Tag Archive | straw bale garden

A GUEST!!!

August 16-17

We entered the weekend with a hello and a good bye… first on Friday while we frolicked in the sunshine in the yard as much as we could…101_9259 101_9258 101_9261 101_9262 101_9264

And of course a little harvesting of the garden.101_9260

Ken went to the airport and after having lunch out brought home his friend JEFF all the way from Alberta, Canada. Ken worked for Jeff (and Darryl) way back when the twins were tiny and they have been friends ever since. He now works for Apple in their Canadian office though he does travel often down to California. We lucked out and he had holidays he had to use up and a break in projects AND trips even further south. What a total pick me up for Ken. I think he had been missing his friends back home more than he let on. And Jeff is great with kids!!

The guys were quick to settle down in our room where they could game in peace. Happy boys!101_9267

On Sunday we packed up the kids and Jeff and took him to see our favourite (though slightly chilly with the heat of summer fading) beach. Double bonus – Renee and Christopher were able to join us with their 3 boys. Our best beach buddies and a good friend from Canada on a day when the beach was NOT full of people… awesome!101_9270 101_9273 101_9274 101_9277 101_9278 101_9279 101_9269

I do not have high hopes for school progress the following week but Ken and Jeff have plans to power through cleaning in the sub basement and sort sort sort. Ken has dreams of a computer room down there and they finally look attainable! Sunday also marks the beginning of Nana and Baba’s first longer trip to Mexico in ages. Friends and family and fun… awesome!101_9271

This entry was posted on 23/09/2014, in Uncategorized. 2 Comments

Oh What a Week We Had

August 11-15

We really are seeing some lovely sunshine and warmth this month.101_9146

101_9147 101_9148 101_9149With Nana and Baba back from Florida and prepping for Mexico (3 weeks) it was the perfect time to satisfy a Nana craving – CORN ON THE COB!101_9151

Time for Shark Week (which I am going to admit did not STAY a week… stretched the whole month really). As usual we started with what we knew before starting. I was quite proud of the length of this list. I have, of course, made a blog post with all our information… list of the Discovery shows we watched… I will post that by the end of this recap of August PROMISE.101_9145 101_9152

We have really focused on yard work in our afternoons. Time to get the kids active and outside. And time to enjoy the sunshine before fall is good and upon us.101_9154 101_9155 101_9156 101_9157

Of course I covered Echo’s 4th birthday on this blog entry HERE. I think we had a good day!101_9169

The next day it was back to sharks… sharks… Wild Kratts… oh and more sharks. I did have to be rather careful what shows we watched on Discovery this year. There was a mocumentary and some that were over dramatized. There were even a few that were seemingly people putting themselves into the danger unnecessarily… wedded most of those out. Even the kids were unimpressed by people getting into the water with sharks when they don’t have to.101_9235 101_9144 101_9241

We had to draw a thank you picture for Gammie for the Mixels. The boys are getting quite accomplished at recreating these with pencils and colour.101_9246 101_9251 101_9244

Our cursive practice has become a constant part of our day now as well… not the easiest thing to learn but I figure necessary.101_9245

We had a mini fashion show with some dresses Gabbi left Trinity when they cleaned out to move. Adorable! Trinity absolutely fell in love with the hat and wore it constantly even with how warm it has been!101_9247

Of course Echo needed in on the photo action.101_9250

Nana and Baba gave Echo her birthday present on Friday as well – an adjustable basketball hoop.101_9252

And then out to dinner at Culvers! After all… Nana and Baba are off to Mexico within days!!!

101_9256Seriously though, we are back outside as much as we can!!! SUNSHINE!101_9158 101_9160 101_9237 101_9238101_9243

PICKLING PICKLES!

August 8-10

After so much fun and amazing company with the parade the night before I was rather proud of the kids for getting the book work and learning done that we did.101_9053 101_9054 101_9055 101_9056

Everyone was excited to head out to the garden to see if the sun had helped our vegetables along. It is amazing how many green cherry tomatoes we have just awaiting that little bit more sun and heat to be ready for eating.101_9058 101_9059 101_9061

This has been the year for toads in the yard as well. When one is found we MUST stop everything and photograph it. I think we shall have to spend some of our time this winter and do a unit on frogs and toads!101_9063

And of course we had to do some mugging for the camera… selfies being a “real” word and all now!101_9067

On the weekend we figured we should take advantage of the sales and pick up some school supplies for our new school year. I try to keep a surplus around but at the beginning of the year each kid gets their own pencil case and supplies in those. Something new to start a new year with. I am amazed how hard it is to find duotangs here (the folders with the 3 sets of prongs for the paper holes).101_9085 101_9087 101_9088 101_9142 101_9143

Miss Echo sets her own style lately… quite well I might add!101_9080

The boys wanted to share their current display of Mixels. Gammie has sent them TWO series! There is a third yet to come. They are SO thankful that she felt she should send them these. A collection AND Legos… a match made in heaven!101_9089

Saturday evening we had a last minute plan change. With a garden full of cucumbers and lacking the knowledge about canning we called up Renee and Christopher. Their church was having a fair and is just down the road so after their mass they came over to our house for dinner and canning!101_9093 101_9094 101_9091 101_9095

So the kids ran wild in the basement while Ken and I were educated in how to make pickles!! Thank you so much Chris and Renee… we cannot wait to taste the pickles! And now we can move this knowledge to face the coming tomatoes and maybe even touch on our peppers.101_9096 101_9097

After we saw everyone off Ken ran out to take pictures of the (almost) full moon. This happened to be a lucky choice as at the high point (Sunday) we ended up with rain and clouds. I love it when we get a chance to play with the camera beyond the simple kids and pets.101_9105 101_9119

On Sunday we got our butts out the door to finish the bulk of our school shopping… (pictures above) and Ken yielded to temptation and got these… mixed results!101_9086

Oh and buy a dress for Miss Echo for her birthday – that was her gift from Mommy and Daddy this year. We lucked out at H&M and got a teachers discount!101_9123

What to do what to do to round off the weekend? Why… head to the beach once more!!!!101_9126 101_9130 101_9132 101_9136 101_9140 101_9141