Salsa Competition

 The whole weekend wasn't all work.  Brent, Jeff and Sarah went to a winery and mom and I took the kids to the playground in town but the most fun was our first annual salsa competition.  It all started when Brent made some salsa and the Mary commented that she had made salsa and that they should have a compeition.  So we did.  Only Mary never showed up couldnt come.  But the rest of us got into it.  Jeff even went to town that morning to get his ingredients.  Colin was the judge and made up the categories and ribbons that morning. He was very excited about it.

 
 Mom made hers before she came.  And then told Brent she used the cilantro he gave her from the garden.  Only he never gave her cilantro - he gave her rosemary. So she got a lot of teasing the whole weekend.   It was actually pretty good. 

 Brent's took forever to make. And he was sure he would win - especially since he and sarah were the only ones with recipes.  The rest of us just made it up. 

And it was all just as yummy as it looks.  I say we do this again. 

Colin went around and tasted it all.  And then proudly handed out his ribbons. 

Ant Ant got the hot and spicy award.

Brent got the prize winner - but we're pretty sure there was bribery involved :) 

Jeff got best looking salsa and I got most origional.  But I would like to point out that mine was the only one that was completely eaten after dinner. 

Mostly by this little guy.  Looks like i'll have to try to replicate what I did again.  It was pretty good if I do say so :) 

And then it started to rain a little bit.  Just a few minutes of light sprinkles.  We sat and continued our dinner under the cover of a really big tree and then saw a rainbow come out over the house (the night before we saw one while sitting on the back patio after the rain)

Mary - you need to come and redeem yourself so we can try your salsa and see who really is the winner between you and Brent. 

Tree Removal

 One of the things on the work list this weekend was taking out this tree. Jeff had the idea of tying it to the back of the truck and then pulling it over.

 We weren't so sure it would work but it did.  And no one or truck got hurt.

 After playing in it we had to chop it up and then clear it all away. 

Hammock

 We all enjoyed some time in the hammock this weekend at the farm. 

 

Makes me laugh

Joy

Scarf

I took this picture back in October of last year.  When I was still dry heaving all the time and so sick and miserable. I think I was going to send it to brent while he was at work but never did.  This was the only way I could change Joel's diapers. Makes me laugh now. 

I was reminded of it today when I was talking to my friend who is pregnant and as sick as I was.  Its sometimes hard to find people who really understand what I went through - so while I wish my friend felt better it is nice to have someone understand. 

But this sweet girl is so worth it. So worth it all.

Joel and his pretty girl

Our Joel loves to make people laugh.  He loves to say and do crazy things to make us smile.  He's realized how fun it is to make Norah laugh and giggle. 

This picture is from the 4th of July but its pretty much what he likes to do with Norah.  Or hug and still give her strangle kisses and hugs. 

This morning he had her giggling so hard. I think these two will be great friends.

Slip and slide

 

Bike Riding

Colin wanted to learn how to ride his bike without training wheels.  We tried a few months ago but didnt have time to really practice it so we put the training wheels back on.  Joel always wants to ride his bike too.  It is way to hot most days to put Norah in the carrier or wrap. We would both end up a sweaty mess. So this is what ends up happening:

I had Colin take this picture just so I can remember these days. In some ways I will miss this when they grow up.  But for now the training wheels are still on (I haven't taken them on a bike ride for a few weeks now) We're waiting for cooler weather and when Brents work schedule isn't so busy. 

Bubba and his pretty girl

blueberry picking

 Today the weather was cooler so the kids and I went blueberry picking. We've been wanting to go for weeks now but we've been busy or the temp has been over 100.  So today with the high of 84 we went.  And it was perfect. The boys had a blast. We picked more I think today than we have in previous years.  We were there for a few hours.  The kids picked blueberries, ate their snack and then went and picked blackberries.

They were so fun to listen to as they picked. And so sweet to each other. They would always share their biggest berries with the other one.  "here you go here's a big one"  and then the other one would say "thank you"  over and over.

 Norah was in the moby but woke up at one point and kept grabbing at the blueberries too. 

 Its fun to look back at previous years and see how big the kids are growing.  Crazy that the first time we went Joel was just 2 weeks old. 

Cheeks

Sweet girl just had her 4 month check up.  She is now 14.12 lbs and 25 inches long.  Which puts her in the 75% for height and weight.

 But her head circumference is in the smaller range.  Somewhere between 20-25%. 

Obviously they dont measure cheeks :) 

Busy Busy week

 We just had one of our busiest weeks this summer. Between swim team and our normal weekly stuff we had our church's arts camp all week from Sunday - Saturday. I was one of the teachers so we had to be there early each night and get stuff ready. So we pretty much ate dinner at 4 every night to get all the way down to Arts Camp in time and then got back and went straight to bed. There were dance, art, and rhythm classes. I  signed Colin up for the Rhythm  class and he loved it.  He got to play some drums and learn a few instruments.  The kids learn/do their art all week and then they have a performance Saturday night night for all the parents/guests. 

 I was in one of the arts and crafts rooms and really loved working with the kids.  It was also so great to get to know some other parents at our church and hang out with them all week.  Joel had a hard time - I think the whole week was a little overwhelming to him.  he wouldn't go in childcare one night so stayed with me in my class but a few nights Brent got home in time for me to leave Norah and Joel with him and he took Joel to the pool. 

 I'm always amazed at how the performance comes together. Its so professionally done and the kids are always amazing. 

Saturday was busy between swim meet and Arts Camp but it was a great day.  Its fun to end with 80 kids singing Jesus Paid it all.  Brent and I taught Sunday School Sunday morning and we were talking about the crosss and I asked the kids why Jesus had to die and they all broke out in the song with the motions.  We had another busy day Sunday with church, a birthday party and then a very long swim team party. Right now Norah is sleeping and the boys are almost passed out watching tv.  I think we'll take it easy the next few days. 

Here is Colin's group preforming Saturday night.  Its a little jumpy because Joel was helping me and trying to watch Bubba through the video camera. 

Backstroke

Saturday Colin swam in an away meet.  The last one of the season. We got there and it was pouring down rain but thankfully it stopped when Brent brought Norah.  She's our little ray of sunshine - ha! 

He swam freestyle and backstroke. Which meant we were there for 5 hours.  Its a little rough when you have Joel to entertain and Norah to worry about and then Colin to have to sit there and think about swimming his race and all the reasons why he shouldn't swim :)  but Joel discovered the concession stand and stuffed himself with candy the whole time and Norah slept a lot and Colin enjoyed sitting and watching every event. 

They have a "halftime" where they have a coaches/parents relay and then a free for all in the pool to cool the swimmers off.  I need to get into shape by next summer so I can do the relays. 

Colin wanted me right next to him each step of the way.  I waited in the clerk of course (or the zoo as they call it - appropriately named) and then walked him behind the lane and stood there until he dove in. 

I need to work with him on his form but at least he's diving now. 

His time was a little slower this week.  You could tell he tried to do all the stroke techniques the coaches worked with him during the week. 

Then after many hours it was time for backstroke.  He was nervous. And had no clue what to do.  I realized he had never seen a backstroke start since his age group is first so I talked him through it. 

He was doing so well.  Six weeks ago he couldn't even float on his back. He would sink.  Before he swam I told him over and over just whatever you do - dont turn over.  And he was going so fast as you can see in the video he made it just past the flags, and then hit the lane line. He thought that was the wall.  He was so upset.  "But mommy I turned over" So then I told him all the times I was DQ'd and he felt a little better. Swim team is over for Colin but he's excited about next year. And so are we.