This Is How We Do The 4th

We're so happy to have Pop & Mimi visiting for our 4th of July weekend.

These boys are spoiled with the best of the best. <3

Off to church on Sunday in our patriotic colours.

Then looking forward to our small group and some church friends coming over for smoked BBQ.

And of course, a few games of Mafia.

Our Monday began with red, white, and blue breakfast scones.

Thank you, Pioneer Woman!

After an early morning wake up to catch todays Tour de France stage.

 Then off to the Fallon 4th of July Parade.

Happy Independence  Day!

All Things Green

I woke up yesterday with my to do list on my mind. 

But a few minutes into my day I realized that it was St Patrick's Day!

Though I'm not Irish, 

as a Mama I'm always looking for ways to add a little more fun to our days. 

So, after a quick spinach tinted breakfast smoothie, we headed out the door to a local cafe where we were pleasantly surprised to find green frosted cupcakes. 

I think they're called muffins at 9:00am, right?!

We normally try to avoid artificial dyes, but this was an exception.

Lynden wasn't quite so lucky and just had to share my cherry scone. 

Ryder learned how to draw a four leaf clover and followed that up with a beautiful rainbow. 

Daddy was so happy to see his beautiful artwork when he got home from work.

 Second breakfast was followed up by a trip to the library.

I do enjoy reliving my childhood through my boys. 

Bill Peet books were some of my favourites as a girl - I don't know if it was the fun animals or engaging artwork, but I still love most of them.

We chose a few of those and Ryder chose an additional train story to bring home.

Eventually we had to get to a few of those to do things:

Ryder was a great helper with my yard work, picking dandelions for the garbage man.

While the boys napped I was able to finish up two Etsy orders.

 And my rainbow of Fiestaware came in handy to hold macaroni with green peas (and black beans) for a delicious green lunch. 

Sure do love these precious boys and the fun we have!

Local Entertainment

There's not a lot of readily available entertainment out here in the Nevada desert
- unless you're into gambling. 

So what do we find to do for fun?

Well, this morning we drove out to the desert and went target shooting.

'Let's go shoot some guns' said Ryder.

 Then on our way home, we took a little detour through downtown to admire the Christmas pennants from my Etsy shop hanging in the display window of the local saddlery.

Life in a small town. <3

Enjoying the Slow Days

It's not often that a week day ends up feeling like a day of rest. 

I'm just starting to see the light at the end of the tunnel after being knock-down sick, so today was just what the doctor ordered!

For starters, who doesn't want to wake up to this sweet face? 

He doesn't always wake up this cheery, but I've found out that if I hear Lynden crying after a nap and send Ryder in to check on him, he'll always be smiling at big brother's antics and squeaky high voice within a few minutes. This morning was no exception.

I call that brotherly love. <3

I quick trip out to the farm stand and Safeway for flour tortillas resulted in a few extra items and forgotten tortillas. Ooops!  

These $2.99 gladiolas were worth every penny though. 

I do love fresh local flowers!

That failed grocery shop was followed by play time outside with my big boy. He is so clever and always coming up with creative ways to get things done. There's engineering in his blood!

I managed to get another Etsy order finished while we were outside.

I have just one more order to complete tomorrow and then I'll be home free this weekend. 

A good thing, because it's booked!

I prepared for and taught lessons for two of my piano students this afternoon while Lynden napped and Ryder played. And, since I have no desire to pack the boys up again and head out, I'm experimenting with homemade flour tortillas for dinner tonight.  If they fail, I'm sure I can at least pull off a taco salad. ;)

This picture wasn't taken today, but it's from Sunday which was also a restful day, so it fits - haha! 

I just had to brag on my baby who rode sitting all by himself for the first time in the bike trailer this weekend. Love these sweet boys!

10 Things I'm Grateful For This Friday

Most people anticipate Friday with an eye toward the upcoming weekend. This Friday, as I enjoy my morning coffee with a baby on my lap, I can't help but be thankful for what this last week held. 

Would you care to join me in my journal of gratitude?

1. Fresh eggs from our very own chickens sitting on the window sill.

2. Hand me down clothes for Ryder.

A fellow military Mama who lives in town was cleaning house in preparation for a move. She took her boxes of boys clothes to Goodwill, but they were already closed - and I'm so thankful, because instead she passed along over 25 great quality items and 2 pairs of shoes sizes 3-5 for Ryder. Wow!

3. A great first experience at the Honda dealership in Reno yesterday.

What I thought would just be an hour or two of waiting with the boys for a quick diagnosis of a noise the van was making turned into a 5 hour wait. But...since there was a recall on the airbag that they wanted to fix for us, we were given a great family size rental car to run errands while we waited. 

