Our weekend.

On Thursday evening we hosted a get together with friends. It was a really fun evening! Everyone brought a finger food and we ate, talked, played corn-hole, and played at the park near our house. No other little kids ended up coming, but my kids had fun playing with the teenagers. I'm so thankful for these "older" kids who don't think it's childish to play with the younger ones. I'm also thankful for the good examples they are to my kids - my kids look up to them so much!

Beautiful sunset. 

On Friday we met Jacob at the park for a picnic lunch. A few minutes after we started eating, he remembered he had a meeting 30 minutes later...in a city 30 minutes away. We had waited to go to that specific park until Jacob could go with us, because it's so easy for {3} little ones to get lost in all the cubby holes. Lily was such a good help though - she stayed with the boys and if one of them got "lost" she would "find" them and make sure they were altogether. 

All the kids had a great time swinging! I pushed them for about 20 minutes - quite a workout! :) Lily almost has "pumping" figured out, but her legs still get tired. 

My great uncle passed away last week. He was the last remaining brother of my Granddaddy. The viewing was Friday evening - I went with some of my family and Jacob stayed home with the kids. Later in the evening, Luke and Hannah played with the kids so Jacob and I could go to a sacred concert that some of his students were playing in. It was so fun to sit together at a concert - it's been literally years since we've done that since Jacob is normally playing or conducting! :)

I love these marigolds in our garden. They are so vibrant. 

On Saturday, Jacob's mom kept the three youngest kiddos while Jacob, Lily, and I went to my uncle's funeral. It was good to visit with family that we don't normally get to see.

Saturday evening we played in the backyard and just had the best time. Our summer is nearly gone and soon Jacob will be back to teaching full time again. I'm doing my best to treasure up the fun times spent as a family before things get super busy again. 

After we got the kids to bed, Jacob and I sat outside in the dark and had a coffee date - this has been my "dream date" all summer long and it finally happened {actually, I had hoped that this date would happen while the sun was setting, but it always seems to take longer to get the kids settled than we think and it ended up being pitch black before we made it outside. HA}! :) 

While Daddy was gone...

Jacob and his dad had the amazing opportunity to go to Northern Ireland for 11 days - they got back a couple Tuesday's ago (haha, this post has been in the works for awhile as usual). Although we missed them tons, we had lots of fun here too. :)

Friday: Grammie drove them to the airport in Nashville. About 30 minutes after they left, Lily got a small tack stuck in the bottom of her foot. Thankfully I was able to get it out and "doctor" her foot with essential oils so we avoided an ER visit. Within 10 minutes she was running around and didn't mention it anymore. So thankful! Yaya and Papaw met us in the evening and went with us to Aldi and Walmart.

Saturday: We played and painted. Lily got stung on her chin by a red wasp. :( We got some oils on it quickly and there was no pain (or swelling) after a couple minutes and then she was back outside playing. I was almost scared to get out of bed the next day after Lily getting hurt the first two days Jacob was gone. Thankfully we didn't have anymore crazy accidents!

Sunday: The day actually went very smoothly. I had lots of help at church - Grammie kept Ava during the service, Uncle Judah carried Ava (and her carseat) to the van, Hannah helped buckling the kids, etc. Lily commented, "Everyone sure is helpful today!" lol

Monday: We met some extended family at Cracker Barrel for breakfast. It was a super hot day so we spent lots of time doing puzzles.

Tuesday: Papaw came over and played with the kids, cleaned up junk in our back yard, killed a wasp nest in our garbage can, read books, and ate lunch with us. So fun! We ran some errands in the afternoon.

Wednesday: My mom and my youngest brother watched three kiddos while I took Levi to get new lenses in his glasses. It was a pretty afternoon, so we spent lots of time outside playing.

Thursday: Everyone napped (typically Lily and Levi just rest/read) then we had supper with friends and family. It was so fun!

Friday: Levi and Asher were having some issues being kind to one another, so we had some "holding hands time outs" which seemed to help. Then we went to play at the park and took a nature walk. Friday night we had a sleepover at Grammie's. 

Saturday: My view when I woke up. Asher had some trouble sleeping so he ended up in bed with me and Ava. :) Mom came in the afternoon while the kids were napping so I could run get a few groceries. In the evening, we went for a long walk. 

Sunday: Church, dinner at church, home for naps, back to church, supper with my family...a fun, full day!

Monday: We spent time cleaning, ran some errands, made welcome home signs to hold at the airport,  Aunt Elizabeth came to play, and we went to the park with my sister and her family in the evening. 

Tuesday: DADDY'S HOME!!!!!!!! We went to the library in the morning and ran a couple other errands, then we followed Grammie to Nashville to pick up Jacob and Grandpa. Unfortunately, there was a wreck and we got stuck in tons of traffic. We finally made it to the airport after the plane landed and just picked them up outside the baggage claim area. It was disappointing not to not get there in time to welcome them off the plane, but we were just thrilled to have them home! 

