Tag Archive | watermelon

A Very August August

Whatever that means… Echo turned 7 in August. And summer continued to happen.

The twins did the Splash and Dash at the YMCA. This was the last year they could register and the first I had heard of it. It was just a fun thing and they did enjoy it. I think this year Ken will do a fun run with them. The other three with the rest of the clubY kids who were there were around to cheer them on.IMG_20170819_110223_762

IMG_20170819_110341_865We spent a lot of time at the YMCA in August. Lots of walking in the sunshine to do what we could do there. Zander chose to do schoolwork over club as he really does get bored. They are so quickly aging out of the program really.IMG_20170826_104211_498

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It was quite the trick to get this daycare art with its paint home!

It was quite the trick to get this daycare art with its paint home!

Don’t forget karate!IMG_20170803_200105_644

We did try to see the total (well mostly here) solar eclipse. We went so far as to make viewing boxes… but weather conspired against us. So we went from an eclipse viewing to playing in the warm rain! Not a bad trade off!IMG_20170820_151832_817

With our viewing boxes early in the morning when we could see some clear sky.

With our viewing boxes early in the morning when we could see some clear sky.

So much for that!

So much for that!

How we had to watch it

How we had to watch it

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Our revised rain party

Our revised rain party

Of course we worked on getting used to our newest member of the family. She is so fun to photograph (if you follow me on Facebook or Instagram you would be well aware of this already!).IMG_20170831_223650_062

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20170811_215055Emanuel took a week off the family and went to a camp with his friend Aidan. It was so odd to only have 4 kids!FB_IMG_1502383358796

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FB_IMG_1502383435268We made as many beach trips as we could on our sunny free days. Sometimes including friends like the Schwartz boys and their mom Renee.20170831_164222

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20170831_162838We went to a neighborhood community event hosted by friends we made at the YMCA who were also instrumental in getting me off my butt and into the R.I.P.P.E.D. classes!

Bike parade

Bike parade

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IMG_5417Had school in our classroom AND in the sunroom.20170830_120440

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20170830_083640We did our part and sent some of our useful items to the YMCA collection for the YMCA in Houston after the hurricanes. It was so amazing to be part of a very successful drive where the two YMCAs worked together to fulfill a requested need.20170829_115520

Miss Echo lost her first teeth!IMG_20170814_211141_146

And I sewed up a storm.IMG_20170830_214228_949

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A purse!

A purse!

We visited the Pixar exhibit at the science museum with out homeschool buds.

Echo and Nate

Echo and Nate

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IMG_20170812_145904_049Ken and I visited the local soda shop.IMG-20170825-WA0006

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And visited with Cousin Robbie. As well as baby Karissia when we were over at the Novaks. You will remember pictures of her baby shower HERE (her mom is Sophia).IMG-20170812-WA0002

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Snoopy!

Snoopy!

We had lovely fancy ice cream out at a place near the Novak’s as well.20170826_141647

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20170826_141636Snuck in some Canadian pride time at Canada Days in Little Canada. Though it was less exciting than we expected.IMG_20170806_122755_026

It was a great month in retrospect. I love that these moments flash back into my mind as I look at the pictures. I hope you enjoy them too! 20170831_162848

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Squirrel

Squirrel

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Smile, Laugh, Learn and Live!

October 17-18

We ended our school day one day early on the  Thursday as Gabbi and Zachary had a day off and were planning to spend it here on the Friday. Having a solid pattern to our mornings of spelling, reading, writing and math has made it easier and easier to get through our schooling. Especially the first half of the day.

