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missing preschool

July 9, 2009 Filed in school

i never showed these pictures from annie's last day of preschool.

so much fun….
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annie's preschool has been located in an assisted living facility.
they visited the "grandma & grandpas" often and knew many of their names.
(especially the ones who gave out candy)
many of residents were outside during this party time watching or helping hold the parachute.
the kids gave goodbye backrubs and hugs.
it's so sweet to watch.
next year the preschool will be back at the church..only a 2 block walk for us.
that will be pretty great also.

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i printed this out for annie and she hung it on her bulletin board.  :)

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oh how we miss preschool.
add a comment

Meg - This looks very familiar, our kiddos also attended this preschool. Ms. Kristin is a familar face at church. I linked to you from The Macs and check in often for the great photos and another family living life in Kansas.
Meg
http://www.cmjcbaldwin.wordpress.com

Allison - Your daughter is the cutest, most precious little girl ever.

Secret Mom Thoughts - I am missing preschool too.

Sheryl - I mentioned before that I found Annie’s preschool blog by accident last month. I’m also a preschool teacher, and love her ideas! Her photos are beautiful, just like yours. She has a way of capturing each detail. I can see why you love her.
Sheryl

Stephanie - Hi Meg.
I just found your blog recently & I am LOVING it.
I wanted you to know that I included you in my “Fine Finds” for the week.
Thanks for sharing.
Stephanie @ A Fine House

niki - it looks like a fun and imaginitive preschool…i’m jealous. would love to know where annie’s teacher got her dinosaur t-shirt……love it.
love your blog, too. 🙂

Kelli - I LOVE the idea of combining an assisted living facility with a pre-school. What a blessing that must be in the lives of the older people and a great lesson in respect for the elderly in the kids. I live in CA and wonder if there is anything like that out here?!

Aubrey - My favorite is Annie’s mismatched socks–especially the rainbow one. And maybe I’m biased, but I think she’s the cutest kid in her class. She has such pretty eyes.

Lorilee - I love the idea of a preschool within or near an assisted living home. I WANT one of those parachute thingys! It looks like fun!
Blessings,
Lorilee

Carrie - how great I love the rainbow aprons

Penny - My girls preschool years were such wonderful times. Two are in college and one is in High School now. So it has been a while. Really cherish these tender years. They fly by so quickly. I love the beautiful pictures you post in your blog. I am a very visual person and this is one thing that draws me to your site. (and of course Waffle!!)

lorel - those kids kids are cute!

Sally - SO cool! I teach preschool so I examined the pictures for ideas! I love that the teacher is sitting on a table to read the story! I love that there are so many bright colors! I love the parachute (use mine often!)! SO cool!!! No wonder she misses it!

Lee Ann - We miss pre-school too. How cool that it was at an assisted-living place. A 2 block walk will be great too.
And I love that Annie and my girls have so many of the exact same clothes. We have both mis-matched socks (worn just the way she’s wearing them) and the “old” sparkly pink shoes. Too funny!

adrienneK - GUSH!!!! annies preschool teacher has a very cool blog as well!!!
i swear my in laws live in newton, if we ever move there (while the girls are still little) i would so want them to go to this school it seems so wonderful (and colorful)!!!!

erin j - I have been watching your blog for some time now and decided I should actually comment. I love your eye for color; it brightens my day. And a preschool in a nursing home is such a sweet idea; it looks like such a blessing to all involved.

Sandy - Preschoolers are so much fun!
Not to sound creepy (although it is), but last night I had another dream about hanging out with you and your family. You guys rock! Thanks for the fun times! (ha ha) 🙂 (This probably really creeps Lauren out!)

Starnes Fam - I love that the school was within the assisted living facility. We took our kids to trick-or-treat at one a few years ago. Such a gift for them…..to see, feel, hear young people. It warmed my heart to be able to share my joy with them and bring them back to their earlier years.
Love photos, as always.

kristin - oh!!!! i miss it too…especially seeing these.
can i use these? : )

Lillian - I am loving this post so much! My daughter starts Preschool in the fall and it made me so excited for her! Beautiful pictures – and her teachers look like so much fun! The grins in all of the pictures speak volumes:)

adrienne - i love where it was located! what a great idea and so wonderful for the elderly too. as a teacher, i’m loving that table thing she’s sitting on during storytime 🙂 very eye level for the kids!

Joanna - That looks like a FUN preschool!

Kathy - Great pictures, I bet Annie misses Pre-School too! Love the teachers bright color aprons!

