Summer Fun Buckets

I know I am obviously a little late on this post.

However, I feel like it could totally be adapted to anything...
**Maybe school starting back up with school supplies and a new outfit...
**Or after school fun, with a puzzle book, and a new reading book, and crayons with a color book, or a new game or video game, etc...
**Or just a last super fun day before school starts back up, with movie tickets and popcorn...or a rented movie coupon and goodies, or supplies to make cupcakes.

Hey those are pretty good...I may have to do another one...

ANYWAY~~I got this idea, originally over at My Mix Of Six.
It will be a yearly tradition for now on!

For the two younger kids, I got large sand buckets. For Teen I used a cool bag.
I used vinyl stickers to write their names on all of their containers.

I filled them with all kind of summer happiness. Water squirter, disney water floats, flip flops, color books, glo sticks, American Flags, beach balls, crayons, books and puzzle books for the older set.

(Teen got 4 pair of flip flops...as they are SO important...and variety puzzle books filled with brain games...some Fourth of July goodies, hair bands, some gelly bracelets and a glo stick.)

I put all of them on their spot at the dining room table...so after school they were all found.


They were ABSOLUTELY beside themselves...to be opeing a "gift" for no reason!
It was a fun way to start the summer.

Now...what will the reason for the next one be?????
Raelyn

Ten years!

Ten Years ago today I married my best friend!

He still is my best friend, and so much more.

I am blessed and I seriously couldn't ask for more.

Often, I wonder, how I got so lucky...and I am seriously NOT just saying that either. I truly do. I am honored to be his wife. Honored to have made it this far, and SO certain that we will make it so much further. I know a lot of people who aren't fortunate enough to say the same thing. More so, I am honored to be a family.

So today, I just wanted to throw out a tribute to my hubby... and our marriage...and our love.

HAPPY FRIDAY!

Raelyn

Happy Memorial Day!

Never far from my mind...is the reason we have all of the freedoms that we have today.

Never far from my mind is what some people have had to give up, in order to make sure we could have all we have today.

Never far from my mind, is the fact that some are missing their loved ones, today, so we can keep the freedoms that we have today.

In appreciation, and honor.

Happy Memorial Day!

Raelyn

Our Windowsill Garden

So we have a vegetable garden outside for the first time this year.
We planted tomatoes, sugar snap peas, basil, cilantro, cumcumber, carrots, squash...and then strawberries and blueberries as well.
Most of what we planted were from starters...The kids LOVE to go out to see what changes have happened or what improvements our starters have made.

SO......I thought I would teach them from scratch...
seed by seed, with their own hands.
That way, they could witness the stages...that will eventually land on our table.

My kids LOVE vegetables.
From the time they were babies I fed them fresh foods in all of the colors of the rainbow.
We would try, and try again, until eventually most things became a part of our weekly menu.
Don't get me wrong...with each child there are a few things that only go down with a fight...
But I think, that for the most part my kids are very well-rounded in that department.

I thought having their own little windowsill garden, would be fun for them to learn from.
Where they pick what to plant...then watch it from first sprout, to stir-fry.

My kids planted every seed themselves...

(Yes...my sons nails are painted. I did a manicure for my daughter...and he wanted to try it too...so we did it for fun. **You KNOW you are lovin' the color**!!!!)

They picked parsely, chives and basil.

Green pepper, yellow tomato and grape tomato.

They talked to each other about which seeds would go where.

We talked about how many seeds to put in each of the little dirt pads.

We read about how long it would take for each to sprout.

It was a REALLY FUN project!

This sat in our windowsill for FIVE.....yes FIVE days....

And THIS is what we have now...
***

Talk about quick gratification!

Raelyn

Sunshine....finally on Mother's Day!

It couldn't have been a more perfect day.
This Mother's Day.
Look at that sky!
This is our new yard, that has just taken formation in the last month.
And it is beautiful!

It feels serene and happy.
It finally feels like spring.
Flowers.
Seeds.
Gurgling fountains.

Dirt.
Mulch.
NEW LIFE!

Painted toes.
No socks.
Flip flops.

Ahhhhh, sunshine.
Happy Spring!
I hope everyone had a wonderful Mother's Day!

Raelyn