Some of the best memories 

are made in flip flops - Kellie Elmore

As school started today, I see our summer coming to a close.  What a full summer it's been!  Here is just a glimpse of my girls enjoying their time off from school, playing with cousins, tea parties, pool time, and even a day trip to the beach.  

A few things that I'm grateful for...

• I am so thankful to be settled in our home after going through a difficult move last summer.
• I am thankful for my parents being back in the States, especially when Marty was gone for much of July.  
• I am thankful for our air conditioning as the heat this year has often seemed unbearable.  
• I am thankful for our neighborhood pool in which flip-flops are the regular foot attire and the walk is just down the street.
• I am thankful for the opportunity to be home with my girls.  Let me not take it for granted.

In case you are wondering, we did not get everything done on our list.  Most of it... but not everything (notice there is not a check mark beside potty training).  We still hope to do our outdoor movie night this month and go bowling one Friday before the schedule gets too busy.  But I'm ok with not completing "the list".  It was fun putting it together and I hope it will be a jump start for next summer when the girls will all be a little older and nap times won't be such a necessity.

(School pictures to come soon...)

While a parent is away...

As some of you may know, our summer has been busy... BUSY!!  But whose isn't?  Anyone who has been in youth ministry can understand that summers aren't really vacation times, but often the most hectic time of the year.  This is not a bad thing, but since having children of our own, it's definitely different.  

My husband just returned from a ten trip to Ukraine, which I think is the longest he's been away yet.  But thanks to my parents, the girls and I spent half that time with them and time went by faster. Another thing that helped to pass the time for my girls was all of the surprises left by Daddy.

My husband has always been good about leaving notes when he goes on trips, but he really outdid himself this time.  I've been happy with a few post-it's or a card just reminding us how much he misses us.  But this past week, he did so much more.  Everyday the girls had a gift to open (sometimes individually, other times for them to share).  These ranged from glow-sticks to a new Adventures in Odyssey cd to even their own frog kit.  Some of these they had even picked out themselves, but didn't know what day they were getting them.  He also prerecorded devotions on his I-pad for the ten days he was gone.  This was priceless to me!!  It wasn't anything elaborate, but simply Daddy reading to his girls from Naomi's Jesus Storybook Bible.  He encouraged them to follow along and left them with sweet words (like "Be good for Mommy" ha! ha!) at the end of each devotion.  

I have to brag on him even more by mentioning that he not only left our girls sweet gifts and messages, but he also did the same for me.  I had cards and gifts hidden around the house with instructions to find them on certain days to help the time go by and ease some stress (aka Starbucks gift card, dark chocolate raisins, Subway gift card for a meal out).  He also left me his I-pod with sweet messages for me, encouraging me each day to hang in there, and reminding me that I was not alone.

I write all this to encourage parents that our little ones (& big ones!) love simple acts of kindness while a parent is away.  It doesn't have to be much.  Like I said earlier, a few post-it notes can go a long way.  

Oh, how the years go by...

Twelve years ago today, I said "I do" to my very best friend.  It has been an amazing twelve years in which I have never questioned our life together.  Like any roller coaster, there have been ups and downs, but we've ridden it together and that's what matters.  No gifts or big trips this year, but honestly, the best gift my husband could give me, he already has.  He's still here.  He's still right beside me, faithful and true, and that is all I need for a gift.  

A few years ago, I made a list of all of the positive traits that I could think of that described the man I married.  (At the time, I was mad at him for something, so I needed to get over it and tried a little reverse psychology on myself.)  Here was (and still is) my list...

- wonderful husband

- loving father

- faithful

- thoughtful

- giving

- forgiving

- humorous (always makes me laugh)

- romantic

- considerate of others

- beautiful voice

- great legs

- consistent provider

- understanding

- patient

- fun to be with

- humble

- keeps no records of wrongs

The list could go on . . .

The past twelve years have encompassed two trips to Japan, missions trips to St. Lucia & Canada (as well as many others for Marty), renting our first apartment for $210 a month including utilities, teaching positions in two different counties, ministering in three youth groups, moving six times, welcoming three precious girls into our family, and our adventures continue.  But once again, I will emphasize that there is no one in this world that I would rather travel this amazing journey of marriage with than you, Marty Middleton.  I cannot wait to see what the next twelve years hold for us!  Happy Anniversary!

My precious young lady

It's still hard to believe that it's been eight years since I was so pleasantly surprised to find out (after almost 24 hours of labor) that we had a girl!!  We had decided to wait to find out, but everyone (with the exception of my dad) said that we were most definitely having a boy.  But I wouldn't trade this sweet girl for a boy any day.  She has been all smiles since infancy and truly a joy to be around!  

We tried something different for her birthday party this year and tackled our first sleepover!  Three of her friends came over for pool time, pizza, s'mores, a movie, and a little sleep, of course.  Their favorite part of the sleepover was playing in the mud in our backyard though.  Too funny!

