Sum It Up Sunday - Week in Review

Summer is in full swing. The days are flying by. Only two more weekly swim meets left!
The boys are doing well and are accumulating stacks of ribbons. I wonder if they will miss their morning swim practices next month. The older two boys are volunteering at the library and all three are participating the the Summer Reading program. They also all have weekly music lessons; trumpet for Devon and piano for the other boys.

Life's A Gas

I am constantly amazed at the progress the boys are making. The other day my husband informed me that my eldest son figured out how to play the NBC theme song. At first Dad was not impressed, after all it is only 3 notes. "How hard is it to play three stinking notes?" my hubby inquired.

" It's ironic that you used the word "stinking". I played it with my butt" our eldest (and baddest) boy replied.

Ewwww. Glad I was't there! Does the "Butt Trumpet" count as a musical instrument? If so I have a very talented boy! ( and a stinky one as well). ;p

Speaking of gas, this is what I paid this week with my 30 cent Kroger Marketplace discount - $2.18.
Not bad.... My Three Sons in Missouri " finally saw 2.29 ... for gas" this week.

What I paid for gas using my 30 cent discount!

Anticipation is Making me Wait...
My Bush Champion Tomatoes are getting really big and I am anxiously awaiting their safe change to red. I keep hearing about this terrible Tomato Blight and am trying to closely monitor my plants. I am finding the typical spotting on a few branches of leaves but I don't think we have any with the late blight that the media is reporting. As I bought a bunch of plants from a grower that was hit (Bonnie Plants) I am concerned. I've worked too hard this year to lose my crops.

As seen in the photo above, these are the biggest tomatoes I have EVER grown! Can't wait for them to turn red.


Bowling for Discounts

Yesterday I took the boys bowling so they could use some of the "Free" coupons they have accumulated. All 3 boys were given coupons for 2 free games. (not including shoe rental). When we arrived at the alley, my youngest son informed me that he lost his coupon. I paid for his 2 games and the shoes for the boys which set me back $16.

After bowling we went to dinner to use another coupon for 15% off at one of our favorite Italian restaurants, where I dropped $70 for dinner for 4.

Evening out with my boys, PRICELESS!


Hot Mess
Dad was home last night working on fixing a leak in the hot water pipe. Still working on it today. The broken part is ancient and impossible to find. Hope he gets the problem fixed. Today. I need a shower. Badly!

Seems like everything in the house is breaking at once. My hubby just fixed the ice-maker. Next on tap after the Hot Water heater is looking at new dishwashers.

When it rains, it pours. Same thing happens when pipes & dishwashers are broken...

On that note, it is a sunny day & I think I'll take the boys to the pool. Might be the closest we'll get to having a bath or shower today!

Weekly Update

Sunday was not only Father's Day but also the official start of Summer. Time seems to be flying by. My two older boys are enjoying their Volunteen work at the library and all three boys are on the Swim Team for our local pool. We have our 2nd meet tonight. (oh joy! 3 hours baking in the heat tonight! I may have to "accidentally' fall in the pool.)

As if you don't already know, I have been getting much joy out of my vegetable garden. Pictured above is my meager harvest from last night. I picked some lettuce, dill & chives this morning to make a salad for lunch. After years of trial & error, I have finally learned the benefits of fertilizer. I recently started using Scott's Miracle Grow for Tomatoes and Miracle Grow for Flowers & Vegetables.

Sunday we went to a local Blues & Jazz Festival and I took a bunch of photos. One of the main reasons we love festivals is for the Funnel Cakes! Also crafty souvenirs such as t-shirts and hats.
We also stopped by the adjacent Carnival and took in a Nature Walk. I broke the photos into 4 posts. This way it seems like we had 4 separate days of vacation as opposed to 4 hours!

This time of year, I find that time flies by and there are never enough hours in a day to keep up with my blog and fellow bloggers. Hopefully this is a quiet weekend so I can catch up!
Well, ...I'd better get to work now! Hope you are all having a great week!

Sum It up Sunday - Summer is Here

As with many of my bloggy friends, this past week has been busy with end of the school-year activities.

Party Time
Last weekend my middle son turned 11. We took 7 boys swimming, to the movies (Night at The Museum 2) and then dinner. ( Note to self: boys stop ordering off the kid's menu at this age, be careful when choosing restaurants ).

Summer Fun
Wednesday was the last day of school and 5th grade graduation. I now have 2 middle-schoolers.
These 2 boys are volunteering at the local library as "Volunteens". They help sign up and give out prizes for the Summer Reading program. The photo above is my eldest on his first day.

My boys have already completed their reading tracking sheet. I also signed up and need to catch up. I wonder if I can count "blog reading" as part of my reading time??? If anyone has any good books to recommend, let me know; I have a lot of catching up to do.

The boys are starting their summer swim team practices at our neighborhood pool. Great exercise and helps fill a few hours a day. They are also signed up for a few short "camps" for music and writing. Otherwise this should be a pretty relaxed and lazy summer.

Garden Report
My garden continues to evolve. Strawberry season is over and I need to harvest my lettuce. The heat will turn my greens bitter if not eaten soon. (Good thing we have family coming in tonight!)
Looks like I should have a good crop of tomatoes and hope to be able to harvest some cherry tomatoes soon. My peppers are also coming along nicely. My dill has started to flower and needs to be given away.

I am anxiously checking my snap pea vines daily for signs of pea pods. This is our 1st year for planting peas and I am worried I started a few weeks late. I also am hopeful for a better year for my yellow squash and cucumbers. I limed the soil and am fertilizing on a regular basis. I daily scan for blossoms. None so far....

Rising Fuel Costs
Gas Prices are on the way up... This is my first fill-up last week where I am finally over the $2.00 mark. I paid $2.559 with my 20 cent off Kroger Marketplace Fuel Perk.
Speaking of perks,l I need to put some coffee on and get motivated to clean and grocery shop. We will have a house and yard full of relatives late today!

Wordless Wednesday - Frogman

Be The Lezak

We were on the way to the pool for one of the last times we will swim at our community pool before it is closed for the season. All three boys are now swimmers and will be swimming on a club team this Fall.

"I want to watch my future Olympians swim!" I tell my boys. To which my youngest son answers back,

"I'm gonna be THE LEZAK!"

I looked at my husband and we both smiled. At that moment I was bursting with pride for my clever 7 year old son.

For those of you who did not keep up with the Olympics, The Lezak, is Jason Lezak. A teammate of Michael Phelps. Not just any teammate. The heroic efforts of this young man made it possible for Mr. Phelps to be the most decorated Olympian of all time. The Lezak swam the last leg of the 4x100m Free Relay. THE greatest anchor leg in swimming history.
The fastest split of all time. 46.06!

When The Lezak started his world record final leg, the U.S. Team was trailing the French leader by a full body length. Jason Lezak was facing the world's best 100 meter freestyle swimmer, Alain Bernard, with no hope of catching him. With a burst of energy and team spirit, Jason gave it his all. He touched a mere .08 of a second in front of Bernard.

While Michael Phelps traveled home first class to a hero's welcome, Jason Lezak rode humbly home in coach. Michael has set a fine example for young swimmers everywhere and deserves all the accolades he has received. But it takes a special person to want to be "The Lezak". A self-less hero that embodies team spirit. The ultimate team player!