home from shopping

Okay, so I'm addicted to putting pictures on my blog....here is what happens when you swim in the pool all afternoon, eat dinner, and settle down on the couch for a movie...you actually need a fuzzy blanket....Evelyn is cute.... General thunder has his paw on this chocolate bar....Do you believe Mariel made this in art class? If it doesn't drive me completely crazy around here, I don't know what will. Jon thought it was real, and tried to grab a piece....it looks yummy.....

Here is Miss Mariel with her fake candy bar....

Honestly, it looks so real....I think she should keep it in her room.

Mariel will kill me for writing about her, but she is the best shopping companion in the world...of course, Emily and Abigail, and Molly, are good too. But Mariel is the coupon cutter.....she keeps the family supplied with luxurious shampoos, body washes, deodorants, and soaps for next to nothing. When I am cruising the aisles, she spots things on sale, and announces, "I have a coupon for that.." (If you talk to Mariel, please don't mention that I wrote this about her, like I said, she will kill me)......and she is quite health conscious, despite her weakness for chocolate, so shopping with her is good for all of us. Whole wheat, low fat....then chocolate....

We went to Target, got some 75%off bathing suits for the girls, some flip-flops for Samuel, bikes for Molly and Mariel, and a few more items that added up to more than I want to say....then on to Price-Chopper, we were just there last week, but still managed to spend $200.......and we only bought things that were on sale....

Tomorrow, the elementary school is having field days, on a 90 degree afternoon. We have an extremely long bus ride, too. So having them run around in the heat, then ride the bus, seems stupid to me. I send them to public school because the school here is great, and I like the teachers...and I think kids need the interaction with other kids to adjust to real life....but when they go to school and just play all day....it is fine for some kids who may not do anything worthwhile at home, but these guys have plenty to do. So I told them if they stay home tomorrow, we can go in the pool, and try to play some of the games they would play in field days....I kind of feel bad, because the school doesn't get the state aid when they stay home, but I have to do what is best for them....I know they won't melt, but I hate to see them suffer unneccessarily......

Mariel and Abigail went to a local strawberry patch to work this morning. They picked for 50 cents a quart, and earned $14.00 each....that is 28 quarts of berries.....Mariel said everytime she closed her eyes today, she strawberries....but tomorrow morning, before school, they are going again with Joseph this time.....I guess they have finals that don't start until 9:40, so they have time to pick before school....they are crazy, but like to earn money.....

Mariel has to work at the icecream place tomorrow night.....and the little girls are having their end-of-the-year party for their activity club at church...they have the summer off....but they will do informal things. It is really neat: the older girls run the activities, from planning to doing. And the older boys do the boys activities...it is priceless to have your kids grow up and take responsibility for others...it teaches them so much.

My sister is having out-patient surgery tomorrow morning for her kidneystones, finally!!! She has waited painfully and patiently for a long time for an opening to get this done. I am really praying that it goes well for her, if it doesn't, she will have a more intensive and invasive surgery done, that requires a long hospital stay....she has been in alot of pain the last few days, so I hope this goes well, and she can feel better and enjoy the summer (she is addicted to her pool, goes in until October (which is crazy, here in the Northeast).......so Cheryl, if you read this tonight, I am praying for you!!!