Summer Shenanigans

This week starts soccer camp and we get to meet the coaches tonight, but let me back track a bit to all of the fun we have had enjoying summer over the last week.  The kids turned our playset into a water park with their friends.  We spent an afternoon at Webb Lake where Ben held his breath for longer than I thought possible just so he could dig up this rock from the bottom that was, as he put it, "completely buried"... he isn't allowed to bring his goggles to the beach anymore... He was totally fine, I wasn't impressed;)  Our new chicks are free ranging nicely and have made themselves at home pooping on everything in our garage we are storing until the shed is done... We even got a chance to golf, swim, put a bit more siding on the shed and fatten up the meat birds.

Fourth of July 2017

We celebrated the 4th of July over two days this year!  On the 3rd Farmington had their fireworks at UMF's athletic fields.  It never disappoints:)

On the actual 4th, Gabe, Ben, James, Audrey and I watched the parade in Farmington and Noah got to march in it with the Sandy River Summer Theater Program group.  Noah is taking part in a 3 week summer theater camp with a final play of Monty Python's Spamalot later this month.  They had a blast walking through the streets of Farmington singing their show tunes.  On a side note, Gabe personally met the juggling group he has been eyeing every year at this parade and the Chester Greenwood Day parade... maybe he will get up the courage to join them next year;)  

We enjoyed the rest of the day BBQing with friends.  We even brought Noel in the pool for his first pool experience and I got a great photo for the baby book... The water wasn't exactly like bath water;) 

Wedding Day:)

The summer is already off the a busy start, but we were happy to take a day to celebrate these two!  My mom and Harold were married today in a small backyard ceremony with friends and family present.  We took a "fly by the seat of our pants" approach and everything worked out so well:)  Although bittersweet for us as one more step in the grieving process, this was a happy one.  We got to witness two people who have each experienced their own grief at losing their partners come together to love and support one another. A happy day for sure.  Congratulations Mom and Harold!

Biking

For the past several years Noah has been the only one riding on two wheels and we have had a great time riding the rail trail from our house.  This year James was finally interested and he too could ride on the rail trails with us.  I know that the other two have the ability, but lack the desire to learn to ride without training wheels, so I am trying to coax at least one of them into it so that we can all ride together without someone having to stay home with the other adult.  I bought a trailer bike from Craigslist and it has been awesome to get almost everyone out there.  Both Ben and Audrey love riding on it, but neither still "dare" to try riding independently, so for now we will bike in shifts until one of them comes around;)  The kids and I have been doing lots of biking this spring!  I have almost no pictures mostly because it is difficult to ride and snap pictures and also because we are just enjoying another way to be healthy and active, nothing "special".  

Starting the Shed

Gabe's parents have now made two trips down in as many weeks to help us get the shed underway this summer.  We will be forever grateful, not just for the decreased labor costs, but also for the knowledge we are all gaining through this process!  There have been some more harrowing moments,  like trying to get those rafters up there, but so far it has been a wonderful experience.  Thanks guys for taking on this project with us!

Chop Chop

Noah's violin teacher suggested we try the kids cooking magazine "Chop Chop".  All I can say is that it is amazing!  The kids LOVE to read through it.  There are so many recipes that are super healthy and made with real, whole foods.  It is getting the kids so excited about cooking and trying dishes they would have baulked at before.  Some of the recipes are super simple and some are more involved.  But, they all have step by step instructions for kids to do everything themselves as well as time management for pulling a meal together.  All the while they have explanations and science behind why things are done a certain way and what different terms mean.  Not to mention various fun games and taste tests to be done with the food. I was able to take so many pictures because I didn't have to help!  I won't belabor it, but it is a must have magazine for kids out there:)