August 3-6

We have started our August with a very busy weekend. From a historical site to a rather amazing park. With friends along to share in the fun – Renee, Christopher and their 3 sons. they had been to this park before… it is a great combination of play set with a small splash pad area. We had a bit of a drive to get there and it was a rather popular place but we even managed to snag a table… in the shade!

We got there and the kids just scattered.

We brought some treats to munch on and there was a water fountain to sip from. It was an amazing time!

After that we headed back to town and the Schwartz’s for dinner. Although the kids had to enjoy the slip and slide first.

Since it is creeping up on Echo’s FOURTH birthday we brought a cake and Chris and Renee had a special present just for our almost birthday girl.

Echo is absolutely in love with Jeffrey as well. (but then again, who isn’t???)

Monday and Tuesday was back to school (half days). We have been working on our pen pal work, tracing picture using tracing paper… all sorts of fun stuff! So appreciative of Gammie sending us the Mixels.

But on Tuesday we emptied out Ken and myself’s bedroom (with lots of kids’ help). We had seen Nana and Baba off on their Florida Adventure to take more of Joe and Faithe’s things down and help them settle in (the left a few days later than the family but took longer driving stretches). I figured it was as good a time as any to sort out our bedroom. We do keep getting more stuff (not a huge surprise after getting rid of 3/4 of what we owned before we moved south). Final tally – most everything collected is used and useful! Just like I intended!

With the sun holding and Daddy needing to do some garage sorting the kids spent a lot of the afternoon in the sun… or in the girls’ case in the shade of an umbrella.

We found a critter.

And plucked from the garden.

And then continued the trend on Wednesday (looking back now and writing this in September when the weather just blinked and went fall I am SERIOUSLY missing these warm sunny days!!!).

Sometimes you need to run before you learn!

And then go right back out again!!!!

Enjoy the picture overflow!

August 1-2

While Nana and Baba were seeing off the family we were out and about ourselves on errands and the like. I had a fun finish on the 1st – a pair of SHARK SLIPPERS I had commissioned by a twin mom for another twin mom. We are all in the same egroup and have been for ages! They are such a silly thing but turned out so lovely! I was glad to be able to get them in the mail before they needed to be taken across the border to Canada for a visit!

We did stop at a fun park while I sewed the eyes onto these. The kids have fully embraced the sunny days, though the heat can be rather stifling and make for shorter play times.

The twins assured me that after all that play some quiet tv time was in order.

The 2nd was the first Saturday of the month and so HOME DEPOT day…

Pencil boxes

But we made the day doubly exciting by being registered for a program at the Alexander Ramsey House (HERE). They do a once a month time capsule on the first Saturday and have a walk through of the house with a tour leader. It is so much fun! Limited photo taking opportunities but we did have a blast. And each of the kids ended up with a time capsule with little pictures of things they learned about in our tour. We plan on going again in October!!

Such a beautiful house!

And the kids got to get involved in the kitchen making hardtack (HERE)! Very cool!

Miss Trinity came home to a good bye present from Gabbi – a backpack and matching blanket that she is utterly in love with.

And I had an amazing gift – a drawing of the crochet items I gave her for her birthday. Thank you sweetie!

And a few more from the house…

July 30-31

With 2 days until we say good bye to the cousins it was the best choice to have a final half day for the week with the kids on the 30th… And then embrace the cousin time!

On my suggestion on the 31st we packed up EVERYONE and headed to our now favourite beach. One last dip in the lakes for the cousins before they head to the coast. Not to mention a perfect opportunity for an outing (on a budget) with all 7 kids for Nana ans Baba. Not the warm beaches of Mexico but the kids had a blast.

We packed a picnic lunch… Lots of towels and toys and made much of the day of it!

I even got some crafting in!

Gabbi and Nana even caught a fish!!!!

With so much outside time they all settled into computers and fun inside.

We also were able to gift Zachary and Gabbi with a very special scrapbook the kids made up for them. Each page full of memories and special messages. And that was that.

Time for the kids to say good bye. Where did the month go??? I can report quite happily that after over 4 days they and their cats successfully made it to Florida in one piece! We shall certainly miss their company! But we wish them the best!