The first 5 of the Consecrated Women arrived last week so we went over to a little welcome party for them
It is lovely to have such a lovely group of women so full of joy. We hope that the other 9 will be able to come over from Spain within the next couple of months.
Time to get the annual slip 'n slide.
I believe this is meant to be used on flat ground but we put it down a hill. Of course this means sliding on out past the end of the slide.... bumpity-bump.
Some are a little more cautious.
Bilbo loves cold weather but he does not like cold water. He stayed clear of the slip 'n slide.
The children and I went to a strawberry patch and picked 5 flats of strawberries. I think we may have eaten another flat while picking. The weather was absolutely perfect that day... unlike what I remember as a child picking strawberries on the hottest day of the year! But then all these little red beauties had to be prepared for the freezer to be made later into jam and jelly.
I'm not sure what happened to this little guy... 2 stems? 
Is this the perfect little strawberry or what. Reminds me of my dear childhood favorite story of the Poky Little Puppy.
After google imaging for 10 minutes for a picture of the Poky Puppy sniffing the strawberry (my favorite picture in the book!) I had to be satisfied with this picture. I cannot believe on the entire internet no one scanned that darling picture! *snap*
All set and ready for bagging for the freezer.
Most Sacred Heart of Jesus, Have Mercy on us!
Bilbo and Baby Bilbo
They even have matching hair :) Yes, yes, no need to tell me I'm a silly mother!
No reason for this picture, just showing off his curly locks and well, I think thumb-suckers are cute.... under 5 that is!
We were blessed to have a family, on a road trip from Texas, stop and visit us. It was an enjoyable afternoon. The children enjoyed playing with the other children and I had the immense satisfaction of talking for who-knows-how-many-hours with a like-minded mother.
This little fellow turned one on the day they visited. Happy Birthday Baby O!
One means turning around the car seat to face the front like the rest of the family :)
And it means having the freedom to pound the rhubarb upside-down cake with his hand much to the entertainment of the rest of us!
2-1/2 inches of rain one night from the time I went to bed at 11pm to the time I got up at 6!
Aragorn put the little boys to work digging out our unfinished pond. The plastic pond had popped right up out of the ground.
How helpful they were is another topic for another day! :)
Mud puppies.
There is a pretty good chance if we cut and rake the hay that it will rain.... see above 2-1/2 inches of rain.... so here Sam is raking hay.... *again*.
And since I was taking pictures, here are the ponies and the goat.
Our priests set up a summer group for the girls and a summer group for the boys. We meet at 2 of our parishes that are only a handful of miles from each other each Tuesday from 3-7. One of our priests comes and gives the girls a little talk and then we have some kind of activity. Some of us mothers have volunteered to work with the girls until the Consecrated Ladies arrive.
Here are some of the girls working on the Illuminated Ink Rosary Holders. 
The littles playing with some Calico Critters.
Here are a handful of completed Rosary holders.
When we first moved into our home we were given some peoneys which we planted in our St. Michael Garden. As Aragorn said, it did indeed take 3 years to finally get some flowers! 
This was last week, now there are alot of blooms! And yes, don't mind my messy garden. I don't have a green thumb and no sense of how to make a beautiful garden but the saints are honored appropriately at least by good intent!
Here is Our Lady's Garden along what is currently now the garage (but has never seen a car in it) to be turned into a laundry room and boys room. (that is 2 separate rooms....)
Our day included a recital.
Some of the big boys were up loft looking down....
And some of the littles were too... this is not a jail! :)
Watching the show.
There were piano pieces and oral presentations this year. We missed the trumpet!
Lots of play time.
Once again the boys found a baby bird just learning to fly. They asked me if they could *keep* it. KEEP IT?! They had already been feeding it worms. I was grateful when Aragorn came home and said no. The bird seemed happy at the time but I'm not sure he looks all that thrilled in the picture... do beaks frown?
We woke up this morning to find our goat had made his bed on top of a round bale!
