April 12-13

Easter is not far in the future and this year we had our official Easter Egg Hunt with the two Schwartz families in what honestly was less than ideal temperatures. Overcast at the house, windy AND overcast at the hunt. We were divided by age so Ken and I sent the boys on their own with proper instructions and he took Echo and I got Trinity. Ken found Renee and Evan right away.

I found Chris, Nathan and baby Jeffrey (well his covered stroller) and then Matt, Fran and their twins.

What a haul! Two of the kids (Zander and Echo) found special eggs that got them little teddies but we did not win any draws. It was cold but it sure was fun! Really the highlight of a Saturday we otherwise enjoyed very quietly.

Sunday was a busier day with Sunday School first (I got to go with this time and had a LOVELY chat with the children’s choir director while we waited on the kiddos). After church we got changed and waited on the one kid who did NOT go to Sunday School… Emanuel went with Baba to a hockey game for his Scouts. Funny how things line up all over the place. That did leave Echo at home with Nana while everyone was out and about.

After we were returned to a family of 7 it was time to head out to Aunty Judy and Uncle Jim’s. Emanuel had called her earlier in the week asking if she wanted to buy a discount card that he was selling for scouts and she suggested we come visit and he could sell her one in person. Why not? After all our afternoon was free and clear! The draw of ducks, Robbie, a trampoline and a favourite aunt and uncle definitely had the kids on board!

Ken and Aunty Judy on Puzzle Dragons

The boys were all over the trampoline and pretty much dragging Robbie out the back door as we walked in the front. It is quite the wonderful backyard.

With a lovely late lunch in our tummies…

And tons of animals to play with…

Robbie and Uncle Jim even took them out to try the fancy skateboard things that we have sitting here at home (a Christmas gift from the same family).

What a great weekend! And to top it off, on Saturday I got a surprise package from Canada — a brand new Canadian flag! I had mentioned during winter Olympics that I wish I had had one. A Facebook friend (Cyndi) sent us one to fly on Canada Day!! Thank you soooo much!!!!

March 8-12

Another weekend, another series of visits. Saturday afternoon/evening Ken and the boys went to a sleepover at Joe and Faithe’s. Total boy time. That left Echo, Trinity and myself to dinner and a rather quiet evening of a movie and popcorn.

Oh and dress up!!

We have some fairy hackers coming along it seems.

Trinity and I even took some time to start her Hello Kitty scrapbook.

And at bedtime we called Daddy to say good night.

With our ride gone overnight there was no Sunday school for us. Just some quiet play time before we had to get ready to go out.

Ken and the boys picked us up around lunchtime so we could head over to Aunty Judy and Uncle Jim’s for a visit. And to return their now fixed computer. Robbie and Jessica were there also, along with all sorts of puppies, a kitty, ducks… fish… and so forth.

We had pizza for lunch and hung out until almost dinner time. It was a great visit on a beautiful day.

Monday was the last session for the  twins’ first set of swimming lessons. With all the weather delays we actually went almost a month late. So the next session that we decided to schedule all 3 boys into gives us only one week grace to get Emanuel’s swim gear ready. They are all very excited to get to it. The twins have a little more work to move out of the beginners group to advanced beginners. But they are learning and loving it. Which is all we can ask!

Trinity was so excited… she completed her first addition AND subtraction book! With minimum tears and fuss no less!

With all the visiting and excitement we had gotten behind on our Art for Kids (HERE) drawing instructions so we had an art session using a variety of the newest ones.

We had penpal letters to illustrate…

And India to learn all about… a light lesson as sadly EVERYONE was getting sick.

Oh and I have to share our follow up on Paul Bunyan! Quite the interesting legend and a perfect chance to discuss how a story can be real or really cannot. I used two library books:

• Paul Bunyan by Steven Kellogg
• The Story of Paul Bunyan by Barbara Emberley

We had three worksheets from Education.com:

• Tell Fact From Fiction HERE
• Coloring Page HERE
• Write a mixed up fairy tale HERE

We are finally seeing some spring like weather… Perfect opportunity to go out in our light clothes and scrape some of the muck off the driveway. Now let’s not get too excited about this sudden warmth… it IS Minnesota and spring is not something winter allows easily here!

Ken and I got around (finally) to assembling a long forgotten shelf and organizing our school stuff even further. Organization is always a calming influence on my soul I swear! And now with some labels thanks to my Christmas present from Ken I even have some spiffy LAMINATED labels for three of our section. The kids were impressed by the fact that they could now SEE some favourite games and puzzles on the bottom row and keep better track of their workbooks.

Pre labels

I am loving the bigger boys helping the little kids. Their reading skills have smoothed out enough that at time they will VOLUNTEER to read the other two their workbook assignments!!

Ken and Trinity did our grocery shopping for the day on Wednesday… and Trinity made sure to come back with a special treat just for me! So sweet!

We finally got around to decorating our Valentines Day folder. It is also more full than expected! But everyone had a blast colouring hearts and messages on our folder.

Of course Echo had to bring out our 100 day markers and draw us up something nice. I think the past 100 school day have had their rough patches but were honestly very nice!

We are forging right on through the weeks with school mixed with fun! March is certainly following February’s lead!

September 26

With Thursday came the long awaited and often rescheduled FAMILY DAY… That’s right Ken took the day off and we managed to duck and run early and get our family time on. But first, Trinity’s hair finally had to let go of the Grandma French Braids… FLUFFY!

With the fresh trim and then where the braids stop you can totally see how nice and straight it is at the bottom across!

Reminds me of when I had my crimper when I was little

We finally were able to do one of the trips I had been hoping to make earlier in the year – Lake Harriet and the tiny door in a tree of Mr. Little Guy.

Sadly he was already gone for the fall to his castle elsewhere but we enjoyed hunting it down!

Ken looked up location before we left. I am glad, I enjoyed the walk so much I forgot to look for it!

This is also the beginning of Echo’s odyssey onto the paths

The walk was lovely and since it was a week day… not busy. So we were able to enjoy the path without inconveniencing many other people.

Sometimes I wonder if the wind doesn’t just want to play with her hair!

There were boats tethered in the lake that I am still curious how people get to… but they looked lovely and made the most amazing bell like sounds as they swayed back and forth.

It was just the perfect afternoon for a nice walk.

The kids loved the ducks. Ken and I thought is absolutely hilarious that the sign below was there… then like 6 feet away on a bridge out of sight of said sign a bunch of moms with their individual kids (seriously does no one have large families and enjoy this park??? I had a bundle of little ones under school age way back when) FEEDING DUCKS!!!! 

Watching them together

There were so many pretty and interesting areas along the path. We walked around half of the circuit around the lake.

I love unusual trees!

Pose the kids

The houses along the street side were amazing

I am not sure I would want to maintain the levels of this garden!

You can see the building where we started here…

The lake made a great backdrop for some quick photos. 

Further proof the twins are VERY different even as they have identical features… Zander…

Gavin

My 3 chuckle heads

And then that evening we got a start on Trinity’s Halloween costume… her princess hat.

Oh and stopped in at Victoria’s Secret to use coupons. That eye shadow cost me just over 2.00!

I think we really needed this time out as a family that was not around errands and shopping… I wish we could do this more but for some reason STUFF KEEPS BREAKING at work! Thankfully not on Ken’s fault but he fixes… and we postpone, reschedule or cancel.

And now for the rest of my pictures. Sorry this entry is so huge but lots for a blog entry not enough for a true overflow.

She rides in style

I love the little people showing you where to walk…

Echo and Zander

Again with the wind

Emanuel watching the boats