Camping

Last weekend we went camping with the world's happiest baby.



Yes, we ALL slept in tents.



We all went for a hike.




Explored with cousins.



Grew from boy to warrior. (sadly i do not have a picture of when they painted their faces with purple poke berry juice)


Growled for mom's picture.






Did some sound of music re-enacting. (she just learned this in music class at school, w/ motions.)



Then it was time to pack up and head back.



Soccer game Sunday. (She's headed the right way in this picture, woo hoo!)



Monday night Bible study with world's happiest baby. Thank you Aunt Liz for the hat!

Happy Birthday!

Love this guy!!

Nephew @1yr

Cutie Man is one year!

Cutie man being my nephew. He's a year and I was able to see him open some presents via skype. Thank you Jesus for skype! Here is what I've been working on for him for a while. I think he'll have to grow into playing w/ it. Perhaps it will entertain him when he's not sleeping on their 9+ hour drive home. Love you Knox!


The swing moves and the airplane travels.


Oops. On its side. BUT those little animals in the barn are finger puppets! And the tools come out too.



Rocket Travels, fruit snaps on and off.



Had to include the ocean!



After making a crown for miss Mia I had to try a boy one. Not perfect...but cute IMO. I think he wore it for 1/2 a second. He's one. I'll give him some grace on that. :)

*inspiration for some of the pages and the template for the tree trunk, barn & finger puppets was found HERE
*Also some inspiration (tools) found HERE

I'd really like to do this one someday...maybe I'll make something for my own kid! ha!

"Mom! Callie is in the cemetery!"

I was just as confused as you are until he explained. For Easter we had made a garden tomb scene and the rocks are still in the flower pot for that.


This has been Callie's fave spot. (She been around w/ her kittens [tiger & brighty] since her brother Diddle passed away. These are farm cats that hunt and occasionally get scraps. Not official pets) I came home to find that J had taken several pics of her in the pot (w/ Den's permission) while I was at the store.




He isn't as upset as he looks. She LOVES him so much.




Went to the fair last weekend. Food, business booths and tractors. Though something important did happen there. The kids had their first funnel cake.




Now that the older 2 are back in school this guy and I are a team again. He's very 2 and the training of his little heart can be quite challenging. But for the most part we are having fun. Notice the middle. He LOVES his "piwoe 'nd binket".

My mid morning love....

a peek

So...she's not mine but she is pretty stinkin' cute huh? Really more of a beauty than just a cutie. Her mama gave me permission to put it on the blog because I made her crown. Do not be distracted by the amazing rainbow cake. Focus on cute crown. ha! A preview to some other sewing I've done for my nephew and MUST mail tomorrow.

Happy Birthday miss Mia! Thanks for wearing it :)

Here we go...

Soccer. Still on the fence about this. 3 days a week for 7 & 8 yr. old's, Sunday games....gimme a break.


But she seems to be having fun. I hope just enough to want to go and do well, but not enough to return. She told me that next year she will do basketball. what?

The kids had no school on Friday. We used their coupons to go bowling that they earned from the library summer reading program.

This is before bowling. Someone would rather just get to it than have his picture taken.



But that someone won the game. (He did use the ramp)


I could not get over his bowling shoes!



That evening we used the tickets they earned and went to Dutch Wonderland. J and Dennis had gone a couple years ago, but it was a first for the rest of us. Truly a fun family outing. Though I don't know if V will ever trust me again after putting him on some of those rides. Also, my daughter is so brave, she went on the "big" roller coaster with me :)




Saturday afternoon was a birthday party for my nephews who turned 10 & 12. Such a beautiful day. Here is an attempt at all of them w/ their Great Grandparents Krantz.


Did I mention it was a beautiful day?

CA, then back at it

Ya ya...it's been forever. I know.


Let's first talk about this guy. He was this happy for 98% of the traveling. I couldn't have asked for an easier baby.


First part of the trip was spent in Orange County

introducing the next generation of cousins,



and visiting w/ the first.


Getting to see DEAR, DEAR friends and meet her little ones (so cute!!). (not to mention, they bought me lunch..thank you aron & suz!)



More friends coming and taking me to dinner , thanks guys!




All the time being taken care of by my gracious hosts; Uncle Frank & Aunt Sandy. LOVE THEM!


Then it was time to head to B-town


and of course stop for some much missed In N Out.




There we met both great grandma's.

As well as B's Great Great Great Aunt Henrietta.

Cooled off in the pool. (swam with the scorpions...ahhh, desert life)

More old friend time, Missy and her beautiful girls.

Caught the sunset.

Made my mouth and tummy happy.

Remembered why you don't visit Blythe in August.

Summer storm, complete w/ lightning...

that started a fire across the river.

Of course we had to take a bit of a closer look.

Soaked up these guys. Never enough time, but always thankful for whatever we can get.

Then we closed things up by heading back out to OC...

and saw these guys. So much fun, dinner, scrabble, Uncle Jimmy's blankie. Love them tons!

And Uncle Jimmy made breakfast before we went to the airport. yum.

Then I hopped on a plane w/ the happiest baby on earth.

Just in time for the first day of school.