Whatever that means… Echo turned 7 in August. And summer continued to happen.

The twins did the Splash and Dash at the YMCA. This was the last year they could register and the first I had heard of it. It was just a fun thing and they did enjoy it. I think this year Ken will do a fun run with them. The other three with the rest of the clubY kids who were there were around to cheer them on.

We spent a lot of time at the YMCA in August. Lots of walking in the sunshine to do what we could do there. Zander chose to do schoolwork over club as he really does get bored. They are so quickly aging out of the program really.

Don’t forget karate!

We did try to see the total (well mostly here) solar eclipse. We went so far as to make viewing boxes… but weather conspired against us. So we went from an eclipse viewing to playing in the warm rain! Not a bad trade off!

Of course we worked on getting used to our newest member of the family. She is so fun to photograph (if you follow me on Facebook or Instagram you would be well aware of this already!).

Emanuel took a week off the family and went to a camp with his friend Aidan. It was so odd to only have 4 kids!

We made as many beach trips as we could on our sunny free days. Sometimes including friends like the Schwartz boys and their mom Renee.

We went to a neighborhood community event hosted by friends we made at the YMCA who were also instrumental in getting me off my butt and into the R.I.P.P.E.D. classes!

Had school in our classroom AND in the sunroom.

We did our part and sent some of our useful items to the YMCA collection for the YMCA in Houston after the hurricanes. It was so amazing to be part of a very successful drive where the two YMCAs worked together to fulfill a requested need.

Miss Echo lost her first teeth!

And I sewed up a storm.

We visited the Pixar exhibit at the science museum with out homeschool buds.

Ken and I visited the local soda shop.

And visited with Cousin Robbie. As well as baby Karissia when we were over at the Novaks. You will remember pictures of her baby shower HERE (her mom is Sophia).

We had lovely fancy ice cream out at a place near the Novak’s as well.

Snuck in some Canadian pride time at Canada Days in Little Canada. Though it was less exciting than we expected.

It was a great month in retrospect. I love that these moments flash back into my mind as I look at the pictures. I hope you enjoy them too! 

 

Well, honestly we just plain got busy! We have 2 different weekends of Canadian guests in October, Ken had a last minute flight out for a 3 day event, Trinity and Emanuel tested for yellow belts in karate and Ken had to go to a benefit and receive an award! But more on that at a later date… here are the last 2 days of Honest Photo Month. I hope you enjoyed the experience. I know I did!

Day 29

We are almost at the end… Honest truth… crochet and crafting keeps me sane. This has been a long week and a new project was started to sooth the soul… and with every baby blanket the kids give me the “No babies here? RIGHT?” look. Darlings we took good careful care to ensure that 5 is the magic number… All my babies are fur or borrowed…

Day 30

…and the last of Honest Photo month. I wish I had something deep and introspective. Instead I have 2 cranky teens in my hammock reading books. Thank you for joining me on my experiment. A month of honest images. True to form we were wild, weird, silly, even boring. I know I won’t commit to another month of daily pictures just yet, but promise to share any good honest images as they pop up in my life with the bold words HONEST PHOTO. So keep an eye peeled and feel free to share your own with me.

 

Annnnddddd now we are onto October… and October of 2015 was a doozy. Not only did we have Halloween to contend with (and 5 costumes of which were all somewhat handmade), but a very important wedding. It is not every day you get to be in a THEMED wedding in a park for a friend who is more a sister to you than pretty much anyone on the planet. AND see her looking gorgeous and feel rather pretty yourself to boot. HERE

Halloween this year was the year of all handmade… each and every costume had at least a touch of our personal handy work on it. HERE.

October is also Ken’s birthday and Canadian Thanksgiving… both of which we celebrate.

There is the usual, swim lessons at the YMCA thanks to Nana and Baba… and Home Depot…

Homeschool, of course… when are we not learning something new…

October just happens to be the month when the trees in our backyard look their finest. And then when the ground looks its most amazing. I could not resist a full on photo shoot of everyone and everything. You can see the rest of the leaf pictures HERE.

We really had a crafty and active month.

As well as some time with games indoors…

With company as well…

Fun with Scouts…

And Sunday School of course!

I have to admit, I love October more when we are in Minnesota… the colours here are so… amazing!!!

 Top it off with random images and what a great month!