zombie catfish chase....

After downloading pics from yesterday, I realized I wanted to mention our stop at McGaffey Lake.
Yesterday, on our way home, we took a detour drive by the lake...

The forest looked so inviting...

The drive is lovely.....

Bam in the lake or at least where the lake used to be......

It's sad to see the lake we once frequent many years ago but just a shadow of its former glory.

Looks to have been dry for some time now

piles and piles of dried dead crustacean

The crustacean aren't the only guys that where in the lake....

Eeewww...Bammy! Put that catfish down!!!

Bam had FUN chasing mommy and his sisters with the skeleton of a catfish...
So gross!


(Click here to see the blog from last summer when were at the Ranch)

my lil' entrepreneurs....

It's almost time for our summer vacation to NYC.

As you might know..... we drive to NY from NM every summer to see Grandma-Great.

It's the one thing we happily look forward to every single summer.

Believe me......we have a great time traveling from state to state..... sightseeing, museums, zoos, farmers markets, outdoor fairs, etc...

And there are plenty of stuff my kiddos want along the way and having four kids.....that stuff adds up!!! 

They usually have to careful decide what may or may not be worth their money.

So this year, in order to stretch their summer spending dollars, they've decided to sell a few things.

An arts and craft show of sorts with a few other things too.

We decided to head out to our local flea market.

My little entrepreneurs made some arts and craft items (made with love from their tiny hands) to sell along with some items they've out grown.

Fifi made hair clips and headbands from ribbons, feathers and beads....

Cookie made rings and keychains from small trinkets

Sweetheart hand knitted scarves and bracelets.

And Bammy acted as their banker, bookkeeper and cashier.

Sweetheart with her scarves and bracelet bar

Making the customers smile.
Along with every bracelet Sweetheart sold she recited a poem to the
 customer of friendship, love and best wishes as she puts the bracelet on their wrists.

I had so many compliments on my kiddos WONDERFUL business ethics.

very personable, very connective, great customer relations, unique, fantastically crafted items cuteness.

By days end... they did EXCELLENT... they had the satisfaction of a job well done......their crafts were a hit...... AND their profit margins were through the roof!

My little entrepreneurs.... they never stop making me PROUD!

(How about clicking here to see what we were up to last summer.....)

SIZZLING HOT TEMPERATURES....

Today Sweetheart and Fifi, had a soccer game.

It was a very good game despite the super HOT temperatures.

GO SCORPIONS!!

half time snap shot.... Keeping Hydrated

ALWAYS A GREAT GAME!!

Fifi and Sweetheart have enjoyed playing soccer......I know they've both had a positive experience.....this being their very first time playing on a coed soccer team.

I also know they've learned a lot about soccer....mostly due to having a great coach.

But...this game may likely be their last game. (before we leave for summer vacation)

I know they'd love the opportunity to finish up the season....(another two weekend games)....but we must make time for our vacation.

Because we drive to NYC.... we need a certain amount of time to make the round trip voyage.

If time permits....we might be able to squeeze in another game....we'll see.

But until then....Thank you Coach Tory for a great season!!

Both Sweetheart and Fifi would like to say they've had the BEST TEAM and the BEST COACH around.

They look forward to seeing you again...perhaps next summer!

(Take a peek HERE at a day from LAST summer)

our mountain is waiting....

We have a few obligations tying us up until next week.

Believe me....the anticipation of beginning our holiday is killing me!!

I don't like keeping a running schedule.... after all we're ruled by schedules during the school year.
Although I think we're certainly ready to schedule in our SUMMER VACATION!!

(Click here for last summer blog)

think happy thoughts.....

One week (and counting).... as I begin the prep for our vacation, I find myself staring off into space.

I just get so caught up in thinking of the stuff we'll need. 

Packing is so much fun for me.... (I know some people could careless)
Not I...
 it means I'm ready to set off on another adventure in life with some of my favorite little people......my children.

Bam, Fifi, Sweetheart and Cookie are so super excited.

Every turn is something new, every day is ready to bloom into something wonderful.

As I stand here smiling to myself, Sweetheart comes into the room and asks me if I'm okay

".....oh mommy is just day dreaming"

the anticipation and excitement fills my heart 

Summer vacation is a great escape from our daily lives and a well deserved time away.
 We all work very hard at school and at home.

Other than that....... what's life without some ADVENTURE and FUN once a year.

(Click HERE to see what we were we doing last year to date)

a sprinkle a day.....

Cookie says, "Sprinkles are like glitter.... for food."

This pile of colorful sprinkles are left over (spillage) from the cupcake decorating that went DOWN last night.

Sweetheart, Fifi, and Cookie invited some friends over for a HUGE slept over party (I don't think they slept much though..... plenty of giggle-YES)

It was more like a make-over, dress up, nail salon, cupcake kind of night.

The house smelled yummy from baking cupcakes.
If only they made a perfume from that scent.

