From potato cannon to water toy….

Mike was home today and played with the kids. He was proud to show them his potato cannon and what it can do and then he turned the pressure way down and made it into a water toy. The kids had a blast playing with Mike. Have a peek…

Waiting……

WOW!!!

Then onto the water toy….

 

 

We also did get to go to the park and play and have our picnic. The park in Deerwood is just 8 miles from home and so easy to get to and play at. Here’s a few fun pics of the day.

 

 

So there you have a day at daycare. A busy one and exciting. I love the days Mike can be home and play. He’s going to start working on a huge wood project starting next Monday so he won’t be playing as much with the kids but it is so time for him to do something he really likes. It’s a secret but he’s going to build his grandma an Garden Arbor. He’s got the plans and will pick up the wood this weekend. I’ll share pictures as he builds it. 

So it’s onward and upwards to another day. Tomorrow I have an extra wee one which really got the kids excited. He’s been here before but not on a regular basis so it’ll be a fun day showing and telling. I think we’ll go to great grandma’s and see the goats, donkey, horses and sheep. I’m sure he’ll love seeing them again plus my grandma loves seeing the kids.

So until next time folks, have a great week. Oh I have a movie I want to share with you too. So I’ll get that on the bottom here and be finished up. Take care everyone and have a blessed evening.

Finally….

It will still be a long time before they turn red but there’s tomatoes on them there plants…. see!

 

 

The ones in my garden are a bit smaller but they are beginning to flower too. The broccoli is looking really good, the brussels sprouts are so strong looking, beans are flowering, corn is still really short, I don’t think it’ll be knee high by the 4th though. The weeds, well they are always growing the best.

I spent 4 hours on the mower yesterday. The yard looks so good when it’s freshly mowed. We’ll have to do it again either Friday evening or Saturday because on Sunday my parents are hosting their 14th annual family reunion and since we’re neighbors gotta have a nice yard to match their beautiful one.

This week will be a normal one here. I have 5-6 wee ones each day and tomorrow we’ll start the week out by going to the park to play and have a picnic. I promised a trip to the library also but will wait until Wednesday so that we can keep the movies we borrow until Saturday. I’m not sure what else the week will bring for the kids but I’m sure I’ll keep them as busy and happy as possible.

I have a couple ideas for crafts that I’ll be sharing as the kids get them done.  I found the coolest site called Skip to My Lou and there are some very cute idea. Like side walk chalk from corn starch, food coloring and water, painted rocks and so much more. Ideas, love them. I also found a good recipe for bubbles from Making It Count. 

Well my friends, I hope that you all have a great week. Take care and God Bless you all!!

What to do with these?

Oh I know, I would of done something with them but Mike had a better idea and I sure wouldn’t rain on his parade. Check this out….

He was so proud of himself and to watch him build it and see it work for the first time time, well it’s priceless!!

I have more pictures to share with you but it’s to late now, I’ll see you this weekend.

Take care my friends. Have a blessed, relaxing, rejuvenating, enjoyable weekend. God Bless!!!

Remember when I won…..

Remember when I won the free poster print? Remember when I had you help me pick the picture I wanted to have printed? Well today Lorelie, that’s Rachel and Abby’s grandma, brought me the finished framing. I had just asked that they take it to the framer that had done a picture for me a few years ago that they gave me for a Christmas present. I didn’t care the cost (I knew it wouldn’t be horrible) Anyways, she gave me this most beautiful finished picture. It even has a thin hand painted gold line around the matte. Oh guys I just can’t tell you how good it makes me feel. First it’s a picture Mike took for me because it’s sunsets, then the framer did the most awesome job and then it is given to me not only by my wee ones grandma but a really great friend. It will hang in my house for years to come with honor and love. So do you want to see the picture? You do…..Well I am going to warn you, these pictures I took of the pictures do not do them any justice but you get the idea. I’ll try and take a good picture once I get it up on the wall.

Okay, here’s the picture and also a picture of the first one they had done for me back when Mike was 12.

So there you have it. I love them both and can’t wait to get the big one hanging in my livingroom. I have the perfect spot.

Take care my friends, thank you for letting me share my joy with you. Have a great and blessed afternoon.

Monday Madness….

So guess what I found? Another blog hop goodie. How I found it….?…I haven’t a clue. I was just jumping from blog to blog this morning just reading and enjoying and came across Home Sweet Farm.  I am so in love with this blogging and blog hopping and finding new people and sharing and getting comments. So today I will spend a little time just playing. I didn’t have morning daycare today and this afternoon just have two big girls and right now no one wants to do anything but watch Myth Busters which usually I don’t let the TV be on but it’s yucky outside and Mike is home so…go for it kids, enjoy the TV and I’ll play a bit here.

