on the road again

Just can't wait to get on the road again....

We (us chicks!) are making lists of what we'll be packing, because in T-minus-4-days we hit the road, headed for Wisconsin.

My family has strategically placed themselves every 6-7 hours apart, which is incredibly convenient for us chicks, so we'll spend Monday night in Tulsa,OK with my favorite uncle, Tuesday night near St. Louis with my bro-in-law, sis-in-law, and the girlies' cousins, and then Wednesday we'll be sleeping in Wisconsin. Oh, I can't wait! We'll be there through the 4th of July, then come back in time to celebrate someone's 8th birthday. Can't believe Aubrey's almost 8.

So, I may not be posting much while we're gone, but I haven't been posting much lately, anyway, so you won't even know I'm gone. :-)

all changed up

a new title for my blog, even! the title is inspired by the way Aubrey signed her last letter to my sister, "love us chicks" - I love that, so I'm using it. Don't worry, she's been compensated for her creative inspiration. :-)

I couldn't crop my big old flower photo just right, so I'm living with the white border at the bottom and right.

Summer fun

Summer break has been full of sticky, splashy, crazy fun so far, and it's only just begun!We've gone splashing at the splash parks several times each week, with one day hitting two different splash parks - that was quite a day! We're frequenting the library, keeping track of what we read and participating in the summer reading program.
We're watching our garden grow. It's growing really slowly in this intense heat. I don't blame it. I'm surprised it hasn't yet shriveled up into dust. We're jumping on the trampoline, when it's shaded. We're hanging clothes outside to dry. Ahh.
We're sitting in our kiddie pool. We're feeding the birds (there were 3 blue jays in the yard earlier this week - so, so cool!). We're watching baby deer following their mamas.
But most of all, amid all the doings, we are just being. Being together. Being silly. Being sweet. Being loud. Being creative. And eating watermelon. Lots and lots of watermelon.

(by the way, I think watermelon photographs really well, don't you?)

under construction

I feel like changing things up on my blog, and I got started, but it's not doing what I want, and I've got dinner to make, sprinklers to run in, and diapers to change, so sorry about the mess.... it'll get fixed (specifically, the header picture - need to find a new one I like that I can make fit right!).

Oh, and a proud mama moment - Aubrey said to me, in the middle of doing jumping jacks and pull-ups, "Mommy, the healthier I am, the happier I am!" She figured that one out all on her own, at age 7. She's a smart cookie, I tell ya! :-)

another year older

Last week I celebrated my golden birthday, and I'm excited to be beginning my fourth decade. :-)

My big birthday gift is a chicken coop. Don't have it yet, but it should be done when we get back from our Wisconsin trip, then I'll get me some hens!

And, once that happens, instead of paying to go to the zoo, I might just start selling tickets for people to come to our zoo! But I've been thinking about chickens for awhile, and I am very excited.

In other news, Andy (and the laptop) were in Arizona for 5 days. Andy (and the laptop) got back today. Andy (and the laptop) were sorely missed. Andy keeps asking if I'm done on the computer. I keep saying "almost," all the while thinking, 'dude, 5 days without the computer. f i v e d a y s. I've got some catching up to do. Oh, and honey, I missed you, too. I promise.' No really, I missed Andy much, much more than I missed the computer, of course. And I'm glad they are both back. :-)

check out how the wind is blowing Aubrey's hair. And how the wind ain't doing a thing to Lauren's 'fluffy bun.' Mama and the hairspray developed a very close relationship on recital day.

And here is Aubrey not dancing. Silly girl, cute costume.

If it worked, here's one of Lauren's recital performances. She's watching her teacher off stage, even though she knows the dance, and I'm pretty sure she was told "stay on the orange X."