Summer Update

Wow, has this summer flown by! I know, that's a sad excuse for not writing for so long, but it's true. Summer 2013 is almost over. :( It's sad, but I'm excited for this coming fall as well. 

At the beginning of summer, I created my now-annual Summer Bucket List. I create a new one each year. This year, I have been able to complete several things off my list, and I'm very excited about that. Just a few of these things are:

--Go to the zoo

--Sleep in a tent

--Do a photo-shoot

--Smash-Book

--Get my breath taken away

--Learn a song on the piano

--Read (LOTS!!!)

--Submit a poem to a magazine

--Write a letter to someone random

--Talk to someone I haven't in a while

--Get dirty doing something

--Have a bonfire

--Eat s'mores!

These were just a few of the things that I was able to complete, and I am very excited about that. I honestly completed more than I ever thought that I'd be able to. I didn't get everything done, but in my personal evaluation, I didn't do too badly. ;) And some of the things that I didn't accomplish in the summer, I'm going to add to my Fall Bucket List. That's right, folks, we're going seasonal! 

What about all of you? Did you have a summer bucket list? If so, how did it go? What did you do? Please comment; Lavender Soda would love to hear from you! Thanks for reading!

 Lacey and Summer

Taylor and Me (Andy)

P.S. Check out our friend blogger Taylor at http://purplebamboo13.blogspot.com/! 

Summer + Books = Marvelous!

Bonjour, friends! We are so terribly sorry for not having posted in several weeks. We have absolutely no excuse for our laziness. However, it has been a busy summer. Half of Lavender Soda went to the Midwest; half went to the West; and one member is all the way in her home-country: Greece! Spectacular, right? Anywho, even though we've been busy, we've still made sure that we prepare some events for L.S. 

This post is about one of those events. Recently, our library held a giant book-sale to clear off their shelves for new books. L.S. loves the bi-annual book-sales because there are literally thousands of books, all for $2 or under (book heaven!!!). I (Andie) bought a substantial amount of books and music to add to my library. Then, L.S. decided to have a spur-of-the-moment book photo shoot. So, enjoy the pics!

Here's my personal library:

As you can see, I'm having to expand past the boundaries of my shelves. This was how it looked before I added all the books I bought! Which are as follows:

This is the full amount of what I purchased. :)

All the CDs I bought. These were originally priced at 50 cents, but near the end of the three-day sale, they lowered the price to a quarter for each. Score!

Summer posing with some books. Recently, I've been reading several of L.M. Montgomery's works, so I picked up as many of her stories as I could. Some are shown in this pic. 

Some of the older works I bought.

I like some of Tennyson's poems, especially "The Charge of the Light Brigade." Do you have a favorite poet?

The picture of Tennyson inside his book

I also purchased a vintage book of Shakespeare's Complete Works. It even came with some beautiful illustrations like the one above. 

Summer's henna design was so pretty that I couldn't resist adding it to the shoot somehow. :)

Having fun with books...

Now, believe it or not, Deena is very difficult to get to smile in front of the camera. So, I came up with a master plan. I threw Goldfish at her and told her to try to catch them in her mouth. She laughed every time she missed (which was a lot!). Bingo! Try it with your kids! ;) 

One last pic...

Goldfish seemed to work with Lacey's dog as well. We gave her one as a treat for staying still for the picture. :) 

Well, we hope that you like the pictures! Please give us feedback! We'd love to hear from you. Did you enjoy the pics? Any special photo shoot requests? By the way, tomorrow is Independence Day! Are you doing anything special? Does your family have any traditions that you enjoy? Anyways, God bless! Have a great day tomorrow! :) 

--Lavender Soda

P.S. Keep an eye out for our zoo post coming up soon with our guest blogger Taylor at Purple Bamboo!

Country Visit

     Hello Everyone! I just love going to the country. Half of Lavender Soda used to live in it, until we had to move. We (Lacey and I) were recently visiting the country-side, and I (Andy) trotted out for a walk in the steamy weather. I discovered some be-autiful sights! God's Creation is SO marvelous. Here's some pics that I took on my walk. Hope you like 'em!

P.S. Sorry about the spacing of the photos! It's all weird. I'll have to figure it out another time. 

Starting out on my walk!

As soon as I stepped out, this dragonfly swooped by and landed on some ivy. I was surprised I was able to get close enough to take this pic!

Everything is so pretty right now...

Even the mud is prettier. I was sad to come across this smooshed flower, but it was so pretty, even still.

As I went along, I decided to stop by my aunt's farm. She and my uncle have many goats of all kinds. :)

There was a lot of munching...

And snuffling going on. :) Goat nose!

Oh, hi!

Get my good side. 

Some daisies

I've always loved this kind of flower. I think it might be a blue violet, but I'm not entirely certain. Anyone else know?

The gravel road to our (Lacey's and mine) former house

One final snap! Remember to have faith: in God, in others, and in yourself.

