The 4th of July

My mother had just had brain surgery Wednesday (6/30) to remove a growth, causing her seizures. Hopefully, with the removal of this growth, she will be able to live a somewhat normal life. On Sunday (7/4) Mom was released from the hospital and we ended up at my parents home helping out where we could. As mom rested we visited with Dad and sat out on his driveway watching foreworks light up the night sky. I have to tell you, there were some amazingly, large firework displays by their neighbors. At one point in time, I felt like I was a Disney Park! Mom is doing well and healing nicely. She wishes her recovery would move along more quickly, but for now we are all learning a little patience.


This wasn't much, but I have to say the "Never Ending" firework, lasted 3 minutes and 17 seconds. It was well worth it!

Tiffany holding her first sparkler!

Summer of Learning...

When my kids come to me in the summer time and tell me those magic words,"I'm bored", I look around and try to think of things for them to do. Something that will stretch them and make them think. So far this summer, Brianne has learned to sew and bake. She and her friend made these purses below, all by themselves. Nice job girls!



Brianne and Tiffany learning how to make sugar cookies. They turned out great too!



Not sure why, but this photo will no turn the correct direction. This is Caitlin releasing her five butterflies (painted ladies) that she watched go from caterpillars through the stages and into butterflies. It was fascinating to watch them hatch (once the process began, they quickly left their pupa and crawled out as a butterfly. It was funny, our entire family was gathered around this habitat watching the five butterflies emerge. We sat there for hours, and if we turned our head for a second, we would miss them emerge! Got to keep your eyes watching or you miss it. It was fun having the butterflies, flutter around Caitlin's bedroom and the living room for a few minutes each day. In these photos, Caitlin is releasing them outside. They only stayed in our yard for a few minutes, then flew off. It was a little sad to see them go. :)

The top side of this butterfly is orange and black. It was beautiful!

My Summer Gardens

This past spring, one of my Personal Progress goals was to put in new gardens. I can't tell you how difficult this project was. I hauled dirt, river rocks, large edge stones, and mulch all by myself. I remember hauling many wheelbarrow full of rock, telling myself. "I'm almost done, I can do this, two more hauls and you can take a water break..well, maybe three more." hee-hee. The things we tell ourselves to get through something difficult. Anyway, I finished and I have to say, things look great. The only thing I had Ron help me with was taking out the myrtle tress and putting in the Queen Palms. Those trees were so heavy. It was a two person job, to get them out of the pots, into the ground and then to find their best viewing side and get them centered. Last weekend we purchased two sago palms for the back gardens, where we had lost two other palms. I have not planted them yet, but hope to do that this week. Over all, I think I did pretty well on the gardens!

All of these plants started off as little tiny 6 pack plants. I used Miracle Grow on them and wha-laa, they are massive! Got to love MG!

This back garden was difficult to put in...I almost lost one load of rock and two loads of mulch into the pool. :) The garden wraps around the spa, to the right of the photo and there is another queen palm over there too. I planted agapanthas (bloomed about a month ago and was gorgeous), yucca and lantana. The lantana is a confetti lantana. Some of the plants are light pink, yellow, lavender and orange. The others are red, orange, and yellow gold. The butterflies love them, as you will read about in my next post.

How Many Times Did the Twins Celebrate Turning 13 Years Old?

Well....it happened. I can't believe it happened...the twins, Caitlin and Courtney are teenagers. Where did time go? Were they not just tiny 6 lb. babies? I feel so lucky that they are mine! The twins are such great people. They are helpful, loving, kind and very smart. They seem to know what I need help with and they reach out and help me each day. Thanks twinnies for all you do. I love you so much! HAPPY 13TH BIRTHDAY! xoxo - Mom

HAPPY 13TH BIRTHDAY CAITLIN & COURTNEY!

Seeing that they already had two cakes...we went for something more simple on their actual birthday....Ding Dongs. (Hey, they picked them out!) :)

Avery's Come to Visit!

We were so excited when we heard that Grandma and Grandpa Avery were coming to visit us...in the summer time. We do not get visitors very often in the heat of the summer. We kept them cooled off in the pool each day and we had many cannonball contests. I have to say Ron, Victoria and Grandpa were pretty good at this game. Thank you again for visiting Avery's, we had a wonderful time!

My dad and Avery's goofing off...what's new?

Gary napping and burning. (What the hecka?)

We swam...rain, downpour or shine!

This comic strip sums up our fun quite well!

Grandma even got in on the action! Go Grandma!

Sums up Grandpa and Ron's week...reading and napping.

Saying goodbye...way too early in the morning!

Courtney's New Look!

We finally got our acts together and took Courtney to the Ortho. She looks so cute!