Keeping Busy in the summer

We are just doing normal things here. I have taken Asher to the pool a couple times. He got burnt really bad with ridiculous Dollar General SPF 50 sunscreen. I nearly cried his cheeks were so burnt. Ugh. He is such a tough kid though, he didn't really complain except to say "my cheeks are hot!" but I let him sleep in my bed, with my pillow (which stays cool) and I slept on his bed. Always a treat. A treat I have at least a couple times a week because I would rather sleep than put him in his bed, and make him cry to the point of being wide-awake. So. He had a night where he did not have to walk to my bed, he was already there.

this girl got AMAZING grades.  All A's with one B for a class she started in the last few weeks of school.  She did the entire year's worth of work for that class (economics) in a few weeks.  Amazing.

For celebration, I ordered Chinese Flying Lanterns and planned to have a celebration.   The lanterns took about 10 days to get here from China, but they were just beautiful.  However, do not attempt to launch when windy.  Speaking from experience here.


I made snacks, invited over some of my friends from here (wanted to invite Valerie's friends, but I don't really know them), and after eating, we launched lanterns.  It was chaos, because of the wind and the really hard-to-read directions (totally terrible translation).  After a couple, we called it done until the next night.  It was much calmer and I figured out how to light them. 

Fruit, whipped cream, poundcake, chips and salsa

Valerie, Candra and Matt with lanterns, Asher running around with a sparkler

Candra, Matt, Valerie with lanterns

Valerie traded a 2nd and 3rd lantern for a sparkler.  Too much finesse with fire for her taste.

Candra is now a chinese lantern pro.  This green one was a perfect launch.

Valerie and Asher with sparklers

I am spending a lot of time outside in the mornings taking care of my flowers.  I love these.  I planted them last spring when my heart was breaking after Valerie moved out.  Crazy what a year can bring.

This is my hydrangea.  It is absolutely gorgeous.  This plant was THRICE re-planted.  Turns out, it only likes partial sun.

I got this idea on pinterest.  It is "Asher's" garden.  We planted pumpkin, cucumber, corn, beans, peas, and garlic in the palette

herbs and a tomato plant in this planter- does anyone know what the plant is on the left?  Oregano?  I see parsely there- but we planted oregano, parsley and cilantro.  I was most excited about the cilantro, but I don't think that is growing.

basil

Home sweet home