Plus, when we got back to the dealership we were told the brake rotors, wheel bearings, and alignment were all great, it was just worn tires with uneven tread making the racket. We already knew the tires were pretty worn and were anticipating replacing them already - probably not with the $725 Michelin's the dealer was suggesting though. ;)

4. A Christmas gift on clearance.

While waiting on our van yesterday I ran through TJ Maxx and Marshalls, something I normally don't have the time to do when I'm in Reno. While there I found Ryder's Christmas gift for more than half off, from a line of toys we've admired at a friends' home in WA - made in Germany - so they pass Braden's not-made-in-China policy. Shhhh....don't tell Ryder!

5. A 100% insurance covered breast pump.

I've exclusively breast fed both boys thus far, but in retrospect, I think having a pump would have helped with a lot of fussiness in those early weeks when I just couldn't be nursing baby 24/7. With that in mind, I called my doctor's office to just ask about insurance coverage and a few other questions. Within 3 days, I received an awesome quality electric pump. If God should send us another little blessing (no, I'm not pregnant ;) hopefully this will help!

6. The start of a new year of MOPS

This week we just met for registration and a play date at the park, but I'm certainly looking forward to some time spend encouraging and being encouraged by other Mamas!

Lynden enjoyed his park time too!

7. Health for the whole family.

Not a day goes by that Ryder doesn't ask me if he can help me make some 'smoothie juice.' I don't know if it's the thrill of using the Vitamix or being able to help add ingredients, but he loves to make and drink delicious smoothies. 

This morning's was banana, plain yogurt, pineapple, carrot, kale (from our garden!), flax seed, mango, fresh ginger (this is just a passing phase, but boy is it potent!), and milk.

8. My sweet boys.

I don't think I could make a list of things I am thankful for without including my busy two year old and happy almost six month old. Of course I'm thankful for their Daddy too, but he doesn't love the limelight. :)

9. Unexpected Generosity

Every once in a while I get in the mood to purge and just clean house. These last few weeks I've sold a few things laying around on our local FB swap/sell pages. One such sale was fabric I've had for ages that I no longer love and want to use my limited time sewing. I posted it for $5, but the sweet Grandma who bought the stack pressed a $20 bill into my hand and insisted I take it because it was worth more than that. All I can say is benefiting from the generosity of others has really encouraged me to be more generous as well. After all, nothing is really mine, just on loan, right?!

10. The ability to do what I love.

While I'm only self-taught and just have a basic machine, I love to sew for and sell some of my items on Etsy. I've been blown away by the amount of orders I have received and look forward to completing another order placed just this morning. I'm saving up for a new sewing machine!

Oops, I was planning on having just 10 but somewhere along the way I lost count.

11. Home days!

It's Friday, and while I can't say I have nothing to do (Haha!) I have nowhere to be but home. I love days like today when I get catch up on laundry, cleaning, one on one time with the boys, etc. in my most comfy clothes. Happy Friday!

Let's be real.

Not all days are like this. 

Some days the list doesn't overflow, it needs to be mulled over and sometimes I still come up short. But, the more I practice counting through my blessings, the more I see the little things as blessing from the hand of our good God.

What about you? 

What are you thankful for today? 

Share your list in the comments below...

Two New Creatures Have Joined the Zoo

I've noticed that as the days and weeks pass, bringing us closer to the arrival of Baby Little Dipper, less and less gets accomplished. It may have something to do with the naps I try to sneak in while Ryder is having his afternoon. I anxiously await that nesting second-wind, because at this rate, the baby's going to show up whether I'm ready or not.  Hello week 37!

Ryder was my sweet shopping buddy on Tuesday. Everywhere we went, he saw hats and shoes, pants and socks - and wanted to try it all on, whether it was infant size or not. 

His reward?  A new pair of fuzzy brown bear slippers to keep his toes warm in our big cold house. We're working on names for these new creature friends, so comment if you have any suggestions. :)

THAT FACE!

Yesterday afternoon included another new milestone.  After his nap, Ryder begged to go play outside with Dixie and so I bundled him up and sent him out the back door. What followed was 30 whole minutes of uninterrupted exploration and play with our rascally little dog. The two of them have become fast friends and I certainly enjoyed a half hour of cleaning the kitchen and prepping dinner without the two of them underfoot. I sure do love to see my little boy growing up!  <3

On the menu for today... I have 4 Etsy orders to get started on, I plan to make a big pot of beet borscht for lunch (using up the last precious beet I received in my latest Bountiful Basket), and creamy homemade Pioneer Woman mac & cheese to accompany the pulled pork we smoked last weekend. 

Today I'm thankful for a hardworking husband, days to get stuff done at home, and the joy God gives in daily walking with Him. I am blessed!