Belated Post

Oh goodness, I'm behind once again.
We haven't had anything big going on, just our normal run of the mill ordinary events that make life magical and make my  heart smile.
 I've been putting together baby shower invitations. It's been a collaborative effort. I was down to the wire, though, this week. I had to have them out by Friday. I ran into some technical difficulties. I was ready to sit down and have a good cry, but my favorite guy came to my rescue and helped me make them work and get them to the post office just before it closed on Friday.

Finished Product:

 I tried to mark out the name and phone number for this post for privacy purposes.

Here he is, my favorite guy, helping me out:

 

 Chris, Rhaevyn, and Meg made cheesecake stuffed strawberries on the 4th of July. They didn't last long. They were so yummy. Here is Meg giving me the thumbs up on how good they were!

 Meg was in charge of smashing the graham crackers and dipping the strawberries in it.

I think there were extra fireworks going off this year for the 4th of July. I love that we don't have to spend any money on fireworks. We just get to sit back on our lawn and watch the show that the surrounding neighborhoods put on. We decided to BBQ hamburgers and have s'mores. As we sat down to eat,  Myles suggested we name two things that we are thankful for regarding the 4th of July. It was a really nice idea, and we each took some time to think about what two things we were really thankful for. What we each shared made for nice conversation.

I had to run to the bank on Tuesday. Meg asked if she could sit down while I waited in line. I had to giggle at how she picked up a realty magazine, plopped herself in a chair, and looked like she was reading intently. She came over to show me a couple of houses that she liked.

 

 How do we pass the time during Scottish Dance lessons, violin lessons, and cello lessons????

 We take turns drawing out a story.....

...we play tic tac toe

...we paint fingernails

 ...and let them dry.

 I had a free lunch at the chiropractor this week. It was patient appreciation day with discounted adjustments and free lunch . It's the little things I get excited about sometimes😀

 Elsa, Aeva, and Myles spent one evening this past week painting together. Aeva is taking an art class one day a week this summer. She is really enjoying it.

 Elsa's artwork:

 

 Myles's artwork:

 Chris had his dates with Rhaevyn and Aeva the last week of June.

On his date with Aeva they went to three different Goodwills. He has been wanting the game Life. He found one from the 90's in tip top condition for $1.99. That is what we played together last Sunday. I had never in my life played the board game. It was pretty fun. I was gone for part of the game because I was collecting letters from parents for the youth trek for church. The kids played for me while I was gone. It was a long game, but not as bad as how long Monopoly can be. And I won!

 Also on their date, Aeva found a yukata (cotton version of a kimono for spring/summer). It was $7 and will work with the obi (part tied around the outside) that she already has for her other yukata. She also found this brand new pair of shoes for $2. She absolutely scored!!

Rhaevyn wanted to try out a new place for her date. She and Chris went up the road, about 30 min., to a little town along the river called Kalama. They walked the river front down at the Port and then went for a milkshake afterwards. They had a really nice time. Note: none of these are my pictures, but it looks like such a nice little trail you can walk.

 Chris and Molly...........aren't they cute!

 Aeva made a dress. She took two patterns that she liked and combined them. She absolutely loves sewing. Her dress turned out so pretty. This consists of a shirt, and underskirt, and the dress. She started the outer layer on a Saturday and worked on the remainder during the week. She wore it last Sunday to church.

 She wanted some photos of her running in it.

 

 

 

 

Twirling:

 Miss Meg wanted pictures too:

 

 Cooking :
Meg wanted to make a smoothie. She got all the ingredients out herself. We had to put a few back. I explained that some of her items weren't quite smoothie approved.

Rhaevyn taught Elsa to make french bread. She let Meg help punch the dough.

 Meg being silly:

 My third quilt for the summer is on the machine being quilted!!!

Elsa was feeling under the weather, so I painted her nails for her. She wanted a combo of black, purple, and pink.

Chris was able to get the bike he built ride-able. He and Elsa went out for a bike ride together. He almost decided to scrap it, but Myles said he'd put forth some labor to help Chris get it finished.
Rhaevyn is taking violin lessons for the remainder of summer. Her old teacher (Elsa's teacher) said she'd do it for free since there aren't that many weeks left before Rhaevyn leaves. What a blessing!

Myles had his first lesson back with his teacher since getting his new 3/4 cello. His teacher pointed out that there was a crack in it. What?????? Needless to say we weren't happy about that. Chris called the gentleman/Stringed instrument shop we bought it from. The gentleman wanted to make it right and us happy, so he refunded us the entire amount. I'm sure he didn't want a bad review since this is how he makes his living. Myles is, again, without a cello. We've had to return two cellos. Third time should be a charm, right?  We've never had so much trouble with instruments before. Is there a lesson we are supposed to learn here???

Okay, I think I am caught up now, and it's onto another great week!