#4 on Summer List 2011

Hersheypark has ALWAYS been one of my favorites, so this year when our anniversary fell on a Saturday I knew exactly what I wanted to do. Plus, it helped me accomplish "Summer List 2011". We both agreed it was our favorite anniversary to date. It might have been the fact that since Amirah's been born we've only spent one other full day together. It might have been the smell of chocolate in the air. Either way it was delightful!

In front of the pirate ship-- one of my favorite rides!
Ysmaille got distracted...

I wish you could see our faces a little better on this picture! We did the chocolate tour two times. The sample was Hershey Kisses that have been "aerated", which just means there were little air bubbles in the chocolate. Nothing too spectacular, but beggars can't be choosers :)

Our day in numbers:

-- spent eleven hours at the park

-- rode four roller coasters

-- paid four dollars and twenty-five cents for bottled water

-- rode the pirate ship two times

-- shared one hoagie

-- fell in love one more time

God's healing power...

So last week Amirah decided to throw my phone in the toilet as it was flushing! I had the disgusting job of saving it. I'll let you imagine the details. Rest assured. It wasn't pretty! I tried putting it in rice overnight. It turned on, but wouldn't work. I put it back in the rice and let it sit for a few more hours. I did this multiple times over the next several days. Eventually it was able to work, but I couldn't call out. Couldn't check text messages or listen to voice mails. I could only receive calls. It was really annoying. I tried to borrow a new phone, but nothing was working out. I knew eventually I was going to have to do something, but never got around to it...

Then yesterday it happened. I was in Shepherdstown with my mom and sisters and I pulled out my phone on a whim and it was working! I could call out! Then I remembered the dream I had the night before. I don't remember the particulars, but I do remember saying "Jesus healed my cell phone." You know what? I really believe he did.

#2 and #3 on Summer List 2011

#2 on my summer list was to take Amirah to the library. Basically I spent the entire 20 minutes chasing after her and she whirled around looking at books and taking puzzles apart. She loved it and I had fun too. No pictures to show you, so you'll just have to picture it in your head :)

#3 on my summer list was to go to Cowan's Gap. Angela and I joined the MOMs group from my church yesterday. Amirah and Natalie had two very different approaches to experiencing the day. Natalie didn't want any sand to touch her, even when she was in the water. Amirah loved the sand. She poured it on herself, poured it on Natalie (you can imagine how that went), tried to pour it on completed stranges (luckily I intercepted that one). She even ate the grainy substance.

Mommy and 'Mirah

My sweet, beautiful neice. Isn't she perfect?

Don't you love that hat? Try not to look at the green murkiness of the water.

Angela and Natalie

Amirah loved the sand!

#1 on Summer List 2011

A few weeks ago I saw a lantern made of lace doilies (the hand crocheted ones, not the paper kind you can get at any craft store). It was beautiful and I knew I had to make one. Two weeks ago I found some vintage doilies at a yardsale (along with four equally vintages necklaces that I had to make my own). I was all set. Now I just had to buy wall paper paste and some balloons and I was good to go.

Please notice the pink bottle in the background. It typical "Melanie" fashion I bought puzzle saver Mod Podge because it was cheaper than wall paper paste. It didn't work. So I had to make an extra stop at Wal-Mart to get wall paper paste. Lesson learned. Do it right the first time.

I started my project last night. Here is what it looked like with one doily pasted on.

The completed project hanging out to dry. It's kind of hard to see because I bought white balloons.

It was still a little wet, but I just couldn't wait. I popped the balloon anyway. My lantern collapsed and now I need to start all over. I'm tempted to cross this off my list anyway, but the perfectionist in me won't let me do it. I'll just have to try again.

I'm not one to make craft projects spiritual, but I sensed in my Spirit that maybe God was using this to show me some things about myself. First of all, it's not always best to take the cheap way out. If I had bought wall paper paste instead of Mod Podge to begin with I would have saved myself time AND money. More importantly God showed me that sometimes my impatience causes me to "pop" things before they are ready. I want to see the next step without really embracing the present moment and the lessons I should be learning. Don't you love how God is able to speak to us through lace doilies?

Things That Didn't Make it to "The Summer List"

This weekend I did two things that should have made it to "Summer List 2011", but didn't. I'm only one day into summer vacation and already it has been so fun!

Ysmaille, Amirah, and I packed it up and had a picnic at Caledonia State Park. I have to admit it stressed me out a little bit. The baby girl got soooooooo dirty. After a while I embraced the dirt and just relaxed. She had so much fun exploring.

As always, this girl loves playing with her daddy.

I was seriously so excited to grill. First of all, I think we may be one of the only American families who doesn't own a grill. Second of all, using charcoal gives the food such an amazing flavor. Luckily for us, Mom and Dad stopped by and helped us make our turkey burgers perfect!

I bought this skirt in Haiti years ago. It was a cream color and was starting to look a little dingy. This shirt was once white and needed a little pick-me-up. Enter RIT dye-- pearl grey (available at Hobby Lobby for $2.29). I dyed these items last night and LOVE how they turned out. You should try dying something. I think I may have a new addiction.

Summer List 2011

Does anyone else have a refrigerator that looks like this? I try to keep it organized, but it's such a convenient place to hang all my "stuff".

I've made my summer list. So excited! I had a little free time at school this week. Time I should have been using to clean up my classroom, but time I spent dreaming about my summer and creating a little spreadsheet checklist to hang on my ever-increasingly cluttered refrigerator :)

A close up of Summer List 2011

Drive-in Theater

Hersheypark

Cowan's Gap

Mini Golfing

Make Lace Doily Lanterns

Evening at the Pool

Ice Cream at Meadows (use coupon)

Sidewalk Chalk

Campfire at Mom and Dad's

Library

Clean Basement

Trip to Felicia's

Hike at Caledonia

Read 3 Books

Trip to Tennessee

Eat Breakfast Outside

Run/Walk 5K

Visit Grandma

Have a "ME" Day All Day