Camper Fun

See her "wings"?

 We took out the '69 Lakeland camper we've been working on AKA,"The Hen House" last weekend to a music get together right down the road. There was a good chance of storms and we thought it might be nice to try the old girl out before we sold her. Earlier this year we bought two vintage campers to restore and "cuten up" to sell them. So far, we are super close to having this one completed. We are waiting on some paper work to be finalized, and then she's going up on Craigslist.

The four-of-us slept very comfortably. Well, actually, Cam didn't stop pickin' until about 2am and then drove home to milk the goats at 5:30, so he didn't sleep much at all. But, the girls and I slept great.

The music went on 'til the wee hours. The music drifted down over the hill and to our little home for the evening. It was quite a pleasant way to drift off to sleep.

Mollukah XXX

I turned 30 last weekend! It was a grand celebration with friends and family of all ages. 

 I used wrapping paper for a table runner. I was looking for something inexpensive and beautiful and came across this at Target. I was then able to scan the pattern in and use the flowers on the cards for the table.

 My dad brought beautiful flowers to put in vases.

These "fairy lights" were hung from the tree boughs.

Ezra and I chowed down on the cake and ice cream pops. I made ice cream balls, dipped them in homemade magic shell (2 parts chocolate, 1 part coconut oil melt and mix) and Maggie helped me sprinkle them with red sprinkles. They were delish and a very easy way for everyone to literally grab their ice cream instead of waiting to have it dipped out.

Jeremiah and his Momma, Kim

 After the kiddies enjoyed being kids, the music got started. My friend Susan was there and she did some contra dance calling. She called at our wedding, as well. It really was a lot of fun. The littles just squealed with glee and didn't want it to end! The musicians followed that by a couple waltzes and we all had a lovely time. At that point, the evil bedtime monster struck every last one of those littles and we all knew it was time to wrap up. However, the musicians played on late into the night with the candle lights flickering. What a fabulous way to celebrate my 30th year!

Ice Cream Social

Bernie showing off her yummy bowl.

 We held our annual Midsummer Night's Ice Cream Dream this year. As always, it was so much fun. I made five plus gallons of goat milk ice cream that was delicious. We provide the ice cream and each family brings a topping or mix-in to share. This year was especially fun with the variety of toppings brought. We had crushed oreos, no-bake cookies, sprinkles, mini Reese cups, whip cream, and jelly beans, just to name a few. The hardest part was choosing which ones to put on!

Beautiful Ezra.

There *may* have been some pee on the slide. I'm not naming names.

 It just so happened that the ice cream social coincided with milking time, which usually draws a crowd. It always fascinates me to see who is interested in trying their hand at it. Jane, for instance. Jane is my good friend Bon's mother-in-law. Bonnie now lives in California with her new hubby, Colin. They happened to be in town for the ice cream social (yay!). I then found out that Bon's in-laws would be in town, too and promptly invited them to be part of the fun. I don't know them very well, but I never would have expected that she would jump at the chance to milk a goat! Who knew!? I was so pleasantly surprised!

Bonnie and Me. She came all the way from Cali for my ice cream! 

 The thing I love about recent parties at our house is the kids. They run wild. They have free, safe reign of our huge yard. I love to feel so confident that nothing bad is going to happen to this wild group of kiddos. They are crawling through the corn rows, whooping, hollering, finding secret hideouts and being beautiful, happy children. I really love it.

Not quite whooping and hollering with the big kids yet.

My gal Melissa and sweet Cece or "Baby HeHe" to Maggie who doesn't say her "S"

 Here's one of my favorite pics of the evening. Bonnie, her sister Amanda, Melissa, and me. We all grew up together and I was glad to capture this fun moment with the four-of-us.

The most exciting part of the evening happened after most of the guests had gone. There was a missing set of keys. It was well after dark by this time, so we got out the flashlights and scoured the yard. Looking in every nook and cranny we could think of. Alas, no keys. I got up the next day and searched the yard in a grid-like-cop-show fashion. Alas, no keys. Luckily, the keys were found later that day in the belongings of one three-year-old boy who may or may not be the culprit of the slide pee. Can't wait to see what next year brings!

A Fairy Party

Have you ever been invited to a Fairy Party? Our family was, just this morning. Here's the invitation to prove it! 

After we tucked Lila into bed last night, there were mysterious sounds of furniture moving coming from her room.  When I went to check on her, she did the I-don't-want-you-to-see-what-I'm-doing body block with a very large and suspicious grin.  

"Lila, what are you doing in here?"

Grin gets larger, "Nothing, mommy.  Nothing." Door closes.

A little later she shouted, "What makes the Huh Huh sound?"

"You mean like Howard?"

"Oh! "H" Got it!"

Then, this sign was posted outside her door, replacing the one that said "Pat Sor" 

(pet store)

 Can you read it?  It says "Pixie Hollow", you know, where Tinkerbell lives?  I am totally loving this new phase of Lila's development where she can sound things out all by herself and make her thoughts known on paper.  It is wonderful and miraculous and so fun! 

She covered the table with a "tablecloth" and put out a lovely flower arrangement in the center.   

None of us were allowed in her room this morning before we donned our "fairy clothes".  For Lila and Maggie, the choices were a little more obvious.  For Cam, Lila chose a red plaid button-down shirt on top of his work out clothes.  For me, it was red sandals with flowers on the toe, a brown skirt with embroidered flowers on it, and a coral blouse with white designs.  I looked "terrific!" according to Lila.   

 Once we were ushered in, we sat down to plates of apples, blackberries, and grapes.  Lila required Cam to bring in two more chairs since she didn't have enough seating in her room for us all.

 She also drew drinks for all of us, including straws that she glued on.  This was "nectar". It was quite a lovely affair.  I do recommend, if you ever have the honor of being invited to one of Lila's Fairy Parties, attending with great delight.