Wordless Wednesday

Celebrate x's 2

Bryce celebrated his birthday again with Grandma when she arrived this past Tuesday before my surgery. We bought a yummy cookies and cream ice cream cake and had all the festivities, candles, wish making, biting the cake, and presents too! Thanks grandma and sure wish grandpa could have been along too! Mom has been such a great help while I am laid up and on crutches after having bunion surgery on Wednesday. The boys enjoyed going to the pool and peach orchard with grandma one afternoon. They even learned that peaches are good with the *skin*(usually the want them peeled) right off the tree. Thanks mom for all you did!

Singing to the birthday boy!

Wishing on those 6 candles!

Taking a big bite!

All smiles with their presents. Lego City for Bryce, a new helmet, and squirt gun tubes for both boys in the pool! WOW!

Trying out the new squirt gun tubes...pretty soon the squirt guns where out of the holsters and the boys where hiding down in their tubes and bouncing up to squirt one another! Boys boys!

Surgery

After having several surgeries, I have come to some conclusions:

* It is never simple, like the discharge papers say.

* I forget just how weak I get each time.

* Somehow I always manage to get sick to my stomach, either from the anesthesia or the medication, which makes me worship the *throne* in some way.

* All your dignity is lost.

* Thankful for family and friends who help out in every way.

* And many other things my mind is too doped to think at this point!! :-)

But in the end, all this will pass and life goes back to normal and Iwill forget just how crazy it all was.

Thank goodness!

I am so Glad for Jay, mom and the boys helping me out! By summer's end I will be good as new!!

First day of Summer!

On Monday, the first official day of summer, we spent the day with my sister-in-law and her three boys at the lake, which has a nice beach area. The boys had fun searching for clams and chasing the little fish. We brought lunch along and had a picnic too. You can hardly beat the lazy days of summer. We have been trying to pack in everything we can before my surgery. Things will be different for a few weeks while I am on crutches and recovering.

Gavin, Gannon, Bryce, Lane, and Aiden
Lane with Aiden, he loves little babies.

Building in the sand!

Lane resting on the shore

Swimming lessons

Last week the boys took swimming lessons. Lane is doing very well learning several different strokes and swimming laps, as well as perfecting his diving skills too. Bryce is not far behind learning the back stroke, perfecting his freestyle, and beginning to dive. They are both like fish in the water!

Lane swimming the back stroke.
Lane diving

Bryce swimming with Ms. Haley.

Bryce diving from the side of the pool.

Branson - part 3 more fun!!

Relaxing, playing, and laughter was a great part of our trip, something we all needed!!

The jumping pillow was so much fun......both Jay and I enjoyed jumping with the boys!!

We enjoyed the Landing in downtown Branson two different nights, the water, lights, fire, and music show was really amazing!

The pirates we brought home after putt putt golf!

Branson-part 2

We spent three days at Silver Dollar City! It sure as hot, not much different than home! The boys loved riding the roller coaster and Marvel Cave. The cave was breathtaking and kind of freaky at time, only for this momma! I forgot the camera card in my computer so I only could take a few pictures without it! Great memories with or without the camera! The grounds of SDC was just beautiful, ,making for great photo opportunities!

Waterfall inside Marvel Cave

Water formations in the cave.

Jay and Lane riding Wildfire(they are right in the middle waving), Lane absolutely loved it with its flips and turns! Jay has a riding buddy now!

Waterfall

Lane playing the piano inside one of the historical homes.

Pumping water the old fashion way!

Inside the old school house

The boys getting a lesson

Grandfather's Mansion.....things sure weren't right inside this house! The boys loved it!

The living room was tilted, making you feel so crazy trying to walk!

Bryce and Lane....woohoo!!

Flooded Mine, one of the boys favorite. You shot at targets to earn points!

Huck Fin...this was a wild and wet ride.....everyone had a high powered squirt guns on the boat and then people on the shore could shot at you too! There wasn't much that was dry when we got off!!

Branson -part 1

Two weeks ago we took our big summer vacation to Branson. On our way, we stopped and spent the night in Arkansas. Jay's sister lives there and helps run the store in Arkansas. We enjoyed a little time on Greer's Ferry Lake on the barge. What a beautiful part of the country! Once in Branson the boys couldn't wait to hit the pool because it had a slide!! Our site was lovely, we splurged this time and it was well worth it! I enjoyed the glider, being the rocker that I am.

Our campsite in Branson

Overlooking Greer's Ferry Lake

Spectacular view

Sugar Loaf Island on Greer's Ferry Lake!

Sunset

The boys feeding the carp at the pier.

Feeding frenzy!

Salsa

I made this recipe yesterday and it is a hit in our house!

Restaurant Style Salsa
from Pioneer Woman

Ingredients

1 can (28 Ounce) Whole Tomatoes With Juice
2 cans (10 Ounce) Rotel (diced Tomatoes And Green Chilies)
¼ cups Chopped Onion
1 clove Garlic, Minced
1 whole Jalapeno, Quartered And Sliced Thin
¼ teaspoons Sugar
¼ teaspoons Salt
¼ teaspoons Ground Cumin
½ cups Cilantro (more To Taste!)
½ whole Lime Juice


Preparation Instructions
Combine whole tomatoes, Rotel, onion, jalapeno, garlic, sugar, salt, cumin, lime juice, and cilantro in a blender or food processor. Pulse until you get the salsa to the consistency you’d like—I do about 10 to 15 pulses. Test seasonings with a tortilla chip and adjust as needed.
Refrigerate salsa for at least an hour. Serve with tortilla chips or cheese nachos.

Supper Tonight

We enjoyed sweet corn and new potatoes from the garden tonight along with grilled pork chops! It was a wonderful meal!

Cake and Candles!

The adorable birthday boy!

Red, white and blue baseball theme!

Can you tell the cupcakes were good to him? He doesn't mind a mess on his face if the food is good! So typical of him!

Bryce enjoyed his cupcakes and celebrating with his teammates before his last game! I sure liked how the red, white , and blue all coordinated. I didn't really plan it like that, but it all came together! Bryce told us tonight as he went to bed that he had the best birthday! :-) Makes a Momma and Daddy happy!