Special thanks to Fifi, Sweetheart, Cookie and their friends who did a great job tidying up afterwards.
(Click HERE to see what we were up to last summer)

I wanna be a rock star....

This is my perhaps the cutest Rockstar pic ever.
This is Sweetheart, singing her heart out.
She's been hip hopping, her lyrical genius(ness) everywhere today.
Make room WORLD---- for the newest teen sensation
 Lil' Miss Sweetie Pi

I love her passion


(Click HERE to see what we were up to last year)

shivering in the summer

Cool thing about summer is how the sun lightens up your hair naturally.

The photo below is of my hair....completely sun kissed with colors.

I like that....

A messy summer bun for library day with my kiddos.

(I didn't even know Fifi snapped a picture of my head while I was driving..... I kind'a like that.)

We spent a good portion of the day enjoying the books at the library.

We even check a few to take home.

With the temperature outside in the upper 90's..... the library turned up the air conditioner to a chilly 60.

(Brrrr)

On the way home Sweetheart wrapped herself up in her snuggie in the back seat and snuggled up with a good book for the ride home.....

(Do you remember what you were doing last summer today??? We do. Click HERE to see)

these are a few of my favorite things....

Things I love about SUMMER:

The feel of the warm summer sun kissing your face and arms

The smell of freshly cut grass

NO SCHOOL..... having my kiddos all to myself

 No rush, No fuss, No big deal

Day dreaming, picnic-ing and blowing dandelions in the breeze

 Summer VACATION (Woo Hoo!!!)

Adventure seeking (and finding) 

These are the things that make summer so much FUN.

.... If only it was like this all year around.

(Double blogs from last year..... just Click here and HERE to see what we were doing last summer)

Style with determination is how to play the game....

Soccer Game Saturday.....

I'm so proud of my little athletes.

They play an excellent game....running, kicking, getting in the game.

Can you see Sweetheart and Princess Fifi in the photo above??

(hint: behind #9, they're in the green mesh covers)

 My Sweetheart is a my little spitfire........ she is always running hard and fast after that soccer ball!

She may be the smallest and youngest on this team but she is the quickest and hardest working...... even the BIG BOYS don't scare her!

It's funny how while playing Princess Fifi looks like she's posing Hollywood style 

(she the one with her hair in a high ballet bun)

Sweetheart is on the right keeping an eye on the ball and never too far from sis.

GO SCORPIONS!!

 (It's your LUCKY DAY.....click here , HERE, and here to see what we were doing last year. I must've been VERY inspired to write 3 blogs in 1 day!)

along came mrs. wishy washy

The hardest working appliance in our house is probably our dishwasher (right after the washer and dryer..... of course)

So when it quit...it really had us missing our it.

Hand washing dishes started off as a fun task....everyone was more than happy to help wash, rinse and dry the dishes.

But... it quickly turned into a dreaded chore.

"Mommy, when are we getting the dishwasher fixed?"

Oh believe me, we were over joyed to hear that the day had arrived.....the day the new dishwasher was arrived!

Woo Hoo!!

Bye Bye overworked yet very much appreciated dishwasher...

"Bye Mr. Clean hello Mrs. Wishy Washy!"
(who knew the dishwasher had a name--Cookie knew)

Click HERE to see what we were up to last year on this date....

We're lucky to have each udder....

We're eating dinner out tonight.
What to wear???
What to wear???

How about something black
 and white
perhaps with some spots
a cow bell and some furry ears???

Mooooo...nificent!

Sounds like appropriate attire for a meal at Chick-fil-A.

Once a year Chick-fil-A celebrates Cow Appreciation Day.
They award a FREE Meal to customers who come dressed as a cow!

So my kiddos decided it would be FUN to dress like a cow for dinner.

INTRODUCING...

Moooo-vie Star Cookie

Marilyn Moooo-nroe

Mooo-na Lisa 

Deja Mooo---wait, that's not Deja--- how about Hanna Mooo-tana

(Sweetheart's best friend joined us)

If you ask me I think black and white are a definite and appropriate fashion statement for dinner.

Yummy!!

Bammy and I were feeling far too bashful to pull off udders and spots.....so we payed for our meals.

Here are a few jokes the girls entertained us with over dinner.

Why do cows wear bells??

-----Because their horns don't work-----

What do you call a cow that just had a baby??

-----Decalfinated-----

Why does a milking stool have only three legs?

-----Because the cow has the udder-----

(click here to see what we were up to last year)

running errands 135 miles away.....

Quick day trip to Gallup was in order for today......

The scenery is very relaxing

 Nana and Cheii were in need of some help with a few errands and appointments.
We were more than happy to help....

After running a few errands
......we stopped for lunch at Bááh Háállí

It was nice to see a few people we knew..... and to take a moment to play catch up.