Gavin's moose and  tree

Gavin’s moose and tree

We had some packages show up this week from Gammie and a few were OPEN NOW! So of course… we HAD TO follow the instructions!101_4809

Our remaining scruffy duo went out with Baba for haircuts.101_4812

With all the kids here and the weather cooling on Friday it was time to start dismantling the straw bale garden. Potatoes had to be removed and the bales moved into the hole (from last year’s tree removal) for compost.101_4822

101_4816The colours of fall in Minnesota are gorgeous… I doubt anyone would debate that one with me. And we have some amazing trees in the backyard that are supposedly always late to change. I cannot wait to share some pictures of that!101_4830

The yield from the final harvest of the straw bale garden was rather amazing. TONS of potatoes and a pile of green tomatoes that Nana then used (with strawberry jello) to make a rather amazingly yummy red jelly! Who would have thought it??? There was some red tomatoes to boot!101_4815

101_4838101_4836101_4840We also cut our last melons in half… the larger of the two watermelons turned out VERY tasty just way too tiny.101_4842

101_4845We ended our evening with the kids making homemade ice cream! What a difference salt on ice makes to temperature and then rattling that around on our ice cream mixture! NOMS!101_4848

101_4850101_4851These are the moments that remind me how much FUN family can be… how it doesn’t matter what is going on if inside the house we can remember to learn and love and live in a positive manner! Enjoy the rest of our fall images!

Earthworm!

Earthworm!

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Sunny Saturday

Now then, Saturday solo… a whole new can of worms really. I forgot to mention in the last entry but I did have the boys sitting down to do school work. We started with info about the area and mom and Mike. Address of the house, etc. There was some complaints but each of the twins has started his duotang for the time period we spend here. 

Gavin working on his mosaic piece

Gypsy relaxing on mom's bed... we closed their door after just to be sure she did not get shut in. She actually got much perkier once we got through the first day without them

Today’s schoolwork was tied in with one of our multiple walks. Of course not the first one… the first walk of the day was early. Though we had to wait for Trinity to wake up and all that before we could go. It was our first attempt with the stroller and the dog together. After some initial puppy confusion it was not too bad really. We did the same path that I did with Trinity and Emanuel the day before and found that by the time we got back to the house EVERYONE was cold and hungry. So time for breakfast! 

Out on the AM walk (Zander is on left)

After breakfast there was plenty of time for Saturday morning cartoons, playing, petting the dog and of course laundry. The kids all were able to scatter… or not… there were still some arguments and all but everyone is so much more relaxed. 

TV in the twins' room

Echo in one of her favourite cupboards at Grandma's

After 3 of the 5 kids napped we packed everyone minus dog back up and walked to the nearest gas station for… SLURPEES! We had to walk past a couple parks, checking out what is local AND cross the train tracks… hand holding buddies for safety of course. Each of the twins  takes one of the little ones. 

Slurpee walk, later to be immortalized in their duotangs

OH and our watermelon, eaten in pieces throughout the day

It is official though – Echo LOVES Pepsi slurpees… she is so much like her Mommy!!!

For the record, I blame my mom who hooked ME on the stuff before I was even one!!

That walk wiped us all out for the afternoon and put to serious question whether or not we would make our second walk with Gypsy BUT… we persevered and took ANOTHER route… this one around the nearest little park and into the trailer park area… a closed area that was quite interesting with its varied buildings and fronts. TWO gardens even had little beds of flowers… silk flowers! The kids were amazed. 

On the evening walk

Stopping to smell some of the REAL flowers

We did temporarily misplace a shoe (an Echo shoe) and had to backtrack to find it (which we did)… and of course when we got home there were some baths to have AND we managed to set up (via the iPad) a Skype with Daddy… though he did not have a camera. Add to that some crafting and it was a busy, full and FUN day. Though man was it tiring! So much walking and playing and settling of minor disputes. I am so glad I am NOT a single parent!

A little post walk play in the backyard

Owls on parade! all are going to the craft sale on the 9th!

So that was Saturday… and I am sure I will recount Sunday in great detail… tomorrow. Catching up is slow going when your days are full of kids, walks, dog and reorganization (so much room to go through each and everything and tidy it into better packing system… so pleased… can you feel my contentment with the SYSTEM in place????).

Girls with attitude

I love all this green