Berries, BBQ, Basketball, Bugs, Baseball

 

 

We had a wonderful visit from Grandma Kathryn, Aunt Kelly, and Uncle Luke. Diana absolutely adores her Grandma and was tagging along everywhere she could!

 

Strawberry picking on Memorial Day!

 

Diana was a squishy picker, most of her berries were very loved.

 

Nicole and the boys thought that everything they picked was theirs, so they went around the house with their bucket eating their strawberries when they felt like it. It was pretty cute.

 

After berry picking we had the cousins over for a barbecue and basketball!

 

There were some good spills along the way but they survived :)

 

Nicole felt on top of the world after making a basket!

 

Then we got real serious with jerseys! Red team starting their play before blue team is out of the huddle.

 

Everyone going for the ball! What a great time with our cousins and it was so fun to have Daniel there too.

 

We had a bbq and soccer with friends that evening and then came home to do some fireworks before bedtime since school was the next day.

 

Sunset isn't until 9 so we did our fireworks in the shade and that was fun enough for the kids. They loved it.

 

Morning harvest from our garden and bushes! We love it when gardening works!

 

This beautiful bush has an interesting story. Last summer there were what looked like a bunch of dead parts of the bush. Cutting off the dead parts at the root I realized too late that they were the bush itself and that all I had left were some green weeds! I pulled the weeds out but the real plant was cut all the way down at the ground. I was sure it was dead and gone and was totally planning on having to buy a new plant this year. However the plant sprang up and has a ton more blooms than it did last year. I might not be a wise gardener, but it was a good spiritual lesson to see how trials and struggles can make us stronger, grow our roots deeper and help us come back with even more strength and beauty.

 

Twig update: doing well. We had to spray some neem oil because aphids had totally attacked this little guy. Hope it works!

 

The garden has exploded. The corn has maxed out growing space and I don't think it's anywhere near done. It's now growing sideways!

 

The squash has sent out leaves to take over prettymuch every available inch of sunlight. These enormous leaves are bullies to my little peppers and are currently battling it out with the neighboring zucchini plant which hopes to take over the world as well.

 

This is my view all day long. Exuberant, getting into whatever is near, involved and curious about everything. There is no "down time" with this girl. None.

 

Our broccoli and mustard greens were attacked! We found all of these on the plants and had to say farewell to the broccoli the leaves were so destroyed. Plus that squash wasn't about to let it thrive. The kids didn't want to kill the caterpillars so I let them play with them far away from the garden. They formed the "Be nice to animals" club on the playset and have a great habitat for these little guys. I am really hoping the bugs don't make it because I'm sure they'll make their winged way back to the garden!

 

Saturday project: replace microwave. It stopped heating and for two weeks we didn't have one. I was impressed that we didn't miss it really and thought in college that would have made me starve to death :)

The kids went out to lunch with me for their report card prize. They choose a restaurant they've never been to before and order something they've never eaten. The kids had fish and chips at an Irish Restaurant. My favorite lines from Michael to the owner: pointing to some wall décor "Are these Irish tools?" and asking about the kids coloring kit "Are these Irish crayons?" We had fun talking about Ireland and summer plans. And when we left they both showed me their version of an Irish dance. I love this fun kids!

 

New microwave installed by Jim. He was pretty proud that it actually works!

 

We put up our family wall finally! We will be putting pics of the kids (and frame 6 is for the lizards) when they are newborn, 1, 8, 12, 16, and mission.

 

There is a USA Baseball training complex less than 15 minutes away and there were the NCAA division two championships there today. Some NC team called Catawba and Tampa FL. The parking was free and the entrance and some concessions were only a buck. So we had fun, the kids chose to cheer on Tampa which was slightly awkward especially considering a parent of an NC player was sitting next to us.

 

 

Food was as big of an attraction as the baseball. Round 1 was hot dogs and lemonade.

 

I told the kids if Tampa scored they'd get ice cream. Two minutes later they hit in two runs. Must have been the kids cheers! Jim is saving Diana's ice cream from getting everywhere. The kids had a good time eating and playing on a side field when they got bored of watching. Tampa ended up winning but Michael still asked if next time we could watch BYU play :)

End of preschool, blueberry harvest!

 

Last day of preschool! Jacob had a carnival and the kids loved the game and loud noisemaker prizes!

 

Diana with a little packet of candy. She loved it and I look forward to her being in preschool this fall.

 

Katy ever reaching for something her sister has :)

 

Jacob and his preschool teachers. Michael had them last year as well, they are great!

 

After several mornings watching birds eat our blueberries I decided to take action. Jim was out of town so I got the kids ready early for school, went to Lowes and had Mike push Katy and Diana in the cart while Nicole helped me carry all of the pvc pipe and Jake held the other supplies. It was awesome. Once the oldest were at school, I dug around in the garage and found a saw and went to work. We had some bird netting left from the garden and a ton of twist ties from the plastic bags I use for bread. It was quite the project but so far the birds have stayed away. I haven't seen them try to get through the next so I have a feeling this is probably just round one.

 

I told Diana she could have a banana. I think she didn't want to get her hands sticky?

