Sunny Days

My son is really into Trans formers. I mean, very very very into it. So into it that he studies the info and stat sheets that come with the toys. Daddy, who also liked them as a child, feeds this interest. I have learned not to even touch them. Not because my son would get upset, but then he would start to get the idea that Mommy will transform them as well. Yeahhhh I say no. I'll read to you, play games with you, teach you, but don't ask me to mess with the Transformers, you got Daddy for that. Both uncles have also gotten you Transformers, so you don't need Mommy for this part of your interests. Really, you don't. :)


Today, it is pouring. I was actually trying to prune some of my garden and it started to dump. This picture was taken just two days ago. My kids wanted to fill small vases with flowers....like Mommy, so I got them to pull up the dandelions. Too bad they wilted so quick. Hopefully, it stops raining long enough to gather all the clippings together for pickup tomorrow. Soggy leaves, oh joy.

Yes, MORE Lavender

I still have more lavender. I suppose when one clips it one stalk at a time (pretty tedious but worth it) it encourages new growth. I decided to try my hand at lavender wands. The problem is the variety I have in my yard is more culinary than decorative, hence it seems that the stalks are not that long and the flowers are spread out farther down. So, when I am done weaving (which is taking longer than I thought it would) there is twice as much head length as the supposed "handle" portion. At least this usage of my lavender won't go to my waist.

Of course, got to stick in a recent photo of the kids for all the family and friends who read this. I suppose this replaces mailing everyone individual photos, right?

Family Times

Here are all of our nephews. We had family come to visit, and the one on the left is from Guam, he came with Grandma. To celebrate Grandpa's birthday (he flew in the opposite direction from business in Oklahoma) we went to a local Chinese restaurant for dinner. The three boys thought it would be fun to treat the shanghai rolls as cigars for this photo. It was a very busy dinner. There were 13 of us around the table. Noisy affair with all of us talking over each other and trying to get the younger ones to do what we want. Still, it was delicious.


Also, during the family visits, my brother-in-law had a retirement party and it was pot-luck. I was so excited, I haven't had to cook such a big portion since we left the island. I decided to make "pancit bihon". I made so much that even before the party I gave some away to neighbors. There was so much food and our father and mother-in-law got into providing some islander food as well with "red rice" and "tanak tak" *forgive me if the spelling is off* and coconut cream pie. I kept eating and eating and eating. I really hurt after everything was said and done, but it really tasted good.

Uncle (second oldest on the left) also flew in from New York. Here he is with my kids and my hubby (who is the third oldest). The kids had a blast with him and was asking about him for a week after he had already left. I think my sister-in-law and I influenced him to perhaps get an ice cream maker. We made everything from lavender lemon and rhubarb sorbet. Share the calories, I mean, share the love. :)

Summer

Ahhhh, summer. Well, it hasn't been as hot as it was last summer. Last summer, the inflatable pool came in more handy than not. This time around sprinklers suffice for the hotter days. My girlie pants got a bikini this year. Too funny, she hates to get it wet, so she just played in the fringes of the sprinklers. In other news, my sister and brother in law got me an ice cream maker for my birthday. Maybe because we got them one for Christmas and they wanted to share the goodness of adding 10 more minutes to a personal work out routine? Just a guess. :) Been using it a lot. Let's see here are some examples, made coffee flavored, raspberry/blueberry, and lavendar/lemon twice (the lavendar was even from my garden).

Summer fun! Once it starts to cool down, going to have to start knitting again. REALLY suffering from "start-itis". I start a project then get distracted. I have 2 right now that are just lounging in bags started MONTHS ago. I NEED to finish those before starting on other things floating in my head.