Random Summer Pictures!

We were on our way to swim somewhere.  Mikayla is liking nose plugs this summer. She can focus on her strokes and not holding her nose now.

We spent many days this summer at Foster Arrend Pond.

We got this ice cream maker brand new at GoodWill. After we exploded ice cream inside our freezer, we learned how to make ice cream that can just freeze for several hours inside a tupperware container. Comment if you want the recipes! Only 4 ingredients!

The girls have been making Rapunzel hair with boas and scarves clipped together.

A little end of summer fun at Mall of America with Cousin Sophia!

A Few of My Ideas This Summer

The bath puff suction cup hooks are perfect for drying wet swimsuits in the shower!

Reuse an old lanyard tag to make after school reminders for your child's backpacks. This would work great to remind your child about bus numbers/stops, or for day care reminders.

This is a smash leaf journal cover. Pick leaves and flowers, lay them flat on a piece of wood, spread a thin cotton material on top of your findings, tack it down tight, and hammer with a rubber mallet. Decorate your journal! This was done for an AHG Camp Craft. See next post...

A Bit Belated, but Elyana's Birthday

I realized that August has become so busy that I forgot to post Elyana's birthday photos from June. The problem with the photos from her party was that the batteries kept dying in first our video camera, then our digital camera.  I used my cell phone to take a few, but it isn't the best quality.  My mom was there to take tons, but I still need to show her how to upload her photos from her digital camera.  So, here is what I have:

Waiting patiently for her cake to be lit!

Dora Loves Boots Cake

The crown she's wearing flew off instantly once inside the free ticket machine.She was so focused on catching her hat, she didn't catch very many tickets.

Elyana had saved up money for a very long time, combined with her birthday money, and gift cards, we unleashed her in Toys R Us! 

Mikayla's 9th Birthday!

Elyana was working on her cake decorating badge and helped me make the cupcakes for Mikayla's party. I love baking with her and I hope she keeps up her passion for cooking.

We went to the House of Bounce and the girls had so much fun.

Backyard Summer Memories

 We have really been enjoying our pool we have this summer.  That float Elyana and I are on is no longer.  The girls were watching that Wipe Out show on TV and decided to play a version of their own by jumping onto it from the the pool ladder.  I am sad that the days have already been shorter and the weather is turning cooler. I hope we can squeeze in a few more memories!

Hell?

     I thought that post title would catch your eye!  I put this out on Facebook earlier today and realized I should put it on the blog too. Here's another funny quote from Elyana:

Elyana watched construction workers digging a hole in the street yesterday. As we passed by, she said, "I guess they're looking for hell." I honestly couldn't tell if she was joking or not.  Mikayla pipes in, "You can't dig to hell, Ellie!"

 

     I'm behind on posting photos of the girls' birthday parties, but I hope to do that this weekend before next week. Next week the girls are going camping for the first time and with their American Heritage Girls troop.  Monday night I am camping with Elyana and on Tuesday, she gets picked up and Mikayla gets dropped off for 2 nights of camping.  I will definitely take a lot of photos.  Pray for good weather and a safe fun time!

      The school year is closing in quickly and so I'm trying to get as much of my teaching prep work done as possible.  If only I had my own laminating machine I wouldn't be at a standstill on a few things...  One can only dream and possibly save up for next year.  

Front Entry Remodel!

Nate and I had been thinking about putting tile in our entryway. We had it picked out and just hadn't scheduled a weekend. Next thing I know my best bud is back from Germany and headed out of town again in a week. Karin agreed to hang out with me AND majorly bless me with her expertise in helping me in our project.  We wanted ceramic tile flooring, but ceramic tile flooring requires a thick cement sub-floor which wouldn't be possible if we wanted to open our front door ever. We chose Snapstone Tile Flooring. It is a porcelain tile glued to a rubber backing and they "snap" together and are placed right on top of your existing floor. Once the floor is in, all you have to do is grout and add your baseboard trim back on.  Karin and I worked on it all of yesterday while the guys entertained the kids. She headed back home to the cities late last night, but we kept their kiddos for a sleepover. Nate and I cut and placed the final pieces today. I spent the afternoon grouting. I'm incredibly sore and tired, but it was very worth it! I can't believe that little miss clumsy/accident prone me can handle a wet saw with skill!

Before

It begins...

Karin makes the first cut on the wet saw we borrowed from our friend Steve.

Halfway done and my knees started aching. I grabbed some foam and duct tape.

Almost done!

I thought I'd let Nate place the last tile!

Ta Da!!

Oops, I have one little tiny square to cut...

This is how small it was, tough one to cut on the wet saw!

All done!