Mary Beth - I saw MY Megan’s preschool teacher several years ago and I started crying. MY Megan is now 23 years old! I learned so much from her teacher and I remember so much about that year. sniff…sniff……..

emily :] - awww. preschool was the best.

PaiselyJade - What lovely photos… especially all the colour!!

Jocelyn Stott - Parachutes were the BEST. I miss preschool as well. Great photos.

Shauna Howington - I remember the big parachute thingy in school, it was so much fun. Beautiful pictures!

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messy FUN

July 8, 2009 Filed in Uncategorized

my kids were saying they were bored.

i told them to get their swimsuits on and finish their lunch.
“why?!”  “what are we doing?!” ‘”where are we going?!” “it’s too cold to swim!”
i answered “just do it”

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i sprayed it all over our patio table and called them outside.
they were in disbelief.
that they could play IN it…and get it on them.
i said “yes.  use it all.  go crazy”

they did.
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then a fight broke out…like we knew it would.

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i highly recommend this activity to you.
i ended up giving them all 9 cans i’d bought.
i said many many times “don’t get it in your eyes!”

i thought my kids would like it but they LOVED it.
they had 
the. 
BEST.
time.

i hosed them down when they were finished.
turned on the sprinklers to clean the yard.  
sprayed down the patio.
done.

$11 well spent.
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happy family.

July 7, 2009 Filed in photography

these girls were full of smiles.

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and they had amazingly beautiful eyes!

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even the baby.

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jody…i love your hair.
i meant to tell you and i didn't.  
it's shiny and beautiful…i love it.

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i love the cuddling on daddy's head.

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so pretty.
they were sweet as sugar.

thank you for spending some time with me chad and jody.

add a comment

Wendy - Oh how exciting! I was just relaxing reading your blog and realized who this family was!!! I went to Bethel College with Chad and Jody and haven’t seen them since we graduated 9 years ago! Thanks for sharing your great pictures…what a beautiful family they have.

Michele - I’ve recently just started reading your blog and I LOVE it. You crack me up. You are inspiration to all Moms to enjoy every second with their kids…and to let them be kids!

Mallory - Wow! I love their hair and eyes! Their oldest child looks like a little lady.
Great pictures.

heidi jo - OH MY GOODNESS!!! THEY ARE GORGEOUS!

pve - I have always admired a gal who can match the moxie of a dress with polka dots, and bows. Oh they are too sweet as sugar! Great shots-

kinha - Hi!
Beautiful family.I’m glad to visit a great blog. Smart posts and beautiful photos. I like to contact people, all over the world, by his blogs.Would you follow me,because I’m afraid to lost your blog?I’m waiting your visit. Thank’s

Marie {Make and Takes} - I have a “finalist” award to give you for the Social Luxe Lounge Blogluxe Awards. I can’t find your email, so please email me and I’ll shoot you one over! Congrats!!

Kate - Look at those eyelashes!

dasa - sooooooooooo cute!

erica - what an absolutely beautiful family!!

purejoy - ah-stinkin-dorable!!
there’s a genetic xerox machine in that thar family!

Secret Mom Thoughts - Beautiful family and photos.

juliann brenner - lovely family…wish you lived close to photo. mine! I read your porch re-do; very nice! It made me think again of your third floor area above Lauren’s room…what did you decide to do with that??

Jocelyn Stott - What a beautiful family!

amy j. - They are one of my favorite families! Great pictures, Meg. As always. And you’re right, she does have awesome hair. Hate that about her. 🙂

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make this.

July 6, 2009 Filed in recipes

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you can still eat it if you don't close your springform pan correctly 
and you dump it into your oven.
it just won't look as pretty.
but it tastes just as yummy.

add a comment

Dana M. - Made this tonight and it’s half gone in just a few short hours! LOVE, LOVE IT!! As Allie would say ” Mom, put that one on the favorite list!”

Deanna - I just went blueberry picking and need a venue for all these blueberries. Thanks for your timely post.

angi - Hi Meg!
I can’t remember where I first found your blog but I’m HOOKED! Your photos are simply amazing and I can’t get enough!! Everything is just lovely…your house and family and outstanding photography.
Just wanted to say a little hello from a new reader fan in Ohio 🙂
Happy Summering to you!

dasa - yummmmmm yummmmmmmmm looks deilsous
^
(???)

Lisa - Okay…I’ve been baking this exact recipe for years (though we just use a 9″ square pan) and got it from my mom, who’s been baking it for years. We lived outside of Chicago in the 70’s and early 80’s…do you know which paper it was published in? Love your blog…

Abby - Hey Meg,
I just found your blog and love it! I moved to Wichita from Illinois last summer. We lived in Springfield. My husband works at Koch and I work at WSU. We have two boys who are 10 and 7. I’m not from Kansas, I’m from Illinois originally and my husband is from KC. It feels great to read about someone else who has made the choice to move to Kansas. I feel like I already know you!

adrienneK - oh yummy!!!

