Well, the obvious comes to mind right off – Canada Day and Independence Day. We celebrate both, of course. Canada Day (HERE) always makes me a wee bit homesick. July 4th (HERE) was fun as well. July is also Grandma’s birthday up in Canada. And full blown summer fun here in Minnesota.

We lucked out and managed to make Home Depot where the kids made little bowling alleys. Which were PERFECT for the 18 inch dolls, I am told.

I managed to finish a prayer shawl for the Catholic church down the road, along with a pocket prayer shawl.

We spent TONS of time at the YMCA.

Emanuel got over his fear of the slide

Walked back and forth for ClubY.

We hung out in the hammock.

Played outside whenever we could.

Had movie nights.

Ken made the girls a reading corner in the sunroom out of fabric and a hula hoop!

Hung out with our homeschool friends at the park as often as we could.

Made sure to document all the pretty flowers.

Visited our godson Anthony after emergency appendix surgery.

Met a brand new baby! Congrats Cory and Karen!

We even snuck in time for homeschooling.

Echo even went to Evan’s birthday party SOLO with dad!

We watched soccer.

Watered our garden.

Celebrated Alex’s birthday.

Experienced the County Fair. (see the county fair blog post)

Were ditched by the boys who went to the cabin (too many mosquitoes for our allergic girls).

Even on our day off we made the walk to the YMCA.

Mosquito bites

Basically we made this month COUNT and then some!!!!!

Our track star.

Gavin working on art.

Hard to believe she is 8 already… And definitely her own girl as well. When asked what she wanted to do for her birthday this year she had a rather conclusive list:

1. Go to the YMCA to swim with JUST mom and Echo… so Daddy drops us off and LEAVES.
2. Opening presents with her brothers.
3. Dinner at Culver’s with the whole family.
4. Cake or cupcakes with Aunty Darcy and her boys (that last one will have to wait until a weekend of course).

The pool was basically empty (on the non lane side) except for us and after a minor blip of having forgotten out goggles and toy bag and having to call Daddy to drop them off we had a blast. I had to get the iPad out and email Ken to wait an extra half hour and come get us later.

I even packed a snack bag for the girls and myself. Echo angled successfully for an additional treat at the vending machines… I swear they ALWAYS go for the most irresponsible choice, though at the YMCA really the worst snack you can get is the rice krispie square.

We had a lovely stack of presents for Trinity to open, including a few items for the others. We had lovely parcels sent all the way from Canada and Aunty Holly, Uncle James and Cousin Jimmie, the items I made for Calli from our family AND a selection from Gammie all the way from Texas! Add to that yesterday’s FaceTime call from Nana and Baba and a phone call from Grandma in Canada after dinner and I think we did a good job covering the gift wish list.

Our afternoon had some minor classroom work, after all Mommy is a teacher at heart now, but for the most part we played on the new DS2D and hung out together in the bedroom.

Supper was at Culver’s, though Ken was kicking himself… WEDNESDAYS right now (apparently) are 2.00 kids meals… oops. Well we still spent less than you would eating out as a couple at a sit down restaurant and EVERYONE was full!

Cake will have to wait as we ended the day full up. BUT here are some more pictures from when I was playing with the camera of the girls. Happy Birthday darling Trinity.

In her new purple dress with her koala bag.

From May right into busy June… our anniversary, my birthday, Father’s day, VBS and an extended cousins visit from Florida… oh and schooling and the first day of summer. If anything June is NEVER boring for this family.

We slipped some school in around the cousins, but for the most part this was a true summer break for the kids and school.

You never knew WHO was going to come to class… a princess, a batgirl… ever changing.

We pulled out the pool and dusted off the playset. With the cousins around there was lots to do around the house.

The boys were quick to settle down around the computers in the sub basement room.

Echo and I took advantage of the break from school and enjoyed the sun and quiet in the sunroom until the high point of the day when it was simply too warm to do so!

We managed to see our friends play soccer…

Go Evan!

Nathan watching his brother before HIS game

Go Nathan!

Found time for the beach…

Got to craft at a special Target event…

With the highlight of the cousin visit being a family trip to Mall of America for food AND rides in the amusement park! Thanks Nana and Baba!

Silly boys

Lego store too… of course!

Ken and I even snuck away to watch our god son (Anthony) play soccer.

With Aidan benched due to a bad concussion before school was out we made quite a few visits to their house for somewhat quiet, relaxed play.

Gavin and I went to one of Alex’s baseball games

and watched?

And somehow managed to sneak in a week of VBS with the church that runs the day care that Schwartz kids go to.

Party poppers

end of VBS dinner

We even had Aidan over for a sleepover.

The kids were enrolled in summer courses at the YMCA thanks to Nana and Baba. Zander took run club, Emanuel a cooking class, and Gavin and Trinity were in archery while miss Echo loved the daycare time.

Add to that the fun of preparing for an October wedding with my high school besty Shandai and I have to say… the most unusual month EVER! At least for this year.

SHAPE!

Tiny hats! Ready for the wedding

We fit in a second visit to the beach with the Schwartz boys and I even had a full sighting of the elusive “other cat” as Echo has termed her, while crafting with Renee.

And as the photos prove – I was never far from a crafting project. Sunshine and fresh air go best with crochet. I swear it!

There was a whole lot more to see… so be sure to follow on to the overflow post for the rest! Thank you for reminiscing with me, it was quite a month!