Summertime.

Dear Summer,

I love your vibrant colors, your beautiful flowers, your warmth and your energy. Please stay.

{A Gorgeous Friday in JUNE}

What's on your list of stuff to do today?? ...

Here's what I've got planned -

Make French Toast for breakfast (done) - MMM that was good!

Take the car in for new tires (done) - just waiting for the 'its ready' come get it call!

Garden/lawn work (to do)

Pack my son up for a scout camp out (in the works) - hmmm might need some batteries for the flashlight :)

Buy a birthday present for my nephew (to do)

Pack my middle son up for a birthday party sleepover tonight (I think he's doing that now?)

Pack my daughter up for a sleepover at Grandma's (she's already done and ready to go:))

Book an event for an author in Boston (need to finalize that)

Go swimming (when it hits 85 degrees out!)

Celebrate my hubby's birthday tonight - with no kids ---- oh la la la!

Cheers to today :)

A Smile from the Moon :) ...

I just finished making chocolate chip cookies and noticed that the kitchen was extra bright tonight ... So I looked outside and there smiling at me (through my new kitchen window) was the man in the moon! Did I offer him a cookie? YES and if he didn't live so far away, I'm sure he would have joined me for a chat about the universe over a large glass of milk and a plate of cookies. We decided a smile was adequate for now.

Good night Mr. Moon. We'll swap stories some other hot, summer July night ...

A time to see the SEA ... :)

A Mermaid in the sand ... About to be washed away by the waves

Sandsations! Every year The city of Long Beach holds a sand sculpting contest...
This lady was making a polar bear as part of the event! I had no idea you could make such wonderful things out of sand! It was truly inspiring ...

Statue of Captain William Clark standing next to a sturgeon
Long Beach, WA

North Head Lighthouse ... Long Beach, Washington
(My two sons and I had a tour inside this lighthouse - it was amazing!)

A trip to the ocean …

We just returned from a very eventful, fun trip to the ocean! We were able to run in the waves, sip hot chocolate by the fire, take a tour of a lighthouse, hike, visit an aquarium, walk along the path Lewis & Clark explored and drive across a four mile bridge. It was a vacation full of fun, wonder and appreciation for the outdoors! I do hope this summer has been one of awe and wonder for you and your family … I am so thankful for all the beautiful things there are to see in this world we live in!

Oh the places we can go, things we can see, people we can meet

and stuff we can LEARN!

Cheers to July and all the amazing moments it presented.

{107 degrees}
Cooling off by the pool in Boise, Idaho
(Lauren & Wendy)

We just returned from a very fun and busy trip to Boise, Idaho. It was HOT...

Thank heavens for swimming pools, air conditioners and frosty drinks.

My husband had 4 shows - he sings for kids so we were busy singing and meeting people!
We also attended The Steele Family Reunion and had fun with aunts, uncles and cousins.

Special thank you to all of the following for helping make our adventures in Boise extra special:

Nampa Public Library, Caldwell Public Library, St. Luke's Children's Hospital,
Boise Public Library, and Loree Jolley for taking care of our yard & pets at home!

Feel free to check out the Wiggle Like a Fish blog:
http://wigglemoments.blogspot.com/

{Happy Summertime!}

French Vanilla ... My favorite flavor!

Try this yummy Italian Soda Recipe -

OK have you ever had an Italian Soda?? If not ... Please make yourself one. Below is the recipe:

20 ounce glass
1/4 cup of half & half
1/4 cup of your favorite flavor syrup
cubed ice (fill the cup with cubed ice - the more ice the better)
club soda

First - fill the glass with ice.
Next - pour in the syrup then add the half and half
Fill the rest of the glass with club soda.
Stir it all up ... Then top with whip cream.

Ahhhhhhhhh - Cheers to summertime!