Summer Diary Day 97: Wall Art

Dear summer diary,

Today the girls taped up giant pieces of paper on the wall, got out all their art supplies & went to makin' some art.

And that was how they spent their last day of summer. Well, that AND playing outside, catching toads & watching movies. Zoey went on a breakfast date with daddy & his friends this morning while Pazely & I hung out at home listening to opera, crafting, & playing with Legos.

Both girls are SUPER DUPER excited for school to start tomorrow. I've already got their lunches packed. And forgive me if I do a little happy dance in the morning.

It's been a long summer. But we made it through!! Thanks to all who followed along in our 2011 Summer Diary Series. All your comments & messages meant the world to me! We hope you had fun peeking into our days this summer.

Farewell summer vacation. Until we meet again...

♥

Nikki

Summer Diary Day 96: Chinese Lanterns

Dear summer diary,
Today watercolors & paint brushes made an appearance. The girls decorated Chinese paper lanterns that I had leftover from Crafty Night in April 2011. I had purchased the lanterns & light kits online, although, if we lived in a big city they'd be readily available within a short drive. The girls are so proud of themselves & tomorrow we'll hang 'em in their rooms!
♥
Nikki

Summer Diary Day 95: Bubble Bath!

Dear summer diary,
Baths are fun. Especially when you include your sister & lots of bubbles.
♥
Zoey & Pazely

Summer Diary Day 94: Wildflower Adventure!

Dear summer diary,

FINALLY! Another adventure!! It's been a while since I've gone on a proper adventure. A proper adventure= friends, snacks, hydration, a camera & no map.

For the past two weeks, I had been noticing a bright yellow field off in the distance--both times I went school schopping with the girls. I decided to investigate. And I thought it would be fun to squeeze some wildflower pickin' into the day as well. I took the girls with me, along with my ever faithful adventurous friend, Susan.

The field ended up being sunflowers. We had so much fun! We also walked around a cemetery right next to the field. My girls have been to so many cemeteries on various adventures we've taken in the small towns around us. It kinda makes me giggle.

Before we finished playing with the sunflowers, we had to get a jumpy photo in. (And, yes, in the picture above, that is a 5 o'clock shadow in my armpit.)

It was SUCH a hot day. Like, gross hot. As in, get out of the car & your whole backside was drenched. YUCK!

We drove around nameless dirt roads in search of wildflowers. We found a few varieties. And we even found 2 GIANT grasshoppers doin' the nasty. EWWWWWW!!!!

We picked wildflowers until it got dark outside with storm clouds & started to rain. We enjoyed watching the lightning on our way home, trying to capture a streak or two with our cameras, but with no success.

It felt good to get home & shower. We were covered in a fine layer of adventure dust. I could even taste it. A quick supper & off to bed for the little ones. I'm pretty sure I went to bed with a smile on my face.

To view the complete set of pictures from our adventure, click HERE.

♥

Nikki



Summer Diary Day 93: Shopping Part 2

Dear summer diary,
Las Saturday was Pazely's turn, today was Zoey's. It was time for another mommy/daughter date to go school shopping!
On our way to the mall we saw baby goats, & roadkill consisting of a rabbit, a deer & 2 racoon. We saw bright purple flowers & happy yellow mini sunflowers alongside the road. We even saw The Pony Express!!! (The famous journey that The Pony Express took is recreated every year.)


I got to hold my almost-9 year old's hand all afternoon. We shopped until our feet hurt, then Zoey picked where we went for lunch. And then we shopped some more. We found some super deals while shopping, including expandable marshmallow sticks in the Target $1 bin. (We scored the last 4!) And after every penny from my paycheck was spent, we headed home & did some online shopping. (Sadly, around here there aren't many choices for shopping.)

It's the first time I've ever gotten to go clothes school shopping with my girls & we had a BLAST!
Shopping for all these cool weather clothes makes me anxious for fall. I can't wait to have an afternoon to myself, when the girls are in school, & head to the thrift store to search for yummy scrummy cardigans & maybe find a cute belt & some long-sleeved plaid shirts. Oh, I can't wait!
5 days left of summer vacay...
♥
Nikki

Summer Diary Day 92: Ride

Bikes + Friends = Great Summer Fun

♥

Nikki

Summer Diary Day 91: HONK!

