Rain Gutter Book Shelves

For a long time I have wanted to display my plethora of children's books.  Maybe it is the teacher in me, but I love pulling out themes of books, dinosaurs, holidays, back-to-school, rocks & minerals, etc etc.  I long for my book displays in my classroom.  PLUS I am a firm believer that "displaying" books encourages more reading from kids.  It's more enticing to see the cover of a book than just its spine.  I hunted the local antique stores in Iowa to find my treasure, but to no avail.  I googled.  Nothing.  Then the heavens parted and I came across these online, rain gutter book shelves.  I knew that this was it!  But there was not point since I knew we would be moving in a year.

BUT...now that we are in our new place and will be for the next three years, it was time.  We made the family trip to Lowe's picked up the supplies needed and viola!  My very own rain gutter book shelves.  Do I love them...yes!  Do the kids love them...yes!  Do I have big plans for these all year round...yes!

I filled the lower shelf with board books, and the top shelf was filled with themed books...currently back to school/being kind.  Isaac can reach the lower shelf and Natali can reach the top.  I LOVE IT.  We also put a little one along Natali's bed.  It was a fun project.

Hanging Around

Garage Sale Swing ($7) + 2 eye hooks ($5) + 5 min's of Daddy work = HOURS OF FUN (Priceless)

Natali loves to push her brothers.  Isaac is a little heavy for her to get him as high as he wants, but she LOVES to push Spencer.  Spencer loves to be in the swing.  He stays cool in the shade (really you are NEVER cool if you are outside) and just watches the kids run around, blow bubbles, and jump.  Oh the life!!

Keepin' Cool

Our first outing to the splash pad was a success.  Honestly the only time we feel cool is when we are playing in the water/sprinklers!  Yay for Splash Pads!

Backyard Fun

Thanks Grandma for providing some backyard fun!  ALL the kids love it, even Spencer.  Poor Isaac gets off looking like he stepped out of the shower.  Ya, it's hot in Texas!

We love it...thanks Grandma!!!

SALT LICK

So despite the fact that I still find myself day dreaming about Iowa, Texas has some nice perks.  We LOVE our house, the idea of a "warm" winter, and so far the BBQ!  Seriously, I have never had BBQ like this.  We tried out Rudy's (divine) and then SALT LICK.  It was so good.  The one we went to was in Round Rock.  It was the BEST bbq I have ever had.  The kids loved it, Ben loved it, I loved it!  5 stars from the Fluhmans.

open smoking pit in the restaurant...it was AWESOME!

Happy 5th Birthday

Today my sweet Natali turned 5!  We had a fun filled day.  It started waking up bright and early and enjoying some brotherly love! (These two monkeys are currently sharing a room)

Natali requested pancakes for breakfast.  I happy obliged.  After, she was EXTREMELY patient as we waited to open presents until Dad finished some needed shopping & mowing the lawn.

After making her wait long enough, we finally let her open her gifts.  She got some fun new stuff, but her big gift was a bike!  To be honest I think she is a little scared of the idea.  Hopefully she will warm  up with a little practice.

(new princess helmet)

(dress up skirt from Grandma Gerry)

After naps/quiet time we headed out for a family outing.  We went up to Waco to the mall where Natali got to experience "Build-A-Bear".  She loved every minute.  Sorry no picture of "Miley the Bunny."  After that we headed to Rudys.   A BBQ must we had been told.  It was AMAZING!!!  After all the hype I was worried I would be disappointed, boy was I wrong.

Spencer waiting patiently for the food.  I think he ate more meat than both Natali & Isaac combined.

After dinner we headed back home for cake & ice cream with friends.  The kids ran through the sprinklers to keep cool while we all enjoyed "not unpacking boxes" for an hour or so.

When I asked Natali what kind of cake she wanted her response was: "A chocolate cake, with chocolate frosting, and a rainbow on it."  That's what she got.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY BABY GIRL!  

(All day long she kept saying, "This is the best day EVER!")

First Lost Tooth

A few days ago Natali woke up saying her tooth was "wiggily".  She complained that it HURT.  I don't remember loose teeth hurting.  A few days later at dinner she bit into her strawberry and burst into tears.  "It hurst, it hurts!" were her screams.  Finally she was dismissed from the table (I refuse to eat dinner and listen to crying kids).  She moaned & wailed.  Suddenly there was silence.  She came back to the kitchen with a GIANT grin and a small tooth in her hand!  She did it all by herself.  Plucked that loose tooth right from her mouth.  That night the TOOTH FAIRY made her first of many debuts to come at our house.  She left a WHOPPING $1.  Natali ran into our room the next morning shouting, "She came, she came!"  (I kind of felt guilty.)  She has been so excited about this milestone in her life.  

Side note:  Today Natali was with me as I ran into 7-11 for a Super Big Gulp (my first in 4 years).  As I was checking out Natali leans into me and says..."Mom she lost a tooth like me!"  No Nattles...she is just missing her front tooth, and the one that is there looks like it should be lose."  It was one of those moments I just prayed that nobody else heard her.

Machine Shed Fun

One of our Des Moines favorites is the Machine Shed.  The atmosphere, service, and food are all just plain old FABULOUS!!  So with out a question, with Ben's folks out for graduation we knew we had to go out there to celebrate.  I still remember the first time we ate there.  We both looked at each other and said, "Your Dad HAS to come here!"  It is just SOOOOOO  Dad Fluhman!

We went our to eat the night of graduation.  The Machine Shed did not disappoint.  When the lingering waitress (she actually wasn't our waitress but was in love with our kids) found out we were celebrating a "graduate" she wrote a "Med. School" song and brought over a dessert.  So kind. (Ben's reaction, "Becca your DEAD!  It wasn't me...she did all on her own.  Ben is completely ANTI any form of extra attention...especially singing in a restaurant!)

After dinner we went on a tractor ride.  The kids were in HEAVEN.  Spencer loved every second (as did Natali & Isaac).