Punch Buggy

Never able to pass up a good "punch buggy," Robert resorted to taking a picture of one to later show Natalie and "punch buggy" her in the arm.
Not to be out done by her dad, Natalie was out with me the other day and took pictures of three of the "punch buggies" we saw in order to get back at Robert.
So, if you need a good "punch buggy," here are a few.

Simple?

About a month or so ago, the sprayer in my sink cracked and finally broke. You could make it work by pressing it with your palm, but only I could do it - the kids weren't strong enough. I finally decided a new one was in order. Robert said he didn't want to fix anything under the sink, but I figured I could do it. I got the new sprayer and looked at the directions - simple - it had lots of detailed pictures with labeled parts. It said that you should probably consider upgrading the hose for the sprayer as well. So, back to Lowe's I go for a "universal" hose. The directions with lots of pictures looked - simple.
Once I got to working under the sink I understood what Robert was talking about.

Who in their right mind designed kitchen sinks to have NO working room underneath for replacements/repairs. I seriously think it is a conspiracy with the plumbing industry! There was no way (no even slightly easy way) to get a wrench in there.
In order to disconnect the hose from the faucet attachment I finally cut the spray hose (I was replacing it anyway) - yes, I had turned off the water to the sink.
But, try as I might I could not get the 14 year old connection to budge. And - with the hose cut, I couldn't turn the water back ON because it would just drain out the hole.
So, for three days - yes - three days I was without water in my kitchen, as I tried a multitude of wrenches and finally found one that I could move fractions of an inch, switch sides and move a fraction of an inch, but still couldn't get it off.
Had I turned a "simple" $20 repair into a, worse case scenario, $300 whole sink replacement?
I cried.
Yesterday I tried one more time. I looked at fix it videos on line, over and over, and realized something - I had been turning the nut the wrong way.
Back under the sink I go and, a short time later, I had the hose out. YES!
But it was completely different than the end of my new spray hose that I was suppose to now simply attach.
Back to Lowe's and a wonderful person who helped figure out how to get the spray hose attached to my faucet (I had brought all the parts to make sure I got what I needed to first time).
He worked with different adapters and two little pieces later, one more run back to Lowe's for the rubber washer that was missing in my spray hose kit, some plumber's tape, and Robert putting in the last connections (the couple of times I tried it leaked) . . .
We have water!!!!

Robert is probably shaking his head at this post, but this has been a huge frustration to me this week. I couldn't quickly wash my hands at the sink as I prepared meals and bring water in from the bathroom was not fun. I had to finally trust my dishwasher to clean dishes and pans that were not pre-rinsed - at all! (So glad the water to the dishwasher is separate from my kitchen faucet!) I'm glad the dishwasher came through for me - even the lasagna pan. I'm so glad it ended up being a 'simple' repair and not a more complicated project.
I'm glad we have water!
Happy Day!

How much can you pack into one weekend? . . .

Quick trip to Tennessee . . .

The boys and I left right after school Friday to go to the baptism of Jake's friend. They moved to Tennessee about a month ago and we've missed them. We visited for a while Friday night before going to our hotel. The boys got to take a quick swim in the pool before heading to bed.

Saturday morning was the baptism.

And a little time after to visit and go to lunch before heading back home.
Like I said it was a quick trip and we're glad they are close enough for quick trips. Next time we'll stay longer!

Both on the way there and on the way back there was some crazy rain in North Carolina. It had been a while since I was in that kind of downpour.
We passed under this bridge that the boys thought was so cool because it was up so high. We watched for it on the way home so we could take a picture.

Anniversary . . .

The trip to Tennessee was quick because Saturday was also Robert's and my 18th Anniversary!
This is what 18 years will get you!

We celebrated with our children and some key lime pie. I got Robert a flip Belgian waffle maker that he's been wanting and he gave me a gorgeous butcher block he made.

Birthday . . .

The waffle maker came in handy the next day when Logan wanted waffles for his birthday dinner.My baby turned 5 years old on Sunday!

Robert and I had gone out on Saturday and bought him a twin bed - he's finally out of the toddler bed that has been the crib or toddler bed for almost 14 years.
He asked for a Lego Power Miners cake, so I went with a cave, some dirt, some chocolate rocks, and rock candy. He loved it.

The candles where bundled like dynamite,

and made quite a big flame to blow out.

Natalie had wrapped her present in about 4 different layers of wrapping. After unwrapping two layers, Logan went for another gift and Natalie had to convince him to keep going, that there really was something under all that paper.

You can't go wrong with Legos when it comes to the boys. Logan loved it all.

It was great sharing his birthday and cake and ice cream with friends also. Logan loved playing and running around with them.
He ran out of the kitchen shouting: "I'm so happy!"
I think that says it all.
Happy Birthday, Logan!

Whew! What a weekend!

Back to School

The last week I started getting the kids up at 7am, prepping them for getting up early for school. Tuesday was meet the teacher.

Logan was a bit shy meeting his teacher, Miss Susannah. We explained his dislike of stickers, band-aids and stamps.
He was excited to find his desk and can't wait to ride the bus.
Jacob has Mrs. Parr this year in 3rd grade. She seems like a happy and fun teacher and Jake was looking forward to his first day.

We started the first day of school early. A special breakfast of French Breakfast Puffs - Logan was a bit nervous and didn't have anything but his hot chocolate.
There was hair to do,

and backpacks to get ready. Logan held onto his blanket until he had to leave. He has his green one at school now for "quiet time."

