This has been a fun summer.  We started it off with going with my extended family to Branson for a weekend.  My favorite part of the weekend was going to the lake.  We took turns driving the kids around on the wave runner.  Clay spent so much time bouncing around on it that the netting in his swimsuit chaffed his butt.  His was relieved when we got home and found we still have baby butt cream in the cabinet.

I took my mom out for a spin and yes, she’s wearing a shirt on her head because she couldn’t find a hat.  My mom is very resourceful and slightly goofy.  She only had to yell at me to slow down a few times.  My mom also rode on the tube with one of my nephews, she was having a lot of fun.  Can you see my farmer’s tan?  I can’t help it, I do that every year.  I can never wear tank tops or cute sundresses because I have that stupid tan.

The glowing white figure out there is me skiing.  I don’t think I’ve water skied for about ten years.  My kids were pretty amazed that I could do that.  I told them not to be overly impressed because….

I was bound to crash.  And I did.

On our way home we stopped at the famous Lambert’s, home of the throwed rolls.  Yes, that’s what they say…throwed.  They come out with piping hot rolls and throw them at you.  I don’t know why that sounds so fun, but my kids could hardly wait to eat there.  That plate full of nursing home food is what I ordered.  It tasted about as good as it looks.  I don’t know many restaurants that still decorate their plates with kale and a spiced apple ring.   I ate a lot of rolls.

We had a very impromptu party at our house for the 4th of July.  I think unplanned parties always turn out to be the best.  My friend’s husband is a nurse and was working, so we told her to bring all the kids out to shoot off fireworks. That’s Poodle smiling with Ellen.  Do you remember me telling you about her?   She hates poodles, she’d rather be called a Yorkie.  So, I’m changing her name to Pug…just to annoy her.  Pug has six children.  I know, you hate her now, don’t you?  Stinkin’ gym addict.

We love hanging out with her family because her kids line up with mine and it doesn’t hurt that they’re a lot of fun.

These two are our babies.  They’ll be in Kindergarten together.

These two will be in 3rd grade together.

Our oldest two will be Juniors this year.

Then we have the stair steps the two girls on the left and Seth.  They’ll be in 8th, 9th and 10th grades this year.  Pug has another son that managed not to get in any of my photos, he’ll be in 6th grade, he’s also the child they accidentally leave behind at school, church and restaurants.

We’ve had a lot of fun with them all summer.

This is Bryan and Melanie, they came to visit Coal Creek Farm for a few days.  They were our neighbors when we lived in TBLDBT back in Missouri.  I love them.  It makes me so happy when they travel out to see us.  I still swear that Bryan is my littler bothah from anothah mothah.  He reminds me so much of my dad it’s scary sometimes and Melanie is, well…she’s my favorite.  She is my confidant.  She’s my friend that allows me to rant, rave, complain, cry and laugh hysterically all in the span of ten minutes and she still wants to be my friend.

We took them to the Farmer’s Market to eat breakfast on a curb.

That’s how generous we are to our friends.  Come visit us, we’ll take you to the curb to eat.

This is Bryan and Melanie’s baby.  He is so stinking cute and ornery and I love him.  We had such a wonderful visit with them.

Oh, and we saw this guy at the market.  You just never know when you might need a superhero, especially one that drinks coffee.

I hope all of you have had some fun this summer.

When we visited St. Louis during Spring Break, I spent one night out with some of my girlfriends.  This is Becky, well it’s the back of Becky’s head.  I first met Becky when she was in high school and now she’s almost 30 years old!!!  How is that possible?  Anyway, I love Becky’s funky style, I mean if Becky didn’t have pink hair, I would be concerned.  However, the day she pierced her nose…I struggled looking at her. I have a problem with holes in the face, I mean like make me want to faint because that has got to hurt and OH MY GOSH THERE IS A HOLE IN YOUR NOSE!!!  I’m getting a little queasy just typing this.  Anyway, let’s stop talking about that before I faint.  Becky is beautiful, nose hole and all.  One more thing about Becky…

She made this cake.  Yeah, it’s a cake.  She and a bunch of her friends had a Lost party and since Becky is a professionally trained pastry chef …she made a Lost cake.

If you’re a Lost fan then this cake makes sense.  If you’re not, then I suggest you hurry up and become one since this is the last season.

I don’t think I can fully explain the polar bear on the tropical island.  You just need to watch the show.  Check out the cable running from the beach to the water.  I know!  So cool.

The polar bear, the hatch and Oceanic flight 815 before she went down on the island.  All edible of course.  Wait a minute.  Becky?  Uh, I think you forgot something…I don’t see Sawyer.

Would it have been too difficult to sculpt a Sawyer trotting along the beach toting a gun making snide remarks?  Maybe for the grand finale you could make a Sawyer cake.  Yes?  I get to eat his glasses.

Becky was watching Lost while making the cake, because, you know, every artist needs their inspiration.

I’m pretty sure this photo could be titled, “Mommas Don’t Let Your Babies Grow Up to Be Cake Decorators.”  Sticky, dishes, sticky, dishes, sticky…that’s pretty much what’s going on in my head when I look at this photo.  Oh, but so worth the mess when you see what she creates.

There she is, hi Becky!  Cheers to you!  You’re one talented chick, with a hole in your nose!!!