You Capture - Outside

Outside is not something I normally do this time of year unless it is watching or wading in the pool with the one of the 'Grands'. It is just TOO hot out to really enjoy the outside but having pool does ease the discomfort. So most of my outside pictures seem to be around the pool.

Or capturing one who wishes he could be in the pool, LOL!

But the next day while outside watching my hubby put the latch on the new gate a thunder storm was coming in quick and furious. So I thought, what the hey, I''ll just start clickin away. I did not change my setting, it remained on auto which is how I take most of my pictures. Since the lightning was occurring within seconds of each other the first time I actually caught a bolt I jumped up and down in excitement. After a few minutes of taking close to 30+ pictures, one right after another, when I uploaded them and began editing I found I had captured these as well.

The storm lasted for hours into the night. At one point it sounded like the lightning was striking right out in our yard but there was no way I was going to, even if able, try and capture them. Best to be safe in the house then to get hit by one of them. I'm such a worry wart over things like that.

So in the morning I went out to survey the damage in the sunlight. My Policeson came by that night to check on us and with his flash light we did a brief look around. But daylight showed the true picture.

My pool had debris in it and all around it. The turtle pen lost it's roof.

One of my favorite trees that kept my patio shaded was snapped off and leaning over the fence for the steers to enjoy.

But around town there was more damage. It looked like a war zone or the after math of a tornado.

Well, that is my experience for OUTSIDE this week. Head on over to I Should Be Folding Laundry and see what others did outside this week. As for me, I am heading back outside today, face the heat, to watch our 'Grands' tackle a 4 story water slide at the Summer Splash Bash. Check back tomorrow or later tonight to see the fun they had OUTSIDE!

Around the House!

Around here,we have been busy!

Last year a wind storm took out our pool fencing

Our main concern at the time was to secure the side that fell down. With a wedding just months away we had many other projects on the burner that took priority over replacing it all. So for the last year only one side of the fence looked like this.

It still needs the decorative top rail bewtween the post and post caps done, but if you know us, some projects take a longer time to complete, but they do get completed. After all, Our Journey Through LIFE comes with many bumps and detours, but we eventually conquer the long over do tasks. Which is what we tackled this last weekend. The gate to the pool finally followed suit and fell over during yet another wind earlier this spring. Using temporary supports we were able to secure the pool again but is now time to replace the post and make it permanent.

So with the help of these two young men, the new post is up.

Hubby had made new gates from recycled fencing that matched our existing fencing. A little bit of paint and walla, new gates. However, they are just temporary gates until he creates the ones I really would like, but for now we will have gates that swing and lock without bungee straps.

Once the post was secured it was time for some fun and games. Mr. T (our daughter's hubby and Big and Button's step daddy) played around with the pogo stick. I am such a collector and this is one of my boy's toys when they were younger, along with the stilts I had kept for when I had 'Grand's, and here we are. The 'Grands' sure do enjoy going through the trunk of old toys and bringing them back to life.

We had a visitor from next door roam around the field.When he arrived last year we thought he was for Thanksgiving but he remains a member of their farm. I sure hope he isn't dinner this year. He is so cute!

As our week continued on, we had a visit from the 'Grand' The Boy! Our Policeson recently buzzed his hair for a cooler look and this little guy loves it. But not as much a the slide on the pool. He is getting so comfortable in the water that he now comes up with new tricks, like this one...

We had some rain this week and it left behind a beautiful rainbow.

The night before we had a business meeting, while during it we lost power for a few minutes, and felt like a storm was not only happening outside but could be happening with our business as well. When over, we no longer felt like a ship sinking in the storm, and waking to this rainbow, almost directly over our heads, spanning from one side of our property to the other, gave us a sign that there is hope after all. God shows us signs in ways He knows we will see them.

With that, Our Journey Through LIFE, continues moving forward. It is just a week away when family begins to arrive for the Labor Day weekend and our celebration of those in our LIFE will begin. My home will be blessed with all 7 of our 'Grands', a showering for our new one to come, and can't wait for the laughter that will fill the walls for years to come.

You Capture - In The Kitchen!

It's been awhile since I joined in on the fun over at I Should be Folding Laundry. In fact not only should I be folding laundry, I should be doing it. But for today, I won't focus on the laundry room but rather my kitchen.

This is a perfect challenge for me since I just love my NEW kitchen and spend a lot of time in there now.

One can't but love to shine her Shaw Original 1897 Farm Sink in the kitchen.

Being a grandma, one must have favorite things for the 'Grands' in the kitchen like...

 And of course this little girl is always in the kitchen, rather I'm cooking or doing dishes, she is right there watching me in the kitchen. Probably waiting for crumbs to drop, LOL!

Don't forget to head over to I Should Be Folding Laundry and see what going on in other's kitchens.

Pins and Needles

No I am not sewing...well not today at least. I am waiting for these valance's to come...

...so that I can turn them into bumper pads for the cradle.

This cradle was bought 31 years ago for my daughter. My best friend (God rest her soul) had made me a quilt that matched my nursery of yellow gingham. Back then we didn't have the luxury of knowing the sex before birth.

