Simply Serrano: 2017: Week 30

Sunday, July 23
Today was productive. After running a few errands, I got to work freezing some sweet corn for our winter enjoyment. Yuna offered her supervision (and was rewarded with a few nibbles), and altogether I got 16 cups. Not too shabby! Afterwards, Josh and I decided to tackle our japanese beetle situation, as they were decimating my althea bush and were starting in on our other peach tree. While Josh found the stepladder and a pair of gloves, I filled an old mop bucket about a third of the way full of water with a couple of glugs of dishsoap. We started with the althea bush first; Josh grabbed handfuls of infested blossoms and leaves and chucked them into the bucket. (Meanwhile, the girls were enjoying a water balloon "fight" and a "foot bath" in a tub of water.) Then we moved on to the peach tree. We worked our way around the tree, Josh climbing the ladder while I stood beneath him with the bucket lifted over my head. It was disgusting, hot work, and more than once a shower of beetles fell on my head. But thankfully, it was also productive: we killed more than 250 beetles, and were hopeful that our prospects of salvaging some peaches were greatly improved.

Monday, July 24
Ellie helped Josh chomp some cherries for dinner tonight, and, upon hearing I was taking a picture of a very sweet moment, Elaina decided to join in as well.

Tuesday, July 25
I had a work function this evening, so this afternoon was blur of finishing up work, racing to the gym and through a workout, running home to shower and get ready, and heading out after a quick hug and kiss for Josh and the girls. I had a nice time and got to meet some nice folks, but it made for a long day. I got home in time to read a chapter of The Mouse and the Motorcycle to the girls and tuck them in, and then Josh and I finally had chance to catch up on our days. Puppers was particularly glad to see me, too.

Wednesday, July 26
Josh mowed after work, and, after doing a little hoeing and weeding, I decided to take another crack at the beetle situation. I got to work, and when Josh finished mowing, he came out to help me. In the mean time, Elaina took it upon herself to join in the efforts and started smacking beetles off of my beloved birch tree, which has been heavily damaged. Ellie helped, too, and soon they were whacking at the beetles on our corn as well. I loved having them help!

Thursday, July 27
This morning I took Ellie to the dentist, where she had a cavity filled. It was a bit of a trepidatious appointment; all three of us are nervous about how she'll handle anything to do with her mouth. Luckily, she was a trooper and, though she cried a few times, was more brave than anything. (The fact that she got to watch Moana on a personal screen while the dentist worked probably didn't hurt.) In the afternoon, Josh, who had been out with a supplier for lunch, asked if I could meet him outside, where he surprised me with a lovely flower arrangement--for no reason in particular. I smiled the rest of the afternoon--it made my whole week.

Thumbs up before the work started

Friday, July 28
After work today, we packed up the car, the kids, and the canine and headed up to spend the weekend with Rachel and her family in Rockford. We made good time and had a happy welcome, and the kids enjoyed their first meal of the weekend together. They had such a good time playing that I'm surprised they sat still enough to eat at all!

Saturday, July 29
Today was a busy, fun-fun-fun day. Josh and I ran out to get donuts as the kiddos woke up for the day. The had already had quite a good time playing by the time we got back:

After breakfast, and deciding on the agenda for the day, Rachel and I headed out to do some sister-bonding and shopping while the men stayed back and entertained the kids. I had so much fun shopping with Rachel--didn't buy anything other than a new collar for Yuna--but the time was invaluable. We came back, grabbed everyone, and headed out for lunch at a Rockford staple: Beef-a-Roo. When we got back, it was time to let the kids go swimming in the pond across the street from Rachel's house--one of the perks of their HOA. The kids had an absolute blast. They swam, explored with goggles, went down the waterslide, and were buried in sand. Ellie braved the water without her floaties, while Elaina (and Nehemiah awhile later) braved the water slide. We were there for about three hours, and even then they were hard-pressed to leave.

We came back and got cleaned up. Lips grilled some delicious cilantro marinated chicken and Rachel made delicious coconut rice to go with it--it was so good. We decided to treat the kids again and, after digesting for a bit, took a nice long walk to the closest Baskin Robbins. Even more exciting than the ice cream was the giant turkey feather Elaina got, the pinecones they collected, and the imprints of raccoon feet on the sidewalk.

31 flavors and she chose chocolate...just like her mama used to do

When we got back from ice cream, we put the kids in their jammies and headed out to Sinnisippi park to see the light exhibit. It was really neat, and really pretty, and Josh and I came away wishing Peoria took initiative to do cool stuff like this. By the time we finished walking the path, the kids were pretty beat, and so were we. They went straight to bed as soon as we got home and Rachel went soon after; I stayed up long enough to see that the Cubs won their game against the Brewers and headed upstairs myself. It was a busy day. And it was wonderful.