Backyard picnic

At times we find it necessary yet difficult to escape the daily grind of work and church. We also find that the very walls of our home feel as though they are crushing the very life out of us. I realize that sounds pretty bad, but I am trying to help you understand why I cooked sauerkraut and hotdogs in a skillet on charcoal briquettes in Alabama heat in my backyard when I had a functioning kitchen. Why I chose to carry a dining table and 6 chairs outside to my backyard to eat with bugs. Why I snuck around my home whispering orders to the children about all the condiments and such that they had to carry to the table in our backyard. As pathetic as it seems, it worked. We surprised Paul with a "BBQ?" or "Picnic?" We ate our dinner with the bugs, and Dad breathed a sigh of relief while he ate staring at the blue sky. I am sure our neighbors wondered, but we enjoyed it.

I forgot to get the camera out until after dinner, but here we are, Sorry!

My sweetheart turning the very large compost pile after dinner. We have had 3 volunteer tomato plants from it this summer. Note the "garden" in the background. Every year I honestly think I will be a better gardener. This year I have grown very healthy grass and 3 cucumbers. The tomatoes are growing but haven't ripened yet. My fertilizing in May only killed 4 or 5 tomato plants. I am so proud! I am amazed that I still have 4 children. I guess it's because they have learned to feed themselves to some extent, and they don't require weeding.

He was happy eating outside with the flies. Honest!

Yes, we did smores too. I hope the video below works. If so, check it out.

We weighed Luke last night, and he is officially 45 lbs. now. Leah is 50. Sarah is 56. Eliza might be mad if I told her weight. Let me just say that she is very tall, and her weight reflects that fact.