July 31

Sooo.... You guys. I think I'm kinda obsessed with this stovetop popcorn and might just make it every day. I will go out on a limb and state that it is the single BEST bowl of popcorn I've ever had. You have to try it!! As the kids {and I} were shoving it in our mouths this afternoon, I told them to slow down a little, and Clayton said, "we can't help it!! It's just sooo good!" Thankfully, I'll be so full of popcorn tonight that I won't feel the need to order another pizza. I did get one last night, but I only ate two pieces {it was already 10pm} and we finished the rest for lunch today. I got a Large 3-topping pizza from Papa John's for $8 with the promo code SAVE50 if you feel like pizza tonight. :) It's good for 50% off any regular-priced pizza. And today we had a FREE pizza in our account. :)

July 30: Stovetop Popcorn

Great day for the pool and park. On a very positive note, I stepped on a scale today for the first time in months and I was pleased to see a number even lower than my pre-pregnancy weight!! The wonders of breastfeeding--I'll take it! :) To celebrate, I think I'll order a pizza and eat it all myself since Daddy is out of town tonight and can't help me with it. Just kidding, I'll save some for the kids tomorrow. I think. ;)

We ended the night with a bedtime snack of homemade popcorn with coconut oil, which we made on the stove for the first time. We used this recipe, and it was great!! The kids loved it so much they said they wanted it everyday. They also thought it was pretty cool that they could see it pop in the pot. Daddy is out of town at least through tomorrow, and I'm definitely missing him right about now... Off to drown my sorrows in a large pizza, as every good, emotionally healthy American should do.

July 29

Beautiful "fall" day!!! :) Eva is pulling herself up on everything these days. And I think I need to get to Hobby Lobby with some spending money STAT--do you see those adorable decorations?!?!? Ended the baseball season today with a game that didn't happen because the other team didn't show, but they got Honey Hut ice cream instead so I don't think they were too broken up about it. Finished the busy day with a night out with my sisters! We went to the Town Hall in Ohio City & it was fabulous!! LOTS of organic, grass-fed, sustainable, local ingredients and yummy, unique flavor combinations. Can't wait to go back!

July 28

Obviously, there was more to the day then this, but it's all I got. Eva {or rather, the floor} tried snack in the nursery at church, the sky was almost completely cloud-covered & looked pretty cool, and I love the brilliance of the green that is the new life on the bush in our front yard. Its such a contrast to the old, weather-beaten branches. There's probably a fabulous metaphor there.

July 27

"Banana Swirl" for breakfast--about 4 overripe frozen bananas, 1/4 cup or so coconut milk, and a little cinnamon. Process until smooth. Soooo good!! And it was Clayton's idea. And my orange creamsicles turned into a disaster when my hand slipped and I dumped them all. Over. The. Kitchen. Sticky pulpy mess. Sometimes homemade stuff is overrated.  Lots of crafting and playing and laughing after we got past the hectic morning.

July 26

The milk thing? They were being kittens. That's what happens when they ask to "get a glass of milk" without supervision...

Short nights make the days seem longer I think. I was tired by dinnertime & got frazzled easily. Trying to get dinner ready quickly while a crying infant is hanging on your pant legs and a very "helpful" two-year old is trying to grate cheese that's still in a wrapper & steal the garlic cloves is more of a recipe for stress then pizza. And stressed I was...

"Toby, mommy just needs a minute." 

"Toby, please stop touching."

"No!! You need to go in the other room. Mommy needs a minute!"

Ugh. I took a break to feed the baby dinner. She was so pleasant & ate so well! I breathed a sigh of relief & said, "mommy got really stressed & angry. I'm sorry. Mommy needs to work on handling her stress better."

Her response:

Note the strawberry stained bib and tray from dinner...yesterday... #thecleaningfairyisslacking #momfail

But that's the thing. I didn't need a response. I just needed to sit down, take a deep breath, & let it out. Sometimes you just need to say it like it is, even if the only one listening is an eight month old. :)

July 25

Free peppermint milkshakes, the Cardinals won AGAIN {Clayton had some hits & ran some bases!}, & some celebratory ice cream to wrap up a beautiful day.

