Summer of Seuss: Cat In The Hat

It's that time again!

Summer Reading at our local library had been kicked off! We had a great first week with many kids showing up to read, create, eat and have fun!

The theme this year is "Summer of Seuss!" We're exploring the fun worlds created by Dr. Seuss. The first week was an introduction to Dr. Seuss' books, and therefore, Cat in the Hat!

 Entrance to the Children's Room.

The Cat in the Hat, the Lorax and Truffula Trees.

Gertrude McFuzz.

Lazy Miss Maisy and Horton Hatches the Egg.

The Dr. Seuss corner.

The pale green pants with nobody inside them from "What Was I Scared Of?"

Characters from the Sleep Book.

"I sat there with Sally, we sat there we two..."

"And to think that I saw it on..."

Cat in the Hat tablescape.

Thing 1 and Thing 2 strawberries.

Cat in the Hat jello cups.

It is almost 4th of July, you know.

Ryder in Gram's Cat hat.

Thing 1, Thing 2, Thing 3, and Gram!

Mom is doing an amazing job with Summer Reading, as always. There are 4 more weeks to go, and I'll be updating as they go by!

Frame Spruce Up

This project has been a long time coming, but yea! It's finally finished!

I have this beautiful painting my dear friend painted for me (along with some help from friends and relatives) for my husband and I when we got married. It's had a prominent spot in our living room since, but it looked a little naked. I've been wanting a frame for it, thinking Nick would have to custom build one, but one day I cam across one at a local thrift shop that was (mostly) the perfect size!

I got it for $5! It even came with a painting in it, but I didn't need it.

Close up of the original finish.

Primer coat.

I actually had plans to do a distressed look, but forgot that I shouldn't prime it to do that particular method.

So...

This is what I ended up with. Just plain orange. The picture makes it look more yellow-orange than it is in real life. It's the same color that I have painted in my kitchen.

Oh it looks so much better! My painting now looks complete!

Peach Orchard

On a whim, we woke up this morning and decided to drive up to a local-ish peach orchard. I've been wanting to get some good peaches for jam and drying purposes, so we made a little family outing of it.

They have all these cool tractors and other vehicles around for decoration. Ryder was so excited.

Efurd Orchards

http://www.efurdorchards.com/

Their place is like a large, fancy produce stand, with all kinds of things to buy and look at.

Lots of unique items, like this bug turned bench, make up the decor of this "stand."

They also sell homemade ice cream! Ryder's enjoying some with Daddy.

Peach flavor, of course.

We got a good deal on our peaches by buying the "overripe" ones. In reality, they're flavor is now perfect and they still are a little firm in the middle. This pictures ours and my mom's. We'll be drying some this week.

Looking for some good peach recipes? Here are a few from my blog that are excellent to use some tasty peaches.

Fresh Fruit Sauce

Fresh Fruit Crunch

Peach Jam

7 Months

Okay, so it's more like 7 1/2 months, but at least I'm here now! Things are going well, the baby continues to grow and so do I! I still have a ways to go, and everyone's letting me know it. I can't tell you how many people say, "Oh you must be getting close huh?" and I respond, "Um, no I still have 2 months (month and a half) to go," and they give me that, "Ohhh, wow."

Really? That makes me feel greeeat. The funny part is I've gained less weight this time and the baby is measuring smaller than Ryder did. My advice: if you can't say something nice to a pregnant woman, don't say anything at all.

Struttin' in my swimsuit at the lake.

We got to spend a lovely day out at the lake this weekend with family and friends. The kids had a blast tubing and swimming. Ryder got quite attached to the boat, loving to ride on it and play on it even when it wasn't running.

Ryder had to try on Uncle George's hat.

These pictures were from a couple of weeks ago on Memorial Day.

Our next boat driver.

This one was loving every place but the water. Go figure. Hopefully he'll get through this scaredy cat phase quickly.

On another note, my garden is yielding squash like crazy.

My first harvest of squash (believe me, I've had much more since. Those suckers can produce a lot).

My onions! This is the first time I've ever had onions bulb out at all. They're still curing on the porch.

My little garden helper. Well actually, he's been the opposite of help in the garden lately, but he's out there with me.

I finally got to harvest my spinach seeds.

Yea! Seeds for next year!

Ryder recently was given this tractor by Uncle George. He's in heaven.

Hangin' with Bruce.

There's only a little time left until the new baby comes! There's going to be a lot going on between now and then; canning, visit from the twins, Summer Reading, and Ryder's birthday. Well, we'll see if the baby makes it to Ryder's birthday. He might get a little brother or sister for a birthday gift. Looking forward to holding this baby outside of my tummy.

Spring Twin Visit

This is a late posting, it just took me a while to compile the pictures since there were a little of mine and a little of my mom's.

A few weeks ago, my mom got to keep my niece and nephew for a week's time. We packed in all kinds of fun play time, giving the kids plenty of time to play together and indoctrinating them to love to visit their Gram & Pops and Uncle Nick and Aunt Aubrey.

The first day we took them to the local park. It was our first time to visit this park, and I must say it's really nice. The kids ate it up.

All three trying to climb up.

Xander was a maniac on the playground. He would climb everything with no fear.

Selene being cute.

All three on the swings.

The boys riding the space shuttle.

Selene is such a spunky girl. Ryder finds it funny, apparently.

We took a snack break. This  picture is such a good depiction of each of their personalities. Selene is all out, Xander looks like he's trying to make sure everyone's got what they need, and Ryder is stuffing his face.

Later after nap time, the kids got to enjoy all Gram's new outside toys.

The next day we went into town. We grabbed some lunch and went to the Brookshire's Wildlife Museum.

Lunch at Wendy's meant chicken nuggets and fries (so healthy, I know). The twins loved it but Ryder only like the fries. That's my little vegetarian.

Xander giving Gram a serious face.

The Wildlife Museum was great, but the kids were really too young to appreciate it. Luckily they have a smashing playground.

The boys playing on the vintage fire truck.

Such climbers.

Ryder was obsessed.

Merry-go-round play.

Boys being boys. Trying to get into the locked train caboose.

Just chillin'.

Running around screaming was a favorite pastime of these two.

This is what happens after a day of hard play.

 The next day we took the kids to local library.

They enjoyed playing and checking out all the cool stuff in the children's room, but at some point they were ready for a little more rambunctious play than is proper for a library, so we took them back to Gram's.

The next day they came over to our house and played outside. The twins got to jump on the trampoline and enjoy swings, trikes, and just plain fun.

Unfortunately I didn't get any more pictures of their visit, we were all having too much fun. The twins are coming back for another week in July, and we are already booked up with things to do that week. It's so nice to get a chance to spend some time with them, especially for Ryder. He's getting to know his cousins really well and getting to an age where he really likes to play with other kids. We look forward to their next visit!