night 2

night 3

moments like these make all those tough ones worth it...

 Stella and Sawyer in their red, white and blue...ready for church.

After church, and a nap, we headed to the lake for our annual family cookout.  Here's my dish...thanks to pinterest...well, it called for bananas, but Michael suggested I put pieces of angel food cake with some whipped cream...I think I liked his idea better. 

a picture of "the spread"

the dessert table...my fave :)

On the fourth, we participated in the community parade.  Stella almost made it to the end...it was very hot and right at a mile long.  Sawyer was almost asleep :)

my band director when I was in highschool :)

Lastly, we got together with more family at Moms this past weekend.

 As I was washing dishes yesterday, I realized how summers have changed...not just for the better, but for what's best, right now.  I've always enjoyed summer...who doesn't, right?  But now, summer has new meaning.  A few years back, I looked forward to packing up my classroom, finishing assessments and teacher workdays.  A few summers later, I anticipated taking Stella to the park.  Last year, I was just surviving with a 4 month old and 2 year old. Now, I still look forward to those park days and swings, but it's the small things that I'm really loving right now.... 

like...

home grown tomoatoes and cucumbers that I didn't realize how much I'd love...

(this is the first year we've had a small garden)

I think I ate a ham and tomato sandwich almost everyday last week :)

little crafts that remind me of what's important

sacrin pickles made from the garden squash and cucumbers, mom makes...that my grandma nixon always had during those hot days..