a walsh visit

Easter

Our summer has kind of been a bust. In June we bought a batch of perennials on clearance which escalated  into a snowball of summer yard work. Complete with pulling everything out of our foundation planting and moving all the landscape rock and then replanting. We've taken down 6 trees and planted probably a hundred tentyish perennials, shrubs, trees and berry plants.  We had to rework the back yard fence we just paid to have installed and set up the kids backyard play ground.(Luckily we had some help with parts of that - thanks to my Dad and bro!)
And then their was the day I decided to take the tile off the front porch and knock out the weird extra bricks... we haven't even touched that yet since the demo.And let's not forget the tile and moldy osb boards on the back porch Nate had to rip out while the kids and I were in IL. We're saving the rest of the back porch for another season.
All of this was of course on top of the vegetable garden Nate built me in the spring...
Soooo we've been a little busy. The kids are tired of it. We are too if we're honest. A good lesson in planning projects and restraining yourself at the nursery clearance section.

All of that is to say that we haven't actually done anything this summer so I don't have any pictures to show!
Evie did do 2 weeks of horse camp which of course she loved. And both she and Rosie have spent time alone time at camp Mimi/Papa. Which means I've had these two alone for quite a bit lately. Goodness, they're a pair. Way more devious than their older sisters. I'll definitely appreciate my live in helpers a lot more now! 
Luckily we're finishing up most everything that couldn't. Unluckily it's time to start back to school!  We want to start now so we can take more time off in the fall and around Christmas. Hopefully we'll be able to get back to having some fun weekends!

It is definitely summer!

attack!

When I tossed the hose down the other day the nozzle got turned back on as it hit the ground. It was right at Fletcher's feet and he was so delighted to pick up that hose and chase his big sisters all over. It's not often that he can make them all run shrieking

INCH BY INCH

My little garden (un)helpers. We have a ground cover for the voles but the fence? It's not for rabbits...

Florida Camping Trip

I'll admit the thought of sandy sheets was a bit unnerving. But, oh, this was such a gorgeous state park that it made up for any of the icky camping bits. If you think Florida is beautiful and you've only ever stayed in a condo then you should definitely take an afternoon visit to one of the many wonderful natural areas they have. We did venture out one day to the Gulfarium and had one horrendously over priced seafood lunch so there was some touristy stuff. Mostly we rode our bikes, hiked on sandy trails (awfully hard for the little among us) and spent our afternoons playing in the white sand.  We will definitely be heading back.
slideshow here  and below too ... in case one or the other works better

Juju turns 4

Slideshow here
What a great day she had. After she went to bed the night before, the big girls and Daddy and I decorated the house so she would wake up to a surprise. I did something I haven't done before but would highly recommend, we painted the windows with tempra paint and soap... free and she loved having rainbow windows. In the morning, Daddy went and got birthday donuts and we opened presents. We took the day off of school and let them play all day. And that night since I had the seasons worst cold and didn't feel up to much, we went to Chuck E Cheese. After that it was cake and some skype time. Thank you everyone for all the well wishes and presents.

to quote a fellow bibliophile .. "reading ftw!"

monkey feet

 

His feet are always like this when he eats, I think it is so ridiculously cute. 

littles in the flour

slideshow here

People always ask ... why the flour, why the shaving cream, why the mess? My answer is why not? It's soooo cheap and for now they think it's a treat to get hosed off afterwards. Anything that keeps them occupied for 45 minutes is worth the mess ... as long as it's non staining I'm okay with it.

I know there has to be a better way to do this. I can't keep up with this anymore and I don't even have the time to research what other options I have ... any ideas anyone? For now I am linking to (or trying to) a flickr slideshow of just a bulk upload of unedited pics. You have no idea how many times it crosses my mind that my lovely family often starts their day by checking here and ..... nothing for the past couple of months. Sorry all, I've been just a little busy. If Fletch didn't try and turn the computer off every time I sat down or alternately find every sharp device in the sewing room/office things might be a bit better. But alas, doesn't seem like that is going to happen anytime soon!
So try clicking this text and see if it takes you to the pictures of our winter bike ride adventure at a wildlife preserve not too far away.

I wis I got as excited about the dishes

number 10 for our E

new do's

Rosie got bangs cut again and Evie donated 12 inches to Locks of Love.

sleeping beauty in her slippers and swimsuit

spidey got a 2nd job

Who knew spiderman liked landscaping so much?