Friday thoughts

My random Friday thoughts. . .

I love Memorial Day.  Always have.  Since we don't live near any family graves, we always visit the "old" cemetery in our town on Memorial Day.  There is a newer cemetery and then we have an older one.

Much, much older that has a civil war memorial and graves.  

We enjoy walking around and looking at the names and dates and remembering

That is what Memorial Day is about for me.  Remembering.  Remembering those who went before, those who served before, those who serve now and being grateful.

It is also about having root beer floats--that is another Memorial Day tradition at our house.  We visit the cemetery and then end the day with root beer floats.  What a great way to remember.

Have a great weekend!

2015 Blue Jeans Week 21

Our first official week of summer, and it was a nice week!  So nice to sleep in!  Very little was going on this week since we were originally supposed to be in school, but they cut a week off because of budget cuts, so not too much going on.  Take a look at our week. . .

We had company this week.  This guy was a missionary in our area 15 years ago.  He has been so good to keep in touch, and he brought his cute family to visit us as he was traveling across the country this week.  It was nice to reconnect and visit.  

First project of the summer--every year--is room clean out.  I make the kids go through everything in their rooms--closet, shelves, dressers, under beds, and we clean out and get rid of lots of stuff.  This was just a part of what we took out and went through.  So nice to get things cleaned up, cleared up and organized.  A nice way to start the summer.

Miss E had some friends over to finally have her friend birthday party.  We just had no time around her birthday until now to plan a friend party.  We did a scavenger hunt and then the girls came back and played smash ball which is a family favorite game.  We play it whenever enough of Ben's family gets together.  The girls all enjoyed it.

Miss E blowing out her cupcake candle for her friend party. 

Enjoying one of our quiet evenings.  We played the game "Wise and Otherwise" which is Miss A's favorite.  You are given part of a saying and you have to make up the rest of it and then vote on which is the real saying.  It is pretty fun.

Getting ready for this next week which is Mr J's birthday.  Ben and Mr J are getting his cake decorated as is tradition in our family--I make the cake, and Ben and the birthday child decorate it.  Lots of good work going on here!

Thanks for visiting!  Come back soon!

Friday thoughts

My random Friday thoughts. . .

My house is no longer quiet during the days now--it is crazy loud, but that is ok.  School is out for the summer!  I can deal with loud since I don't have to get my kids up at 5:30 a.m. for seminary anymore--big loud cheer--so life is good.  Getting more sleep is good--for everyone. 

So wanted to share some color I have in my yard right now. . .

My peonies are big and just gorgeous!  I have two of this hot pink color--one in the front and one on the side.

Some more iris are out--this pretty lighter purple

And this really pretty multi--colored one.

And then we had the LAST day of school so we had to do our traditional "Toyota" jump shot.  This was our first attempt. . .

And this was our next one.  So much fun :)

Yeah!  Summer is here!  Enjoy your long weekend!

2015 Blue Jeans Week 20

What a week, what a week, what a crazy busy week, but school is officially out for the summer here!!!!  We made it through our crazy busy last week of 3 concerts, a track meet, 3 awards assemblies, and finals and Little Oscars--which is our high school's fancy theater's awards.  Sunday morning we all took a collective sigh and then took at nap after church.  So here is a look at our crazy busy, last week of school. . .

The week started off on a great note with Mother's Day.  Miss O made me a key lime cheesecake.  Yum!  Yes, I am spoiled and very blessed to have these four amazing kids and to be their mom!

Concert #1 of the week--middle school band and choir--this is Miss E's jazz band.  Awesome!

Concert #2 of the week--high school choir.  Miss A on the far right.  Miss O was supposed to be there also, but her league track meet was at the same time, so Ben and Miss O were at her track meet and I went with the other kids to watch Miss A in her choir concert.  

Final concert #3 of the week--high school band.  Love it!

And Mr J got side walk chalk as an end of the year prize and had to come home and make sure it worked :)

These are some of my amazing friends.  We have been friends for over 15 years.  The oldest girl of my friend on the right graduated from high school this weekend.  Crazy!!!  So grateful for good friends who are there through thick and thin!  We enjoyed celebrating with my friend and her daughter.  Next year it will be me with the senior--crazy!

