Fire Truck Riding Santa!

We get the text from our neighbor, Santa is coming! Our town has a wonderful tradition of Santa riding through the neighborhoods on the back of the fire engine!

My guys were out on the porch even before we heard the sirens! He throws candy! They did not want to miss it!

Merry Christmas!

Get Ready! Get Ready!

"Get ready! Get ready! A savior is coming! Get ready! Get ready! No time to delay! Get ready! Get ready! A savior is coming! Immanuel is on His way!

Isaiah 7:14 "Therefore the Lord himself will you a sign: The virgin will be with child and willl give birth to a son, and will call him Immanuel."

Valuable Lesson Learned

I learned today that when two little four year olds are quiet there definitely is trouble a brewing! My four year old and her dear friend were supposedly playing dress up in my daughters room. I decided to help my sons with home work, and pack lunches for tomorrow...(good to stay ahead!). The girls had only been unattended for perhaps 30 minutes. My daughters friend's mom came by, and seeing as the girls were obviously having a grand time, we decided to chat and have a cup of tea. While we were chatting, we hear a strange noise coming from my living room. We investigate.... and see water pouring down from the ceiling through the overhead light fixture/ceiling fan. We rush upstairs to my bathroom and to our astonishment our girls were, oh so happily sitting in each of the two sinked vanity, bubbles flying everywhere, water over flowing the counter top to the floor, with two inches of water already standing! Thankfully each girl was safe and no injuries incurred. We mopped the floor with EVERY towel in my linen closet and went to assess the downstairs damage. Though it looked daunting we called a neighborhood handyman who is kind, wise, and retired so we could do as much clean up as possible before Mr P's arrival home. We used a borrowed steam cleaner to suck up as much water as possible from the carpet in my living room-- and the fan has never been cleaner! I am thankful for gracious, kind, neighbors who come to help in a pinch! I am thankful the girls learned why we don't just leave the water running and running. I am thankful for a husband who take our adventures all in stride! I only wish I had a picture of the joy on their faces! They were really having a grand ol' time!

Treasuring the Moments

Once again we've had a glorious summer and have much to be thankful for! Last night at a neighborhood back to school gathering I sat with a friend sharing our children's teachers and hopes for the new school year; we marveled at how big our boys are getting. My oldest feet are now just a bit bigger than mine and she shared how she now shops in the men's department for size 10 1/2 shoes for her seventh grader! The time we have to hold our precious ones is short indeed!

During a recent trip to an area park full of rolling hills, trees to climb and animals to see; my "little" boys both held my hands while chatting away about this and that. I beamed at them, treasuring the moment, while their once small hands, that are now much bigger are in mine.

These moments I treasure are gems indeed as time speeds on.

As I linger over the last few days of summer I am amazed at how much my children have grown. This season of our lives has been blessed with many hikes, twilight walks, and bike rides, which brought about chances for me to catch glimpses of the persons God is growing my children into. As I might be tempted to worry about the choices they will make I am thankful that they have a growing faith in God. I know mistakes will come, yet God will be there to bring about the good in them.

Fun on the Fourth!

Over the fourth weekend we went on a camping trip with some dear friends. We had lots of fun fishing, swimming, and relaxing! This was our cabin, though small on the outside, inside it was amazingly spacious!

Relaxing with the boys!

Fourth of July girls!

Fishing fun!

All the kids!

Fire truck rides.

Hanging out with Mr P!

Baseball in the street.

Baseball would not be complete with out the cheerleaders!

Sm ores!

The finale of events was a great fireworks ceremony that started off with a trumpeter playing the Star Spangled Banner. We are so very thankful for our country and for the many men and women who protect our freedoms.

Summer Bummer

This summer has been one of the strangest in our family's history thus far. We have had a lingering virus that has sapped almost all of my usual enthusiasm and sunny side up attitude. Each week, for the past three weeks, one of our children has developed a really high fever, head ache, and cough. So each week we've pretty much stayed home sequestered to rally the current sick one with icy drinks, books, cartoons, and Wii games.

We were granted enough reprieve to go camping over the weekend but this bummer of a summer continues today as we care for my oldest who is now sick. As I moaned and complained last night my husband reminded me of all we have to be thankful for. A sweet friend today said, "Just think after all this is over it will feel like the first day of summer vacation for you again! "

So today I am thankful for my many blessings and looking forward to the first day of our summer vacation!

An Award From Edie!

A dear blogging friend Edie from Rich Gifts has given my blog an award for our creative and fun family adventures! When Mr P asked me to marry him he said we'd have lots of adventures and with each day the adventure continues!

The award now must be passed on to seven notable, award winning blogs along with my confession of seven things my readers do not know about me! Lots of my readers are family and close friends so if you already knew it just bear with my list!

Here is my list of seven facts you (may) or may not know about me!

1. I always sleep in socks....feet get cold even in the summer!

2. I can bait my own hook- take it out of the fish's mouth and it doesn't gross me out at all! We always throw them back. I caught my second fish when I was 36! (yes I'm a newbie fisherman)

3. I love the sound of the wind in the trees-I think because my childhood home was in the woods so I love that our home backs up to big trees!

4. When I get a gift for Mr P. I get so excited I can never wait until the day he's supposed to open it- I end up giving away what it is through hints! Thankfully he thinks that's fun too!

5. I enjoy singing songs with young children especially when they are really singing and all lit up inside! Pure joy!

6. Growing up we had a cow that I named Carrie and my brother named Muley. She would come to us when called. Carrie of course! I had bribed her with oats.

7. I dressed up as a nurse for halloween when I was five. My mom always either made our costumes or we put something together from what we had around the house. It was a white dress I'd worn the previous summer. Who knew then I'd be a nurse. I love it and hope to work into my seventies! It's great to help others feel better!

Alright now I am going to award seven other bloggers!

1. You must drop in to see Mimi's recipes. I made her banana bread twice and Mr P said it was the best I'd ever made! She has great crock pot meals too! Wonderful! Her blog is creative meal making at it's best!

2. Creative blogging describes my friend Kacey's blog perfectly. She makes beautiful cards, picture frames, scrap book pages and has wonderful stories to tell about her faith and her beautiful family! It' All In A Day's Work.

3. Next I nominate a sweet blogging friend Lea. She's probably won this lots of times, her blog just feels like home with lots of creative decorating tips, funny stories, inspirational faith


encouragements, and pictures of yummy things she's made! Stop by and visit the Shabby Old Potting Shed.

4. and 5. I nominate two amazing mom's who are treasuring each and every moment of motherhood to the fullest with their young ones. Each day of a mother with preschoolers live is creative-it's a survival tool! I nominate The Davidsons and The Chronicles of the Family of Five for their creative parenting!

6. This blog really keeps things real. She writes from the heart and shares exactly what's going on in her heart and the Lord is doing many creative things in her life! And she shares her growth with us! Stop by and visit Three Girly Girls!

7. My seventh and last nomination goes to Living My Life On Purpose. Through her blog she encourages, challenges and guides us to a deeper, stronger, closer relationship with Christ. She is also a creative Prayer warrior. She's prayed for me and if you need her too she will pray for you as well!

June Blessings

June was filled with lots of blessings!

Little Miss B's Princess Birthday Bash!

Mrs P's birthday bike!

Our 13th anniversary celebration where we hiked Old Rag Mountain as a family.

Fun trips to the Children's Museum.

Cub Scout graduations!

Visits from Grammie's, Nana's, and Papaws!

Visit to St John's Church to hear the Patrick Henry reenactment.

And a Daddy's day celebration!

We are blessed by our family and friends and are thankful to God for each and every moment!


Much love to all who stop by for a look!