Little Bit & Friends go to camp.

The Life of Squirrels at our Home

This week in the News...

Little Bit Learned to Sew

This week Little Bit learned to sew.  She broke out her new sewing machine that she received from Mamaw and Papaw and her first project was the bandana blanket that we saw on Pinterest.  It's a great first project that you can see great success immediately!  She did this by herself.  Then we sewed a jacket for her stuffed animal.  It was cute, too. 

Big Kid went to Camp

Big Kid went to sleep away church camp this week.  He comes home tonight.  I know he's had a great week because they post pictures online and it looked like AMAZING fun. Zip lines, huge mud puddle/pond fights, some big blow-up wear outfits then crash around into each other, swimming, slides & trapeze into the water, and so forth.  I'm happy he's coming home today, but won't be surprised if he wishes to be able to stay a little longer.  Pictures of the day he left for camp.  Don't you remember riding charter buses off to church camp?  Me, neither. ;)

We Got a New Toy

Yes, Sports Fans! We got a new toy.  "What is that?"  "Did you use one of these?"  "Isn't this like a computer, you know keys?"  These are some of the great questions we got as we made this purchase yesterday.  A working typewriter.  We're so excited.  I even typed a little yesterday.  We went down to the Heights in Houston to see what is around in that little neighborhood.  We had a FANTASTIC lunch at Lola's (Yale & 11th).  Will definitely go there again.  It was obviously the local hangout.  And the food was great.  I had a portobello sandwich on Cibatta bread.  M had the After Thanksgiving sandwich: thick warm turkey slices, dressing, and cranberry sauce on warm, soft bread.  Oh so good.  And the most amazing homemade fries.  Little Bit liked the French fries the most.

Afterwards, we went shopping on 19th street.  It was great.  Cute little gift shops, clothing shops, and antique stores.  We loved the antique stores and resale vintage clothing stores the most.  In one resale vintage clothing store, the employees were super fun and we loved that they had someone playing music as you shopped around.  Will definitely go back and shop 19th street again.  

Until then, we will play on our typewriter.  

May your summer be full of good memories.

Weddings & Camping & Fun...OH MY!!!

Well, the Summer has been busy already!  

I am so thankful for today, to be at home for just a little while and watch the blue jay eat the dog food outside my window and sit and type up what all we have been doing so far this summer.  

Plus, throw in a few pics for fun.

This summer we have been to my sister-in-law's wedding.  It was beautiful and her new husband is just as sweet as ever.  I'm very happy for them.  We went to Arkansas for the weekend and got to see Mom & Dad, as well as M's side of the family.  

This past weekend we went camping a whole 30 minutes away from our house, up in Huntsville.  We went with friends and had a great time.  The kids built a fort out in the woods and they wanted to sleep out in it, until they realized how dark it gets at night.  Then, it was back to the campers.  When swimming, Big Kid and his friends had a great time diving and doing flips off the dock into the lake.  And we made s'mores and hotdogs over the campfire.  We might have been in heaven.  There was a little rain, but we all sat close under the awning of our friends humongous camper and enjoyed the cooler air.  It was a great trip!  And the drive home was much better than the usual 8 hour drive home after camping up in Arkansas.  

So far, this summer the kids have been doing camps, playing with friends, having sleep-overs, and just basically finding all sorts of things to do that require me to drive in the car all day long.  I happened to push the trip odometer to zero to record how far I was running and riding my bike the other day. It was last week that I zero'ed it out.  This week the trip odometer reads 452. WOW!  And I've stayed local.  I know crazy right?!?

Well, Big Kid is at sleep-away, church camp this week and I am sure having a great time.  Rudy is busy with work this week.  Plus, he made a trip up to Pennsylvania.

Little Bit is playing outside with the water hose and some bubbles with her friend. Tonight we will be cooking in the kitchen.  She wants to learn to cook, so this summer she is getting the opportunity.  We are making mini-individual meat loafs,  mini-macaroni and cheese made in muffin tins, and red/white/blue jello parfaits.  They should be really good.  I also got out the sewing machine this week and she learned how to make a bandana blanket.  She sewed most of it on her own.  Now, she wants to make little outfits for her stuffed animals.  I think it's a great idea. 

How about those pictures?  Here they are! 

This church by the creek was beautiful!!!

And so was the bride and her new husband!

Getting out the s'mores!!!

Getting away from it all and connecting with mother nature?

What really happens at the campground.

A big game!

Sample Writing #2

Summer iPhone Love at the Pool.

            This summer is all about shopping on the iPhone.  Instant gratification is here.  We’re out at one of the public pools with my children, wondering what movie is out. I pull out my iPhone, click on my Cinemark  app.  Two clicks, and I have show times and purchase the tickets for the movie.  Now, there is no standing in line with my two children and their friends.  We can go right in and pick out our seat.

            Why should my kids have all the fun?  It’s time to start some summer fun planning, which is easy to do by the pool.  I can check with United Airlines for ticket availability and fun places to go.  And then pop on over to Hotels.com to book the most affordable hotel, in the best location.  No more daydreaming, that trip to Hawaii is booked for this July. 

            The kids might be out of the pool, whining about how hungry they are, but it’s no problem! Super Mom pulls out her handy iPhone and clicks on the Pizza Hut app, and now we are thirty minutes or less from full stomachs.    

            Thinking about the chores at the house, and I remember that I am on my last package of coffee pods for my coffee maker and almost out of the face soap, it’s no problem.  I just pop right on over to the amazon app and order my coffee and soap to be delivered to my house in the next two business days.  Not having to go to the store with the children saves me so much money and headache!

The ease of creating a day of summer fun while sitting by the pool is just what a mom deserves.  I love my iPhone.

Sample Writing #1

Why mobile apps are enabling shopping.

            Mobile apps are becoming the most convenient, fastest way to shop.  No matter where you are, if you have your phone, you can purchase almost anything.   According to the Nielsen Wire, mobile app users are rating shopping second to online for the most convenient and easiest way to shop, with shopping in-store falling behind.

            Three prime examples of mobile apps making shopping easier, faster, and more convenient for people are my 60-something father, my teen son, and my 40-year-old self. 

            It took me six years to teach my father how to use the Internet on his computer.  To this day I am still taking thirty-minute phone calls on how to attach a picture in his e-mail.  Yet, shopping on an iPhone is a breeze for my father.  He knows that he just has to click on the photo on his display screen and up pops his favorite store Lowe’s.  A few clicks and he is the proud owner of that Skil Saw that he desired.  He enjoys it so much that he is teaching my mom how to download apps to her favorite stores.

            My son is thirteen and constantly on the go. His schedule is as busy as any business executive and more convoluted, especially in the summertime.  Mobile apps give him the freedom to plan his day, moment to moment.  Whether purchasing tickets to the movie or planning where to meet his friends at the mall, mobile apps make shopping for services fast!

            And the convenience for me as a mother of two children, who have birthday parties, sporting activities, and the daily upkeep of a household that keep us constantly on the go. The ability to shop on the go keeps me sane!  I can buy birthday presents from Target, while I’m watching my son play in his soccer game.  Ordering his soccer equipment is easy at Sports Unlimited.  As Jimmy Fallon says, “The Zon” (Amazon) is my favorite place to shop and using the app makes it that much easier.  The convenience of shopping with my mobile device makes being a mom a snap. 

            So, mobile apps are enabling shopping through its ease of use, on the go capabilities and convenience of shop anywhere/anytime.  Download your favorite apps today!