Miss A and Miss O were the pianists for the Little Oscars awards.  They did a great job!

And Miss A won an Oscar for best female rookie of the year.  Awesome!  

And last but not least, our traditional "Toyota" last day of school jump!!!

Summer we are here!

Thanks for visiting!  Come back soon!

Friday thoughts

Today is the last day of school, and it is a good thing because after the rough morning we had today we might all kill each other if we had to keep it up :)  Spent the morning running between different schools to attend awards assembles that were all at the same time.  Ugh.  but I am a proud mom of hardworking kids.  I am enjoying the silence of the house for a few short hours more because it won't be too quiet during the days anymore for the next three months.  We have 3 months and 1 week of summer.  Nice.  I am trying to gear myself up for much less to non-existent computer time for me :), constantly messy house and constant taxi driving services.  But life is good. I am grateful I can do what I do.  I am so looking forward to not having to get up at 5:30 for seminary anymore.  Sleeping in is going to be soooo nice!!!!  Looking forward to quiet evenings.  During the school year I have pretty quiet days, and we have crazy evenings.  During the summer these switch.  We have crazy busy days and then very quiet evenings which I LOVE!

                               So ready or not, summer here we come!  School is out!!!!

What's up Wednesday--baked egg and cheese roll

My What's up Wednesday recipes have been non-existent the last few weeks.  Sorry.  Crazy end of the school year schedule.  I got this recipe several years ago, but haven't made it in a while.  This past week I was clueless as to what to make for dinner--ever have those days??  We have tons of eggs right now with our chickens laying so well, so I wanted to do something with eggs for dinner, and I didn't have a lot of time.  Thankfully I remembered and found this recipe.  Very easy, very fast, and very good.  We put ham in it, but you can easily leave it out.  I make 2 of these to feed my family of 6 and we have a few slices left over for breakfast the next day.

Baked Egg and Cheese Roll

6 eggs

1 cup milk

1/2 cup flour

1/2 tsp salt

1/4 tsp pepper

1 cup grated cheese

1/2 cup diced ham (optional)

Place eggs, milk, four, salt and pepper in blender and process until smooth.  Pour into greased 9x13 pan.  Sprinkle ham over the top.  Bake 450 for about 18-20 minutes.  Take out of oven and sprinkle cheese on top.   It is okay if it puffs up--after putting the cheese on and sitting a minute it should flatten out.  If not just poke holes in the "bubbles". Roll up in pan staring with 13 inch side.  Place seam side down on plate. Cut and serve.  

2015 Blue Jeans Week 19

5 days of school left here, and they are going to be crazy ones.  2 track meets, 3 music concerts (and yes of course they are on the same days) and multiple award assemblies.  Just taking it one day at a time.  But last week was a good week.  It was a little calmer before the storm of this week.  Had a birthday, enjoyed the weekend.  Hope you all had a wonderful Mother's Day!  I am so blessed with amazing women in my life!  Here is a look at our week. . .

Ben and Miss E working on her birthday cake--per tradition, I make the cake but Ben and the birthday child decorate it.  Fun stuff!

Enjoyed some of the beautiful flowers that are blooming in my yard right now.  These are alliums.  Some of over 100 bulbs I planted in the fall 2 years ago.  

My iris are starting to come out.  Loved this white one with the yellow.  Isn't nature amazing? 

And a Happy Birthday to this amazing girl who blesses our home with her positive attitude and energy.  And as a side note, I am now mother to 3 teenage girls. THREE!!!!  teenage. girls.  Oh the drama, hair products and laundry :)

For my Mother's day gift I wanted flowers for my outside pots and then wanted them planted.  So Ben and Miss E did that for me.  So nice to have them done!  Love it!  Thank you!  I am very blessed!

In prep for Mother's Day dinner, strawberry short cake was requested by my mom, so Ben and the kids made 2 angel food cakes.  Love how they cooled them :)  

Thanks for visiting!  Have a great week!  

