but that doesn't mean. . .

 . . . my eyes will soon be turning red. . . why do song lyrics always pop in my head for post titles?  On an unrelated (to this post) note, Miley always wakes up in the morning singing.  So cute.

So anyway. . . We've had some unusual thunderstorms this summer.  We've had thunderstorms with RAIN and it's still summer.  The rain doesn't normally come until at least October.  So far it's been raining on us every few days for weeks. . . and we are sooooo grateful!

Miley and I sat outside and just watched it for quite some time.  I taught her to sing a song with the thunder so it wouldn't scare her (boom boom ain't it great to be crazy). . . so far that's working out nicely.  Dave taught her to give him a high five every time it booms outside.  I think mine was better.  ;)

The rain has been nice, and my plants are LOVIN it, but the humidity is a killer!!  I'm now staying indoors until this season passes.  ;)

Lesson handout . . .

This week's lesson is on scripture study (#27 manual 1). . . so I made bookmarks.  I used a quote I love:  "The man who does not read good books has no advantage over the man who can't read them."  -Groucho Marx

On the back I put some of the pointers from the lesson on how to make your scripture study more successful.

And because one handout is just not enough for me lately (or because the first did not involve food of any kind), I made simple bottle labels with this quote:  "The scriptures are reservoirs of spiritual water. Just as water was and is today essential to physical life, just so, is the gospel of the Lord Jesus Christ essential to the spiritual life of God's children. Great reservoirs of spiritual water, called scriptures, have been provided in this day and have been safeguarded that all might partake and be spiritually fed, and that they thirst not." -President Harold B. Lee

makeover

 It was time to change things, and that included the entryway. . .

I know you're thinking I hung them too low.  ;)  Oops.  So I made these two mirrors, and now I want to make everything into an antique-y mirror.  It's fun and they look cool.  I used the tutorial I found HERE. . . to make the mirrors, easy peasy.

I know this picture makes it look like you can't see much but blur in the mirror, but that's not so accurate.  I let it focus on the frame instead so you could see the texture on the mirror.

So I found this cool old window frame at urban renewal and I want to make it into a mirror as well . . . but I have no where to put it right now.  Maybe I'll take all these down and put it up there.  ???  We'll see.

For Mimi!

Happy Happy Happy Birthday 

from Dave and I, as well. ;)

two for tuesday

Above:  Watching Tangled on the iPod with her Tangled toys in Mama's bed.
Below:  I found these friends in Miley's room. .  . Chunky and Elmo.

our wish for you!

mini masterpieces

I made a book on Shutterfly of Miley's artwork (and fam you can check the site if you want to order a copy as well, I posted it there) and it turned out great.  I will be doing it again, but this time I'll probably make my own. . . I am not a fan of templates.

Anyway, here is a little preview of her work. . .

Family portrait. . . they say you can tell who the child believes is the most important in their life at that time by how big they draw them. . . in this case she spent the most time and space on herself.  ;)

A rocket to the sun, and snowflakes

Space and Snowmen with weird mustaches. . . by the way, she named these herself.

Fruit

I love it when she draws people. . . Daddy and Miley. . . Mommy

Miley's self portraits

Houses in the rain and a Family portrait

Daddy-o

Mommy and then Daddy. . . I always have eyelashes and Dave always has glasses.

The artist, hard at work. . .

I've noticed that she draws nicer stuff for other people, but at home when she's working on stuff for fun it is usually fill the page with color and try out some crazy effects.  I guess that's how it should be.  She drew the Eiffel tower for Kari, and a garden of flowers for her Sunbeam teacher. . . but for me, I get scribbles and an occasional portrait.  ;)

more than one post

If I was smart I would stretch these pics out to fill a couple of posts, but I'm too lazy to do that today.   So instead, here are the fruits of my effort to once again pick up my camera and not just use my phone. . .

Miley waiting for her friend to come over. . .

 Sidewalk chalk painting. . . .

 Enjoying the new swimming pool

 Independence day show. . .  poppers and sparklers

 oooh aaaaahhhh. . . .

 The cutest people I know. . .

 Miley was looking at old pictures of her Daddy reading to her from babyhood until now and that spurred her to want to read A LOT more with her Daddy. . . this time though, she has to read it to him

 She is so lucky to have a Daddy who will play whatever she asks him to. . .

 My girl, working on her color theory. . .

 The weirdest toy we've purchased. . . bilibo

 It started as makeup and then turned into a lion mask. . .

 Loving choosing her own outfits. . .

 One for each of us. . .

My sunshine. . .