Scenes from the lakehouse.

Sweet summertime, how I love you so.

It only makes my heart stop every other throw.

As it turns out, sometimes it works to your advantage to be a bit small, as Middle Child found out at the lakehouse pier.  

His cousins would hoist him up limb by limb and swing him...

 Back...

 and forth....

and back...

 and forth...

 until finally....



 the release....

and exhilaration of the fall.

And then he'd climb back out and beg for more.

Sweet summertime.

We know how to pack in some fun.

Sister and I have had our children on a little excursion for the past two days. Thrift stores. The hood. Johnny Rockets. Candy Stores. Pizza delivery. Krispy Kreme. Late Movies. Swimming. Hotel fountain drinks galore. etc.etc.

And it's not even been 24 hours yet. That's just how we roll. :)

However, I do have to stop for a moment and tell you how wonderful our movie experience was last night.  Each ticket only cost a buck. You heard me, a whole dollar per person.  I love the $1 movie theater.  And we were able to see a movie from earlier in the spring/summer that we missed at the big fancy schmancy theaters that charge $8.  What movie? Soul Surfer.  The one about the girl who was bitten by a shark, arm completely severed and still she perserved and became a professional surfer. Have y'all seen it?  Oh, it was just fantastic. Fantastic, I tell you.

My boys thought it might be more of a chick flick so they opted to take their buck and see RIO. Middle Child said it was really funny, but I hate to tell them, our dollar went a lot further than their animated humor. Seriously, if you haven't seen soul surfer, you totally should. Baby Girl even hopes to get it on DVD for her birthday.

Oh and another score for the evening....we hit the jackpot at the concessions too.  Apparently it was $1 coke and $1 popcorn night as well.....now that's a place where you don't have to take out a loan to get in the theater with your milkduds and buttery kernels of goodness.

Family Game Night.

Seriously, I can't get enough of these kids.

Thrift Store Finds

As one of their summer coupons of fun, I told the children I would take them to a thrift store, turn them loose with $10 each, and see what treasures they could find. 

Man, I had no idea the thrift store could provide such entertainment....they each had the best time scouring the aisles with bright eyes when they would bring something to me to confirm that indeed that 79 sticker on the top of said item meant that it was a whopping 79 cents.  Below you will find a sampling of the items we purchased, loaded in our car, and promptly came home to put in a scalding hot dishwasher cycle, a thorough clorox wipe cleansing, and a final lysol spray disinfecting.  Basically, the chemical process to dispose of the germs probably cost more than the sum of all items, but it was worth it.

Apparently I have a thing for glasses.  I bought several on the excursion. These bicentennial ones (a quarter each) because they remind me of those tupperware sold in the late 70's...I don't know why but they are one of my favorite kind of glasses to drink from, weird, I know.

These steins are for fun as well.  A couple of years ago on a spring break road trip, we took the kids to eat pizza in New Jersey. I figured we needed a New Jersey stein just because....and it currently acts as a pencil holder.  The Michigan mug I just bought because Middle Child has a thing for anything collegiate, logos, etc., and it is being housed in the basement kitchenette, ready you need a fun mug to pour your root beer for movie night. 

And these little jewels were only 17 cents each....some are old even.  We like little juice glasses. And I used a couple in the guest bathrooms for a water glass. 

Middle Child found a bag of toys for $1.98....which included all these Toy Story figures, including Lotso the mean bear from Toy Story 3 even.  Toy Story is one of my favorite movies...Mr. Potato Head and his wife make me laugh out loud every time.

A new game for only 99 cents.

 Middle Child also has some new love affair with lacrosse, and for weeks has been insisiting he NEEDED a lacrosse stick.  Lo and Behold, the thrift store made life complete for him....for the low low price of $1.48. 

Baby Girl asked for this robo dog thing two Christmases ago. I didn't see the point in paying $40 for a fake battery operated dog when we have a beautiful lab (Sadie) at home that loves attention, so she went without the latest toy craze that Christmas....poor deprived child. Imagine her delight when she found this guy for 99 cents....and he still works like a charm....but if you ask me I still say Sadie has it beat by a mile!

And what about this nifty penguin....

which can provide hours of mindless eye-popping fun?

Needless to say, the thrift store was a big hit and we'll be returning again one day. 

Concerning marriage, no truer words have I ever read :)

Presidential Wit from Lyndon B. Johnson:

"I have learned that only two things are necessary to keep one's wife happy,"

"First, let her think she's having her way.  And second, let her have it."

At least they outlawed M80's or who knows what might of happened.

My boys, especially Elder Son, have an extreme fixation with the FIREWORKS.  And after having some fun with leftover firecrackers, I walked out our back door to find the following:

The Crime Scene.

You may be amazed at what you can find hidden in those trees and surrounding landscape.

Oh my. Legs.

Oh my. An arm. A detached arm. As in seperate from it's body. Ugh.  

Uh oh. A body. Um. a headless, one armed, naked, barbie body.

Look closely....right in the middle of the photo.
Yep. There's her head.
Must've took a hard roll when the firecracker blew.

Now, just to be clear, and so that the boys don't get all the blame for her terrible condition....Baby Girl had chosen to shear her hair off at the scalp many months ago.....but at that time, it was still attached.

However, that decapitation proved to be of little challenge for a couple of boys and a round or two or ten of firecrackers.

Oh the joys of trying to keep them out of juvenielle court raising boys.

Caroline's wedding weekend

Lots of pics so I'll be short on words.

The bride was radiant. Like seriously.The food at rehearsal and reception was delish. The dance floor was rockin'. Time with friends and family was priceless. It was a fantastic weekend. I heart weddings. Such a cute duo.

I pray the Lord's many blessings for the new Mr. and Mrs.!! Congratulations!