Tag Archive | cousin

Waaaah February 2018!!!

On a roll, that is what I am!!! Of course not only is February a short month, but also pre blogged just a wee bit… let’s see…

  • Emanuel’s 12th birthday HERE
  • Zander and Gavin turning 14 HERE
  • Valentine’s Day HERE
  • Chinese New Year Celebrations HERE

So see, much of my work is already done. You can check those links and refresh your memory of our fun! I know I enjoy a nice look back once in a while.IMG_20180214_151346_502

Well let’s see, there was more time in the snow.20180223_140358_HDR

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Snow....

Snow….

More chinchilla pictures.20180218_103342

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Many hours spent at our YMCA (not a surprise?).

That is Ken sleeping there.

That is Ken sleeping there.

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We even brought 2 of the Novak boys to enjoy the pool (Alex and Aidan) during an overnight visit.20180219_182131

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Scrabble became quite the game.

Scrabble became quite the game.

This was before they pulled out the words verging on rude lol

This was before they pulled out the words verging on rude lol

We had dinner with Maevowyn… I mean Aunty Shandai and Uncle Ravyn and Maevowyn. Belated Christmas fun there. Seriously Echo is in love with her baby cousin. As it should be!20180204_183715

Pay attention to ME Cousin Gavin!!!

Pay attention to ME Cousin Gavin!!!

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Visited the aquarium at Mall of America.20180228_170750

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Kept on acolyting.IMG_20180228_090153_795

We learned much.20180207_153456

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Kiwi Crate! Thanks Gammie

Kiwi Crate! Thanks Gammie

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Crafted some.20180217_105639

And played more.IMG_20180220_210432_688

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Of course there was more to the month than all of this, but what a fun look back at some highlights.20180210_114946

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Our Cousin Time Is Ticking Away

July 21-26

The days in July are ticking away as is the kids’ time with their cousins before they make the move to Florida. So when we have the chance and they are over school is set aside in favour of play. But the week STARTED with half days.101_8775

Trinity finished her booklets about her July 4th experience and the 4 days of VBS (she did a page for each day)… sorry about the fuzzy pictures. We had a drawing and then a couple sentences that talked about her experience or what she learned.101_8774

The girls have been working together a lot lately. AND Miss Echo made her first real go at using scissors… it was… interesting!101_8777

Of course we took advantage of our recorded Wild Kratts episode. The same on Tuesday.101_8778 101_8781

Tuesday was a backwards day with pool and tent trailer in the sunshine THEN school.101_8779

101_8780 101_8784Wednesday was a day of worn out toddler… but there was a silver lining – Baba snuggles. She seemed to have caught a slight bug.101_8782 101_8790

The weather is definitely holding lately. With the whispers of another cold winter I am chucking these guys out NOW to enjoy all the sunshine and run out the excess energy! Clothed or not!101_8788

Thursday was another of our limited time only cousin get togethers. It is so weird to be on the opposite side of the visit in Minnesota! We have tried to tell the kids to take advantage of their time with Gabbi and Zachary. And I think they did a decent job. Of course we had school in the morning before Nana and Baba returned with the cousins.101_8792

Then it was out into the yard… the tent trailer was finishing airing out before heading over to Joe and Faithe’s for them to stay in as they finish their cleaning out of their house for the big move.101_8793

And the backyard garden was just screaming for us to come and pick and poke around.101_8794 101_8800

Don’t forget the pool! We inherited new water guns that were not slated to head to Florida for the kids to play with as well.101_8801 101_8802 101_8804

The next day it was breakfast all together made by Baba, of course. Followed by a very special tea party with REAL tea hosted by Miss Gabriella.

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Chicken noodle supper rounded off the meals (a common cousin request).101_8810

So much cousin fun.101_8809 101_8811

Saturday the cousins went home and we made do just as us. Inside and outside we made Saturday count WITHOUT electronics.101_8812 101_8814

BUT that night… BONFIRE and just for Ken and myself! Shandai (my bestfriend from Canada who moved here blah blah blah) had moved into her new rental with her boyfriend Ravyn (super nice guy). We left our kids with Chris Schwartz until Nana and Baba could get home and had a blast… booze, food and a bonfire… oh and two snuggly kitties. Not only did we have a blast but Ken got in a nap. With the cats!101_8820 101_8821

I have to admit… I have not drank so much in ages but it was so much fun! We were out past 3 am I think!!IMG_20140727_160759

I was finally able to gift my housewarming present… when I was growing up my mom always took spider plant cuttings potted when someone moved into a new house. I can never remember what plants are cat safe AND am not able to keep many plants right now so I figured why not make some to gift!! I also made some to sell. I have plastic pots for those. For Shandai’s I used tiny clay pots and saucers I purchased at Walmart.10550947_787427734633114_8366123615101905016_n

So we have been busy and made good use of our days…101_8796And our evenings. Mid week Ken and I snuck away and went to Chris and Renee’s KIDS FREE to drink, have a bonfire and hang out.FB_IMG_1406245679635 20140724_213524

Hoppy Hoppy Almost Easter

April 17-19

And… back to snow for one last hurrah… we hope! The bigger kids have really stepped up and now love having Echo out there with just them. They are growing up so quickly.101_7035

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Spot the bunny

Spot the bunny

We squeezed in a Wild Kratts…

Black Footed Ferret

Black Footed Ferret

And Artistic Endeavors (that really do need capitalization! We are one with our creativity lately!!)101_7028

101_7029And then Easter Eggs! The girls did the traditional dye.101_7051

101_7055101_7054But the boys and Ken tried out this new way of doing it using shaving cream and dye… though if you plan on eating the eggs after it is highly suggested you switch the shaving cream with whipped cream. You can find instructions HERE.101_7050

101_7053Our Friday was a bit more quiet with a  half day to allow us to deal more with getting ready for the weekend and EASTER SUNDAY! We worked more on England through our Little Passports.101_7056

And got packages in the mail from Gammie.101_7057

On Saturday morning I dressed the girls up in LAST year’s Easter dresses. My cousin’s little girls said that they looked like the princesses off Frozen.101_7061

101_7059101_7065101_7067101_7064We paired those with the shirts Holly sent us from Canada and Voila perfect pic op!101_7084

101_7081bb (2)101_7081bb (3)101_7081bb (4)101_7081bb (1)We downsized Echo from super fluffy to a purple piece that was Trinity’s ages ago.101_7088

So we started our Easter with dress up and pictures. Easter 2014 is off to a great start! Enjoy the overflow!101_7083

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