the american dream...

we are living it! Holy sheet we got a big pool! Yeah, it pretty much takes up the entire backyard. And it took over 12 hours to fill....hellooooo water bill! And I've been in it only once and dang, it was freezing! But when we return to our normal summer HEAT this thing will be the cat's meow...guess I can check "make our backyard awesome" off of my summer to do list! ♥

summer days...

This week I picked up some popsicle molds & whipped up some butterscotch pudding pops! I think I am going to make yogurt & fruit smoothie pops for tomorrow morning. We are grilling brats & dogs with corn on the cob for dinner...but I have lots of chores to get done first! Work has been very busy lately with all the bad weather we've had in Illinois - tornadoes in Chicago & major flooding in Springfield a few weeks ago. I am looking forward to a long 4th of July weekend & some time down at the lake.

how does your garden grow?

Well, we have 1 very large pepper and about 3 tomatoes....so far. The basil is growing but is getting chewed to bits by bugs. Our friend ended up having to leave his garden, so the pepper, tomato & herb plants are the extent of our garden. But that's ok - because we're crazy & just bought a pool that will fill almost the ENTIRE YARD! Ha! We cannot WAIT!! ♥

Happy Father's Day!

Love you Dad

new project...

source: google images

Just today Cory told me his Mom has an old tandem bicycle out in their shed that has been collecting dust (and probably rust) for years. I think bringing it back to life to ride together would be really fun!! I love the bike project that Stephen & Shawna did - it's great inspiration for our tandem project! ♥

i ♥ green

Toes: Sally Hanson - Complete Manicure in Fairy Teal
Flops: J.Crew - Skinny Wedge in chrome green

guess what?

source

I am going to be an Auntie again.......and it's a GIRL!!!!!!! ♥♥♥

while we're away...

this is how they spend their afternoons ♥

my story...

Here are a few of my last pages from the Tell Your Story class - you can see my full journal here. I am proud that I kept up & completed the entire art journal. I gave myself permission to follow the prompts & the techniques either very loosely or very precisely; I tried to use lots of supplies I already had on hand as well. There were days when I didn't feel inspired or motivated, so I would take the day off & come back to it with the right amount of energy. On those days I would complete 2-3 pages at a time. It was such a positive experience & I learned lots of new techniques! I have even started keeping a list of prompts for myself! Now I have a week off before RVA Summer Camp starts - I couldn't help myself!

weddingstock 2010

lookout tower at the corn maze - photo from 2009

Our dear friends (and neighbors) Ken and Suzanne were married yesterday at Ken's family farm - which also happens to be the world's largest corn maze. On our drive up yesterday afternoon, the weather started to turn pretty ominous. This was not the best news as we were planning to camp on the farm with the rest of the young wedding guests. When we arrived, the rain started coming down really hard. During a calm 20 minute window, we threw up the tent. The rain was off and on, at points in a torrential downpour, for the rest of the evening. It was like Woostock - a muddy, crazy mess of kids playing & listening to music. Everyone was in completely casual attire - and after my dress got soaked, I changed into jeans & a hoodie for the rest of the night. In total Ken & Suzanne style - the rain did not ruin the evening whatsoever. In fact, after it was all said and done - I'm sure they wouldn't have had it any other way.