down.

I bought a new container to set out cut fruit for the kids, and so far I'm really liking it!  It always looks so pretty!  (Sadly, that is not one of our cucumbers, yet...)

I love fresh bread, and made a loaf last week.  It sits overnight, so I have to have two days during which I am willing to make it, which makes it a little trickier.

For fourth of July Alice made us some Firework pancakes!

And my mom brought over a platter of deviled eggs. These were the only ones left, and now they're gone too. = )  Billy grilled out a feast for us, with enough leftovers for the kids and Avia to eat on while we were gone, and they still didn't finish it all!

I took the rest of the bbq chicken and made it into Tikka Masala tonight, made PB&J hot dog buns for lunch, and we'll have hot dogs and beans to finish of the rest of the hot dogs tomorrow!  

We still have some summer to look forward to, but August seems to be rushing at us full speed.

later days