When you're in this area of the state you must keep an eye for the livestock.......BEEP BEEP

 After a very full day, we had come back home. We have obligations with football practice early in the a.m.

9 mile hill descent

 If only we were able to stay the night

In honor of our hard work we rewarded ourselves with a refreshing SLURPEE
......oh that and it's FREE slurpee day at 7/11 on account it's 7/11 today.
Who knew putting gas in the car would come with a special treat!!

HAPPY JULY 11th aka 7/11

(click HERE and HERE for double 7/11 NYC blogs from last year)

the pale moon light

Mystery in the front yard--

Tonight the yucca looks a little mischievous.... a little eerie.....a little mysterious.
Any guess why?

 (check out what we were doing last year on this date.....click here)

You are what you eat.........you are AWESOME!

Super yummy Blake's Lotaburger for lunch.

Have you had this lately?

Hey! I think the bag says it all...

This patriotic fella is Blake

(click here to check out what were doing last year on this date)

Sir Kyle.........our muse.

Are you up for some AMAZINGLY DELISH cake???

We are...

So tonight we've decided to make some (semi) homemade strawberry delight cupcakes.

This is simply the BEST EVER STRAWBERRY CAKE.............ever!

Best Ever Strawberry Cake

1 box white cake mix

3 TB. plain flour

1 (3 oz) box strawberry jello

1/2 cup water

3/4 cup oil  (I actually only used 1/2 cup oil & it was fine)

1 cup frozen strawberries, thawed and chopped up

4 eggs

Combine cake mix, flour, Jello and water.  Add oil and eggs, one at a time, beating well between.  Add strawberries.  Beat 2 minutes.  Pour batter into well greased and floured 9×13 pan.  Bake at 350* for about 45 minutes.

 Be prepared for yum!

*Ding*

They're ready......hot and fresh out of the oven.

They smell soooooooo so good.

 We decided to decorate them like someone near and dear...

by near I mean--
in the kitchen
 right beside us the WHOLE time
from preparation
 throughout the baking session
 right to the decorating finale.

Behold the masterpiece......

Mmmmmm......

Now Sir Kyle would like to know when he can have a cupcake??

 (Click here to see what we were up to last year to day) 

in the planning phase.....

Thank you for reading our little blog.....

We're giving ourselves a little break today.

Its Saturday

Its Summer

What more do I need to say

But click here to see what we were up to last year on this date

Wheel Adventures

Look at my girls....… Bike riding in the park, enjoying their summer.

When I see them, I see me...having fun in the hot summer sun.

Princess Fifi wheel-y going fast

Sweetheart singing wheel-y loud

"Bicycle, Bicycle....…I want to ride my bicycle, bicycle"

Cookie is fast and furious as she drifts and donuts on her BIG WHEEL.

They wanted a wheel adventure after biking they put on their inline and classic four wheel skates for some dancing in the streets.

Can you guess which is Princess Fifi, Sweetheart and Cookie just by her skates??

Cookie carefully maneuvers around as she finds her skating legs.

Sweetheart is an absolute natural in her skates...... 

Give Princess Fifi a hand.....

 (click here to see the another skating blog from last summer)

or 

(click here to see where we were today last year.....)

Ur berry special to me.....

Summer time is fun time

              Time to enjoy nature 

                       Enjoying the strawberries that are ripe today

                                     Today is the day I'm thinking of you

                                               I will be there in another month or in a week or two

                                                       Summer time is fun time........ summer is when I see you.

This is a poem written by Sweetheart for and about her Grandma-Great

(memories.....click here)

Rain, Rain, go away......

Independence Day in NM......

It's NOT hot and it's NOT humid like NYC (where we spent 4th of July last summer)

It's a little chilly and very rainy. 

Today we're at the ranch in Vanderwagen with Nana and Cheii.

The smell of rain in July is sooo beautiful......

We weren't sure what we'd be able to do after such a drenching day of rain.
Despite the wet weather Bam and I went to the local firework tent, to see what we could see...

This is the firework haul we brought back.

Obviously we have high hopes of the rain letting up later this evening.

The girls made the most of a rainy day by crafting.....

But crafting super cute 4th of July headbands didn't seem to put a smile on that face.....

"When will it stop raining!!!!"

Princess Fifi, Sweetheart and Cookie decided instead to bake a patriotic cake... a favor we look forward to every year.

Nana decided to cheer up the girls by having an indoor picnic with fried chicken with all the extras.

 (by the way the cake was delish...... )

But as the day went on...  wet and muddy.

But the show must go on....

POW!!

BOOM!!

KABANG!!

AHHHH!! 
All the pretty colors...
Bam and I had a great time attempting to light those fireworks.
We tried to keep good timing and to keep our audience attention.
Nana and Cheii LOVED having us for Independence day this year!
We ended up having a great time..... The rain was NOT going to limit our FUN!

Now here's the smiles that melt my heart...

♥♥♥♥♥
HAPPY 4th of JULY