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!

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.

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.

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

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

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

Wednesday was a day of worn out toddler… but there was a silver lining – Baba snuggles. She seemed to have caught a slight bug.

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!

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.

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.

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

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.

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.

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

So much cousin fun.

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

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!

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!!

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.

So we have been busy and made good use of our days…And 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.

August 13th is a very special day for our family. The baby of the group is officially FOUR! And still not on a Friday. We had already had a mini party with Chris and Renee and their family but today was THE DAY. So we dropped everything to do a wee bit of celebrating. Echo got to wear her new birthday dress (her gift from Mommy and Daddy this year that she helped to choose). Grandma and Grandpa Mike called for their birthday call and we went over to the local library branch where they had a beautiful flower display.

Then over to the park where Echo opted to open her gifts from Gammie and Aunty Holly, Uncle James and Cousin Jimmie. It was a special request… gifts opened ON the actual birthday. Who are we to deny such a reasonable request?

She was in love with ALL of them and not the least bit upset to not get the chance to run the park. Instead she walked the babies, tried on the backpack and checked out her new book.

With a run to the grocery for park snacks it was back to the house in time to open the gift from Aunty Faithe, Uncle Joe, Gabbi and Zachary mailed from Florida… Barbie movies!

Light lunch and we packed back up for Andrew’s Park complete with splash area and all! And best of all… Darcy and all 4 boys (though Anthony came and went).

Aidan with his belated (way) birthday present… I made him a soccer ball, he just happened to be wearing his jersey!

We had a blanket for the adults set between the wet and dry areas, a container of snacks and birthday CUPCAKES! We were set for hours and happy as clams.

Ken in my new hat

In and out of the water… up and down the park stuff.

Echo opened her very special gift from the Novaks complete with a mustache and TWO special teddies from Alex’s personal collection. She LOVED it all!

The kids seriously INHALED the cupcakes…

And of course splashed their hearts out…

Anthony’s dramatic hair dry

It was an amazing afternoon and the company could not have been more fun or entertaining.

We came home to a strawberry twinkie “cake” for miss Echo to blow the candles out of in front of Nana and Baba.

And topped the evening with Daddy building Echo’s special gift from Aunty Holly and family which she and Trinity combined their ponies and sets and smiled until bedtime!!!

So thank you everyone for the birthday wishes and those mentioned above for today’s gifts… our baby is growing up so quickly!