Strawberry Jam Is The Best!

Wednesday night Mark, Jude, and Mary came over to help make strawberry jam. I don't have many pictures to show for it as I was pretty busy and had STICKY fingers for most of the time. Mark and Jude had enough of it after one batch and, decided watching Paddington Bear with Uncle Isaac was a better idea. We had a lot of fun though, and finished up with strawberry banana smoothies. Yum! When it was time to leave, Jude looked at the tea set and says, "Make tea, make tea?!" Next time Jude... next time. "Oh Tey" : )

 Jude wanted to do it himself

4th Of July!

Well I must say I am VERY  proud and THANKFUL to be an American. I really love celebrating the 4th of July. This year I was lucky enough to get in on two celebrations. The first one was in Fair Haven, NY with some of the friends from Syracuse on Sunday night. It was one of the best fireworks displays I think I have ever seen. Absolutely beautiful by the lake! I didn't get too many pictures of the lake before it got dark because Isaac and I took a couple of the kids to find some ice cream, only to discover that the line extended out into the street... By the time we got our ice cream, we ended up having to run with it back to where everyone was sitting so we wouldn't miss all the fireworks. This can be a challenge when there are dripping cones involved. Let's just say Connor and I were quite sticky by the time we got back. : ) We drove home on the 4th, blasting patriotic music down the PA Turnpike. Went pretty much straight over to Mom and Dad's for a BBQ and then zipped out to Dover to catch a few more fireworks. Awesome weekend, with awesome friends! Love it!

(taken by Isaac)

(Taken by Teresa) 

(Taken by Yours Truly)

Pressed Down, Shaken Together, and Running Over...

Give, and it will be given to you: good measure, pressed down, shaken together, and running over will be put into your bosom. For with the same measure that you use, it will be measured back to you.
                                                                                                                                        ~Luke 6:38~  

It seems to me that this verse can't be right. I feel it has been measured back to me FAR greater than I have given.

Looking forward to the youth conference this weekend! I have a feeling I shall come back feeling even richer. : )

The Hottest Day Yet...

Last week, I failed to check the weather forecast previous to promising to take Mark & Jude to the park in the afternoon. So with out delay, off we went to Brecknock Park. Madison came along as well. We ate our lunch under the pavilion and that was about the last we saw of the shade. It was SO hot it was just ridiculous. My phone said it was 87F and felt like 107F! The air was so thick with humidity you could practically slice it. We managed a few swing rides and a couple of shovels of sand before we decided ice cream sounded like a better idea. Fifer Orchards here we come! We were a happy, sticky, dirty, sweaty mess by the end of it all, but we had fun. I just love these kids! : )

Watching the birds eat the twisty cheese curls they tossed to them

Jude and I hid in about the only shade to be found on the playground

You can almost feel the heat from this pic! 

This soggy cone was good to the laaaast drop.

BBQ Time

Mel & Ben invited James & Roshini and Co. and Isaac and I over for a BBQ. Ben grilled some of the best chicken EVER! We brought our giant bubble mix, and I'm not sure who enjoyed it more, the kids or "Uncle Isaac". : )