stick in the mud

It has been a while since I have posted some of the cute things Isaac has said.

A few weeks ago (wow quite a few... the kids were still in school!) I volunteered at school and Isaac went to play with his buddy Nolan for the morning.  Nolan is one of the sweetest boy's you'd ever want to meet.  Just perhaps a little 'in your face' and high energy for Isaac when he is just waking up. Isaac asked what he should do if Nolan was too energetic.  I responded to him, " Oh honey, stop being a stick in the mud.  Nolan is such a sweet, nice boy.  Just tell him to stop what he is doing if you don't like it. You'll have a lot of fun!"  He got out of the car and headed in to play and I headed on my way to school.

About a half an hour later I get a text from Tiffanie:

Nolan (excitedly):  "Isaac, do you want to play with me?"
Isaac (to Tiffanie):  "He gets a little carried away sometimes...  My mom says I am a stick in the mud." (all dejected)
Tiffanie:  "Do you  know what that means, Isaac?"
Isaac: "No."

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Isaac has a favorite green blankee that he adores.  He adores it so much that there are patches and holes all over it.  I asked him if he would like to try to love another blankee (the one I actually made him... not the green one I bought for him!) and he agreed he would love that one too so he would not totally ruin the green one.

After about a week, he walks up to me in the kitchen one day.  "Mom, I just can't love it."  I was totally confused because he was not holding anything and I had no idea what he was referring to. 'You can't love it? What do you mean?'
'I tried loving it and I just can't.'
'What are you talking about?'
'That other blankee.  I tried loving it but I JUST CAN'T!'

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Out at the lake a few weeks ago, Isaac and Carson were fishing with Andy.  Isaac cast his pole out and on the first cast brought in a bluegill.  He turned to Carson (who is 2) and said "And THAT'S how it's done!"

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And to finish, a line from Jack's book.

I was dropping Jack off at his golf camp.  We left right from my Zumba class to get him there on time, and I was red and sweaty and stinky.  It was the last day of camp so I wanted to know if with their party, they would still be finishing at the same time.  He didn't want to ask his coaches.  I asked him a few times to go ask and report back to me.  He said he would not, he was nervous to do so.  So I looked at him and told him I would get out of the car, stinky, sweaty and still in my workout gear, and walk over and ask myself then. I was anticipating he would be like, 'Alllllllright.' but no.  He looked me up and down, and replied, "Give me 25 feet, then you can do that." Then he turned and walked away from me!!!

so proud

When you think of getting up in front of a large congregation of people, how does that make you feel?  I would have to answer that question with: pretty darn nervous.  And honestly I try to avoid having to do so.  That is not the case for these two 9 year-olds!

  

Lucy recently got a new church piano book so she could start learning some church hymns in addition to her usual songs.  We talked about how someday she could probably play for Sacrament Meeting and she got all dreamy-eyed. The next thing I know she is asking me if maybe she and her cousin Meela could do a little number together for a rest hymn.  Meela agreed and the two began practicing.

Fast forward a few weeks to Sunday morning.  Lucy and Meela, (who had for the past 15 minutes had been passing a tiny note back and forth telling each other not to be nervous, and 'oh, I think the speaker is almost done!' and 'Don't look at Cass because she will make you laugh!), confidently got up together and walked to the front of the chapel.  Lucy sat down at the piano, and Meela stood at the podium.  Together they presented a flawless rendition of  'Teach Me to Walk in the Light'. 

After the song was done, Lucy sat down beside me, a big smile across her face.  I was so proud of her and gave her a  big hug, pulling her in close to me.  She whispered, 'Think we can do another one sometime?'

 I am sure you can, sweetie. I am sure you can. ♥

Dear Mama

My dear friend Tiffanie is taking a once in a lifetime trip with some very special women in her life.  It was not an easy decision for her to make, since it meant leaving her children home for an extended period of time, but one that I am sure she will be glad she made.  I have the privilege of helping to watch her children for a few days.  This post is for her. ♥

Dear Mama,

Hi!!

We are having a lot of fun while you are away!  We miss you but Daddy and his helpers are doing a wonderful job.   We are being good and minding our manners!  Katie watched us the other day, and you know her.  She always has her camera out! We played spies and Nolan was 'Agent Ory'.  He loved the glowing spy glasses!  We also ninja kicked, swatted at, danced through and raced around the bubble machine.  We could do that for hours!

Look at me here, Mom.  I am such a big girl eating lunch after my morning nap! I napped really well- for 2 hours even though Daddy forgot my fuzzy blankee at home. (But shhhhhh! Daddy told me not to tell you that! ;) ) Katie had one almost like it and I never knew the difference.  Katie told me she secretly wants another baby just like me.  I am pretty sure between her and Cassidy and Lucy that my head got kissed almost as many times as you kiss it in a day.

 I had fun walking around the yard like a bear and they started calling me 'Livie-Bear'.

 Katie fed me well, but I decided for snack that I needed a little fiber.

Katie made sure to give us extra  hugs and I heard sweet Nolan tell Katie that he loved her about 15 times.  I am pretty sure it made her heart melt. ♥ (I also heard him tell her 'It's happening!' when she told him he could not have fruit snacks because he just had his popsicle... lol!)

We really miss you mom, but we know you are having a great time and will be home soon.  We love you so much and can't wait to hear all about your vacation!

