Merrywood Cottage

Patience. Or not.

Yes, I know, I said I was back and I really am - but I haven't been able to post anything - the reason being two things --- life has been busy and Typepad is acting a little crazy for me. I've been having such a hard time trying to get Typepad to work the way I want. Since getting this new computer I can't load pictures onto this blog. Grrrr, frustrating! I've tried numerous things, including re-sizing my pictures, and they still won't load. And, well, I just can't blog without photos --- it just doesn't work that way for me. And so I've kinda decided to go back to my old blog over on Blogspot, at least for awhile. For some reason my photos load with no problems over on Blogspot. I'm in the process of changing things on the old blog (with Shasta's help), so it might be a little bit longer before I actually get around to getting posts up, but I'll get there eventually - sooo stick around, check back often, or better yet, put me on your google reader. So change your little address thingy or put me in your favorites and I'll see ya over there.....

http://merrywoodcottage.blogspot.com

And I'm back....

…and I’m back. Due to another computer crash we’ve been without a computer for several weeks. We’ve had two major crashes this year, what’s up with that? Sheeesh, so frustrating. We lost all contacts, documents and, most importantly to me, thousands of pictures. Yeah I know all about backing things up, especially pictures, and I did have lots backed up, but not everything. I always had plans to do it, but only once in a while did I take the time to actually do it. And so now I’ve created quite a dilemma for myself and am very frustrated. Thankfully Brandon, the computer guru of the family, was able to save all the images from our last crash. Not so sure about this latest crash though, but hopefully he’ll be able to retrieve a few. But anyway, I’m back and ready to rock ‘n roll…got lots of catching up to do with blogging. And I’ve got lots of new photos to edit as well, so we’ll see how it all goes in the next few weeks…..

Photoshoot

Shasta asked me to do a photoshoot of her and her kids a few weeks ago.  We shot a few hundred pictures - here's a few favorites that I edited...

 
 
 

Meet Hank...

Hank is the newest member in the family.  He's a dog.  A puppy actually.  A cute little puppy.  Until he poops or pees on the floor.  Then he's a good for nothin' get that dog outta this house kind of puppy.  But most of the time he's a cute and cuddly puppy.  And everyone is in love with him.  He's Colter's puppy - a gift from Ted and Ceara for dog-sitting their dog, Buddy, all summer.  They surprised Colter with him - and it was quite an elaborate plan.  Colter had no idea what was happening and he was very surprised.  He was in love with Hank the moment he was told 'this is YOUR new puppy' and he held him in his arms.  Hank is part Black Lab and part German Shorthair.  Colter wants him to be a hunting dog.  A bird dog.  Colter is super with his new puppy.  He very patiently gets up in the middle of the night to take him outdoors to go potty.  Sometimes several times a night.  He has definitely proved he's responsible enough to be a dog-owner and he takes it all very seriously.  Tonight he and Ceara took the dogs down to the beach to frolic in the water.  It was Hanks first time playng in the lake.  He likes it.  He's eight weeks old.  He hasn't chewed on anything yet.  But I have no doubt that stage will be coming soon... 

 
 

Full of hot air...

Here's a few pictures from a few weeks ago.  But time gets away from me and the pics might have been from just last week.  I've decided that I can no longer remember things that involve time.  I routinely forget to pick up Lisa from her work - I've been known to set the alarm so it goes off fifteen minutes before I need to pick her up.  This has become my life.  The kids laugh at me.  And I just wonder why my brain has gone south,  kinda like everything else on my body.  Regardless, these pics are from the hot air balloon ride some of the kids went on, recently....

Lovin' life...

Summertime randomness

Wayne walked into the kitchen one evening and started laughing at us girls sitting around the table talking.  When I asked what he was laughing about he pointed out that each of us had our cell phones sitting next to us.  We hadn't even noticed, but it was true ---  and then we started chuckling too.  And even the littlest girls in the family, who do not have their own phone, had an old 'play' phone next to them.  It was definitely a picture-worthy moment...   

I saw her out the kitchen window - playing with the garden hose and dousing herself with the icy cold water on a very hot afternoon... 

