How does your garden grow?

It seems to be growing quite well this year, thanks.

We seem to have succeeded
at keeping the deer away from the tomatoes.
Finally!!

We're gonna have lots of apricots too.

Ditto on the apples.

Free-ranging

Today we let the chickens out to free-range.
They LOVED it!

Their favorite spot seemed to be under the grapes.
They ate them, too.

This is a cute shot of them,
minus Helga,
who was hanging out on top of one of the retaining walls.

More birthday pics

This lovely smile is what I got the SECOND time I asked for a nice smile.

This is what I got the FIRST time I asked her to smile.
I think she decided to turn into cake monster.
A classic!

A birthday interview

My baby is 5!!

Here's Libby opening her gifts.

Boy, can't tell if she likes this or not! LOL

Her sisters and brothers got her stars for her ceiling.
She's gonna LOVE those at night!

And Libby's favorite: an elephant!
Libby has always LOVED LOVED LOVED elephants!!
Happy Birthday, Libby!!
We love you SO much.

We never expected this....

Bubble slide

After swimming in the bubbly pool,
dump out the pool
and slide through the bubbles!
WHEEEEE!

Bubble Swim

Why have just a swim, when you could have a BUBBLE SWIM?!
College girls like it too. :)

Some random pics

The children have been enjoying Twister lately.

Jared could not get the pickle jar open,
so he's hammering at it with a knife. :)

The first of the summer bounty...two grape tomatoes and some raspberries. YUM!

S'mores!

My cute hubby roasting his marshmallow!
He knows how to roast them til they are
golden brown and HUGE!

While at Girl's Camp this week, I learned a secret.
After you roast the marshmallow and put the s'more together,
Heat the whole thing over the fire (or lay it on the grill like I did)
for just a minute or two,
and Whoo-hoo! Melted chocolate.
SO Yummy!

Amelia, Jake, Jared, Libby and Sarah
roasting their marshmallows over the grill.
They are so cute when they are not fighting. :)