I felt like such a cool Mom today when I...

...bought my very first snowboard!

Watch out below, that's all I'm gonna say!  =)

Okay, so it's for the boys, but still...I felt pretty cool.

I know, I know, that probably is a very clear example of how uncool I am.

Uncool but happy happy! And I may just get myself back out there on the slopes this year too! So, yeah, watch out!

We met Bill after work yesterday to check out a new hiking trail, and the drive through the town was so so pretty! Lots of farmland and pastures...I cannot wait to see it again once things green up! There were lots of metal sap buckets hanging from ginormous Maple trees, the kind with the covers, and when we asked Isabelle if she knew what they were for, she smirked as if the answer was obvious to anyone with a pulse and replied, "Yeah, so you can throw away your trashes in da woods."  HaHaHa

They had a wigwam!

It was really neat!

 

 I just had to include this one because he looks so cute...and his actions of late haven't been terribly cute so it's a good reminder that he is still my charming little boy.

We got to walk right through the wetlands on these boardwalks- so cool!

I love that even though they may complain or grumble about going on yet another hike, within minutes they're smitten with all that God has created for them to explore.

This afternoon we hung out at the McAuliffe-Shepard Discovery Center (Christa McAuliffe was a teacher in our school district who earned a spot aboard the space shuttle Challenger in 1986, which tragically exploded within seconds after take-off- every school in the state was glued to the television watching with wide eyes; it was a huge deal, and so so sad. I was in the 6th grade.)

 This makes me giggle.

 As does this.

You can even broadcast a weather report and watch yourself on TV! It's fun!

Then we saw one of the planetarium shows, which I may or may not have missed about five minutes of due to the fact that I've been wide awake since 3 am (ugh). It was a little long, and slow, and Isabelle was getting a little squirmy, which is what actually woke me up, so I suppose that worked out all right.

 Now I have to go make dinner. I think I want to hire a chef.

And a maid while I'm at it.

Summer Livin'

We had a pretty low-key weekend but it was nice. For the most part. For every fun thing there's always some meltdown or other unwanted something or other to be dealt with. I think it's wearing me out...not like the heat doesn't do a good enough job of that!

I find myself still searching for that balance I mentioned in another post. I'll probably get it figured out about a week after school starts up in the fall. For now, we'll keep going to the pool down the road. And eat ice cream and chocolate chip Eggo waffles for lunch like we did today- that always helps!  :)

this was taken the night Daddy took her out for a special date!

Here are some funny pictures from the other day...

 he was helping my Dad chop and stack wood...can you see all that DIRT? HA

 Isabelle gets the biggest charge out of...ice cubes in her drink, ha! Such a funny little girl!

 yup, it's her "date" dress- she begged me to wear it the next day...why not?

she's asking us to check out her "big musshels" here

of course we had to check out those big muscles, too!

We were able to finish up a couple house things over the weekend. That always feels good! The to-do list was seeming a little overwhelming...well, truthfully, it still feels overwhelming, but you do what you can.

The boys got to watch Harry Potter (finally!) on Saturday afternoon, so I decided that would be the perfect time to have a little girl time with Isabelle. I know I take my sweet daughter for granted, and I forget how hard we fought for her. I want to cherish every moment with my little girl before it's all gone. As it is, I absolutely cannot believe I have a son going into the 7th grade this year!

 first we did our nails- pink sparkles please!

then onto the hair- just like when I was a little girl...hair up in sponge rollers for church the next morning  =)

 I think she looks so beautiful here! And look at those bouncy curls!

she helped me make these turkey cheese roll-ups, too...YUM!

More science fun...

A favorite way to beat the heat...

There's a lot of stuff on my mind these days. I've been praying a lot, but everything still feels unsettled, which of course makes me anxious. It isn't that I think God's presence has left me. I know it hasn't, but I just don't feel it. That makes everything harder. I would be wise to remember that there are many, many others who have suffered and continue to suffer things far greater than what I've endured.

He who pursues righteousness and love finds life, prosperity and honor.

Proverbs 21:21

Teach me your way, O Lord, and I will walk in your truth; give me an undivided heart, that I may fear your name.

Psalm 86:11