My Husband....Jack of ALL Trades

He is just amazing. He is always working on something, and it always comes out beyond my expectations. He has done all kinds of construction work, carpentry work, plumbing, and fixing the car when it breaks. Once I asked him to make some nesting boxes for my chickens, and they ended up with a 5-star penthouse suite.

Yesterday Steven met me at the temple and took the kids to lunch while I did a session. While I was gone the van broke down. Well, not really....just the compressor for the AC went out. It made a lovely sound, and the ride home was an unplesant hot one. I called around, and it sounds like we are looking at around $1200 to fix it. Steven called the auto parts place and got a new compressor for $300. He will have it running again this afternoon....faster than the shop could get it done, and for 1/2 the cost. He is amazing.

I just love him!

That's all. =)

My Garden

I'm starting to get the first of my tomatoes. I did a lot of work to make the garden as easy to take care of, and so far it is working. Babies just aren't any good at pulling weeds....or letting their mama's pull weeds either. I'm sure the older kids are grateful for the lack of weed pulling this summer too! I have weed barrier fabric on all of my rows and hay mulch in between. Steven put in a sprinkler system last year that I LOVE! My garden is pretty much growing itself...easy.

This Is Why I Don't Pay For A Gym Membership

This is a trench I have been digging the last few days. Our gray-water line gave up a long time ago. (It is just kitchen sink water and washing machine water) I dug up the old line a couple of years ago and put down a bunch of gravel. It didn't last very long. I'm sick of the puddle of water it makes in my back yard, so I decided it's time to lay down a new line. Poor Steven works too much as it is so I couldn't ask him to do it. I have about 25 more feet to go, and the trench is about 3 feet deep. It is lots of fun in the 95 degree and 90% humidity Houston weather. F U N.

Oh well....it makes for strong backs and big muscles....for FREE!

Wierd, I Know

Don't ask me....I have no idea what any of them were thinking. As big of a stinker Hayden is I'm surprised she would allow herself to be in such a vulnerable position. A lesser big brother or sister would have taken advantage of the situation and devised a little payback. Fortunately no harm came to any of them.

And I have no idea what was up with the horses.

Sisters Are Good For Naps

Apparently sisters are good for napping on. She looks comfortable, huh? Lauren absolutely loves the power she wields over a sleeping baby. She is almost better at getting Reagan to sleep than I am. She sings a sweet little song to her that knocks her out almost instantly.....'Go to sleep, go to sleep, go to sleep little bay-bah....".

I think Lauren has grown to appreciate how amazing and precious a sleeping baby is....a chance to cuddle and snuggle the baby when she is so still and peaceful....no squirming and trying to get away. It is magical.

First Words

Last Saturday, my mom and I went to lunch with my grandmother for her birthday. My aunt, cousin, and little sister joined us. We visited the cemeteries like Grandma likes to do to clean up the head stones and put out new flowers. We had lunch at a nice mexican food restaurant.

I had the baby with me, and sat in the backseat with her since she was a little anxious with all of the new faces around. She babbled and babbled and then her first words came spilling out....."BYE-BYE"....with a little waving hand and everything.

I didn't want to forget that so I thought I would write it down....

A Field Trip to the Ice Cream Factory

Last Friday we joined our homeschool friends for a trip to the country to tour an ice cream factory. If you have ever had Bluebell ice cream then you know why they say it is the best ice cream in the country. We had a great tour that was followed by a delicious scoop of ice cream for everyone. Reagan even enjoyed her first taste of ice cream! We finished up our day with a picnic at a local homeschooling friend's home. She had a beautiful garden, a horse for the kids to ride, and Hayden managed to find some baby kitties to love on for a while.

In the pictures you can see that the kids are wearing tie-dye t-shirts. We dyed the shirts as a part of a homeschool group activity a few weeks ago. We must have dyed 50 shirts that day. Most of the kids with our group wore the shirts they made. It seems like every year the kids and I tie-dye some shirts for them....usually in the summer. I always have the kids wear them when we go to crowded places like the zoo because it helps me pick them out of a crowd. Anyway, they were all very proud of their shirts.

Standing Alone

Reagan has turned 9 months old, and she is getting ready to walk. It really won't be long. She loves to pull herself up on the furniture and cruise around. She will be running with the pack before long.....I'm not ready!