Back Yard Before and After

We have been working on our backyard and it is finally coming together. 

It has been one of those project that has been put on the back burner because it was so big. But now that most of the inside projects are done, so we have started working on the outside. 

I used to hate being in the back yard during the summer, because it was so HOT out there. The sun hit the patio directly, and even with a gazebo, it was too hot. 

We hired a friend to build us a patio roof last year, but it wasn't finished until fall time, after that we stopped working on the yard. 

Now that it is spring/summer, we have started cleaning the yard and planting some plants. 

We still want to paint the house and replace the roof, but those big projects will have to wait until next year. 

But even so, we love it now. We have a space for everything: grass for playing, playground, sandbox, garden boxes, and patio for dining. 

Welcome to my back yard...

Here is the before:

and After:

Last Day of Kindergarten

Miss Emily has finished her last day of kindergarten today!!

We have finished the curriculum Little Hearts for His Glory from front page to back page! Yippee!!

This year flew by so fast! I can't believe my little girl is now a 1st grader! I am not ready for her to grow up, but she is right before my very eyes. 

She is such a smart little cookie! She learned to read, write sentences, count to 100, do math problems and so much more. She is such a curious child, she will ask questions all day long, and if I don't know the answer she asks me to look it up online or find her a youtube video. Just today she asked me how plastic is made, so we looked it up :)

 I am learning so much just by teaching her.

I will be getting her a 1st grade workbook, which she will work on this summer (just to keep her skills sharp and so she doesn't forget everything) 

But now, bring on Summer!!

People have asked me weather or not I am going to be homeschooling for the next school year. My answer is "I don't know yet". I really enjoyed home schooling her this year and watch her succeed. We got school done in 2 hours or less, and then she was free to enjoy herself. 

It is just much harder now with a baby and I am struggling on getting everything done. 

There are three options for the next school year:

Homeschool 1st grade 

(I will need to figure out which curriculum as well)

Pros: 

I will continue to see my daughter all day long
My daughter wants to continue homeschooling

 I get to teach her at her level, she won't be held back or left behind

No need on waking up early and rushing around to get to the bus or driving her with the rest of the kids in tow. 

Cons: 

I feel stretched to the limit some days

Always wondering how we are doing (academic wise) and if she is doing enough since we are able to finish school so fast. 

Church Private School

Pros: 

It will give me more time with the younger kids. 

Affiliated with our Church 

She will be with her friends from church

She will learn Russian

She will be with children her age and able to attend field trips

Cons:

I won't see her 9am-4pm

Homework after she gets home- which means very limited amount of  family time

It is about 30 min away (no traffic) with traffic it is longer (but there is a carpool)

Monthly Tuition

Packing lunches

Public School

Pros:

It will give me more time with the younger kids. 

She will be around children her own age

I will know at what level she is academically

Cons:

I won't see her 9am-4pm

Homework after school means very little family time

I will need to get all the kids and drive her and pick her up, or have her take the bus (scary for me)

- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - 

As you can see, we have so much to think and pray about this summer. 

Miss Emily also has her strabismus surgery next week and will be healing after wards. 

So that is kind off a priority on my mind right now, I am praying God will bless the doctors hands and everything goes well. After that we will decide on the schooling question, but any input is appreciated. 

Bring on Summer!

Fathers Day Questioner "Card"

Fathers Day is just around the corner, So we have begun working on some Fathers Day gifts. I love the questioner type cards the kids can enter because they are so funny. It's so cute to see the kids honestly answer some questions.

We found this printable at Faithful Provisions 

Lemon Blueberry Cake

When I think of summer, I think Blueberries! 

It's no secret that blueberries are a favorite in our house,  we go picking at least two times during the summer, The kids love it!  We eat a ton and freeze a ton for baking and snacking.  When I saw this recipe, I just knew that I had to try it. I mean blueberries and lemons?! Can there be a better combination for a summer cake?

I love the combination of the lemon and blueberries, and the cream cheese frosting? YUM!

It is full of flavor and so moist and soft. 

 I can not wait to make it again with some fresh farm blueberries. 

