there's no place like home...

Destination: Home.
One.
Two.
Three.

Little Darlings in tow.

Plan: Meet sister halfway so we can travel together.

Feed the kids and hope they nap.

Mission Accomplished.

And we're off!

Arrived at Mimi and Papa's safely.

The kids didn't waste any time finding something to do.

Coloring, drawing... anything to pass the time till Mimi and Papa got home from work.

5

Five Grand babies.

Goodness me! Time flies.

Mimi and Papa got home from work and it was time to

chow down some delicious stew and then head out to ride.

Casi and Jodi - My beautiful sisters.

Birch and Mimi

Bailey and Mimi

Pauly and Mimi

Sweet Pea and Mimi.

Waiting...

Casi Jean Bean (Hint: Bean is NOT her last name :) and Bubba

Birch waiting for his turn.

I loved this picture.

Isn't he stinkin' cute!?

Such a character.

Mimi and Papa's Baby Girls.

The Tractor Man.

Everything is tractor, Everyday, Everywhere.

Tractor, tractor, tractor.

I love him.

& I love her.

Billy playing on the blankey while the kids play at the park.

Our kids love picnics at the park.

Bailey Boo and Sweet Pea too.

Eat your lunch!

...then you can go play.

Mimi and Papa's Little Men.

Papa and Splash ready to go!

Aunt Cece ropin' calves.

Dirt.

Our. Kids. Love. Dirt.

Sweet Pea? Who threw dirt on you?

Birch.

Who threw dirt on Birch?

Bailey.

Who threw dirt on Bailey?

Pauly did.

Who threw dirt on Pauly?

Pauly.

eh?
~~~

Pauly, who threw dirt on you?

I did it.

oh jeez, marg...

Picnic at Grandma Great's and Grandpa Bills.

Lay out a blanket with some toys - kids good for hours.

Miss Bailey.

She's the oldest grandchild -

so it was super weird for me to see her being such a big girl and so mature.

She's a sweetheart.

Isn't she beautiful? Love those sweet pink lips.

Me and my Grandpa Bill and Daddy-o.

I love these two men with all my heart.

Mama and Jodi.

Grandma Great giving Pauly a bite of her delicious Cherry Cheesecake.

She worked her tail off and we had a wonderfully delicious meal - potato salad, baked beans, corn on the cob, hamburgers and hot dogs and for dessert - German chocolate cake and like I said... her Cherry Cheesecake.

Heavenly.

I love laughing around with family.

This is my Aunt Lyn.

Aunt Jo Jo helping Pauly chase Birch around.

Uncle Mark taking his turn chasing kids.

They loved it!

Uncle Mark and Grandpa Bill...

pretty easy to tell they're father and son - huh.

They stand exactly the same.

Time to color with chalk on the back patio.

Hold still!

This was so tough... took me several times to get something half-way decent.

Kids. So squirmy!

Pauly boy.

My attempt to take a crafty pic. :)

Cool shades chica!

She's ALL girl.

It was HOT! her little cheeks were so flushed.

his too.

It doesn't get much better than this...

well.... then there's this.

pretty sweet, huh.

Back to Grandma Great's for some fun in the kiddie pool.

In and Out.

In and Out.

The kids would run through the pool and Aunt Jo Jo would spray them.

FUN! FUN! FUN!

Aunt Ce Ce and Mimi.

Gorgeous.

Then Papa gave two little boys some hats.

They adore them.

I think Pauly wants a rope for his birthday... he better not ask for a goat, Papa.

I won't be able to handle a goat and chickens in the city.

BUT... I do have a ton of weeds that need ate.... hmmm.......

Birchy loves his Mama.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Thank you Mimi and Papa for the wonderful time! So glad we were all able to be together.

I love you all so much!

To the moon.

Pooped and Cooped

We're back from visiting my parents. SO TIRED! but we have so many wonderful memories! & LOTS of pics. I can't wait to share all with you.

For now, I'm leaving you with these pictures of my husband and his chicken coop. Didn't he do a fabulous job? We're sure proud of him!

Now, I'm off to feed my kiddos and get my factory up and running.

Toodleloo.

skipping along

Last night Pauly told me that he was Lightening McQueen and I was Mator... tickled my heart.
Then I thought, well that means daddy is probably Doc or maybe Mr. The King and brother is most definitely Red - the firetruck that cries at the drop-of-the-hat.

Perfect little family, wouldn't ya say?


We had a great weekend all-together.

Now! Off we go to Mimi and Papa's House. We'll be gone for about a week - I'll have lots of pics to share with you and interesting stories, I'm sure.

I'll miss ya

- and we'll miss you too daddy!

Happy Day,

Five Stripes

First off, Happy 4th of July to y'all!

Speaking of Stripes...

have you heard of the company named Five Stripes yet?

Five Stripes was featured in the July edition of Martha Stewart Living (page 24)

My jaw dropped.

&

I fell in love.

Below are just a few treasures that I found!

Cyan-Ivory Candle

Herringbone Wrap
Seafoam Striped Socks

Sing Sing Pen

Striped Salad Servers

Sage-Cyan Candle

Sonoma Candle

Green Stripe Pillow

Ivory-Morris Green Candle

Celadon-Sky Candle

Cotton Stripe Scarf

Lalibela Cotton Scarf

50's Striped Cotton Apron

Baby Towel Set

life's little instructions

Sing in the shower.
Treat everyone you meet like you want to be treated.
Watch a sunrise at least once a year.
Leave the toilet seat in the down position.
Never refuse homemade brownies.
Strive for excellence, not perfection.
Plant a tree on your birthday.
Learn 3 clean jokes.
Return borrowed vehicles with the gas tank full.
Compliment 3 people every day.
Never waste an opportunity to tell someone you love them.
Leave everything a little better than you found it.
Keep it simple.
Think big thoughts but relish small pleasures.
Become the most positive and enthusiastic person you know.
Floss your teeth.
Ask for a raise when you think you've earned it.
Overtip breakfast waitresses.
Be forgiving of yourself and others.
Say, "Thank you" a lot.
Say, "Please" a lot.
Avoid negative people.
Buy whatever kids are selling on card tables in their front yards.
Wear polished shoes.
Remember other people's birthdays.
Commit yourself to constant improvement.
Carry jumper cables in your truck.
Have a firm handshake.
Send lots of Valentine cards.
Sign them, "Someone who thinks you're terrific."
Look people in the eye.
Be the first to say hello.
Use the good silver.
Return all things you borrow.
Make new friends, but cherish the old ones.
Keep a few secrets.
Sing in a choir.
Plant flowers every spring.
Have a dog.
Always accept an outstretched hand.
Stop blaming others.
Take responsibility for every area of your life.
Wave at kids on school busses.
Be there when people need you.
Feed a stranger's expired parking meter.
Don't expect life to be fair.
Never underestimate the power of love.
Drink champagne for no reason at all.
Live your life as an exclamation, not an explanation.
Don't be afraid to say, "I made a mistake."
Don't be afraid to say, "I don't know."
Compliment even small improvements.
Keep your promises no matter what.
Marry for love.
Rekindle old friendships.
Count your blessings.
Call your mother.

by H. Jackson Brown Jr.