     I enjoyed my walk. Your turn! Go on a walk and examine the small details. Savor the beauty around you. Comment and tell me about your walk if you take one! Have a wonderful week!

--L.S.

Storms!

     

     

     

Hello Everyone! Tonight has been full of thunderstorms and lightening. We even had to hide out in my aunt's tornado shelter as a pre-caution! We're thankful to be safe. Nothing major happened so far, just rain, thunder, and lightening. In fact, it was kind of fun to hang out in the shelter. There were ten people (including Lacey and I) and two dogs squished into a tiny concrete room! Haha, it was pretty funny afterwards. And when the immediate dangers and radio warnings faded, we all climbed out and my aunt served us angel-food cupcakes and strawberries. Yum! So, in the end, it turned out all-right for us. However, others weren't so blessed. Please pray with us for the people who have been affected by the many tornadoes this season. They really need your prayers. 

      So now, as I'm writing this post, with the moaning thunder grumbling quietly in the background, I think how it was slightly frightening huddling in the shelter (even though I've done it before). What's something that you're scared of? Spiders? Sharks? Hurricanes? Lacey and I dislike tornadoes very much, since we've emotionally been through them before.  What about you? Do you have a phobia? 8( Well, I'm going to log off and fall asleep to the sound of the rain dribbling down the gutter on the side of the house. Lacey, haha, already has. :) Stay safe, and hug your family extra close tonight!

--Lavender Soda

Summer Bonfires

     Hello, hello, everyone! How has your Memorial Week been? Half of Lavender Soda (me [Andy] and Lacey) have been visiting family. It's been a great kick-off for summer. We've been enjoying the warm weather and God's green creation! On Sunday, we had a big bonfire with some family members. Bonfires are special memories for me. My family, Lacey, and I would all gather together when I was younger and, over the bonfire, cook hot-dogs and s'mores. So, Sunday's bonfire was reminiscent of the hazy, sunny past-times. 

To set up the bonfire, we first sharpened the sticks for cooking the food on. 

Then, we started the bonfire.

We had to set up stones around the bonfire circle above. 

We also made sure that we had enough kindling and fuel to keep the flames going into the night.

Then, let the fire begin!

Well, maybe...

Of course, it takes a bit of work. :)

After the bonfire was roaring, we decided to do a fun game: water balloon fight!!!

Oh, yes. This looks like fun.

Well, the water balloons went very quickly. And I was far too wet to take pictures. However, it was tons of fun, and we were all soaked by the time we were done. :)

We were also hungry, so it was time to pull out the food and start cookin'! 

We had the sodas (unfortunately, there wasn't any Lavender Soda). :)

We had the ingredients.

Then we just had to cook...

And eat! 

And after our hot dogs, s'mores, and water balloons, we concluded the fun evening with a game of kick-ball. 

I will always look back on that night with the hazy imaginings of sweet memories. It was not only a fun summer thing to do, but I was also able to check three things off of my 2013 Summer Bucket List: 1) have a bonfire, 2) have a water-balloon fight, and 3) eat s'mores. I'm  sure those were on Lacey's bucket list, too. 

So, what are some of your favorite summer memories? Do you love to have bonfires, too? If so, what are some activities you do to make your time special? Thanks for reading everyone. Now, go gather up some family and plan a bonfire!

--Lavender Soda

Bucket Lists!

It's summer!!!

     Well, almost anyways. Some of you may still be in school. I (Andy) just finished finals a couple of days ago, though. I feel I have learned so much from this school year. I haven't enjoyed every second of it, but I've appreciated it. And so, as we enter the wonderful time of summer, I'm determined to make this summer count. I like to create bucket lists, and I did one for last year. I got to go zip-lining, white-water rafting, and many other fun things last summer. Now, I'm creating a Summer 2013 Bucket List. Here are a few of the items I've listed (in no particular order): 

1. Travel Someplace New   (image via a well traveled woman)

   2.   Visit Zoo   (image via godfrey wong)

   3.   Thank a Soldier for His/Her Service   (image via sunshine and pearls)

   4.   Leave a Note in a Library Book for Someone Else   (image via what would a nerd wear)

   5.   Swim in a Lake   (image via bohemian dreams)

   6.   Memorize Hebrews 11   (image via faith inspiration)

   7.   Write Once a Day, Every Day, For a Week   (image via serendipity; life itself)

   8.   Have a Water Balloon Fight   (image via pembroke woods)

   9.   Have a Movie-Marathon Night   (image via imdb)

   10.   Do Something that Scares Me   (image via oh so boho)

These are just a few items on my summer bucket list. All the other girls from Lavender Soda have created their bucket lists as well. I don't know how this summer will go, but I'm going to try to make it count! Maybe now you'll be inspired to go create your own bucket list. :) 

--Lavender Soda

P.S. Feel free to comment your own suggestions for bucket lists and ask how our goals are going! We'd really love hearing your ideas!