A great evening project - helping dad wash the big ol' van... 

The girls found these little paper umbrella thingys in the cupboard, leftover from their dad's birthday --- they made a pitcher of kool-aid, filled their glasses with ice and each grabbed a little umbrella and walked around outside holding their cute little drinks and pretended to be all fancy...

"Stylin' girls" --- ha, Emma has  a style all her own.  Somedays I cringe when I see her creative clothing choices, other days I just laugh at her.  On this day she was wearing a skirt she found in our to-donate-to-Goodwill box - much too big and waaay outdated - and a tank top that belonged to an older sister - but no worries mom, she told me, she just was wearing the tank top backwards so it didn't go down too far in the front.  Ohh boy.   And yes, I allowed her to go to the store with an older sister dressed like that.   The other photo is Marissa with her hair piled waaay high up on her head - anything to stay cool - and a pair of big oval dark sunglasses.  Kinda lookin' like Audrey Hepburn...

And another afternoon at the beach with some of the older sisters --- on this day I packed them a picnic lunch of chips, baked beans, cut-up watermelon and a jar of pickles.  They ate everything. They had one fork and one spoon and ate the beans right outta the can.  They shared and didn't die from eating from the same utensils.  Miracles never cease. They came home even more bronzed and water logged and very very tired....

Home Alone

As I’m writing this I’m home all alone.  All alone.  That seldom happens.  But as I think about it, it has actually happened a few times this week.  My babies are growing and going off without their mama more and more now.  I don’t mind it.  Too  much. Sometimes it’s actually kinda nice.  I do cherish my peace and quiet every now and then.  And it’s not like I’m just sitting here twiddling my thumbs, although that would be nice to do --- because I made a nice supper and have it warming on the stove so as they all begin to trickle back home there will be a hot meal for them to dish up for themselves. 

Wayne and Colter trekked off a few miles down the road to the shop to work on putting a new lawn mower deck on the rider.  Our lawn looks like a hay field – first the heat was our excuse for not mowing for a few days – I mean, who in their right mind wants to mow the lawn when it’s 200 degrees outside.  Well, maybe some do – but we don’t.  And now that its cooled off, Wayne remembered the rider needed to be fixed – he bought parts for it today and so tomorrow it will once again be in working order.  None too soon either because the yard looks like a hayfield.  And it really, really needs to be hayed mowed. 

Ceara, Lisa, Marissa and Emma joined Shasta, Elsie and James down at the park, overlooking the lake tonight, for the weekly “Music in the Park” festival.  Not sure what band is playing tonight, but it’s always interesting.  Some weeks it’s a real bust while other times they have some pretty good bands down there.  Just a little while ago I got a text from Shasta with a picture of a hot air balloon – she said there’s a hot air balloon at the park and they were waiting in line for a ride.  “hmmm okay – well have fun - hang on tight!” I teasingly text back.  I humor them and the way they love to tease me with their shenanigans.    She text back a few minutes later to tell me they were serious and some of them really truly are going on a ride – including my ten year old.  Well, this gets my attention and I perk up a bit more.  Wow, sounds like fun, I almost wish I were there to go with them, I think.  I tell them to take lots of pictures and have fun and make sure my kids don’t fall out.  Haha.  True, I just never know what these kids are gonna do next. 

And lastly, Laura had a rare evening off from her jobs.  So she and Ryan decided to go mini golfing.  He came to pick her up on his Harley.  She loves motorcycles so it’s quite fitting that her boyfriend has a nice bike – its fun to see her climb up on back, hang on tight, and watch them ride off.  And that Harley sound – mmmmm, nice.      

And so yeah, I’m home all alone.  Rare indeed.  But nice and peaceful for a few hours.  I think I rather like it.