Cate O'Malley - Must.buy.more.blueberries.

Laura Phelps - setting the butter out now…
of course, we never made that rainbow cake…but I think I just can’t bare to make a cake unless I am getting paid to do it! But this looks really good…I will have to make it…and eat it…I follow direction so well, don’t I?

Melissa - Okay I will.
By the way – is that cool whip????

Dawn - My mom used to make this all of the time when I was growing up! I think I need to introduce this family favorite to my family! Thanks for the reminder of a forgotten recipe! 🙂

Kathy - Yummy!Low fat of coarse?

jennifer - I know what I’m doing tomorrow! Thanks for the yummy idea.
On a totally unrelated note, you mentioned several months ago a photo site that you were having fun messing around with and then posting the “collaged” pictures here. What was the name of it again?
Thanks!!!

mom - I took this to the Klaassen’s & Kleiber’s this weekend. It was yummy!

alyssa - yum. blueberry buckle is a family favorite!

Lauren - This looks so yummy! I can’t wait to try the recipe. This weekend I was looking back at old posts and admiring your aprons that you made at Christmas (maybe in Dec 07). Did you ever post a tutorial or the pattern for that? Or could you tell us what pattern you use to make your aprons?

Kelly - Okay.
We actually have a favorite family recipe similar to this that I concocted by blending two other favorites. We call it muffin cake. Blueberry buckle sounds healthier.

Vera - It seems like baked blueberry treats recipes are everywhere today… it must be a sign! I think this weekend will involve several pints of blueberries and my oven!!

PaiselyJade - mmmm… similar to what I made yesterday! Looks lovely.

Heather D - I’ve been meaning to try making a buckle – and have a bunch of blueberries that need to be used.
Yum!!!

a thorn among roses - make it easy for me…just send it to me!

Sarah - yum..need to try that sometime. but in the meantime I was just coming to your recipe section because I couldn’t remember what all was to go in the chicken enchiladas…which is what we’re having for dinner tonight! so good!

Jocelyn Stott - Oh man…if it weren’t for the fact that I am on my “I need to fit into my wedding dress” diet, I would make this for sure. Looks delicious!

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so much fun.

July 5, 2009 Filed in family fun,playtime

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2009 BlogLuxe Awards i am pretty sure today is the last day.   thank you for every single vote!

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add a comment

Amber - Oh my gosh!! Our carnival pictures are similar on my latest post. Of course yours aren’t blurry and awkward. But hey that’s me, blurry and awkward. 😉 j/k

Christina - I LOVE the picture of toes!

pve - positively polka dotted with envy over your all american fun!

a thorn among roses - i am totally loving your pics!!! they make me want to go to the carnival!!! and i hate those spinning things. love it.

Tonya - Meg, I loved your summer list. We made our own list this morning and I’ve linked back to you on my blog.
Thanks for the awesome idea!

Sandy - Love the toenails! Looks like tons of fun!!
You deserve every vote you received and more (I know there were some days I failed to vote and I’m sure others did too). YOU are the one that deserves the thanks for letting us live vicariously through your super cool Kansas life!

KT - Do you know how old the boys were that you did the photoshoot of? They are adorable. I love the age difference. We have a two year old and are trying to figure out when we want to start TTC again!!! 🙂

Ashlee Archibald - Looks like so much fun! I love the painted toes 🙂 🙂

Barbara Jacksier - I just found you and I’m so HAPPY!

Sharla - Love the one of your son and his goggles – I imagine that’s what your hubby looked like at that age.

Colleen - Mommy Always Wins - Looks like an AMAZING holiday weekend. Hope you can recover from it all! 😉

simply stork - glad to see your mood has shifted :o) Looks like you all had a great time :o) what a blessing to have such fun together :o)
I too LOVE the toes :o)
~simply~

Julie Q - Just wanted to say, that your blog is lovely. I enjoy your beautiful pictues and family adventures. Summer at your house looks like so much fun, especially as it is bit chilly here in New Zealand.
I’m missing strawberries so much!
Julie Q

Laura Phelps - all pictures, no words. fantastic.

Kathy - Awesome pictures! You are killing me with them, I really missed celebrating the 4th American style and your pictures are exactly my memories. 🙁 Maybe next year we will be home!

se7en - And that was one weekend!!! Gotta love those dotty toes!

anna - the picture of poor talby getting squished on the ride made me laugh! i remember getting squished too! and the one of your son with his googles…gorgeous! he is going to be a heartbreaker!
looks like you had a great time!

