Naked Trees

David was a hard working man this past weekend. He managed to get the front, back and way back yards mowed all in one day for the first time. He also got the weedeater running again and trimmed the whole yard (including the patio weeds which I got tired of pulling.) Then he pruned the trees and bushes in the front yard. It looks so nice! He really has a knack for making the whole yard open up and look very neat. The kids even took care of hauling all the brush away.

Lily Kate

Katie's purple hair makes her a perfect model for my orange lilies....

Mexico Mike's lemonade stand

Mike is working hard to raise money for the Mexico trip. He, along with Katie, Nicholas and a friend from next door set up a lemonade stand last week. Things were slow at first until I went outside to give them a marketing lesson. Once they figured out that sitting in the chair (even while wearing a purple sombrero) wasn't enough to get people to stop, things picked up. They stood and waved at every car and managed to have a brisk business. They raised $27.25. It's a start!

Summer Hair

Everyone is wearing their summer hair...


Nicholas has shaved his long locks.



Katie has gone purple.



Mike's is no longer down to his shoulders.

And you can tell by their happy faces how glad they are that summer is here.

Changes in the Air

Well, we've got a couple of things in the works that could make for an exciting rest of the year.

First up Mike has a last minute opportunity to go to Mexico with our church Jr. High Mission trip in July. He had been on the waiting list but we honestly kind of forgot about it, then we got a call last week that a spot had opened up. We are excited about the opportunity, but waiting expectantly to discover how the Lord is going to come up with the money. We have to come up with $900 by July 5th, plus pocket money for him while he is there. We are planning to have a yard sale in a couple of weeks and will be sending out support letters soon, as well. It's quite a crunch, but we really believe that he should go.

The second thing (which would help with the first) is that I may work at the elementary school for a few months. The secretary is taking medical leave and suggested me as her temporary replacement. I'm putting in an application and waiting to see how it all shakes out. I'm a bit alarmed at the idea of going back to work after 15 years, but it would be a great situation. If it works out I will start July 16th and work until sometime around February. It might be hard on the kids, but I think they would be able to handle it for such a short time.

So there you have it.

German Queen

David has made good use of the cordless trimmer he got for his birthday. He's gotten things shipshape (well, actually block-shaped) with the hedge along the driveway side of the house. The boys helped a lot by raking and picking up the trimmings.

The tomato bed is looking great! I've planted six different varieties just for fun: a Parks Whopper, a patio tomato whose tag I can't find, a Bonnie Original, a Red Beefsteak, a German Queen (I just couldn't resist the name!) and a Bradley. Well, actually 4 Bradleys. The first three were destroyed by dog, wind and a hot car respectively. Also in the bed is a basil plant, a rosemary plant, a pepper plant and some dill, all bordered by marigolds. Delightful!

The first of our many daylily plants have started to bloom. We have them scattered throughout the yard and most of them are loaded with blooms.

I've got the front planter filled with hot pink impatiens and some purple flower that I'd never heard of. Although they tolerate shade well, the ones directly behind the evergreen tree are looking pretty rough. David has plans to trim the tree up, so hopefully that will save them before we lose them altogether.

For my birthday my sweet family got me two rose bushes that I'm gong to plant by the back fence (if I don't kill them first.) Most of you know that as much as I love roses, I have had to learn to consider them an annual. David has suggest these will be monthlies if I don't get them in the ground soon!

Bedrooms Update

Mike is sharing his room with Einstein. He is still enjoying his birthday decorations that Katie and Mimi Mary put up on the ceiling. I'm not sure he will ever take them down!
Hoping to get his molding done in the next week or so.



Katie got a beautiful iron bed for her birthday. It was from Mom and Dad and the room fairy. It took the store a while to get it here and get it right, but it finally made it.
(Yes, that is her still in it...)



David and I have switched our ideas on room colors and are now looking at silvery-blues. Don't think we've found the right one yet, but we are getting closer. At least until we change our minds again.

We still have lots of boxes to unpack but might make some headway soon, I hope!

The Grumpy Tree

At first glance you would thing this is a regular tree, right?



Now, look a bit closer...