whatever

running errands

we dropped sean at his friend's house the other day and went to run ONE errand.
but then as we drove by the thrift shop there was a cool mirror in the window...
so we parked and went in. 

they picked out books...


checked out the furniture....


i was very tempted to get these chairs.
very.
but once i got closer i saw they both had a rip so we passed.

annie legit got upset when i said no about buying a 2000 piece puzzle.  
im not crazy...

then i wanted something to eat so we went for groceries.


i rarely give up the task of pushing the cart but i did that day.
(is it just me or can you not think clearly in a grocery store withOUT pushing the cart??) 
i knew my girls wanted to push... i always wanted to when i was little. 

they wanted bob marley drinks...


look at how cute this baby ice cream container?! 
it's teeny.



self checkout is always their favorite.


they always sign up for the giveaways.
always.


it was happy hour.
so of course we had to stop at sonic next.
it's practically mandatory.


we delivered the new fabulous thrift store mirror to the craft house.
what color should i paint it???


i ate my lunch while annie cut scraps and talby read her "new" book.




annie continued on her quilt from last week... it's coming along quite nicely.


SO CUTE!!


we stopped at the farm store and ended up holding puppies.

we headed to walmart for a few more things.
and i look over at checkout and seriously see this...

she said "Michael Jackson DIED?!"

i guess i haven't kept her up on pop culture. 

and one more farm store.... where we ended up leaving with four surprises.


fun day of errands with my girls.

we picked up sean on our way home and craig pulled up at home the same time we did.

all those little moments make up for great memories.
even at the grocery store.

 

 

summer.

it's here!!!
i am so ready to just relax.
sitting in the sun... nothing going on.
i think maybe that will happen next week.   

annie and i were talking on the patio and suddenly we realized we were being spied on....

scott FINALLY let me cut his hair short... i have been begging for months.

my kids were super helpers getting the house ready for craft weekend last week.
i am so glad they are getting old enough to pitch in.

the chickens gather where ever it's quiet.
funny.


we have a new kitten... she is named Wicket.




waffle was so over excited about the kitten.
he couldn't stop panting.
for hours!


they drew the kitten.




there were only enough peonies left for one vase but it was worth it.

talby is as tall as her kindergarten teacher! what a difference five years makes.




waffle took a few days to get used to the kitten.  
but it's looking good... he may not eat her.

softball has started for talby and annie. 

peaceful way to start the day...

our cousins came for a visit!

chasing chickens and jumping on the trampoline is so much fun.

all these girls in one house is always loud and crazy.
always.

 

what is going on in your summer so far?

 

friday

this is probably my favorite picture of the year so far.

i can't stop looking at it.

 

we now have a hedgehog living at our house.
it is from the pet store.

it is pokey.
it is also very cute.
it's name is Percy.

while we were all admiring Percy suddenly annie shouted "HEY IS THAT A TURTLE IN THE YARD?!"

it was.

we brought it to the patio and enjoyed it for awhile.

we took lots of pictures of it.

we introduced the turtle to Percy.
they both were completely uninterested in each other. 

and then nature time was over.

the turtle went on his merry way and percy went back to his home in laurens room.

later there was pie making by lauren.
which is always nice surprise. 

this shirt is from Moxie Clothing Co. and i love it!
my family got quite a laugh out of it.

(they are working out their shop details... you can find it sometime over here at houseofbelonging on IG)

 

we were discussing freckles at the track meet and annie asked "do I have any freckles?"

ummm....yes!

just a few.

lauren made it all the way to State in Track!
she competed today in Javelin. 

we were so proud!
it's pretty impressive to watch those girls throw!


pretty flowers when i stopped by the craft house today.

i took my little girls to see Epic this afternoon.
it was very pretty.
the graphics were stunning.... i can't believe they can make animated movies look so real!

your kids will like it.
and you will enjoy it enough just looking at all the details.

i had to pull over again tonight because LOOK AT THAT beautiful sky!!
i am crazy for a farm sky all of may and june in kansas. 

we ate little caesares pizza on the patio.
the kids jumped on the trampoline while i started working on th is blog.
it was a very nice day.

the summer list is not done yet.
we are working on the rough draft still.

what i am most excited about tonight?

nothing on the calendar for this weekend.

N O T H I N G

i like that.

******************************************* 

smiling.

this week has been packed.
but school has ended for four of my kids.
i plan on sleeping in tomorrow.... FINALLY. 

nevermind i was just told i need to give a ride to the last one in school.

darn.

talby wanted rainbow cake for school but we settled on rainbow cupcakes instead... quicker.

we finally let waffle outside while the chickens were outside.
together.
it was... decent.
he was very curious and probably would have been naughty if we weren't there.
but he won't ever be with them without us there so we should all be fine.

"who's a good boy? who's the best dog?"

their last day to ride the bus because today i drove them in... and we were even late!
i was going to take them for donuts but they said "can you make pumpkin muffins instead?"
umm... and not have to get out of my pajamas or brush my teeth?  yes please.  :) 

the peonies have juuuuust started to bloom around here.
they are each so incredibly gorgeous. 

on tuesday i took the entire day for myself.
no one else.
just me... because i knew that school was almost done and my alone time would be gone soon.
i searched the mall for a swimsuit....
i tried on no less that 75 suits.  i kid you not. 

and finally FINALLY they have started selling suits based on your BUST size.
thank goodness.
what a brilliant idea someone had!
because out of 75+... i picked one... based on my bust.

and check out how hip and with it JCPENNY looked yesterday?!

i was totally impressed.