Staci - Oh what fun!!!! Alllll the pics are great…but man, I want some of those kabobs 🙂 YUMMY!

Jocelyn Stott - Summer as it should be. Thank you for the beautiful photos!

Joy Cronauer...Joy at Home - one more photo/blogging question…how do you put two pics next to each other? thanks again for all of your help. your blog is so inspiring!

Roeshel - What fun! Looks like a blast! I’m new to your blog. Nice to “meet” you! Love the gorgeous photos! 🙂

Michelle B - looks like a wonderful time! I have those same black sparkle flip-flops!

Anna Marie - YOUR TOES!!! “Why didn’t I think of that?”…Love me my red and white polka dots!
Looks like you had a blast! (pun intended…ha!)

Lanny Stanard - 4 words… WISH I WAS THERE!
Lanny 🙂

Marie - Hello Meg – what fun photos! Seeing the fireworks reminds me of my childhood and enjoying our neighborhood block parties. Since then, fireworks have been outlawed where we live. Love your polka dot toes! Thank you for sharing.
Blessings,
Marie

Starnes Fam - An all American 4th of July…..can it get better?! Off to vote again!

Jaime @ [Casa de Ayala] - Lovely… it was a true 4th of July story, told just beautifully in pictures! Who did your toes? Was it done professionally? Super cute!

Jaime @ [Casa de Ayala] - Lovely… it was a true 4th of July story, told just beautifully in pictures! Who did your toes? Was it done professionally? Super cute!

Suzanne - the picture of your son with the yellow goggles is PRICELESS.
you deserve the award you are shamelessly plugging 🙂

Sharon - These are great photos and they capture everything GREAT about summer! Thanks for sharing!

andrea liese - great shots, the toes are my fav

Chasity - we spent the day at worlds of fun…so much fun!
your celebrations look like a blast as well~love the toenails.
chasity

Kelly - Yea and Oh YUM! I love the polka dot toenail polish too. Kelly

alice - looks like a lot of fun was had by everyone! great photos – thanks for sharing them with us :O)

cre8ivegirl - Your pictures are so vibrant! Thanks for sharing you stories.

Marcie Bowman - I love how your pictures tell such an amazing story!!

Erin - What fun! Such beautiful pictures! I would love for that pool too!

Linda - I am jealous–can I be you yesterday?

shari - GREAT images!! Definitely captures a FUN day! I LOVE the kabobs… I want an invite next time! 😉

Sheryl - I just love your photography! Looks like everyone had a great time!

Georgia - Looks like so much fun! i love the fireworks in the street. and what i wouldnt do to be in that pool right now… *sigh*

Jess - Looks like a very happy 4th. Love the toenail polish!

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thursday.

July 2, 2009 Filed in home decorating

i am CRANKY!

be thankful you weren't here at our house yesterday.
everyone was smart and just kind of steered clear of mama…or learned quickly that they should.

i am hoping that today will be better.
we are walking for donuts and coffee.
we are stopping at the antiques store.
and we may have to go out and buy this mama some pretty shoes to cheer her up…sorry craig.

changing the subject…..how do you like my new porch room?

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you can read more about it over at the inspired room….i'm her guest post today.
it tells you how i went from this mess…

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seriously.
to this…our new living room on the porch.

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so far in this space there have been games played, drawings created, popsicles eaten, quiet coffee and
mom & dad talks in the dark…hiding from the kids.

warning:  you will want to stay…melissa's site is beautiful.  
it IS inspired.

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2009 BlogLuxe Awards  

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add a comment

Wendy - OK! I am seriously in love with your blog! So fun. I just went through 8 new screens of old archives! Sorry dont mean to be a stalker! love it! love that you love to craft! love your house! love your photos! Fun fun! Thanks for the inspiration! I am in KC so I had to keep reading after seeing your list of fun things to do this summer. Then it was an investigation to find out where you were! I love the Make and Takes and there was a link to your blog on that. From there I went crazy! Thanks for making my corporate work day more exciting! Where would you suggest that I go to find out about blogging and how to get others to find my blog? I want your life right now! Your pictures are really that good~! Thanks and hope that I am not too obnoxious!

