We have been internet free for two weeks now! No this was not one of those mothering ideas to show the kids how lucky they are to have it or whatever the purpose of self induced internet free days are. This was an burdensome two and a half weeks with no internet and no phone because we made the mistake of switching carriers and then switching back. Urgh! Not such an easy task. We now have internet back, yeah! It was a pain to plan family vacation on an iphone but we managed to do it. It was a pain to check emails from the iphone, but I did it. Also, a really big pain to try to retrieve voice mails from the typed messages they send to your inbox. Funny what they thought people were saying but really none of the messages come across correctly. If Byron can find time to hook up our phone lines tonight we will be back to one hundred percent. Life without our modern conveniences was tough and I should have learned a big life lesson but really I just learned I really like our internet and phone. It makes life easier and I missed them. So welcome back Qwest and DirecTV and hopefully tonight Vonage. I have missed you!!! To anyone who left us voice mails or emailed us or tried to contact us in any way other than a friendly wave from across the street. We are sorry if we didn't get back to you it has been a hard two weeks! But we are back now and ready to field all phone calls/ emails/ messages/ whatever....Trying on the new snorkel gear Byron got for father's day.
Does she look ready to hit the waves or what?
Father's Day loot! Byron did well for himself this Father's Day. The kids all picked out cute things to give him. Ali wanted to give him a bunch of diet coke she knows how much he likes to drink Coke. Tyler made him a birdhouse at scouts that was a big hit! Carter gave him a pocket knife because Byron lost his and camp is coming up. Of course the tie was decorated by the kids at a Father and Kids activity a few days before Father's Day. We also got him a Sun umbrella for our beach trip coming up and another set of snorkel gear so three of us can go out at the same time now since we already have two sets from previous beach trips. He had a great day! We are so lucky to have Byron he is an amazing man and we all love him so much.
Last night Carter earned his Arrow of Light award for cub scouts. It is his last thing as a Cub Scout and is not officially a Boy Scout. He was so excited to raise his hand when the Scout Leader asked who was ready to graduate to Blazer Scouts. Byron was there to welcome him into the new older troop. They are both looking forward to Scout Camp this summer. Carter a little more than Byron since Byron has to plan it all and take all the boys. Lots of work but it will be worth it.
Cherry Hill! We decided we would get season passes to Cherry Hill for the summer. Do you think the kids are enjoying it? Just look at those faces. Seriously! They are LOVING the water slides and lazy river in the tube. Way too much fun.
These are pictures from our first trip there when they were so surprised at every new slide they saw. Ali is even able to manage these big giant tubes. Hard to imagine but she does really well with them.
Tyler is floating around the lazy river here. Every hour they turn on a little radio show and sprinklers and buckets dump extra water on those in the lazy river. Oh how they love it when the little show goes on. It is hysterical to watch them flounder about to get under the waterfall of their choice.
Scooter days!! We are loving our Stella scooter. It is so fun to zip around and pick up or drop off kids at play dates on this baby. Byron calls me the guacamama when I am riding it. I am finally over feeling nervous with all the gear switching and I even learned how to kick start it the other day when it wouldn't start manually. (Of course the gas flow nozel was turned off so it was operator error not the scooter) Some nice missionaries stopped and asked if I was alright, they didn't know how to help me but they did inquire if I was okay. They waited with Carter and I until we could figure out how to get it going again. It died again down the street from our house since it wasn't getting any gas, but we made it home and Byron quickly figured out what the problem was. Learning new tricks slowly but we are having fun.
Ali started ballet classes this summer. She was SO excited! She and her friend Gabby are in the same class and they are loving dancing together. Ali picked out her own legging/leotard combo for her first day. She has a sense of style that is all her own.
If you know me you know I love to garden, so I am including a few photos I took of my yard yesterday. So we moved in five years ago now and I anxiously awaited the arrival of spring to see what would pop in our yard. To my disappointment nothing popped up. This spring LOTS of things popped up. I am loving the view from the master bedroom that looks out onto my hill. The purple flower above is called a Beard Tongue. I have wondered for four years what it was called but I found it at a nursery this spring and am happy to know it's name now. It is one of my favorite flowers in my garden as it always puts on such a pretty show. I transplanted it around last fall so it is popping up all over this year. Love it!
My peonies are not all the way out yet but I love how their shells are splitting as the pedals are beginning to emerge.
I have two clematis like this that are both having a wonderful year. They are four years old now and have finally matured to what a clematis should look like. Two year before we left VA I planted clematis and they never did have time to grow up before we left so really I have waited seven years for a really good clematis plant and now I finally have them. They are spectacular and I love walking down my side yard and passing them.
This is my new pagoda. I got one for mothers day but I needed another one to balance things off, right? So here it is. I need to name it or something. I really love it. Carter and I carried the first two cement pieces up the hill but were too tired to carry the lid up so we waited for Byron and he brought up the topper for us.
This is half the hill. I am so exited with how it is growing and maturing. My plants are like my kids I watch over them and am so excited for them to be getting older. It really is such a cathartic hobby.
