Ahhh...

This photo captures my favorite view from the weekend. I could watch Tim fish for hours.

Yum.

Happy National Donut Day, Hutters!

What are you up to this weekend? We are having record-breaking hot days today and tomorrow. Here at The Honey Hut we RARELY see summer days above 95 degrees and typically in late July. Tomorrow the forecast is 100 degrees SO, I am whipping up a last minute plan to make sure we are cool and comfortable while having fun outdoors too. Whatever it is you are doing this weekend, I hope it's happy and restful.  

Summer Sweets.

Last year when Savannah finished Kindergarten, I felt a little lost. I was so happy to have my Little Sweetie home all day, everyday, but I missed the routine of a school schedule. Determined not loose our way without some sort of a daily routine, I decided we would do summer school here at The Honey Hut. I bought both Little Girls the Bridge books at their academic level and our mornings look a little like this:
9:00-Bridge Book activities
9:30-Recess/snack
10:00-Reading
10:30-Drawing/Coloring/Crafting
11:00-Recess
11:15-Art
The rest of the day is free.
One day a week we go to the Library for Reading and during Art class I am teaching The Little Girls how to cross-stitch. We are 3 days in and all The Littles are thriving. The Goo is spending the morning playing outside with the water table or pretending by mimicking our activities. For Savannah, the "light" schedule is refreshing and I have seen the biggest change in Ivy...she is SO ready for an educationally based environment. I'm not a slave to this morning schedule but it is a relief to have some boundaries and a plan. And a big BONUS: neither Little Girl is asking to watch TV, ever. They are occupied but relaxed, plus very content to mother our baby chicks every chance they get.

Today we went to Savannah's best friends house to swim and play. She was so happy to be with her girlfriend outside of school celebrating summer.

Lovely Ladies.

Many dreams came true yesterday...

The Littles and I picked out eight little lady chicks to come live at The Honey Hut. This has been a bucket list goal of mine for a very long time. On our road trip to the desert last month, Tim and I had a few heart to heart conversations about our family and lives together. When we spoke about how to raise healthier children, I told him my #1 goal was to get a brood of chickens. He has been on board ever since.

Yup...those are my 1 week-old baby chicks in the sandbox, in my laundry room.



(no, she's not dead)

Our vegetable garden is happily growing and now we will have eggs from these sweet, sweet lovelies...Come Autumn, The Honey Hut is going to have a real "farm to table" experience.

 

Family Party.

My cousin Lolly threw her parents a 60th birthday party on Sunday at their family ranch. I love these family (my Mom's side) gatherings, they are too few and far between. It's so fun having so many loved ones all in one place at one time, just like the weekends of my childhood when we would all meet up at my Grandparent's house for BBQ dinner.

Thank you Dee Dee for taking photos of The Littles.

I adore seeing the new generation of cousins playing together at family functions. When we were little, Lolly and Devin came to our house every week day. We shared childhoods together and I want the same for My Littles.

Thanks Laura for getting us all together. Party planning is not easy but you pulled it off beautifully.

Last Day of 1st.

Today is Savannah's last day of 1st grade and also my last day at home with just Ivy and The Goo. I am thrilled to be on our own schedule and to spend quality time with all three of My Littles. I am ready for this break. Thank you Mrs. French, I know you will never read this but you've been a fantastic teacher.

Congratulations to my niece Sydney on her 8th grade graduation! We celebrated with her last night, she has grown into a sweet little (artistic!) lady so quickly. Have fun on your big trip Syd, can't wait to hear all about it when you come home.

Faith.

My dear friend Faith is in California for her sister's wedding. She found some time to sneak away and meet me up in Sacramento. Ivy and I went to the party supply store and found the biggest balloon they sold to greet her with. Then we went downtown to meet Faith's train.

At lunch I snuck a photo of My Littles and Faith in a conversation. It made my heart swell to see these cherished people in my life enjoying each other's company. Seeing her again is such a cozy feeling, her warmth is comforting.

The few hours we spent with Faith were easy and joyful. Lots of smiles and laughs. Ivy and Goo adored playing with her (poor Savannah had school, she really missed out). Time went by so quickly and soon enough we were back at the station, saying goodbye to our lovely friend.