Michelle/sumshay - first–thanks for being so honest!! it makes the rest of us feel okay. my girls told their dad not to come in the house the other day because “cranky mommy” was here! how nice–just because i asked them to clean up their smelly, wet towels (along with their trail of everthing else that comes with “summer fun”)
second–for showing your wonderfully, inspired porch. i’ve been trying to redo our back porch, but it seems that two children, all their friends, several animals, and a tired husband always leave it looking messy…
…or as a much loved place to hang out. one day i’ll miss all of their messiness or so my mother tells me. : )
by the way, i love your photos…they remind me that ordinary, everyday is beautiful. and to enjoy my children and capture all those moments, even the messy ones. thank you.

Aubrey - Still love it. And so jealous of the huge, wrap around porch. We don’t even have a back patio and in front, the 3 ft. walkway has to count as a porch. I think if we did have a porch, I’d never go inside all summer.

Nicole@Bugaboos - Wow, that is seriously incredible! Love the greens and blues! This is amazing! I so want a big pretty porch like that! Your pictures are incredible!

Elizabeth - Wow, what an amazing space. I love love the porch swing! I wish I had a tenth of that beautiful space for a porch.

Linda@ Restyled Home - It look perfect. Just as great as everything else you do!!
We love our front porch, too. Hiding out from the kids is one of our talents!!
Cheers,
Linda

Nicole - LOVE it! I so wish we could have stopped in the other day! We’ll have to make it happen on our next trip out! I’m sure you’ll love the porch space even more in the Fall!!

Meredith - Have you had one of your lime cranberry thingie’s from Sonic? What about a scrapbooking session? A bath? Hmm, maybe some Hershey’s chocolate kisses? From one cranky mum to another during school holidays….thinking of you…hang in there…. call all the kids godparents and ask them to pray harder. Meredith xo.

Mindy - Such inspiration. More front porch is horrid and we don’t use it either. What a shame, my kids always want to ride bikes on the sidewalk out front. I need to get to work and “redecorate” then I might enjoy being out there more. I don’t have as much space as you and I don’t have have as many “cool” things laying around but I could dig up a few and it might give me the excuse to go to the flea market too! Thanks for sharing and you have such a great touch for all things decorating and photography!

Gillian - love it! I have a similar front porch and it’s my favorite spot!!! Enjoy the beauty!

shiela - love, love, llllllllaaa-LOVE your taste ‘n all!

Emily - love your blue rocker, I have a chair with a similar shape I’ve been looking for a new color for. Love this room, maybe I could be inspired to clear off all the kid toys for our back patio….

Sharon - I would give anything to have a beautiful porch like this!!! you did a great job!

Rachel / cREaTe - WOW! And … I totally have that bench’s twin AND the children’s chair’s twin IN MY BASEMENT. I have never thought of using it as a TABLE [with mini chairs that pull up to it]. And that’s ADORABLE that you covered it in oil cloth. LOVE IT.

Becki Skol - Love your porch,love your honesty,love your blog(don’t miss a day)….Love your craft room…it so rocks.
You make me smile….I too,was a wee bit cranky before I saw you porch redo,made me inspired!
Love from a faithful bolg reader,mom of 4(who wants to be mom of 5,but can’t get hubby to agree)…Keep up the amazing work and hope you win Best Eye Candy bloger award….

the rauths - i love your porch! nice work! i notice the chenille-ish fabric in several of your pillows (in this photo it is the aqua and white; in others it has been pink and white) … is this a fabric (and if so where did you buy it) or is it an old quilt? love love love and haven’t been able to find something similar.

Mary Beth - Oh how FABulous of you!
Thanks so much for posting this.
I have a front porch, but unfortunately, my dreams of having it look cute and cheery and playful went out the door the first year as we experience about a constant 25 mile an hour sustaning WIND.
So now I can live vicariously on YOUR porch!!!

Laura Zarrin - I have just discovered your blog and I love it!!! Your house is amazing. I’d move to Kansas if I could have that house (decorated by you, of course). I can’t believe how you made it so wonderful with all those kids?

Kim - Hope you had a good day! Did you find some cute shoes??

Rach - My teeth hurt just looking at all that yummy Crush. Mmmmm… grape soda reminds me of summers as a kid. Good call. Love the new porch. Need to do something homey like that to my back yard. Cheer up. Tomorrow is another day and if that doesn’t work, well then there is conveniently a holiday after that. 🙂

Julie - I was so busy being Cranky I forgot to compliment you on the porch. It looks lovely. I can picture games being played, quiet talks, and cups of coffee being enjoyed there. We don’t have a porch, but if I did, I would surely do all of those things there, too. 🙂

Julie - Hello Cranky. I am Cranky here, too. Unfortunately my kids DO NOT seem to know to steer clear or even get along with EACH OTHER. We’re about to make snow cones and head out to the backyard for some sidewalk coloring. Maybe I will relax in the lounge chair, too. One would think those things would make me happy, but as I type this my 4 year old is spilling water all over my freshly mopped wood floor while my two year old is dancing in it and then there is my 7 year old who is trying to fly. Perfect. My Cranky self is just not all that into it.