Recipe is from Cooking Classy

Ingredients:

CAKE

• 1 1/2 cups cake flour     * I had no cake flour, so I substituted
• 1 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
• 2 tsp baking powder
• 1/4 tsp baking soda
• 3/4 tsp salt
• 2 cups granulated sugar
• 1 cup unsalted butter, softened
• 1 Tbsp lemon zest
• 4 large eggs
• 2 tsp fresh squeezed lemon juice
• 1/2 tsp vanilla extract
• 3/4 cup + 2 Tbsp milk
• 1/4 cup + 2 Tbsp sour cream
• 2 Tbsp fresh lemon juice
• 2 cups fresh or frozen blueberries
• 
  
• Cream Cheese Frosting
• 16 oz cream cheese, softened (2 pkgs)
• 3/4 cup unsalted butter, softened
• 1 tsp vanilla extract
• 1 tsp fresh squeezed lemon juice
• 3 cups powdered sugar
• Blueberries and lemon slices, for garnish (optional)

Directions

• Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Butter 4 9-inch round baking pans and line the bottom of each with a round of parchment paper. Butter parchment paper and lightly dust pan with flour, shaking out excess.
• Sift cake flour into a mixing bowl. Add all-purpose flour, baking powder, baking soda and salt and whisk for 30 seconds, set aside. In the bowl of an electric stand mixer, fitted with the paddle attachment, whip together butter, granulated sugar and lemon zest until mixture is pale and fluffy. In a 2 cup liquid measuring cup, measure out milk then stir in sour cream and lemon juice, let rest 3 minutes.
• Meanwhile, mix eggs into butter mixture one a time, then stir in lemon juice and vanilla extract. Toss blueberries with 3 Tbsp of the flour mixture. Working in three separate batches, beginning and ending with remaining flour mixture, add 1/3 of the flour mixture alternating with 1/2 of the milk mixture and mixing just until combined after each addition. Gently fold in blueberries. Divide mixture evenly among prepared baking pans. Bake in preheated oven until toothpick inserted into center comes out clean, about 27-30 minutes. Cool in baking pans about 20 - 30 minute then invert onto wire racks to cool completely. Once cool, frost with cream cheese frosting and decorate with blueberries and lemon slices if desired. Store in an airtight container.
• Cream Cheese Frosting:
• In the bowl of an electric stand mixer fitter with the paddle attachment, whip butter until pale and fluffy. Add cream cheese and mix until smooth and fluffy. Add vanilla and lemon extract and powdered sugar and blend several minutes longer until smooth and fluffy (if frosting seems slightly runny, you can chill it for a bit before frosting cake).

Enjoy!

CLICK HERE TO PRINT

Hot Weather Favorites

It has been so warm lately, and I have been loving it. Sunnshine= Happiness, right?

I have been using my warm weather favorites, and wanted to share them with you.  

Dry Shampoo:

I have fine/thin hair and during the summer it gets really oily, especially if I am not washing it daily. I like to freshen it up with my favorite dry shampoo: NYM Clean Freak. I have about 6 other brands, and this is my favorite, I have lost count of how many cans I have gone through.

Sea Salt Spray:

I love this sea salt spray for my hair. I just spray it into my ends and let my hair dry naturally. I love the look of wavy hair during the summer. Just don't forget to also use a leave in conditioner on your ends or you will dry out your ends. Its all natural, which is awesome. 

Sunscreen:

I burn really fast in the sun, so sun block is a must for me. However, if I am outside, I can get lazy about reapplying it. So I love this spray sunblock, I can reapply regularly and not get my hands all in unblock, So I have no excuse for laziness. This one is my favorite, It is waterproof, sweat proof, paraben free, oil free, uva/uvb protection. 

Face Sunscreen:

I use a different sunscreen for my face: Kiehls Super Fluid, I have tried a lot of different face sunblocks, and love this one the best. It is very watery and dries really fast so I can apply makeup on top. This is my 2nd bottle. Love it!

Sunless Tanner:

So what does a pale girl who doesn't tan do in the summer? Use sunless tanner off course. This is my favorite sunless tanner, it is a mouse which you apply with a mitt, it is tinted, so you can see where you have applied it, which helps with avoiding streaks. After 6 hours, wash it off and you have beautifully bronzed skin. 

spf Lip Balm (Sun Bum):

I am a chap-stick freak, I have to always have some on my lips, These are so amazing! They literally melt on top of your lips, they taste amazing and they have SPF! I am currently using the mango and pomegranate.

Weekend Getaway to the Oregon Coast

We decided to go on a last minute weekend beach getaway to the Oregon Coast. We stayed in our trusty condo, which happens to be a time share. We don't own the time share, we just know someone who knows someone.... ;)

Now Oregon beaches are not your dreamy sandy beaches with warm water and palm trees swaying... Instead they are usually cold, especially in Spring. This weekend it was in the 60's... brrr.... Never the less, we still enjoyed every minute of it. 

We went with our friends, who also have 3 kids. So there were 6 kids under 7! It was crazy, but so fun! The kids are still talking about it. 

We all stayed in a 3 bedroom condo and pitched in with the food. And let me tell you, there was so much food and I ate way to much.

We are already planning on going again in the summer, hopefully on a hot day, or at least warm enough to swim in the condo pool.