It has been a flurry of activity around here as we try to get projects done before leaving on our summer trip. Cake baking, a garage sale, a local duathlon, baby showers, art festivals, ballet classes, art classes, kindergarten-prep classes, and putting in a veggie garden have kept us busy, not to mention the biggest project by far - starting to build the fence around the back yard. I can't believe it's only been a few weeks since school got out!
Speaking of busy, Alex keeps us on our toes ALL the time. Whether re-organizing the tupperware cupboard for me or finding his way outside all by himself, he is living up to the toddler stereotype. But at least he has cute boots on while doing it!
Jake signed up for a kindergarten-readiness class at the local school, where he gets to experience a little of what school will be like next year. He says it's pretty much like pre-school, but he's made some good friends and can't wait for the fall. All the rest of the time he can be found playing with the huge clumps of clay that were dug up for the fence-post holes. He makes Transformers, super heroes, and enormous (and heavy) balls out of it. He says it's like "
super PlayDough."
Haley decided to return to ballet after a few years' break. She loves it so far but says it is hard work! She also signed up for a two-week summer art class and is excited to go every day. I think she would take ten art classes if she could.
A very poor camera-phone picture of a cake I made for a church event. Pink roses, white apple blossoms, and brown satin ribbon.
The spot for the future front gate with an arbor over it. After much researching and studying, Rob rented a huge auger to dig 4-foot holes for the fence posts. They are lined with a super-thick cardboard tube (so the frozen ground can't grab and lift them when it heaves all winter). The extra-long posts are placed in the cardboard tubes and then concrete is poured around the posts. They should be VERY secure and stand up to our harsh winds and winters. The goal is to have all the posts set before we leave town...
What the neighbors used to see from their side yard...
Also from the neighbors' yard.
If we're recovered from fence-building by next summer, we'll be building a deck, paved dining area, and in-ground fire pit in the back yard, with perennial beds along the house and fence.
We moved the swing set over...the kids seem to like the new placement.
Our current view from the backyard.
This is the "easement" area behind our yard. It will be outside the fence, but I'm planning to plant raspberries back there eventually.
The garden sure seemed
huuuuge when I was digging out the grass for it. Eventually it will be raised beds but for now we just dug some peat moss into the existing soil. We're looking forward to lots of tomatoes (cherry, grape, and slicing), bell peppers, purple ruffled and
Genovese basil, Italian parsley, tons of cucumbers, carrots, and zucchini squash.
Between activities the kids have had lots of fun with neighborhood friends. A favorite pastime is catching bugs and butterflies (with MUCH screaming and shrieking). Hurray for summer break!
Speaking of busy, Alex keeps us on our toes ALL the time. Whether re-organizing the tupperware cupboard for me or finding his way outside all by himself, he is living up to the toddler stereotype. But at least he has cute boots on while doing it!
Jake signed up for a kindergarten-readiness class at the local school, where he gets to experience a little of what school will be like next year. He says it's pretty much like pre-school, but he's made some good friends and can't wait for the fall. All the rest of the time he can be found playing with the huge clumps of clay that were dug up for the fence-post holes. He makes Transformers, super heroes, and enormous (and heavy) balls out of it. He says it's like "super PlayDough."
Haley decided to return to ballet after a few years' break. She loves it so far but says it is hard work! She also signed up for a two-week summer art class and is excited to go every day. I think she would take ten art classes if she could.
A very poor camera-phone picture of a cake I made for a church event. Pink roses, white apple blossoms, and brown satin ribbon.
The spot for the future front gate with an arbor over it. After much researching and studying, Rob rented a huge auger to dig 4-foot holes for the fence posts. They are lined with a super-thick cardboard tube (so the frozen ground can't grab and lift them when it heaves all winter). The extra-long posts are placed in the cardboard tubes and then concrete is poured around the posts. They should be VERY secure and stand up to our harsh winds and winters. The goal is to have all the posts set before we leave town...
What the neighbors used to see from their side yard...
Also from the neighbors' yard.
If we're recovered from fence-building by next summer, we'll be building a deck, paved dining area, and in-ground fire pit in the back yard, with perennial beds along the house and fence.
We moved the swing set over...the kids seem to like the new placement.
Our current view from the backyard.
This is the "easement" area behind our yard. It will be outside the fence, but I'm planning to plant raspberries back there eventually.
The garden sure seemed huuuuge when I was digging out the grass for it. Eventually it will be raised beds but for now we just dug some peat moss into the existing soil. We're looking forward to lots of tomatoes (cherry, grape, and slicing), bell peppers, purple ruffled and Genovese basil, Italian parsley, tons of cucumbers, carrots, and zucchini squash.
Between activities the kids have had lots of fun with neighborhood friends. A favorite pastime is catching bugs and butterflies (with MUCH screaming and shrieking). Hurray for summer break!