So it’s like this…

So go to Home Sweet Farm and add your blog, facebook, twitter or all three and see who you can find to follow. If you follow me, I follow you back and I think that goes for most of the bloggers out there.

Take care my friends and have a very blessed afternoon.

Monday Madness….

So guess what I found? Another blog hop goodie. How I found it….?…I haven’t a clue. I was just jumping from blog to blog this morning just reading and enjoying and came across Home Sweet Farm.  I am so in love with this blogging and blog hopping and finding new people and sharing and getting comments. So today I will spend a little time just playing. I didn’t have morning daycare today and this afternoon just have two big girls and right now no one wants to do anything but watch Myth Busters which usually I don’t let the TV be on but it’s yucky outside and Mike is home so…go for it kids, enjoy the TV and I’ll play a bit here.

So it’s like this…

So go to Home Sweet Farm and add your blog, facebook, twitter or all three and see who you can find to follow. If you follow me, I follow you back and I think that goes for most of the bloggers out there.

Happy Father’s day daddy…..

My daddy has never had any other name then daddy. I can’t imagine calling him dad or father, it’s always been daddy. When I worked in town for a few years I’d see him driving though town and would step outside my shop and yell daddy and he always knew it was me. He’d stop by and I’d close the shop for a little bit and head across the street for a treat with my daddy. When I drove truck I thought I was going to die missing him so when we left for the first time I took a flannel shirt he use to wear out to the barn and wore that every single day for months until I was ready to just sleep with it. Finally after a year or so I was able to just have it around and be okay. When we moved back home and I had to work at the nursing home Jim and I would be fighting and daddy would come and pick me up from work, take me for a ride and a snack and tell me to grow up, “you picked him” he’d say and I’d go home ready for another day. When we built up our home/hobby farm next door he would come over any time I’d need help. He has helped me more then ever on so many different things. Daddy loves chocolate chip cookie dough, so when I’m making cookies I always save him a cup or so of dough and he’ll come over for a treat. Daddy has helped build garages, pour and smooth concrete, mow when I was just to sick to do it, helped me till the garden, trim trees, cut wood, pile wood. He’s come and praised me just when I needed it the most. He has the smoothest hugs and he loves to hug and so do I. He rubs my back. One time we watched the movie Spirit and he rubbed my back the whole movie. He comes for a snack once in awhile to just sit and visit with me. We go fishing a lot together and we walk lots and lots. My daddy loves my daycare kids, if I’ve had a bad day or just need time without them I’ll walk over and he’ll take them out and about while mama and I just sit and visit. The kids love “grandpa”. My son looks to his grandfather when he needs a man to really appreciate him. When Mike bought his first car it was grandpa he took it to, showed it off to. When grandpa needs help Mike is there in an instant to do whatever it is grandpa needs. My daddy is special, my daddy loves me, I love my daddy.

 

Happy Father’s day Daddy. I LOVE YOU!!!

A beautiful day today….

Today was one of the most busy days I’ve had in a very long time but also one of the most beautiful days. This morning I spent 4 hours laying carpeting at my parents home. Their porch looks amazing now. My mom took pictures that I can share later after I download them and mail them to me. Then I came home and tilled my garden. That took me about an hour along with weeding. I’m impressed with the garden this year. Considering we have had more rain then sunshine it’s looking pretty good. Then…. Mike got off early, loaded up the bikes and we went to the Cuyuna Lakes State trails. We rode 6.6 miles and had a blast. Mike took some amazing pictures I’ll share with you. On the way home I took Mike to a place Jim and I use to stomp around, Tromald and Section 6 mine pit lake. With all the rain we’ve had we had a couple questionable place we went but Mike had to show me the way first by walking the puddle to make sure they weren’t washed out or extra soft. All in all it was a great day and now I am so tired I think I’ll be heading to bed early. I had today off but work tomorrow but you don’t hear me complaining. If all my days off could be this productive and fun I’d do them all the time.

So on to the pictures. I hope you all have a great and blessed weekend. Be sure you take them time to relax and enjoy.

 

My knees after after laying the carpet

 

 

 

 

   

 

  

Take care my friends. God Bless you all!!

Welcome Wednesday…

                         and

Are the hosts of this neat Welcome Wednesday....Such a great way to meet and greet new friends. It’s been awhile since I’ve done this, just so busy with this and that.

So here I am, reaching out to new friends. Friends to teach me new things, friends to enjoy sharing. Friends that are fun to read about, be part of and encourage in their lives.

So hop on over to Take it from me... and join in on the fun.

Take care my friends. Have a very blessed day today.

Wordless Wednesday….

Cleaner..and….