It has had many babies snuggle in it over the years. I loaned it to my sister in law for her daughter and made new pads for her. When my daughter was pregnant with Bug, it was remade again to complement her Noah's Ark nursery (have no idea, ok maybe I do, why no pictures were taken. My MIL was losing her battle with cancer and my life was to say the least upside down and all around crazy). Our Fireson did not use it as her family had a cradle made for them. But when our daughter was pregnant with Button's, I transformed it again for her Tinker Bell nursery. Though I did not make those pads I did make the canopy to hang over it. I had been sewing on a quilt for her that was made from my MIL's old crocheted table topper her mother had made. However I ran into a few snags with my health and it is still, yes 6 years later, in the sewing drawer uncompleted. Just writing this gives me inspiration to finish it so that it will be in the hope chest for when Button's, many, many, many years from now might use it for her daughter.  

I did however make the padding for her Moses basket.

Now I get to transform it again to complement our Policeson's nursery.

I just love getting ready for new additions to the family.

Once she picked out her colors and found bedding she liked, the set did not come with cradle bedding. So I am going to transform the valance into the pads. I will also take the crib sheets and remake them into cradle sheets, I hope get two sheets out of one, maybe even three. After all, those few months that she will be in it, lots of sheet changing takes place. I had suggested that our son could refinish it to match the crib but they felt it was not necessary since it will be in their bedroom most of the time.

Her mom will be here in a couple weeks and we will all work together to put together the nursery hopefully after the shower. However, this little one is trying to come early so we might just have a guest of honor at the shower. Last weekend she spent most of the day in the maternity ward. Test were done and her weight is measured to be in the 5 lb range but her lungs are the concern. The longer she stays put the better. Of course we and the church are praying vigilantly that she doesn't come to soon. Only God knows when she will make her entrance so we are on PINS and NEEDLES hoping things go well and as God desires. 

Grandma Day

My Grandma Day's have been changed to Wednesday. Why you might ask? Well, 'Grand' Bug wanted to do Hip-Hop dance this year and his class is on Wednesday. Plus Wednesday's are early release days at school so they get out at 1:30 instead of 3:00, giving us 3 and half hours to spend time together. Double the time, double the pleasure. The 'Grand' Button's didn't want to do dance this year. Try as we might, she was very settled in her choice. We thought she might want to do Hip-Hop with Bug but NOPE! I think she enjoys her hour of mommy time to tell the truth. With this class parent, and that means grandparents too, are not allowed to stay and watch. The class is held in the part of the studio that does not have a parent window. As the kids get older they are moved up to the BIG room thus making us peepers not getting to watch. Boo Hoo!

Before dance we watched this hilarious movie...

I laughed so hard my cheeks hurt. The kiddo's also really enjoyed the flick, too. If you haven't seen it, I highly recommend it. I added it to my queue so it will be delivered for our upcoming Family Weekend, along with Alice in Wonderland (the new one) and The Princess and the Frog.

As always when the kiddo's are here, they keep Bella busy and today was no exception. I finally got some pictures that weren't blurry, wahoo!

I also got pictures of Button tieing her shoes...

Before dance and before I picked up the kids from school I was able to shop for about an hour. Lately that is all I am able to get out of me. With list in hand for the party store I got just about everything checked off. I also went next door to the Dollar Store and found more candies for the BaBy-Q shower and two B-Day parties we will be holding Labor Day Weekend. If you want to see what we are up too, check out my daughter and mine 2 Kids and a Party Blog, just click here.

So I am happy to have my Grandma Days resume and look forward to them each week.

Boy am I exhausted though, but wouldn't have it any other way!

He Had a VERY Happy Day!

Happy Birthday to you. Happy Birthday dear Monkey Man, Happy Birthday to you!

The -3 hour drive seems like minutes when you arrive to these happy faces.

One of dads gift was this awesome water slide. They were playing on it when we arrived and they were playing on it before we left. I think they would have slept on it if allowed, LOL!

But drag them off we did to open more gifts from us and his dad. He loved his Kung Zhu-Zhu, his Buzz Lightyear, his James train, his game of Trouble, but his gift from his cousins, Bug and Buttons was a hit...

Even his bike took back stage to it...

Until dad brought out another gift for him...

a bubble machine!

Our 'Grands' LOVE bubbles, chalk and of course water!

So back outside for some more slide fun!

Each of the kids got many, and I mean many, swing slides from dad.

First the Birthday Boy!

Then Big sister, Giggles...

Little sister, Peanut...

And finally Little Man...

I think they would have done this for hours and hours, they were having so much fun!

Each one taking turns. It was so cute! They would lay at his feet waiting for their turn.

By the time we left they were collapsed on the couch and floor watching Toy Story

 and wouldn't doubt if they fell asleep during it.

They had a fun filled day that is for sure!

Now to get ready for a fun filled Labor Day weekend when we pull off 2 more Birthday parties, one for Peanut and one for The Boy, and a BaBy-Q Shower for our Policeson's first baby. Family is flying in from Florida and driving down from California. It will be such a blessed occasion.

After all, if this weekend was an example of what lies ahead, I can't wait.

And I plan to enjoy each and every minute of it.