yard

Caught up !!

| Stacy

Okay – this blog has languished this summer.  I’ve had all kinds of computer/photo and phone-talking-to-computer issues.  Plus – I hate sitting around the computer when I could be doing something else.  But I finally got the photos straightened out.  And Apple gave me my third iPhone since February.  (They seem to give them away like candy.  But I don’t care to rehash all of THAT insanity.)  So – hopefully – I will not fall behind again.  Although school starts soon (8/25) so the barrel-of-laughs is bound to stop rolling.  😉

 

Some fun flashback pictures from April 2007.

Tabitha’s first birthday.

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First party at the “new” house.

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Boys for T-Ball.

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Pretending to be mad.

I mean business

“camp”fire–butler style…

| Stacy
Inspired by Marie’s week at camp we decided to welcome her home by making s’mores.  Marie also taught us camp songs.  And then we told stories about when the kids were babies.  They love to hear those.  We waited until after Katriel went to bed.  The fire makes me nervous.
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Jungle = tamed

| Stacy

 

I never remember to take before pictures.  Or I take a before picture and never take an after picture…
Here are during and after pictures. 

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Just imagine that it looked like this before hand.  (Actually – our yard was worse.)

fake jungle

“No more pencils, no more books.”

| Stacy

See how happy we all are that it is summer?

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Actually – we are still doing a little bit of school, and they have been more than agreeable to do yard work and building projects.  Nigel has even drawn up building plans to turn the swing set into something of a water park.  … to be continued, I am sure…

A cruise can start with…

| Stacy

rhubarb?

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Since we got off the cruise a few weeks ago the kids tossed around ideas to generate income for another cruise.
Bake sale?  That’s a lot of brownies.
Garage sale?  Great idea – but we have no good stuff.
Mom work more?  Sure – but then we’d have to hire a maid and a cook.
Produce stand?  Hmmm – this one has merit.

 

For the last five (?) years John has had a garden.  For the most part it has done very well.  We’ve had plenty to eat, some to share, and a bit to freeze.  With a little effort, we can expand this garden; and with the kids’ help, they can sell the additional produce.

garden planting nigel

 

John and the boys built a stand to ride in the tractor cart, and built a standing sign out of a plastic saw horse.

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They built a box, too. 

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And they made $5 on their first day, and two more the second day. 
We may not earn enough for a cruise in this decade, but I think it’s a great experience just the same. 

Oh, snow

| Stacy

While the bigger girls have been enjoying the snow a great deal, Johanna is far less enthusiastic. 
It took about 7 minutes to get her ready to go out.  She was back inside about 10 minutes later.

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The return on investment is hardly worth the effort. 
And I know I could technically insist on her staying outside.  But I wouldn’t do that.  See… I always hated being told to go outside.  I pretty much never liked being outside.  I still only like it if there is eating or socializing involved.  And even then I’m not wild about the whole thing.  Unless I am on a beach, or at an amusement park.  And I’d never do either of those in the snow. 

😉