july 4th

A parade

then beach time

an attempt at family pictures

 some yard time

 then onto the fireworks

 

Land of the free, home of the brave.

heroes

I can't stop thinking about the nineteen firefighters killed in the Yarnell, Arizona fire Sunday afternoon, and also the sole remaining fire fighter from their crew.  We drive through Yarnell each year traveling to my in-laws ranch.  It's this quiet, sleepy little town and always reminds me of what life must have been like before freeways and the internet and sky scrapers.  It's a peaceful place with a population of only about six hundred people.  People the Granite Mountain Hotshots were trying to protect.  

"Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends."

Many prayers for their families left behind.  I believe these men left this world as heroes.

anniversary

Congratulations to these two beautiful people 
  (my mom and dad).

They are celebrating their 50th wedding anniversary today.  

Looking much more fabulous than even the Kennedy's!!!

Also:

Congratulations to "Romina"!  You are today's winner of the Third Friday Giveaway and the vintage straw holder and paper straws!

A big thank you to all of you who entered.  Look for terra's earth's next giveaway on Friday, July 19th. 

a simpler time

Like most moms, I spend a lot of time in the car, even in the summer time.  My car stereo holds up to twenty-one preset stations.  Currently, I'm quite smitten with preset number ten, which is the forties on four (from Sirius xm).  There's something about the forties music that takes me to a lovely place.  In my mind's eye I'm sitting on the porch of a little white washed bungalow in a small southern town.  I'm wearing a cotton a-line dress with a simple floral print,  sipping a glass of fresh squeezed lemonade and watching the world go by.  Can you almost see the water beads condensing on the glass?  Of course I'm sipping that lemonade through a white straw with red stripes, and in the background, the voice of Frank Sinatra is crooning through one of those cabinet style radios. Sounds serene doesn't it?  It is.  I've always had a vivid imagination.  And for some reason, driving around the desert with the forties on four gives me a little reprieve from the carpool grind that sometimes makes me crazy.  And what do the kids think about my new music selection?  The conversation with Sierra went something like this, "What are you listening to???" My response, "The forties on four".  Her reply, "Why are you listening to this???" And all I could do was smile.  There was no sense in trying to explain it.  You have to be a mom to appreciate the beauty of this of occasional escape from reality.  Even if it's just in my mind.

just stay little

We got to watch this cutie last night while his mom and dad had a quick over-night trip.  It's been a long time since I had to worry about someone running into the street and never left home without a ziplock bag full of goldfish.  It was kind of bitter-sweet for me to reflect on that time when I was the mom of four very young kidsos.

Gentry and I had a date today..... one her favorites...pottery painting.

And I after we were done, it was lunch and then swimsuit shopping.  As as we navigated the  busy parking lot, she even let me hold her hand.  And I loved it, and I think she did too. And I thought about how sometimes, the simplest things are the best things.  Like holding hands.  And how even though she's not five anymore, in some ways, she will always be my little girl.

giveaway friday

Yes, dear readers, I believe it's time for a Giveaway.  

So starting today

  {and every third friday of the month} 

I will be posting something new and fun that I love and want to share with you.

So here it is.... terra's earth's...  first official 

Giveaway.

{How to enter}

1. Become a follower of terra's earth (by liking terra's earth on facebook OR via google friends connect OR via email-see sidebar)

2. Leave a comment on this post telling me how you follow.

One winner will be selected from the comments using random.org and announced on june 28th.

{the giveaway closes on june 27th, 2013}

{contest open to those residing in the intercontinental u.s.) 

seriously funny

Studio C is a comedy troupe originating from byu that not only does sketches that are clean, but really, really funny.  Gentry showed me this one last night. Now maybe I was tired, and maybe it was late, but  oh my gosh!... judge for yourself.  You can catch more of Studio C here. So refreshing to find someone doing clean, family friendly comedy.

muffin mania

I believe I mentioned that I've been on a bit of a baking binge lately.  The children have requested muffins for breakfast, and muffins I've delivered.  This was of one of times when my OCD can be kind of fun.  Here are the links to the recipes  Enjoy!

Lemon Poppy Seed Muffins 

LOVE!

Blueberry Cream Muffins

I used 1c. blueberries, and 1c. raspberries .  A big hit with the kids. 

Apple Cinnamon Muffins

I doubled this recipe and used 1/2 wheat and 1/2 white flour.  I did the same with the sugar using 1/2 white and 1/2 brown. They were "yum" (again according to the kids). Note: only fill cups 2/3 full (as mentioned in reviews!)

Pumpkin Chocolate Chip Muffins

What else can I say? Pumpkin and chocolate together, pour the milk.

Applesauce Muffins

Had to include these.  The healthiest, my favorite, and an easy way to add some veggies to my kids menu.

 Note: Know your oven!!! My oven always cooks faster than the allotted recipe time, and the lemon poppy seed muffins were done in just nineteen minutes.