napping

My blog is taking a nap. It got all snuggled up in it's blankie and fell right to sleep. I'm sure it will wake up soon. I hope it wakes up happy, nothing worse than a grumpy blog.

5

Stella is five now. She's had a haircut since the last time you've seen her. She has a few more freckles too. Today we had a nice little party with our favorite people for her. She's a smart little one. A tale teller for sure. I never know what is real with her. She insists to all of her friends that a rattle snake bit her in her bedroom. I'm pretty sure she made that one up.

the good things

- being home
- Lilly and Violet our 2 new kitties
- Spending alone time with Rocky today
- Friends like Trish
- Husbands like John
- Chocolate pudding

- Cake at night after the kids go to bed
- Buying our first house
- Long hot showers
- My friends, I have the most amazing friends.

Near Donner lake, there are some old train tunnels that have been abandoned. The old wood and iron of the torn out rails is scattered all down the side of the mountain. We climbed up to the tunnels and walked through them. It was so much fun. Sometimes maintenance cars drive through them and we were lucky enough to be in the middle of a tunnel when one came by. John and I heard a deep rumble and crunching. A booming echo. Not knowing it was a car at first we looked at each other freaked out. I was terrified that every movie I've seen about ghost trains was about to come true. We ran for the walls and realized it was a car coming and we all relaxed.

we hiked

We did some hiking on our vacation. Stella is always our reluctant hiker, but I must say this time she did pretty good. I for some reason was the only reluctant out. Well, maybe fearful is the word. Once we got away from the main road I started thinking I was going to see a bear following behind us. Every snap of a twig had me startled. John assured me that he would have no problem scaring them off, so I took comfort in that. Sort of. Anyway, we made it out alive, with our collecting bags full of pine cones and moss and flowers to dry. Jack spent the entire trip trying to catch a grasshopper to put in his bag.

back from vacation

This is a sunset at Serene Lakes near Truckee. We spent our vacation here and it was really amazing. We were sitting on the shore watching the sun set while John and his uncle Joe were out in a canoe fishing. Lots of geese and mama and baby ducks swam up to us. Soon the bat's came out and we watched them swooping around catching mosquito's.

movie night

My friend Trish and I and our husbands threw a movie/dessert potluck in our backyard on Saturday night. What a wonderful time. We had friends and our families all snuggled up in blankets and pillows on our grass under the stars.

I can't wait to do it again. I love summer.

Grateful Friday

- Stella and Rachael
- Swimming today with friends
- Vanilla ice cream
- Excited to read "Brave New World" (I've never read it)
- Late nights in a sheet fort outside with John and the kids
- BBQ's with friends

- Yogurt with nuts in it
- Making a counter offer this morning on a house we want
- Our little bee hive
- Another owl in our palm tree. Now we have two.
- "Three little birds" by Bob Marley

- A summer mix CD my friend Maritza gave me
- The wonderfully beautiful and always inspiring blog Homeschool.Style.Bytes Check out her giveaway this week!!