Remember the cleaner I told you about? I mixed it up and tried it today. I love it. Instead of using the lavender essential oil I used lemongrass. The boys sniffed the counter tops and loved it too. I used it for window/mirror cleaner too and though it took a bit longer to wipe it off it really looks good. I spent about $30.00 to get started but have enough essential oils to make at least 10 batches of this cleaner so I figure it’ll be about $3.50 for a huge bottle of cleaner. It is an antibacterial, deodorizer and disinfectant and so much better for us then any other cleaner I use.  I can take pictures of how it’s made if you want but it’s so easy when you follow the directions. I left it in the brown bottle and just used a Windex spray top and it screwed on just right.

Look who greeted me this morning. He was right outside my kitchen window and spent at least a good hour eating breakfast with us.

 

The my evening ended with this. We have had so much rain, another 1 1/2” today. Hopefully it’s done for a while but I won’t bet on it.

 

I don’t know if you know that I live near a section of Minnesota that had iron more open pit mines. But this past weekend Mike and Scott went and played in the pits and he took a picture of one that I haven’t visited in all the years I lived here. We do lots of camping in the pit area, we do lots of swimming and fishing also and when I was younger there wasn’t any off limit parts of the pits so we could spend days just exploring. But anyways, he’s what one looked like during the mining and after.

 

So there you have the first part of my week. It’s been busy but good. I hope all is well with you all. Take care my friends and God Bless you all!

My devotion and response…

You know, just when a person is thinking how hard something is, how much they don’t have, how not easy life can be along comes a message from God made just for them. That is what happened this morning. You see, daycare has been slow, Mike’s hours are cut, Jim is trying to make it all happen and it’s just not. Yesterday I had to take the last of my cash (I always try and have just a little set aside for those “just in cases”) and deposit it. That hurt, it was the money I had set aside for, well maybe a trip to Valley Fair, or a few goodies for camping, or a special gift for someone that needed it, or …. well you understand. Now it’s not terrible here, we have a house, cars, gas, groceries, electricity, insurance…all the stuff you “need” it’s just all of these needs cost money…like you didn’t already know that. But we can pay these so it’s not all that bad, I just need to remember that at times. I was able to get a few things at a garage sale this past weekend, Mike did get a new bike yesterday (though he used his grad money and then put the rest into savings), Jim was able to pick up his beverage of choice for the weekend so it’s not “that” bad. It just seems like it at times. Such a cry baby I am. Sorry!!

Anyways, I wanted to share my devotion with you because it opened my eyes just when they were squinting a bit.

From the fullness of His grace we have
all received one blessing after another.
                 ( John 1:16 *NIV )

Dear Julie (you can put your name in here too),
    Always remember to count your blessings each day, and to
thank God for them!   For no matter what we have, when we
look around us, we find others who have less!  So never feel
sorry for yourself, instead start counting your blessings, for that
should cheer you up indeed.
    Now I know that when things disappoint us, we are sad and
often depressed.  However it is written that we should; Be joyful
always; pray continually; give thanks in all
circumstances, for this is God's will for you in
Christ Jesus.         ( 1 Thessalonians 5:16-18 )
Therefore Julie (you too), never feel that God doesn't hear your prayers
because a prayer isn't answered the way you want, or something
goes wrong in your life.  For your Heavenly Father always knows
what is best for you, and; He will never leave you nor
forsake you."               ( Deuteronomy  31:6 )
So my friend, remember to always; Give thanks to the
Lord, call on His name; make known among the
nations what he has done for you!
                                      ( 1 Chronicles 16:8 )
In closing, May the grace of the Lord Jesus Christ,
and the love of God, and the fellowship of the
Holy Spirit be with you all now and always!  Amen!  
                                      ( 2 Corinthians 13:14 )
All My Love & Prayers,
       Pastor Allen

So much to be thankful for. A list that grows longer and longer every day. I just needed to be reminded of that.

I wish you all a great and blessed day today. Take care my friends!!

Hannah’s dress…

 

Well as you can see Hannah loved her dress. It’s much cuter from the back though. I think the next dress I make I’ll put the waist up higher and put pleats in the arm pits. But it didn't matter to her, she loved it, the buttons, the pockets, the tie.

We made Father’s day cards because both sets of parents are going to be gone or away for Father’s day. I took pictures of the kids and loved the way they came out. They made some special cards and then ones with their pictures on them.

My wee ones. I love them so.

This weekend has been wonderful. Yesterday Scott, my nephew, got to come over and spend the day, night and today. Mike and Scott have such a blast together. We also played basket ball which they found out I wasn’t to bad at. Sorta surprised them I could make baskets better than them.

I hope you all have a terrific weekend too. Tomorrow is the Lords day. Be sure to thank him for all the great he has given you. The little stuff, the big stuff, all that in-between stuff. Take care my friends, God Bless you all!!