Above are my elementary school boys and below are my girls, Natalie going to her first year in middle school (6th grade here) and Alyssa off to her first year of high school.
Jake's the only going where it's old hat, for everyone else it's new!

Logan's backpack was a bit heavy with all the supplies for his class.
We solved the problem of the sticker name tag and sticker for the bus ride after school by putting it on lanyard. He didn't want to wear it at first but when given the option of that or a sticker . . . he'll go with the lanyard!

We waited for the bus . . .

and went across the street to wait with our neighbor - she's in 4th grade.

Once the boys were safely on the bus, the girls had a little while for their bus to come - the middle schoolers and high schoolers ride together.
Izzy loved that the bus was a bit later than we thought, it meant more fetching.

After the kids were gone, I went to breakfast with some friends, ran errands and came home to get some things done - talking to my sister while I picked up the house a bit.

Soon enough the boys were coming home and I was so excited to see how their day went.

I gave Logan a huge hug! and asked what he did and how he liked school.
He said "they always say - 'line up!'" That is some thing pretty new to him. He liked going to gym and recess and quiet time (he got to have his blanket for a while) and going on the bus.
Jake thought his day was a bit boring because they only talked about the daily routine and rules. He said he couldn't wait for tomorrow when they can get going on work and activities.
Both the girls had fun and are adjusting to their schedules. Alyssa doesn't have lunch until after 1pm! She'll have to work something out especially once seminary starts and she is leaving the house just after 6am!
Robert called during the day and suggested we meet at Logan's Roadhouse restaurant for dinner - one of the kids favorite places.
A special treat for their first day of everyone being in school!
Now I can eat bon-bons and watch soaps all day . . . yeah, right!

On the Boat

Robert had taken the boys out fishing on the boat and the girls have been anxiously awaiting their turn.
Robert took them last Friday - after charging batteries, filling up, and mad searches for boat registration, and the key!
We didn't think they'd make it out, but after finally finding the key they headed out a bit later than planned.
They caught some fish - Natalie snagging two of them, but with the day heating up, they mostly spend the day jumping into the water.

Hiding in the Garden

I wasn't as organized with my garden this year and put my tomatoes too close together.
My chocolate cherries went out of control, which I'm not too upset about because I love them.
It is quite the game of twister to pick them. I'll have to rig something next year.

It's worth every one!

Today, as I was picking, I found a frog among the vines.
I've had frogs living in the rocks in my garden before, but this year I've seen mostly lizards.
I loved finding this cute little guy - my other frogs have been big, this one is little (those are my chocolate cherries he's next to) and I've never seen an orange one before.
It made being in my garden this morning even better.

Geting out of Dodge!

This sign sent happy shrieks throughout the van!

Robert was out of town at a meeting, so the kids and I decided to get out of Dodge and visit our friends in Florida.
On the way down we made a pit stop in the middle of nowhere and Alyssa was amazed at this truck and had to take a picture.

We hadn't seen our friends for over 4 years - since moving from UT. We were so excited that they moved 6 hours away and near the beach!
We went to the beach twice - out of our three days there, taking a break the second day to recover from lots of sand and sun and not enough sun screen - even with reapplying.
I'm posting all the beach pictures together. The kids loved the water and the sand - who doesn't! It was hard to get them out!I finally let Logan play with the boogie board making sure he stayed very near shore where he could easily stand when needed.

The first day was really windy, making the waves very choppy.

I took Logan out to the bigger waves. We had a great time but he loved playing where he could jump over the waves and use the boogie board. He said he was going to ask Santa for one for Christmas.

There were three boogie boards and 6-8 kids wanting them.

They were very good at taking turns and staying together in the water.

We went to two different beaches, the second one had a lot more shore to play on than the first one.

So, along with playing in the water, sandcastles were built.

The younger boys started playing with the toy boat and turtle in the waves, watching them get rolled over and then catching them.

Our friends have a small pool, so the kids would go from one water to another.
Pure delight!

As I mentioned earlier, the kids looked pretty beat up after the first day at the beach - Natalie was especially red.
The second day we went down to St. Augustine and went to the old Spanish fort there.
Right along the river, it was beautiful
(Please note that Alyssa is NOT yet taller than me. I'm standing behind her and am in completely flat sandals, while she is in sneakers.) - although just a chain along the water front made me a bit nervous.

We loved exploring all the rooms in the fort! and reading about the history.

The boys couldn't get enough of the cannons.

I stayed with Logan while the others wandered around - some of my shots I had to take from across the fort.

The view from the top was gorgeous.

Logan needed a picture by every cannon.

Here are only a couple of the ones we took.
He would go to sleep each night looking at the pictures we had taken that day.

Here are all the kids together on the top of the fort - minus the baby (he and Renee stayed in the cooler areas on the ground floor).

After finishing checking out the fort, we walked around the town.

And all the shops. The Pirate shop being a favorite.

We had so much fun playing and talking and staying up late.
We can't wait to go back and to have them come up to visit us!

On our drive back we hooked a left into the Okefenokee Swamp!
since we drive right along side of it.

We didn't have time to get tickets to take any of the tours or walk through the main areas, but we did walk around the parking lot and through one area with a path.

We saw 12 alligators!

All the signs warning you to stay on the paths and to keep your young children with you freaked out the kids.

If ever Logan stepped onto the grass Natalie and Jake would frantically call him back.
It was sweet and pretty funny.

We'll have to go back when it's cooler and check out more than the parking lot and gift shop.
The rest of the way home felt a lot longer than when we were going down - doesn't it always.
I had been feeling a need to take a trip and get away for a bit this summer.
Our trip to Florida was perfect!