 

i got home from my swimsuit shopping and these cows were eating across the road from the house.
i am so happy to see them back again.

living out here is beautiful.
everywhere you look! 

talby got this paper at school and took a LOT of time  coloring it in.

lovely.

 

school's out.
we have a Summer List to make.
i am so behind on laundry.
and sleep.

what are your big plans coming up this summer?

 

 

class of 2013

well... she graduated.
we are VERY proud of her.
the ceremony was outdoors and the sky was so dark... even lightening in the distance.
it was nice to not be SO HOT but the weather was very iffy and made me nervous.
as soon as it ended the entire stadium emptied almost immediately.
it was raining shortly after. 

so we did not get photos of her afterward with friends or with her tassel,etc.
but we got this one really quick before the ceremony.
she got a new dress and looked so pretty! 

 

our party almost didn't happen because of the weather.
there was even a tornado 30 minutes away!
i said "well... it's not a TRUE Kansas party without a tornado watch"

she requested rainbow cake.
i hadn't made one in a few years.... remember when i first made it?
way back before they were EVERYWHERE.
BEFORE martha stewart.
granted martha's was very professional looking and perfect.
but mine is filled with a mama's love.
:)
perfection is not the goal. 

it was so fun to make it again.

we kept the snacks and drink very simple.
and credit to my boys... they helped me big time preparing the food.
they rocked yesterday!
it was "Duerksen Team Effort" for sure all week long.
that was a huge blessing we kept it simple since it POURED hard rain just before the party.
anything elaborate we would have done would've been ruined.






every party should have a baby.
it should be a rule.
so many of craig's family came by to wish lauren good luck in college and give her hugs.
one great thing about big milestones like graduations or weddings is seeing the family you don't see as often.

lauren with my mom and lauren with craig's mom.

it was so fun to have my friends show up to love on me as well as lauren. 
high school graduation is big deal for the kids but also a BIG DEAL for the parents too!
and they snuck off and were cleaning up in my kitchen and doing dishes when i wasn't looking.
grown up friends are the best! 

although... i prefer babies at parties that are not wearing K-State onesies.
he is so cute that i made an exception.
i was so busy that i never even got to hold this guy! lauren took over as baby holder for this party. 

 

 

family friends that we have had since i was 8 years old came to celebrate. 
(my dad did not get the memo about the black shirt...)

i LOVE that they came.
that is love ya know?  showing up for your people.   taking the time.  it is meaningful. 
it makes me teary.  

craig was face timing with his sister during the party.
:)
isn't that fun?  she got a little tour of the party and said hello.  
2013 is pretty awesome. 

i took an after photo this morning since it was too crazy yesterday.
our new little patio that we put in and all the pots of flowers make this place even happier.
it's so peaceful out there.
my chippy painted metal benches got new cushions. (home depot online)
i used all old pots, buckets and planters i already had to plant flowers inside.
the bunting is the same as what i sell in my shop...not weather proof but who cares.
it holds up just fine.

great party.

i think lauren felt loved.
and that was the most important part of yesterday for me.

 

and now i am going to go sit on that yellow bench.
:)

 

this week....

we have had a FULL week with more excitement still to come.

life skills being taught.... 

 

 

waffle was naughty and completely dorky as usual. 
he got on the couch while i was still home! 
how is he smart enough to know not to get on when craig is home and that i won't do anything?
it's crazy.
he slept with his leg up in the air for a long time.

ha ha haaaaaaa

 

read this in The Message this week....

"His love was not cautious but extravagant"  

 

the kids tried to dress up the chickens with american girl doll clothes.
but realized chickens don't have arms to make it work.
it was funny to try though. 

one of these days those chicks will be gone & we will know that they learned how to hot wire Barbie's car...

 

i like having lunch with my kids.
i wish i had done it with my older kids.
i didn't know that was a thing that people did.
your kids would love it if you showed up too. (with no other siblings... just you... and fast food) 

campfires are pretty much the best thing ever.
i have tried my best to keep all s'more ingredients stocked all all times at our house. 

mother's day was a very nice day.
i try very hard to keep expectations VERY low and that helps to keep the day flowing well.
i was treated to homemade cards by the little girls.... and cashed in that free coffee immediately. 

after church i went in my bedroom and shut the door and relaxed while my family made the entire lunch.
what a nice treat to come out to a completely set table AND food.

then i went straight back in my room while they cleaned it up. 

best mother's day i have had in many years. 

 

gardening this year in pots only....this is a huge relief to me.
the thought of gardening was LOOMING over me and i wasn't excited about it.
but this is perfect! 

 

lauren is done with high school.
forever.
it's so crazy how fast that passed!
we are so proud that she made it through with excellent grades and can't wait to see her future unfold.

her graduation is sunday afternoon.
it's been an emotional week....

 

this is what happens on a daily basis here.
if we don't do the dishes every 18-24 hours... it looks like this.
NO JOKE.
we even ate on paper plates that day!

 

 

i sported pigtails today.
after a 3 week break.... i went out for a run with my friends this morning.

it was short & sweet but felt so good to remember that i did still know how to run.  :)

as i drank my second cup of coffee i looked down and realized i was a rainbow of colors.

 

so... we have a very busy weekend filled with parties to attend & to give, basketball, shopping, cleaning, rainbow cake making, graduation cermony and grandparents coming.

what do you have going on in your life?