The In Between!

 Because our outside looks like this...almost straight mud... in the back yard...

on the side 

and in the front!

But we can still use our tramp!!

This would be our room, our bed, their mattresses, their clothes, their toys, OUR combined MESS!

So we're sleeping here!

 So when my neighbor phoned me up yesterday morning and offered her clothesline for my wash??!?!?!  It was fantastic! That fresh air just perked us (maybe just me :) ) right up!  Thanks, Sue.

Another Beautiful Day

This morning I called my sister and announced I was going on a field trip and I did not need a babysitter! 

 

There may or may not have been a bunch of moms/dads/teachers who felt sorry for Cara and Cody as they were subjected to "stand together, SMILE!" for about 80 pictures.  But I really wanted to get a nice one of them together also in celebration of being 5.  I think this was picture 88 and the first one that Cara smiled.

See?

For you Auntie Care.

An absolutely gorgeous day at the salmon spawning grounds!

Leftover Paint

A little while ago there was a post on facebook that went something like this...

 

"You might be dutch when".... and there were so many great comments.  Then the other day I just laughed at myself.  If the shoe fits, wear it!

 

The twins were doing some finger painting (with brushes) and called it quits long before their ice cube tray palette was empty.  I just couldn't wash all that paint down the drain so I mindlessly started using it up.

As I proudly enjoyed my relaxing moments production I smiled... I know I might have some dutch blood when I have to stop everything I'm doing to use up the rest of some mixed up, already been enjoyed finger paints!

and the "babies" are.....

• FIVE!!
• super excited to be on the brink of opening some gifts
• giving me cheesy grins with their cakes

I tried a birthday party for the two of them together.  They were both allowed to pick 3 friends.  One little girl couldn't come. That made seven 5 year olds under my care for 2.5 hours.
I learnt something about myself.
A kindergarten teacher I am not.  Next time I won't be trying to mix boys and girls again!

Sure am thankful for these two, though, everyday brings another bit of fun!

Today

There are many things I would like to share but here's the picture of the day.

The spot to the far left still has the underlay on top of it but unfortunately the water kept on going...

There was a lot of water to make it that wet.  Now detectives, where, when and how did that water come??!?!

ps.  the girls would like you to know that was REALLY stinky.
pps.  with much thankfulness I would like to say that Leah's room, aside from the closet was totally okay.
ppps.  this was all done thanks to Steve and my Dad who showed up and stayed for the day. Not only did he help rip out flooring but he perfected the plumbing so the washing machine now drains directly into the pump hole instead of first into my laundry tub.  Therefore, my laundry tub is now functioning as a tub instead of a drain!  Now to first get it clean :)
pppps. to make a few of you smile... my Dad commented at lunch that the prediction is for a nice warm week next week.... my reply?  Perfect!  Monday the addition, Tuesday the lawn....Steve was not amused :) :)

Sam's 8!

Has been for a while already...I'm a little behind here.

Sam wanted his cake to be a surprise.  He covered his eyes and waited until I said it was ready.

His favorite bird is still the bald eagle and he's really hoping to use his birthday money (from this year and past years!) to buy a pair of binoculars.  He's looking to get serious with his birding!

He has such a great smile...even with those front teeth :)

His Aunty Shelly and I set up a bit of a ribbon course in the basement hallway.  Object: get from one end to the other without touching any ribbon!  It was too hard to get a picture of but it sure was a lot of fun.
Especially destroying it at the end.  Boys will be boys!

He also wanted to play a game he had found in a book.  So we copied a few of these little men, taped them to pop cans and set them up on the shortest ladder we could find in the church :) They each took a football and took turns trying to knock all the men down.

These two are lego buddies.  They are clueless about what it's like to grow up without a friend in the house all the time.

Just a glimpse of another special day flown by!  We sure do love you, Sam!

Got up this morning SO VERY THANKFUL for yesterday's beautiful 1/2 school day!!  We headed out to the Heron Reserve with the super cool list you can find off this page.  We crossed off nearly everything on the list (except pine cones and smelling pine trees :) )  We saw one snake, bunch of frogs and the returning salmon... first day in the creek.  We also avoided the bear that was spotted 1/2 hour before!

 

With the rains this morning the sunshine already feels like a distant memory but, boy, I'm so thankful for having been able to enjoy it!