Staci - YOWZA!!!!! That porch is INCREDIBLE!!!!! As if I would expect anything less from THE MEG DUERKSEN!!!!! I’m sorry you were cranky today…I’m hoping you have a better tomorrow 🙂 Just go sit out on that beautiful porch (with those new shoes, hopefully!) and say a prayer tomorrow is a better day 🙂 Love ya girl!

adrienneK - oh and i voted!! 😉

Elisa - Oh man- perfect!
I am so ready to get started on my summer and porches!

Diana - Would you PLEASE come redo my porch! I have tried to make it as cozy as yours and it isn’t possible!!! You have an amazing God given talent! Would you bottle it and send it my way?

Alyssa - Dearest Cranky Mama Meg(an)-
Did you get those new shoes? I surely believe you deserve them solely due to being the mom of 6 if you include waffles.
Love the new living room Porch. I made my back porch a little living room space and i am loving it.
Uncrumpy hugs to you,
Alyssa
Your #1 fan who knows to call you megan now since you became a celebrity.

Kathy - Love it and I’m feeling your pain. This heat is making this Momma cranky too.

Leah - All I have to say is God Bless you for having a porch swing! Big porches arent that big of a deal here in WA but I come form a southern family and whenever I see a house that has a porch and no porch swing I just wanna yell! We hope to build a house next year and a large porch is number one of the list…right above indoor plumbing 😉 Im so glad your family is enjoying yours…your hard work paid off.

Laura Phelps - WAIT A MINUTE!!!!!!! You are not walking to that Starbucks 30 minutes away are you?????????? LOL…I know, I know…local coffee shop. I feel like I am the more sarcastic, glass half empty version of YOU..does that makes sense? My ideal way of snapping out of crankiness is EXACTLY what you have planned for this morning.
And that porch? Ugh..you see? I see this…this beautiful huge home in Kansas, and I start packing my bags. Any houses for sale near you???? Maybe one closer to the coffee shop????
Thanks for inspiring..tackling the back patio PRONTO.

angela conklin - I would SO use this porch for an extension of my home!! I love it. I;m sure pretty soon you will wander what you did before you started using it! Love the color of the blue chairs and love the chalk board!! Great job!

Allison - This is so cute and cheery! You may want to get one of those mesh picnic covers though…it looks like there’s a fly on your watermelon. 😉 Or is it a seed?

Kelly - Perfect! What a great spot for spending the summer! Another reason your house is AWESOME!

Heather @ Cookie Mondays - I want those turqouise chairs!!!!!!!! And yes, you need to get yourself an ice cream maker. No salt required! You just hit ‘on’. If you need me to come demonstrate I will. Seriously.

Sarah - I do/did love it.

adrienneK - the porch is great!! even greater is the bowl of watermelon and the bottles of crush (my FAVE)

Cheryl - Love it, so cute!

teresa - meg- I’m coming over from TIR love your site- what a dash of happiness your site is-
ps.we have something in common we share the same blog name… Whatever =)
Happy Day

Jill - Ummmmm seriously fan.tas.tic! I am soooo impressed and inspired! LOVE IT!
-Jill

Dana D @BoysMyJoys - Yet again, another fabulous make-over! I love it! Just curious… would you show us your garden(s)? Seeing this cheery color palette on the porch makes me think you must have some happy flowers growing outside, too!

Lisa - What a beautiful job you’ve done! I have a porch that looks very similar to your before photo and your transformation has given me the urge to get it done! 🙂

Wendy - Meg, I have been hooked on your blog for some time now and I just have to tell you how great it is! I love the porch makeover. How did you find the time with all 5 kids home?

Angela B. - I hope today is better than yesterday. I just wanted you to know that your blog is a bright spot in my day. Thank you! You are fabulous!

Shannon Kirtley - Where did you get those bottles of Crush??

Becky - you may want to check the coffin box in your attic. i’m probably there. i moved in a while back from sheer house envy. i forgot to tell you. see what a good houseguest i can be??
love it love it!

Michelle B - love porches! Thinking about adding some more fun to mine. Thanks for the ideas!

Chasity - love those turquoise chairs!!! did you paint them or find them that way? i NEED to know the color if you did paint them yourself 😉
have a fabulous day
chasity

Angela Henrie - It’s great! I love outdoor rooms. I’m so glad you had the thought to do that – as I’m sure your kids are too!