*** *** ***

p.s. and right after I finished typing the above paragraphs, my phone rang and I heard Elsie’s little voice, “hi grammie – is it okay if we have a little sleepover?” she asked.  I say, “where, at your house or my house?” and she excitedly answered, “Your house!” like I should have known all along.  And I tell her yes.  And she is happy.  And my little girls are happy.  And my quiet is soon coming to an end.  This is my reality.  And I’m okay with it.

p.p.s  and after Elsie’s phone call, Ceara called and said she and Lisa & Marissa were going to meet up with Ted at the DQ.  Some of them had burgers and hot dogs because they were so hungry.  Never mind that supper was still on the stove here at home.  But I don’t blame them - food always tastes better when eaten out.  As the evening wore on and the rest of them began to trickle back home, they eventually warmed up the sloppy-joes I had made earlier and then sat around the table, at 10:30, eating yet again.  Oh, and Elsie’s sleepover turned into Shasta and James spending the night as well. 

Once again our house is full tonight.  I like it best that way.  The blessings overflow. 

County fair

 
Ceara and Ted asked to take the three youngest kids to the fair the other night.  Since Lisa had no plans, she tagged along.  Shasta and her two kids also tagged along.  Laura and Ryan were heading to the fair as well and attending the car races.  They all had a great time.  They played games, walked through the 4-H barns, checked out the exhibits, and did what ya do at a County fair!  They got home after ten o'clock and the kids were still full of energy and talking a mile a minute telling Wayne and I about their evening --- 10:30 pm came and they were still up running around, eating a bedtime snack of cotton candy and McDonalds french fries.  Eh, it's summer time - ya only live once, right?  A little junk food sugar and grease at bedtime, (hopefully) won't kill ya, I figure. 

 
 
 
 
 
And what did Wayne and I do while the others were all gone for the evening, you ask?  Well, we had a little date night.  Sadly, it's been awhile.  We get so wrapped up in family happenings and doing the million-and-one things that need to be done around here and we forget to take time for ourselves.  And so we went out to eat.  Then we drove around for awhile --- drove down a bunch of old dirt roads out in the mines, just like we used to thirty-some years ago when we were dating.  We checked out some of the mine pit lakes too - all so pretty and crystal clear.  It was a nice relaxing evening.  And then we came home and took a few self-portrait pictures - because we never do things like that normally.  And then our peace and quiet was shattered when all the kids came back home. 

 

**All fair pictures taken by Shasta.  I stole her camera chip and loaded all the pics onto my computer.  Because I'm her mother and I can do those things.  So, thanks Shasta!  haha 

Four days of excessive heat (and counting)...

It’s been hot.  Brutally hot.  All weekend and it’ll be lasting till mid-week sometime. We’re under a heat advisory.  It’s been in the 90’s and above with lots of humidity.  They’re saying the dew point is the equivalent of that in the rain forest.  Brutal, I tell ya.  We have been living very simply and playing in the water as much as possible and doing what we can to stay cool. 

*** *** ***

(Four days at a glance, written in random order…)

*Some of the kids have been going out to the mine pits everyday and sometimes after dark too, to swim during this heat wave.  They’ve also been hitting up the local beaches as well as our pool.  The kids are all turning into a bunch of Indians – they’re all getting so dark and tan…and soaking up tons of vitamin D, too. 

*I’m noticing puddles of water throughout the house and down the hallway --- from wet, dripping kids running in for a quick minute after swimming.

*I’m in a constant state of shock at the messiness of our bathrooms.  Water on the floor, wet towels and bathing suits here and there, and piles of clothes strewn about.  Lots of people equals lots of messes – (and to be fair, they always pick after themselves, eventually.)

*There’s always wet towels hanging over the deck railing outdoors and swimsuits hanging on the pegs on the back deck.  If ya can’t find a towel in the closet to use after your shower – go check the deck, it’ll probably be soaking wet from swimming, but you’ll find a towel.  

*I chuckle at my kids and their friends – they had yet another bonfire out here at ten  pm the other night.  I heard lots of laughter and music till close to four am.  Afterwards a few of their friends slept on our family room floor till morning - and then ate pancakes, sausage and scrambled eggs with the rest of the family before leaving.  I love all these young adults – so fun loving and full of energy!  Oh, to be young and carefree again!

*Trips to the county fair were made – and some of the family attended the races at the fair two nights in a row. 