Love,

Livie

fairy garden party

Before school was even over, Lucy started collecting ideas of what she wanted to do this summer. From baking and crafting to gardening, she made sure to include items within her wide range of interests.  One activity that she really wanted to host, was a fairy garden party.  I really liked the idea-- we have made a few of our own in past years and really had a blast doing so - so we decided to ask Cassidy what she thought.  She was on board as well, and from there the planning began.  We searched online for inspiration regarding the fairy gardens themselves, and also decided to search for the very best snack and decoration ideas for our own unique party as well.  We had lists and Pinterest boards and I think they found out that planning can be half of the fun!

The girls each invited three friends and were pleased when all six were able to come!  We started collecting our supplies hitting up Hobby Lobby, various garden centers, and thrift stores. The girls assigned 'fairy names' to their supplies and busily made little signs to prop next to them.  They wrapped tiny little fairies in tissue paper so the girls could each choose one.  They helped clean the house and put on the finishing touches. The whole time their mom tried not to fret about the 80% chance of rain that the weather channel had been reporting all week.

Our day had finally arrived!  As we got closer and closer to the time of the party the sky seemed to be clearing.  I thought maybe I was imagining it but by the time of the party it was sunny and beautiful outside.  I could hardly believe it!  We were able to set everything up outside and use the beautiful backyard.  (Yay for not having to clean up dirt and glitter indoors! Yay for the shaded canopy-- the perfect spot for a fairy garden party!)

The girls each chose a unique container we picked up at a thrift store for their garden.  These containers were full of character and were much more cost effective than anything else I found. (I am a sucker for re-purposing 'junk'!) They filled their containers up with dirt, planted a few plants, and then went to town decorating with gems, rocks, seashells, craft supplies, glitter, tiny keys and tiny bottles (to house a little pixie dust for later). Oh, and of course their fairies.

All of the gardens turned out so fun and colorful.  I loved how they used their imaginations and created pieces that were meaningful to them.

When they were all done with their gardens, it was snack time!  We headed inside for some delicious fairy themed snacks.  The girls feasted upon fairy pillows (mini-marshmallows), dew drops (white chocolate chips), twigs (pretzel sticks), baby spiders (chocolate chips), fairy berries (mixed berries), mushrooms (decorated cupcakes), and purified fairy tears (bottled water) to wash it all down with.

We had a wonderful time.  The whole bunch played so well together, and were polite, sweet little guests.  :)  It makes me happy that my girls have such nice friends that they surround themselves with.♥

Oh... and that 80% chance of rain?  That did happen.  Only it waited until the last guests were leaving. Perfect timing.  I guess Peter Pan had it right, all along.   'All you need is faith, trust ... and a little bit of pixie dust'!

the beginning of the summer

School is out!!  So far this summer, I have felt kinda like a taxi driver, shuttling children to summer school, golf camps, softball games and piano lessons.  Mix in activities at the library, trying to keep up my own physical activity at the YMCA and we are running ragged!  That is until we pull into the driveway of the cottage.

Our cottage has got to be one of the most relaxing places I know.  I just love pulling up a lawn chair and lounging in the breeze as the kids play in the sand and splash in the water.   I guess I should qualify that statement... When the work is done, the cottage is one of the most relaxing places I know. Andy and I re-stained the screen house one morning, which took a few hours, and we had to clean up a good sized maple tree that came down over our propane tank during a storm, but when that was done, we were able to relax.  There is just something about sitting outside away from the distractions of life.

I don't get to see this guy very often, without his glasses on and was pleasantly surprised that he was happy to oblige and smile for the camera for me.  Those freckles are in full effect and I just can't get enough of them!!

game day

I finally got the chance to snap a few pictures at one of the girls games! It makes me proud to watch them learn and grow.  Coaching (even when you are just an assistant) is not easy!  Makes me think back to all the awesome coaches I had over the years and appreciate all the more, all that they did for me!

Cassidy!!

Lucy!!

It happened to be picture night- so I saved myself a few bucks and took my own pictures! 

are ya chicken?

Why yes, I am a bit chicken.  I have been a member of this Lindner crew for 16 years (tomorrow!) and I have learned a few things.  1. Ya snooze, ya lose.   If you want a piece of dessert you TAKE IT IMMEDIATELY.  2. If you want more for later, you hide a piece.  (Because if you label it with your name, chances are good your name will be crossed out.) 3. When chicken butchering time rolls around you either be pregnant, or have somewhere super important to be. (Or be a really good actor, fooling everyone that you are in fact helping, by say, plucking a few feathers that the chicken plucker missed and then roaming around and taking photos of everyone else.)  Let's just say I ROCKED #3 the other day. And no I am not pregnant.

John aka 'the chick farmer' got a crew together this year to get the chickens butchered.  He has quite the set-up, including an electric chicken plucker that he made himself.  That thing can take the feathers off of 4 birds in about 30 seconds flat.  No joke.  This year the smaller kids helped to 'net' the chickens who were then brought to Ethan to be dispatched.  We will spare the gory details here.  The birds went to Grandpa who manned the plucker and then on down the line to be cleaned up (which involves a whole lot of yuck), washed up, bagged up and frozen.  In only a few hours we go from a coop full of stinky, lazy chickens to a freezer full of some of the juiciest, moistest chickens you have ever tasted. That is when you are able to eat chicken again.

Grandpa complete with a feather stuck to his glasses!