playing in the {running} water

Today marks day #5 with no water!  We have our large reserve tank on top of the house...and thankfully {very thankfully} it gives us that trickle of liquid gold to help us carry on.  It always amazes me how filthy my children get here just playing outside.

 (the little prince charming, 5 m.)

Me?  I'm surviving just fine.  Just happy to be back in my own home.  The extra work with no water isn't that much of an inconvenience....yet.
The kids?  They don't even notice that there is no water.  They play, eat, play.... grow a little more each day and are happy.

 (Alexis and Eden playing in the rain)

We have had short bursts of heavy showers....than bright sunshine for 3 days.  The girls have LOVED playing in this {running} water!

whipped chocolate frosting....2 ingredients

My Mother in Law made these chocolate cupcakes

 with this amazing frosting while I was visiting.

They were so good that I seriously couldn't stop eating them!

  Dangerous I know.

Want to impress someone or just treat yourself?  Try this.

2 ingredients...4 steps!

Whipped Chocolate Frosting Recipe

1 cup Heavy Whipping Cream

1 regular bag of chocolate chips

1. Bring cream to almost boiling....but don't boil it!

2.  In a large mixing bowl,

pour over the chocolate chips and stir until chips are melted and well blended.

3. Cool for 1 hour on counter and 5 minutes in fridge

4.  Whip with a mixer

Ta-daa!

Thanks, Mrs. Bonnie, for sharing!

the hardest part

I've said, time and time again, the hardest part is... leaving family and love ones behind.  It is getting even harder as the girls get older and more attached to them.

The tears come.
The {hard to answer} questions come, "When will we see Grandma's house again?"  "Will Papa come to my birthday party?" Hugging everyone goodbye and driving away is hard....really hard.

As I look back in the rear view mirror and see them standing watching us drive away I realize {again} that I have the easy part.

(on my parents front porch right before we drove away in April)

South Missouri

So when you see that Grandparent {or aunt} in your church who sits alone because their children are another continent away....remember.  When you see them look wistfully at the little Sunday School kiddos.....remember.  As you meet your family at that restaurant after Sunday services....remember.

Tell them thank you for their sacrifices.  Even though it is not by their own choices they are sacrificing family dinners, children birthday parties, and holiday traditions.  They are missing the simple things that are part of their grandchildren's lives.  And when they see them again a few more years have slipped away.

Remember them.  Tell them "thank you" for their sacrifice.

I might even name him

this is my bed.  notice the window without glass?  all through my house there are wooden louvers that you can adjust to catch the breeze.  this is great.  makes it easier for the visitors to come in.  one such little guest is sitting on the bottom of the window sill {every} morning since I got back home.

 quiet little guy.  he doesn't talk much and eats all those pesky unwelcomed mosquitos.

"who you lookin' at, mon?"

I might even name him,
 

Happy Mother's Day from Jamaica

Happy Mother's Day in Jamaica!  These are all the moms who were in our service.

 The girls really missed their friends.

Most common phrase this morning....."He doesn't have any hair!!!"

exhale

we made it home safe and sound. Adjusting back to the heat and bugs have been the biggest thing but we are doing great.  We are so very happy to be back,

in Great-Grandma's Wedding Dress

(Moriah in her Great-Grandma Alberta Sue McNamar's Wedding Dress)

 We were digging through some boxes and stumbled on this treasure! My Grandma Alberta's wedding dress.  My daughters were so excited to touch the fabric and talk about the wedding.

Grandma even has a scrapbook with all her notes and memories wrote down!  I love seeing her thoughts and opinions wrote down when she was so young.  She loved Papa so much!

making memories with the cousins

(all 10 grandchildren of Emile and Bonnie Wesley)

Baton Rouge, Louisiana on Memaw's famous pile of dirt

While I'm having a blast spoiling my nieces and nephews and sneaking them candy and cookies, I'm realizing that in order to make great memories it takes a lot of ......work!  Especially when they are little..and 3 of them are potty training!  It takes a lot of bandaids, wet wipes, and peanut butter but we've had a few memorable days.

They're only young once,