July 24

Quote from Out of the Spin Cycle, by Jen Hatmaker.

July 23

July 22

July 21

Took Great-grandma {who I managed to not get any pictures of??} to her church picnic with the kids. Food, games, animals and fun. She had a great time, and she even called me later in the day to let me know how wonderful my husband is! :) She said he took such good care of her and I'm lucky to have him. I agree completely!! 

Eva happened to turn 8 months old today, and we took the kiddos to the Cheesecake Factory for some cheesecake!! 

July 20

July 19

July 18

July 17

VBS, day 3. It has been so nice to sit with my cup{s} of coffee & other adults every morning for a couple hours!! Went to McDonald's with friends for lunch. You know you've been eating healthier when your stomach cramps & you feel sick the entire afternoon following said lunch... Oh how I wish there were a healthier option with a play place!! Seriously, if anyone would be willing to dream that up with me--a "real food," non-GMO, organic restaurant geared towards families with young children, I'd be in. That's the next big thing, folks. Get in on it now while the gettin is good. :) And just think of how much we would save in the cleaning department by not having to scrub all the greasy handprints off every touchable surface! Oh, to dream...

And poor Clayton... They lost their first baseball game tonight, which ended their undefeated streak. :( He was in tears. But it's also important to learn how to lose with grace. Some lessons are hard.

July 16

Day 2 of VBS. the kids willingly went to class this morning, which was a relief. I snuck sweet potatoes into the oatmeal thus morning. They didn't know. I asked how the oatmeal was--"it's awesome!" Shhhh... Don't tell. :)

July 15

July 14

July 13

Pop Up Pearl, arm paintings, popcorn, & sno cones. Worn outness followed up by some time at the park. And I got the sweet potatoes really warm again, and she not only ate them, she HOOVERED them. The whole thing. Is that really all I had to do?? I would've done that 1.5 months ago and avoided the constant battle with the baby food banshee if I'd known it was that simple. The kid likes her food hot. Sheesh.

July 12

Happy Cow Appreciation Day!! We've gone every year for the past several years, & it's always fun. And big day, Eva took WILLING BITES of oatmeal cereal... 

A bird also somehow managed to get stuck in the chimney, which is blocked off inside the house. It was the talk of the day amongst the kids. There were discussions of Santa & the bird--maybe Santa will find the bird, maybe the bird will kill Santa... I got nothin. Toby just kept saying, "I can't believe there's a bird in our chimney..."

July 11

July 10

Big day at the Roberts household: little Eva started crawling at 7.5 months! :) And we were fortunate to avoid all the crazy flooding that happened today after 16 straight days of rain... Oh, and I warmed up the baby food a little more then usual, and Eva actually closed her mouth, tasted it, and...wait for it...SWALLOWED. We might be onto something here. *not holding breath*

July 9

The two bigs were gone today, so I got to make tortillas in peace {with Major Crimes} this afternoon while the littles slept. :) And, I laid the baby down on my lap to feed her & she had no choice but to swallow her sweet potatoes. Ha! Baby=0, Mom=1. For today, that is. 

Homemade Strawberry "Ice Cream"/Popsicle recipe here. 

July 8

Monday Funday. Lunch at a park with the fam, first time at Starbucks for the boys, & the Cardinals won their baseball game {22-0!!}!

July 7

Happy birthday, Auntie Hannah!

July 6

Ruby is getting so big... I remember when those little feet could barely keep the dress shoes on, & now they almost don't fit anymore...

July 5

Pretty pink flower from Clayton. :)

July 4th

Happy Independence Day!!

July 3

July 2

Grandma Debbie day: coffee in peace, grocery shopping in peace, laundry, and some Major Crimes during naptime.

July 1

Eva is up on all fours... Started going through the attic to get rid of stuff for the garage sale. Feels good to be clearing stuff out!!

June 30

June 29