First Day of School 2015

We have made the decision to homeschool the kids this year.  For many reasons, mainly because, for this season in our family, it works:) Today was our first day so we all got outside for pictures, some more willing than others... The kids made these tie-dye shirts as one of our last "summer bucket list" items.  Once we gathered everyone for the group shot it didn't take long for the chickens to start photobombing...

Noah is entering 3rd grade this year and wants to be an Air Force (or Naval) pilot.  James is entering 1st grade this year and wants to be a half time inventor and a half time lobsterman... it will be interesting to see how that all turns out;) 

Last Bits of Summer Vacation

School starts next week, so we packed lots of fun into this last week!  Our tomatoes are ripening fast and furious, we are 45 pounds in and going strong:)  Lots of salsa and sauce into the canner. Where we once tried to keep boundaries with the chickens, we have now given in and they have free range of everywhere... including keeping Audrey company while playing in the sand box. In a poor parenting moment, James is demonstrating the only backup clothes I had in the car the other day when he fell into a mud puddle... I guess it is time to restock the car!

On Wednesday, the kids all had dentist appointments in Portland so we spent the day exploring Willard Beach and Fort Williams Park.  It wasn't quite nice enough for a beach day, but it was a great day for a lesson in ocean front fog;)  Friday Hilary and I took all the kids to Boothbay to check out the aquarium and have some ice cream on a beautiful day. 

The bottom picture Gabe took before leaving for work the other day.  We have some pretty amazing sunrises up here!  We try hard not to forget what a gorgeous view we have... or that Gabe gets up really early and works long days to provide for us all:)

Belgrade Lakes Take Two

We finally visited at the clubhouse over a weekend, so we were actually able to hang out with friends this time:)  The weather, although not ideal, cooperated better than it usually does and allowed us to take a beautiful, kid appropriate, hike.  It also allowed us to have a BBQ with great friends where we could let the kids run free (and wild) outside.  Thank you so much friends for hosting us (again) and having a really fun BBQ!

Chickens and Blueberries

We spent this last week with the two older boys at bug camp in the mornings then at soccer camp in the evenings.  It was a busy week, but lots of fun!  We managed to check nature scavenger hunt and jello jigglers off our summer bucket list.  Our chickens continue to be very entertaining... We got their run put together, but wanted to paint it before we put the roof on. "There is no way they will fly that high to get out" is what we thought... They immediately flew up to the roof and thought we had purchased them a new play area with the ladder and extra fencing leaning up against the other fence... I guess we should work on the roof... Our blueberries are in full bloom and the kids eat them faster than we can pick them, so I am thinking that another 100 or so bushes should do it if we want to actually freeze some for the winter;)

In other happenings, Noah has learned to confidently ride his bike and it is all he wants to do.  If we can't find him he is either riding laps around our house or sitting inside the bushes with the chickens.  James is on his way to becoming a master gardner and spends lots of time working on his fairy house or tending to the garden.  James has also perfected his front flip into the water... why don't they make helmets for swimming?!?!?  Ben has become very confident this summer in his swimming ability.  He swims underwater, jumps in the deep end without fear and can now swim with no assistance, though he still prefers to have a bubble so that he can spend more time in the deep end.  Audrey has grown-up a lot this summer and is becoming more and more independent with a matching personality.  She can undress and mostly dress herself, buckle her own car seat and is potty trained to pee in the bushes  outside. When we we can't find Audrey she is likely to have undressed herself to play in the sandbox... it is a consistent mystery as to why she has to be naked to play in there, but that is part of the beauty of being 2:)  

Summer Continues:)

This past week Gabe took my Dad and George to play golf at the gorgeous Belgrade Lakes Country Club with Seth Wescott.  It sounds like they had a great time chatting with Seth and enjoying some excellent golf.  The nice summer weather has allowed us to continue to have some fun BBQ/pool parties with our friends who we don't get to see as much over the summer.  Last Sunday after church we realized that the kids hadn't left our house for over 4 days. They had a really nice stretch of enjoying home (and swimming) in the warm weather.  So, we took a day trip up to Rangley to visit Smalls falls, swim in the lake and have some delicious ice cream sundaes!

Millinocket Summer Visit 2015

Last Weekend we spent a few days visiting Grammy and Grampy at Smith Pond.  We spent two relaxing days taking tractor rides, fishing, swimming, playing in the rocks, kayaking and paddle boating.  The boys also got to have their first experience tubing which they loved, as expected:)  We took a morning trip to Rip Dam to explore the dam and see the rafters coming down the river.  All three boys were enthralled by Great Grammy as she read them a book (not an easy task:)).  We all had a great time, thanks Grampy and Grammy!