Cool New Sites!

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First Day of School!!

The big day is FINALLY here! After starting school so early in Arizona, waiting until the middle of August this year has been torture--for all of us. However, we are thrilled to announce that the big FOURTH grader and the really excited THIRD grader are successfully off to their first day of school this year! We met both their teachers last week and think it is going to be a good year. Kade is liking all the friends he saw assigned to his class. Riley, well, she likes just about everything.

Of course, we have a pep talk last night before I read to them where I explained how we were taking pictures this morning--for their first day of school. They aren't nearly as excited about pictures as Mom is, but, hey, they are kids... So, we all got up a little early, were ready, and wouldn't you know...the rain still hadn't stopped. Kade even said the thunder is what woke him up--at 7 am, but he thought it was still night because it was so dark. It rained a lot--flash flood, a lot. So, these pathetic pictures are all that is left of Mom's grand plans for a photo shoot this morning. Kade even got a haircut last night. -sigh- Oh well, I'll just have to wait till it clears up and take more. :)

Although you can't really tell--because I just spent the last hour attempting to fix them--it is really dark outside during the pictures. More of a ominous cloud mass looming about threatening to let loose the next on-slaught of precipitation at any moment dark, but still threw the pictures white balance out of whack. So, these were taken with the kids standing out in the misting rain while Mom stood inside the door protecting her precious camera. Maybe we'll do before and after shots... Wait and see...

Outside in August

Our pumpkin is coming along nicely. It is checked up on regularly and grows constantly! :D

Our squash, however, are another story entirely. Those bugs--previously posted--have now succeeded in ravaging our lovely squash plants. Thinking that by leaving our floundering plants in the garden the bugs would have plenty of eating material...wrong...they have now moved on to the remainder of our healthy plants making their take over complete. We'll hold out as long as we can and try again next year.

Although a majority of the clouds are obscuring the sun out front, these are the best pictures I was able to take. They look far more dramatic than the ones I took out front.

It was a nice sunny day, until suddenly the light disappeared and we all looked out a window in wonder. Instead of the sun blazing gloriously toward the horizon, we were faced with a bank of darkening drear. Once again the Kansas weather has managed to surprise us with its endless variety. So, here we sit in descending darkness just after 7pm...confused and befuddled, wondering if we should give up and turn in early, or revel in the break from routine while we still can--this being our last Sunday to stay up late before school starts again. Ah, the joys of summer.

Riley the hairdresser...

Riley has recently decided that she is more than capable of fixing her own hair and that she would like to do it all the time. She has been granted priviledges, but Mom still reserves the right to fix it for school, church, and any other activity I decide... :D But after seeing this creation, I have to admit she has great potential! She did this all by herself--part and all!

Our Garden Grows!

We have pumpkins! They were barely noticable for so long I was surprised to go out the other day and find not just the one, but 5 pumpkins! They are so cute. Riley is very pleased--these were planted to appease her... I hope by October we have some nice big pumpkins! Any suggestions on how to get them to grow big?

Peppers! I wanted these, but was becoming discouraged by their abundance of leaves, and complete lack of pepper... We had blossoms and everything, but no peppers. I was thrilled to find 3 peppers the other day. Now we have a new quandry...how do you tell when green peppers are ripe?

Last time I mentioned the bugs on our squash. I really thought I had a better picture posted...but you can't even see the buggers... So, here they are. Anyone know what they are? They are taking over. The bug spray I purchased is ineffectual. Help...