...of the most Wonderful blueberry crop we've ever had....
...of watching with Amazement our garden grow under the terrific green thumb that is Alex...
...of exploring the excellence that is a wonderful broccoli and cauliflower crop, (I spy a cauliflower from above, do you?)
...of just SAVORING the lovely weather that is wonderfully warm, but not yet steamy HOT, and trying to soak up these long beautiful days before the endless heat of summer gets to us...
...of having several "Ahhh HA!" moments with our kids, feeling we are finally reaching, or at least glimpsing, admist the daily never-ending messes, yelling, chaos, and fights, that magical age where it all gets easier, and it all is super sweet.
And maybe that's the glass is half full picture, but I feel like our cup is running over :-) These are truly THE days...
Or to be more correct, a WHOLE lot of this and that! With my job change and loosing my coveted Mondays off, as well as normal Summer craziness with a full garden , birthdays galore, and celebrations up the wazoo there hasn't been a whole lot of blogging going on!
But today, we had a couple momentous occasions.
#1- We have a river swimmer!!!! First time sans life jacket for Forrest. This is a BIG deal!
#2 - Talin pees in the potty! His brother adorned him with underwear soon after the event. Pretty cute brother moment:-)
Hurray for the Fulton boys. And to all a good night!
This year for my birthday I got the itch to enjoy it...every last minute. Carpe Diem. So, a week ago I sent out the shout out to friends telling them of my plans, to see if any wanted to join for all or just a part of the start of my 34th year on this longest day of the year....
And, that is exactly what happened!
We started with coffee, tea, and breakfast treats at Solstice Sunrise at 5:43 a.m. (no pictures of the atendees here....we were still waiting for the coffee to start working!) My neighbor and friend Mary Beth and Karen and my WONDERFUL Alex and mother in law Gloria joined me!Soon after coffee and breakfast Mary Beth and I headed out for a beautiful ride along the South Fork of the Trinity. It was gorgeous :-)
Then we had a beach party with friends :-) Some good cold drinks, a GREAT cold watermelon, and lots of semi clothed cute kids helped the day get even better!
Neighbor Jerry, (Above), even made it down our crazy river trail to help celebrate!
At dinner time we escaped the beach for a salmon BBQ back up at our house. Potluck style and everyone did not disappoint! The best meal I've had in a long time. Add a wonderful session of frisbee and a campfire and there you have it! Except....
...what party is fully complete, no matter what your 30 something age is, without cupcakes! Yum :-)
I am blessed with wonderful family and friends who put forth the effort to celebrate with me on my special Saturday birthday! Happy Solstice ALL! An exhausted 34 year old is down for the count.
This year marked my Mom's last year of teaching Kindergarten. 38 years of teaching is such a tremendous achievement, and as fellow teachers told her, she will NEVER stop being a teacher. It's in her blood to always teach.
Her "treetirement" party, in May, was amazing. Her long time teaching and family best friend Liz hosted and did a wonderful job!
Yummy treats and lunch were filled in my us sisters.
Life size replicas of my Mom were in and outside of the house... in typical Elementary school teacher fashion! You tell school teachers to host a party and they go ALL OUT!
Family and friends came for the occasion. Megan was even lucky enough to have nearly ALL of her old Elementary school teachers in one spot! Now when does that ever happen???
Natalie was there in spirit....and actually in real life, at least in her 5 year old self :-)
Happy Retirement Mom! Welcome to your endless summer!
AND...
Forrest graduates Preschool!
Look at these four! What characters...and what a handful!
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Thanks to super teachers Sheila and Kyle all four are heading to Kindergarten next year!
Their ceremony was super quick and cute, perfect :-)
Congrats boys! Can't wait to see what these kids will do with the next 10 years, it will be exciting that's for sure!
The boys newest fun toy, a tractor! Officially a birthday gift for Talin, who has hired Forrest as his official driver.
This was undoubtedly the perfect gift....they are SO happy in it! Riding though fields of flowers, "working" loading up the back with dirt and rocks, making piles, building, doing "work like Dad". Forrest even has his 3 point turn down pat :-)
