Perfect in Every Way

This was one of those perfect weekends. I woke up early Saturday morning and snuck off with my mother-in-law and McClaine to hit a garage sale before chopping McClaine's shabby hair.

We found lots of new outside toys for Oma and Opa's house- two trikes, a riding/push car, a grocery cart full of play food, and a kid-sized wheelbarrow so the kids can help with the garden. We also found a cool globe, and a wicker chair that will look great (once it is painted red or lime green) on the screened-in porch.

Caleb's sister, Leigh, and her husband Jon came over to wish McClaine an early happy third birthday. They brought this super fun gift...

Check out McClaine's new cut... darn handsome. I wasn't looking when she chopped the sideburns, but those will grow back.

Fine Family Fun on the slip 'n slide, right Reecey?

After we soaked in the sunshine, splashed in the pool, muddied in the garden and bruised our knees thoroughly (who am I kidding? I just took pictures and got caught up on the latest InStyle Magazine), we went inside to have some pie.

Pizza Pie.

Thank you very much, Uncle Jon, straight from Chicago.

The first thing that Mona said when we walked in the door and I grabbed my camera, "can you take a picture of the smell?"

Behold. My plate full.

Every vegetable from the garden...

The kids' pizzas.

Don't you drool over my homegrown tomato, garden basil, shaved black forest ham and feta delight. This pizza had a little sprinkling of Walter's Shake*.

MMMMMMM.

Sausage, tomato, green pepper, onion and mozzarella.

Somehow I missed a picture of the barbecue chicken, crispy bacon and onion. Just as well, you are probably already coveting through your computer.

Aren't ya?

I also somehow missed a picture of the yummy cinnamon rolls that Leigh made with the remaining dough.

I swear, there is no chance that I am going to lose my baby weight and fit into a dress for my cousin, Brittny's wedding with the way I eat here. We have been here for a little over two weeks and the homemade desserts that have crossed my lips have included three "from scratch" cakes, four varieties of cookies, creamy and subtly sweet rice pudding, cinnamon rolls and Granny's dessert that doesn't have a name but doesn't last long enough to be named.

Where was I? Oh yes, after we ate too much food the kids played grocery store for a while and then we rolled into bed so we could celebrate Father's Day properly.

Like me picking out all the outfits and forcing my family to stand in the sun and sweat profusely before church. Should I just give up on trying to get a picture capturing the loveliness of my family in a synchronized fashion? I love Caleb, he is so money as far as being an amazing husband and daddy. He even tolerated McClaine's seer sucker shorts for the sake of matchy match for mommy.

We went to worship the Lord and can I just share a great reason to worship Him:

Romans 8:1
Therefore, there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus,
8:2
because through Christ Jesus the law of the Spirit of life set me free from the law of sin and death.
8:3
For what the law was powerless to do in that it was weakened by the sinful nature, God did by sending his own Son in the likeness of sinful man to be a sin offering. And so he condemned sin in sinful man,
8:4
in order that the righteous requirements of the law might be fully met in us, who do not live according to the sinful nature but according to the Spirit.

How great is that?

After church we went to Caleb's grandparents' house with his parents and sister's family and had barbecued brisket and potato salad (more food). Then we came home, and while the whole family napped the afternoon away, I tucked off to Caleb's office to get some work done.

Still not done. Then I scooted home and woke the napping crew up from their four hour naps so we could show up fashionably late (2 hours) to a swim party and cookout that we were invited to with some of Caleb's high school friends and their families.

We swam until 9:30. I kid you not. When we got home the kids got a brief night of sleep in before I woke them at 8:30 so we could take Avery to Vacation Bible School.

It was a perfect weekend. Delicious, fun, exhausting, restful, thankful, joyful...

And the kids are enjoying another three hour nap this afternoon!

*Walter's Shake is the most delicious seasoning ever. My father-in-law grows a variety of organic peppers in his garden every year and then dries them and makes Walter's Shake. I use it in nearly everything. I substitute that Jake's Crazy Salt that Darby is crazy about with this. I think Darby would switch if she tried it.