Things We Do

On buying men's shirts.

It's been a while since I went after the real deal. I had just been picking up shirts here in there for Nate that had a general size. However this particular mission I was on required me to find a neck size a sleeve length size. The shirt needed to be no iron. Athletic fit. When I finally found a shirt like this it had no pocket. I had promised Nate that it would have a pocket so that he would know where to put his pitch pipe. It was probably a miracle that I did find this exact shirt that I needed. It would be nice to have two for chorus tour and wouldn't you know the shirts were buy one get one for a dollar. There was not a second one to be seen. So I bought a second one that was a close fit but it wasn't quite right and I  hunted one down and drove 45 minutes to get it, I didn't mind the excuse to get to Park city though. So I think we've done it I think Nate is fully outfitted for this chorus season. I did have to return one pack of black socks one pair of black pants and 3 white shirts. Thankfully I ran into the nicest people at the customer service desk's and also I didn't have to drag him along to the store! If I get out in a date night the last thing I want to do is be stuck by the dressing room. 

Equipper's Institute.

Last Saturday we attended a Seminar put on by Keystone. The main speaker with 2 sermons was I can't think of his name (Frank Reed) but he is rather old and he loves Anabaptist history. Thinking.... I almost have it. I can picture him! ah. He was great and made the day totally worth it.

Nate took a class on Moral Purity and I think it was in this class that the speaker addressed talking to your children on a regular basis about the dangers of sexual predators including their friends and family... I'm not sure if that is the term he used but I think he stressed keeping this communication open with your kids. What a good reminder.

I took a bunch of classes on being a Mom and one was on kindness, delightful! ( Although this lady seemed to recommend giving other people the right away at a 4 way stop as a kind gesture.  To be honest I don't really like when people do that. If they would just go when it's their turn it would speed things along for everyone. Just my opinion. Merging traffic yes. Four way stops? No.)

I ordered Piper the dog a pink collar because we were starting to get the dogs mixed up. If you see Olive barefooted this fall it's because Piper chewed up all of her shoes! We are ready for her to be more calm like Harley. 

Harley (and Nate) are expecting puppies in October so if anyone wants a pretty red lab pup for Christmas let us know. 

East end days tractor pull. I might have to get Nate some suspenders and a lawnmower. (You thought I was going to say pipe) 

Singing for their Great Grandma. 

Stuart got stung by a swarm of yellow jackets on Labor Day. One went in his ear. Poor guy! The next morning he woke up and looked like so. I was so surprised to hear him say that he didn't want to go to school. Then I saw his face. Once I told him that he could go I thought he seemed relieved.

Nate spraying the still angry wasps. 

$.50 frostys at Wendy's. Cooler temps have us cruisin in the wagon again.


Funny Story you should read on Cup of Jo. 

Iceland is on my bucket list. I feel like it's on everyone else's too (because look Scott Kelby went) but then when I tell people it seems like it might be an odd place.
Look at pictures from Iceland!   Edited to add:(it was even on my bucket list before Hans Mast went)

Margo's Tomato Pie that she makes in the crock pot looks so good but I hate to think of making this for myself only so I had a grilled cheese with tomato and basil yesterday instead. I love the name Margo. 

School Starts

Stuart is super excited about school. The girls both went to Public Kindergarten and he did not so he was big time ready to go.
The first day was not without drama. One of them had squeaky sneakers. One was asking for new ones, and Stuart had a burn on his arm that was oozing... for some reason this happened on Sunday and I had not heard about it. Ah! We made it though.

 I sure miss him when the dogs are out of water or there are scraps to run out to the field. 

 I don't think Mia wore that dress since the first day. She has about 5 school dresses.... and she just loves the t shirt knit ones the best. 

  

 DQ cake. Nate does not admit to picking them out with the kids in mind he truly feels like penguins that are having a good time make for the best cake decorations. Then when he bought it he heard two employees whispering about it as if they were in a competition to see whose cake designs would go first. So yeah, he is sure he picked out the best cake. 

 I pulled a hamstring this week which I totally blame on not warming up before doing my exercising. Nate kept laughing at me, oh he pitied me too, but he could not help but laugh and use all the terms, "so, you blew a tire?" "you pulled a hammy" etc. as I shuffled around. 

We've been spending a lot of time with chorus this summer. 

Nate's been directing.  Just about ready to give programs. 

 I only spent about 1/2 hr trying to get my desktop back to the way it used to be this morning. I blame Hank. 

 Only on my birthday can I drag this man to Rachel's Creperie.

He didn't complain too bad since we went to Primo's first. 

 Fun wedding. Zach and Ruth Ann. Sadly I don't have a picture of the bride and groom. I took a bunch but had to hand them over to the head photographer.

 bridesmaid

Ellie is Nine

Happy birthday Ellie. You who's birthday comes in the busiest month of the year. At least I usually find August to be that way.  

Quickly Before School Starts

 Right before 100 people showed up we had a storm blow through that picked up 4 pop up tents. Thankfully no one got hurt. Ellie and Olive were outside when it happened and Ellie said one almost hit Olive. 

Grenada Reunion

 The morning that I could not find Olive

 Biking back from the swimming hole at the cabin with the Martin's. 

 It's so special to all be together. 

 Making sure we don't get to the neighbor lady's birthday party too early. 

 89 years 

Nate got a break in his work schedule so we did a quick family vacation to Southampton NY. For something different this time we were able to plan ahead by a few weeks. Found a house that had a pool and was also close to the beach. This worked well for the age of our kids, we dream of touring the New England states and more road trip types of vacations but didn't think it seemed like the right fit for our family. Stuart is pretty happy to be at the destination, this is his excited face.  

Travelling with a two year old who has just been potty trained. 

The details for the free shuttle to the beach were very sketchy. We asked people around town and they were like, "the little electric cars? yeah they drive around all day but you might be a little early" so we are sitting here right on the street of this swanky little town at quarter till 10 hoping for a ride to the beach. Boogie boards and all. I was the shuttle researcher so I was praying it would show up sooner rather than later. We waited less than 30 min so it was not too bad. I was so relieved when it showed up in the morning.

Two days later we were on this same street on a similar bench eating our $5 Sundays feeling like we were just off the farm... I think Nate had ice cream in his beard and Olive was bouncing around and there was just ice cream everywhere when a Maserati pulls up and parks right beside us.  It has the top down and red leather seats, the lady's daughter opens the door onto the curb where it scrapes and Nate and I audibly gasp because we saw it happening and the Mom says a four letter word that could have been worse.

 It costs $40 per day to park at Cooper's Beach, why we opted for the free shuttle. 

I wish I would have been holding Olive because I might have realized that she was running a fever. It's kind of hard to tell when you are on the beach that a kid is warm. She told me at one point that she is cold and I told her to go sit in the shade. Sorry Olive. 

Montauk Point

The worst mini golf ever. Nate knew it would be bad thanks to reading the reviews on it. He kept laughing at me every time my ball rolled off the green. Olive ran around like a crazy person hugging all of the animals and we laughed at her and did not keep score.  

 First experience with AirB&B was a good one.

 Stuart's eyes are glued to the window on the way home. Driving through NYC. Long Island is a pain to get to. 

 We drove straight to Grandma's house to do supper and mini golf with the family.