This Is Us

  Every year for awhile now on the last day of school we (Lorena, my mom, and/or I) would take the kids to Baskin Robbins for a fun end of school/beginning of summer treat. Since Lorena’s death it’s just been my mom and I taking them. We had to keep doing it! Here we are getting and eating our ice cream!

  For several years now Nick and I have been giving our kids summer fun bags.  What are summer fun bags you ask? Well, after the last day of school we give our kids bags with lots of fun summer things. Such as new swimming suits, pool floaties, a new outfit, sand toys, bubbles, crafts, and more. It’s a fun way to start our summers. Here is our first year  2015 Summer Fun Bags We already have stuff everywhere for Brichette’s wedding. 🤣 Stuff for the pool. There is also D.I. bags that we need to go drop off. 

  This set isn’t one of my favorites that I’ve done, but they are okay. I used a bright blue, yellow, and pink. I tried to paint a sun on my thumbs, but it looks horrible! The flowers on my pointer fingers are cute though!

  We had to drain the water out of the pool this year so we could put clean water in and adjust the support poles. Nick ended up having to go out of town for work so I needed some help getting some more bricks put under the poles. Xander and his best friend Cairo went to the hardware store, bought the bricks for me, and then put them under the poles. It may not seem like a lot, but for me it was a huge help and I grateful appreciated them taking time to help me.

  I painted my daughters nails for spring. They are purple and blue with white flowers.

  We have been having problems with our cat and bugs getting into our garden beds this year.  I read that sprinkling cinnamon on the soil will keep them out.  Cats and pests don't like the strong smell of cinnamon.  Cinnamon also has antibacterial and antifungal properties which helps control plant diseases, umm hello... How wonderful is that?!  It can also help roots grow on cuttings. If you sprinkle cinnamon on your seed starting blocks it will help your seeds start out their journey healthy, as it helps prevent diseases. To use it on cuttings, lightly dust the cut end of your cuttings before planting. I will be sprinkling cinnamon on our garden beds and seed starting blocks every spring from now on!  Who's with me?  

Yesterday we were doing yard work.  I was in the front garden by the pond pulling weeds and found a snake. I really enjoy having snakes in our yard.  In 2020 when we were putting in the pond and redoing the front garden, we found  This Snake .  There are a lot of benefits to having a snake(s) in your yard/garden. They eat snails and slugs and Japanese beetles, which can be harmful to your crops and flowers. They eat small rodents which can infest and wreak havoc in your home and gardens. They play a crucial role in keeping the prey populations down. Because they help keep the rodent population down, they help prevent the spread of Lyme disease. I get so happy and excited when I find another snake in our yard.  We try our best to protect them from Rooben and Tigger.

  Our chickens used to just free range and roam around our yard.  Brichette got Rooben, and unfortunately that had to end.  We didn't think he would hurt them, but he has.  So, we can't just let them out in the morning, let them play around, and then close the coop at night.  We decided to build a chicken run.  We can put them in it in the morning and then take them back to the coop in the evening.  Nick built it out of wood and latus and put a door on it.  So far so good.

  As always, I was spoiled for Mother's Day!  I got flowers, cards, a shirt, snowballs, and a candle.  It was such a good day!

  I am so happy it's spring.  I love all the beautiful flowers and colors.  It's wonderful.  So here are a few spring flowers for you to enjoy.

At our Niece's wedding they had a photo booth.  All of our kids were able to get in it together and the pictures are the cutest!  I sure love my kids!

We built the bathroom in the basement several years ago.  It leaked and we could never figure out why, so we decided to re-do it.  A couple days ago Nick took off the glass door and ripped out the old tile.  Today he started installing the new tile.  We picked a lighter glossy tile because that bathroom doesn't have a window and I thought it would help make the room brighter. It looks so good so far and I'm excited to have it finished.

  Rooben loves to sleep on his back with his legs in the air.  It's so cute and so silly! Today I found him sleeping like this on the couch. I really don't see how that can be comfortable. lol

  Tigger is always sleeping in silly and weird places. Today I found him sleeping in a basket of clean socks in the laundry room.  lol

  Xander didn't really like going to dances.  I'm not sure why, maybe just all the people. So he didn't got to very many.  His last dance was in May of his senior year (2023). His best friend Cairo came and picked him up and they were going to meet up with their dates, at one of the girl's houses.  So the only pictures I got were of the two of them in our front yard. lol

  One of the presents that Nick and the kids got me for my birthday was a new rain chain. The old  Rain Chain  lasted a couple years before rusting and falling apart. I really liked this one… I like unique items… but my new one is my favorite. Hopefully this one last just as long… if not longer! 🥰 I love bees 🐝 

  In order to get Brichette and Sam's invitations out, we needed to get some engagement photos done. My cousin was going to do them, but our schedules conflicted and we had to do it on a Sunday.  We didn't want to make her work, but she did say because it's us she would do them as a service, but she was spending time with her family for Mother's day since she would be out of town for Mother's Day, so she couldn't take them.  So I ended up taking them. We went to Memory Grove Park to take them.  It's by the state capital.