212/365

It's been a lego week for Buster. Isn't it funny how toys seem to rotate?

211/365

Matt did my picture of the day for me today...he took a (creative) picture of his paint balls.

210/365

mmm, mmm, raspberries.

209/365

When we moved into this house 6 years ago I insisted on growing rhubarb (another attempt and recreating my childhood)...I planted 6 rhubarb plants, yes I did say S.I.X. I ended up getting rid of all but two and let me tell you, Tom hates them. He told me this year, since I never EVER do anything with the rhubarb, he's ripping them out and planting vegetables in their place. So, tonight I made Strawberry Rhubarb Crisp. Take that Tom!

208/365

I guess Matt's exhausted.

207/365

Tom (and Sebastian) set up a table at a sports card show this weekend. I expected Sebastion would be done with the whole affair by noon on Saturday but he lasted all day, both Saturday and Sunday....but, as you can see, he ran out of energy on the ride home.

206/365

I'm afraid these tomatoes will never turn orange...

205/365

mmmm...raspberries.

204/365

So Pretty...

203/365

This will have to do for my pic of the day...I'm so sick I can barely move. I'm going to go curl up on the couch with my blanket and watch SYTYCD.

202/365

If you have a Trader Joe's in your area I highly recommend their Karat Cake...it's to die for!

201/365

Look...it's Rachel's Ghetto Cruiser! Our streak of very bad luck continues...first it was Shelby's car, then the water heater, then Tom's brakes, then the fridge, now my car. We went to the Mall of America Saturday and when we got back (in plenty of time to do my pic of the day) my hatch hinge broke when I tried to close it after retrieving all of our mall loot. The hatch was literally hanging there (and boy was it heavy). Tom and I spent the next 30 minutes trying to figure out how to get it to close so we could get to the dealer to get it fixed (which is why my Sat pic never got posted!). Anyway, we had to duct tape it (at the dealers suggestion) so it wouldn't fall off and kill someone on the highway. Thankfully we made it and my hatch should be just like new tomorrow. I swear, if something else goes wrong I'm abandoning the house and cars and pitching a tent up north in the middle of nowhere...but with our luck the tent will rip!

200/365

Alright Lisa, I'm doing what you told me to do. Cross your fingers!

198/365

Buster and his "fort"...

197/365

No orioles yet...

196/365

I might not have Orioles but I sure do have squirrels. Yeah, cuz I intended to feed the darn squirrels with this hanging bird feeder. No wonder the Orioles are staying away!

195/365

All the critters are finished...back row: Maddie, Matty. Middle row: Buster, Shelby. Front row: Jordan

194/365

Here birdie, birdie, birdie...we finally hung the Oriole feeder last night but haven't seen any activity yet. The dogs may have something to do with it so if we don't get some action soon I'll try my luck in the front yard.

193/365

Well the "Black Sox" lost their championship game 6 - 9 (to the "blue team") but they took second place overall. Try telling that to a bunch of highschool kids though...they don't consider themselves the second place team, they consider themselves the "first losers". Oh well, at least I got Matt to smile in this picture considering he didn't even want to hold the trophy.

192/365

We were running all day today back and forth between fields for Matt's baseball tournaments. Last game is tomorrow at 2:00 for the championship then baseball season is officially over.

190/365

Hey Jordan and Maddie...this is what 18 looks like, betcha can't wait huh?

189/365

This is what greeted Shelby as she entered our empty house after vacationing with her father. She was thoroughly creeped out. I wonder where this cute little head will turn up next? Watch out Matt!

188/365

"If you build it they will come"...or should I say "Ask and you shall receive?" I told my father about an Oriole birdfeeder I saw on Etsy and told him I'd like for him to make me one. Viola! Here it is...Tom will be busy hanging it tomorrow so hopefully I'll be posting a picture of Oriole's feeding very soon. You put orange halves on the nails and grape jelly in the dish and supposedly you'll see those little orange birds in no time at all. Thanks Dad!

187/365

Happy 18th Birthday Shelby...seems like yesterday you were celebrating your 1st birthday (pictured here).

186/365

We had a crazy busy weekend...I think this picture says it all!

185/365

'...the bombs bursting in air...' Happy 4th of July!

184/365

Today was another "explore Minnesota" trip, we went to Belle Plaine and saw a two story outhouse attached to an old victorian house, we went to St. Peter and drank some rootbeer at the vintage soda fountain bar in Soderlund's Pharmacy (remind me to sit up straight for now on and maybe I'll look thinner!) and we went to Mankato and had lunch at the last Happy Chef restaurant (we all had breakfast food for lunch and it was delicious)...and hey Lisa, we went to Hobby Lobby too!

183/365

Another critter (almost) done; Matt picked out this color combo. Too busy yesterday to get a post done...oops!