Dear summer diary,
Sometimes, an afternoon of summer fun simply means: standing on the corner with a sign that says HONK!...please.
♥
Nikki

Summer Diary Day 90:Wednesdays

 

Dear summer diary,

Every Wednesday, while my 2 munchkins are having a blast at church in a class with kids their own age, I get to hang out with a bunch of teenagers in the youth group, Connections. Specifically, I plan games & activities every week. Just 15-25 minutes of get-to-know-you ice breakers. I love working with the youth & young adults! (The photo shows a game we played tonight called "The Shoe Game".)

I'm rather excited about some events we have coming up throughout the school year. Particularly, an event we've called 5th Quarter. I've found out that high school sports (especially football & basketball) are a HUGE deal in small towns. So, after every home game -through the football & basketball season- ANYONE & EVERYONE is invited back to the Activity Room at our church, New Life Assembly, sponsored by Connections Youth Group, to hang out & chill in a safe & welcoming environment. We'll have the firepit set up outside, Wii &/or Kinect inside, boardgames, snacks, & music.

Friday, August 26th kicks off the first of many 5th Quarter's! It's a BACK-TO-SCHOOL BASH directly after the Gatorade Scrimmage in Bridgeport. Along with all the firepit fun, games, snacks & music, we'll be munching on hotdogs & hearing a short inspirational message!

It'll be an awesome way to celebrate the beginning of a new school year!

And, on a side note, I CANNOT WAIT for high school football to start! Being on the field, camera in hand, surrounded by all that energy, gets me EXCITED!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

♥

Nikki

Summer Diary Day 89: Cool Mist

Dear summer diary,
I've had these adorable little water squirt bottles saved in my "summer" bin for quite a while. I scooped them up way before summer began, while browsing the dollar & craft stores. Today was a perfect day to give them to the girls. It's a really hot one out today & it makes me feel better about them playing outside in the heat. They were extremely giddy to get this summer prize! I love how $2 goes a long way!
♥
Nikki

Summer Diary Day 88: Tent

Dear summer diary,
Sometimes, all it takes is a tent in the front yard. And if it's a pink tent, all the better.
♥
Nikki

Summer Diary Day 87: Game Night

Dear summer diary,
I confess, we scooted all 8 kids downstairs to the playroom. Where they watched movies & played dress up & tattled once or twice & made the biggest mess on the planet. And all dozen of us adults set up the chairs upstairs, & left lots of floor space for some gaming. Guesstures, to be exact. I am an admittedly great player at that game. Best party game. Eva.

Some folks brought snacks. My friends Brandy & Pedro even helped me make 4 dozen Soft Molasses Cookies--- that got all eaten up. Each batch came out of the oven & directly into someone's belly. The recipe is from my mom, who got it from her longtime childhood friend Carol, who — {fun fact}— is the mom of Jake Anderson from the show Deadliest Catch on the ship The Northwestern.

Although it was just a spontaneous plan that afternoon to have a "Game Night" that evening, I pretended in my head that they were all there for me. To come hang out with me. Because, I'm needing to surround myself with friends & have some happy times just being silly nowadays. It was a good night. How sweet is this: I later found out that my hubby thought it would be a good idea to gather everyone together. Just for me.

Ok, ok, I know you'll all ask me for the recipe, so here it is...

1/2 CUP margarine
1/2 CUP shortening
1 1/2 CUPS sugar
1/2 CUP molasses
2 eggs, beaten
4 CUPS flour
1/2 teaspoon salt
2 1/4 teaspoons baking soda
2 1/4 teaspoons ground ginger
1 1/2 teaspoons ground cloves
1 1/2 teaspoons cinnamon

1. Cream margarine, shortening & sugar.
2. Beat in molasses & eggs.
3. Mix dry ingredients. Stir into sugar mixture & mix until smooth.
4. Roll into balls, dip in sugar, put on cookie sheet. (I take the bottom of a drinking glass & slightly press. Just a little bit.)
5. Bake 2 inches apart on an ungreased cookie sheet.
6. 350 degrees for 13 minutes. (I cooked mine for 12 minutes. Suppose it depends on yer oven though.)
♥
Nikki

Summer Diary Day 86: School Shopping Part 1!

 This morning felt kinda like Christmas. Pazely & I were super excited about the adventure planned for the day. I took her out (for the first time) to go school shopping for clothes. In that first photo, she's trying on shoes. Can't you tell??