Overall, I think Chloe's eighth birthday was a success.  I am still so amazed that God has blessed me with such a sweet and caring daughter, who is helping me teach her younger sisters to do the same.  Her love of books, history, and animals keeps me busy, but I wouldn't want it any other way.  I know that the next few years are vital in her walk with the Lord, but I pray daily that He will lead us to show her by example and through His Word, that living for Him is the only thing worth living for.

Summer Plans...

With two weeks left of school, ten days to be exact... we are really getting in the summer mood.  It's been a good school year, tough at times, but overall, the girls are educationally where I had hoped they would be and already excited about their new school books for next year.  

For the past two years, we have made a summer list of sorts to help curb off the boredom and make our summers more memorable.  Some blogs call them living intentionally, while others simply check off summer bucket lists.  I love all the ideas out there, but I've been working on this list (for longer than I thought it would take me!), gleaning from other brilliant moms and desiring to make this summer one that they'll always remember.  If we don't get them all done, that's ok.  I want to be home a lot, which is why several of these ideas revolve around the kitchen table and backyard.  

Summer Fun…

     1.  Summer reading program @ library (  )

2. Camping in the back yard (  )

3.  Outdoor movie night (  )

4.  Blueberry picking (  )

5.  $1 movies (  )

6.  Breakfast picnic @ the park (  )

7.  Potty training week for Sophie (  )

8.  Swim lessons (  )

9.  Pool time.. weekly (  )

10.  Farmers Market (  )

11.  Puddle jumping & walks in the rain (  )

12.  Car washing (  )

13.  Visit new parks (  )

14.  Ice cream @ Sunni Skies (  )

15.  Visit Grandparents (  )

16.  Melting crayons craft (  )

17.  Hair cuts for my girls (  )

18.  Make peanut butter bird feeders (  )

19.  Grocery Store scavenger hunt (  )

20.  Tea Party on the back deck or backyard (  )

21.  Family Water Fun Day (  )

22.  Visit museums in Raleigh (  )

23.  Write ABC’s with licorice strings (  )

24.  Go Cloud watching (review names of clouds) (  )

Cloud watching idea

25.  Teach moon-phases with Oreo’s (or Joe Joe’s) (  )

Oreo Cookie Phases of the Moon

26.  Fly Kites (  )

27.  Shoot off rockets with Daddy (  )

28.  Afternoon tea parties (  )

29.  Try geocaching as a family (  )

30.  Mini marshmallow construction (  )

31.  Go Dollar Tree shopping for a friend in need (  )

32.  Go bowling with friends (  )

33.  Day trip to the beach (  )

34.  Pick favorite baked good at Stick Boy (  )

Recap of April & my little Queen of Sheba

April was once again another busy month for our little family.  We experienced the extremes of temperatures  dipping to freezing and then almost to the 90's.  The girls and I drove back to our old stomping grounds to pick strawberries on two different occasions.  We enjoyed strawberry smoothies, strawberry scones, frozen strawberries (for later), and strawberry jam (hopefully tomorrow), not to mention, just plain eating them for their pure deliciousness.

This was also the month that we welcomed home my parents from Okinawa.  We enjoyed their first few days in our home, just playing and catching up on the past nine months.  They arrived just in time for Chloe & Naomi's ballet recital in which both girls did so well without a single sign of nervousness.  We are very blessed to be a part of a wonderful ballet program that keeps God in the center of it.  My sweet niece, Ava, turned two this month and we were so glad to be able to attend her party, jumpy house and all!

Throughout last month, God continued to teach us more and more about Him, especially through our girls.  We are praying especially for our sweet Naomi as she asks more and more questions about Jesus.  May His timing be perfect and let it be sincere.

Strawberry picking in the cold

Sophie making sure they're edible

"I hold it!"

Nana & Papa home, just playing...

Looking for bunnies with Papa

Sophie & Nana at the ballet recital

Chloe, my serious ballerina

Naomi just having fun!

Sophie supporting her sisters

Papa & Nana at the park

Sophie really wanting to touch that caterpillar

Daddy & Sophie swinging

Ava's second birthday!

My cuties in the tub

Sophie tucked in between animals & babies galore

Strawberry picking - round two

My southern belle

Our little garden... we'll see...

Chloe making a paper mache bowl

Here is my little queen of Sheba, or fashion diva, not sure which one to call her.  She is most definitely my busy girl.  This is her attempt to put on mommy's mascara.  This happened in only a few minutes while I dashed to the bathroom and her sisters were supposedly "watching" her.  She cried more over the vaseline I used to wipe it all off.  I thought this would be her only escapade of the day, but no....  Withing minutes of Marty coming home and me telling him of her adventures, I find her in her room (with a sister) looking like Frosty the Snowman.  She loves chapstick, but I really wish she would stop getting it confused with her Desitin cream.  Honestly, darlin'!