Melissa - Beautifully done – what a great article at the inspired room.
I see many many fun summer afternoons in your future

emily - perfectly cozy!!!! i love it!!!

A pocket full of posies... - What a WONDERFUL spot!!! it would be hard to ever leave!!!
Great job!

Kristine - I really appreciate your innovation….and ability to get work done! I have a one year old and NOPE, finding time outside of the toddler’s routine doesn’t occur very often. Your porch turned out beautifully, so vibrant and inviting. I can hear it beckoning for a bunch of people to sit down and BE in it!
Since I have such little time, I live vicariously through people’s blogs like yours! Thanks!

Amber - love it! i want one!! hmmmm. {i may just add another project to my list}
love the glass bottled sodas! I’m a big fan of those right now.

Amy at The Red Chair Blog - I just discovered your blog via The Inspired Room. This outdoor LR looks like a great summer oasis. Love the pops of turquoise. I’m jealous: I’m in NC, and if we spend time outside (outside of a screened in porch) this time of year, we will all be carried away by mosquitoes! I just spent a few minutes checking out some of your other posts. Your photos are AMAZING! What talent!
Amy

Kelly - wow, amazing!
Did you paint the blue chairs? My three year old saw it and wants a little blue chair like that. Though she thinks its green. Can you tell me the paint color if you did them yourself?

Jess - Great post. I’ve been hangin’ out over at the Inspired Room for a while now. I even joined in the procrastinators party (and didn’t get finished on time! hehe)
The porch looks great. Enjoy.

Kim - Loved your post at the Inspired Room! The porch is just darling!!

Kelly O. - So much better! I need to do that over here!

Lori - What a difference! The porch looks Fab.U.Lous! I love your style…you make me wish I could sew (a feeling that never entered my head until I started reading your blog). Enjoy!

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hanging out

July 1, 2009 Filed in playtime

we have been spending days upon days just hanging out.

enjoying summer.

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i hope you are doing the same.
relax…slow down…play UNO…catch fireflies…hug your friends…eat ice cream cones….swing…
you'll be so happy you did.
add a comment

Marla - What a lovely photo of Talby and Clara! Their suits match! Clara had such a great time playing!

Pansy Cottage Girl - I love fireflies….I remember visiting my grandmother as a child in Indiana and collecting them in a jar. I’ve lived in CA my whole life and wish we had them here.

Kelly - oh! this sounds wonderful!
Thank you for your Kansas tips! We were already through Lawrence when I read your e-mail 🙁 but we spent some time in Hays and had a nice lunch, a cherry phosphate with ice cream added 🙂 and enjoyed a big antique mall where I got two round cake pans that the bottoms come out of just like my mom has and got at a garage sale years ago! No more cake sticking in the bottoms of the pan. Thank you! Kelly

adrienneK - yay we caught freflies the other day 🙂

Marie - Very cool pictures! I have never seen a firefly in my life. So neat.
Blessings,
Marie

Kimberly Au - Thanks for the simple reminder! I’m a teacher and get to spend all summer with my kids, but sometimes I find myself trying to squeeze a little too much in. Now I’m looking forward to a relaxing Thursday and Friday. Still waiting for the fireflies to show up, though.

Aubrey - That looks so fun. I miss fireflies. My kids don’t even know what they are. Time to take them East, I think.
I saw your porch post at the Inspired Room. How do you get stuff to look so magazine perfect? I really thought she was showing a magazine picture at the top. It looks so awesome. You do a really good job. Grrh. I wish I weren’t pregnant so I could spray paint the wicker bench I found at the thrift store last month. Oh well, I haven’t found an affordable cushion yet anyway. I wish we had a World Market–I hadn’t even heard of it before. Anyway, good job–as ALWAYS. 😉

Mandy - I totally agree! The best kinds of summers are spent slowing down, and just hanging out with those that we love! I really enjoy reading your blog… it’s great!

Meredith - Meg, your photos are just beautiful. I’m sitting here with freezing cold toes and nose on a Sydney winter morning, but feeling a radiating warmth from these photos. It just might be the warmest I feel all day – so thank you! Meredith xo.

amber - Those are the reasons why I love summer. You have the best pictures!

CherryTreeLane - once again–AMAZING pics. Good for you for relaxing. it’s what summer should be.

Penny - It looks like some wonderful summer memories are being made. I am remembering times like these with my girls when they were young. You are a great mom! (Waffle needs a cameo!)

Amber - “relax…slow down…play UNO…catch fireflies…hug your friends…eat ice cream cones….swing…”
:O I have done every one of those things so far this summer!!! :o) I win!!

