Abbi Turns 14

Our dear Abbi turned 14 this summer. This school year we will have a full fledged high schooler in our midst. For her birthday she wanted a pool party with her friends with pizza and cake. How easy on the parents could she get? When it got dark we had a bonfire and some of the girls spent the night.  I would say a grand- if soggy time was had by all. Stop by they won’t splash you- promise (wink)

  

Grandpa brought some cupcakes and Caelun enjoyed them thoroughly. 

    

Grandpa Medford also had a great time soaking Caelun in the little pool.

 

“Again!” Caelun would shout.

Then the big kids got wet.

 

Caelun “helps”

 

Abbi the good big sister gives Caelun a tour of the pool.

To thank her for her kindness he splashes her.

   

I even got them to smile for me …

 

…for a few seconds then the dunking began in earnest.

 

Caelun watched the big kids from dad’s lap while warming up.

  

Abbi’s boyfriend Hayden didn’t want to get wet. We see how that worked out.

 

Our neighbors Jerry and Amy are amused.

That is a completely wet towel headed through the air towards Hayden…

 

…and..Hayden is in the pool .So much for not getting wet.

Hayden tells Ron paybacks are coming.

Abbi’s tie dye cake.

   

Time for a fire and to eat some cake.

 

“Happy birthday dear Aaaabbbbiiiii”

“Happy birthday to you”

Bryar watches as Abbi gets ready to blow out the candles.

Kayla and Joslyn join in.

Yeah!!! It’s so cool to be 14!

Strawberries, cherries, and currants -oh my.

Our little strawberry patch that was almost and after thought, constructed in the front yard out of the concrete remains of or back yard patio has really produced once again. I made 24 pints of jam, froze 9 quarts of berries, had all we could stand to eat, and gave some away.  The kids love having warm ripe berries literally right out our front door and they are always the conversation starter. Folks will regularly stop when walking down the side walk and ask what kind of flowers are in the raised bed because “The flowers are so delicate and the foliage so green and lush.” (he he) The answer always catches them off guard- strawberries. “STRAWBERRIES????? Like you eat?” Umm… are there a kind you don’t eat? The cherries are still new trees and we had a late frost that nipped them a bit so we had limited success but they were fun to pick and eat-again right out of the front yard. Caelun was fascinated and watched them closely not so patiently waiting until they were ripe. He was pretty excited when mommy FINALLY said “okay you can pick the cherries today.” Lastly in this trio is the current bush. We bought the bush from Lowes off the half dead discount rack for $2.00 and it is expanding every year. Last year we got a half of a cup of currents and this year we doubled to a cup. I mixed them in to a batch of strawberry jam. Besides making great jam all that pretty red fruit was fun to take pictures of. Come taste the warm berries- Caelun and I will share.

Strawberries

     

Cherries

 

Currants