A horse face out of glass

Evie, we are so proud of our little artist! A few weeks ago you went to your first summer camp! It was for one week 9-12 in the morning.  You had such a hard time with me leaving every single day.  I am grateful for your attachment to me but I am also hopeful for you to have confidence.  Confidence in yourself and confidence to know that I will come back.  Trust me, I don't want to rush you in to growing up too fast but I am also eager to give you experiences to help you grow and see your talents and to recognize your strength. It is in you!! 

I couldn't have been prouder to walk in to your exhibit after you had been creating all week and to see your work displayed. I imagine you will create a lot in your life and whatever it is I know I will beam at it just the way I did your art that day.  I'm so proud of you and you were proud of you too.  

Thank you for being the creative little soul that you are, I love you so! 

a southern summer saturday

A couple of weekends ago my sister was here with her babies and my father came to the house to see everyone. It was one of the most charming and perfect Saturday's I've had.  

Ma father came in with Chic-fil-a for everyone and it was a lifesaver as my sister and I are learning that cooking, serving, feeding, and cleaning up after 4 children and 4 adults is quite the commitment!

Afterward we all went to the living room where Evaleigh and Parker took turns alternating putting on ballerina shows and ninja shows.  It was one of the first times our children have ever performed for us like that and all of the sudden I just felt like such a mom beaming at Evaleighs every move.  The had the perfect flick of her wrists and her movements were just so natural.  She got up on her tip toes, in her hand me down ballet slippers from ruby, as good as I've ever seen any ballerina do!  She extended her arms and looked over her should with drama and poise. I was so proud to be seeing this for the first time and to watch my father take it all in with his laughter about it all.

Then the children got restless and antsy inside so we moved the concert out doors. We drug out the patio furniture, plugged in the sound system and it was the perfect back drop for the rest of the sunny breezy afternoon.  

Everyone just played their part perfectly, john threw discs around the yard and the children went in and out of running the find them and following him around. Evaleigh continued to dance on the porch.  Joe slept on the couch inside. Avett fed the cows.  Rebekah and I talked while dad pulled the kids in the wagon, drove them around in his car, and just simply observed the memories in the making. The kids all had Popsicles on the porch and was just as summer Saturday's should be.

I'll always cherish that day.

summer with the kids

I just love this time of year.  Popsicles and sticky hands, corn dogs and dinner outside, picking warm breakfast blueberries right off of the bushes first thing in the morning, and staying up until after 9 so the kids can catch fireflies in a jar.  Summer in the south is pretty magical.  I've been so exhausted lately and it has affected my mothering.  I sure hope I can get a better handle on my schedule so I can give the best I have to my kids during the day. Our days may be crazy and filled with screams and not a whole lot of listening but they are also filled with love, kisses, dancing, and always a lot of music.  They may be hard times but they are such good days and days I know I'll miss. 

Chatuge

This past weekend we went to the lake with some friends from church up in north Georgia. They got a boat and john was signed off to drive it. I couldn't stop thinking about how attractive he looked driving it. I loved being out there with our kids.  When night came the light show started, I've never seen lightening bugs like they were out there! It was almost like strobe lights. 

We spent our time playing guitar and singing all together, playing cards, boating and tubing, s'moreing, cooking for each other and having great chats. It was a much needed little break with john murphys's grueling summer semester!

ej's first beach trip

This past weekend EJ had her first beach trip.  We doused her perfect little skin with sunscreen.  When we got to the shore we laid Ev down on the beach and she started smiling so big with the wind rushing over her face.

Can't wait to take her back someday.  
But I will remember towels next time.

summer treat

So far I have made 3 different kinds of these pudding pops. They are delicious on a hot day or probably any day really! Plus they are so easy:

1 3/4 cups half and half

1 package sugar free cheesecake instant pudding mix (1 ounce)

1 cup fresh blueberries

2 teaspoons zested lemon

Combine half and half and pudding mix in blender and blend til smooth. Add blueberries and zest and pulse to break up berries.

Freeze in pop molds for 4 hours.

This recipe is from Our Best Bites. I have already also made their Mint Chocolate Chip Cookie Pops and Cherry Almond Fudge Pops (which are freezing right now, can't wait to try them tonight!) I am going to get a lot of mileage out of our pop molds this summer I can feel it!