Ah, Summer Vacation!!

The kids are done with school for the year!! Hard to believe that we will have an 8th and 6th grader in the fall!!  We hope our family and friends are doing well and enjoying summer!!

The last day of school was on Thursday and as a congratulations for great grades, the kids wanted to eat dinner at a China Buffett restaurant in Syracuse.  Ayson stated that he always regrets the meal after (because he eats too much) but before and the first 2 bites are awesome...hahaha.

On Friday, Emmett came over for the day to hang out.  The kids played in the pool, bickered over badminton - Adam painted on lines so the kids would know what was really in and out :)   

They also played Minecraft together :)

Friday afternoon, Auntie Julie and cousin Curran came over for the night.  NOW the kids could have a four player game!

The weather was rainy on Saturday but the kids wanted to go fishing - so we went to the "sure thing" pond at Stafford Park.  A blue heron was also fishing that morning (left side of the pond).  

Ayson and his first teeny tiny catch :)

Addie pointing to the big rainbow trout that she could see in the pond.

Adam with a sunfish.

Addie would lower just her worm in the water so that the small fish would bite and then Addie would pull the fish (still biting the worm) out of the water :)

Ayson running from the other side of the pond to show us his big catch!

Hahahah.  At least the kids had fun fishing in the rain!

Addie with a small bullhead.

The kids had to give the merry go round a spin.

Saturday afternoon, after family left, Emmett, Emelia, and Kate came over for the evening.  More swimming in the rain.  Emelia is catching a ride from Ayson :)

Kate and family ended up eating dinner at our house AND Kate had brought cupcake mix so the kids could make an after dinner treat!  Addie and Emelia mixed the batter and said the cupcakes were awesome.  Thanks, Kate!!!

Our milkweed are starting to bloom!!!

Our peonies are almost done blooming for the year.

Happy Father's Day and Juneteenth!

The end of the school year is fast approaching!  The kids are super excited to have time off!  We had a good weekend, went on a hike for Father's Day, and spent Juneteenth doing yard chores and visiting with family and friends. We hope that everyone is doing well!!!!

Elementary school olympics was on Tuesday and Ayson (who is done with school) came along to cheer the students on.  

Addie running the 60 yard dash.

The dreaded tog of war

Later that afternoon our friend Kate and her son, Emmett, came over to make a "congrats" sign for the graduating seniors that we could have ready for the Senior parade that evening. 

Ayson petting Bodhi, Kate and Emmett's dog.

Waiting for the vehicle parade to start.

Mrs Oliver had a sign for the After School Program too.

We can see the firetruck escort!!!

It was great to wave to the Seniors and wish them well!!!

Our roses are doing amazing this year!!!

Addie looking at the small snake sunning itself in our yard.

A Baltimore oriel at our feeder.

For Father's Day, Adam requested a hike to the "tippy top" (the hang gliding spot at Labrador Unique Area) so that is what we did!  We walked behind the waterfall on our way up.

We made it!!!!

Happy Father's Day, Adam!!!!  We love you!

The kids elected to take the path that went pretty much straight down - they love to run down the path.  Addie flying down the hill.  After our hike, we had ice cream from Samantha's.

On Monday, we visited our chickens after getting a bunch of yard work done :)

Addie hold a silkie.

Addie and her chicken, Gusty.

Western Fires and Weekend Fun

What a crazy week with the poor air quality from the western fires!  Adam and the kids had a low key week (no fun outside due to the fires) and Amy was away for work.  We had a fun weekend and hope that everyone is having an enjoyable June!!

The smoke from the Canadian western fires was crazy in our area last week.   

Amy was in Erie and Niagara Counties during the week and the air quality was not as bad as back home.  A gorgeous wetland restoration project on Grand Island, NY.

 

On Friday evening, we went to our friends house for a little bit to visit the chickens and hang out.  The kids played basketball and hide and seek (once it got dark).

Ms Kate gave Addie a mermaid necklace as a thank you for letting Emilia use a mermaid fin that belongs to Addie.

Working on a puzzle

Addie had a roller skating birthday party to attend - her first time on roller skates!!  She did better on roller blades (more similar to ice skates). 

Meanwhile, we went for a hike at Green Lakes State Park - the weather was perfect for hiking - overcast and with a breeze.

Sunday temps had us back in the mid 80s and we invited our friends over for some pool fun.

We got a badminton (and volleyball) set on Saturday and had fun with badminton both Saturday and Sunday.  The kids (big and small) played 3 games on Sunday!!!

The boys allowing themselves to be kids and just have fun:)

Not pictured is the part where the bubbles made it on to the trampoline (and spilled) and of course the sprinkler had to be turned on (beneath the trampoline) to make even more bubbles :) 

Fun Times

We had a crazy warm week with fun activities and we had a visit with friends over the weekend.  We hope everyone is having fun outside and staying healthy!!!!

Pool time and the pool was 92 degrees this week!

A little pool volleyball

Baseball game on a hot day

A quick dip in the pool after the baseball game

Ayson lifting Adam

On Thursday, Addie helped Kate with the 4H club (six 5 yr olds) make tie dye shirts :)

Adam and Addie on their way to the Father Daughter Dance for Girl Scouts

Dinner!

The Macarena

Since Thursday was so hot, we had our friends over for pool time and Addie and Adam joined last.

We had a busy day on Saturday - Addie had a horseback riding event in the morning

Giving the horse a snack

Saturday evening, our Friends Sunshine, Jeremy, Khanlan, and Mikhan arrived for a visit.  The little girls played

While the ladies went to a Noah Kahan concert at Beak and Skiff - what a gorgeous night!

The strawberry moon

Meanwhile, Adam and the kids went to Community Days at the "Big" park.  The girls waiting for the duck race to start.

The girls crawling in the dry grass - you can tell they were having fun by their great smiles! 

Fireworks!!!

Ayson and Khanlan chatting over breakfast

Khanlan on our piano

The kiddos!

Sunshine, Sara (a friend of Sunshine's that is now our friend) and Amy.  Sara lived in Clemson for 6 yrs while her husband was at Clemson for his PhD in Information Technology, she teaches high school science, AND loves garden walks :)

Jeremy, Sunshine, Amy, and Adam

The boys (of all ages) at the park.  Chris Oliver (Mrs Oliver's son) came over to join in on the fun too!!

Gorgeous moon (strawberry moon) from Friday night

Flowers currently blooming