Makenzie's Piano Students

Makenzie had her final recital for her students. She has done a great job with them and has learned how to teach and learned a lot about patience in the process. Each one of those students adore her. You can tell. I took pictures with each one because I was thinking that years from now, she will love looking back on her first job and remembering what a great job she did. 

Ava

Sarah

Jake

Cooper

Savvy Shoppers

Today we shopped. Emma and Makenzie went to some 2nd hand stores here in Beaverton. Chris, mom, Heidi and I shopped at the outlet mall in Woodburn. It was so fun to reunite at the end of the day and see what everyone had found. I am so happy and proud that my girls appreciate and enjoy shopping 2nd hand. It doesn't have to be new. They are old enough to see how much farther they can stretch their money when shopping at Goodwill or Platos closet. Both Makenzie and Emma found fantastic Vans for $12 each. Emma found adorable and trendy shirts at Goodwill for a few dollars each. Makenzie has been wanting a new purse and found one today at Platos for $18. It's a great purse that new would sell for $50-$60. 

Although we weren't shopping 2nd hand in Woodburn, While looking for a pair of Converse for Heidi she was sensitive to the prices and looking for the best deal. She had done some shopping with her Nana and was telling me all about the great deals they found. 

I believe they are smart and savvy shoppers. I'm really proud of them. 

Christening of the giant skillet

I took last years anniversary present with me to Indian Mary this year. It's a GIANT cast iron skillet with lid. It's heavy and huge. Did I mention its huge? And I love it.  It's so cool. I made breakfast for everyone in it and it turned out perfect. Baby potatoes, sausage, eggs, cheese and spinach. And in our other Dutch ovens we made biscuits. It was a great camping breakfast. 

I Want This Raft

Chris and I want our own raft. We've wanted one for awhile now. After leaving Indian Mary this year we stopped at the Sotar store. 

And I saw it...my raft! This is the size and color I want. 

I LOVE the turquoise with the yellow. Chris agreed it was a winner. 

Three Days No Work No Kids

On the way up to Seattle today I told Chris that the past three days have been the best so far of my summer. I had taken a couple of days off of work because I thought I would need to drive the girls up to Seattle for Harmony Explosion, a singing camp. But then Makenzie drove them up instead. So that left me with three days with no plans. That just equals Bliss In my book. 

I cleaned off the back patio which desperately needed to be reclaimed. At one time I had a darling back patio. It's like a distant memory now. I'm trying to get that cute patio back again. It involved getting rid of a stove, a microwave and a broken cement owl bird feeder. Doesn't that sound like a recipe for a Jeff Foxworthy, "You know you're a redneck if...."?  I listed the stove and microwave on Craig's list and they were gone in 20 min. And I offered the guy $10 to haul off my broken bird feeder too. He gave me back $5 of it and took it away for me. I then covered my wooden picnic table in oilcloth. It's adorable. I'm having the patio pressure washed on Monday and then it will be ready to put stuff back on it. 

And while I was posting the patio items on Craig's List I listed the girls student desk as well. I sold it this morning for $40. Sweet!

I laid in the hammock and read. I played a lot outside with our new dog. I went on two walks a day with Waverly and Chris. And I baked chocolate chip cookies and pumpkin muffins. Because I felt like it. 

Mom and I went and had lunch at my favorite food cart, Pork Chop City. It's located in SE portland now. It's a bit of a drive but mom had a doctors appointment downtown so we just hopped the Ross Island bridge and we were there. 

I had dinner with my good friend Suzanne.  I hadn't seen her in a long time so it was fun to catch up. 

Chris and I had a date night on Friday. We saw Grownups 2 and then had pizza at Old Chicago. I had forgotten how good that place was. Yummy pizza. 

I also cleaned out the garage. It's still a long way from being done but I got a lot accomplished. 

But the best thing about the past three days was spending time with Chris. He worked from home every day because of his sunburned feet and back. He literally was not able to wear shoes. It was really nice to reconnect and just be together.

I love that feeling when you get things done you've been wanting to do for a long time. It frees you mentally. 

HX=Harmony Explosion

I just got home from Seattle where all three of our girls attended Harmony Explosion. It's essentially an A Capella camp sung in Barbershop harmonies. Makenzie went last year and loved it so much she went back this year as a section leader. Heidi's friend Eliza went as well. Makenzie drove all of them up to Seattle on Wednesday. I was a little nervous about her making such a long drive but I just kept reminding myself how much I drove all over Oregon at this age as an Oregon 4-H Ambassador. Chris and I then drove up there today to attend their end of camp concert. It was fantastic. Amazing. I'm really impressed with this camp and how much they learn.

 

4th of July

Our Fourth was so great. Filled with God, Country, family, friends and food. It's not every year you get the whole package but let me tell you, we sure did this year. 

We started the day with a flag raising ceremony at the church followed by a pancake breakfast. I don't eat pancakes so I brought a quiche I had gotten up early to make. It was a Pioneer Woman recipe, her Cowboy Quiche and it was delicious. Chris got a game of ultimate going while the girls headed home to finish their cake. 

As soon as we got home Chris and Heidi got the lawn mowed while I worked on lunch. Then we were off to the Molalla Buckaroo. 

Our family had a great time there. It's a lot smaller than the St. Paul Rodeo but that made it all the better. It had that hometown charm feel that I love about a good rodeo. I haven't been to a rodeo like that since my teenage years in Coos County. Chris and I discovered a place selling Mexican corn on the cob. It was so good I went back for a second one. 

Chris brought his bracelet making gear and outfitted all of us with these:

We got home at 1:00 in the morning, exhausted but feeling fulfilled from a tremendous 4th of July.