Plum Pickers

"I know why you are only paying me a penny a plum Mama..."
"...It's because there are So Many!"

Proud as can be :)

Thank you my dear boys! I know what I will be doing tomorrow ;) Making plum jam!

Brannon, Brannon...

We watched The Sound of Music last week. Right after Maria gets expelled from the Abby to "try the world" for a time, and she's been sent as a governess to the seven children of a widower, Brannon says "Well, I bet she's not going to be single or homeless by the end of this movie."

My Dear Joshua

My sweet boy. So full of mischief and love. The Mama who lets you wallow in boredom deserves the consequences! The recipient of your generous and loving spirit counts herself fortunate among women!

Any little one who finds themselves in need of assistance in your hearing is likely to find a more than willing six-year-old helper. I love watching you with your little cousin. The two of you used to fight like crazy. Now you help her with everything, wait for her patiently, and do your best encourage her to be brave.

When I explained to you that Mama needs a little extra sleep for a while while her body is trying to heal itself you immediately apologized for waking me up in the morning (which is Not what I had in mind, by the way) and since then have been very careful Not to wake me in the morning. Going so far as to take care of your sick older brother today. Looking up with concern and I emerged from the bedroom you asked "Did I wake you?"

Your spiritual sensitivity I admire and aspire to. Your love for God is wonderful to see. Your faith in the unseen I pray I will never dampen with careless words.

You are determined to make money for the things you desire and are always coming up with ideas for making money---It's a good thing Grandma Karen is not quite as gullible as you hope she is! ;-) Going so far as to beg Papa not to pull up a thistle that is about to seed--"Grandma pays me a nickel each to pull thistles! If you leave it there will be more next year!"

There is so much more I could say, but duty calls and hungry tummies want lunch :)

I love you my boy, and am so enjoying watching you grow toward the man God created you to be! I am thankful to be your Mama.

Pics From Last Sunday's STXC

I know I kinda promised more Idaho pics... But it's proving rather difficult to carve out time to download pics at someone else's house, even if that house shares the same yard as mine. It's because downloading takes so stinking long. I can't dash of and wash a few dishes or hear a little reader if I'm not home doing it...

Anyhoo...Here's me laboring up the hill before the finish line Sunday...
And my beautiful Nate

A friend of ours, Ian, who was talked into racing---I think he's having fun:)

Janis, smiling Of Course! Lol...Nate likes yelling at her "Stop smiling and PEDAL Janis!!"

and Bear...

I'm finding my new little lens isn't so big on lower light situations without the flash...It's fine indoors in most situations because I will use the flash. Out there under the trees it wanted to take more blurry pics than my long lens. So I have quirks to learn. Ah well, I'll get it figured out one of these days:)

I did a couple warm-up laps before this race and thought that would help me out. But I didn't do so well. I don't know if was fatigue from traveling long hours Friday or what. I am more determined than ever to get in shape though.

We went riding today and I rode a part of the trail that looked VERY scary. I approached it ten times or so before I actually did it. And, it was fun :) And conquering a fear made me a lot bolder on the rest of the trail, which was more difficult than I have mostly ridden and I had a really great time.

A Few Idaho Pics

All the cuties in a row
Headed to the creek

Carolina petting the frog she spotted and Clay caught for her :)

Hey friend:D You were smiling at the kiddos til you spotted me lol

Swimming in the bubbles

More to come...