Biscuit stays

We did our first video call the other day-to Nana. While we were talking, the kids held up Buscuit and I realized I don't think I ever told most people that we had decided to keep him. We never did find his owners and we decided we'd like to adopt him...then while I was in Chicago visiting my sister, Mike took him to the vet for a check over and ended up spending $400! So, yeah-he's ours now and I'm no longer complacent about him running away and I don't say "Oh, he'll come back when he wants to be fed" anymore. If he gets out, all I see is $400 running down the street and I hop in the car to go get him.

beautiful sunrise

I've been swimming laps in the morning lately and occasionally the sunrise will be unusually breathtaking (The east wall of the building is all windows). This morning was one of those times and I know I wont be able to do it justice with my words, but because of an impending storm they sky was full of clouds and the sunrise just filled the whole sky. It was this pale, pretty pink and then slowly it rose up and the bottom half became purple. I enjoyed it thoroughly and I actually can't believe I had the discipline to keep swimming and not just stop and watch. I'm so grateful for those times in my life when my Heavenly Father gives me a moment like that to appreciate the world around me-another of His tender mercies.

(I didn't have my camera with me, but it sortof looked like this)

The kids completed their goals for the summer reading program at the library and one of their prizes was a free ticket to Pump It Up (a local business that has a great big room filled with bounce houses, blow up slides and obstacle courses). The big kids got to go today and the younger ones will go next week. Hannah went at the same time as her friend Rachel from church. Michael spent most of his time playing king of the mountain in one of the bounce houses with a bunch of boys. Bekah and Sarah were pretty bored at first, then they discovered these little cars and they played in them with Rachel. Hurray for the library!

Pump it up!

Makeovers

Hannah had a friend sleep over last week and they wanted makeovers. We curled hair, did makeup and nails and dressed up. The next day Bekah and Sarah wanted their turn (Rachy was more or less forced to have her face done). Even Michael wanted stripes and polka dots on his nails.

Bike rides

This summer we have been taking quite a few family bike rides. Bekah learned to ride a two wheeler and Michael got his first NEW bike for his birthday. We've gone on short rides to the park or just around the neighborhood. We've also ventured a little further; to the church and to the library. Today we rode to the library and it was HOT. Sarah fell asleep in the bike trailer. Bekah was crying because she was so hot-but she kept pedaling. Hannah was getting very impatient waiting for us and wanting to go home on her own. Michael had worn shorts that were too big for him and as he was running with his bike across the crosswalk, his shorts fell down and I was laughing behind him at his red underwear. Good times.

One step forward, two steps back

Last month our power bill was double it's normal size and we've been keeping the house at 82 degrees to try and lower it this month. Much suffering and complaining going on. But it was for the greater good. Now, two days ago we came home from dinner and game night at a friends house and heard water running. After checking all the toilets and faucets inside, I realized it was the hose out back. The kids had been playing in the water before we left and they didn't turn the hose off. It had been running for 5 hours! Not just a little trickle, mind you, but almost full blast. I was so livid I couldn't even speak.