More Of Our Summer

Summer is coming to an end, and it is kind of bittersweet.  I absolutely love summer, but there is something comforting about fall - but then again West Texas doesn't really experience seasonal changes, so we will just keep with summer.

We have been continuing our school curriculum all through summer, and it has been such a blast.  It came as shock when we realized that the summer break is over and that apparently school starts again this week - where did summer go?

The kids had a chance a few weekends back to have two of their cousins over for a night - and they had a blast.  It definitely made me thankful to only have to wrangle two kiddos on a daily basis - ha!

They plays for hours on end, ate meals together, and also swam the day away - if was fabulous.

I am hoping that my fabulous array of foods - make up for the fact that I am not the "cool aunt" - apparently they had a ton of talks before coming over here to make it known that aunt Chantal doesn't do crazy - sounds about right.  I really hate chaos and when it is super obnoxious.

quesadillas

one bowl chocolate cake

perfect blueberry muffins

   We have so enjoyed our garden this year, even though it is a trial run, and I already have a list of things I would do differently next year.

It has given us something to cultivate, it has added excitement to our mornings, it has given us more reasons to be outside (even in the heat of the day) - and it has been super fun to harvest from the garden.

The kids have been so involved in the whole process, and we have nine months of pretty warm weather so our garden will extend all the way into late fall.

I think out favorite part of the garden have definitely been the watermelon - that find is out of control and our of everything I really didn't think it would be that successful.

Here are some garden pictures to enjoy.

   and some more....

  My flower addiction continues.

These beauties lasted several weeks, I read somewhere that once they start to wilt you should place them in a cup of boiling water for five minutes - it worked - they all perked right up, and last for another ten days!

  We finally took the kids to our community pool (bad parents award right here - truth be told - I don't really like going all that much) but we did it and they had  a blast.  Ian is finally a swimmer - not help, no life jackets, and no water wings - yas!

It was a hot and sunny day - yay for good pool weather.

  and of course a last minute pizza dinner, all together.  One of my favorite things is to going on little dates with the family.

  I decided to write all my recipes down so hopefully over time I will be able to share some of them here - it definitely a process - but a fun one.  I just love all things food so much, that it has me all kinds of excited...

Just a tiny little preview...

I shared this recipe, here.

  and there is so much more to come, so stay tuned.

***

We have had a really laid back summer, and I have loved it - I personally don't strive to have a full calendar - I am more on the "less is more" side of life.

I hate being busy, stressed, and stretched thin, because then you don't really do anything that well.  It is definitely not the norm around this little West Texas town, but I won't change it for anything.

I have been spending lots of afternoons birthday party planning for the kids, prepping and making stuff to, make it affordable, yet pretty.  Like I have said before, I love all things pretty, but it has to be simple.

I am actually kind of excited, because I mean really who doesn't like unicorns ;)

If anyone if looking for me you can find me a) reading my book, b) hanging in the veggie garden c) making something fabulous in the kitchen d) listening to Ian read Dr Suess to me, or e) knee deep in glitter as I am preparing for Hayleigh's unicorn party on Saturday!

Happy Monday friends!