July is, of course, a month that starts out with a bang with Canada Day and July 4th. It is also my mother’s birthday and full on summer activity. We went to the Zoo, entered in the County Fair, and I even made a Dragon. July is always a busy month.

This July we had family come to visit. Nana and Baba drove up with the cousins. So there was lots to do with them. 

Beach trips.

Baking and ice cream making.

Visits to the park.

It had been a while since all the kids were together. 

We were invited to a birthday party at a park!

Of course there was LOTS of time to get to know Neko-chan better. Seriously I am in love. And so you will be inundated with pictures of fluffy amazingness. I just wish you could feel her through the pictures. SO SOFT!!!

We visited with Cousin Robbie. Still a family favourite. Echo even got to sit on his bike! He wears all the safety equipment in this helmet optional state.

Of course we watched some soccer games.

Aidan

And walked to the YMCA … A LOT. Ken had a business trip in July and the YMCA being so close was a life saver.

Emanuel and Echo even won a colouring contest

Trinity and Emanuel have continued in their Karate adventure. 

We even saw some produce from our garden.

Found a Canadian penny on a walk!!

Bought ice cream from a passing ice cream truck.. a first for all of us!

I found time for Tim Hortons… of course!

Ken and I joined forces to create a lovely chalkboard in the front entry. He does an amazing job with ideas I come up with!

We even managed to squeak in school!

And did I mention I am obsessed with my chinchilla? Cuz…

It was a great July!

But, I may just catch up before Christmas??? Who knows! So sit back and enjoy the peek back!

Anyway, May. Well… Mother’s Day which means Mother’s Day photos. Of course since the weather was decent we drove down to the end of our road and took photos on the path. You can check out the photos HERE since this post is HUGE already!

Ken bought me the most adorable Totoro socks. We went to church. It was a lovely day.

May also found us at Mall of America at what I felt was one of the happiest places on earth… TIM HORTONS! There are multiple locations in state now, and I have visited more than a few!!

All out of Legos!

May was also Sean’s yearly visit. He drove down this year. We had a lot of fun with him.

Emanuel and Trinity got their white belts in karate. More on that HERE.

Of course we continued swimming lessons and visited ClubY. With myself keeping suitably busy as well.

New stationary machines!

Zander and Gavin had track.

I even got my hands on some back in production Clearly Canadian!!!

For lack of a bonfire we got creative making s’mores.

Ken and I tried our hand at some minor landscaping.

We even tried some backyard gardening.

My best gardener with her Gypsy dog toy pal

dead heading in pj’s

Berry bushes!

And we bought a can crusher which was fun for the kids for about… a week.

We had company… and went visiting.

Cousin Robbie

Schwartz family

Snoopy!

Crochet…

With Gavin

School…

Reading in the best vantage points

Eating out…

Walks to the park…

It was a busy month looking back! I forget how busy when the days pass by.

A sweet apology

sparklers!

Emanuel perfected his bicycle riding.

Quiet moment!

Toad!

July 1st is our yearly opportunity to be very visible and very Canadian. This year was a little different… Emanuel was still away at the Scout Camp with his friend Aidan until the evening. So we did our usual photo shoot with a twist.

There was a meet up with our homeschool friends for some swimming or club (kid’s choice) with Nate and Bella as well. 

We TRIED to head to the zoo but apparently it was the day to go. So instead we turned around and headed to our favourite beach. Since the weather was a little on the cool side and cloudy it wasn’t packed. We didn’t spend much time in the water but really enjoyed the sand.

With Maple the Leaf

After the beach it was home for showers and then off to collect our absent Canadian. On the way there we stopped at our 3rd Tim Hortons so far. This one is rather close to the Novak’s house. I actually meet what I assume is an owner of one of the franchise. After a lovely conversation about the new stores and my coming from Canada to Minnesota he comped us 40 Tim Bits!!! So I left that store with 80 Tim Bits, an Ice Cap and a wonderful experience.

Snoopy!

After a visit with the family and delivery of their Canadian goodies it was off to McDonald’s (Echo’s request after the aborted trip to the zoo).

We rounded off our Canada Day with a table of Canadian sweets. Ken made traditional and mint Nanaimo Bars (we had to order the custard powder off Amazon), Maple Cookies sent by a friend, and Tim Bits. Not bad! Next year buttertarts?

We redid our group photos on the 2nd to get a full group shot.

Not bad for a Canada Day that wasn’t able to be celebrated IN Canada.