So finally the blueberries were allowed to begin ripening without birds eating them!

 

Jim got back Friday night and Saturday we all went- along with Kathryn, Luke and Kelly who were visiting- to the beach for a day trip. We left at 6am since it was a holiday weekend and got some of the last parking spots at the pier. It was so incredibly busy having Diana who is just a cannon and Katy who was determined to find sharp shells to eat, get into sunscreen, or just crawl away! I didn't even get out my camera it was so busy. Mike and I had a great time boogie boarding together and Jim brought his short surf board and played with all of the kids out there. Hours in the sand, hours in the water, it was all a wonderful time and we left when Katy got too fussy.

 

Within two minutes of being in the car, they were both out. Diana slept the entire 3 hours until we packed up and got home!

 

Ripe! The bushes are two different kinds that will ripen at different times so we have a longer harvest.

 

Some of the first harvest! Blueberry scones tonight!

Concrete, Festival, Soccer, Mike's Kindergarten pics

 

Michael's teacher posted a bunch of pics from the year. This was in the Fall.

 

Pajama day! Mike's camo pjs rock!

 

 

Fall festival pumpkin man.

 

Candy corn bingo.

 

Michael made me a mother's day card. Hallmark quality.

 

Jacob poked Michael in the eye when they were playing around. Michael had a huge cornea tear but was very brave. The eye doc we were referred to by our pediatrician said that kids with this eye trauma are usually sedated in the OR so she can look at it. Michael, although in great pain, did his best to be obedient and was so brave. He had to wear a protective contact, have his eyes dilated by the eye doc for three days in a row, and have eye drops to prevent infection. It was rough but he was totally a trooper.

 

Meanwhile...our concrete patio was poured!

 

At the eye doc waiting for her to check on Mike in between her surgeries. She fit us in but it was a pretty long wait. Katy is banging Mike on the head with his toy. He is such a good sport to keep his sister happy!

 

We went to the Got to Be NC Festival this morning. The kids loved watching a goat be milked- our newly potty trained Diana was just sure the goat was going to the bathroom and loudly let us know again and again. Gotta love kids. Here is as little chick booth, they also had eggs about to hatch although we didn't see any actually hatch.

 

Waiting for the pig races!

 

Mike was totally back to himself. He's practically bursting with energy after being contained in the home all week long. (It was a long 6 days)

 

Nicole is such a great big sister!

 

I took a bunch of video of the racing pigs, goats and geese. It was pretty fun, totally worth it! We were laughing and cheering as the animals sometimes went the wrong way or just plain stopped to smell the clover. The pigs raced for cheese doodles. I am pretty sure my kids would have too.

 

Michael and Nicole wanted to try the big Ferris Wheel. We let the kids each pick two rides and they were pretty nervous but decided on this one.

 

Up they go! It was cute to see them waiting in line holding hands nervous and excited all at once and taking care of each other.

 

Diana chose a train ride and happily waved at us while driving her train. It was pretty sweet to see her beam out at us with joy all over her face. All from a little train ride.

 

The second ride Nicole and Mike chose, which was Jake's first ride, was the Dragon roller coaster. High thrills let me tell you!

 

Jake's second ride. I think I have a pic of he and Mike doing this exact ride last year.

 

Diana on the big slide with Jim. Diana loved it and was ready to climb back up the slide itself like she does at the park. Not so fast honey! :)

 

Food! We got the kids corn dogs and lemonade at outrageous prices. I had a steak wrap yum! The food was really good and we had fun in the warm morning sun with a light breeze. It was a beautiful day.

 

There was also a BMX competition going on, we watched it for a little while and would have watched it a lot longer if the kids weren't antsy.

 

The crew! Daniel came with us and both Jim and I agree that it was funner with him there. We are so glad he is in NC this summer!

 

We drove home in time for the boys soccer game. Jake chilled as goalie for the first quarter.

 

Michael blocking blue players from getting a throw in. This boy is figuring out passing and other aspects of the game.

 

Calling out directions to his teammates. Love my vocal boy! At one point he was singing some made up song about the festival and how he wanted to go back. The parents around me were chuckling.

 

Jake bored out of his mind as goalie and getting his shoe stuck in the net. Can't blame him.

 

Both boys on defense. I love this shot, seeing both my boys lined up and focused before the ball is put into play. They hold so much of my heart!

 

Michael in action with Jake in the wings.

 

Both boys on offense starting play after a goal.

 

 

The sun was blazing by afternoon and Nicole's game was at 3pm. She was having an allergic type reaction and her whole body was breaking out in hives so I gave her Benadryl. Poor thing was so hot and tired by the time we finished this game. You can see her bent over checking out her itchy rash.

 

Playing on the concrete pad! It's all we dreamed of and the kids love it. Now we wait for it to dry completely which is 2 months or so, then we acid stain it so it looks pretty, and then plant grass. Long process, but so worth it. Michael barely agreed to go to his soccer game because he just wanted to ride his bike. He was out before 7am riding this morning as well, with Diana right behind him. They all love it!

 

Some more pics from Mike's class this year.