Random Bunting

Doesn't that title sound like a small, colorful bird that was named by an extremely lazy ornithologist?

Nope.

Back in April, Cozy had her birthday party.

THIS is what I planned to have the mantel look like:

...with cute horse toys finally making themselves useful...

It didn't.

Cute.....balloons....but I didn't finish the bunting. (Surprisingly, since I really struggle with ordering my priorities. I'm shocked that I didn't sew the bunting instead of wrapping presents or inviting guests.)

So, post-party, I finished the bunting, took the picture.

Now what do I do with it? Redecorate Cozy's room?

My Neglected Garden

I'm not doing much of anything with my garden boxes this summer.  I've mainly been using them as a nursery bed for my thyme and mint....and the baby lavender I've been struggling to grow. (Two seed packets = two tiny plants. Pathetic.)

 

 The reason for my neglect:

We're spending the summer elsewhere. Far away elsewhere. In a much more desirable climate.

We did leave a few volunteer sunflowers and 3 pumpkin plants. Maybe we'll come home to pumpkin plants at the end of the summer...or maybe they'll get mowed by the neighbor that's doing our lawns. 

I'm just rolling the dice and hoping they come up pumpkins.

The one "improvement" I did manage to finish before leaving:

I planted lavender (that I did not grow) by our sidewalk.

They're tiny.

It was all I could justify buying, since I wanted six of them.

I'm trying to use my mind powers to make them to grow big - quickly!

...so they can be a slightly less grand version of this:

(And then I'll have a million guard bees at my disposal as well.)

Until then, I've got Cozy to make my picture a little less dreary. 

Check out the most adorable pirate face ever:

"Arrrg!"

Teddy Bear Picnic

Cozy had an end-of-year celebration for preschool too.

It was a "Teddy Bear Picnic", so we forgot to bring a teddy bear. 

Luckily someone had a loner.

Cozette was awarded "Most Talkative". 

Not surprising. :)

Coze, with her little friends from school. 

...and with her big sister!

...and with her favorite Mom in the world.

After the ceremony and the food, they had a ton of activities outside for the kids.

Eventually, I had to drag her away, kicking and screaming. Literally.

End-Of-Year Graduation Banquet

The homeschool co-op Sofia attended this year had a lovely end-of-year/graduation banquet.

I made all of those handsome kids of mine stop for a moment, so that I could get a picture of their faces! 

...and Sofia wore the pretty, pretty dress I bought for myself...that I need to lose a few pounds to wear.

(It was on clearance, and they didn't have the next size up. :( So, I bought it in a fit of optimism...and because I can never find formal dresses that I like.)

Binge diet - here I come.

Poor Matt

We finally got Matt snipped, shot, and microchipped.

My sons found this to be horrible and inhumane, but we're taking him on a long trip. It had to be done.

Matt thought it was horrible and inhumane too.

...and I've never seen a cat drool before. He was still very drugged when we picked him up. Poor guy.

Can you believe how big he's gotten? It seems like just the other day he was a kitten sitting on Sofia's shoulder. (She tears up just thinking about it! ...um...turning into me?)

The vet was quite a drive away (cause it was a very good deal), so the kids 

were passed out along with Matt. 

Don't worry. They've all recovered and are all happily jumping off of the furniture again.

South Mountain Creamery Reprise

Last year we tried to finish the Maryland "creamery trail". 

I think we only managed to hit 3 or four of them.

 Dang. 

But, of the ones we tried, South Mountain Creamery was our favorite. It was the closest, being right outside of Frederick, and they have $1 kiddie cones! I'm cheap. I can't be buying each of my kids a $4 cone that they may or may not like. (Cozette tried 2 flavors, which she chose based on color...pink and pinker, wasn't sold on either of them. She needs to listen to flavor descriptions instead. Peach melba and coconut joy were both super yummy.)

Summer 2012 - with the littlest 4 kids

So, we were very happy to be invited to visit the creamery again. Thanks Amanda!

Summer 2013 - with 3 littles and Sofia

Can you guess what they're sitting down-wind from? Cows.

We got to see them get milked...but they're stinky.

We didn't need sunglasses this time...but galoshes might have been nice. It poured the whole time.

Even the chickens took shelter.

After eating our treats, we headed over to the calf barn, which we had completely missed last time.

It turned out to be the main attraction.

This little one was born on the day of our visit. Yes. Less than a day old!

Looking at goats and calves was fun. After about five minutes, Sofia was texting her friends and asking when we could leave.

...then the bottle truck came.

At 4pm they set a bottle in front of every calf and you could feed as many of them as you like.

Suddenly Sofi wasn't in a hurry to leave anymore.

Feedin' baby cows!

Cozy needed a little help with the bottles. (The calves are not casual nursers.)

Lovin the baby cows!

Little Red

This is why I cannot get my office clean. Instead of just throwing away projects that I started two years ago...or even putting them away, I have to finish them to get them off of my desk.

It's a sickness.

That aside, I don't regret taking maybe an hour to finish the cape I cut out for Cozette 2 Halloweens ago.

She loves it. Talks about it all of the time. Wants to wear it all of the time. 

I should have made it sooner. 

...and now Sofia is asking for one. (Sadly, I do own a cape pattern in her size. Cross my fingers and hope she doesn't demand a medieval gown to go with it....I have a pattern for one of those too.)