Takin' it Easy

Some people have wondered where I've been all of July since I haven't blogged much....I have one word for everyone: Relaxing.  That's what I've been doing.  This Summer has been uneventful in the BEST way possible. July has been full of lazy days at the river, living room ballet lessons, fun days at the Water Park, feeding ducks, long walks through the beautiful trails with my darlings, and slow weekends.  We DID have to get Piper tested for allergies (which isn't fun because they poked her back 24 times and she hated it- who can blame her!??!) only to discover she needs a little inhaler for some slight wheezing, but for the most part we have been enjoying our slow Summer.  Last July I thought I was going to die from the stress of moving across the country, maxing out credit cards, no husband home at all (4 months of training around the U.S., if you recall) while I packed an entire house to prepare to move 3,000 miles away into the unknown, and not knowing where I would live when I had a 2 week lapse between my lease in CDA ending and my new lease in NH beginning.  It was a nightmare of a Summer.  The Summer before that wasn't any better because I was moving from CO to ID after Shawn was unexpectedly laid off.  So- this summer we've made no plans.  We haven't been busy.  We've just been takin' it easy.  And I wouldn't have it any other way.
Last week we went to Vermont with Shawn for a couple days to get out of the house.  This week while Shawn is away I'll be taking the girls to the beach....and so it goes: us enjoying each and every drop of Sunshine that we can :)

Piper.....my busy little bee.  She decided it was a good idea to give herself a Desitin facial :)

 I can't get ENOUGH of Piper's profile.  I am so in love with her sweet nose!

Lucy LOVES going to the doctor.  We thought she may have been bit by a poisonous spider after her leg swelled up, turned hot, hard and red, and was hurting her.  Luckily it wasn't anything more than a small infection from a different kind of bug.

Babysitting Tegan, a 7 year old that Lucy decided to idolize.

Piper wore herself out getting into all that mischief after lights out :)

Nothing beats a Dandelion Bouquet

That's a wrap, folks.  I think I'll go read out on the hammock now :)

Land of the Free, Home of the Brave

America the beautiful.....Yesterday's 4th of July had me pretty emotional!  This year there was just something about it that really made me reflect on how blessed I am to live in a country where I am allowed so many freedoms.  I watched American Sniper with Shawn a few weeks ago and I was crying when I saw how they live in other countries; how dangerous it is for sweet little children (and adults- but the kids pull at my heartstrings).  How playing outside (safely) is not even comprehend-able to kids.  I have so many freedoms, and although the government isn't running the way it should be, for now, all I can do is count my blessings for what my girls and I have today.  We have brave soldiers who love their country more than themselves.  They would die for their Country.  They sacrifice EVERYTHING to make America safer.  They would take a bullet for the man standing next to them.  They do that for MY freedom.  We can go outside and BBQ and make 'smores in our backyard and sing the songs we want to sing and watch spectacular fireworks from our own front porch, simply because we live in America.  In some dangerous parts of the world, they will never know the kind of life we live....And it's so sad to me.  So yesterday was a major day of reflection for me as I cried a bit and "thanked my lucky stars to be living here today.  Cause the flag still stands for freedom, and they can't take that away."

Happy 4th of July!