We ate supper in Franklin, TN at Chipotle {yum!} and took the kids to the mall play area to burn off a little energy before the drive home. 

memorial day and a wedding

Uh huh, a few weeks late posting these pictures, but life happens. :) We are enjoying a great summer so far. We are spending lots of time at the park, splash pad, and library - and lots of time inside reading and playing. My word, it's been SO hot the last week or so! 

We enjoyed a yummy lunch with my side of the family on Memorial Day. Jacob smoked some meat and we had potato salad, slaw, chips, and baked beans - one of my favorite meals! The kids had a blast playing in the sprinkler and bubble machine. My sister got a bunch of yard games and we had lots of fun playing them. My brother-in-law taught the kids how to do an egg race (with plastic eggs/spoons). It was the most hilarious thing to watch! :)

Papaw, Cameron (my nephew), and Levi chillin' in the swing.

Jacob and Lily. 

After Memorial Day we had a super busy week getting ready for my brother's wedding. Luke married Hannah, our babysitter and dear friend! I was a bridesmaid, Lily was the flower girl, Levi was a ring bearer, and Jacob organized the music - fun, but crazy! Ha. 

The day before the wedding, Lily and I got to attend the bridal luncheon and then go with all the other girls to get our nails done! It was Lily's first mani/pedi - she loved it! :)

Jacob was amazing help the day of the wedding - he had to take care of and dress the kids and get them to the church for pictures. I had to go early to get ready and have some of the wedding party pictures.

This is how the groomsmen rode to the park for pictures.

Me and my beautiful sister. Love her!

Our family...except for Asher who fell asleep on the pew while we waited for the pictures to start.

Levi and Ridley - ring bearers. Such cuties! :)

Lily did so well! 

Jacob, me, Luke, and Hannah

And they are off...in a shower of birdseed. :)

Lemon Cupcakes

Today I'm participating in the Essentially Summer Recipe Series that has been going on this week. I am looking forward to trying lots of new recipes! Sondra finished up yesterday's Main Dishes with her Veggie Lasagna.

To start off the Desserts today, I'm excited to share this recipe for Lemon Cupcakes. I have made these cupcakes for 5 different events and they always get rave reviews - they are quick and easy, and they are yummy! Win-win! :)

Lemon Cupcakes

Yield about 20 cupcakes

Ingredients

for the cupcakes:

1 yellow cake mix

3 eggs

1 cup water

1/3 cup oil

5 drops Young Living Lemon Essential Oil

zest from one lemon

for the frosting:

1/2 cup softened butter

3 oz softened cream cheese

6 cups powdered sugar

3-4 drops Young Living Lemon Essential Oil

2-3 Tablespoons milk

To make cupcakes, preheat oven to 350. Line cupcake pans with paper liners. In a large bowl, mix all ingredients together on low for 30 seconds. Scrape down sides of bowl and mix on medium speed for 2 minutes, scraping down bowl as needed.

Divide the batter evenly between prepared cupcake liners, filling each half full. Bake for 18-20 minutes or until a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean. Allow to cool in pans about 5 minutes before transferring to a wire rack to cool completely.

To make frosting, cream butter and cream cheese until smooth. Add powdered sugar, lemon oil, and milk (start with 2 Tablespoons and add more if needed). Mix on low until combined and then beat well on medium speed. Frost cupcakes. Store in the refrigerator.

I love adding oils to many recipes. I hope this series inspires you to add some flavor with your oils!

Are you ready to jump in to this wonderful world of caring for your family with therapeutic grade essential oils? The time is now! Click here to learn more or contact the person who introduced you to the “Essentially Summer” blog recipe series! :)

Next up is Becky at Rooted Blessings with Paleo Key Lime Cheesecake. Yummy!

Be sure to check out all the great recipes in the "Essentially Summer" blogger recipe series.

Best weekend. (and how I kick the "mama funk")

This post was started about a month ago...forgive my delinquent posting.

Last weekend was just the best weekend we've had in a long time. Well, honestly, the last few weeks have been the best we've had in months. I have a little secret that has changed my life...it's called Frankincense. Yes, an essential oil. I started using is about three weeks ago on my face because it is so good for skin. I had no idea that it would help kick the "mama funk" (or whatever it was) out the window! 

For months I had been feeling so blah about everything and I wasn't getting out of the house with all the kids by myself, like at all. I just felt like I couldn't handle it. So after I started this routine of applying Frankincense on my face every morning, I started noticing that our days were going much more smoothly. Why? you might ask - because I was in so much better spirits, because I was feeling better emotionally. We've been getting out of the house a ton, and I have renewed vigor for being a mama. I am so, so thankful! I know it probably sounds crazy, but don't knock it til you've tried it! :)

A family walk.

Sweet Ava.

These babies are my sunshine.

We have lots of climbers in the family.

I've even managed grocery shopping with all 4 several times in the last month. You mama's with littles know that's quite an undertaking. :)