*There were kids in the yard washing and hosing off their dirt bikes – anything to play in the water and keep cool, I think.

*We laugh at the story of a certain daughter of ours who went Baja driving with her pick-up through a field late one night and got it stuck and had to be pushed out….no names mentioned, of course.  ;)  Hahaha!  We all just laugh.  Silly kids. 

*An almost exasperated ‘I’ve-had-it-with-these-kids’ Shasta stopped over late one evening so we can help tire her kiddos down at bedtime and asked Papa Wayne to take them on a 4-wheeler ride to get them sleepy.  Ha, what would we all do without family?!  Shasta handles her weeks as a “single parent” with grace and patience – not many people can do what she does day in and day out without a break.  She asks for very little help and just does what has to be done with a good attitude. 

*And then sometimes when playing in the water gets to be too much, veging out in the family room down in the nice cool basement and watching a movie is what it’s all about. 

*Eating in this heat is a hassle and cooking meals is even worse, but they eventually get hungry and have to eat, darn it – and so mostly hamburgers and brats on the grill and simple summery kind of foods (like watermelon) are being served…with slushies, freezies, and ice water by the pitcher served on the side.

*It’s been a very busy and eventful July for all of us and the weekends are even crazier – this past weekend was no exception.  I loved hearing the big kids trying to coordinate times and places and work schedules and then wrangling things around so they can go places with one another and their friends and boyfriends – meeting up with each other for an evening or afternoon or just a few hours of entertainment and companionship.  I wonder what they’d do if they didn’t have each other?  I’m pretty sure life would be pretty dull for these girls of mine. 

*Most of the weekend there was seven and eight cars parked in our driveway.  There were generally about 12 or more people floating in and out of the house at any given time and for some of the meals. And it’s not unusual for some meals to be made and then everyone takes off and there ends up being just five of us left behind to eat.  But the food always gets eaten sooner or later. 

*Impromptu sleepovers.  Shasta and her kids crashed here one night because Elsie wanted a ‘sleepover with the aunties’ and Shasta wanted to stay up late with the sisters talking and visiting with them after the little ones went to bed.  (Jon is currently on a two week out-of-town work project.) 

*The mosquitoes have been terrible.  We try to sit outdoors in the evening but no amount of bug spray keeps them at bay and so we’re forced to retreat back into the house.  Usually into the coolness of the basement where it’s like thirty degrees cooler than the rest of the house. 

*The horse flies are just as bad as the mosquitoes.  Maybe worse. I hate those biting fools.

Redneck country kids

"Life isn't about waiting for the storms to pass...

it's about learning to dance in the rain."

 
 
 
And so earlier this summer, when our pool wasn't yet in working order, and it was a sunny hot afternoon and the little girls were wanting to cool off, they did the next best thing ---

they drug out the metal tubs, filled them with cold water, made a picnic lunch for themselves and poured glasses of ice water - and settled in for a few hours of

outside-watery-fun-sister time. 

I took a picture of them lounging in the tubs and sent one to their dad at work and another to Shasta and Elsie.  Five minutes passed and we got a text back from Shasta and Elsie -

Elsie was wondering if she brought her own tub over could she join the girls in their fun?  Ha!

And just a little while later the girls were joined by Elsie - who came bearing her own clear rubbermaid tote to fill with water so they could all "swim" together.  

Oh, the silly fun these kids have. 

A little redneckish perhaps - but great memories, for sure.   

Splash pad!

 
 
 
 
 
 

Graduation!

Ceara did it!  Just as we knew she would.  She graduated from Cosmetology school a week ago.  Several of our family members, including Ted and his dad, made the jaunt to her college town to see the diploma handed to her – it was a very low-key affair, but exciting and we wouldn’t have missed it for anything.  Afterward we all went to their place for a nice dinner in her honor.  I had wanted to plan a little party for her, but she wouldn’t let me, saying that I plan enough family celebrations and she really wanted to do this one herself.  Ted and the room-mates helped her with it and they all did a fabulous job.  The food was scrumptious and everything was laid out very well.  I love these college kids and their ways – it’s fun to see a bunch of guys and gals stepping up to the plate and doing this sort of thing.  We stayed at the house for a few hours eating and visiting and then, since it was a scorching hot and humid afternoon, we all headed to the Splashpad so the kids could cool off a bit.  What a blast all the kids (and adults, too) had!