Oh, she was so excited about our day!! We had a great time, with lunch in-between, & treats on the way home.

Just she & I.

"The Dressing Room Boogie"
To see if the pants pass the test, I guess.

Gosh, this brings back memories of shopping as a kid with my own mom.

When we got home, Pazely put all her new school supplies in her new kitty-cat backpack.

One down, one to go!

Next Saturday it's Zoey's turn. Can't wait!

♥

Nikki

Summer Diary Day 85: ATC Swap RECEIVED

Dear summer diary,
Today our ATC's came in the mail! YAY! The girls & I took part in an ATC Swap about a month ago, & have been eagerly waiting for our happy ATC mail!!
Our miniature artwork included masterpieces from 6,8,9, & 12 year olds. So stinkin' cute!!
I just hope ours were received with as much joy!
1. My knitted ATC.
2. My owlie ATC.
3. Zoey's dragonfly ATC.
4. Pazely's dragonfly ATC.
♥
Nikki

Summer Diary Day 84: We Interupt This Regularly Scheduled Programming...

Dear summer diary,
I had a little bit of excitement this evening. The hospital emergency room kind.
I've been having some odd sharp pains in my chest for the last few months that I can only describe as a quick electric shock. But it's painful at the same time. It only lasts for a second. But it happens so suddenly, so quickly, so unexpectedly that it sometimes causes my upper body to sort of twitch back in a jerkish movement. I know, really sideshow freakish sounding. In a week's time it might happen a few times. But tonight it happened several times within an hour. My chest also started tightening up & I got really scared. The Mr. took me to the hospital.


I had blood drawn, a chest x-ray, an EKG & a CAT scan. The worst part of it all was when they had to find a vein for in I.V. I moaned so loud & cried like a baby. It felt like they poked my hand with a pipe & were diggin' all around up in there. And the sad thing was, they couldn't even get the vein, which kept scooting away. It was so painful. My hand is extremely sore at the moment.

I was so relieved knowing that we left the house with the girls in the care of our 3 trusted amigos---Javier, Pedro & Jaime. They are like the girls' older brothers. We had all been enjoying a meal of BLT's, pasta salad, yummy corn on the cob & watermelon when my chest pains began this evening. The boys all prayed for me. I finally had to lay on the couch. And that's when I became a bit nervous & scared (& emotional) & had the hubby take me to the Emergency Room.


Some friends of ours showed up at the hospital, shortly after we were admitted & stayed with me through the whole thing. I was so grateful for their company (& for the foot rub while the nurses tried to find yet another vein in my arm.) I was a mess of emotions. I don't like to show my insides to people. It killed me that I broke down crying in front of the doctor & the 4 other hospital-y people staring me down in the hospital room. How awkward. And even when my friends showed up, I felt so darn exposed— & not only because of the hospital gown. I don't like people to see those parts of me. I made sure everyone knew: What happens in this hospital room, stays in this hospital room!

I was stuck all over with probey things & went on wheelchair rides to this room & that x-ray table. At one point in my hospital adventure I entered a darkish room & saw this giant mechanical whirling donut. I immediately thought of things like "the 4th dimension" & "space-time continuum". I was injected with some sort of liquid that made my insides all warm & was then transported through the donut.


The tests came back showing no sign of any major medical worries. The CAT scan was a bit semi-inconclusive but the doctor is certain there are no worries to be had there. Still, I asked if I could get a discount on that inconclusive test---half price or something? The doctor didn't laugh. I took that as a "no".


The cause of my chest pain is pretty much: Anxiety. Stress. I'm completely overwhelmed. And my body is letting me know.
In the past couple weeks I've begun to let go of things, to lighten my load. This hospital visit just made the urgency to slow down a little more real. 


I know this may all seem contradictory or hypocritical to what my blog conveys every week. I hope you don't think that. In one way, it just goes to show you that you never know what someone is really going through. The happy parts of me are still there. But they're just fightin' with them other not-so-happy feelings. In a way, I feel stuck in the mud, trudging my heavy boots through the thick muck, one heavy step at a time.

I'm so thankful for a God that wants me to rest in Him, for a Mr. that is supportive & helpful, for a faraway family that hugs me long distance, & for friends that don't find amusement in seeing me in such a state. 

