Gazpacho

We made this gazpacho last weekend, and it was a fantastically delish way to use summer veggies. My picture is actually of some leftovers and is not garnished or special-looking, but boy was it special tasting! We took a friend's advice and threw in two chopped jalapenos, and we would have put in more if it were only for adults!

A plus: it's perfect for making with little helpers. The majority of the soup is veggies that have gone through the food processor. Abby Jane was my processor, and I just swapped out the veggies when she finished each one!

Bad Habits and Oats

Joy's new bad habit: licking her plate after her meal. I like the spinach that ended up on her forehead.

Blythe's new bad habit: taking off her all her clothes and her diaper during naptimes. It was funny the time I took this picture. It was not funny the time Jake went in to discover a "nik nik" Boo and significant fall-out (so to speak) of a dirty diaper.

Blythe was really feeling her oats over the weekend. She was giving Joy and Janie, the stronger personalities of the family, a run for their money. She would giggle as she hit Joy on the head during dinner, giggle as she teased the other girls with books she was not planning to share in the car, laugh as she tickled and poked the other girls in the car. The thing is, she's on the receiving end of ALL of that behavior ALL the time. Abby Jane and Joy did not like the tastes of their own medicine most of the time, but Jake and I were honestly a little proud to see little Blythe asserting herself a little more.

Having said that, on Friday morning, Joy pushed Blythe off the end of the diving board, resulting in more of a flip than a jump. Sunday night, Joy was trying to climb up the ladder in the deep end of the pool, and Blythe stood between the handles of the ladder, kicking Joy back every time Joy got up to the top of the ladder. So it all kind of balances out in the end and it all creates an excellent learning opportunity to be GENTLE and loving and kind! Then Jake and I can laugh to ourselves later.

First Donation

My life changed in May when we started 418 Stitches. We got to make 418's first donation this week from July's proceeds for $171.10, and it was so, so fulfilling.

The "why" behind all this comes clearly into focus when you read something like the following, from a recent newsletter from Hagar International:

$500 Three months of job training for one woman

$250 School tuition for one child, annually

$100 One month of nutritious food, for one woman

$50 One month's spending money for 50 girls from trafficking backgrounds

$25 Books and materials to teach one woman to read

Pool Days

Going to a pool, any pool, is our family's happy place right now. My girls love to come and hate to leave. Here are a few snapshots of these sweet days!

Celebrating my friend's baby girl!!

My precious friend since I was four, Katie, is having a little girl in a few weeks! Her little boy is three weeks younger than Blythe and Joy. She's made a few appearances on here since they moved back to ATL from Seattle this spring. I was given the honor of making Baby Girl Sheerin's going-home dress, to be monogrammed upon her birth and name announcement!!

Katie's big sis Kristin made these out of cupcake liners- soo cute!

Katie and I on Sunday...

Katie and I at her (and my) baby shower last time! Whew, I have to say I am glad just one of us are expecting at this moment!

So on my way home from Katie's shower, the following happened within five minutes.

Call #1: I tell Jake I'm on my way, Jake is getting the girls in the car to meet me and our friends at the pool.

Call #2: Jake tells me he's locked the keys in the house, but the girls are outside with him and safe. So just come home instead of going to the pool to unlock house.

Call #3: Jake tells me not to worry about the keys anymore- he has hoisted Abby Jane through a window, and they are now inside again. I tell Jake his Jeep is breaking down. I need to call a towing company to get the car and my mom to come rescue me.

Call #4: Jake is giving me our USAA number but needs to get off the phone before finishing because Joy has had a fall resulting is significant blood.

Thankfully, everything worked out pretty painlessly after that. But it was definitely not our normal Sunday evening. Thank goodness for that!

NOT a fun run!

On Saturday morning, I ran the Red Top Roaster. I was really amped for the race and excited for a trail run. Well, the race itself was, shall we say, SIGNIFICANTLY more challenging that I anticipated!!! I have never seen more runners walking at a race in my life. I have NEVER been more grateful to see a finish line! And I am absolutely not, under any conditions, ever doing that race again.

But look what sugar love was waiting for me about a half mile before the end! It was so sad- they all watched and waved as I ran by... then the babies burst into tears, as they didn't understand why I didn't stop! Thankfully I didn't hear them crying- I had my music blasting so I wouldn't hear myself breathing!

That final stretch was a bit of a wrap around, so they were right at the finish line to give hugs! Here's Abby Jane...and the littles.Boo didn't mind mama being sweaty- she just wanted snuggles.A plus to the race being so ridiculous- I finished third in my age group, even with a time that was actually 30 minutes longer than I had realistically anticipated!! The girls thought it was fun to go up and get my award with me. An extra plus- this was my last "big" race in that age group... I'll be 30 by the next one... so at least I went out of racing in my 20's with a bang.

Saturday ended with family trip to Yogo Ono and a cul-de-sac late night showing of Pirates of the Caribbean- thank goodness for long range monitors!

Gator

We spent the morning with the Gillies one day last week, and we all had a great time. The boys did a great job of sharing, even their special gator! Abby Jane got to drive- here is Luke as her copilot: a year younger, but a significantly more experienced driver!

Blythe and Joy both got rides with their big sis. Something about this pic seemed a slight snapshot of the future- Abby Jane playing the part of the serious driver, Blythe delightedly holding on for dear life!

I liked seeing Bets over Blythe's shoulders, helping the cousins.
Thanks for a great time, Gillies! I promise Cade was there, too, but it would seem he might not have been still enough for a picture!