The Summer is On!

Summer break has begun! At least, for most of us. Beth still has a little bit of school left, but she will finish soon. School has ended, and spring cleaning has started! Yes, so exciting... lol  But actually is does feel good to have things thoroughly cleaned. We did a few rooms this week, but the rest will probably wait till next since the end of this week is going to be busy. And we want to save some of the fun for Beth. =D

We started planting the garden around the end of April and some plants are beginning to pop up. Weeds included. =(  The rose bushes by the deck are also blooming in abundance!

so pretty

Beans and onions

tomatoes... for us not the deer!!

Corn... and weeds =(  We planted several more rows last week so that
we'll have fresh corn several times this summer.

     Last Saturday we had a cookout/youth get-together, which Nate had wanted to do before he left for the Ranch. (He leaves next Tuesday). We played volleyball, ultimate frisbee, and grilled hamburgers and roasted hot-dogs and marshmellows.  It was a fun, fantastic evening. Mom got a few pictures:

This Week's Post about Last Week's Activities

Yes, here I am again posting things almost a week late. Better late than never, right? But really, things have been rather busy. Why does everything happen at once? Things are either dull and boring or extremely crazy.   But I think I'll take the crazy over boring. I think. =D  School is coming close to the end (Yippppeeeeee!) and we should be finishing in a week or two. So excited for the summer! (Not the weather, the events).

Anyway...

Gram and Pap were able to come down and spend a few days with us last week. On Thursday we went to Raleigh and visited the History Museum. We got so caught up in there (new exhibits are always being added, and much of it was new to us) that we were only able to pop into the Science Museum for a short time. Daniel wanted to show Gram some of his favorite exhibits there. When we were leaving we realized that we hadn't gotten a group picture, but here are a few that I did get:

Blast 'em away, boy!

They had a very interesting about the American War for Independence and North Carolina's participation.

We had to get a picture of Dad with this old tractor... Dad loves tractors. It's the farm-boy in him.

Oh yes. Guns.  =D

This was a rather humorous picture... it's probably the first time Pap has ever milked a  fake cow.  He grew up on a diary farm and has had quite a bit of practice!

     This past Saturday was our Annual Ladies Meeting (Mother/Daughter Banquet, basically). Our guest speaker ended up canceling, so Mom got chosen to speak, and presented a very good devotional, I might add. We failed to take the camera, but Bethany snapped a few pics with Mom's phone.

Me and Elaina

Amber, Leah, and Lauren played "Day by Day" on their clarinets

We girls sang "Be Still and Know"