Recycling

Someone decided the GIANT bow from my birthday bouquet would make a great hair accessory today. She wore it all day...

Summer wish list

Different kids

I just put Fergus in time out for biting me. We made up, and he came back to play. Then he bit me again....and promptly out himself back in time out....pouty lip and all!

Missing children

The great irony is that in trying to be helpful, so I could lift the wagon up the banking, isla had wedged Fergus in the back of this tree, while she Ailsa and their friend climbed up to pose for a picture. I estimate I pulled the wagon 1/4 of a mile today and it had 4 kids, Charlie and all their buckets and spades in it.....somewhere in the neighbourhood of 200 pounds...it was an interesting workout but we had a great time throwing rocks in the burn, making catapults, fishing with nets, climbing over rocks to cross the water, digging and playing with the dogs. We love dry weather!

The magic of the burn!

The motley crew

Spent the afternoon in the burn. Kids had a blast

Peas!

It took awhile, but our peas we planted this spring actually grew! The girls were very excited and insisted we brought the pot indoors.

Our weekly outing

Another trip to the play park...it's great as we go afterschool and had the place to ourselves. My littler German boy (see the outfit) LOVED the digger (a new word he's trying out, along with his sign language for 'mr. Tumble')....we fed the fish, picked blackberries and played outside. Gotta make the most of decent, dry weather while we can!!

Tiny ponies

Today we took off early to see Anne who was watching Isla's friend Fiona. Daddy had to go measure out the site for the new house and the kids wanted to play. We went to their favourite playground ('paul's) and had a blast playing on go arts, zip lines, sand toys, assault course, then pony rides, fishing with nets, panning for gold, picking berries and brambles...then a very late Pizza Hut lunch and home exhausted (and purple). Definitely feeling like autumn, but a nice dry day.

Model horsemanship

She loved her rosette from her ride....and she lost two teeth today!

Trekking

Pony rides annd time at Paul's Park

The girls loved their pony rides.

Fish

We got to feed fish in this tank..which the kids loved as the fish were obviously very hungry given their frenzied activity

Guilty!

The stain on his forehead, cheeks and hands gave away his raiding of the bushes.

Blackberries and brambles

The kids got really good at picking berries but not getting hurt on the prickers. Fergus was forever last because he was eating his way down the trail.

GOLD!!

Panning for gold

We ended our day walking all the way down to the burn to 'pan for gold'...and of course then eating their body weight in blackberries on the way back to the car

Toys

Grannie need not buy any toys for when the grandkids come over, all she needs is a chair (to reach) and the water faucet....magic and hours of fun to all my kids...throw in some 'retro' slippy bar soap and the kids cry everytime you tell them it is time to go home.

Go-cart envy

Books

So, I finally ordered and received a copy of "Little House on the Prairie," and tonight I started reading it to Isla. She LOVES it. She (and I) were about to cry as the family crossed the creek and Jack (the dog) disappeared. We had to stop as she kept asking me to re-explain what happened to him. Then her eyes got really big as we got to Chapter 3 and the family were camped and listening to the wolves howling, but when Jack reappeared (and Pa almost shot him), her eyes were HUGE and she got the biggest grin when she realised Jack was fine and had swum his way out of the creek.

I told her 3 chapters tonight were enough, and I went downstairs to iron and get stuff ready for Monday. She came down after an hour saying "that book was just SO good I can't sleep. I've looked through all the pictures in the whole book and I REALLY want to read some more of it."  I had to threaten her that there will be no more chapters if she doesn't go to bed, but we both know I couldn't stop reading it to her.

Funny I still remember mom reading us all of the series, on the old orange fruit basket couch as we sat above her head (playing with her hair and the mole on her neck), on her lap, on each side of her, all trying to see the pictures and listen to the story. The little yellow cardboard box set sat on the mantle for a long time and I think we must have read every book atleast 3 times. It's just a great series of stories, and its one of the reasons I like books (we never knew there was a tv series until we were older). I'm so happy Isla loves the stories and our trip to America this summer (complete with our drive up through Wellsville and down to Fort Bridger) makes it all the more real to her as we talk about covered wagons and crossing the plains. I'm so glad I bought the book and think I need to find the whole series now!

Waiting for the Choo-choo

Our Saturday Morning Fun

When we went to drop off Isla's stuff at the Flower show, our neighbour told us that in 40 minutes a steam train would be coming from Perth. We grabbed the kids and the dogs and headed off to scale the "humpy bumpy". We got there in time and were rewarded with this view. 

Our Sunday harvest

Yum!!

The finest vintage...

Someone had a great time picking plums today at the farm. He now thinks all trees have edible bits though which means he gets very upset on walks through the forest when you won't stop to let him eat things like pine cones.

More lessons in pastry

Preparation for the show

Isla wanted to enter the local flower show so went to the farm on Friday afternoon for some plum picking, apple picking and a lesson in making jam tarts. She won 2nd place for her apples and 3rd for her plums (in the adult division) and 3rd for her fabric flower and 3rd for her jam tarts..she was thrilled! And is already planning for next year.

The tongue helps her concentrate...

Family fun

Nothing brings out one's inner red neck like a shopping cart in your back garden...all of the sudden trying to catch the chicken to put in it, or compromising by using your little brother and run him down the small ramp became the greatest fun ever. We're classy...what can I say??

Such form!

Me & my best lunch date

Enjoying lunch together. So odd to only have one child! He doesn't eat much as there are too many trucks and tractors to notice on the road...

Another happy hour on the tractor

More creative fun

Fish in Ziploc bags with paint and oil....made to look like a frame. Kids loved it. Fergus was proud of his work!

Babysitting sorted

Our little monkey

Saturday morning juggling

Movie night

Auntie Erin introduced the girls to "The Gnomemobile"...it's now their favourite movie!

Saturday afternoon walks

The walk took a little longer than usual, but bless Grannie for her willingness to play!

Babysitting Ideas

Seems everyone loves the weigh crate!

Mermaids

We stopped at Costco on the way home from taking Erin to the airport last week and look what we found! They're a big hit.

What form!

Daddy watched the girls on Saturday at the farm, while mom ran errands. I'm impressed by the form...