 

 
It was a good day, indeed.  Most of all, a very hearty congratulations goes out to Ceara!  We’re proud of her! 

And because it’s my blog and I can write glowing reports about my kids if I choose…I am including a copy of a letter of recommendation that Ceara was given shortly before her graduation from an instructor…

“It has been my pleasure getting to know Ceara while she attended our Master Cosmetology Course.

Ceara has excelled in all areas that she has been challenged with.  She has a very inviting personality and is always willing to take on a new task.  Ceara is extremely cooperative and always wants to lend a helping hand.  Her willingness to learn sets her apart from the other cosmetologists.

I would highly recommend that you take the time to personally meet and interview Ceara and consider her for a position in your salon.  I have no doubt that she will thrive in whatever areas she chooses to pursue.”

Yep, that’s my girl.  (hmmm, so much for these under-educated home schooled kids, i guess.)  

She has moved back home for the rest of the summer and is working…we’re all enjoying hanging out with her again and spending time together.  Another new chapter in her life has begun…

(Pictures from the party...)

 

Another celebration

Happy first birthday to James! 

What a cool little kid he is - he's a busybusybusy little guy - but oh so charming. 

(and i realize some of the pics in the collage appear tiny - but if you click on any of the collages i've made in this post or the ones below, the pic will enlarge, and then click on the pic one more time for an even larger view - then click on your back arrow to take you back to the blog. yep, it's that easy.)

Fireworks

I had wanted to get a group shot of everyone at the fireworks…but it was nearly impossible.  Ana’s boys were getting pretty tuckered out and so she chose to miss the fireworks and just headed to our house to put them to bed.  Laura and Ryan were off swimming in the pits and showed up shortly before the fireworks started.  Ceara and Ted were off visiting people and also didn’t show up till shortly before the fireworks started.  Jon was drifting in and out of our little group, too, busy socializing with several people he knew. Some of the girls had several friends they were talking with and a few of them were off and running with friends - and so everyone wasn’t together till right before the fireworks began shooting off.  And afterwards it was a mad dash to get everything packed up in the dark and not lose the little kids in the process - and then everyone headed off in different directions to their vehicles to head for home and get some shut-eye.  And trust me, after a very full holiday weekend we all needed to let our bodies relax and get some much needed sleep.    

It was a great Fourth of July – and we had a great family gathering and lots of fun.

 
 
 

Photobooth pics

We had this fun idea to do a photobooth -  a backdrop was set up and a big box of funky clothes-hats-jewelry and other props was brought out.  It was only kind of a hit - mostly with the little kids and a few of the adults.  To be fair, everyone was pretty busy coming and going and the photobooth op was kind of forgotten - but for those that did it, it was fun and we got some awesome shots and lots of laughs.  We'll be doing it again, for sure...

 
 
 
 
 
 
and then of course we have some of the big 'kids' who love to show off and stand out in the crowd a little bit - anything for a laugh...

 

Twister...

Some of them played a few games of outside Twister...with those big colorful circles spray painted onto the grass...the little kids thought it was lots of fun and some of the big kids tried their hands (and feet) at it, too...  :)

 

Waterfight!!

While some of the big kids were off to the park, Colter very patiently sat and filled dozens of water balloons with water.  The little kids 'helped' him - it was so cute to see both Oliver and James sitting with him watching and 'helping' --- and, no doubt, learning!  As soon as Ted was back from the park and had entered the yard, the water fight was on --- with Colter sneaking up on him and bombing him with a few balloons.  Within minutes the water hose was out with water spraying eveywhere, buckets were filled, people running about, shouts and screams and lots of laughter.  We girls grabbed the little kids and scampered outta the way, grabbed cameras and phones so they didn't get wet and stood and chuckled at the boys...