summer days

Lately I have been dreaming of Fall and cooler weather. First trimester and heat really don't work well together and I have been sick, so sick, for the past five weeks straight.
It is these kinds of Summer days, however, that remind me to enjoy the season and savor what's left of it...
Time with good friends, a nice breeze, cool water, drinks on ice, Kenna in her tiny bathing suit, fresh cold fruit, blue skies with fluffy white clouds...There is so much Summer goodness to enjoy. In fact, Saturday on the boat was the first day in all these weeks that I actually was not sick, so more of those days must be in store. Besides, we're growing another one of these, so I really can't complain about that...

weekend with the capps

I'll share some more pictures of the fun soon but for now just check out how cute Shawn and Elaine are...

He fixed it!

computer troubles

That jumble of electronics Shawn is hunched over with a flashlight is my computer. Those little silver things on the table are all the teeny-tiny screws that hold it together.
Just thought you should know where I've been. Right here, wondering if he knows what he's doing or remembers where all those teeny-tiny screws go. I trust him. I sure love him for trying anyway.
I do hope to have a better post for you soon -typed from my own computer.
I hope.

the fairy in my garden

Best and dearest flower that grows,

Perfect both to see and smell;

Words can never, never tell

Half the beauty of a Rose-

Buds that open to disclose,
Fold on fold of purest white,
Lovely pink or red that glows

Deep, sweet scented. What delight

To be Fairy of the Rose!

-The Song of the Rose Fairy-
by Cicely Mary Barker

Shhhhh...

The baby is sleeping!

That little bean is the newest member of the Campbell family, due to shake up our world this winter.
We couldn't be a happier family of five!

recipe for boredom

It's really hot. I can only take so much sweating by the kiddie pool and sandbox before we have to find an air conditioned activity.
We make this play dough together and then pull it out in that pre-dinnertime madness when mom needs the extra busy hands out of the kitchen.

Help your child measure and mix in a sauce pan-
2 C. flour
1/2 C. salt
2 C. water
2 Tbsp oil
1/4 C cream of tartar
a few drops of food coloring

Give your child a snack and send them to the table to wait as you -
Place the pan over medium heat and stir until dough is completely formed and no longer sticky. It doesn't take long - keep stirring! Allow it to cool before dumping it out for your patiently waiting child.

Toss them a bunch of tools -utensils, toothpicks, cookie cutters etc. and let the creating begin. This dough is so much softer than the store bought kind and lasts forever stored in an air tight container.

date night

In a town that has often left us blank when asking the questions "What should we do?" or "Where should we go?" on date nights, we have finally found our answer. While the kids happily played at home with their favorite babysitter, we enjoyed our own private sunset dinner cruise. Perfect.
Now our only question is "Why didn't we do this sooner?"

kenna marie

Kenna is 18 months old this month. She has been smiling since the day she was born and it just keeps getting cuter with each new tooth. She has learned a lot of new words recently but her favorites these days seem to be mine! and outside?! (each said with as much drama as possible). She loves blueberries, shoes, kisses, her pink bunny and books with animals. She still wakes up before dawn but will go back to sleep for hours if she's cuddled up with daddy. She has no fear and will hang backwards from a swing to feel the breeze in her hair and see the world upside down; she will lean out over the side of the boat unaware that it is only mom's grip on her life jacket keeping her on board; and she will climb anything. 18 months. Is that all it has been? I hardly remember life before that smile...

tagged: 10 things

Twice in the last month I've been tagged. I still have every intention of fulfilling the first tag from Elaine, but I'm slow to get things done these days (I blame the summer heat). Also, that tag required photos that I haven't got around to taking. This one, from Robin, I can do without leaving my chair so here goes...

What were you doing 10 years ago?
Summer 1998...I was working at Eagle Lake Camp in Colorado as the Assistant Trail Outfitter for the Wilderness Camp. I climbed my first 'fourteeners' that summer, made some amazing friends and then went back to Texas A&M and my coffee shop job to wait for Eagle Lake '99.

Things on my To-Do List today:
Buy baby wipes and juice.
Vacuum.
Dishes.
Should I go on? It doesn't really get any more exciting from there.

What are some snacks you enjoy?
Lately...salty things (pretzels, green olives) and fruity things (raspberry sherbet, smoothies, Sonic cherry limeades, watermelon) and Root beer. I even have proof...


What would you do if you were a millionaire?
Pray for wisdom. Give, give, give.

Name some of the places you've called home.
Rapid City, SD * College Station, TX * Bryan, TX * Colorado Springs, Co * Stafford, VA, Pensacola, FL * Corpus Christie, TX * Milton, Fl * Jacksonville, NC * and here.
Some day...Heaven.

What are some of your bad habits?
I toss the trash bags into the garage instead of taking them all the way out to the garbage can (drives Shawn crazy). I do the laundry and then let it sit around for days before I put it away. I'm going to stop there.

What are some jobs you've held?
Lifeguard, Swimming Instructor, Coffee shop girl, Flower delivery driver, Eagle Lake Camp, Marine Corps Association, Church Secretary...mom, nurse, cook, housekeeper, teacher, referee, gardener, chauffeur...

Who are you tagging? Barb, Alli and Christy you're it! (yes, Christy, I chose you just to encourage you to post something new!!)

check me out!

My cheap decorating tip is on the Domino Magazine website.
Don't tell them, but I entered my idea on a whim one day when I was on the site to see if I could change my subscription to another magazine!

shasta daisy

In light of all my garden annoyances this summer, such as excessive heat, rabbits, mole crickets, and a lack of zinnias in the zinnia patch (more on that later), I thought it would do me some good to look for the positives.

I have had this Shasta plant for over three years now and it never blooms. Ever. I even tried to get rid of it once but my Dad found it discarded behind the house and re-planted it right out front.

"It won't bloom", I told him.

"It'll bloom", he told me.

Well, he was right. Thanks Dad.

4th fun

We had a great July 4th weekend with the Mosley family. It's always fun to line up those kiddos and see how they've grown. And with the help of this little group, we were able to test out the kid friendliness of our new sailboat. Meet the Summer Wind...

She passed the test with flying colors! The boys loved being inside the 'boat fort' cabin as much as they did clambering around on the deck when we let them. We enjoyed a sunny afternoon on the water, stopped back at the marina for dinner and swimming and then sailed back out to watch the fireworks that night. Not a bad way to spend the day!

Happy 4th of July everyone!

the Summer Wind

So about that bigger boat....yes, I think this will do.

make way for ducklings

I saw this sign, did a double-take and being me, went back for a picture. First you have a very ordinary Person-crossing-the-road sign. Then there's Mama Duck quacking to her little ones to follow while that one is flapping his wings in panic, "Wait for me! Quack Quack!" Why is there no cute little kid behind Mr. Person up there, waving his arms in panic, "Wait for me, Dad! Wait!" Now that would get a driver's attention.

The signs brought to mind an old book we have been enjoying lately, Mr. Pines Mixed Up Signs. It's fun to see a little creativity in something as ordinary as a road sign.

"Soon the new signs were up all over Little Town.
Mr. Pine did not know it, but the signs looked funny..."

sad sad sad

Sunday evening a big storm blew through while we were out. We came home to find a kind neighbor picking up the mess left in our yard, including the battered gardenfort. The sight would have made me very sad if there had actually been anything growing on it but since the rabbits have made sure not to let that happen all I could do was sigh and shrug. Maybe next year. I may give it one last effort with some large potted vines I found at a local nursery and some chicken wire. Maybe. *sigh* *shrug*