Happy Fourth of July!

This post is really a little closer to Happy August 5th, but since that's not America's birthday, I'll have to go back in time.

 There was a fun parade down Main Street.

That evening we decided to set off some small fireworks with the kids. We had those tiny little cars:

 And some sparklers:

What a fun day!

Adventures with Rats (ummmm....Gerbils)

While I fondly remember Punky, my hamster from childhood, I never really thought I'd want another rodent pet. Let's be real - gerbils are just a furry hairsbreadth away from what exterminators chase after. However, I grew to love these two little critters I pet-sat last week. Definitely a great science project for the kids! Still not ready for the big responsibility of full time rodent ownership - it's hard to provide enough toilet paper rolls for them to chew through - but thoroughly enjoyed my little furry visitors.

Eat More Chikin!!!

Eat More Chickin! The cows got their way tonight and we enjoyed yummy combo meals for FREE at Chick-fil-A with these dorky incredible cow costumes. Can't wait for next year's Cow Appreciation Day!

Summer Sibling Pics

Jungle Princess

We've been on Safari all week at our church's Summer Kids Club (like Vacation Bible School). I think Grace was going for the jungle princess look when she was helping me pick out her accessories this morning. Next stop: Mt. Kilimanjaro!

Raising Butterflies

I'm not much of a naturalist, but I figure I better beef up my science projects since we're going to be homeschooling. Actually, I think I had more fun with our butterfly raising kit than either of the kids (who also enjoyed it). I learned quite a bit, too. Our neighbor gave us a Painted Lady Butterfly kit for Christmas, but we had to wait for warmer weather to send off for our caterpillars so we could release them outside. It was really fun watching them climb up to the top of their little plastic cup, form their crysalids, and put them in the netted container to emerge. I was disappointed we never quite saw the exact moment any of them hatched but thankful that all FIVE of our caterpillars made it (including one Hunter and I were quite sure was dead).

 We also raised ladybug larvae. Did you know ladybugs like to eat raisins?

Home Improvement

Ok. Ok. Maybe I should call this post "furniture improvement" but I finally painted/repaired our 30+ year old dresser. 

The picture on the left doesn't do "before" justice. I was actually impressed by how nice our house looked when all we had in it two years ago were the seven bags we brought back from China and some furniture. However, if it were a close-up, you would see the horrible stains all over strangely yellowed paint. Worst of all, the knobs fell off every time you opened a drawer.

Fast forward to today. I just brought my freshly pained dresser up from the basement with tightly secured knobs. (Hardware man told me to super glue 'em before tightening the screws all the way.) The things I never think of!!!