2015 Blue Jeans Week 18

A good week--started out low key with Ben and I spending some time in Omaha for a few days.  He had work meetings and I tagged along.  Thanks to my amazing sister who watched the kids!  Then we hit the ground running as soon as we got home mid-week with all the kids' activities--track meets, birthday, state forensics, National Honor Society.  Man.  Counting down the days until school is out!  10 days left!!  Take a look at our week. . .

Ben and I were able to visit the Omaha Museum of Art while we were there.  Love art museums!  This one wasn't too big, but very nice, and even better--it is free :)

So while Ben had work meetings I got lots of things done--shopping, reading, relaxing and scrapbooking.  I came prepared with my Project Life stuff, took over the hotel room, and got caught up on our 2015 album and then got 2 mini albums done from our family reunion and family vacation from last summer.  It was so nice to get those done!!!

National Honor Society meeting.  Miss A is the president for next year, 

After the National Honor Society meeting the forensics team members that were going to state did an open house.  They performed their state pieces.  It was a great performance!  Miss A on the end on the right.  She qualified for impromptu speaking and original oration.

And this amazing girl had a birthday in the midst of all this crazy.  She actually had a track meet on her birthday, so we had to celebrate a day late, then her friend party was a day later, but that is okay.  She had a birthday few days instead of just one day.  Happy Birthday Miss O!  You are amazing and we love you tons!!!

And then the forensics team headed to state on Friday.  A great send off to a great weekend.  They all did awesome!  So proud of them!

And the same day Miss A headed off to state Miss E had her last track meet.  Crazy day.  But one track season is DONE!  Yeah!  The high school one still has several weeks, but we can cross one off the list.  Miss E had an awesome season.  She loved her relays and enjoyed the hurdles even though we cringed every time she ran them.  It was a great season, lots of medals for her, and we are looking forward to what she can accomplish next year.  We aren't used to sprinters--or hurdlers--in our family, but we are sure glad we have her!!!

I am on the board of directors for our Alumni association.  We have some big plans to help the schools and had a fundraiser Saturday.  It went well.  The people on the board are so great to work with!  So nice to work with people who care!

Thanks for visiting!  Have a great week!!!

Friday thoughts

 Some more flower pictures this Friday.  .  .

My side yard is full of my tulips. Also my purple alliums are blooming and my iris have started to bloom.  Love spring.

Just a close up of a beautiful peach and pink tulip.  These mixed on their own.  I didn't plant this mix.  They are next to the white and magenta ones that also mixed on their own.  Gorgeous!

And I love my alliums!!!  Some more of the 100 plus bulbs I planted 2 years ago in the fall.  These are about 3 inches in diameter.  I have bigger ones that get about 6-8 inches but they aren't all the way out yet.  Love them!

White tulips.  So pretty against the green.

And the first of my iris just bloomed this week.  A beautiful white one

I wish you could smell through the computer screen.  These are "root beer" iris and have the most delicious smell of any flower!  Amazing!  

And what have I done since I got home Tuesday night from Omaha?  Run to keep up with my kids but also bake more cookies than I could believe possible.  I think I baked 15 dozen chocolate chip cookies this week.  I even ran out of chocolate chips, and for a girl who buys them in bulk, that is saying something.  We needed cookies this week for 2 track teams--middle school and high school, one National Honor Society meeting and one forensics team going to state.  Feeding lots of kids here :)  But I love it.  Cookie making runs in my blood.  It get it from my amazing grandma DeeDee who can whip out a batch of cookies faster than you can blink.  She is my cooking inspiration, and if she had just a quarter for every cookie she has made,  individually wrapped and given away, she would be a billionaire, and I am not exaggerating.  Her cookies have been sent all over the globe.  Her generosity knows no bounds.  She inspires me.  Love you DeeDee!  I am carrying on your cookie making tradition :)

Have a great weekend!  See you Monday--if I am not still behind and late which I just might still be so bear with me :)