P.S. That is not my best mug shot.
♥
Nikki

Summer Diary Day 83:

Dear summer diary,
The girls & I have been {slowly} adventuring through the "Little House" book series. We're on the 2nd book. And I was sooooo sad when I read the chapter about the family dog, Jack, dying! The girls & I seriously went to bed that night with a heavy heart. The next chapter on the next night, though, our sunken hearts did rise! {Phew!}

When I read the girls books at night, we flip-flop from Pazely's room to Zoey's room & cuddle on their beds. When I'm done reading a chapter for that particular night, they always say the same thing: "One more chapter! PLEASE?!?!?!"
♥
Nikki

Summer Diary Day 82: Hair

Dear summer diary,
Hair was on the agenda today. Zoey did my hair, Pazely did Zoey's hair & I did Pazely's hair. Poor daddy got left out. Somehow, I kinda think he's OK with that though.

Step 1: Make a fancy hair-do.

Step 2: Show your sister her "fancy" hair-do.

Step 3: Laugh uncontrollably.

We even used nail decals on our ears for temporary earrings. (The decals were basically teeny tiny stickers. Perfect for teeny tiny earlobes.)

♥
Nikki

Summer Diary Day 81: Fashion Makeover

Dear summer diary,
I've been going through the girls' clothes, tossing things too small & getting ready for school shopping. I've trashed a bunch of their old t-shirts & socks & things as well. Stained, holes, etc. Well, the girls have apparantly had a fashion revelation & started cutting these trashed things up, coloring with markers & creating new fashions from the discarded ones. It's nothing I'd let them wear out of the house. For example: a mini-mini-mini skirt made from a shirt. They're having so much fun!  I do believe they have a fashion show in the works.
♥
Nikki

Summer Diary Day 80: Family Dinner

Dear summer diary,
Our family just recently decided to invite some friends over for a BIG family dinner. And then we decided we should make a habit of it. In just a year & a half, our friends here have pretty much become our family & it's nice to have a connection like that, being so far from "home". Once a month we all pitch in with food & drinks & round up the tables & mismatched chairs & sit together for some food & chillin'. All 13 of us. (The kids were eating dinner in the kitchen, picnic-style.) Tonight's menu consisted of a great big green salad & 2 large tater-to casseroles. In between "Pass the ketchup!" & "Where's the cheese?" we even went around the table & shared our "high's" & "low's" of the week & what goals we hope to accomplish next week. It was nice. Really, really nice.
♥
Nikki

Summer Diary Day 79: Pass the Pigs

Dear summer diary,
I had a most amazing Saturday. I slept in. I got in an organizin' mood & attacked Pazely's bedroom. I transformed into grill master extraordinaire & made THIS yummy dinner for the fam. The girls & I had a "Nanny 9-1-1" marathon on Netflix. (They love that show!) We played one of our favorite games: Pass the Pigs. (I lost every time!) And we also read the first chapter in the 2nd book of the "Little House" series, Little House on the Prairie. I was so happy all day, I could not shut up about how happy I was.
♥
Nikki

Summer Diary Day 78: Fabric Postcards

Dear summer diary,
I am so late in having Pazely get her birthday thank-you's written & sent. I decided some quick handmade postcards were the perfect way to send her thanks. I scrounged up some crafty supplies so the girls & I could make some up.

We kept things simple by using fusible web, cardstock & fabric. I took a piece of 8.5 x 11 piece of cardstock & cut it into 4 equal pieces. (I only had white, but it would be SO MUCH FUN with colored cardstock!) Next, cut a piece of fusible web that's just a little bit bigger on all sides than the cardstock. And, finally, cut a piece of fabric that is a little bit bigger than the fusible web on all sides.

Iron the fusible web onto the wrong side of the fabric. Position the cardstock on top of this, trace around with a pencil, & cut out. Peel off the backing & iron it, carefully, to the cardstock. After it cools, you can trim any excess fabric that is hanging over the edge. (Sorry about all the detailed instructions over a silly little postcard!)

I found a stash of vintage plaid fabric in my craft room & thought these would be perfect for mailing during my most favorite cool weather season. Who wouldn't love to get a piece of happy scratchy warmth in the mail this Fall? For a sweet autumn gift, tie a stack of wool fabric postcards together, add some stamps & a fancy pen.

♥

Nikki