Brittany - I’m such a fan of your blog! It truly is “eye candy” (I’ve been voting)! You have an amazing gift and I love that you share it with all of us!! Your home is beautiful and I love your color palate! What is the chocolate color you used in the master bedroom?? Thank you for sharing your real life!

rachel - whoa real firefly’s – only seen them in the movies! Where I live all we have is midges and loads of them!!!

Jeanne - I agree. Life is hectic enough…we can all use the excuse of summer to relax!!!

se7en - Oh you guys hang out with such style! Your photographs as usual are totally stunning and bring warmth to our winter…

Shelly DeBoer - I love love love your blog. I am addicted. Life is beautiful and God is good and your blog confirms that. It is my little slice of happiness to check your blog each morning. I have 3 crazy little boys and love to document their life by blogging but I have blog jealousy. How does one go about to design or get a super cool blog like yours? I have used e-blogger which is free but I’m craving something else and would love to do bigger pics. If time allows could you email me @ ms4deboer@yahoo.com and give me some tips. I too would love to know if you sell your t-shirts and pillows. Again, you are so inspiring and your family and home are beautiful. God has blessed you with an amazing gift. Keep using it for His glory! Blessings!

Georgia - I been hanging out with my mum today in the UK sun, its the same temp as bahamas here!!!!! its SOOOO hot! i love the fire fly pics, we dont get them here which is a shame, as they are pretty cool!

sassafrasanne - i have NEVER seen a real firefly.
true story.
Adorable pics
🙂

Gram - We do not have fireflies in Colorado, but I have wonderful childhood memories of catching them in jars when we would visit cousins in Kansas, Iowa and Nebraska.

elizabeth - Beautiful photos, as always. I think you should do a blog post with some bad photos, some rejects –so we won’t feel so jealous!
I miss fireflies — we don’t seem to have them here in Los Angeles.

Rachel / cREaTe - awesome awesome pics. not that that’s something NEW to this blog! 🙂 ha [total eye candy] we live in kansas city now after spending 8 years in florida & south texas. and we’re sooooooooo glad to be back in the land of the lightning bugs [that’s what we call them]. 🙂 by the way – i’m headed to deanna rose this afternoon with my kids! i saw that on your summer list!

Mallory P - What great moments, and I love how you caught them all. I think my favorite is the one of your (I’m guessing) legs up. We all deserve that once in a while!

Rach - Oh THANK YOU so much for pics of fire flies in jars. SIGH. Brings back memories.

Christy - I LOVED, LOVED catching lightening bugs as kids! That was one of my favorite childhood activities at my grandparents farm. We don’t have them out west. 🙁
Looks like a great summer.

Lanny Stanard - loving all these picture’s Megan 🙂 but wheres Waffle… I have been voting everyday 🙂
Lanny

Mindy Harris - Cool story: my friend who moved here from Hawaii saw a firefly in my backyard for the first time ever.
It was a cool moment.

Jocelyn Stott - This looks like the way summer should be. It makes me wish I were a kid again. And I LOVE the pink sparkly nail polish…I was totally rocking that back in the day as well.

Jess - Hanging out is my favorite part of summer. I sure do miss fireflies or lightning bugs as we called them back in Tennessee. We haven’t seen any here in South Carolina.

cynthia - we’re doing the same thing! it’s much more fun to take it easy…enjoy the moments…summer flies by too quickly!

Jill - Hi Meg,
Check out my blog today – I posted in our family’s chalkboard summer “to do” list – I inserted a link back to you. Thanks for the terrific idea! My kids had a blast doing it.

misty - I don’t know how I found this blog, but I wanted to tell you that its so inspiring & I LOVE IT! I am starting my own blog and can’t wait to share it with all of my friends and family. Can you tell me how you edited your blog to say ‘older fun stuff’? I am not going to copy those words, but I would like to change mine up a bit. Hope your blog wins best eye candy, I have been voting! Also, do you sell the t-shirts and pillows that you make? my email is misty_tharp@yahoo.com and my blog is thechroniclesofmaymay.blogspot.com I am new at this and don’t even know if this comment is going to post- thanks! misty

Laura Phelps - I have yet to see a firefly here in L.A. But I keep seeing kids with jars popping up on blogs in Kansas. I swear, I may have to move to Kansas. Are there a lot of Starbucks with in walking distance? Cause I will need that.
Hanging out here as well…enjoying mornings with nowhere to rush to, lots of gliter on the patio from projects, night time running for me, and teaching the kids to cook. Good stuff.

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